Palm Sunday 2 April

ANNOUNCEMENT

Why Do We Cover the Images and Crucifix At Lent? It seems strange that during the most sacred time of year Catholics cover everything that is beautiful in their churches, even the crucifix. Shouldn’t we be looking at the painful scene at Calvary while we listen to the Passion narrative on Palm Sunday?
While it may appear counterintuitive to veil statues and images during the final weeks of Lent, the Catholic Church recommends this practice to heighten our senses and build within us a longing for Easter Sunday. It is a tradition that should not only be carried out in our local parish, but can also be a fruitful activity for the “domestic church” to practice. It is essential to note, first of all, that the last two weeks (from Fifth Sunday of lent till Good Friday) in the traditional
season of Lent are called Passiontide, when the Church shifts her focus from Christ in the desert (the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent) to Christ during the Passion. With this increased emphasis, it may seem strange and even counter-productive to veil crucifixes and other images of Christ and the Saints in the church, but this is precisely what we do.

Reminder: TIMETABLE OF HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS 2023
HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2023
The Holy Season of Easter begins
today, Palm/Passion.
To more fully celebrate and participate
in this most wonderful feast of the
church calendar you are requested to
dress in the liturgical colours of the
day:
Holy Thursday : WHITE
Good Friday : RED
Saturday Vigil Mass and Easter Sunday
BRIGHT COLOURS
HOLY THURSDAY:
Please bring a gift of non-perishable
food for the poor with you, and keep it
with you until you are invited, by the
priest, to bring it to the altar.
GOOD FRIDAY: is a day of Fasting,
Prayer and Abstinence. The fast
consist of: “The law of fasting allows
only one full meal a day, but does
not prohibit taking some food in the
morning and evening, observing, as
far as quantity and quality are
concerned approved local
custom.” (Paenitemini, ch. III., III., 2)
Please note there will be two SOLEMN
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES. 12 noon
& 3pm. This is to accommodate all
parishioners and visitors over this day.
A collection for the upkeep of the Holy
Land will be taken up at all of the
celebrations.
TIMETABLE OF HOLY WEEK
CELEBRATIONS 2023
PALM SUNDAY – 2 April
Saturday 17h00 & Sunday 07h30
09h30 (procession from Hall) & 17h00
MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK: (3 April)
5.45 am Mass
8.30am Mass followed by Stations of
the Cross and Confessions
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK: (4 April)
5.45am Mass
6.00pm to 7.00pm Confessions
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK:
5.45am Mass
8.00am Mass
5.30pm Mass
6.30pm Confessions till end of
Stations
07.00pm Stations
Wed 5 April is your last chance for
Confession before the Triduum!
HOLY THURSDAY: (6 April) – white
NO MORNING MASS
CHRISM MASS at CATHEDRAL
09.30AM
Mass of the Last Supper 7pm
Vigil at the Altar of repose to 22h00
Collection of food for the poor:
NO CONFESSION
GOOD FRIDAY – 7 April - Red
Stations of the Cross : 09h00
Solemn Service (Veneration of the
Cross) : 12h00 (noon) & 15h00
NO CONFESSION
A collection for the upkeep of the
HolyLand will be taken up at all of the
celebrations.
EASTER SATURDAY - 8 Apr - Bright
(Vigil Mass 18h00)
NO MORNING MASS
NO CONFESSION
EASER SUNDAY – 9 Apr - Bright
Mass at : 07h30 ; 09h30 & 11h15
The extra Mass at 11h15 will not
include singing, and will therefore be
a shorter Mass.