2025 Easter Church Service from St Mary of the Angels, Wellington

We celebrate this central event in the Christian calendar with an Easter Sunday Eucharist Mass from St Mary of the Angels Church in Wellington. 

The celebrant is Fr Kevin Mowbray SM, William McElwee is Music Director, and the organist is David Trott.

Introductory Rites

Inhae Park: Good morning everyone, and welcome to this Mass on Easter Sunday. The celebrant for this Mass is Father Kevin Mowbray.

CHRIST IS RISEN. ALLELUIA!  The empty tomb, and the neatly folded burial cloths, were signs that led the Beloved disciple to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.  In the witness of the apostles, and the faithfulness, courage and love of our fellow Christians, we too have powerful signs that Christ is risen and lives among us. Observing them, our faith cries out: ‘Alleluia!’

Choir: Introit – Resurrexi (Plainchant)

Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum, alleluia: posuisti super me manum tuam, alleluia: mirabilis facta est scientia tua, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Domine, probasti me, et cognovisti me: tu cognovisti sessionem mean, et resurrectionem meam.  Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto: sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum, amen.

[I arose, and am still with thee, alleluia: Thou has laid Thine hand upon me, alleluia: Thy knowledge is become wonderful.  Ps. Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me: Thou knowest my sitting down and my rising up.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and for an age of ages, amen.]

Greetings & Penitential Act

Priest: We are gathered in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Welcome, everyone – those gathered here at St Mary of the Angels, and all those listening far and wide. We are gathered in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has risen from the dead.

Before we enter, though, into these mysteries of our faith in which we celebrate the salvation of the world, we first pause for a moment, remind ourselves that we are sinners, and so we ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness so that we may more worthily stand in his presence.

Kyrie Eleison

Choir: Missa Brevis – Palestrina

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.

[Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.]

Gloria in excelsis

Choir: Plainchant – De angelis mass

Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.  Laudamus te.  Benedicimus te.  Adoramus te.  Glorificamus te.  Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.  Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.  Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe.  Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris.  Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.  Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationed nostrum.  Qui sedes ad dexeram Patris, miserere nobis.  Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus.  Tu solis Altissimus, Jesu Christe.  Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

[Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.  We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory.  Lord God, heavenly King, O God almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.]

Collect

Priest: We pray that the light of the risen Lord will pierce the darkness of our world.

God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to all men and women who had begun to lose hope. He opened their eyes to what the Scriptures foretold, that first he must die and then he would rise and ascend into his father’s glorious presence. May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes, that we may know him in the breaking of bread and follow him in his risen life. All this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

Jayne Sutherland: A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard about the recent happening in Judaea: about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.

The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial psalm

Choir: Psalm 117, Plainchant Tone 1

Response:            Al-le-lú-ia,   alle-lú-ia,  alle-lú-ia.
verse 1                 Cantors: Con-fi-témini Dómino, quó-niam bó-nus:
                            Choir: quóniam in saéculum misericór-di-a e-jus.

verse 2                 Cantors: Dí-cat nunc Israel quó-niam bó-nus:
                            Choir: quóniam in saéculum misericór-di-a é-jus.
Response:            Allelúia,   allelúia,  al-le-lú-ia.

verse 16               Cantors: Déx-te-ra Dómini fé-cit vir-tú-tem:
                            Choir: déxtera Dómini ex-al-tá-vit me.

verse 17               Cantors: Non mó-riar, sed ví-vam:
                            Choir: et narrábo ó-pe-ra Dó-mini.
Response:            Allelúia,   allelúia,  al-le-lú-ia.

verse 22               Cantors: Lá-pi-dem quem reprobavérunt æ-di-fi-cán-tes:
                            Choir: hic fáctus est in cá-put án-guli.

verse 23               Cantors: A Dó-mino fact-um est ís-tud:
                            Choir: et est mirábile in ó-cu-lis nós-tris.
Response:            Allelúia, allelúia, al-le-lú-ia.

Reading

Inhae Park: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians.

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand.  Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.

This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Choir: Alleluia & Sequence – Pascha nostrum – Victimae Paschale (Plainchant)

Alleluia. Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus
Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores.  Mors et vita duello conflixere Mirando: dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus. Dic nobis Maria, quid vidisti in via? Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis: Angelicos testes, sudarium, et vestes. Surrexit Christus spes mea: praecedet suos in Galilaeam.  Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere: tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere. Amen, alleluia.

[Alleluia. Christ our Pasch is sacrificed.
Christians, to the Paschal Victim Offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems: Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father. Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring What you saw, wayfaring. "The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus' resurrection; Bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting. Yes, my Christ my hope is arisen: To Galilee he goes before you." Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.]

Priest: The Lord be with you all.

All: And with your spirit.

Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

All: Glory to you, O God.

Priest: It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and come running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said, ‘and we don’t know where they have put him’.

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily

(given by Fr Kevin Mowbray)

 

Credo

Priest: We stand to profess our faith.

Choir: Credo (Plainchant)

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, factórem cæli et terræ, visibílium ómnium et invisibílium. Et in unum Dóminum Jesum Christum, Fílium Dei unigénitum. Et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri: per quem ómnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos hómines et propter nostram salútem descéndit de cælis.

Et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Vírgine: Et homo factus est.

Crucifíxus étiam pro nobis: sub Póntio Piláto passus, et sepúltus est. Et resurréxit tértia die, secúndum Scriptúras. Et ascéndit in cælum: sedet ad déxteram Patris. Et íterum ventúrus est cum glória judicáre vivos et mórtuos: cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem: qui ex Patre, Filióque procédit. Qui cum Patre, et Fílio simul adorátur, et conglorifícatur: qui locútus est per Prophétas. Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam. Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam ventúri sæculi. Amen.

