Father Sykes said even in an ever-changing world, Good Friday and the Easter period remained one of the most holy days in the Christian calendar, with some church services including the washing of feet.

"It's a time to remember what love, sacrifice, hope and service mean to us in our lives," Father Sykes said.

"We all lead busy lives with a lot of day-to-day stresses but Easter remains a time for reflection on how we can be better people."

Over the Easter weekend, major Catholic services will held at St Michael's Cathedral tomorrow at 10.30am with a Stations of the Cross service and at 3pm with a Solemn Celebration of the Passion service.

On Saturday, a Solemn Vigil Mass will be held at 8pm and on Easter Sunday mass will be held at 8am, 10am, and 5.30pm.

A former military Chaplin, Father Sykes said it was important to look at world events when reflecting on the message of God.

"Looking at the retrieval efforts of the military for flight MH370, it's an expression of love and service - even if the people involved don't necessarily have a personal connection to the passengers," Father Sykes said.

In a multicultural world, Father Sykes said the Easter message could be appreciated by Christians and non-Christians alike.

"It's about expressing the best of ourselves," Father Sykes, who will be helping at a charity luncheon on Sunday," he said.

"That is a message which resonates with everyone."