The Catholic Weekly 5 April 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 5, April, 2020 THOUSANDS OF Catholics participated in live-streamed Masses as parish priests led them from closed churches across Sydney last weekend. More than 15,000 people joined either live-streamed or pre-recorded Masses from about 10 parishes and St Mary’s Cathedral, with more parish Masses set to come on- line from this weekend. Such was the demand for Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP’s first private Mass in the cathedral on Sunday morn- ing at 10.30am that one web- site hosting it momentarily crashed. The archbishop assured the faithful that priests, “even if they cannot celebrate Mass with you, are celebratingMass for you – and not just today but every day”. “We must be especially careful at this time that ‘social distancing’ does not mean distancing ourselves socially or spiritually from each other,” he said. “Indeed, as we separate physically we must find new ways of maintaining contact and strengthening commun- ion.” In his homily he pointed out that this is the fifth time Masses have been suspend- ed or banned - three times during the early stages of the country’s colonisation and the fourth time to try to contain the ravages of the Spanish flu. “Every time we’ve faced this before, the lay faithful have maintained their faith and devotion,” said the arch- bishop. “Every time the Church has bounced back after the crisis stronger than before, more With churches shut, faithful tune in to live-streamed services ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Catholics go to virtual Masses hungry for the Eucharist and with higher rates of Mass at- tendance.” Along with Masses, priests also provided digital prayer resources for Catholics to use at home and other opportuni- ties for church communities to come together online to pray throughout the week. Margaret and Julian Flit- croft watched their local par- ish’s recorded Mass on their TV for the first time on Sun- day with their young children The Flitcroft family prays the Rosary at home. STORY P15 Sam, 11, Lucy, 9, Tom, 7, and Georgia, 4. “We lit candles and had flowers, I was worried it might be a bit cheesy watching a live-stream Mass but it was really beautiful,” said Mrs Flit- croft. “We told the kids they still need to do their hair and dress nicely, just as if we were there in the church. “It helped them to realise they still needed to be qui- et and respectful.” She said it was important for them to keep their family rosary, Mass and other spiritual anchors embedded in their weeks. “Hopefully if we can keep that part of life ticking along while everything else is weird, when this is all over it will be easier to continue from where we were,” she said. David and Bernadette Jee and their children were among more than 200 who tuned to the Maternal Heart parish, Lewisham’s live- streamed Mass on Sunday. Mrs Jee said she “wept” at the announcement that churches would be closed. “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the closest we can get to heaven,” she said. “We long for Jesus and make many Spiritual Com- munions.” ARCHBISHOP’S PASTORAL LETTER P10 I n this edition News World Archbishop’s homily Opinion, comment Streaming 1-9 10-11 19-23 24 16-18 25 ONE VERY GRAND DAME 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 5127. 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 Helping build a brighter future for children and families in crisis. Dunlea Centre 35A Waratah Road Engadine NSW 2233 Phone 02 8508 3900 AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL BOYS' TOWN A place for change... www.dunleacentre.org.au Celebrating loved ones for over 90 years Trevor Lee & Son is a family business that has helped families celebrate and remember their loved ones for over 90 years. ♦ Intimate and personal funeral services ♦ Professional, compassionate staff, available 24 hours a day ♦ On site or in the comfort of your own home ♦ Servicing all areas of Metropolitan Sydney and Country NSW ♦ Pre-Paid Funerals available Contact Bernadette (nee O’Hare), Trevor or Darren Lee on 9746 2949 to arrange an appointment. We lit candles and had flowers, I was worried it might be a bit cheesy watching a live-streamMass but it was really beautiful.” Margaret Flitcroft NEW