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SPIRITUAL COMMUNION by Federico Lombardi SJ, Vatican News

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SPIRITUAL COMMUNION by Federico Lombardi SJ, Vatican News Parish of Saint Joseph, Subiaco Fourth Sunday of Easter [A] 3 May 2020 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION By Federico Lombardi SJ, Vatican News Let us remember in our prayers … The second article in the ‘Living through the Crisis’ series of reflections from Father Federico Lombardi SJ. The emergency situation we Recently deceased: Brendan Hayward, Roma Purnell, Sr Margaret (Malachy) Eustace CSB, Greg Dodds, Terry O’Connor, are experiencing, and the strain of living without the Eucharist, leads us to rediscover ‘spiritual Communion’. Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre When those of us who are now old were children, during catechism we were often told about ‘spiritual communion’. They told us that Anniversaries: Brian Prior, Dorothy Evans, Stephen Clarke, Anne Sheridan, Robert Boyle, Mary Prindiville, Peggy Birt we could unite ourselves spiritually to Jesus who offers Himself upon the altar, even if were not able to make a sacramental Sick: Judy Kerr, Jodie McIntosh, Dr Tony Da Silva Rosa, Todd Bennett, Maureen Davidson, Kay Illingworth, Phil Walsh, Patricia Brown, communion by receiving physically the consecrated Host. Michael Mitchell, Patrick Sweeney, Colleen Gazeley, Mal Lamond, Geoffrey Davies, Dagmar Barner, Greg Boyle ‘Spiritual communion was a religious practice that aimed at making us feel continuously united to Jesus, not only when we received 24:7 SUBIACO YOUTH GROUP – NOW ONLINE Communion during Mass, but also at other times and places. It was not an alternative to sacramental Communion, but in a certain The 24:7 Subiaco Youth Group is running ONLINE on Fridays from 6.30-8 pm for Year 6-12 students. Our Youth Leaders, Aidan Walsh sense continued and prepared for it, for example during visits to the Blessed Sacrament or at other times of prayer. But after a certain and Angela Firth, use online platforms such as Zoom, Facebook and Messenger to continue interaction with our youth. Last week they point in time, we heard practically nothing more about it – for decades. The emphasis on participation at Mass by receiving all had fun chatting and playing games, prizes with theme of ‘Countries of the World’ using Online Pictionary and Kahoot while all Communion, which is certainly good in itself, had led to other traditional dimensions of Christian devotion being overshadowed. dressed up in different costumes. Call Aidan Walsh 0487 403 456 or Angela Firth 0455 960 174 to get connected to the online fun I began to think again, more intensely, about ‘spiritual Communion’ on one exceptional occasion. During World Youth Day in Madrid in every Friday at 6.30 pm. 2011, a sudden storm during the night destroyed most of the tents where the unconsecrated hosts were being prepared in anticipation of the more than two million young people expected for the final Mass. And so, at the main Mass celebrated by the Pope, THANK YOU for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion 2020 Lenten appeal. only a very few of the young people were able to receive sacramental Communion, precisely because there were so few Hosts. Many If you still have any Project Compassion donation boxes or envelopes, please return them people were upset, at least at first. It seemed to some as if World Youth Day had failed, because something essential was missing from to the Parish Office no later than Friday 15 May. the culminating religious moment of the event. It took a lot of time and energy to help people understand that, although the physical This will assist the Parish to remit the contributions to Caritas in a timely manner. act of receiving the Sacred Host is exceptionally important, it is not the only, indispensable manner of being united with Jesus and His MASS ONLINE & AT HOME Body, the Church. Masses are livestreamed from the Archdiocese of Perth on: Mass for You at Home is also shown on the following television Now, during his morning Mass at Santa Marta, Pope Francis encourages the faithful who pray with him, without being physically Monday to Friday at 12.10pm and Sunday at 11am. channels. present, to make a ‘spiritual Communion’. He does so by proposing one of the traditional formulas that for a long time had been Please use the following links. Channel 10 on Sunday 3 May at 6am taught by the good spiritual masters of the Christian people: formulas that were familiar to many of our mothers and grandmothers, Archdiocese Website (perthcatholic.org.au) Foxtel Channel 173 (Aurora) on those who got up early in the morning, sometimes every day, to go to Mass – but who also knew how to remain in union with God, in Archdiocese Facebook (facebook.com/perthcatholic) - Saturday 2 May at 10pm their own way, in the midst of their daily occupations. Archdiocese YouTube (youtube.com/catholicarchdioceseofperth) - Sunday 3 May