Parish News – 3rd Sunday of Easter

Sunday, 19 April 2026

Walking with the Lord

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked to us on the road?” (Luke 24:32)

As we journey through this Easter season, we are reminded that Christ walks with us in every moment of our lives – guiding, listening, and revealing His presence in quiet ways. Let us remain open to recognising Him in our daily journey.

Welcome Back

We warmly welcome back all our children and young people after the holidays. We wish you every blessing for the new term, especially those preparing for exams.
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

Readers’ Ministry

A new Readers’ rota begins from Sunday, 3 May 2026.
We thank all who have generously offered their time in this ministry.

If you would like to join as a reader, you are most welcome – there is always space for one more. Please contact Sr Ursula.

Parish Garden Support

With the arrival of spring and summer, we invite volunteers to help care for the parish garden.
Offering around two hours once a week, especially for watering and upkeep, would be greatly appreciated.

Tea & Coffee Gathering

Join us after Sunday Mass in the parish hall for tea and coffee.
A wonderful time to connect as a parish family, with a special Kids’ Corner for children.

Upcoming Events

Family Mass

Sunday, 26 April 2026 at 10:30 am
All altar servers are requested to arrive 15 minutes early.
Children’s gardening activity will follow after Mass.

Spiritual Evening

Tuesday, 5 May 2026 at 7:30 pm
Theme: Biblical Women – Their Lives and Lessons
An evening of reflection, sharing, and prayer. All are welcome.

Youth Group Meeting

Saturday, 9 May 2026 at 4:30 pm
Held in the priest’s house meeting room and led by Celia.
All young people are encouraged to attend.

First Holy Communion Programme

• 27 April, 11 May, 18 May – Children’s sessions
• 1 June – Parents & children session
• First Holy Communion Celebration: Sunday, 7 June 2026 at 12 noon

Special Visitation

Saturday 30 May & Sunday 31 May 2026
Visitation of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
with relics of Saints Francisco and Jacinta.

Regular Parish Activities

• Wednesdays: 60+ Club (10:45 am)
• Wednesdays: Meditation, Breath & Yoga (6:00 pm)
• Second Tuesdays: Spiritual Evenings (7:30 pm)
• Third Fridays: Bible Study (7:30 pm)
• Second Saturdays: Youth Group (4:30 pm)
• Fourth Sundays: Family Mass (10:30 am)

Well-being at St Ann’s

Our parish continues to offer a holistic space for body, mind, and spirit through:

Meditation, breath work, and gentle movementve.

60+ Club gatherings

Reflexology & healing sessions

Homily for 3^rd Sunday of Easter

My dear brothers and sisters,

There is something profoundly gentle, deeply human, and at the same time beautifully divine in this Gospel of the road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13–35).

Two disciples… walking away.

Not towards Jerusalem… but away from it.
Away from hope.
Away from their calling.
Away from what they once believed.

And this is where the Gospel begins — not in clarity, not in certainty, but in a moment of deep confusion.

And I must tell you this very personally — in my own priestly journey, in my own spiritual life, this passage has always remained very close to my heart. Whenever I walk… I find myself walking as one of those disciples — speaking, questioning, sometimes even struggling within… and slowly discovering that Christ is already walking beside me.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked to us on the road?” (Luke 24:32)

That… is the journey.

Let me begin with a small story.

A professor once went to meet a well-known monk living in the mountains. The professor was a learned man — full of knowledge, full of ideas, full of himself. He began to speak: “I have studied this… I understand that… I want to gain wisdom from you.”

The monk quietly welcomed him and offered him tea.

He began to pour… the cup filled… reached the brim… and yet he continued pouring. The tea started to overflow. Yet he continue to pour.

The professor immediately said, “Stop! The cup is full. It cannot take anything more.”

The monk looked at him gently and said,
“Yes… just like you. Your mind is full. How will you receive anything new? Empty your cup.”

Now come back to the Gospel.

Jesus was right there — walking with them, speaking with them.

And yet… they could not recognise Him.

Why?

Not because Jesus was hidden…
but because their hearts were already filled.

Filled with disappointment.
Filled with conclusions.
Filled with fear and anxiety.
Filled with the quiet certainty that “this cannot happen.”

They had already decided the truth.

“One who has died cannot rise again.”
“It is over.”
“It is finished.”

And when the heart is filled with its own conclusions… even God can stand before us, and we may still fail to recognise Him.

And this is not just their story — it is ours.

Sometimes we come to God… not to listen, but to confirm what we already believe.

We come to prayer… expecting God to agree with us and our plans.
We approach faith… expecting it to fit neatly into our reasoning.

But faith is not about confirming our ideas…
it is about transforming our vision.

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

My dear brothers and sisters,

In our own lives, we walk many roads.

At times with clarity…
at times with doubt…
and sometimes even walking away from what we once held dear.

Yet Christ does not remain distant, waiting for our return.

He comes to meet us on the road.

He walks with us.
And slowly… patiently… He transforms it.

So today, one gentle invitation.

Do not rush to conclusions.

Do not allow the noise of the world, the speed of opinions, or the pressure of quick judgments to close your heart.

Instead… pause.
Walk.
Listen.

Allow Christ to speak.

Empty your cup.

Because when the heart becomes open… recognition begins.
And when recognition begins… transformation follows.

And then it is no longer an idea.

It becomes an encounter.
A living experience.

May our hearts burn again.

May our eyes be opened again.

May every Mass we celebrate become our own Emmaus —
where we walk with Him…
listen to Him…
and recognise Him in the breaking of the bread. Amen.