This week we celebrate Palm Sunday and with that the beginning of Holy Week.  Over the years, Palm Sunday has become a day when thousands of people around the country gather to march for justice for refugees and asylum seekers.  Details of this year’s Palm Sunday March can be found on the Victorian Council of Churches website.  These marches have grown out of the awareness that during Holy Week we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus who was an innocent victim, who suffered at the hands of his fellow human beings.  His resurrection is the sign that God is on the side of all who are innocent victims of unjust and cruel treatment.  There is a strong call to justice throughout the Holy Week ceremonies.

You are invited to join one of our parish communities for the Easter Triduum.  The Easter ceremonies are like an annual retreat and renewal for Christians.  They can help us refocus our lives and our communities, and strengthen our faith and hope.

The Easter Season is always one of renewal.  It is a time for rebirth and new life.  Our Parish Pastoral Council would like to use the Easter Season to see what new life we can bring to our own parish communities.  In order to do that we will run three evenings of conversation with the Parish Pastoral Council.

The first evening will be open to all parishioners across our parish communities and will be held on Wednesday, 26 April at 7.30 pm at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene.

The second evening will be an invitation to the parents in our school communities and will be held on Wednesday, 3 May at 7.30 pm at Our Holy Redeemer Church, Surrey Hills.

The third evening will be an invitation to young people (18-35 yrs) across our parishes and will be held on Wednesday, 17 May at 7.30 pm at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene

You are invited to keep one of these nights free and join us as we seek together to look for ways to strengthen and renew our communities.

By Fr Brendan Reed