As we celebrate Easter, the entire Beda community echoes the Rector's Website message in wishing all our past students, friends, relatives and supporters a joy-filled, happy and blessed Eastertime. May the light of the Risen Christ dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. Alleluia.
From the Hosannas of Palm Sunday through to the solemn Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, the Beda community has entered into the spirit of Holy Week, celebrating the liturgy with dignity and prayerfulness. Everyone has been involved in preparing or taking part in the Services. Now we await the Easter Vigil which will be followed by a few days of rest and recuperation.
Our Holy Week celebrations began this morning with the blessing of palms in the garden, followed by a procession of palms and then the moving reading of St Luke's Passion within our community Mass. Earlier, Fr John Carlyle had led the college in a few hours of recollection to prepare for Holy Week. The Rector offered sincere thanks for all the background work in sacristy, music and organising the ceremonies which paid off as we begin a prayerful journey towards the Passion and to Easter.
Yesterday evening, nine members of Second Year received the Ministry of Acolyte, a step forward on the journey towards priesthood. Bishop Terence Drainey from Middlesbrough, one of the three bishops currently on the annual visitiation from the Bishops' Conference, presided at the Mass (See a link to his Homily by clicking the title above). The new Acolytes were joined by friends and family for the evening celebrations. Ad Multos Annos.
On Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent the Station Mass takes place in St Paul's Basilica. The Beda provided servers and choir and the Rector was the preacher. The celebrant was Cardinal Harvey, Archpriest of St Paul's. Our Beda Community mingled with the regular daily Station Mass-goers who were invited to the college for breafast after Mass. A good gathering of young people, students and staff from other colleges enjoyed true Beda hospitality before heading off for their day's work.