Feast of Corpus Christi
This Sunday, 14th June we celebrate Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, celebrating the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Two months earlier, the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is observed on Holy Thursday.
Up to some years ago the Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and it was a Holy Day of Obligation. The Eucharistic Procession was a big occasion in many parishes. Unfortunately, this year due to the pandemic no processions can be held.
The story behind the Feast of Corpus Christi
In 1263 a German Priest, Fr. Peter of Prague, made a pilgrimage to Rome. He stopped in Bolsena, Italy to celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Christina. At the time he was having doubts about Jesus being present in the Blessed Sacrament and about the Body and Blood of Christ being actually present in the consecrated bread and wine. In response to his doubt, during the consecration, as he celebrated Mass, blood started seeping from the consecrated host and onto the altar and corporal.
The miracle was reported by Fr. Peter to Pope Urban 1V. After an investigation, the Pope ordered that the host and blood-stained corporal be brought to the Cathedral of Orvieto in Italy where they remain to this day. The Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated for the first time in 1264.
I See His Blood upon the Rose
By Joseph Mary Plunkett
I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see his face in every flower,
The thunder and the singing of the birds are but his voice,
And carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn
His cross is every tree.
A Spiritual Pilgrimage from Cork and Ross to Lourdes
This year due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the Annual Cork and Ross Pilgrimage to Lourdes was unable to take place. But we are all invited to join the 2020 Diocesan Spiritual Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Follow the Pilgrimage on the Pastoral Development Facebook page, where you will find the day’s reflections. www.facebook.com/CorkandRossPastoralDevelopment
The Pilgrimage started on Friday, 12th June, but you can still join the Chaplains of the Grotto in Lourdes until Wednesday, 17th June by watching on TV Lourdes:
https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/
The Rosary is in English each day at the grotto at 2pm (Irish time) and Mass is celebrated in English at 4pm (Irish time) at the grotto. (watch on Lourdes TV).
A large candle will be lit at the grotto for the intentions of the pilgrims of our diocese.
Notice with regard to Athnowen Cemetery
There will be a clean-up of Athnowen Cemetery this week, cutting of grass etc. It will be on this Wednesday, 17th June at 7pm. Help would be most welcome. Most of the work will be grass cutting, so a strimmer and gear would be very helpful.
Sunday Mass Collection & Dues
Sincere thanks to those who have dropped in what would have been the weekly Sunday Mass Offertory Collection. This is most appreciated and the same is also true of the Easter Dues of course. Again, many thanks.
Notice from Éire Óg
The Éire Óg Lotto resumes on this Monday night, 15th June. Tickets are on sale on the Éire Óg website or in local shops, Cuddihy’s, Gala and John O’Callaghans. Full details on the Éire Óg Social Media.
Message from Trócaire
Trócaire are appealing to you to return your Lenten donation. Simply count or estimate what is in your box and donate in the following ways.
- Online at www.trocaire.org
- By phone: 1850 408408
- By post to Trócaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Or to the Churches or Parochial House. Ovens Church now open from 10am to 6pm each day. Farran Church open from 12noon to 8pm each day.
The contents of each and every Trócaire box, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference. This virus knows no borders, but neither does our compassion.
Please return boxes as soon as convenient.
Sunday Mass from Ovens/Farran Parish
From 10.30am onwards, Mass available via Ovens/Farran Facebook Page and the Parish Website: www.ovensparish.com
Mass can be distributed via Facebook, Emails, WhatsApp, Viber and standard text messaging.
Thanks to Roger for his work in this and in setting up the Parish Facebook Page.
COMMUNITY CALL
Éire Óg has joined up with other groups e.g. Gardaí, An Post, Civil Defence, Cork County Council to help the vulnerable or isolated in our community, if needed at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic.
If anyone needs help or knows of anyone who does, please phone 1800 805819 or locally John Hourihan 086 3178214, Éire Óg Co-ordinator.