EASTER SUNDAY 2020 – 12th April 2020

INTRODUCTION – Fr Ian McGinnity

Welcome fellow parishioners and visitors to this website, greetings to you all on this most special time of our year, Easter. This year, many of us will be celebrating Easter very differently than we have in the past, as we participate in the liturgy online and eat alone or only with immediate household. Many may be missing from the table unable to come out of aged care or those who cannot travel now, either long or short distances. Grandchildren may be prevented from visiting grandparents until the coronavirus has diminished. Some may be missing as they fight illness in the hospital while relatives and friends are restricted at this time. Some will be isolated because they have been infected with the virus. Others are going to work during Easter to provide essential services with some trepidation that they might be contagious to family and friends. On top of this there are the financial and economic questions. Some will be worried about what will happen if they can’t pay the rent or don’t have money for food or the patience to line up for hours.
I have celebrated 3 funerals in the last week where we have had to observe limited numbers as well as social distancing, rules which seems so antithetic to the mourning process. We pray for these families and many others across the land. As people the world over are experiencing massive upheavals in our lives the message of Easter is even more critically important.
With the help of technology, we have attempted to place the Paschal Triduum liturgies on our website with the invaluable help of Dan Schutte, one-time member of the Louis Jesuits. His style and creativity enhanced with music enables us to gently enter into the mystery of Christ passion, death and resurrection.
We are also grateful that Mike Yates has been able to record the Stations of the Cross which he relives for us annually at Christ the King on Good Friday morning.
In addition, we have been able to webcast Easter Sunday morning Mass, to allow you to celebrate Mass in our familiar environment of Christ the King Church. Also, the Bishop of Parramatta will be live streaming the Paschal Triduum liturgies which we will advertise the connections on our site.
The seismic shifts that have happened in our lives are not unlike the earthquake in Matthew’s gospel where tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. It signals the tectonic shift made possible for humankind through God’s action in Christ. Foremost is the shift away from paralysing fear to an empowering joy. The angels first words to the women are “do not be afraid” Easter is not only about what happened to Jesus but, to a great degree, it is about what happens to us as we live lives that are transformed by his rising. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks about Christians being so united with Christ that when he dies, we die with him. And when he is raised, so we too. We not only await final transformation but, every time we stand with the crucified peoples of our day, as did Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the Risen One is alive in us as we break the hold of death-dealing powers even now.
One can only wonder what new forms our lives will take individually, collectively and globally due to this virus and what joys will be shaken awake in us as Christ raises us to new life beyond this present death.
Many thanks to all who have assisted in producing these online liturgies, especially Mike Yates, John Collins, Graham Lum and our wonderful secretary Claudine Nalletamby, who has worked tirelessly to distribute them to you via our website. I trust they assist us to worthily celebrate Easter with those who are around us and to connect us spiritually to one another.
As Pope Francis has said “in the risen Jesus life conquered death. We will celebrate holy week in a truly unusual way, which manifests and sums up the message of the Gospel that of God’s boundless love. And in the silence of our cities, the Easter gospel will resound. This Paschal faith nourishes our hope.
(3 April 2020)
Peace to You All that comes from the risen Jesus.
From Our Parish Team at Christ the King.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

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PARISH NOTICES

THOSE IN NEED: Things are changing rapidly and the reality of what we are dealing with as a nation will take time for us to realise. These are unchartered waters, but we will get through. During this difficult time, if you hear of anyone in need of assistance from a priest or the Parish Office, please do not hesitate to contact us on 9871.8710 or via email: northrocks@parracatholic.org or requiring assistance from Vinnies, please call 13 18 12.

CARITAS AUSTRALIA: would like to THANK YOU for supporting Project Compassion 2020. If you would like to make a donation, please go to www.caritas.org.au to make your donation online. Through your generosity you will be empowering the world’s most vulnerable communities to grow stronger and share their strengths with their communities to lift themselves out of poverty.

EASTER TRIDUUM MASSES LIVE STREAMING WITH BISHOP VINCENT LONG: All Masses will be livestreamed via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ParramattaDiocese and FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/parracatholic

READINGS FOR THE MASS: Provided by Universalis, can be found here: www.universalis.com

IN YOUR MERCY, PLEASE REMEMBER THOSE FOR WHOM PRAYERS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED:

THE SICK: Arthur John Meston, Ken Boys, Tony Clancy, Mary Magill, Joe Frare, Afifi Elchaar, Daniele Donu, Patrick Wheeler, Sylvette Marsh.
RECENTLY DECEASED: John Sidney Vaz, Irmgard Rangger, Fr Ray Farrell, Betty Blyth, Eric Harland, Michael Heaton.
ANNIVERSARIES: Kazimiera Adamski, Victoriana Castaneda, Laurice Behan, Jim Saad, Timothy Euhus, Karen Euhus, George Evans, Theodore Greuter.
DECEASED: Y.T. Hsu, Deannu Hsu, Joseph Van Minh, Tony Khalife, Soraya Khalife, Morrie Kahlife, Yvonne Boulous, Phillip Boulous, Charlie Karam, Leila Karam & All Souls.

FUNNIES

They said that gloves and a mask were enough to go to the grocery store.
They lied, everybody else had clothes on! 🤦‍♂️

Stay safe everyone! 😊