Good Friday

We had already celebrated the Stations of the Cross in the morning with 80 of our parishioners, the meditation led by Fr Darren. But at 3pm, as is customary, we commemorated the Lord's passion. About 250 gathered in the church; the priests and deacon and 15 of our altar servers eneterd in silence and all prostarated themselves before the sanctuary. The Liturgy of the Word unfolded culminating in the shared reading of St John's Passion. The homily reminded us that on the Christ became a 'bridge' between us and God, spanning the gap forged by our sins and bringing us back into right relation with God.

The crucifix was then solemnly carried into the church being gradually unveiled and shown to the people who then came forward and venerated it with a kiss. The servers then placed the crucifix in a central position where it presided over the Liturgy of Holy Communion. After Holy Communion this stark, simple liturgy concluded with a prayer over the people. 'And all came sorrowfully away.'