Catholic Mass LIVE Corpus Christi 6 June 2021 Bishop Greg Homeming Lismore Australia

we welcome you to the cathedral of saint carthage for the celebration of

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today the church celebrates the most holy body and blood of christ please stand at the entrance he gathers your people oh lord you will find the words in the printed hymn god oh foreigner Yes, foreigner, in the name of the father of the son and of the holy spirit, peace be upon you, those of you who normally sit in the front rows are probably very upset because there are other people who have been given the seats and probably wondering who they are, why are they sitting here in my seat, that's what Catholics get used to in a certain seat, but today I'm commissioning the president of the council of

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um for the society of saint vincent de paul, gail Gordon, who is here with your husband, you are welcome because you are part of this cathedral parish, so are we, as is Peter McNamara, who is the president of new south wales, so this is a wonderful event and it is also an event to remind people about st vincent de paul society I was the president of the Edgecliff branch in the early eighties and I found that I joined the society and the Franciscan friars forced it to be president and I thought: What am I going to do about it?

To get out of here, the only way I could stop being in society was to leave and become a Carmelite, so I had to take very drastic measures. I left and joined a monastery and with that I could no longer be president of the society in Edge Cliff. so you're welcome here today is the feast of

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the body of christ is not simply about the eucharist but about everything that is the body of christ and we are members of that body and we have all in some way offended in our relationship With that body at the beginning let us recognize those failures in the presence of God Lord Jesus your almighty god and prince of peace Lord have mercy you were son of God and son of Mary Christ of mercy you are word made flesh and splendor of the father Lord have mercy and that may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and lead us to eternal life glory to god oh oh jesus you take me away oh and let us pray oh god that in this wonderful sacrament you have left a memory of your passion grant us to pray to revere the sacred mysteries of your body and blood so that we can always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption that we

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and reign with god the father in the unity of the holy spirit god forever and ever. reading from the book of exodus Moses went and told the people all the commandments of the lord and all the ordinances in response all the people said with one voice we will observe all the commandments that the lord has decreed Moses put all the commandments of the lord in writing and Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain with 12 standing stones for the 12 tribes of Israel, then he ordered certain young Israelites to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice oxen to the Lord as a communion sacrifice half of the blood of Moses.

He took and put the other half in bowls, he poured it on the altar and taking the book of the covenant he read it to the people who were listening and they said we will observe everything that the Lord has decreed we will obey then Moses took the blood and threw it towards the people this he said is the blood of the covenant that the lord has made with you that contains all these rules the word of the lord thank god salvation call on the name of the lord of the lord how can I repay the lord for his kindness to me I will lift the cup of salvation I will call on the name from the lord I will take salvation and I will call on the name of the lord all the pressures in the eyes of the lord are faithful your servant lord your servant am I you have loosed my bones from the lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving that I will make I will call on the name of the lord my vows I will fulfill the Lord before all his people I will fulfill the Lord a reading from the letter to the Hebrews now Christ has come as the high priest of all the blessings that were to come he has passed through the largest, most perfect tent, which is better that the one made by the hands of men because it is not, is not of this created order, has entered the sanctuary once and for all. carrying with him not the blood of goats and calves, but his own blood, having obtained for us an eternal redemption, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred pollution and They restore the sanctity of its exterior.

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how much more effectively the blood of christ who offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to god through the eternal spirit can purify our inner being from dead actions so that we do our service to the living god he brings a new covenant as a mediator only so to that the people who are called to an eternal inheritance can truly receive what was promised his death took place to cancel the sins that violated the previous covenant this is the word of the lord thank god please arise to receive the gospel oh who are you I am the bread alive from heaven says forever God a reading of the holy gospel according to glory to you oh lord on the first day of unleavened bread when the Passover lamb was sacrificed his disciples said to Jesus where do you want us to go? preparations to eat the Passover then he sent two of his disciples telling them to go to the city and they will meet a man carrying a box of water, follow him and tell the owner of the house that he is entering, the teacher tells where.

It is my dining room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples. He will show them a large upper room furnished with sofas all prepared. Make preparations there. The disciples left and went to the city and found everything as he had told them and he prepared the Passover while they ate. He took some bread and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them, take it, he said, this is my body. blood of the covenant that will be shed for many. Truly I tell you, I will drink no more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom. of God after singing the psalms they left the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Mount of Olives I am sure that many of you were raised in Catholic schools by the nuns probably in the same way that I was raised, I still remember it At the beginning of In the 60s we always had to go to church before starting our afternoon classes to say a little prayer and the sisters taught us that when you see that red lamp, children, it means that Jesus is here and that's why we all stayed very quiet because Jesus was there but one day we entered the church and we were all talking and the sister came running with her rosary jingling letting us know that he was on his way and she got very angry with us because she said children, shut up, Jesus is here, you can do it.

We didn't talk, we all said no, no, yes, no, there's no light, ah, father forgot to change the candle, he's in that box, oh, okay, we thought that somehow Jesus was the light, like this which was fine later that year because I was in an Italian parish. We all had to come to school on a Sunday for a big procession, it was probably this Sunday because they took Jesus out of the box and took him away, you know, they took him out in the afternoon, he went for a walk around the parish and suddenly this stopped. . little boy it wasn't the red light anymore it's not the box anymore but it was something in the box that you could take for a walk and then I made my first communion you probably remember what they taught you don't put your finger in if it sticks to the roof of your mouth don't bite it and if it falls on the floor while you're getting it we had to carry a plate on our knees to make sure it didn't fall, but if it fell you can't pick it up and there were no rehearsals in those days and we were all terrified of what was going to happen. happen and what will happen if I bite it.

I'll go to hell? All these things they taught us in school. and then later I found myself in the seminar learning what this was, we learned about transubstantiation, all these things and now, many years later, I look back and remember it and it was all totally irrelevant to me because the point of this

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of the feast day

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the purpose of the eucharist is given to us in today's gospel take and eat the purpose is that I receive it although to this day I have no real understanding except that I believe this is the body of christ and my god It makes a difference in my life but it wasn't the candle it wasn't the box it wasn't going for a walk it wasn't how I'm going to receive it when I receive it it wasn't any of these things and it's not that I should stay silent when I walk into a church because He is there, as the years have gone by I have come to recognize that there is another question I need to ask and it was not a question the sisters asked me. and that is if I can receive this thing that I believe is the body of Christ, what does that tell me about myself?

And once you ask that question and try to develop the answer, you will be impressed by the implications I have. As for receiving the body of Christ, every human being was made to receive God, every human being is incomplete until he is full of God because that is what we are. Today's party, at least in the initial parts, defines each of us. What defines the Eucharist remains a mystery but the important thing is that I give this to you to receive, which is the great thing that Pope Saint Pius the Tenth introduced the emphasis on the point that this is receiving God and that means that first a human being was made to be like a god. made to be the one who receives and in whom God lives that is who you are the one that God longs to live and if you are in a state of grace the one that God does live if not receiving communion makes no sense because if you let the sky fall, it would not The Eucharist is allowed to fall to the ground and the cat comes in and eats it, what would that do for the cat, absolutely nothing?

Because cats, no other part of creation was made to receive God and the gift of the Eucharist consolidates that reality. now we are living in a hidden time at this time last year you couldn't go to communion because the churches were closed, not really, they were open, but last year you couldn't go to church, the churches were closed and There are still some who do not come for fear of the coven and therefore they are not receiving the Eucharist and the question I would ask them is during the period in which they were not able to receive the Eucharist, did that make a difference for you because if your the answer He was a

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I was exactly the same so we have a problem and the terrible truth is that for most people going without the Eucharist makes little difference the great Saint Teresa of Calcutta said without my daily Eucharist I can't do anything wow I can you say that Not only did I miss the Eucharist but by not having it I was different and that raises the following question: if what you are telling us,

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, is true, why doesn't receiving communion make a substantial difference for us? my daily life and who I am and that is the great challenge of what the Eucharist is.

