HOLY WEEK: April 5 – 12, 2020
Dear Parishioners all
I sit here thinking of you, praying for you, wishing I could speak to you personally, hear your stories, your concerns, your fears. Whilst the Corona-virus has put us into shut-down the call to STAY-AT-HOME, rings in our ears. Staying at home hasn’t stopped me wanting to be with you. I say a private mass daily, including you in my prayers. I feel your presence. I pray you remain healthy, safe, and that you never feel lonely or uncared for. In the warmth of my heart, I’m grateful I am your parish priest. You are a blessing to me, you are a blessing to each other, and, even though we may not see each other in our homes, I marvel at the skilled caring ways you are keeping contact, within the laws of the land. My encouragement is to enter into Holy Week – as a call to prayer in our homes
Pope Francis gives us three important elements for praying well. FAITH, PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE. Pope Francis tells the world, he includes in his prayers the victims and those affected by the Corona-virus, praying for those struggling financially throughout this time. During Holy Week we may adopt the same intention. Many have been missing dearly the Holy Sacrament of Communion – I’m pleased to offer
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Pope Francis invites the faithful to make a Spiritual Communion – Place a cross on a table – light a candle – praying slowly.
‘I prostrate myself at your feet, O my Jesus and I offer You the repentance of my contrite heart, which abases itself in its nothingness in your Holy Presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of your love, the Eucharist. I desire to receive You in my poor abode, which offers You my heart; while waiting for the happiness of Sacramental Communion, I want to possess You in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, that I may come to You. May your love inflame my whole being in life and in death. I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You. Amen.
Prayers during Holy Week
Holy Thursday: Lord Jesus, we love you above all things. How we long to receive holy communion at the altar to be one with you and all our brothers and sisters! Live within us and give us life. Feed us with the manna of the Holy Spirit-never let us be separated from you. Amen.
GOOD FRIDAY: Almighty and merciful God, lover of the human race, healer of all our wounds in whom there is no shadow of death, save us in this time of crisis, grant wisdom and courage to our leaders, watch over all medical people as they tend the sick and work for a cure; stir in us a sense of solidarity beyond all isolation; if our doors are closed, let our hearts be open. By the power of your love destroy the virus of fear, that hope may never die, and the light of Easter, the triumph of life, may shine upon us and the whole world. Through Jesus Christ, the Lord risen from the dead, who lives and reigns for ever and ever Amen.
Water is a sign of life, the life of Christ begun at our baptism. Place a bowl of water on the table in front of you. Easter Sunday, the Day of the Lord, Resurrection, is an opportunity to renew our baptismal faith.
(PS. Livestream telecasts will be: Holy Thursday 6.00pm, Good Friday Stations of the Cross 9.30am, Solemnity Good Friday 3.00pm, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 6.00pm and Easter Sunday 9.30am)
Hope, peace and a Holy Easter to you all
Dean Peter, Fr Edwin, Deacon Jithin., Jennifer, Veronica, Clare, Myriam and Mark