On Thursday 2nd April 2026 our church was full for the Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper – the first part of this year’s Easter Triduum. Â
This year 12 of our First Holy Communion and Confirmation catechists were invited to have their feet washed by Fr Anthony. Many parents and children from these sacramental programmes were present and able to witness this very humbling moment. Fr Anthony invited the children onto the altar for his homily and they remained there for the washing of the feet, enabling them to see this ceremony close up!
During the Mass, the holy oils which had been blessed at the Chrism Mass at Portsmouth Cathedral earlier in the week, were brought to the altar. Â
Towards the end of Mass all the parish Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who serve at the table and/or take Communion to the sick and housebound were commissioned/re-commissioned.
The Mass ended with the Blessed Sacrament being taken to the Altar of Repose allowing for a period of watching and adoration to remember the events following the Lord’s supper. This period of adoration ended with Night Prayer at 11.30pm.
