Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today is Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday, and today we begin what is called the Paschal Triduum: the three most sacred and important days of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. It is one celebration. Holy Thursday leads to Good Friday. The sufferings and death of Jesus on Good Friday are meaningless without the victory of his resurrection on Easter. But Easter is not possible without Good Friday.
Tonight, as we celebrate the Last Supper of Our Lord, we are celebrating three important things: the Institution of Priesthood, the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the New Commandment of Love concerning the fraternal charity.
While sitting at the table with his disciples, Jesus himself became the food and the drink. Holding the bread, he said: “This is my body; eat it.” Holding the cup filled with wine, he said: “This is my blood; drink it.” The reason for Jesus to give His body and Blood as food and drink is to show His love for his people: “He loved them to the end” and he promised: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age”. Because he decided to be with us forever and wanted His presence with us always, he humbled and emptied himself: from being God, he became man; and from being man, he became just simple bread and wine. Thus, at the Last Supper, he instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, which the Second Vatican Council calls “the source and summit of Christian life.”
On this special night, Jesus also instituted at the Last Supper, the Priesthood. Jesus offered himself as sacrifice on the Cross only once, but it continues to happen now and for eternity through the celebration of the Mass. St. Paul says: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes”. In the Eucharist, Jesus makes present to us his sacrifice. Now, the question is: who will do this “making present” of the sacrifice? Jesus said to his disciples: “Do this in memory of me.” Thus, on this Holy Thursday, Jesus also instituted the Priesthood. There is an intimate and inseparable link between the Eucharist and ministerial priesthood. Pope Saint John Paul II said; “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist”. Hence, it was not the Church, but Jesus himself instituted the Sacrament of Priesthood so that His memory, the memory of his Sacrifice could be celebrated always for the people and with the people. Today is also, therefore, the Feast of the Priesthood.
The priesthood of Christ is all about humble service. The ministerial priesthood is in service of the common priesthood of all the baptized. To illustrate this, while at supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. But the disciples could not accept that; their master washing their feet like a slave. But for Jesus it was an unmistakable expression of his humility and desire to serve his people. And He said: “If I, therefore, the Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do”. Through this act, Jesus showed them how much he loved them, and he asked them to do the same. Unless we love one another as brothers and sisters as Jesus loves us, this kind of service that Jesus asked us to do, is not possible. So, on this day, he also gave us through his disciples the new Commandment of Love concerning the fraternal charity.
Every time we come to this celebration of the Eucharist, let us always be reminded that we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross being made present to us. Let us also pray for our priests so that they will always enjoy God’s protection and guidance to faithfully fulfil their ministry of bringing Jesus to his people. And let us make sure that our Eucharistic celebration will always be a celebration of love: God’s love for us, and our love for one another.
Fr. Meno Basti OMI
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CEREMONIES
HOLY THURSDAY 2 APRIL
9am to 11.30am Church open for quiet prayer
No Adoration and No midday Mass
7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
8pm to 10pm Adoration
GOOD FRIDAY 3 APRIL
No Adoration and No midday Mass
11am Stations of the Cross at the Basilica of St Patrick
12noon to 1pm Reconciliation
3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
HOLY SATURDAY 4 APRIL
No Adoration and No midday Mass
9.30am to 11.30am Reconciliation
10am to 11am Reconciliation in Italian
4pm Polish Blessing of Food
7pm Easter Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY 5 APRIL
Masses: 8am, 9.30am (Italian), 11am and 5pm
8.15am St Anne’s, North Fremantle
The eBulletin
Click here to download the eBulletin for Holy Thursday, Year A.
Anointing of the Sick Mass
The next Anointing of the Sick will be held on Tuesday 7th April during the midday Mass. All Welcome.
Parish Morning Tea
The next parish morning tea will be held on Sunday 12th April after the 8am Mass in the Presbytery carport. All Welcome.
Easter Offering Envelopes
Twice a year you are asked to give generously to support the Priests in the parish. Easter Offering envelopes are now available on the pews. Place your offering inside and place it on the collection plate. Thank You!