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CELEBRATING THE EASTER SEASON – AND WELCOMING TRINITY SUNDAY
The Easter season is the longest season of the Catholic Church calendar at 50 days. It is the most important season as well. Commencing on Easter Sunday, with the resurrection of Jesus and concluding at Pentecost, which we celebrated last Sunday.
Through the seven weeks of this season we also celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. The readings and Gospels, during these weeks, focus on the appearances of Jesus to the Disciples and the message he provides for them as a blueprint for their lives to come. This culminates in the challenge to take this up at Pentecost.
Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church and is the official end of the Easter season. This is the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Disciples and challenged them to take up the responsibility and challenge of spreading the word of Jesus Christ. They were made alive by the Spirit to do what they could not have done alone.
We also cannot live a truly fulfilled life simply by our own gifts. We need the Spirit for our growth. To be able to fully receive the Spirit we need to be open to its presence and power in our lives, and its transforming nature.
The Sunday following Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. It is a recognition and devotion to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-20).
As we move out of our enforced absence from Church, I hope that all families are able to attend a local Parish Mass this weekend to celebrate this important Feast Day, or follow the ‘youtube’ stream of the Mass from OLHC with Fr Sarkis it's not as good as attendance but still keeping us involved in the Holy Mass.
A SOCIAL COMMENT
At a risk of being alienated amongst the parents that I respect so much and need to work closely with to get the best outcomes for the students, I offer these few comments.
In a world where we have never been so close, how can we still be so far apart. My wife came to Australia in a three-day boat trip. Today a 20-hour flight. We were so insulated until the late 19th century that we had little understanding of other cultures first hand. The White Australia Policy helped that. We had no idea how the different foods of the world would open our hearts and understanding to other cultures and yet still close our minds to them as people.
The quality of a person is not determined by the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs. I was the President of a cricket district for 10 years with 2500 players. We covered almost every culture. We had differences but that was about cricket, not anything else. It was never about anything else.
The events in America are disturbing. A class distinction is being challenged. The world is following closely. In Australia the indigenous deaths in custody is a sad parallel.
So what do we do? Sit quietly? Look to our leaders?
Why can’t we speak up? and I am in no way suggesting the demonstrations we see on our screens from the U.S. I’m talking about reaching out, saying hello, treating people as people, irrespective of their origin. As Christians this is our teachings, beliefs and calling.
A reflection on the events in the USA using the haunting words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr over 50 years ago.
“We ask you, God, in these days of emotional tension, when the problems of the world are gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, to be with us in our going out and our coming in, in our rising up and in our lying down.”
A message from BR. Ernesto Sanchez on the occasion of the celebration of the Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat.
Just a reminder to parents that we have our Year 11 parent teacher interviews planned for next Tuesday 9th June from 4-7pm. Meetings this year have moved to zoom meetings to meet coronovirus restrictions.
Information has been emailed to parents and is available in the compass portal. If you have any questions please contact Mr McAllister at mcallisterb01@dow.catholic.edu.au