What do you get when you combine a week of sunshine with a family visit and preparations for Holy Week? A lot of fun stuff to do, that’s what. (Doesn’t everything seem like more fun when it’s sunny outside? The answer is yes. Even straightening candles for use at Easter Vigil is more fun when you can use a sunny windowsill instead of a hair dryer.)

This Monday saw the last pre-Confirmation “You Shall Be My Witnesses” program. Kurt and I both took part as “parent” leaders as our small groups shared affirmations with each other. The next time we’ll see that group will be at their Confirmation retreat in April, and we will have one more evening program for them after their Confirmation day in May. We have been so pleased with how things have gone this year! Tonight, the parent leaders will join us for supper in the hall to evaluate the program.

The last evening of "You Shall Be My Witnesses" small group discussions before Confirmation

I, at least, feel that the week has been full of Stations of the Cross. Dan and I visited Kennedy Park’s 3rd classes last week to do a lesson on the Stations, and each class came into the church for a Stations service this week. We were impressed with the curiosity these 8- and 9-year-olds showed. Most of them didn’t know the story of the Passion at the beginning of the lesson, but the story we told from the Gospels elicited the same shock at the crucifixion as it should from all of us. They all had a chance to participate in the service, see the stained glass windows in Clonard, and see the sacred space on the altar (featuring wheat from last Sunday’s Gospel). Then, on Tuesday evening, Teach Bhríde led our last Stations service of Lent. Monday and Tuesday were very busy days, since Jess and Kurt helped the 4th Class at Scoil Mhuire with a class Mass, and I met with the Kennedy Park Confirmation choir as well!

Everyone had a chance for some adventures in the sun as well. We bid farewell to the Mastertons as they went to explore Ireland and Poland. As for the rest of us, whether it was a shopping trip to town, a walk to the wildfowl reserve, or a day on the Fogarty’s farm, we found a way to enjoy the sunlight on our day off. We’ll keep that joy in mind as we get into Holy Week, when we’ll think about Christ lighting the world as we light the Paschal candle.

Wexford Quay in the sun