FOR Catholics, Easter is a time of hope and devotion through the Paschal Liturgies. And for communities of the Neocatechumenal Way, accustomed to large Easter vigil gatherings, the limitations of social distancing, proved a challenging prospect. The Neocatechumenal Way has about 70 communities in 13 dioceses across Australia. So instead of meeting as communities, Neocatechumenal families were invited to follow ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Easter Vigil
‘A beautiful and profound experience’ – Easter joy rises in hearts of new Catholics everywhere
STORMY conditions didn’t stop Jesus from entering the hearts of more than 100 new Catholics as they were welcomed into the Church in Brisbane at Easter. The joy and hope of our Risen Jesus was experienced by thousands of parishioners across the state, especially during the Easter Vigil Masses. Candidates and neophytes lined the pews for Baptism and/or Confirmation in ... Read More »
The Risen Christ is here – Archbishop Mark Coleridge delivers powerful Easter Homily
IN recent days fire has been much on our minds and before our eyes – never more so than at this Easter time when we light the new fire, as we did last night. Fire is deeply mysterious and potent – in its capacity both to create and to destroy. No wonder they thought in other times that it came ... Read More »
Easter message – the time is right to get back to basics
This is an Easter message from Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris. At Easter, we celebrate Jesus risen from the dead and we sing with gusto “Alleluia”. Our faith tells us that it happened and yet do our lives truly reflect that it happened? I mean, because Jesus rose from the dead, death does not have the last word in His life ... Read More »
‘He is risen’ – Salesian Father Frank Freeman writes about the resurrection, the heart of our faith
IT is a difficult task to change people’s attitude or mind-set, as anyone engaged in education will readily tell you. To change whole personalities, to turn around life’s patterns, needs a miracle. Twelve men, unlettered in the main, yet skilled in the practical aspects of the fishermen trade, once followed Christ for diverse reasons. Some dreamt of an earthly ... Read More »
Risen Christ calls new Catholics into Brisbane family at Easter
NEW Catholics were radiant with joy across Brisbane archdiocese as more than 100 people entered the Church this Easter. At St Mary’s, South Brisbane, parish priest Capuchin Father Lam Vu baptised eight adults and received a further four into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass. Another adult was also confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Fr Vu ... Read More »
Neocatechumenal Way community members complete rite of passage during Easter Vigil
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge described “an extraordinary” faith journey of 35 years as he presented white baptismal garments to a Brisbane Catholic community completing its final catechumenal rite of passage during Easter. “It is a birth and every birth involves a death, and you have died to many things in order that you may be born,” Archbishop Coleridge said as ... Read More »
Young scientist thanks God for her second chance at life by becoming Catholic at Easter
SURVIVING a life-and-death experience inspired Linh Hoang to invite God into her life and become a Catholic. A former Jehovah’s Witness, Ms Hoang said she always knew God existed, but stopped practising her faith when she was a teenager. But a personal experience in Japan prompted her to become a Catholic at Easter. While on holidays in Japan with her ... Read More »
Hundreds are waiting to become Catholic at Easter Vigil Masses across Brisbane
CATHOLICS around the globe are waiting in anticipation to break their 40 days of fasting at Easter but more than 100 people in Brisbane have greater reason to celebrate Christ’s resurrection this year. This year, 108 people living in the Brisbane archdiocese will receive the three sacraments of initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist – and enter the Catholic ... Read More »