“I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to be a witness to the truth, and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.”
The crucifixion and death of Christ, commemorating the day that ‘Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures,’ (1 Corinthians 15:3) was celebrated this year on Friday, 2 April.
At Saint Mary’s Cathedral Perth, Good Friday began with the Stations of the Cross at 10am, followed by a service at 3pm.
This was accompanied by a livestream service from St Mary’s Cathedral, by the Archdiocese on their St Mary’s Cathedral social media platforms – providing an opportunity for those unable to attend (due to the pandemic restrictions) to join in the service.
For the Passion service, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB was joined by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General the Very Rev Father Peter Whitely VG, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation Fr Vincent Glynn, St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, St Mary’s Cathedral Assistant Priests’ Fathers CJ Millen and Richard Rutkauskas, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Vice-Rector Fr Luis Tijerino, retired Cathedral Dean Monsignor Michael Keating and assisted by Permanent Deacon Paul Russell.
Archbishop Costelloe’s homily message focused on defining the truth of God, a truth which Jesus bore witness to, throughout His earthly ministry.
“This truth of which Jesus was speaking, and to which He has come to bear witness is, of course, the truth proclaimed in every page of the Gospel, the truth which Jesus identifies with, when He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
“The truth to which Jesus bears witness is the truth about God Himself – about who God is, about who we are, and about what it means to live our lives in openness to and in communion with the very source of our life.
The Stations of the Cross and Good Friday service celebrating the passion of Christ, was held on Friday, 2 April at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Archdiocesan priests led the celebrations, attended by many, both physically and virtually. Photos: Ron Tan.
“No one has ever seen God,” we are told in the first chapter of the Gospel. “It is His only Son who is nearest to the Father’s heart who has made Him known,” Archbishop Costelloe added.
It is this very truth, Archbishop Costelloe went on to say, which Pilate could not grasp and some of the religious leaders of the time could not accept, a truth for which countless martyrs across the last 2000 years, and still today, die for.
“This is the truth which lies at the heart of all the works of mercy, compassion and justice which are part of the life of our Church. This is the truth that so many people of our own time regard as a fantasy or a delusion but at the same time, it is also the truth which enables people to approach the end of their lives and the mystery of death with hope, with trust, in faith and even with confidence and joy.”
Archbishop Costelloe concluded his homily with a reminder of ‘God’s overwhelming love’ for His people.
“I pray that we leave Church today, with a renewed trust in the love and mercy of God. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He will also raise us from the emptiness of our sins to the fullness of life, both now and when we pass through the gates of death into the Lord’s presence.”
Watch or re-watch the livestream of the Good Friday service 3pm Mass:
