Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
OUR VISION
Parish Priest: Fr Mike Delaney
Mob: 0417 279 437
Email: mike.delaney@aohtas.org.au
Priest in Residence: Fr Phil McCormack
Mob: 0437 521 257
Email: pmccormack43@bigpond.com
Seminarian in Residence: Kanishka Perera
Mob: 0499 035 199
Email: kanish_biyanwila@yahoo.com
Postal Address: PO Box 362, Devonport 7310
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street, Devonport 7310
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm)
Office Phone: 6424 2783 Email: merseyleven@aohtas.org.au
Secretary: Annie Davies Finance Officer: Anne Fisher
Parish Mass times for the Month: mlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Weekly Homily Podcast: mikedelaney.podomatic.com
Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au for news, information and details of other Parishes.
Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
Christmas Mass Times 2020
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, STEWART STREET, DEVONPORT
CHRISTMAS EVE: 5:00pm Children’s Mass
6:30pm Children’s Mass
8:00pm Mass
Midnight Mass (Carols starting at 11:15pm)
CHRISTMAS DAY: 9:00am Mass
SACRED HEART CHURCH, ALEXANDRA ROAD, ULVERSTONE
CHRISTMAS EVE: 6pm Children’s Mass
8pm Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY: 9am Mass
RECONCILIATION: Our Lady of Lourdes Church – Wed 9th Dec, 7pm
Sacred Heart Church – Thurs 10th Dec, 7pm
Please note: bookings are essential.
Booking Details: https://mersey-leven-christmas.eventbrite.com.au
PLENARY COUNCIL PRAYER
Come, Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Come, Holy Spirit of the great South Land.
O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia
and guide us on the pilgrim way of the Plenary Council.
Give us the grace to see your face in one another
and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road.
Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth.
Give us ears to listen humbly to each other
and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying.
Lead your Church into a hope-filled future,
that we may live the joy of the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.
Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.
St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.
Come, Holy Spirit of the great South Land.
O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia
and guide us on the pilgrim way of the Plenary Council.
Give us the grace to see your face in one another
and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road.
Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth.
Give us ears to listen humbly to each other
and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying.
Lead your Church into a hope-filled future,
that we may live the joy of the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.
Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.
St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.
Parish Prayer
Heavenly Father,
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.Amen.Our Parish Sacramental Life
SUNDAY MASS ONLINE: Please go to the following link on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLCP1Mon 14th Dec NO MASS ... John of the CrossTues 15th Dec Devonport 9:30amWed 16th Dec Ulverstone 9:30am Thurs 17th Dec Devonport 8:00am ... pre-recording of Sunday Mass Devonport 12noon Fri 18th Dec Ulverstone 9:30am Sat 19th Dec Devonport 6:00pm ... 3rd Sunday of Advent Ulverstone 6:00pmSun 20th Dec Devonport 10:00am ... ALSO LIVESTREAM Ulverstone 10:00am
If you are looking for Sunday Mass readings or Daily Mass readings, Universalis has the readings as well as the various Hours of the Divine Office - https://universalis.com/mass.htm
Your prayers are asked for the sick: Dot Prior, Regina Locket, Allan McIntyre, Loretta Visser, Aidan Ravaillion, David Ockwell, Judy Redgrove, Les Enniss, Mary Bryan, Sam Eiler & ...
Let us pray for those who have died recently:Fr Frank Young, Ann Radford, Mary-Anne Riek, Emily Floresta, Richard Porteous, Mary Clifford, Ena Carter, Sr Mechtilde Dillon SSJ, Elvira Giuliani, Paul Dilger, Peter Magill Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 9th – 15th December, 2020Vera Sherston, John Davis, Guy d’Hondt, John Gibbons, Kath Last, Paul Rech, Fr Bill Egan, Mark Marshall, Jim Rogers, Thomas Last, Audrey Cassidy, Natasha Gutteridge.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPELOnce I feel settled and prepared to pray with the Gospel, I read it slowly and prayerfully. The text has two parts. The first paragraph is a short theological introduction; the rest is more descriptive. It may help my time of prayer to pause, and then focus on each part separately.In the first part, what do I notice about the way the Evangelist introduces John the Baptist?In the second part, I may like to use my imagination to put myself in the scene on the banks of the river Jordan. What do I notice about John, and about the devout Jewish leaders who come to question him?What seems to be their intention towards him, and what is John’s intention towards them?What is John trying to teach them … and what might this scripture be teaching me about Christ?I share with the Lord whatever is in my heart, as with a dear and trusted friend.I close my prayer with a slow sign of the cross.
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness
Amen.
Our Parish Sacramental Life
Baptism: Arrangements are made by contacting Parish Office. Parents attend a Baptismal Preparation Session organised with a Priest.
Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist: Are received following a Family–centred, Parish-based, School-supported Preparation Program.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: prepares adults for reception into the Catholic community.
Marriage: arrangements are made by contacting one of our priests - couples attend a Pre-marriage Program
Anointing of the Sick: please contact one of our priests
Reconciliation: Ulverstone - Fridays (10am - 10:30am), Devonport - Saturday (5:15pm– 5.45pm)
Eucharistic Adoration - Devonport: Every Friday 10am - 12noon, concluding with Stations of the Cross and Angelus
Benediction with Adoration Devonport: First Friday each month
Legion of Mary: Wednesdays 11am Sacred Heart Church Community Room, Ulverstone
Prayer Group: Charismatic Renewal – Mondays 6pm Community Room Ulverstone
SUNDAY MASS ONLINE:
Please go to the following link on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLCP1
Mon 14th Dec NO MASS ... John of the Cross
Tues 15th Dec Devonport 9:30am
Wed 16th Dec Ulverstone 9:30am
Thurs 17th Dec Devonport 8:00am ... pre-recording of Sunday Mass
Devonport 12noon
Fri 18th Dec Ulverstone 9:30am
Sat 19th Dec Devonport 6:00pm ... 3rd Sunday of Advent
Ulverstone 6:00pm
Sun 20th Dec Devonport 10:00am ... ALSO LIVESTREAM
Ulverstone 10:00am
If you are looking for Sunday Mass readings or Daily Mass readings, Universalis has the readings as well as the various Hours of the Divine Office - https://universalis.com/mass.htm
Dot Prior, Regina Locket, Allan McIntyre, Loretta Visser, Aidan Ravaillion, David Ockwell, Judy Redgrove, Les Enniss, Mary Bryan, Sam Eiler & ...
Let us pray for those who have died recently:
Fr Frank Young, Ann Radford, Mary-Anne Riek, Emily Floresta, Richard Porteous, Mary Clifford, Ena Carter, Sr Mechtilde Dillon SSJ, Elvira Giuliani, Paul Dilger, Peter Magill
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 9th – 15th December, 2020
Vera Sherston, John Davis, Guy d’Hondt, John Gibbons, Kath Last, Paul Rech, Fr Bill Egan, Mark Marshall, Jim Rogers, Thomas Last, Audrey Cassidy, Natasha Gutteridge.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
PREGO REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL
Once I feel settled and prepared to pray with the Gospel, I read it slowly and prayerfully.
The text has two parts.
The first paragraph is a short theological introduction; the rest is more descriptive.
It may help my time of prayer to pause, and then focus on each part separately.
In the first part, what do I notice about the way the Evangelist introduces John the Baptist?
In the second part, I may like to use my imagination to put myself in the scene on the banks of the river Jordan.
What do I notice about John, and about the devout Jewish leaders who come to question him?
What seems to be their intention towards him, and what is John’s intention towards them?
What is John trying to teach them … and what might this scripture be teaching me about Christ?
I share with the Lord whatever is in my heart, as with a dear and trusted friend.
I close my prayer with a slow sign of the cross.
Weekly Ramblings
Thanks to all those who have booked for tickets for our Christmas Masses – in many ways we have been too successful as several of our Masses have been completely booked out. For those who wish to book for Devonport we can accommodate people in the Church at the Midnight Mass (starting at 11.15pm with Carols) and at the 9am Christmas Day Masses and in Ulverstone we have seats available at the 8pm Christmas Eve and 9am Christmas Day Masses.
At Devonport we have been able to get help from OLOL School who are allowing us to use the School Hall for an overflow congregation – closer to Steele Street – so that we can livestream the Mass there. At this stage we are still working out how we can help any children to participate – wherever they are – but there will be more information next week. On the website (https://mersey-leven-christmas.eventbrite.com.au) you can find details of all the spaces for all the masses – please ensure that you make your bookings ASAP.
Elsewhere in the newsletter is a request for flowers for both OLOL and Sacred Heart. We have some wonderful people who can do the arranging – just works better if they have the flowers to work with.
Stay safe and take care as this busy season continues, 
FR MIKE'S FAREWELL
Mersey Leven Catholic Parish invites all parishioners to attend Fr Mike's farewell function on Sunday, 20th December commencing after the 10 am Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes. Due to COVID restrictions on food sharing, the function will take the form of a basic BBQ and cake on the lawns of Our Lady of Lourdes School (weather permitting) or inside the Parish Centre or OLOL Gym (depending on numbers) should the weather be unkind. The BBQ will be meat/veggie patties on bread with sauce/onions/coleslaw, served in a serviette (to reduce the use of single use crockery and cutlery). The cake will be individually wrapped slices. Soft drink and water will be supplied in individual containers. You are welcome to bring your own salads/sweets and drinks to enhance your lunch, and supply your own crockery and cutlery.
To assist with catering, please RSVP by Thursday 17th December via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fr-mikes-farewell-tickets-132341233191 or phoning the Parish Office (Tuesday - Thursday 10am – 3pm) 6424:2783.
If anyone is available to assist with BBQ-ing the meat, please contact Felicity Sly on 0418 301 573 or at fsly@internode.on.net
ADVENT – MORNING PRAYERMorning Prayer 9.30am to 10am at St Joseph Mass Centre Port Sorell. Dates: Monday 14th and Monday 21st December. For further information contact Giuseppe Gigliotti 0419684-134 or gigli@comcen.com.au
EMPTY STABLE – OLOL CHURCH
Parishioners are invited to place donations of gifts, non-perishable and shelf stable food items in the empty stable at OLOL Church. The items donated will be used by St Vincent de Paul to contribute to both Christmas and general food hampers. Donations of Gift Cards (e.g. to Kmart, supermarkets etc) would also be gratefully received.
Your kindness and generosity is appreciated and will make life a little more joyful for families and isolated people.
FLOWER ROSTER – SACRED HEART CHURCH ULVERSTONE & OLOL DEVONPORTDo you have a garden full of beautiful flowers? Would you like to donate flowers to the Church on a regular basis? You don’t have to be on the flower roster, you can simply supply the Church with flowers ... BUT ... If you would like to be on the roster we would welcome you! If you have a friend or two that could help bring them along as well! No experience needed just fun and enjoyment making our Mass Centres look fresh and colourful. Please contact Jo Rodgers for Sacred Heart Church on 0439 064 493 and the Parish Office 6424:2783 for Devonport if you would like to assist.
READERS ROSTER – SACRED HEART CHURCH, ULVERSTONECalling all readers - New and old! Would you like to join the reader’s roster? If you would like to know more please contact Jo Rodgers 0439 064 493 or the Parish Office 6424:2783.
NATIVITY PLAY, SACRED HEART CHURCH - CHRISTMAS EVE MASS“Calling all children” Would you like to take part in the nativity play at the 6pm Christmas Eve Mass at Sacred Heart Church Ulverstone? If you would like more information please phone Charlie Vella on 0417 307 781.
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE
IMMACULATA MISSION SCHOOL 2021: MADE FOR HEAVEN!Start the New Year by going deeper in faith through awesome talks, friendship and fellowship, daily Mass and prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, praise and worship and lots more! When: 1st - 5th January, 2021, Where: St James Catholic College, Cygnet Tasmania Cost per person: $220 (with basic shared accommodation), $170 (with no accommodation) - includes food, speakers, activities and youth and children's ministry - all ages, families welcome! For more info or to register: www.sistersoftheimmaculata.org.au/ims or 0406 372 608
VIRTUAL WAY TO ST JAMES PILGRIMAGEMake your way through natural surroundings in a meditative way anywhere in the world on 9th – 10th January 2021. Join this Global “El Camino de Santiago” in the Spirit of the Annual Pilgrimage to St James Church in Cygnet in the Huon Valley. Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/waytostjamescygnet/Website link: https://www.waytostjames.com.au/
Letter From Rome
Pope Francis Turns 84
After nearly eight years as Bishop of Rome the Jesuit pope remains somewhat of an enigma - Robert Mickens, Rome, December 11, 2020. This article is from the La-Croix International website - you can access the site here but complete full access is via paid subscription
Pope Francis probably won't be celebrating next Thursday when he marks his 84th birthday. That's because it seems he's just not much interested in celebrating any kind of personal milestones or honors.
No harm in that. In fact, it's something actually quite admirable. And rare in this day and age.
But surely, he must stop and reflect each time the calendar reaches December 17 and take stock of the year that's just passed and the one that lies ahead.
The Argentine pope seems like the type of man who probably uses the annual anniversary of his birth to celebrate and recall those who have been important in his life, primarily those who brought him into this world -- his mother and father.
And he likely ponders the gifts and lessons he received during the early years of his life in Buenos Aires from his paternal grandparents, especially his grandmother, about whom he has often spoke fondly.
Certainly, he gives thanks for his parents and grandparents and prays for them and asks their intercession, too. After all, he is Catholic and believes in the communion of saints.
When Francis marks a birthday, he probably thinks of the people who helped mold him, at different stages of his life, into the person he gradually grew to be.
He has mentioned some of these folks at various times in interviews and conversations that have been made public.
Francis is somewhat of an enigmaI keep saying "seems like", "probably", "appears to be" and so forth because it's not clear what Francis actually does or thinks about. And not just on his birthday, but on many things.
Oh, he's written and said a lot. An awful lot. But that doesn't mean he always reveals what he's really thinking.
And, at times, he says things that are hard to square with things he said or done at other times.
In a word, Jorge Mario Bergoglio/Pope Francis is somewhat of an enigma.
He rails against clericalism, yet he can also be as clerical as anyone.
He has lofty words about advancing the role of women in the Church and society, yet he has a tendency to trade a bit too easily in misogynistic stereotypes.
He's made mercy the focus of his preaching and the motto of his pontificate, yet he has shown at times that he can be punishing and unforgiving.
Thank God for all of this.
Our pope is only a human being. He's not perfect.
Yet we Catholics, for whom "papolatry" is a mutant gene in our religious DNA, sometimes find that hard to admit.
Previous popes -- such as those who were larger-than-life, brilliantly professorial or thought to be angelic -- had groups of cultlike disciples who believed they could do no wrong.
Unfortunately, Francis has his own such group.
Those who are part of this coterie believe in all sincerity that they are helping him, especially as he is increasingly attacked by "enemies", a whole range of Catholics among them. But they often see him as incapable of making a mistake or being wrong.
"I am a sinner," is how the pope responded when asked, "Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?"
From sinner to His HolinessYet he -- like all the popes of at least the last several hundred years -- is called Holy Father and Your Holiness.
These devotional "titles" or forms of address are often over-exaggerated by those who are caught up in the very clericalism -- and, in turn, hierarchical sycophantism -- this pope says he abhors. They call him Most Holy Father or Most Blessed Father.
Francis often talks about when he was "bishop in that other diocese" and recounts real or hypothetical dialogues in which the person he's talking to addresses him simply as "Padre".
Even still, Francis has not forbidden the use of those more lofty, devotional forms of address. And that is all they are. Holy Father and His Holiness are not proper titles. Neither is "pope".
Then there are the titles of other hierarchs. During the last consistory, Francis derided those cardinals who relish being called "Eminence". Yet, he's not outlawed the use of that "title".
Clericalist forms of addressBishops are still called "Your Excellency" and probably, in some musty corners of the Church, people call them "My Lord". And "Your Grace" if one is an archbishop.
It's obvious that the Argentine pope does not go in for these medieval forms of address. But it's also pretty clear why he's not done anything to get rid of them.
He nearly caused a revolt early in his pontificate when he tried to stop the practice of naming priests honorary prelates and giving them the title "Monsignor".
In the end, Francis merely stopped anyone under the age of 65 from being named an honorary prelate, but with one exception -- men in the Vatican diplomatic corps. Go figure.
With apologies to all my monsignor friends, this office-less title is the epitome of hierarchical clericalism. It is connected to the old papal court and the monarchical papacy, the remaining traces of which Francis says must be wiped away.
It's not at all apparent how keeping these exalted titles can do anything except perpetuate a clericalist and hierarchicalist mentality that Jesus -- though he did not use those terms -- always condemned.
He told his followers to call no man "Father". Well, he was somewhat a bit of an enigma, too.
And Francis probably won't mind if we say, "Happy Birthday, Padre Francesco!"
Life Coming To A Focus
This article is taken from the Daily Email sent by Fr Richard Rohr OFM from the Center for Action and Contemplation. You can subscribe to receive the email by clicking here
As we grow in the spiritual life, our life will become increasingly centered. Only a few things will really matter. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, I see a lot of people right now thinking this way. There’s a sense that we’re all in this together—every continent, country, class, religion, race, age, or gender. We’re all subject to this crisis. Suffering has an ability to pull you into oneness.
Maybe you’ve seen such oneness emerge in your family. I went to Kansas last month for my sister’s funeral, and all of my family was there. We don’t have any big resentments or conflicts, but the suffering—and acceptance of that suffering in her death—brought us together in the most beautiful way. It was such an honor to have the funeral with my own family and for my own sister.
We see an increasing centering take place with Jesus and the disciples in the gospel text from this past Sunday [Matthew 17:1-9]. Jesus is leading the disciples towards the Transfiguration experience. He is preparing them for the cross, and saying, “It’s going to come! Be ready. It’s probably the only thing that will transfigure you.”
As I said in yesterday’s reflection, there are only two major paths by which the human soul comes to God: the path of great love, and the one of great suffering. Both finally come down to great suffering—because if we love anything greatly, we will eventually suffer for it. When we’re young, God hides this from us. We think it won’t have to be true for us. But to love anything in depth and over the long term, we eventually must suffer.
The disciples first respond to the Transfigured Christ with fear. In our global time of crisis, this is where many of us are today. The disciples mirror the itinerary of the spiritual journey: we start out with many concerns, fears, and worries. Our minds and hearts are all over the place. But Jesus comes, touches them, and says, “Get up and do not be afraid.” When the three disciples raise their eyes, they see nothing but one image: Jesus. Their lives have become fully focused and simplified on the one thing that is good, the one thing they desire, and the one thing that is necessary. What a moment of grace and encouragement!
But then Jesus leads them down the mountain, back into the ordinary world to continue his labor of love, healing and nonviolent protest against Empire. We can’t stay on the mountaintop forever. And then Jesus ends with a line that to me was always a disappointment: don’t tell anybody about what just happened. He might be saying, “Don’t tell this story to someone else, because they’ll think they understand it just by hearing about it.” Religious experience has to be experienced firsthand. We can’t believe it because someone else talked about it. Sooner or later, we have to go to our own mountaintop. We have to have our own transfiguration, and we have to walk down the mountaintop into the ordinary world, on the path of suffering, and the path of love—which are, in the end, the same. As we experience a suffering world together, I pray that this community will be drawn to center itself on the cross and bring Jesus’ teaching to life. Adapted from Richard Rohr, “Life Coming to a Focus,” Homily (March 7, 2020).
From St Tarcisius to People Magazine:Our Evolution In Admiration And Imitation
When I was a young boy growing up in a Catholic community, the catechesis of the time tried to inspire the hearts of the young with stories of martyrs, saints, and other people who lived out high ideals in terms of virtue and faith. I remember one story in particular that caught my imagination and inspired me, the story of a third-century Christian martyr, St. Tarcisius.
As legend (or truth) has it, Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during the time of the early Christian persecutions. At that time, Christians in Rome were celebrating the Eucharist in secret in the catacombs. After those secret masses someone, a deacon or an acolyte, would carry the Eucharistic species, the Blessed Sacrament, to the sick and to prisoners. One day, after one of those secret masses, young Tarcisius was carrying the Blessed Sacrament on route to a prison when he was accosted by a mob. He refused to hand over the Blessed Sacrament, protected it with his own body, and was beaten to death as a result.
As a twelve-year-old boy that story enflamed my romantic imagination. I wanted to have that kind of high ideal in my life. In my young imagination, Tarcisius was the ultimate hero whom I wanted to be like.
We’ve come a long way from there, both in our culture and in our churches. We’re no longer moved romantically much by either the saints of old or the saints of today. Yes, we still make an official place for them in our churches and in our highest ideals, but now we’re moved romantically much more by the lives of the rich, the famous, the beautiful, the pop stars, the professional athletes, the physically gifted, and the intellectually gifted. It’s they who now enflame our imaginations, draw our admiration, and who we most like to imitate.
In the early nineteenth century, Alban Butler, an English convert, collected stories of the lives of the saints and eventually set them together in twelve-volume set, famously know as Butler’s Lives of the Saints. For nearly two hundred years, these books inspired Christians, young and old. No longer. Today, Butler’s Lives of the Saints has effectively been replaced by People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, Time magazine, and the multiple other magazines which chronicle the lives of the rich and famous and stare out at us from every newsstand and grocery-store check-out line.
In effect, we have moved: from St. Tarcisius to Justin Bieber; from Therese of Lisieux to Taylor Swift; from Thomas Aquinas to Tom Brady; from St. Monica to Meryl Streep; from St. Augustine to Mark Zuckerberg; from Julian of Norwich to Marianne Williamson; and from the first African American saint, St. Martin de Porres, to LeBron James. It’s these people who are now enflaming our romantic imagination and inviting our imitation.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that these people are bad or that there’s anything wrong with admiring them. Indeed, we owe them some admiration because all beauty and talent take their origin in God who is the author of all good things. From a saint’s virtue, to a movie star’s physical beauty, to an athlete’s grace, there’s only one author at the origin of all that grace, God. Thomas Aquinas once rightly pointed out that to withhold a compliment from someone who deserves it is a sin because we are withholding food from someone who needs it to live on. Beauty, talent, and grace need to be recognized and acknowledged. Admiration is not the issue. The issue rather is that while we need to admire and acknowledge the gifts of the talented and the beautiful, these are not always the lives we should be imitating, unless they also radiate virtue and saintliness. We shouldn’t too easily identify human grace with moral virtue. But that’s a problem.
As well, one of the weaknesses in our churches today is that while we have vastly upgraded and refined our intellectual imagination and now have better and healthier theological and biblical studies, we struggle to touch hearts. We struggle to get people to fall in love with their faith and especially with their church. We struggle to enflame their romantic imagination as we once did by invoking the lives of the saints.
Where might we go with all of this? Can we find again saints to enflame our ideals? Can the fine work done today by Robert Ellsberg on hagiography (on the lives of the saints and other moral giants who have passed before us) become the new Butler’s Lives of the Saints? Can secular biographies of some moral giants in our own age draw our imitation? Is there a St. Tarcisius out there who can inspire the young?
Today, more than ever, we need inspiring stories about women and men, young and old, who have lived out heroic virtue. Without such ideals to emulate, we too quickly identify moral virtue with human grace and deprive ourselves of higher spiritual ideals.
Singing Emmanuel To Fill An Empty Church
Advent has many musical traditions which, along with so many other things, will not be able to be performed as usual this year, but we can still let the hymns of the season be the soundtrack to our prayer and preparation. Frances Novillo offers some practical advice on how we can tune our ears to the presence of God this Advent, and encourages us to let the differences in our liturgy be signposts to the spaces where we can encounter God with us in the reality of our lives.Frances Novillo is a workplace chaplain in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton. She has an MA in Psychology of Religion, practises as a Pastoral Supervisor, and worked for many years as a liturgical musician.This article is taken from the ThinkingFaith.org website where you can find a wide range of articles by clicking here In a year of significant losses affecting relationships, health, freedom and finances, lesser losses may have passed us by, but I noticed when my supermarket stopped playing background music in favour of silence and announcements about Covid-19 protocols. In 2020, people lost touch with music, spending less time in social venues where background music is usually played. Concerts and festivals were cancelled, and sports grounds usually resonant with tremendous chanting fell silent. Even buskers were discouraged from performing for fear of crowds gathering. Congregational singing has been prohibited for some months now, and the liturgical contribution of choirs and cantors limited, not least so that worshippers are not kept indoors together for too long.
In the season of carol-singing, permission granted to sing together outdoors is welcome and may highlight the presence of God beyond church walls, God who is with us wherever we are – Emmanuel. Perhaps you can already hear the carols in your head? Because, bidden or unbidden, snippets of hymns may come to mind as small reminders of the enduring presence of God. Such memories offer hope and aid perseverance. In unwelcome silence when company is missed; as new patterns of prayer at home develop; in now intimidating or infuriating environments like crowds and queues where calm is sought, we might find ourselves humming and realise it’s the Salve Regina, or Make me a channel of your peace, or something else oft-repeated in Catholic liturgies, resonating even now although it cannot be sung in company by government decree.
Some of the unexpected changes of 2020 led to surprising discoveries. Parishioners of all ages learnt to participate in worship remotely, and a huge number of Christians and non-Christians watched online services and joined the record-breaking Google search for prayer. Even where neighbours never previously conversed, local WhatsApp groups and clapping for the NHS connected people to each other. This is Emmanuel in action, not only with us as we are, but coming to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
Emmanuel expresses the eschatological paradox: the kingdom is here and the kingdom is coming. Jesus has come, is with us, and will come again – Emmanuel and Maranatha – come, Lord Jesus, come. As the worship song by Naida Hearn reminds us, Jesus is the name above all names, and Emmanuel, God-is-with-us, is his name most commonly associated with Advent and Christmas. This theme inspires the hymns of the season.
Some hymns such as Peter McGrail’s Bright and clear / Lord Emmanuel , come, express Emmanuel breaking through dramatically, manifestly Christ the King, named as such in Hillsong’s Emmanuel. Emmanuel also embraces the kenosis of Philippians 2:5-8, reflected in hymns such as Matt Osgood’s On Christmas Day and Frank Houghton’s Thou who wast rich. The latter explores Emmanuel transforming and shaping, making ‘us what thou wouldst have us be’. Emmanuel embraces all our hopes and fears, according to the Christmas carol O little town of Bethlehem, as God becomes fully human in Jesus. Emmanuel offers himself as a gift, received by Mary at the Annunciation (narrated in The angel Gabriel by Sabine Baring-Gould) and shared with everyone as expressed by Marty Haugen in Come to us / Gift of God. Huub Oosterhuis’s poetic lyrics in The Song of God Among Us acknowledge that the almost imperceptible presence of Emmanuel can go unrecognised, a sentiment echoed by John L. Bell in the chant There is one among us. Emmanuel is the gentle God of the Rorate Caeli, and of Graham Kendrick’s Like a candle flame / God is with us. Combining many of these Emmanuel themes is the beautifully-crafted modern hymn Sing we the song of Immanuel by Matt Boswell and others.
How may such a wealth of wonderful hymns be used while restrictions prohibit their communal singing in the conventional manner?
Participating from home in a broadcast Mass permits worshippers to join in singing with the choir, cantor, clergy or a recording, or to participate by listening. Priests uncomfortable leading sung worship solo, or singing to camera in an empty church, may welcome the idea of simply singing one verse from O come, o come Emmanuel at each Mass, drawing attention each week or each day to the lyrics of each stanza. There is a perennial debate about when that hymn should be sung, with some liturgists insisting convincingly that it should not be sung before 17 December as it summarises the O Antiphons set from that date onwards, although that significantly limits the occasions on which Sunday worshippers would hear a hymn which arguably sums up the sound of the whole season. Bishop Robert Barron was not averse to mentioning it in his sermon for the first Sunday of Advent this year, which wasn’t even in December!
Where congregations meeting in person are prohibited by Covid-19 restrictions from singing, incorporating a well-known hymn into Mass may tempt people to break the rules by joining in, or feel frustrated and disappointed that they can’t. A local remembrance service this year reminded those present that the National Anthem would be a ‘Recording Only: Do not sing’. Such instructions do not ease liturgical flow. To prevent not singing in liturgy becoming a habit, and to avoid having to interrupt a song should the congregation join in singing in contravention of the rules, this year it may be better to reference well-known songs rather than including them in any conventional form. For example, instead of expecting worshippers simply to listen as the organist plays all three verses of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, those lyrics mentioning Emmanuel could be quoted, then the organist might improvise around the familiar tune, guiding reflection without encouraging illicit singing. Instrumental music accompanying the actions of the Mass (such as the preparation of the gifts or cleaning the vessels after communion) does not unduly lengthen the liturgy, but referencing familiar hymn tunes in instrumental music can focus worshippers’ minds and prayers on seasonal themes. Instrumental music can enrich Masses suffering the loss of communal singing, movement and variety of spoken voices.
A spoken or sung response to prayers is most appropriate when churches are full and all worshippers are physically present, but now there are fewer people in church during Mass, it may be time to explore alternative responses, for example, silence or instrumental music. Smaller congregations create less background noise that might obscure the spoken word during Mass, so it may be possible now to introduce sensitive background music to readings and prayers, judiciously selected to enhance the meaning of the words, and understanding that instrumental music should be used only in moderation during Advent (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §313). Music for The angel Gabriel could accompany spoken prayers, for example, with the ‘Gloria’ refrain played as a response, or the music of the verses of O come, o come Emmanuel played during prayers, and the chorus played as a response, as it is written to modulate between verse and chorus, creating a natural and audible musical change matching the shift between intercession and response. If a talented musician capable of improvising isn’t available, there are instrumental pieces based on the famous O come, o come Emmanuel melody, such as Respighi’s Adoration of the Magi. However, use of recordings should always be well-prepared, since the recording cannot adapt to live liturgy as parish musicians do.
There is a vast amount of recorded liturgical music available online, with bands, choirs, orchestras or simply sung. Many parishes have invited their own musicians and singers to contribute recordings made at home to services held in church. The aforementioned On Christmas Day by Matt Osgood is a great example of an Emmanuel hymn easily accessible as a recording as well as a video. Sheet music is also available from Resound Worship, so parish musicians can learn the song to use live in future. Within copyright and PRL restrictions, recordings of thematically relevant hymns, with or without videos, may be played before and after a church service online or in person; recordings may be incorporated into prayer meetings and Advent talks, or used within domestic prayer, for example, while lighting candles on the Advent wreath at home.
If novel approaches to hymnody feel insufficient in comparison to singing together in worship, that is not inappropriate for 2020. Daily life is currently constrained and everyone is living with less than they would choose. If worship permits recognition of what is lost, acknowledgement of all that we miss and long for, that is an appropriate reflection of the reality of life. Emptiness, presented to God in prayer, forms an invitation for him to meet with us more deeply, fill us more completely, be more fully present to us as Emmanuel.
Thanks to all those who have booked for tickets for our Christmas Masses – in many ways we have been too successful as several of our Masses have been completely booked out. For those who wish to book for Devonport we can accommodate people in the Church at the Midnight Mass (starting at 11.15pm with Carols) and at the 9am Christmas Day Masses and in Ulverstone we have seats available at the 8pm Christmas Eve and 9am Christmas Day Masses.
At Devonport we have been able to get help from OLOL School who are allowing us to use the School Hall for an overflow congregation – closer to Steele Street – so that we can livestream the Mass there. At this stage we are still working out how we can help any children to participate – wherever they are – but there will be more information next week. On the website (https://mersey-leven-christmas.eventbrite.com.au) you can find details of all the spaces for all the masses – please ensure that you make your bookings ASAP.
Elsewhere in the newsletter is a request for flowers for both OLOL and Sacred Heart. We have some wonderful people who can do the arranging – just works better if they have the flowers to work with.
Stay safe and take care as this busy season continues,
FR MIKE'S FAREWELL
Mersey Leven Catholic Parish invites all parishioners to attend Fr Mike's farewell function on Sunday, 20th December commencing after the 10 am Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes.
Due to COVID restrictions on food sharing, the function will take the form of a basic BBQ and cake on the lawns of Our Lady of Lourdes School (weather permitting) or inside the Parish Centre or OLOL Gym (depending on numbers) should the weather be unkind.
The BBQ will be meat/veggie patties on bread with sauce/onions/coleslaw, served in a serviette (to reduce the use of single use crockery and cutlery).
The cake will be individually wrapped slices.
Soft drink and water will be supplied in individual containers.
You are welcome to bring your own salads/sweets and drinks to enhance your lunch, and supply your own crockery and cutlery.
To assist with catering, please RSVP by Thursday 17th December via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fr-mikes-farewell-tickets-132341233191 or phoning the Parish Office (Tuesday - Thursday 10am – 3pm) 6424:2783.
If anyone is available to assist with BBQ-ing the meat, please contact Felicity Sly on 0418 301 573 or at fsly@internode.on.net
ADVENT – MORNING PRAYER
Morning Prayer 9.30am to 10am at St Joseph Mass Centre Port Sorell. Dates: Monday 14th and Monday 21st December.
For further information contact Giuseppe Gigliotti 0419684-134 or gigli@comcen.com.au
EMPTY STABLE – OLOL CHURCH
The items donated will be used by St Vincent de Paul to contribute to both Christmas and general food hampers.
Donations of Gift Cards (e.g. to Kmart, supermarkets etc) would also be gratefully received.
Your kindness and generosity is appreciated and will make life a little more joyful for families and isolated people.
FLOWER ROSTER – SACRED HEART CHURCH ULVERSTONE & OLOL DEVONPORT
Do you have a garden full of beautiful flowers?
Would you like to donate flowers to the Church on a regular basis?
You don’t have to be on the flower roster, you can simply supply the Church with flowers ...
BUT ...
If you would like to be on the roster we would welcome you!
