17/04/2003

The Easter period is the most significant period of the Christian liturgical year. Each day focuses on one aspect of the life-giving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter Ceremonies at St Stephen’s Cathedral will be:

7.00pm 17th April Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Last Supper

3.00pm 18th April Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion


7.30pm 19th April Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

10.00am 20th April Easter Sunday Day of the Lord’s Rising


Masses on Easter Sunday – 8am, 10am, 12noon, 7.30pm


Evening Mass of the Last Supper: Holy Thursday – 7pm
The three days of Easter begins on Holy Thursday evening. The focus of the service is the life, death and rising of Jesus. During the Mass the Archbishop will wash the feet of several people signifying sharing in the discipleship of Jesus.

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: Good Friday – 3pm
The solemn liturgy holds together the passion, suffering and death of Jesus and is based around the reading of the Passion story from John’s Gospel, the veneration of the Cross and the General Intercessions. Members of the congregation, dressed in black, carry a large wooden cross into the Church. At the foot of the sanctuary, the congregation will file past and kiss or touch the wooden cross.

Easter Vigil: Easter Saturday- 7.30pm
This vigil is a night of great celebration, expectation and joy. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important liturgy of the Church’s year.

Day of the Lord’s Rising: Easter Sunday – 10am
The celebration of Easter Day is reflected in the liturgy of Easter Sunday Mass. It is a day of joy celebrating the renewal of Christian lives through the resurrection of the Lord.


Released by the Catholic Communications Office