The news of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, came in the early hours of Easter Monday. Surely, we knew how frail he was, yet he determined to impart his Apostolic Blessing for Easter Sunday and to be close to the pilgrims present in Rome, particularly during this Holy Year. The Lord called the pope to Himself even as the beauty, joy, and light of Easter celebrations began. Our prayer can be that the pope is now at rest with the Lord and that he will see God face to face.

Thank you to all those who anticipated the Holy Father’s funeral yesterday (Saturday) by attending Holy Mass on Friday evening ahead of the funeral in Rome and were able to unite ourselves in prayer at the Altar.

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Notwithstanding our duty to pray for Pope Francis, now our prayer must turn to the Sacred College of Cardinals, who have the solemn duty to choose - under the guidance of the Holy Spirit - not a successor to Pope Francis, but rather a Successor to St Peter. As the preparations for the Conclave begin, please pray every day for the man already known in God’s Providence to be the 267th Successor to the Apostle Peter and the next Bishop of Rome, our Holy Father. May our Lady, Mother of the Church and Ss Peter and Paul pray for us.

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Meanwhile, a new experimental Sunday Mass begins Sunday afternoon at 4pm. If Saturday evening or the morning Masses on Sunday do not fit with your work or family commitments and schedule, my hope is that a mid-afternoon Sunday Mass might help you to fulfil your Sunday obligation to attend Mass every week. Moreover, this Mass time is offered to the families and children of our five Catholic schools with a renewed invitation to see Sunday Mass as the true beginning of the school week. For families who have chosen a Catholic school, the week cannot begin simply on a Monday morning with the school bell but must begin on a Sunday morning with the sacristy bell. Please pray that many children and families will be granted the grace by God to re-discover the joy of coming to Mass each Sunday.

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Finally, please pray for the children who attend non-Catholic schools who are preparing for their first Confession and first Holy Communion - they begin their preparation after the new 4pm Sunday Mass today.

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God bless us all in the week ahead.