at 8am, 11am, 1pm, 4pm or 10pm Among the memories from the time of my catechism, I am reminded of a holy card with a little picture of a priest raising the consecrated Host in his hands. Around the image, like the hours on a clock, there were the morning hours of different countries and CENTRE FOR FAITH ENRICHMENT continents where priests would be celebrating Mass. (At that time, Mass was only celebrated in the morning!) It was meant to remind The Centre for Faith Enrichment has migrated all of its courses and events ONLINE. All courses are live and interactive which requires us that the Sacrifice of Jesus, who died for us, was being continually renewed around the world, and that we could always unite you to be in front of your computer (or dial in via a toll-free number) at the established time. ourselves spiritually with Him and His oblation. - Parables of Jesus: Sheep, Goats, Feasting and Living in the Kingdom: 7.30 – 8.30pm, Thursdays, 7-21 May, Rev Dr Charles Waddell ‘Spiritual Communion’, when one cannot receive sacramental Communion, can also be called ‘Communion of desire’: desiring that - Christian Autobiographies: Sacred Stories for the New 10 -11.30am, Thursdays, 21-28 May, Fr Tom Scirghi SJ one’s own life be united to Jesus, and especially to His Sacrifice for us upon the Cross. In this prolonged time of Eucharistic fasting that - Unpacking Catholic Social Teaching in an Australian Context: 10 -11.30am, Tuesday 5 May, Prof Matthew C. Ogilvie is forced upon us, many people who are accustomed to frequent sacramental Communion are increasingly feeling the lack of the ‘daily - Theology of the Body for Daily Living: 10 - 11.30am, Tuesdays, 2-16 June, Mr Derek Boylen Bread’ of the Eucharist. In a truly exceptional way, it has been the Church herself who accepted the burden of imposing this fast on the - Bible Basics for Contemporary Times: 7 – 8.30pm, Tuesdays 2 -23 June, Mr Joe Tedesco faithful, as a sign of solidarity and participation in the concerns of entire populations forced into restrictions, privations, and suffering - Understanding Identity, Sexuality and Theology of the Body: 7.30 – 8.30pm,Wednesdays, 3-24 June, Ms Natalie Thomas because of the pandemic. - Modern Church History Part 1: 10 - 11.30am, Wednesdays, 3 June – 1 July, Dr Marco Ceccarelli For registration and further information about all courses, visit cfe.org.au, email [email protected] or phone 9241 5221. Fasting is a deprivation, but it can also be a time of growth. Just as the love of spouses who have long been distant from each other on account of force majeure can lead to growth in fidelity and purity, so too Eucharistic fasting can become a time of growth: growth in CATHOLICS FOR REFUGEES PETITION faith, growth in desire for the gift of sacramental Communion, growth in solidarity with those who for whatever reason cannot benefit Australian society is self-isolating so health services are not overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases thus allowing those who do contract from it, growth in freedom from habits of carelessness in receiving. To come to understand anew that the Eucharist is a gratuitous and COVID-19 disease the chance to receive the best care they need. Thousands of migrants and refugees are not eligible to access surprising gift of the Lord Jesus, neither trivial nor banal … to desire it with all one’s heart … continually. Can this also be a consequence Medicare or a financial safety net or able to return to their home countries at this time for various reasons. These persons must now be of these disturbing times? Read more at Vatican News. counted among the vulnerable in our community. They are in Australia legitimately, but their health and financial future is uncertain because visa applications, of necessity, take time to be processed. ST JOSEPH’S SUBIACO COMMUNITY OUTREACH Please lend your support to the Justice & Peace Office, Archdiocese of Sydney, and sign their Catholics for Refugees online petition. During this challenging time we aim to be a community of compassion, courage and faith doing what we can to connect with and serve others. In our social isolation and quarantining we are offering phone circles to enable us to stay connected as a community. ARE YOU RECEIVING OUR EMAILS? CONTACT DETAILS Should you need help with delivery of supplies and/or would like to talk to someone, please call the Parish Office on 9381 0400 or We are currently communicating via email with Parishioners so if you think you should Office Monday - Friday: 9.30am to 4pm email [email protected]. be receiving emails, please check your Junk/Spam folder. Phone 9381 0400 If you have not received an email for a few days or have recently changed your email Postal PO Box 568, Wembley 6913 PARISH DIARY FREE CYBER SAFETY PARENT WEBINAR address, please let us know by contacting the Parish Office on 9381 0400 or Sunday Fourth Sunday of Easter Monday 4 May, 7-9pm Web www.stjosephssubiaco.org.au 3 May [email protected].
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