As we begin our Easter break, I am reminded of the wonderful time of year this is. Many of us would have memories of camping trips; family gatherings; days at the Easter Show; beautiful cool mornings followed by bright sunny days; and, of course, chocolate - and lots of it!

This eveving, we celebrate the first of the three commemorations of the Church’s most important time of the year, the Easter Triduum - Holy Thursday, when Christ washed the feet of his disciples and shared bread and wine with them; Good Friday, when Jesus, despite his very human fear and trepidation,  demonstrated his great love for us by sacrificing himself on the Cross; and then the feast of Easter itself, when Jesus triumphed over death, rising to remain with us to this day. 

These events, celebrated in the Easter Triduum ceremonies over the coming weekend, are a reminder of how we should live our lives, as Jesus showed us: by forgiving others, loving one another, having faith, spreading the Good News, and embracing hope. We pray, this Easter, that we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the hope his resurrection brings, that we too might live our lives with faith, knowing that God is with us always.

I encourage all of you to take some time to reflect on the significance of this short holiday and what it means to us as Catholics. Let us remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and strive to emulate his teachings of love, compassion, and forgiveness in our daily lives.

Finally, I wish you all a blessed Easter and a restful break. May we return a little refreshed on Wednesday 3 April 2024 ready to tackle the end of Term 1.