Tag: Phiilppine Province of the Society of Jesus

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The Word, a Reflection and Prayer

First Sunday of Advent

November 29, 2020

By Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible

 R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
   from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
3 Rouse your power, and come to save us.
R:  Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

15 Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine, and protect 16 what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

18 May your help be with the man of your right hand,
    with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
19 Then we will no more withdraw from you;
     give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

A  REFLECTION  and  PRAYER

A beautiful Psalm 80 – a plea for God’s help.

The context of this cry of the Israelites that their Lord God come and save them is placed around 720 BC when the Assyrians defeated them in battle, devastated the land and took away men, women and children as prisoners to be slaves.

There was a realization that they had not been faithful to the covenant that Moses made on their behalf with God. The vineyard of the Lord was desolated – they cry out for help.

In our time, more than 2000 years later, the Church uses this Psalm in anticipation for the special coming of the Lord in the Christmas season. It would seem that only a spiritual message was to be communicated, a spiritual renewal to be asked for.

But now, November 2020, we do ask for healing and relief, we are overcome, devastated by the COVID 19 pandemic. We cry out for help. That may be our first thought.

Yet there are many others who need us to cry out to the Savior Jesus on their behalf:       

My thought today is that we pray for so many who suffer so much –

  • those caught in the drug wars in Mexico
  • the persecuted minorities in China, Myanmar, India and in areas of Europe, America and Africa
  • persecuted Catholics and Christians and other faiths
  • the jobless and the hungry because of this time of dislocation

As I consider those above, can I think of those nearby who suffer –

  •  workers not paid just wages
  •  abused staff and household helps
  • the many “little people” who suffer from the abuse of police and military

              Can we cry out for these –

It would be good to read this Psalm 80 each day this week and to take some time for reflective prayer –

The final thought – our mantra these holy days –

    Come, Lord Jesus, Come  – and save us –

And help us in your name to help save others –

Image from Google

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Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ

20200614-pope-francis-corpus-christi-afp-s Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
Photo lifted from the web.

CORPUS CHRISTI 2020, by Fr. Bill Kreutz, SJ

THE WORD

St. Paul’s First Letter to the Christians in Corinth 10.16-17

One Bread-One Body

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

17 Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

A little background:

The earliest mention of the Holy Eucharist in the New Testament is found in St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians written in the early 50s of the first century. It is assumed that there were already traditions about what happened at the Last Supper circulating among the early Christians, but the Gospels were compiled and written and circulated only at a later time.

In Chapter 11, verses 23-26, St. Paul says that he received personally from the Lord what had happened in the Last Supper in regards to the Eucharist. He does this to establish authority to guide the Corinthians in their celebration of the Eucharist. It was noted that there were strong distinctions made among various members of the community. This did not match well. The sense of unity that should come from sharing one bread. He spends much time on how people ought to act at Eucharist with a strong sense of sharing.

These verses and many other verses in that first letter of Paul to the Corinthians talk about the Eucharist and its central role in the early church in Corinth. But, he had found many abuses –  and so he had to tell the people, remind people, remind Christians what they had received from Jesus.

Our reading from today’s Holy Mass focuses on the unity that should be in the Church. Since all share of the one Body and Blood of Jesus.

As possible, take time, make time, to read that first letter to the Corinthians; it tells us much about styles and customs in the early church as perceived by Paul and it reminds us, even today, the sharing that should be going on.

A further note:

Those words: he took the bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to those gathered around. These words must have been very sacred for the early Christians. These words show up in the feeding of the 5000, and 4000, the meal of the men at Emmaus, and, of course, the very words of Jesus at the Last Supper. And now, 2000 years later we still use the same words. These are the words that the freest repeat over the bread and the wine. 2000 years of continuity with Jesus – we still believe!

 Take some time to pray; to offer thanks Jesus’ life for our lives, everyday, for us.

