Easter in the Parishes 2022: Armadale, Wanneroo and Lynwood/Langford

28 Apr 2022

By Jamie O'Brien

Parishes across Perth celebrated the various liturgies of Easter in a variety of ways this year, including the Vigil at Lynwood Langford St Jude’s Church, A contemplative Way of the Cross at Wanneroo and a Tableau style Stations of the Cross led by youth at Armadale Parish.

Lynwood Langford

Parishioners from St Jude’s Church Lynwood Langford parish came together for the Easter Vigil.

  • Lynwood/Langford Parish Priest Fr Terry Raj blesses the new Paschal Candle, Saturday 16 April, during the 6.30pm Vigil Mass. Photo: Supplied/Lynwood/Langford Parish.
  • Lynwood/Langford Parish Priest Fr Terry Raj blesses the congregation, Saturday 16 April, during the 6.30pm Vigil Mass. Photo: Supplied/Lynwood/Langford Parish.
  • Lynwood/Langford Parish Priest Fr Terry Raj elevates the new Paschal Candle, Saturday 16 April, during the 6.30pm Vigil Mass. Photo: Supplied/Lynwood/Langford Parish.

More than 150 people came together for the 6.30pm service, which included a Liturgy of Light outside led by Parish Priest Fr Terry Raj.

Wanneroo

Parishioners from Wanneroo St Anthony’s Church presented a performance on Good Friday called The Contemplative Way of The Cross, written and directed by parishioner, Gerald Searle.

Fellow parishioners assisted with the different aspects of the production.

The performance enabled parishioners to see and contemplate Jesus, played by Bruce Plint, interacting with all those He meets on his way to Calvary.

Parishioners from Wanneroo St Anthony’s Church presented a performance on Good Friday called The Contemplative Way of The Cross, written and directed by parishioner, Gerald Searle. Photo: Supplied/Wanneroo Parish.

And Jesus speaks to all as they contemplate him on his journey.

Parishioners were also able to meet all those who interacted with Jesus and how they were transformed by their encounter with him. 
Many were brought to tears by the experience. 

Armadale

More than 250 people gathered on the hill behind the Schoenstatt shrine in Armadale to follow The Way of the Cross for Good Friday.

Youth of St Francis Xavier Church Armadale Parish during The Way of the Cross Tableau style, Good Friday, 15 April. Photo: Supplied/Armadale Parish.

The young people of St Francis Xavier Church have been leading the community in this Good Friday journey every year since 2006, with the exception of a pause during the pandemic in 2020.

Following the Stations as used by Saint Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, the young people formed a tableau for each station, depicting the scene, while a reader described the scene, and another read a reflection. 

Youth of St Francis Xavier Church Armadale Parish during The Way of the Cross Tableau style on Good Friday, 15 April. Photo: Supplied/Armadale Parish.

The leaders then moved to the next Station followed by the crowd, singing traditional hymns as they continued up the stony hill into the bush.

This year the re-enactment included children from Xavier Catholic School, members and graduates from the Parish youth group Youth Building Community, several musicians, two acolytes and some altar servers. 

The event was enabled by several weeks of practice and the preparation and clearing of the track by members of the Knights os the Southern Cross.

This year the Armadale Parish Good Friday re-enactment of The Way of the Cross included children from Xavier Catholic School, members and graduates from the Parish youth group Youth Building Community, several musicians, two acolytes and some altar servers. Photo: Supplied/Armadale Parish.

Armadale parishioners were grateful for the hospitality shown by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.