Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

I wish you all of God’s blessings during this time of the season between Easter and Pentecost.

Over the Sundays of Easter, we will read from the Acts of the Apostles about how the Holy Spirit guided the early Church. The Holy Spirit sustained and supported the early believers as they came together to listen to the stories of Jesus and his resurrection and to celebrate the Eucharist.  Thisis a marvelous time in the Church when we reflect on the presence of the risen Jesus as he appeared firstly to Mary Magdalene and then to Peter and the others. We listen to the Gospel’s story of Thomas as Jesus joined the Disciples and the men and women of Galilee as they went about their daily work. It is the same risen Jesus who stands among us and who is our strength during this time of the year.

During Easter, many of our parishes, schools and agencies had the opportunity to take a small break before getting back into daily life again. 

The highlights of Easter is always the Easter ceremonies with the Easter Triduum celebrated in its fullness. Here in the Cathedral, we celebrated Holy Thursday, 3pm Good Friday and Holy Saturday Services. It was a marvelous celebration in our Cathedral as we celebrated the rites in all their fullness. I am indebted to all those who surrounded me, especially Father Andrew Hogan who assisted with the celebrations of the ceremonies.  A highlight was the music and the wonderful work of Joy Philippi and Claire Stitt and all those who assisted in bringing out the richness of the Triduum. Easter time is normally the time when we bring our people to the Church to baptise our catechumens. Many of our parishes celebrated the baptism of their catechumens and it was and is a wonderful opportunity for the whole Christian community to be involved in the welcoming and preparation of people baptised into the Church. I encourage each of our Parish communities to begin looking out for catechemens and to begin their preparation for Easter next year.  The catechumenate when it was introduced back in the 70’s was proposed as an evangelization program and process to renew the whole of our Catholic worshipping community and everyone is to be involved in the welcoming, supporting, praying and assisting those coming into the Church through the waters of baptism.

On Easter Sunday morning it was great to welcome Tanya Gill, who had been baptised as a Catholic and received the sacrament of Confirmation and Holy Communion for the very first time. It is always appropriate for those who join us from other faith traditions or those that have been baptised as Catholics and wishing to complete their initiation, to do so on Easter Sunday or during the Sundays throughout the year.  Holy Saturday is for those to be baptised, that is, catechumen adults and children of catechetical age.  In my recent pastoral letter to the Diocese outlined the Diocesan policy on baptism and the sacraments. It was emphasized that the children of catechetical age are to be baptised, confirmed and receive Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night rather than splitting up the sacraments during the year.

I look forward to the season of Confirmations which has already commenced in Mackay during March and soon to occur in Bundaberg, Gladstone and North and South Rockhampton. I am grateful to the parish communities who prepare our young people.  The sacramental program in each of our parishes is a program to invite and involve the entire parish community to assist our young people in prayer and support, as they prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation and first Eucharist.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Diocesan electronic newsletter. 

May God bless you all during this Easter season.