A Festival of Music will take place in Geelong's historic churches on Friday 16th April to Sunday 18th April.  The program features five concerts on Saturday and five concerts on Sunday with the Feature Concert on Friday at 8.00pm at St Mary's Basilica with the Seven Last Words of Christ, a Sacred Cantata by Theodore Dubois. 

Please follow the link below for detailed information, times and addresses of participating churches.

www.musicatthebasilica.org.au

A Floral Mosaic will also be on display at the Basilica - this has been designed by Ron Eichler with flowers donated by many flower growers in the Geelong region and arranged and maintained by a happy band of volunteers - viewing of this incredible mosaic is free of charge.

MEDITATION

Fron the moment when man, as a result of sin, was driven away from the Tree of Life (cf Gen 3-23-24), the earth became a burial ground. With as many burial places as there are men.  A great planet of tombs.

Close to Calvary there was a tomb belonging to Jospeh of Arimathea (cf Mt 27-60).  In it, with Jospeh's consent, the body of Jesus was placed after being taken down from the Cross (cf Mk 15-42-66 ff). They laid it there in haste so that the burial might be completed before the feast of Passover, which began at sunset.

In one of the countless tombs scattered all over the continents in this planet of ours, the Son of God, the Man Jesus Christ, conquered death with death.  O mors, era mors tua! (First Antiphon of morning prayer for Holy Saturday).  The Tree of Life from which man was banished as a result of sin is set before mankind anew in the Body of Christ.  "If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever, and the bread which I shall give for the life of the word is my flesh" (Jn 6:51).  Though our planet is constantly being filled with fresh tombs, though the cemetry in which man, who comes from dust  and returns to dust (cf Gen 3:19) is always growing, nonetheless all who gaze upon the tomb of Jesus Christ live in the hope of Resurrection.

Holy Thursday is remembered as Christ's Last Supper with His Disciples when He instituted the Eucharist and the  Priesthood.  Both of these sacraments include an element of service where Jesus washes the feet of His Disciples, leaving us the best example of service.

Lent is the time of preparation for the death of Christ on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday when ashes, made by burning the blessed palms distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday, are placed onto a person's forehead with the Sign of the Cross whilst saying:

"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return".

Lent is a time for abstinence, prayer, spiritual renewal, repentance and good works

Pope Benedict stated on Ash Wednesday evening:

"The reward for repentance and good works, “is not the admiration of others, but friendship with God and the grace that comes with it, a grace that gives peace and the strength to do good, to love even those who don’t deserve it and to forgive those who have offended us.”

We apologize for any incorrect Mass times - there is a software fault around Daylight Saving which has impacted on our Calendar.

This problem is being rectified.

Thankyou to all the stallholders and everyone who worked on the Fair@Torquay.  Inspite of the threatening weather, the Fair managed to stay open for three hours until the rain came.  There was plenty of pumping action with a rock band, song and dance routines, a lively DJ, plenty of food, rides, gift stalls and entertainment.  Stay tuned for our next blockbuster......................

"I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. " John 8:12

Jesus, you are my light.  Lead me out of darkness

When light and meaning fail you in life, look to the Word of God, shedding light and illuminating your journey.