Saturday 16th March 2024 @ 7pm
Good Shepherd Chapel, Abbotsford
The evenings celebrations began with Metropolitan Raffaele singing a beautiful song about forgiveness. He then reminded us about lent and the importance of taking things on (rather than abstaining) and tending the unkempt garden.
Fr Mark read from Romans, which spoke about putting on the armour of light. This was followed by the procession of the Gospel amongst the people and Fr Matthew read from st Matthew. This spoke about the importance of forgiving people and fasting.
Metropolitan Raffaele gave his homily. He spoke about forgiveness and the story of the Prodigal son. He correlated Jesus with the son who goes out into the world and then returns, as He has come to gets us and bring us back with Him. He told how Mary became our mother, and then recounted the story from Egypt, April 1968 on the commemoration of Able. There was meant to be a genocide with red crosses painted on the doors of Christians. But two Muslim fellows saw a vision of Mary on the roof that f the church. Many people gathered and he intervention stopped the genocide. Finally, he reminded us that what we can’t forgive, we must let go of.
Then the liturgy of the catechumens. Isabella and Jesus (Josue) were invited to the front and Josue was welcomed into the catechumenate.
Then the liturgy continued with prayers for the departed, particularly two dear souls whom passed recently.
The gifts brought and blessed and Pre-sanctified lambs were created. Communion was shared by clergy then communion for all.
Raffi told of the Good Samaritan and anointing. Then he blessed the unction oil. Everyone was anointed and then the snacks.
