07/04/2004

The Easter period is the most significant period of the Christian liturgical year. Each day focuses on one aspect of the life-giving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter Ceremonies at St Stephen’s Cathedral are as follows:

Holy Thursday - 8th April at 7.00pm *
Evening Mass of the Last Supper
The three days of Easter begins on Holy Thursday evening. The focus of the service is the life, death and rising of Jesus. During the Mass the Archbishop will wash the feet of several people signifying sharing in the discipleship of Jesus and the Christian mission of love and service.


Good Friday - 9th April at 10.00am *
Way of the Cross


Good Friday - 9th April at 3.00pm *
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
The solemn liturgy holds together the passion, suffering and death of Jesus and is based around the reading of the Passion story from John’s Gospel, the veneration of the Cross and the General Intercessions. Members of the congregation carry a large wooden cross into the Church. At the foot of the sanctuary, the congregation will file past and kiss or touch the wooden cross.


Holy Saturday - 10th April at 7.30pm *
Easter Vigil
This vigil is a night of great celebration, expectation and joy. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important liturgy of the Church’s year. It is also the night of baptism with 2 adults being baptized and several others being received into the Catholic Church. The first Eucharist of the Easter Season is celebrated in the Vigil.


Easter Sunday - 11th April at 8.00am, 10.00am *, 12 noon and 7.30pm
Day of the Lord’s Rising
The celebration of Easter Day is reflected in the liturgy of Easter Sunday Mass. It is a day of joy celebrating the renewal of Christian lives through the resurrection of the Lord.


* Archbishop Bathersby will preside at these liturgies



Released by the Catholic Communications Office Brisbane