If you have a friend or two that could help bring them along as well!
No experience needed just fun and enjoyment making our Mass Centres look fresh and colourful.
Please contact Jo Rodgers for Sacred Heart Church on 0439 064 493 and the Parish Office 6424:2783 for Devonport if you would like to assist.
READERS ROSTER – SACRED HEART CHURCH, ULVERSTONE
Calling all readers - New and old! Would you like to join the reader’s roster?
If you would like to know more please contact Jo Rodgers 0439 064 493 or the Parish Office 6424:2783.
NATIVITY PLAY, SACRED HEART CHURCH - CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
“Calling all children”
Would you like to take part in the nativity play at the 6pm Christmas Eve Mass at Sacred Heart Church Ulverstone? If you would like more information please phone Charlie Vella on 0417 307 781.
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE
IMMACULATA MISSION SCHOOL 2021: MADE FOR HEAVEN!
Start the New Year by going deeper in faith through awesome talks, friendship and fellowship, daily Mass and prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, praise and worship and lots more!
When: 1st - 5th January, 2021,
Where: St James Catholic College, Cygnet Tasmania
Cost per person: $220 (with basic shared accommodation), $170 (with no accommodation) - includes food, speakers, activities and youth and children's ministry - all ages, families welcome!
For more info or to register: www.sistersoftheimmaculata.org.au/ims or 0406 372 608
VIRTUAL WAY TO ST JAMES PILGRIMAGE
Make your way through natural surroundings in a meditative way anywhere in the world on 9th – 10th January 2021.
Join this Global “El Camino de Santiago” in the Spirit of the Annual Pilgrimage to St James Church in Cygnet in the Huon Valley.
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/waytostjamescygnet/
Website link: https://www.waytostjames.com.au/
Letter From Rome
Pope Francis Turns 84
After nearly eight years as Bishop of Rome the Jesuit pope remains somewhat of an enigma - Robert Mickens, Rome, December 11, 2020.
This article is from the La-Croix International website - you can access the site here but complete full access is via paid subscription
Pope Francis probably won't be celebrating next Thursday when he marks his 84th birthday. That's because it seems he's just not much interested in celebrating any kind of personal milestones or honors.
No harm in that. In fact, it's something actually quite admirable. And rare in this day and age.
But surely, he must stop and reflect each time the calendar reaches December 17 and take stock of the year that's just passed and the one that lies ahead.
The Argentine pope seems like the type of man who probably uses the annual anniversary of his birth to celebrate and recall those who have been important in his life, primarily those who brought him into this world -- his mother and father.
And he likely ponders the gifts and lessons he received during the early years of his life in Buenos Aires from his paternal grandparents, especially his grandmother, about whom he has often spoke fondly.
Certainly, he gives thanks for his parents and grandparents and prays for them and asks their intercession, too. After all, he is Catholic and believes in the communion of saints.
When Francis marks a birthday, he probably thinks of the people who helped mold him, at different stages of his life, into the person he gradually grew to be.
He has mentioned some of these folks at various times in interviews and conversations that have been made public.
Francis is somewhat of an enigma
I keep saying "seems like", "probably", "appears to be" and so forth because it's not clear what Francis actually does or thinks about. And not just on his birthday, but on many things.
Oh, he's written and said a lot. An awful lot. But that doesn't mean he always reveals what he's really thinking.
And, at times, he says things that are hard to square with things he said or done at other times.
In a word, Jorge Mario Bergoglio/Pope Francis is somewhat of an enigma.
He rails against clericalism, yet he can also be as clerical as anyone.
He has lofty words about advancing the role of women in the Church and society, yet he has a tendency to trade a bit too easily in misogynistic stereotypes.
He's made mercy the focus of his preaching and the motto of his pontificate, yet he has shown at times that he can be punishing and unforgiving.
Thank God for all of this.
Our pope is only a human being. He's not perfect.
Yet we Catholics, for whom "papolatry" is a mutant gene in our religious DNA, sometimes find that hard to admit.
Previous popes -- such as those who were larger-than-life, brilliantly professorial or thought to be angelic -- had groups of cultlike disciples who believed they could do no wrong.
Unfortunately, Francis has his own such group.
Those who are part of this coterie believe in all sincerity that they are helping him, especially as he is increasingly attacked by "enemies", a whole range of Catholics among them. But they often see him as incapable of making a mistake or being wrong.
"I am a sinner," is how the pope responded when asked, "Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?"
From sinner to His Holiness
Yet he -- like all the popes of at least the last several hundred years -- is called Holy Father and Your Holiness.
These devotional "titles" or forms of address are often over-exaggerated by those who are caught up in the very clericalism -- and, in turn, hierarchical sycophantism -- this pope says he abhors. They call him Most Holy Father or Most Blessed Father.
Francis often talks about when he was "bishop in that other diocese" and recounts real or hypothetical dialogues in which the person he's talking to addresses him simply as "Padre".
Even still, Francis has not forbidden the use of those more lofty, devotional forms of address. And that is all they are. Holy Father and His Holiness are not proper titles. Neither is "pope".
Then there are the titles of other hierarchs. During the last consistory, Francis derided those cardinals who relish being called "Eminence". Yet, he's not outlawed the use of that "title".
Clericalist forms of address
Bishops are still called "Your Excellency" and probably, in some musty corners of the Church, people call them "My Lord". And "Your Grace" if one is an archbishop.
It's obvious that the Argentine pope does not go in for these medieval forms of address. But it's also pretty clear why he's not done anything to get rid of them.
He nearly caused a revolt early in his pontificate when he tried to stop the practice of naming priests honorary prelates and giving them the title "Monsignor".
In the end, Francis merely stopped anyone under the age of 65 from being named an honorary prelate, but with one exception -- men in the Vatican diplomatic corps. Go figure.
With apologies to all my monsignor friends, this office-less title is the epitome of hierarchical clericalism. It is connected to the old papal court and the monarchical papacy, the remaining traces of which Francis says must be wiped away.
It's not at all apparent how keeping these exalted titles can do anything except perpetuate a clericalist and hierarchicalist mentality that Jesus -- though he did not use those terms -- always condemned.
He told his followers to call no man "Father". Well, he was somewhat a bit of an enigma, too.
And Francis probably won't mind if we say, "Happy Birthday, Padre Francesco!"
Life Coming To A Focus
This article is taken from the Daily Email sent by Fr Richard Rohr OFM from the Center for Action and Contemplation. You can subscribe to receive the email by clicking here
As we grow in the spiritual life, our life will become increasingly centered. Only a few things will really matter. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, I see a lot of people right now thinking this way. There’s a sense that we’re all in this together—every continent, country, class, religion, race, age, or gender. We’re all subject to this crisis. Suffering has an ability to pull you into oneness.
Maybe you’ve seen such oneness emerge in your family. I went to Kansas last month for my sister’s funeral, and all of my family was there. We don’t have any big resentments or conflicts, but the suffering—and acceptance of that suffering in her death—brought us together in the most beautiful way. It was such an honor to have the funeral with my own family and for my own sister.
