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From 25th March 2020 there will be NO public Masses or liturgies until further notice.

Dear Saint Christopher’s Cathedral Parish parishioners,

‘Peace be with you!’

I find it extraordinarily comforting, that in those moments and days after Jesus’ death, when the disciples thought it could not possibly get any worse. When they felt their lowest, alone and scared of what was ‘out there’ and Jesus felt most distant. This is when Jesus appeared among them, and the first words from the lips of the Risen Christ, in the midst of the confusion, anxiety and disarray were words of peace: “Peace be with you!” (John 20:21). Jesus then breathed on them, and they received the Holy Spirit; that God might be with them always, closer to them than ever before.

In these days, God wants you to know how close He is. And in these days of Lent, He reminds us that the pain, struggles and death we know, is always answered by the Resurrection.

We know much of how we worship has and will continue to change in these months; but I am here to say, that’s ok! The Lord is not unaware of our plight nor our needs. God, through His Church always provides. ‘“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6).

I wish to write this short note most of all to encourage you, and to make you aware of some changes we may now call the norm for a little time to come.

Pastoral Visits:

I want to begin by saying that our utmost concern and priority at this time is the pastoral and spiritual care of our parish family. In these days where isolation has become the new norm, the pastoral arm of the Church must be more than ever front and centre. Those who do regular home visitations are encouraged to now consider phone calls, checking-in and assuring each other of thoughts and prayers. The priests of course will continue to do home visitations where prudent and possible.

Fr Norvin and I are continuing to visit the hospital and nursing homes upon request to minister to the sick, struggling and dying. Let is keep all those who need care and the sacraments in our prayers.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will not take Communion to sick persons until further notice. Keeping contact via phone and other means is highly recommended and I ask all EMHC to please do this with those they visit, if possible.

The Mass:

One of the greatest changes we face as Catholics in these months is that of how we participate in the Mass. This can be the most confronting and challenging. At the same time however, this moment can become a place of deepening understanding and growth. The Mass is the heart, the ‘source and summit’ of the Christian life. It is our identity. Indeed without the Eucharist the Church does not exist, God remains distant. And so how are we to understand our present situation? When the Mass is offered the priest (in the person of Christ the Head) offers the Sacrifice with and for the Whole Body of Christ (the totus Christus), whether all the baptised are physically present or not. This means that all the baptised by virtue of their baptism and being a member of the Body, participate in that one Sacrifice, with the priest acting as its head. As a parish this situation gives us an opportunity to broaden our understanding of our Catholic faith, its heart in the Mass, and the Truth it makes present to us, to deepen our understanding of who we are as members of Christ’s Body.

With this in mind, normally, on any one day, two Masses are offered in our parish. Two masses will still be offered daily by Fr Norvin and myself; albeit without a congregation physically present. (Most likely at the same times, 7:30am and 12:15pm). At these times you are encouraged to pause and pray with the priest. Pray the daily readings (available on the CatholicVoice website), offer to God your deepest worries and give Him thanks for the blessings you have received. Pray for the needs of the Church and the world. This is what it is to be a member of Christ’s Body, the Church. This is a great teaching point for us all, but especially our children. Some ways you might do this are by:

• Sharing and praying with the Sunday readings.
• Making an act of Spiritual Communion (See below).
• Viewing the daily and Sunday Mass on the Catholic Voice website (www.catholicvoice.org.au).

Here are some other resources available to support our faith life in these days. 

• The daily Gospel, daily commentary (Living Word) and prayers of intercessions are available for personal and family prayers.
• Liturgical and Scriptural resources (www.catholic.org.au/coronavirus).
  This is not the first time in history that Catholics have been unable/prevented from receiving the Eucharist in the context of the Mass. In fact it was in these moments that understanding of the Church’s nature grew, and as the Church began to learn more of who She was, Her understanding of Spiritual Communion emerged. Such an understanding giving a window into the life and nature of the Eucharist and the Church.
  
