Liturgy News No.2

from the Cathedral Parish

This is the second edition of Liturgy News from the Cathedral Parish. Thank you everyone for your continued devotion to the liturgical life of our Parish.

Liturgy News is the way the Parish Liturgy Group communicate the liturgy preparation for a certain period of time as well as providing some information about the liturgical season.

There has been a very good response to the recruitment of new lectors, communion ministers and commentators. We could do with more of each ministry but the rosters will have a good mix of experienced and new ministers.

The new rosters for lectors, communion ministers and commentators will be out by the end of April and begin on Sunday 5th May. The rosters will run until Sunday 5th July 2020 with recruitment in June 2020. In this edition of Liturgy News we cover the time from Palm Sunday (14 April) until Pentecost (9th June 2019). This time of the liturgical year includes the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Easter Vigil) Easter Sunday and the Easter Season.

Liturgy Preparation Sheets for these liturgies are accessible from links on the Parish website and a copy will be in the Vestry of the Cathedral and Assumption Churches.

The ministry of Junior Altar Servers is undergoing a revitisation with 6 people making up the new Team. Recruitment of new junior altar servers will be carried out in May 2019. If you know anyone who might be interested, keep an eye out in the Bulletin for details of get togethers and important dates.

Our Journey to Easter

This Liturgy News incorporates the liturgy preparation for Passion Sunday, Holy Week, The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday & the Easter Vigil) and Easter Season includes this year the Chrism Mass on Monday 15 April.

We continue our Lenten journey with Palm or Passion Sunday (14 April). The 10am Mass will be preceded by the commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This solemn procession only happens at one Mass in the Parish.

The palms or branches are blessed so that they can be carried in the procession. The palms should be taken home, where they will serve as a reminder of the victory of Christ which they celebrated in the procession. Paschale Solemnitatis 1988.

The Chrism Mass is on Monday 15 April in the Cathedral. There are two additional functions that occur at this Mass. Firstly, the holy oils to be used in the Diocese are blessed by the Bishop and afterwards distributed to all the parishes. Secondly, the priests of the Diocese reaffirm their priestly vows. At this Mass, the symbolism of the priests and people coming together with the Bishop around the Altar expresses in a liturgical way the Body of Christ—the Church.

The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. This celebration particularly focusses on the eucharistic nature of our faith and liturgical life as it was at the last supper that Jesus instituted the Mass. Jesus’ humanity and humility for us to emulate, is also evident when the Bishop washes the feet of the faithful.

Our journey through the Triduum continues on Good Friday. There are Stations of the Cross on Friday morning as has been our custom and the celebration of The Passion of the Lord is at 3.00pm. Over the last number of years, the veneration of the cross in the Cathedral has been with the large wooden cross that accompanies us on our Lenten journey. This cross will continue to be used this year as it fulfils the role of symbol by being large and prominent and needs no explanation. The cross moves through the Cathedral and is venerated in the centre of the Nave. In processing to venerate the Cross, we create a living ’cross’, the symbol of our faith expressed liturgically.

The austerity of Good Friday leads us to the Easter Vigil which begins with the Service of Light and the Easter fire. At this Vigil we listen to more scripture than usual and the RCIA comes into focus as we welcome new members into our community.

At Easter Sunday Masses there is usually large crowds as we celebrate the resurrection. A particular focus this year is on hospitality. Welcoming faces at the foyers of our churches and a welcoming disposition of all the congregation will add to this great celebration. Additional communion ministers will need to arranged.

In regard to Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, special rosters will be prepared for those liturgical celebrations that are not included in the current rosters.