Busy weekend for church as Easter activity continues

Easter is a busy time for many people in the Cook Islands as they join the rest of the world to celebrate one of the greatest religious festivals in the Christian church. It is a celebrative holiday when Christians mark the end of Lent and to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Cook Islands Catholic Bishop Paul Donoghue said activity at churches around the island began on Thursday night when mass was celebrated. “In the Catholic tradition, priests celebrate mass every day of their lives except on Good Friday to honour a request of Christ. After the mass, he said people had continued praying until midnight. “On Good Friday at 3.00 pm, considered the likely hour that Jesus died, another service was held. This had two main parts – reading the account of the Passion from one of the gospels and then every person attending was invited to come forward and venerate the cross. “This acknowledges that our sinfulness and wrongdoings have contributed in some way to Jesus having to die on the cross. It is an acknowledgment of our appreciation of the love God had in saving us on the cross,” he said. Today, Holy Saturday, Bishop Donoghue said Catholics would gather to mark the moment when Christ rose from the dead. “The Easter candle is lit, symbolising that light has triumphed over darkness. Then the moment of resurrection is recalled by the singing of the solemn Easter Alleluias. Church bells inside and outside of the church are rung to express the Christian joy in Christ, who was thought to be dead, but who is alive and with us.” For Catholics, a busy long weekend will end with Sunday mass tomorrow, with the emphasis on the risen Jesus meeting a group of women and his disciples. - Atasa Moceituba

Easter is a busy time for many people in the Cook Islands as they join the rest of the world to celebrate one of the greatest religious festivals in the Christian church. It is a celebrative holiday when Christians mark the end of Lent and to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Cook Islands Catholic Bishop Paul Donoghue said activity at churches around the island began on Thursday night when mass was celebrated. “In the Catholic tradition, priests celebrate mass every day of their lives except on Good Friday to honour a request of Christ. After the mass, he said people had continued praying until midnight. “On Good Friday at 3.00 pm, considered the likely hour that Jesus died, another service was held. This had two main parts – reading the account of the Passion from one of the gospels and then every person attending was invited to come forward and venerate the cross. “This acknowledges that our sinfulness and wrongdoings have contributed in some way to Jesus having to die on the cross. It is an acknowledgment of our appreciation of the love God had in saving us on the cross,” he said. Today, Holy Saturday, Bishop Donoghue said Catholics would gather to mark the moment when Christ rose from the dead. “The Easter candle is lit, symbolising that light has triumphed over darkness. Then the moment of resurrection is recalled by the singing of the solemn Easter Alleluias. Church bells inside and outside of the church are rung to express the Christian joy in Christ, who was thought to be dead, but who is alive and with us.” For Catholics, a busy long weekend will end with Sunday mass tomorrow, with the emphasis on the risen Jesus meeting a group of women and his disciples. - Atasa Moceituba