We see an increasing centering take place with Jesus and the disciples in the gospel text from this past Sunday [Matthew 17:1-9]. Jesus is leading the disciples towards the Transfiguration experience. He is preparing them for the cross, and saying, “It’s going to come! Be ready. It’s probably the only thing that will transfigure you.”
As I said in yesterday’s reflection, there are only two major paths by which the human soul comes to God: the path of great love, and the one of great suffering. Both finally come down to great suffering—because if we love anything greatly, we will eventually suffer for it. When we’re young, God hides this from us. We think it won’t have to be true for us. But to love anything in depth and over the long term, we eventually must suffer.
The disciples first respond to the Transfigured Christ with fear. In our global time of crisis, this is where many of us are today. The disciples mirror the itinerary of the spiritual journey: we start out with many concerns, fears, and worries. Our minds and hearts are all over the place. But Jesus comes, touches them, and says, “Get up and do not be afraid.” When the three disciples raise their eyes, they see nothing but one image: Jesus. Their lives have become fully focused and simplified on the one thing that is good, the one thing they desire, and the one thing that is necessary. What a moment of grace and encouragement!
But then Jesus leads them down the mountain, back into the ordinary world to continue his labor of love, healing and nonviolent protest against Empire. We can’t stay on the mountaintop forever. And then Jesus ends with a line that to me was always a disappointment: don’t tell anybody about what just happened. He might be saying, “Don’t tell this story to someone else, because they’ll think they understand it just by hearing about it.” Religious experience has to be experienced firsthand. We can’t believe it because someone else talked about it. Sooner or later, we have to go to our own mountaintop. We have to have our own transfiguration, and we have to walk down the mountaintop into the ordinary world, on the path of suffering, and the path of love—which are, in the end, the same. As we experience a suffering world together, I pray that this community will be drawn to center itself on the cross and bring Jesus’ teaching to life.
Adapted from Richard Rohr, “Life Coming to a Focus,” Homily (March 7, 2020).
From St Tarcisius to People Magazine:
Our Evolution In Admiration And Imitation
When I was a young boy growing up in a Catholic community, the catechesis of the time tried to inspire the hearts of the young with stories of martyrs, saints, and other people who lived out high ideals in terms of virtue and faith. I remember one story in particular that caught my imagination and inspired me, the story of a third-century Christian martyr, St. Tarcisius.
As legend (or truth) has it, Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during the time of the early Christian persecutions. At that time, Christians in Rome were celebrating the Eucharist in secret in the catacombs. After those secret masses someone, a deacon or an acolyte, would carry the Eucharistic species, the Blessed Sacrament, to the sick and to prisoners. One day, after one of those secret masses, young Tarcisius was carrying the Blessed Sacrament on route to a prison when he was accosted by a mob. He refused to hand over the Blessed Sacrament, protected it with his own body, and was beaten to death as a result.
As a twelve-year-old boy that story enflamed my romantic imagination. I wanted to have that kind of high ideal in my life. In my young imagination, Tarcisius was the ultimate hero whom I wanted to be like.
We’ve come a long way from there, both in our culture and in our churches. We’re no longer moved romantically much by either the saints of old or the saints of today. Yes, we still make an official place for them in our churches and in our highest ideals, but now we’re moved romantically much more by the lives of the rich, the famous, the beautiful, the pop stars, the professional athletes, the physically gifted, and the intellectually gifted. It’s they who now enflame our imaginations, draw our admiration, and who we most like to imitate.
In the early nineteenth century, Alban Butler, an English convert, collected stories of the lives of the saints and eventually set them together in twelve-volume set, famously know as Butler’s Lives of the Saints. For nearly two hundred years, these books inspired Christians, young and old. No longer. Today, Butler’s Lives of the Saints has effectively been replaced by People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, Time magazine, and the multiple other magazines which chronicle the lives of the rich and famous and stare out at us from every newsstand and grocery-store check-out line.
In effect, we have moved: from St. Tarcisius to Justin Bieber; from Therese of Lisieux to Taylor Swift; from Thomas Aquinas to Tom Brady; from St. Monica to Meryl Streep; from St. Augustine to Mark Zuckerberg; from Julian of Norwich to Marianne Williamson; and from the first African American saint, St. Martin de Porres, to LeBron James. It’s these people who are now enflaming our romantic imagination and inviting our imitation.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that these people are bad or that there’s anything wrong with admiring them. Indeed, we owe them some admiration because all beauty and talent take their origin in God who is the author of all good things. From a saint’s virtue, to a movie star’s physical beauty, to an athlete’s grace, there’s only one author at the origin of all that grace, God. Thomas Aquinas once rightly pointed out that to withhold a compliment from someone who deserves it is a sin because we are withholding food from someone who needs it to live on. Beauty, talent, and grace need to be recognized and acknowledged. Admiration is not the issue. The issue rather is that while we need to admire and acknowledge the gifts of the talented and the beautiful, these are not always the lives we should be imitating, unless they also radiate virtue and saintliness. We shouldn’t too easily identify human grace with moral virtue. But that’s a problem.
As well, one of the weaknesses in our churches today is that while we have vastly upgraded and refined our intellectual imagination and now have better and healthier theological and biblical studies, we struggle to touch hearts. We struggle to get people to fall in love with their faith and especially with their church. We struggle to enflame their romantic imagination as we once did by invoking the lives of the saints.
Where might we go with all of this? Can we find again saints to enflame our ideals? Can the fine work done today by Robert Ellsberg on hagiography (on the lives of the saints and other moral giants who have passed before us) become the new Butler’s Lives of the Saints? Can secular biographies of some moral giants in our own age draw our imitation? Is there a St. Tarcisius out there who can inspire the young?
Today, more than ever, we need inspiring stories about women and men, young and old, who have lived out heroic virtue. Without such ideals to emulate, we too quickly identify moral virtue with human grace and deprive ourselves of higher spiritual ideals.
Singing Emmanuel To Fill An Empty Church
Advent has many musical traditions which, along with so many other things, will not be able to be performed as usual this year, but we can still let the hymns of the season be the soundtrack to our prayer and preparation. Frances Novillo offers some practical advice on how we can tune our ears to the presence of God this Advent, and encourages us to let the differences in our liturgy be signposts to the spaces where we can encounter God with us in the reality of our lives.
Frances Novillo is a workplace chaplain in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton. She has an MA in Psychology of Religion, practises as a Pastoral Supervisor, and worked for many years as a liturgical musician.
This article is taken from the ThinkingFaith.org website where you can find a wide range of articles by clicking here
In a year of significant losses affecting relationships, health, freedom and finances, lesser losses may have passed us by, but I noticed when my supermarket stopped playing background music in favour of silence and announcements about Covid-19 protocols. In 2020, people lost touch with music, spending less time in social venues where background music is usually played. Concerts and festivals were cancelled, and sports grounds usually resonant with tremendous chanting fell silent. Even buskers were discouraged from performing for fear of crowds gathering. Congregational singing has been prohibited for some months now, and the liturgical contribution of choirs and cantors limited, not least so that worshippers are not kept indoors together for too long.
