Holy Week and Easter

"We, Sisters of Mercy Parramatta Congregation, will share with others, including people of different faiths and no religious faith, the joys and struggles of this spiritual journey." (Chapter Statement).

This week Christians mark Holy Week and  Easter (13- 20 April) and Jews celebrate the Passover (12 -20  April.

In his homily read out during the celebration in Saint Peter's Square marking Palm Sunday, Pope Francis called on us all  to reflect on God's limitless compassion, "how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week", and help others "all around us" who bear the cross of suffering.

The Pope reflected, "Jesus’ passion becomes compassion whenever we hold out our hand to those who feel they cannot go on, when we lift up those who have fallen, when we embrace those who are discouraged. Brothers and sisters, in order to experience this great miracle of mercy, let us decide how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week: if not on our shoulders, in our hearts. And not only our cross, but also the cross of those who suffer all around us; perhaps even the cross of some unknown person whom chance — but is it really chance? — has placed on our way. Let us prepare for the Lord’s paschal mystery by becoming each of us, for one another, a Simon of Cyrene."
 
Join us in prayer, thought or reflection on the significance of these days for ourselves, for each other, for the wider community and for the needs of the world in which we live.