Unusually at this time of year, there are three priestly ordinations of Beda students within ten days. On Friday 21 April, Declan Brett was ordained at St Marie's Cathedral, Sheffield for Hallam Diocese. On Saturday 29 April, Brillis Mathew will be ordained for the Emirates Vicariate in St Mary's, Dubai (live on http://www.gracefilled.org at 6.30pm Dubai time). On Monday 1st May, Oliver Tham OFM will be ordained in St Ann's Church, Kota, Padawan, Kuching. Our best wishes and prayers go with all these Beda men.

The Beda College was the venue today for the Thai community living in Rome to celebrate their New Year. After Mass in our chapel on Sunday morning, there was the traditional washing of hands to mark the Thai New Year followed by a wonderful shared lunch in the student common room. First year student for Chiangmai Diocese in Thailand, Oak Rosarpitak, was delighted to welcome his compatriots for this celebratory occasion.

Our celebrations of Easter begin with the Vigil tonight and will continue in various forms over the next few weeks. A short Easter break starts tomorrow and many students and staff will be taking advantage of the Spring weather to go home or to see more of Italy. Our lectures resume on Monday 24th April. We wish all our readers a very happy and joy-filled Eastertide.

Holy Week begins tonight with a period of Recollection led by Fr John Carlyle. On Palm Sunday the blessing of palms takes place in the garden followed by the procession to the chapel. Later in the week the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil Liturgies will take place as usual in the college. During this week,we hold in our hearts at the foot of the cross the innocent victims of evil and injustice throughout the world. "We need to take the tears we shed for Jesus and use them to wash the blood-stained faces of the Good Friday people of our own day." (Sheila Cassidy)