This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad . . .

Our Easter Vigil lived up to expectations! It was a beautiful liturgy made all the more special by the fact that we had baptisms and receptions during the Mass.

Back to Mass this morning which has quite a different 'feel' to it. As people were leaving, a young family passed by and we exchanged Easter greetings; the youngest child proudly showed me an Easter basket left by the Easter Bunny whilst his older sister was displaying her Easter Bunny toy pinned to her cardigan - and why not? I would be very disappointed if the Easter Bunny hadn't left me something edible of the chocolate variety on the breakfast table this morning!

Not much more to add really except to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. I hope you enjoy the beautiful video, chosen for the music as much as for the images.

Waiting . . .

I had very little time, nor inclination if I'm honest, to blog yesterday or even switch on the computer.

After a beautiful Holy Thursday liturgy including an excellent homily, both of which I found incredibly moving, I eventually got home about 20 minutes after Midnight.

Leaving an empty church - empty in every sense of the word, is very strange. No Blessed Sacrament, naturally; no adornment of any kind; no candles; the altar stripped bare and the crucifixes and statues still veiled really left me feeling bereft.

Our Good Friday followed much the same pattern as it has for the past twenty years or so. We began in the morning by joining the ecumenical Walk of Witness through the High Street following a large wooden Cross and stopping at various 'Stations' along the way for a short meditation. Despite the weather forecast we escaped without a drop of rain and I think we had an even larger crowd this year than last.

Then home for a short break before going to church in the afternoon for the Veneration of the Cross.

Today is very much a day of waiting, I feel. In church we have the Office of Readings in the morning and then the church is invaded by florists and other helpers who begin preparing for the culmination of the Triduum this evening, the Easter Vigil.

So, I have found an odd hour this afternoon to try and put a few words down about the Triduum and how we have celebrated so far.

Phew, Easter Sunday at last . . .

Phew, where to begin?

Last time I wrote we were preparing for our Ecumenical Walk of Witness. Well, we escaped with just a light shower during the procession and managed to get to the last station more or less untouched by the weather. We joined with other Christians to enjoy Hot Cross Buns afterwards(proceeds to charity) in our local Christian coffee shop.

Then home for a little break before the more serious 'Veneration of the Cross'. Huge numbers as usual. I find this very moving and especially when you glance behind you and see a 'never-ending' line of people slowly and prayerfully making their way to the front of the church to kneel before and kiss the crucifix. Who said, 'Christianity is dead'?

Back for the Office of Readings on Saturday morning and soon afterwards florists arrive to begin transforming the church from it's solemn Lenten veil to the beautiful extravagance of Easter.

Not so many people at the Vigil Mass in recent years - people are less keen to come out in the evening for some reason. Lucky again with the weather and managed to light the Easter fire outside as we all gathered to process in after the newly lit Paschal candle.

A fantastic Mass of course and great to have some people to be received into the Church. Drinks and cake in the parish hall afterwards for everyone and home, quite late but so high not feeling tired at all.

Finally back again this morning for Mass with quite a different atmosphere - very joyful with lots of young families and standing room only - great.

Just having a quiet time now as we're eating this evening so I'm relishing the chance to sit and blog.

Hope you like the lovely picture - this was the card received from number 1 son. He always manages to find great cards - no Easter bunnies and fluffy chicks for him!

Happy Easter!

Getting serious now . ..

We've started our preparation for Easter seriously now. Number 1 son and I went to the cathedral yesterday evening for the Chrism Mass. It's very moving to see so many of our clergy gathered together and renewing the promises they made at ordination before the bishop.

The blessing of oils too is very powerful and it really helps to be able to relate this to the use of the same oils in our own parish throughout the year.

Back home fairly late but very happy and feeling somehow even more 'tuned-in' to continue along the familiar journey of the last few days of Holy Week and participate in the Easter Triduum.

I had to dash to the shops after work as I realised I had forgotten to buy any eggs. We always have eggs in some form for a light meal on Good Friday evening.

Just a few hours now until we go to the Mass of the Lord's Supper with the Washing of Feet. Thank goodness the Paterfamilias arrived home safely this morning after being overseas all week. He's catching a few 'zzzzzzzzzz's' in preparation for tonight.

Praying the weather forecast of rain tomorrow will be wrong or we'll all get very wet on our Walk of Witness in the morning. We'll still go, some years we just get wet!

Waiting ...

On a serious note, I'm beginning to feel the anticipation of Holy Week today. It's a strange feeling, it's not quite Holy Week but the tone of Lent seems to have changed. I have become more aware every day this week of the growing build up to Christ's Passion. I'm lucky that I'm able to get to Mass most days and for some reason I've felt this 'build-up' in the readings even more than usual this year.

Tomorrow we'll have our Palm Sunday procession around the church and then just a few more days until we celebrate the Triduum. I know our neighbours find it strange that we seem to practically 'live' at church in between Holy Thursday evening and Easter Sunday morning.

Ever since the children were quite small, we've managed to join in most of the Easter events in our parish, beginning with the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday with the Washing of Feet and watching at the altar of repose until midnight. In the early days, we'd take turns to 'watch' whilst the other stayed at home and babysat.

On Good Friday we join in a local ecumenical Walk of Witness along our High Street following a large cross and stopping at 'Stations' along the way. We've done this since the boys were tiny and we walked with the buggy alongside other families. Then home for a hot cross bun (that's lunch!) and back to church in the afternoon for Veneration of the Cross.

The Easter Vigil is of course the climax and we often have a little parish celebration afterwards with those newly received into the Church.