  Easter Ceremonies:
  While it will be a very different situation to what we know the Easter ceremonies will be offered without a congregation physically present this year. I know this will be agonisingly upsetting for many, as it is also deeply for me; but the Archdiocese will stream the Triduum online.
  
  Prayer and Obligations now...
  As you know all Catholics of Canberra and Goulburn have been dispensed from their Sunday obligation. But we haven’t been dispensed from prayer. We are encouraged to pray with the daily readings, perhaps a daily rosary and to make a daily act of Spiritual Communion. 
  A copy of the Stations of the Cross has been posted on the Parish Website and I encourage you to pray these as a family, especially on Good Friday.
  There are countless storms the Church has weathered throughout history. Plagues, famines, wars and persecutions. In times of trial the Church has always had to exist in a different way, and in fact it is in them that She has flourished – devotion increased and understanding deepened.
  
  What is a “Spiritual Communion?”
  If you are unable to attend Mass and are housebound, consider making an act of Spiritual Communion. Saints down through the ages have recommended this simple practice. Trust the Church, that your desire and Spiritual Communion does suffice in these times.
  Those who cannot come to Mass, stay at home and read the Gospels, pray with your families, and join yourself to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an act of spiritual communion. You are baptised into His Body and even when you are unable to be physically present during times such as these, you are present at the Sacrifice of the Mass by virtue of this baptismal gift.
  St. Thomas Aquinas described Spiritual Communion as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.” While St. Josemaría Escrivá declared, “What a source of grace there is in spiritual Communion!”... “Practise it frequently and you'll have more presence of God and closer union with him in your life.”

An Act of Spiritual Communion Prayer:

My Jesus,

I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at

least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly

to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

A PRAYER AT A TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSE
CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF CANBERRA GOULBURN
APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA

Heavenly Father,
We praise and thank you for your loving presence, especially in the Lent/Easter season.
We offer heartfelt thanks, dear Lord, particularly for our recent rains.
Once again, we come to you in our need. As your children we are in need of your healing and protection.
Just as we have been recovering from our dangerous bushfire summer, we have now been thrown into a fearful coronavirus (COVID 19) autumn.
We are tired and frightened. We feel a sense of panic and future uncertainty on a global scale.
Be with us now, Loving Master. Without you all is nothing – only empty hearts and a total reliance on our own feeble resources.
But with you “there is mercy and fullness of Redemption” (Psalm 130/7). With you there is “the loving mercy of the heart of our God (who) will give light to those who sit in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1/79).
It seems that so many public gatherings are now postponed or cancelled. There is virus death, the sick, and the anxious. We are spending more time on our own, or with family or friends.
We pray for the sick and those looking after them. Help us to offer practical help to those who struggle.
Let us use these times, O Lord, for your greater glory, especially during Lent and Easter. Let us pray more, and truly listen to you more in loving silence, stillness and simplicity.
Almighty Father, you always journey with us in life’s challenges. Help us to meet you often in the scriptures and our sacraments. Increase in us faith, hope and trust.
Protect us from this coronavirus. Remove it from our common home. Heal those who are sick and dying.
Mary, Help of Christians, as always we fly to you in our need. Be close to us and point out your Son, Jesus, to us in this pandemic. St Therese of Lisieux and her parents, Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, pray for us.
We make this and all our prayers through Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, AMEN

CANCELLATIONS & GROUPS IN RECESS

• The Visitation of Relics of St Therese and the Martins - March 29th 2020.
• Bach Concert - March 29th 2020.
• ACU Autumn Graduation/ Ceremonies and Graduation Masses.
• ANZAC Mass - 25th April 2020.

• Sung Vespers - First Sunday of the Month (suspended until further notice).
• 2020 Sacramental Program - School of Religion for Confirmation, First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation.
• African Community gatherings.
• Spanish Community gatherings.
• Philippino Community gatherings.
• Good Shepherd Prayer Group.
• Christian Meditation Group.

POSTPONEMENTS

• Baptisms will be postponed, except emergency and in danger of death.
• Morning Tea Gatherings after 11am Mass on Sundays - 
• The Rite of Christian Initiation.