The Catholic Weekly 5 April 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 3 5, April, 2020 CATHOLICS AROUND Aus- tralia will be able to watch Easter services live on nation- al television from St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. In a 7News special, the top- rating network will stream The Lord’s Passion at 3pm on Good Friday and and Easter Sunday Mass from 10.30am across the country on Chan- nel 7, Prime 7 in regional areas, and live-streamed on 7plus. Both liturgies will be broadcast commercial free and in their entirety. Archbishop Anthony Fish- er OP welcomed the partner- ¾ ¾ Catholic Weekly staff Easter to be televised ship, saying he was grateful to the network for recognising the importance to Catholics in the commemoration of Good Friday and the celebra- tion of Easter Sunday Mass. “These national broadcasts mean people of all ages and no matter where they live or are currently isolating, will now be able to participate in the Mass,” Archbishop Fisher said. “I know it will be especially welcome news to those living in nursing homes and aged care facilities who will espe- cially be feeling the sting of separation from family over Easter, due to the restrictions on visits, and whose connec- tion to their faith remains strong. “All Australians are experi- encing hardship at this time as we seek to limit the spread of the Coronavirus and many people are being asked to make great sacrifices such as our health professionals working long hours and risk- ing their own health. Another sacrifice for people of faith is being unable to gather phys- ically to celebrate the sacra- ments or even to spend time praying in a church. “But by televising these services, it means we can spiritually come together to maintain our life of prayer and worship and strengthen our communion with one an- other.” Aside from rare occasions such as the papal visits of popes Paul VI in 1970, John Paul II in 1986 and Bene- dict XVI for World Youth Day 2008, the broadcast of Easter Masses on a national network in Australia is unprecedent- ed. The Director of 7News Syd- ney, Jason Morrison, said the network was pleasedto help. “Easter is the most sacred time of the Jear on the litur- gical calendar,” Mr Morrison- said. “With public gatherings and church services cur- rentlly closedin response to the pandemic, the 7NEWS team is proud to helpthe Church to bring these impor- tant services to home sacross the country.” Parishes around Sydney and across the country have begun livestreaming Mass- es and devotions as a way of dealing with church clo- sures. The Good Friday’s Lord’s Passion will go to air on Fri- day 10 April at 3pm while Easter Sunday Mass, cele- brated by Archbishop Antho- ny Fisher OP will air on Sun- day 12 April from 10.30am. Channel 7 will broadcast Cathedral’s Good Friday Passion, Easter Sunday liturgies nationally These national broadcasts mean people of all ages and no matter where they live or are currently isolating, will now be able to participate in the Mass.” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP CHURCHES MAY be locked but as the nights get cooler and public health precautions stricter, parishes across Syd- ney are keeping the lights on as a reminder that Christ will always be a beacon of hope in life’s dark times. In Mortlake in Sydney’s inner west, the three large archedwindows of St Patrick’s church foyer which overlooks Gale Street have become a life-sized shrine which is vis- ible day and night. In the centre window is a cross draped with a purple cloth and to the left the prayer intention book listing names of the parish’s deceased with a picture of St MaryMacKillop of the Cross. On the right window are posted drawings and prayers written by children on paper shamrocks (a symbol used by St Patrick to represent God) for those affected by the coro- navirus. “Dear God, please look af- ter those who are sick, please look after each and every one of them,” reads one along a coloured-in image of Jesus healing the paralysed man from the Gospels. Parish administrator Fa- ther Tom Stevens said the heart-warming display is an attempt to connect with people, including parishion- ers upset at the suspension of Masses, in a non-physi- ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Church lights shine out Parishes become visible symbols of faith’s radiance amid pandemic The doors are shut but the Church is still present: Fr Tom Stevens has turned St Patrick’s Mortlake into a shrine overlooking Gale Street. cal way. “It symbolises what Catholicism is - the bringing together of all those different groups and the saints with the cross as a sign of hope in the centre,” he said. Fr Stevens presided at two funerals last week for life-time parishioner John Walker and another long-time parishion- er George Cepak following hygiene rules and the current 10-person limit on funerals. “They were actually quite beautiful,” he said. “Having 10 family mem- bers there at the end of the day is a pretty simple and powerful message.” The parish will create a new sacred symbol display for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Other churches across Syd- ney which are keeping alight at night include the Maronite co-cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harris Park. “We are keeping the lights on as a reminder and symbol that the light of Christ can never be put out,” said the cathedral’s dean Father Tony Sarkis. “His light is the lamp that guides our steps, especially during these difficult times. “The light is a reminder to us that we are also called to be the Light of the world. “The lights that are shining above the cathedral, shining on the statue of Our Lady re- mind us that she is also with us in this time. “At the cross, Jesus gave the church Mary as a mother and a guide, through her in- tercession, we will be able to get through the present dark- ness.” At St Charles Borromeo church in Ryde and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Gladesville the traditional stained-glass windows are on display in all their glory as parish priest Father Greg Morgan FMVD leaves the lights on every night. Soon to be added are banners for the front of the churches which will read “Christ is our Light”. “Since we are prevented by public health and safety guidelines from opening the doors of our churches to our people, who may need Christ nowmore than ever, we will at least be keeping the lights on all night long at our churches for as long as this coronavirus crisis lasts,” Father Morgan said. “We want people to know that Jesus has not forgotten It symbolises what Cathol- icism is - the bringing to- gether of all those different groups and the saints with the cross as a sign of hope in the centre.” Fr Tom Stevens them, and that the Church is still ‘open for business’ even if the doors be closed.” Parish- ioners are also sharing their faith from their homes as Holy Week approaches, plac- ing palms or crucifixes in their front windows or decorating the front of their houses with lights and sacred symbols. Maryanne Mifsud-Pick- ering of St Margaret Mary’s parish in Merrylands has decorated the front of her house with lights, large palm branches surrounding a cru- cifix and a sign reading ‘Palm Sunday’. The display is alight un- til 11.30pm every night. Her family, including her 80-year mother who leads the rosary group at the parish, want- ed to help “spread the faith” during the holiest week of the Church’s calendar at a time when places of worship are closed. “Mass at home means we go ‘all out’ to remember what really matters,” Mrs Mifsud-Pickering said. St Charles Borromeo is aglow. PHOTOS:ALPHONSUS FOK NEWS