By Amanda Murthy
Journeying together as a community was the aim for the community of Rockingham Parish (Our Lady of Lourdes Church), as various groups of the parish took part in the events leading up to the Easter celebrations from 14 to 21 April.
The Holy Week celebrations began with a Palm Sunday procession – neighbouring Kolbe Catholic College Year 7 students assisted the parish community for the Gospel reading.
The eight students, holding their palms, assisted Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) Church Parish Priest Father Pierluigi Vajra CRS in delivering the narrative for the Passion of the Lord for the day.
Holy Thursday saw 12 parishioners from different age groups, come forward to get their feet washed by Rockingham Assistant Parish Priest Fr Vijay D’ Souza CRS. Young parishioner Indiana Svilicic was tasked with bringing forward the oil of Sacred Chrism.
The Good Friday celebrations included the Stations of the Cross event at 10am, followed by the Passion of the Lord at 3pm.
The Easter Vigil Mass commenced at 7pm with the blessing of the fire and proclamation of the Exultet.
The five catechumens baptised were Tara Caldwell, Bridget Edwards, Tracy Lamers, Phuong Nguyen, and Kelly Toma. The candidates included Raymond Caldwell, Noah Moffin, and Wendy Ann Wells.
During his homily, Fr Vajra made two reference to the readings on the transfiguration of Christ: “…there were two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side”.
“The clothes are dazzling because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb,” Fr Vajra said.
“The fountain of salvation is now unsealed, as we say in the blessing of the water during the Easter Vigil and baptism,” he concluded.
The Easter Sunday Masses were held at 7.30am, 8am, 9.30am and 6pm.