The Rector of Corpus Christi College, Fr Denis Stanley, once suggested that Holy Week in the seminary is a picnic compared to the parish. He was right. My Holy Week in 2021 was in the parish Church of St Kilian’s, in the heart of Bendigo. It was a lot of things but it certainly was not a picnic.
There were a total of 11 acts of worship, including Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass (at the Cathedral), the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday, the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and the Easter Sunday Masses. They were one after the other, with preparation needed prior to each one of them, and so many mysteries of the faith to remember, cherish and internalise in the space of eight days and in a short time to contemplate them.
That is one part of the drama that befits Holy Week. The other part and most important drama is that which our Lord Jesus Christ endured; from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem with presumably mostly strangers, until his precious time with the Apostles; from His suffering and death until His glorious resurrection and victory. It’s certainly a dramatic week for Jesus too!
And so clergy, seminarians and the laity share in these emotional experiences with Jesus in the celebration of the Holy Week liturgies and their reactions to them. When I was asked to read the Passion narrative on at one Palm Sunday Mass, I could not help but feel the anger of those who accused Jesus and shouted for his crucifixion. Yet, I was grateful for the great gift of His Body and Blood in the Mass. I was privileged to be there remembering many parts of the world are suffering the same restrictions we faced in 2020.
From left to right is Ezekiel Hangan, Jackson Saunders, Bishop Emeritus of Sandhurst Les Tomlinson, Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay, Dominic Manatad and Adonis Peña after the Chrism Mass in Bendigo.
On Monday, my fellow seminarians and I had a rehearsal at the Cathedral for the Chrism Mass, followed by an afternoon at Bishop Shane Mackinlay’s residence. It was a relaxing and helpful event that enabled us seminarians to bond with our bishop and get to know each other as we prepare to work with each other.
On Tuesday both Bishop Shane and myself were able to have our first Chrism Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was a busy and major occasion but a joyous one nonetheless. A fresh batch of Sacramental oils were presented for the Oil of the Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Chrism. In the oils are the saving promises of Christ in Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing and Holy Orders.
Ezekiel Hangan incenses Bishop Shane during the Chrism Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo.
On Wednesday, what I thought would be a calm day to take a breath turned out to be more eventful than planned. I found myself noticing a gathering of mourners outside the Church. I went down there to see if everything was okay and sure enough the funeral directors needed assistance. Alas I found myself staying to serve, sharing in the grief and joy as a mother and grandmother’s life was recalled and her soul was entrusted to the mercy of God.
Maundy Thursday was an exciting day. For on this night, the Church celebrates Jesus’ institution of the ordained priesthood. She also begins the Holy Triduum, commemorating Jesus’ intimate meal with His friends, the Apostles. Alas we remember while it had its joy, it ended with His passion beginning in the garden of Gethsemane. After the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was reposed to the side altar, adorned with candles. I had the joy to “keep awake and pray” (Mk 14:38) knowing tomorrow will come; the time where Jesus will be taken away for us to mourn him. It was such a pleasant and intimate time to spend in silence, with the Eucharistic Lord.
The Altar of Repose at St Kilian’s Church in Bendigo where Ezekiel was assigned for Holy Week and Easter.
Good Friday had arrived, which is a of especially intense fasting and prayer. St Killian’s hosted a Stations of the Cross, which is a practice I have become accustomed to. But on that day especially, the sufferings of Christ are brought to our attention so vividly. Moreover, we pray that our sufferings may be united with His. Three o’clock came and what is most noticeable is venerating the cross, the wood upon which hung our salvation. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said one cannot experience the joy of Easter without first experiencing the pain of the Cross. So, at the halfway point of this Holy Triduum, here we were venerating the cross and thanking God for our salvation.
The 12th Station of the Cross at St Kilian’s in Bendigo where we remember how Jesus died on the cross.
The morning and day of Holy Saturday always feels weird. We are just waiting for Jesus’ triumphant return. But in between there is this bizarre dilemma of how do we feel? Eager, confused, let down, mournful, not stressed because we know what happened? How must Christians feel on this day? It was not until the preparations for the Easter Vigil begun that I begun to feel snippets of Easter joy.
The cross and decorations to reflect the Easter season are currently set up at St Kilian’s in Bendigo.
The beginning of the Easter Vigil at 7.30pm soon arrived and the overwhelming mother of vigils started outdoors, next to a hot fire. The loud and sung exultet is always a highlight for it is one of the most beautiful, poetic and richly detailed chants Mother Church has to proclaim. As we traced the sacred history of our salvation, we exalt with joy this most sacred night in which the Church was called to proclaim. The Good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. That night, three people were received into the Church at St Killian’s, a sign of the Great Commission continuing, because of this most joyous occasion and invitation. Once Mass had finished, the priests and servers looked at one another with joy, that after a busy week and an intense Triduum, we had finished these most profound celebrations.
From left to right is Miggy Podosky, Fr Junray Rayna, Fr Rob Galea, Ezekiel Hangan and Fr Paul Purcell.
Holy Week in St Kilian’s was busy, prayerful, emotional, stressful, exhilarating, demanding and certainly dramatic. But it was worth it.
May we all enjoy a peaceful, joyful and holy Eastertide.