Archbishop Costelloe, with Deacon Paul Russell and MC Fr Kenneth Acosta-Garcia prepare to light the candle during the liturgy of light at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.
The resurrection is the final and absolute confirmation of the truth of all that Jesus came to do for us, to be for us, and to teach us, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said.
Speaking at the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass, 9 April at St Mary’s Cathedral, the Archbishop was joined by Cathedral Dean, Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, Assistant Priests Fr Richard Rutkauskas and Richard Smith, with Fr Kenneth Acosta-Garcia as MC.
Deacon Paul Russell assisted for the 9pm Vigil Mass and Deacon Aaron Peters assisted for the 11am Mass.
“God really is as close to us, and as compassionate and merciful towards us, and as loving, as Jesus proclaimed him to be,” continued Archbishop Costelloe.
The Vigil Mass saw the baptism of six people by Archbishop Costelloe in the presence of some 650 people.
Each person called into the Church by baptism, said Archbishop Costelloe becomes a member of this privileged people.
Archbishop Costelloe conducts the blessing of the water at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.
Archbishop Costelloe baptises a Cathedral parishioner at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.
“And we here tonight count ourselves among those who, in a special way, have been given this precious gift of knowing and experiencing God’s love.
“It is this knowledge and this experience that we are called to carry with us and share with everyone we meet.
“It is this knowledge and this experience which can, if we are truly open to it, set our hearts on fire, just as the hearts of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus burnt brightly within them as they found the Lord walking with them,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
Archbishop Costelloe blesses the newly baptised and those received into the Catholic Church at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.
A Cathedral parishioner holds his candle during the liturgy of light at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. Photo: Ron Tan/Archdiocese of Perth.