CORPUS-CHRISTI-1024x576 Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
Picture lifted from Google

I chose the image above because it showed not a loaf to be broken and shared, but small hosts already on the dish to be shared among all the faithful.

With such great numbers of believers of Catholics, it is just about impossible to “break bread” in the common use of the term.

We accept the limitations of very simple bread made into the hosts that, by God’s power, become the Body and Blood of Jesus.

 A prayer of thanks for this gift, this power given to the Church.

To be able to receive Holy Communion is a bond of unity – or should be – it is a moment to reach out to others. Our thoughts and our prayers

  • all in the church gathered with us
  • all on the line to receive Holy Communion
  • all we will encounter during our day – family, friends, partners at work, even strangers along the street or on the bus

In that one bread, we reach out to a whole world – that is what we pray – like Jesus, who offered himself for all.

Lastly, this is a most difficult time for all who want to receive the holy Eucharist – we just can’t – but we do have that wonderful custom of “Spiritual Communion” which helps us as we watch Mass on television or on our mobile phone.

We pray for one another even though so far apart; Jesus is with us – and we with him – and with all believers.

The church has two very special possessions (among many); the Holy Bible and the Holy Eucharist. These are our precious possessions. Again, a deep, warm prayer of Thanksgiving.

Extra!    

Below are two wonderful music pieces celebrating the Holy Eucharist:

A wonderful and comfortable: Ave Verum — True Body — music by Amadeus Mozart

(You can find a translation into English on Google)

A mantra for the week: Your Body and Blood – Thank You Lord!

                       

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Fund for Apostolic Works

Construction of the Fr. Manuel Valles SJ Parish and Rectory in Culion, Palawan

UPDATE: The chapel has been constructed.  Thank you to all benefactors! 

BACKGROUND 

On March 16, 1906, Fr. Manuel Valles, S.J. arrived as the first chaplain assigned to Culion. He immediately gave workmen  instructions to help with the daunting tasks of the leper colony.  In the next years, the Jesuit Mission extended to the islets around the mainland, to lepers and non-lepers alike.  With assistance from generous benefactors and friends, the Jesuits were  responsible for building some hospitals, dormitories, schools, the church and chapels, roads and the airstrip, while taking care of the spiritual needs of the people.  Presently, the work of the Jesuits is undertaken with the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish and Loyola College of Culion with special ministry for the Indigenous People of Palawan.

Serving the Tagbanuas. In the 1990s, when the number of lepers drastically declined due to the implementation of the Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT),    the chaplaincy’s  mission for  lepers became a point for reflection. After discernment,  a new call to serve emerged in Culion, this time for our Tagbanua brethren.

The Literacy Program. In the early years of the literacy program, the parish spearheaded in establishing ties with nearby communities.  In  2009, the  first teachers who were  parish catechists, were sent to teach our brethren basic reading and writing.  During that year, the partnership with Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. was initiated  in order to assist in the training of teachers which  included the provision of learning aids designed specifically for the Tagbanuas.  The year  2010 marked the first graduates of the adult literacy program and in the  last five years , the program, now recognized by the Department of Education, has  expanded to include grade school children.

After 110 years of love and service, on July 21, 2016, the Jesuits of the Philippine Province will formally turn-over La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish to the care of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay.

Turnover of the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish.The Philippine Jesuits have been declining  in numbers over recent years.  Because of this, the Philippine province, cannot sustain all of its ministries.  In this regard,  some of the Jesuit parishes had to be  turned over to the local clergy including the La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish.  However, the Jesuit’s work in Culion will still continue thru the  Loyola College of Culion, where the IP Literacy Program will fall under.

As part of the turnover agreement with Bishop Edgardo S. Juanich of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (AVT),  a new rectory with some facilities had to be built since the Jesuits will still reside at the present one.  Thus, the  “Fr. Manuel Valles, S.J. Parish Center and Rectory”  currently in construction will serve as the residence of the incoming parish priest from AVT.  It will house the parish office as well.