Victorians must not be carried along by a "torrent of radical violence", Melbourne's Catholic Archbishop said on Easter Sunday following clashes between protesters in the city on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The city's Anglican Archbishop, Dr Philip Freier, also spoke against "repulsive" violence in family homes and on the streets.
"But Christians have less reason than anyone to despair in the face of the cruelty and callousness we so often encounter, because we are a Resurrection people who dwell in hope," he said in an Easter message.
Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart also noted the "remarkable generosity" of Victorians during the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children's Hospital, which raised $17.1 million this year.
But he spoke of the need for peace in the wake of demonstrations between people "who cannot express their views without resorting to violence".
"Are we going to be carried along by that torrent of radical violence?" Archbishop Hart said at a solemn Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne's city on Sunday morning.
On Saturday police struggled to separate protesters from Reclaim Australia, an anti-Islamic movement, and No Room For Racism, a coalition of trade union, community and left-wing groups at a demonstration at Federation Square. There was much shoving, arguing and hatred.
Archbishop Hart also spoke of the tragedy of violence and murders within families, following the slaying of an Albanvale grandmother and her grandson on Tuesday.
"The message of Easter is peace be with you ... and real peace accomplished by love, generosity and understanding," he said
There was only standing room left for those attending the Mass at St Patrick's, where yellow light filtered through the stained glass windows and bells rung out for longer than usual.
Easter Sunday marks the end of the six weeks of Lent when many Christians fast or give up a luxury, such as red meat. Easter Sunday was often celebrated with a feast and was dubbed feastum festorum – the greatest feast – by the fifth century Pope Leo I.
Easter Monday trading hours
Public Transport
Trains Saturday timetable with no late-night services
Trams Saturday timetable, last tram will be one hour earlier
Buses Altered timetable, for more information visit ptv.vic.gov.au
Regional Services Public holiday timetable
Services
Australia Post Closed
Banks All major branches closed
Pharmacy Mulqueeny Midnight Pharmacy, Windsor Open 9am - Midnight 9510 3977
24-hour vet Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) Collingwood, 9417 6417
Entertainment
Cinemas All major city cinemas open; Village, Hoyts, Kino Cinema
Melbourne Zoo Open 9am to 5pm
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium Open 930am to 6pm
Shopping
Chadstone 10am-6pm
Highpoint 10am-5pm
Bourke Street Myer 9am-7pm
Bourke Street David Jones 9.30am-7pm
Emporium Melbourne 10am-6pm
