A Very Special Good Friday Event

Waiapu Cathedral in Napier offers a unique service on Good Friday, from midday until 3pm.
The first hour will set the scene as we consider the Stations of the Cross, a series of original paintings displayed during Lent on the pillars of the cathedral. These images depict the events of the last days of Christ’s life, leading up to the crucifixion. Following the pattern of worship used by pilgrims in Jerusalem, we pause at each of the stations to recall the Passion story and offer prayers for the world.
At 1pm, the Cathedral Strings and the Choir will offer a performance of Michael Myrick’s cantata “Last Words,” a deeply moving encounter with the words spoken by Jesus from the cross. The choruses are introduced with beautiful music and interspersed with short scripture readings, congregational hymns, and a brief reflection on each utterance.

The spine-tingling interwoven vocal and instrumental lines creates evocative tonal moods which enhance the meaning of the texts and allow the listener to contemplate the sacrifice made by Christ at Calvary. The Cathedral’s Director of Music, Anthony Tattersall, is excited to introduce us to Myrick’s 2017 composition, which has a powerful dynamic well-suited to the acoustic of Waiapu’s majestic Cathedral. We believe that this will be the first New Zealand performance of this cantata, and that experiencing this special service will be a stunning and memorable experience. Everyone is welcome to attend as much or as little of the service as they wish, and there is no charge to attend.