[I believe in one God, the Father Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made: consubstantial with the Father; by Whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven.

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man.

He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead: of Whose kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified: Who spoke through the Prophets. And in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life and of the world to come. Amen.]

Prayers of the Faithful

Fr Kevin Mowbray and Jayne Sutherland

Priest: While it was still dark, the women went to the tomb and found it empty. When the Disciples ran to look, they found instead of death, an opening to life, belief, truth and love. Listen to us now Lord, as we whom you love, run to you with our prayers for our families, our nation and our world.

Reader: We pray for our Holy Father Francis, our Bishop Paul and all who accompany us on our journey of faith. May they be good and faithful stewards of the souls entrusted to their care.

Lord Hear Us.

We pray for those who wait and prayerfully watch, especially those who sit with news of sadness, illness or uncertainty; May this Easter day bring peace and light into their lives.

Lord Hear Us

We pray for those times when we yearn to have a stronger faith; May our deepest longing be filled with hope and the gentlest touch of the risen Christ.

Lord Hear Us

We pray that our witness to the Easter story brings us closer to other Christians and people of all faiths; May we be unafraid to live, fully open to God’s love.

Lord Hear Us

We pray for those who have died or whose anniversaries occur about this time. May they be welcomed into the fullness of Christ’s friendship and may those who are mourning their loss, be consoled in their grief.

Lord Hear Us

As a people gathered today in this, the National Shrine of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, we pray.

Priest: Loving God, Risen Christ – we bring our whole lives to you, our triumphs and hardships, knowing that nothing can separate us from your love. In confidence and gratitude, we offer these prayers and those unspoken in our hearts, to you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Offertory Hymn

Choir: Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is ris'n today, alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
who did once, upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav'nly King, alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured; alleluia!
now above the sky He's King, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing: alleluia!

Offertory motet

Croce – O sacrum convivium
O sacrum convivium in quo Christus sumitur; recolitur memoria passionis ejus, mens impletur gratia, et futurae gloriae nobis pugnus datur. Alleluia.

[O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His passion renewed, the mind filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory given to us, Alleluia.]

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Priest: And now let us pray, you and I, that your sacrifice and mine will be acceptable to our Father in Heaven.

All: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Priest: Filled with Easter gladness, O Lord, we offer this sacrifice by which your Church is continually reborn and nourished. We offer this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eucharistic prayer

Priest: The Lord be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to God our father.
All: It is right and just.

Priest: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all times to acclaim you, O Lord, but on this day above all to laud you yet more gloriously, when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

For he is the true Lamb who has taken away the sins of the world; by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with Easter joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they proclaim:

Choir: Sanctus (Palestrina – Missa Brevis)

Benedictus (Palestrina – Missa Brevis)

Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fount of all holiness. Therefore we pray, make holy these gifts by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time he was betrayed, and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: ‘Take this, all of you, and eat of it. For this is my body, which will be given up for you’.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples saying: ‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it. For this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me’.

Priest: The mystery of faith

Choir: Christ has died – Alleluia. Christ is risen – Alleluia. Christ will come again – Alleluia, Alleluia.

Priest: Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation. Giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray, that partaking of body and blood of Christ we may be gathered into one, by your Holy Spirit.
Remember, Lord, your church spread throughout the world and gathered into one by your Holy Spirit.
Remember, Lord, your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fulness of charity, together with Francis our Pope, Paul our Bishop, and all who minister to your people.
Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St Joseph, her beloved husband, with the blessed apostles and with all the saints to have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life and so may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ.
For through him and with him and in him, O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, forever and ever:

Choir: Amen

Priest: And now, with Jesus our risen Lord truly present in our midst in the form of bread and wine, we pray together with him in the very words that he himself taught us:

Communion rite

Choir: The Lord’s Prayer – Pater noster (plainchant)

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.

[Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever]

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray from every evil, and graciously grant peace in our day, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await in hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.

Prayer for Peace

Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you once said to your Apostles, I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, then, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Priest: The peace of the Lord by with you always.

All: And with your spirit.

Priest: And now let us offer each other a sign of God’s peace.

All: Peace be with you.

Agnus Dei

Choir: Palestrina – Missa Brevis

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi dona nobis pacem.

[Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.]

Introduction to Communion

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Choir: Communion chant – Pascha nostrum (plainchant)

Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus, alleluia: itaque epulemur in azymis sinceritatis et veritatis, alleluia, alleluia,alleluia.

[Christ our Pasch is immolated, alleluia: therefore let us feast the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.]

Final prayer

Priest: We pray.
Father of love, watch over your church and bring us to the glory of the resurrection promised by this Easter sacrament. This we ask, in the name of Jesus the risen Lord.

All: Amen.

Concluding Rites

Priest: The Lord be with you all.

All: And with your spirit.

Priest: And may Almighty God bless you this Easter Day and always. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen

Priest: We go in peace to love and serve the Lord – alleluia, alleluia.

All: Thanks be to God – alleluia, alleluia

Choir: Hallelujah Chorus - Handel

Celebrant: Fr Kevin Mowbray SM
Readers: Inhae Park, Jayne Sutherland
Music Director: William McElwee
The Choir of St Mary of the Angels Church, Wellington
Organist: David Trott

This service could not have been made without the help of the staff, choir and community at St Mary of the Angels Church, Wellington.

RNZ is very grateful for the support of all those involved.

The service was recorded by Marc Chesterman and Sam Smaill, engineered by Marc Chesterman, and produced by Robyn Jaquiery for RNZ.