May 23 & 24, 2020 – THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Visit our website: corpuschristito.archtoronto.org

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Pray with Cardinal Collins Mass, Rosary and Regina Caeli

Live from 7:30 - 8:10 am Monday - Saturday Live from 10:00 am on Sunday

https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live

To learn more about the Archdiocese of

Toronto’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,

please visit: www.archtoronto.org/covid19.

A big thank you to each and everyone of you for your

generous donation in this difficult time. Gratefully

appreciate your commitment to the parish. All

various ways that you chose to make your donations

is encouraging, and it help us very much in our day

to day operations. Thank you so very much. --------------------------------------------------------------------

We request - if you are able - to prayerfully consider

supporting the financial needs of the parish during

these unique times. Please feel free to drop off your

offertory envelopes at the rectory or choose another

option to donate at:

https://corpuschristito.archtoronto.org/news-events/news-

archives/parish-news/pastors-message

May God bless you for your generosity.

An update from the Jubilee Committee

History Repeating……

“In October a temporary church was ordered. It was

planned to seat 300 people … It was hoped to have the

first Mass by Christmas.

In 1919 priests in the diocese were not numerous. Many

had died in 1918 from the scourge known as the ‘Flu’.

Consequently, Fr. McGrath was obliged to help out

elsewhere in the diocese almost every Sunday. In

December while doing work for a sick priest he

contracted smallpox. He was quarantined and was

unable to celebrate Christmas Mass.

The temporary church was blessed and two Masses

were said on Sunday, March 21, 1920. It was not long

before it was necessary to have three Masses each

Sunday, and in less than six months four Masses each

Sunday became necessary.”

- Souvenir Issue, Easter 1977

Now, we are going though a similar situation that they faced in 1920, which is sad. But just as they had a jubilant celebration at the grand opening of the brand-new Corpus Christi Parish, we will also come together to celebrate the 100th Anniversary.

I was in touch with the Cardinal’s office with a view to

making a decision about our feast-day Mass scheduled

for June 14th. Regrettably, it now appears very unlikely

that we will be able to hold a gathering for a group that

size in a little over a month’s time. We will therefore

have to cancel the major celebration planned for 14

June, 2020.

His Eminence’s office will help us reschedule the

liturgical celebration of our Jubilee at a suitable date in

the fall, perhaps presenting it as something of a

homecoming for parishioners. In doing this, we would try

to incorporate some elements of th e original plan, most

notably a Eucharistic procession.

Let us not be discouraged, but rather look forward to the

celebration with hope. We will overcome this too, we still

have an event to plan for, participate in and celebrate

together before the year is out.

Day Date Intentions

Sat. May 23 No mass intention

Sun. May 24 For the People

Mon. May 25 No mass intention

Tues. May 26 Intentions of Maureen & Jim and Muirhead Family. Requested by Muirhead Family

Wed. May 27 No mass intention

Thurs. May 28 No mass intention

Fri. May 29 + Souls in Purgatory

Sat. May 30 No mass intention

Sun. May 31 For the People

May 23 & 24, 2020 – THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Visit our website: corpuschristito.archtoronto.org

Stewardship Reflections:

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

1st Reading: Acts 1.1-11

2nd Reading: Ephesians 1.17-23

Gospel: Matthew 28.16-20 – The Commissioning of the

Disciples

Serving Christ in the Present

This weekend we celebrate the great feast of the Ascension

of the Lord. When the apostles watched the Lord ascend into

heaven, two angels appeared and asked them “why do you

stand looking up toward heaven?” (Acts 1:11). The exchange

between the angels and the apostles emphasizes a message

to not remain idle or to wait on future events to occur before

we begin serving God. Rather, it is a reminder that it is in the

here and now, that we are all called to continually develop

our relationship with Jesus and share it with others.

In this time of physical distance, we may be tempted to think

that the changes we want to make in our life can only

happen once the pandemic ends; we may be tempted to

think that we can only remain idle now and we will do more

when this is over. While these thoughts are fair to a certain

extent, let us not put off the good we can begin now.

Perhaps our yearning for the sacraments have us fixated on

the day when we can finally receive them again. However, as

we wait, we can use this time to heed the angel’s message

and frequent Acts of Contrition and Spiritual Communion.

In making use of our present time to follow Jesus, we will be

all the more strengthened by His grace to persevere. If our

perseverance at times begins to waver, let us hold fast to the

words of Jesus before His ascension, “Remember, I am with

you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Summary

As the apostles watch Jesus ascend to the Father, angels

appear to them and ask, “why do you stand looking up

toward heaven?” The angel’s message encourages us to not

remain idle or to wait for future events to take place before

we begin to serve God, but to start in the here and now. In

this time of physical distance, we may be tempted to think

that the changes we want to make in our spiritual life can

only happen once the pandemic ends and we can do “more.”

While these thoughts are fair to a certain extent, let us not

put off the good we can begin now. We can grow in our love

for God despite these current circumstances, through prayer,

Spiritual Communion and Acts of Contrition.

Letter from Cardinal Collins: Pandemic, Sacramental Restrictions &

Planning for a Return to Sacramental Life https://www.archtoronto.org/media-centre/news-

archive/chancery-news/Cardinal-Collins-on-Pandemic

Prayer of Pope Francis in time of Pandemic

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign

of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you,

Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were

united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your

faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”, you know our needs,

and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana

in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this

time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform

ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus

tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering, and

burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through

the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not

despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us

always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed

Virgin.

Living the Gospel by supporting the Deaf community

Archdiocesan Goal: $ 13.8 Million Our Parish Goal: $ 53,200. 00

Imagine you're a Deaf child and your parents don't know

sign language. Your parents could gesture in a

rudimentary way, but how do you share your joys, fears

and needs? Silent Voice, a ShareLife agency, teaches

American Sign Language and Deaf culture to families so

they can share a common language. “I'm so passionate

about Silent Voice,” says one grateful parent, “because

their Family Communication Program rescues children

from social isolation.” Last year more than 700 Deaf

people and their family members received help through

Silent Voice.

Thank you for your generosity.