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We are aware that many are suffering severe economic impact in these days. Obviously, the Church is also since there is not the usual offertory income. We still have the same expenses however, so I ask you to please donate online or send your donations by mail if possible. We do not want to get into a hole at this time, especially since with your generosity recently, we were doing well and able to look at dealing with needed repairs and improvements.
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Father Jay will be live streaming Daily Mass from the St. Cornelius Chapel at 5:00pm. It will be streamed via the St. Cornelius Catholic Church Facebook page. We will also be streaming Sunday Mass at 12:00 Noon.
In addition to live steaming masses via our Facebook page, we will also be streaming Holy Hour every Tuesday from 7-8pm. Please look out for our live stream of Stations of the Cross this Friday Please share this with other parishioners or friends who would like to participate in the mass. |
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Prayers/Reflections in this time of home, anxiety and interruption
"Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices." — St. Teresa of Avila The Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1918 – 2008)
tells of a Eucharist he attended while a prisoner in the Gulag. In that place of utter hopelessness, a long-imprisoned Orthodox priest celebrated Holy Communion from memory without vestments or service books as if in the grandest of churches. When the priest turned and declared: “The body of Christ. The blood of Christ”, Solzhenitsyn said he watched the tears of joy on the faces of the prisoners who held out grimy hands to receive what only the eyes of faith could see, and sip from an unseen chalice what only the soul could taste – for there was no bread or wine to be the body and blood of Jesus that day, and yet the miracle did occur. |
"Pandemic” by Rev. Lynn Ungar
What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath– the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down. And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart. Know that we are connected in ways terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.) Know that our lives are in one another’s hands. (Surely, that has come clear.) Do not reach out your hands. Reach out your heart. Reach out your words. Reach out all the tendrils of compassion that move, invisibly, where we cannot touch. Promise this world your love– for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we shall live. |
REFLECTION OF SUNDAY'S GOSPEL
by Fr. Jay
March 27, 2020
The first thing I notice about this Gospel of the raising of Lazarus is the note of complaint and reproach in the greetings of Martha and Mary to Jesus “ Lord, if you had been here , my brother would not have died”. Complaint and reproach are a very human part of our approach to God at any time but perhaps especially at this time of fear and disruption. We wonder where was God and why did he allow it to happen. It is better to be angry with God than to ignore him. He can handle our anger I always think.
Jesus has two responses to the sisters. Firstly he travels to be with them at great risk to himself. This danger is expressed by Thomas and indeed it is this event that galvanizes the authorities to arrest Jesus. Jesus weeps with them, they are his friends whom he loves. This is a demonstration of the truth of the incarnation that in Jesus Emmanuel “ God is with us” He is not absent to us either in these days of suffering. There is a seemingly contradictory note in that Jesus waits two days to go even as his love for them is noted. This he says is so that the glory of God may be revealed. God’s timeline is not always ours, and His purpose not immediately apparent to us.
The other response Jesus makes is the promise of new life “I am the resurrection and the life”. He will bring new life beyond the present dark circumstances. This is true not just after death but in all moments. He calls us to ‘Come out’ like Lazarus, from the dark caves of death, isolation, resentment, all the places that ‘stink’ in our lives to freedom, light and new life. Again this a timely message for now, that this too will pass, that God will lead us out from this into new depths of love and life.
Rediscovering the domestic Church
Now that the parish Church, the local diocesan Church and even the universal Church centered in the Vatican is not available to us, it is a great opportunity to rediscover the domestic Church of the home. The Church has always taught that the family is a fundamental level of Church. Jesus shares with the family of Bethany, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He makes himself present to our families also.
I encourage our families again to invite Jesus into your home and to make your home a ‘little’ church, that is of prayer, word of God, communion and service in love. Make a new effort to eat together. Our webpage has some resources you can use for prayer and sharing the Gospel. We will post or send out more as we go along. Praying together will impact and comfort your family in a special way
One simple ritual to incorporate is to light a candle before or after dinner and pray together the Prayer in the time of Coronavirus which we attach
Be assured of my ongoing prayers for you all. I miss everyone especially on Sundays. Like Mary and Martha we all renew our faith and trust in Jesus who said “ I am the Resurrection and the life”
Blessings
Fr Jay
by Fr. Jay
March 27, 2020
The first thing I notice about this Gospel of the raising of Lazarus is the note of complaint and reproach in the greetings of Martha and Mary to Jesus “ Lord, if you had been here , my brother would not have died”. Complaint and reproach are a very human part of our approach to God at any time but perhaps especially at this time of fear and disruption. We wonder where was God and why did he allow it to happen. It is better to be angry with God than to ignore him. He can handle our anger I always think.
