CATHOLICS flocked in large numbers to churches and Mass centres throughout Brisbane archdiocese during the Easter Triduum.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, who presided at the 10am Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday, said the crowd was the largest he had seen in 18 years.
The crowd of worshippers, estimated to be between 1200 and 1400, filled the cathedral, and similar numbers attended the 3pm solemn liturgy of the Passion of the Christ on Good Friday.
Archbishop Bathersby presided at the 3pm Passion and the 10am Good Friday Stations of the Cross as well as the Easter Vigil and 10am Easter Sunday Mass.
He said Easter services at the cathedral attracted a large number of people from multicultural backgrounds.
The Easter Triduum is considered the busiest time of the year for Catholics, with many priests presiding at all five major services throughout the three days.
Chris Ehler, from the archdiocese’s Ministry and Community Life team, said the archdiocese’s 103 parishes had 153 churches and Mass centres and it was a challenging time for parishes with only one parish priest, but several Mass centres within their boundaries.
“They have to negotiate a fair and workable roster so that services are rotated around different Mass centres or they have to find a large central venue that suits the majority of people,” Mr Ehler said.
He said the increase in worshippers over Easter celebrations was generally estimated to be about 30 per cent across the archdiocese but could be higher in some centres.
In the archdiocese’s largest parishes – Burleigh Heads and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast – thousands flocked to Mass centres.
The three Mass centres in the Surfers Paradise parish accommodated more than 5750 Mass goers at the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses, with the largest attendance the 9am Easter Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters.
The church, which has a capacity for 800 to 900 people, was packed to overflowing with about 1200 worshippers attending. Some stood four to five-deep under the portico at the church entrance and spilled out into the sunshine.
Burleigh Heads parish, the largest in the archdiocese, welcomed just fewer than 2000 people to its three Saturday-night vigils.
Parish manager Jim Littlefield said eight services were held across the parish’s five Mass centres on Easter Sunday and most were “packed to the rafters”.
He said numbers at Easter Sunday services were estimated at about 2400, with parish priests believing numbers were up on previous years.
