The Catholic Weekly 29 March 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 29, March, 2020 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years FROM PAGE 1 The letter was an update to the previous week’s pastoral in which the Archbishop had flagged a possible future sus- pension of Masses. Many Catholics voiced bittersweet reactions to the changed face of the Church. Annabelle Harris told The Catholic Weekly through its Facebook page that she was “devastated” at the painful loss of her regular Sunday Mass and physical presence of a worshipping community. “Just thinking about it brings tears,” she said. “However it was such a comfort though to gath- er round the computer and watch the Archbishop cele- brate Mass. “Hopefully this temporary ab- sence helps us to deepen our love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and never waste another opportunity to be present at Mass. “It reminds me of Jesus warning his disciples that in a little while they would not see him, and after a while they would see him again and their hearts would rejoice. “I feel their pain.” Jane McCarthy of Port Kembla parish also said she was devastated. “I love, as others do, my Mass every Sunday. “I have been attending for 70 years, in our early years (in the country) travelling one and a half hours to attend Mass with our parents. “The Blessed Eucharist is the most important part of my life. “I feel so sad for our priests to be put through this terrible time, with no congregation, and no money coming in to support our parishes or them. “May God bless us all and help us.” Public masses cease in Sydney Margaret Flitcroft of Carlingford said that with the rolling changes of the last week, she and her husband hadn’t yet decided in what ways they would keep Sun- days holy with their three young children. “I’m still processing this I n this edition News Books Archbishop’s homily Opinion, comment Review 1-5 6-7 18-19 20 21 19 GERMANY: DRIFTING TO APOSTASY? EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 David Ryan (02) 9390 5408 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Paul Desmond (02) 9390 5406 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 51??. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a I love, as others do, myMass every Sunday. I have been attending for 70 years, in our early years travelling one and a half hours [to attend].” Jane McCarthy, Port Kembla and it’s really strange for them because they have never not gone to Mass on a Sunday,” she said. “We may watch a live stream Mass or just read the Scripture readings of the day with them, and we’ll pray to- gether.” Verbum Dei Brother Steve, of Ryde-Gladesville parish, said it was upsetting to see public Masses disappear and churches locked, but he chose to focus on the deeper realities. “The church itself may be closed but the Catholic Church is never closed,” Br Steve said. “We’ll be doing as much as we can to keep in touch and reach out to people in differ- ent ways. “I do feel sad today, but a little bit happy about it too because I can see that a lot of good will come out of this.” Worshippers attend the last Mass - for now - at St Charles Borromeo church in Ryde on Monday. PHOTOS:ALPHONSUS FOK CORONAVIRUS