In the season of carol-singing, permission granted to sing together outdoors is welcome and may highlight the presence of God beyond church walls, God who is with us wherever we are – Emmanuel. Perhaps you can already hear the carols in your head? Because, bidden or unbidden, snippets of hymns may come to mind as small reminders of the enduring presence of God. Such memories offer hope and aid perseverance. In unwelcome silence when company is missed; as new patterns of prayer at home develop; in now intimidating or infuriating environments like crowds and queues where calm is sought, we might find ourselves humming and realise it’s the Salve Regina, or Make me a channel of your peace, or something else oft-repeated in Catholic liturgies, resonating even now although it cannot be sung in company by government decree.
Some of the unexpected changes of 2020 led to surprising discoveries. Parishioners of all ages learnt to participate in worship remotely, and a huge number of Christians and non-Christians watched online services and joined the record-breaking Google search for prayer. Even where neighbours never previously conversed, local WhatsApp groups and clapping for the NHS connected people to each other. This is Emmanuel in action, not only with us as we are, but coming to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
Emmanuel expresses the eschatological paradox: the kingdom is here and the kingdom is coming. Jesus has come, is with us, and will come again – Emmanuel and Maranatha – come, Lord Jesus, come. As the worship song by Naida Hearn reminds us, Jesus is the name above all names, and Emmanuel, God-is-with-us, is his name most commonly associated with Advent and Christmas. This theme inspires the hymns of the season.
Some hymns such as Peter McGrail’s Bright and clear / Lord Emmanuel , come, express Emmanuel breaking through dramatically, manifestly Christ the King, named as such in Hillsong’s Emmanuel. Emmanuel also embraces the kenosis of Philippians 2:5-8, reflected in hymns such as Matt Osgood’s On Christmas Day and Frank Houghton’s Thou who wast rich. The latter explores Emmanuel transforming and shaping, making ‘us what thou wouldst have us be’. Emmanuel embraces all our hopes and fears, according to the Christmas carol O little town of Bethlehem, as God becomes fully human in Jesus. Emmanuel offers himself as a gift, received by Mary at the Annunciation (narrated in The angel Gabriel by Sabine Baring-Gould) and shared with everyone as expressed by Marty Haugen in Come to us / Gift of God. Huub Oosterhuis’s poetic lyrics in The Song of God Among Us acknowledge that the almost imperceptible presence of Emmanuel can go unrecognised, a sentiment echoed by John L. Bell in the chant There is one among us. Emmanuel is the gentle God of the Rorate Caeli, and of Graham Kendrick’s Like a candle flame / God is with us. Combining many of these Emmanuel themes is the beautifully-crafted modern hymn Sing we the song of Immanuel by Matt Boswell and others.
How may such a wealth of wonderful hymns be used while restrictions prohibit their communal singing in the conventional manner?
Participating from home in a broadcast Mass permits worshippers to join in singing with the choir, cantor, clergy or a recording, or to participate by listening. Priests uncomfortable leading sung worship solo, or singing to camera in an empty church, may welcome the idea of simply singing one verse from O come, o come Emmanuel at each Mass, drawing attention each week or each day to the lyrics of each stanza. There is a perennial debate about when that hymn should be sung, with some liturgists insisting convincingly that it should not be sung before 17 December as it summarises the O Antiphons set from that date onwards, although that significantly limits the occasions on which Sunday worshippers would hear a hymn which arguably sums up the sound of the whole season. Bishop Robert Barron was not averse to mentioning it in his sermon for the first Sunday of Advent this year, which wasn’t even in December!
Where congregations meeting in person are prohibited by Covid-19 restrictions from singing, incorporating a well-known hymn into Mass may tempt people to break the rules by joining in, or feel frustrated and disappointed that they can’t. A local remembrance service this year reminded those present that the National Anthem would be a ‘Recording Only: Do not sing’. Such instructions do not ease liturgical flow. To prevent not singing in liturgy becoming a habit, and to avoid having to interrupt a song should the congregation join in singing in contravention of the rules, this year it may be better to reference well-known songs rather than including them in any conventional form. For example, instead of expecting worshippers simply to listen as the organist plays all three verses of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, those lyrics mentioning Emmanuel could be quoted, then the organist might improvise around the familiar tune, guiding reflection without encouraging illicit singing. Instrumental music accompanying the actions of the Mass (such as the preparation of the gifts or cleaning the vessels after communion) does not unduly lengthen the liturgy, but referencing familiar hymn tunes in instrumental music can focus worshippers’ minds and prayers on seasonal themes. Instrumental music can enrich Masses suffering the loss of communal singing, movement and variety of spoken voices.
A spoken or sung response to prayers is most appropriate when churches are full and all worshippers are physically present, but now there are fewer people in church during Mass, it may be time to explore alternative responses, for example, silence or instrumental music. Smaller congregations create less background noise that might obscure the spoken word during Mass, so it may be possible now to introduce sensitive background music to readings and prayers, judiciously selected to enhance the meaning of the words, and understanding that instrumental music should be used only in moderation during Advent (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §313). Music for The angel Gabriel could accompany spoken prayers, for example, with the ‘Gloria’ refrain played as a response, or the music of the verses of O come, o come Emmanuel played during prayers, and the chorus played as a response, as it is written to modulate between verse and chorus, creating a natural and audible musical change matching the shift between intercession and response. If a talented musician capable of improvising isn’t available, there are instrumental pieces based on the famous O come, o come Emmanuel melody, such as Respighi’s Adoration of the Magi. However, use of recordings should always be well-prepared, since the recording cannot adapt to live liturgy as parish musicians do.
There is a vast amount of recorded liturgical music available online, with bands, choirs, orchestras or simply sung. Many parishes have invited their own musicians and singers to contribute recordings made at home to services held in church. The aforementioned On Christmas Day by Matt Osgood is a great example of an Emmanuel hymn easily accessible as a recording as well as a video. Sheet music is also available from Resound Worship, so parish musicians can learn the song to use live in future. Within copyright and PRL restrictions, recordings of thematically relevant hymns, with or without videos, may be played before and after a church service online or in person; recordings may be incorporated into prayer meetings and Advent talks, or used within domestic prayer, for example, while lighting candles on the Advent wreath at home.
If novel approaches to hymnody feel insufficient in comparison to singing together in worship, that is not inappropriate for 2020. Daily life is currently constrained and everyone is living with less than they would choose. If worship permits recognition of what is lost, acknowledgement of all that we miss and long for, that is an appropriate reflection of the reality of life. Emptiness, presented to God in prayer, forms an invitation for him to meet with us more deeply, fill us more completely, be more fully present to us as Emmanuel.
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