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The approaching Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Christ - still more commonly known as Corpus Christi (29 May) - draws our attention to the Eucharist in a particular way. This Year of the Eucharist is set to witness a revival of Corpus Christi processions as a way of honouring the real presence of the body and blood of Christ. While some fear that they risk being misunderstood as triumphalism, the public and communal dimensions of this witness to Jesus are significant.
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| Happenings |
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Moments of Evangelisation
The Sydney Archdiocese's Liturgy Office is offering workshops for parish leaders and ministry teams on marriage, and the order of Christian funerals respectively. Two of Australia's leading liturgists, Carmel Pilcher rsj and David Orr osb, will assist participants to examine the rites, to look at the pastoral implications for parish communities, and to discus ways of forming teams to address these sacraments as key moments of evangelisation. For bookings contact litoffice@liturgy.Sydney.catholic.org.au
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Celebrating Corpus Christi
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales' Liturgy Office has produced a booklet to assist parishes to celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It sets out the history of the solemnity, how the traditions surrounding its celebration developed, along with information and handy worksheets for the preparation of liturgy and devotions. Note that there are variations between the Australian and English liturgies for the day. The booklet can be downloaded from www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgyframe.htm
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Human Trafficking, Firearms and Corruption
Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio to Thailand, recently addressed the 11th U.N. Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. He particularly stressed the Holy See's concern regarding the trafficking of human beings; the sale and possession of firearms; and corruption both in the public sector and the commercial world. The full text can be read here.
For more information on human trafficking, United Nations programs combating trafficking, and short video spots that can be used for public service announcements, visit www.unodc.org/unodc/en/trafficking_human_beings.html
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Get Involved with Catholic Mission
GIG is an initiative of Catholic Mission Australia. It is a cross-cultural immersion and mission exposure that provides a unique opportunity of experiential learning for participants. They immerse themselves in the culture and life issues of people in another country through visits with ordinary people, as well as with key community and church leaders.
Participants commit themselves to a three-phase program - preparation; living simply with local hosts; and upon return, being actively involved in the work of mission and justice.
This year's program will take place 17 June - 3 July visiting East Timor and the Philippines.
Perhaps your parish could encourage or sponsor parishioners to take this trip rather than the annual holiday to Queensland!
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| Mission & Ministry |
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Choosing Music for Mass
The Sydney Archdiocese's Liturgy Office website provides a range of resources for those who assist in the preparation of liturgies. For example, a simple two page list of hymns that are appropriate for different parts of the Mass on occasions where the Sydney Church gathers is offered. It is a useful tool for anyone who is involved in choosing music for Mass. the list can be downloaded here.
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Everyday Mission in Brisbane
In January 2005, the Faith & Life Vicariate was formed through the melding together of two longstanding bodies of the Archdiocese of Brisbane: Church Life and Mission and Faith Education Services. The Vicariate works within the Archdiocese's Jesus Communion Mission vision to assist parishes and deaneries in their implementation of the archdiocesan priorities outlined in Let Your Light Shine.
The Everyday Mission Team of the Vicariate resources deaneries and parishes to support Catholics for everyday Christian mission in the world. It provides support, resources and training to assist deaneries and parishes to support Catholics in personal and communal mission.
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Collaborative Parish Leadership
Collaboration is a prized way of acting, but is also the outcome of a process. Reaching consensus is a prior step and is achieved when collaborators arrive at a common vision and a common purpose about the nature of their organisation, and about the ministry or work they wish to collaborate in.
In this paper Fr Frank Devoy explains that at the heart of the participative process within the church is the spirituality of communion (communio): a Trinitarian openness and trust, which seek a unique harmony in collaborative relationships and teamwork.
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| Feature |
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Spirituality of Communion
The Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, has written a series of reflections on the Spirituality of Communion and Body of Christ in an attempt to understand the mystery and the excitement of Christianity.
"I have written these reflections out of a desire to keep before us the old and new insights into the mystery of God and salvation," he said.
"Sadly, down through the centuries Christ's vision embracing all people and all creation, with it's emphasis on communion with God and all people, lost its way and instead became narrowly focused on individual life, and eternal
happiness. Fortunately the Old Testament emphasis on the 'people of God' was retrieved by the Second Vatican Council to make us aware, once again, of the communal dimension of salvation. I have tried to suggest ways in which this spirituality might be practiced," he concluded.
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| Reflection |
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The Body of Christ in Japan
Fr Alberto Di Bello, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Japan, reflects on the importance of Eucharist to Japanese Catholics. "The Eucharist is to them a source of hope and salvation that transcends social and ethnic differences and a reason to meet others. Thus, they discover the sense of being with others and linger in church after the celebration of the mass", he says.
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