Catholic Parish of
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Springfield

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
26th April 2020

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

On most Sundays during the Easter season in Cycle A, our Gospel is taken from the Gospel of John. This week's Gospel, however, is taken from the Gospel of Luke. As in last week's Gospel, today's Gospel shows us how the first community of disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. In these stories we gain insight into how the community of the Church came to be formed.

When we read today's Gospel, we may be surprised to learn that these friends of Jesus could walk and converse with him at some length yet not recognize him. Again we discover that the risen Jesus is not always easily recognized. Cleopas and the other disciple walk with a person whom they believe to be a stranger; only later do they discover that the stranger is Jesus. We learn that the first community met and recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, just as we meet Jesus in the Eucharist.

We can imagine the feelings of the two disciples in today's reading. They are leaving their community in Jerusalem. Their friend Jesus has been crucified. Their hope is gone. They are trying to make sense of what has occurred, so that they can put the experience behind them.

Jesus himself approaches the two men, but they take him for a stranger. Jesus asks them what they are discussing. He invites them to share their experience and interpretation of the events surrounding his crucifixion and death. When the two disciples have done so, Jesus offers his own interpretation of his crucifixion and resurrection, citing Jewish Scripture. In that encounter we find the model for our Liturgy of the Word - what we do each time we gather as a community for the Eucharist. We reflect upon our life experiences and interpret them in light of Scripture. We gather together to break open the Word of God.

In the next part of the story, we find a model for our Liturgy of the Eucharist. The disciples invite the stranger (Jesus) to stay with them. During the meal in which they share in the breaking of the bread, the disciples' eyes are opened; they recognize the stranger as Jesus. In the Eucharist too we share in the breaking of the bread and discover Jesus in our midst. Just as the disciples returned to Jerusalem to recount their experience to the other disciples, we too are sent from our Eucharistic gathering. Our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist compels us to share the story with others.

In this period of pandemic, we miss the breaking of the word and breaking the Eucharistic bread together. But it can never stop us from reflecting on the word of god and connecting it to our own life experiences. May be in this time it will connect us more and shed more light into our thoughts and experiences. We may find the word of god more meaningful and personally touching as if we read again and again the same passage at different circumstances. So let us not fail to break the word of god ourselves with all the available helps at hand and connect it to our own personal lives so that we may realize that god is speaking to us. Let that strengthen us until we meet again to break the bread and proclaim the good news again. May god bless us all.

Wishing you all a peaceful and serene extended lockdown. Stay safe and healthy. May the blessings of risen Christ fill you with hope.

SEND O LORD, HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH.

Fr. Sabu Pariyadan RCJ

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Notices:

• From Fr. Sabu: this Sunday's gospel has an immense connection with what we are all missing in our church life. It is the mass proper. If we read well the gospel, we realize that there is a breaking of the word (liturgy of the word), followed by breaking of the bread (liturgy of the Eucharist) and finally going out to proclaim the risen Christ. In this period of pandemic, we miss the breaking of the word and breaking the Eucharistic bread together. But it can never stop us from reflecting on the word of god and connecting it to our own life experiences. May be, in this time it will connect us more and shed more light into our thoughts and experiences. We may find the word of God more meaningful and personally touching us as if we read again and again the same passage at different circumstances. So let us not fail to break the word of God ourselves with all the available helps at hand and connect it into our own personal lives. So that we may realize that God is speaking to us. Let that strengthen us until we meet again to break the bread and proclaim the good news again. May god bless us all.
• Thank you: A very special thank you to all for your calls and emails. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support in this season of pandemic. Keep up the good spirit and continue to stay safe and healthy and stay at home. I am regularly praying for you all and most especially for all those suffering with Covid-19.
• Looking out for our friends: If you know any of our parishioners or your neighbours, who live alone and who may not be using the new world media and communication technologies like internet and smart phones, it would be great if you have their telephone numbers, to give a call and offer words of support and make them feel connected.
• From Dundee - South Africa: Fr Gerald Gostling in South Africa shares his experience in lockdown. Our parish is twinned with the Diocese of Dundee; please find his letter on our website here. You may be interested to consider what lockdown would mean minus alcohol and cigarettes, as in the case in Dundee!
• A reflection by Raymond Perrier: he is the Director of a Jesuit run Centre in Durban. Some of you may know Raymond - he is originally from our parish. Entitled "The Long Good Friday" his Reflection is from Holy Week, with insights into work with refugees and the poor. You can find the same on our parish website here.
• Parish Email Chain: There is a parish group of email chain circulating around, connecting people and sharing their lockdown activities and advices. So if you wish to be added to the email chain please click here to Email the parish address or click here to Email directly Margaret cook who is coordinating it. Thank you all for the good job.
• Mass for Migrants: As you know, Caritas Brentwood were this year organising the Mass for Migrants on behalf of the Dioceses of Westminster, Southwark and Brentwood, due to be celebrated at St Antony's, Forest Gate on Saturday 2nd May. We will therefore be celebrating the Migrants Mass via Instagram Livestream on Saturday 2nd May, at 10.30am. All the Mass details - and how to access the livestream - are at www.bcys.net/events/migrantsmass
• The Good Friday Collection for the Holy Places, mandated by the Holy See, will now take place on the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.

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Novena for the Safe Re-opening of the Churches and the Restoration of Public Mass as soon as possible:

The following Litany will be said by Catholics across the UK from Sunday, 26th April, until the following week Monday, 4th May, the Feast of the English Martyrs.

Please join us. If you hear about it later than those dates, please join anyway. This novena petitions Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, that it may be safe to re-open Churches and restore public Masses as soon as possible.

The Litany of the Sacred Heart

For the Intention that it may be safe to re-open the Churches and restore public Masses as soon as possible, we pray:

Lord, have mercy on us.
-	Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
-	Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
-	Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
-	Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
-	Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
-	Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Substantially united to the Word of God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Holy Temple of God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of charity,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Vessel of Justice and love,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Full of goodness and love,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Most worthy of all praises,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, King and centre of all hearts,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Divinity,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father is well pleased,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Whose fullness we have all received,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the everlasting hills,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Patient and abounding in mercy,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Rich unto all who call upon Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and holiness,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our sins,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Filled with reproaches,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Bruised for our offenses,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Made obedient unto death,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Pierced with a lance,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Life and Resurrection,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Peace and Reconciliation,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Salvation of those who hope in Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Hope of those who die in Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Delight of all the Saints,
-	Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
-	Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thine most-beloved Son, and upon the praises and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and appeased by worthy homage, pardon those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy Great Goodness in the name of the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Amen.

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Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

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