Jesus has two responses to the sisters. Firstly he travels to be with them at great risk to himself. This danger is expressed by Thomas and indeed it is this event that galvanizes the authorities to arrest Jesus. Jesus weeps with them, they are his friends whom he loves. This is a demonstration of the truth of the incarnation that in Jesus Emmanuel “ God is with us” He is not absent to us either in these days of suffering. There is a seemingly contradictory note in that Jesus waits two days to go even as his love for them is noted. This he says is so that the glory of God may be revealed. God’s timeline is not always ours, and His purpose not immediately apparent to us.
The other response Jesus makes is the promise of new life “I am the resurrection and the life”. He will bring new life beyond the present dark circumstances. This is true not just after death but in all moments. He calls us to ‘Come out’ like Lazarus, from the dark caves of death, isolation, resentment, all the places that ‘stink’ in our lives to freedom, light and new life. Again this a timely message for now, that this too will pass, that God will lead us out from this into new depths of love and life.
Rediscovering the domestic Church
Now that the parish Church, the local diocesan Church and even the universal Church centered in the Vatican is not available to us, it is a great opportunity to rediscover the domestic Church of the home. The Church has always taught that the family is a fundamental level of Church. Jesus shares with the family of Bethany, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He makes himself present to our families also.
I encourage our families again to invite Jesus into your home and to make your home a ‘little’ church, that is of prayer, word of God, communion and service in love. Make a new effort to eat together. Our webpage has some resources you can use for prayer and sharing the Gospel. We will post or send out more as we go along. Praying together will impact and comfort your family in a special way
One simple ritual to incorporate is to light a candle before or after dinner and pray together the Prayer in the time of Coronavirus which we attach
Be assured of my ongoing prayers for you all. I miss everyone especially on Sundays. Like Mary and Martha we all renew our faith and trust in Jesus who said “ I am the Resurrection and the life”
Blessings
Fr Jay
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
LAZARUS PROJECT
We will meet near the pavilion at St Cornelius Saturday morning at 7:00am. Please drive thru and drop off what you can share in front of the pavilion. We will gratefully accept any sack lunches you can provide. We will take all of the food directly to the Long Beach Rescue Mission to bolster and support their efforts to serve the people.
Please bring 5 meals for the homeless in a clear gallon Ziplock bag consisting of:
◦ Drink (water)
◦ Sandwich
◦ Chips
◦ Fruit
◦ Candy bar or some sweet treat
◦ Bible passage
Everyone knows their own situations, please do not feel pressured to join us this Saturday. If you can't join us, please pray
We will meet near the pavilion at St Cornelius Saturday morning at 7:00am. Please drive thru and drop off what you can share in front of the pavilion. We will gratefully accept any sack lunches you can provide. We will take all of the food directly to the Long Beach Rescue Mission to bolster and support their efforts to serve the people.
Please bring 5 meals for the homeless in a clear gallon Ziplock bag consisting of:
◦ Drink (water)
◦ Sandwich
◦ Chips
◦ Fruit
◦ Candy bar or some sweet treat
◦ Bible passage
Everyone knows their own situations, please do not feel pressured to join us this Saturday. If you can't join us, please pray
Soul Alchemy
"And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently."
"And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal."
"And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
~Kitty O'Meara
"And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently."
"And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal."
"And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
~Kitty O'Meara
Pope Francis Prayer in Current Crisis
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, composed a prayer asking Mary, Health of the Sick, to intercede for us during this pandemic.
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Mother of the Divine Physician,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, composed a prayer asking Mary, Health of the Sick, to intercede for us during this pandemic.
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Mother of the Divine Physician,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Family prayer before supper during this time of Crisis:
Family gathers around the table and one member lights candle.
Leader: May God bless and protect us and our family and friends. May we be a light in darkness, hope in the midst of despair. May we be reminders to others of the constant care of God. Christ the Healer, hear our prayer.
Together: Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas,
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son
as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted,
We ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms.
Help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
After dinner, the candle may be set in a window of the house. (electric candles or virtual candles are suggested. If you use a long burning vigil candle, please assure that it will not be knocked over and that it is not near anything flammable. Extinguish the candle before going to bed.)
Family gathers around the table and one member lights candle.
Leader: May God bless and protect us and our family and friends. May we be a light in darkness, hope in the midst of despair. May we be reminders to others of the constant care of God. Christ the Healer, hear our prayer.
Together: Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas,
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son
as you did at the wedding in Cana.
Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.
For those already afflicted,
We ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.
In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.
We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.
Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms.
Help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
After dinner, the candle may be set in a window of the house. (electric candles or virtual candles are suggested. If you use a long burning vigil candle, please assure that it will not be knocked over and that it is not near anything flammable. Extinguish the candle before going to bed.)