Beloved in Christ, Blessed Mother’s Day
In this Sunday's Mass Gospel, we heard that Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, praying to His Father that his followers "may be one" just as Jesus and His Father are one (Jn 17:12). Given Jesus' statement about oneness, I would like to urge us, members of St. Peter Catholic Church, to be of one heart, one purpose, and one will in our worship. The Eucharistic worship, the Holy Mass we gather to celebrate daily, supports the oneness of heart by the way we rise, sit, kneel, and sing in unison. We carry out many aspects of sacred worship as one people. The call for unity in liturgical acts does not take away our differences and peculiarities in any way! Our differences should be seen as a blessing, but they must fuse to form a wholesome unity, reflecting the diversity but unity we find in the Holy Trinity. I then seize the moment to explain a significant change we plan to make to set up our sanctuary to aid the unity of worship and strengthen our faith and worship of Jesus in the Eucharist.
We all know that the church in America is presently going through a year devoted to Eucharistic revival. There is an urgent call to renew our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. A considerable part of that faith is the reservation of the Eucharist in the Tabernacle in order to take Jesus to the dying as viaticum and the sick, unable to join us at mass. "Tabernacle" is derived from the Latin word for "tent." It is a suitable box, opaque, stationary container where the Sacred Host is reserved outside Mass. It was not until the fifteenth century that placing the Tabernacle on the altar became popular, and the church did not mandate it until the nineteenth century. Change, organic in nature, took place through the centuries on where to place the tabernacle for more excellent liturgical benefits of the faithful. Where does the church stand today on the placement of the tabernacle? Good answers are provided in the General Instruction on Roman Missal (GIRM) and Catechism of the Catholic church. According to CCC 1183, "The tabernacle is to be situated in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor. The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar."
After consecration, the priest genuflects, takes the host, and invites the assembly to gaze up at Eucharistic Jesus and adore him: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who take away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." This communal rite declaration reminds us of the centrality of Jesus at mass. We should be able to quickly behold him in the center of the sanctuary, on the altar or the tabernacle, and render him worth worship due Him. Placing the tabernacle right in the center of the altar area makes Jesus much more visible when we step into the church, sign ourselves with Holy Water, and genuflect in Adoration.
When I was made administrator of this parish in 2018, part of the note handed to me was a request by some parishioners for repositioning the tabernacle to the center of the church. Many of you have also made that request, and I also buy into it because it makes a more effective statement about the centrality of the Eucharist and our belief in Real Presence. I requested permission from the Diocese years ago, and it finally granted my request about two weeks ago! This change will support much more meaningful worship and has liturgical and theological support. More so, it appears to be the desire of many parishioners. I pray we all respond to this positive development with a united spirit and concerted effort.
Since we are talking about the Eucharist and the Tabernacle, it is an excellent time to remind us of the importance of our parish celebration of forty hours, which begins this Sunday. Bishop Ronald Gainer, a gifted speaker, is our homilist. Please make it a priority for us to come together to drink from the water of wisdom in the Eucharist that his excellency will offer us. Let us come together, of one mind and spirit, to adore Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.
Next week is the church's birthday, the solemnity of Pentecost. We are going to celebrate it as well as our parish's two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary. I would also like to celebrate the fruits of our parish, especially those recently confirmed and members of the Youth group who did an excellent job of the Living Stations of the Cross presentation on Good Friday. I look forward to seeing you all at the parish hall at 6 pm for special recognition and worship.
Today is a special day for our mothers. We appreciate their love and sacrifices for the family, and we can never offer enough thanks for their sacrifices. Please make sure you join me in wishing them Happy Mother's Day! We love you, our loving mothers.
Let us continue to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit. Veni Sancte Spiritus!
In His Joy, Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
In this Sunday's Mass Gospel, we heard that Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, praying to His Father that his followers "may be one" just as Jesus and His Father are one (Jn 17:12). Given Jesus' statement about oneness, I would like to urge us, members of St. Peter Catholic Church, to be of one heart, one purpose, and one will in our worship. The Eucharistic worship, the Holy Mass we gather to celebrate daily, supports the oneness of heart by the way we rise, sit, kneel, and sing in unison. We carry out many aspects of sacred worship as one people. The call for unity in liturgical acts does not take away our differences and peculiarities in any way! Our differences should be seen as a blessing, but they must fuse to form a wholesome unity, reflecting the diversity but unity we find in the Holy Trinity. I then seize the moment to explain a significant change we plan to make to set up our sanctuary to aid the unity of worship and strengthen our faith and worship of Jesus in the Eucharist.
We all know that the church in America is presently going through a year devoted to Eucharistic revival. There is an urgent call to renew our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. A considerable part of that faith is the reservation of the Eucharist in the Tabernacle in order to take Jesus to the dying as viaticum and the sick, unable to join us at mass. "Tabernacle" is derived from the Latin word for "tent." It is a suitable box, opaque, stationary container where the Sacred Host is reserved outside Mass. It was not until the fifteenth century that placing the Tabernacle on the altar became popular, and the church did not mandate it until the nineteenth century. Change, organic in nature, took place through the centuries on where to place the tabernacle for more excellent liturgical benefits of the faithful. Where does the church stand today on the placement of the tabernacle? Good answers are provided in the General Instruction on Roman Missal (GIRM) and Catechism of the Catholic church. According to CCC 1183, "The tabernacle is to be situated in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor. The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar."
After consecration, the priest genuflects, takes the host, and invites the assembly to gaze up at Eucharistic Jesus and adore him: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who take away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." This communal rite declaration reminds us of the centrality of Jesus at mass. We should be able to quickly behold him in the center of the sanctuary, on the altar or the tabernacle, and render him worth worship due Him. Placing the tabernacle right in the center of the altar area makes Jesus much more visible when we step into the church, sign ourselves with Holy Water, and genuflect in Adoration.
When I was made administrator of this parish in 2018, part of the note handed to me was a request by some parishioners for repositioning the tabernacle to the center of the church. Many of you have also made that request, and I also buy into it because it makes a more effective statement about the centrality of the Eucharist and our belief in Real Presence. I requested permission from the Diocese years ago, and it finally granted my request about two weeks ago! This change will support much more meaningful worship and has liturgical and theological support. More so, it appears to be the desire of many parishioners. I pray we all respond to this positive development with a united spirit and concerted effort.
Since we are talking about the Eucharist and the Tabernacle, it is an excellent time to remind us of the importance of our parish celebration of forty hours, which begins this Sunday. Bishop Ronald Gainer, a gifted speaker, is our homilist. Please make it a priority for us to come together to drink from the water of wisdom in the Eucharist that his excellency will offer us. Let us come together, of one mind and spirit, to adore Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.
Next week is the church's birthday, the solemnity of Pentecost. We are going to celebrate it as well as our parish's two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary. I would also like to celebrate the fruits of our parish, especially those recently confirmed and members of the Youth group who did an excellent job of the Living Stations of the Cross presentation on Good Friday. I look forward to seeing you all at the parish hall at 6 pm for special recognition and worship.
Today is a special day for our mothers. We appreciate their love and sacrifices for the family, and we can never offer enough thanks for their sacrifices. Please make sure you join me in wishing them Happy Mother's Day! We love you, our loving mothers.
Let us continue to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit. Veni Sancte Spiritus!
In His Joy, Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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