The eucharist is not something to passively genuflect at, but the eucharist actually challenges me in every part of who I am in my self-knowledge and how I live because if I have the capacity to receive jesus in the eucharist if I have the capacity to be for God to come into my life then this is the greatest thing about me what I live for if you want to be an athlete you must exercise your muscles if you want to use your mind you must exercise your mind like my uncle taught me when I was about seven years old, Greg said every days you must exercise your memory every day you must try to learn something and memorize things because if not one day you have no memory left use it the greatest ability that Saint Teresa of Avila recognizes is that I have the ability to receive God and if I don't exercise and live with that capacity it will die and if you do not exercise and live that capacity receiving communion it will not make any difference to you it will not make any difference so how do I exercise that capacity?

What do I leave inside me because I am receiving God in communion? What do I allow within me? Which is consistent with this great gift. What are you doing? you allow the things of god or things that distance you from god to enter into you what you allow to look at what you allow into your mind what things to hear gossip or the word of god because unless we allow the things of god to enter into us god will receive the communion is going to be something casual it is not going to be part of a life what do you want because the eucharist is given to me because god desires me if I desire things that are not appropriate that are not in accordance with my dignity that are not in accordance with goodness, love and truth, then those desires will distance me from god in such a way that the eucharist will practically have no place in my life and finally to be truly eucharistic and allow god into your life you must live in accordance with that gift that It means a way of life to think that the Eucharist will provide you, which it will, but without living in accordance with that gift, which is what the society of Saint Vincent de Paul does care about others, love for others, love for God and true integral care of the Eucharist demands of us a way of living and if we do not live according to this gift you cannot expect the gift to do something for you because you are going in a different direction something like thinking well I am not going to worry about health issues because I will take a vitamin pill I can assure you if there are doctors here that that is not the way to live you must live healthy you must do all those things like this today Corpus Sundaychristi listen to the challenge this holiday tells us who we are and the gift is only possible because of who we are why does this gift have little impact because we do not live according to that gift, let us allow ourselves to be challenged by the gift of christ so that we can become like him i bishop

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ory members of the vincent de paul society family and friends the vincent de paul society is an international Catholic organization founded in Paris in 1833 by frederick oslen and his young companions on the day of their first meeting frederick turned 20 the society It was co-founded in Australia by Father Gerald Ward for a brief period in Melbourne and then with Charles Gordon O'Neil at The Rock Sydney in 1881.

Its work continues to this day. The mission of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is to live the message. of the gospel serving christ in the poor with love respect justice hope and joy we seek to cooperate to form a more just and compassionate world Australian community and share our resources, especially with our twin countries overseas, members of society seek to bear witness to the love of Christ through prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church through his daily life in relationships with those in need. Catholic in character, it is open to all who wish to live their faith by loving their neighbor in the person of the needy.

As a leader, it is the responsibility of the president to keep the members focused on this mission. A president must look outward with a vision for the poor and society. overall the church and the world in which our humble organization lives and grows the ministry of the president of the central council is one of love and service the president is to lead and encourage all members to generously and wisely give their gifts in loving service Of the poor, it is always the poor who count on us the most. I now call gail gordon to the ministry of the central council president of the

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central council Dyson, bishop

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, we would be very grateful if you could guide us in the appointment ceremony of our new president peter, have the prescribed procedures been followed and has the choice according to usual custom?

Bishop Greg I Have Gail Are you prepared to accept the role of President of the Central Council? I am with the help of God with the members of the society of Saint Vincent de Paul please wait after you have elected your new president promise to voluntarily accept co-responsibility with her accept the delegation be available for consultation offer advice in accordance with the highest ideals of the society of st vincent de paul gail has heard the community express their commitment to supporting him in his ministry as president of the central council. I am sure of this support.

I confirm your call and invite everyone gathered to express your support. Gail as president of the central council of the society of St Vincent de Paul in Lismore. You are called to leadership and ministry within the church we commission you for this ministry of servant leadership through the presentation of important symbols of this office Gail receive this bible to remind you that at baptism you accepted the word of God as your rule of life. life your ministry is to stick to the word as it was to frederick ozarnam may your prayer and reflection on the word lead you to a deeper experience of god's love may you become a living word of god for members of society and poor whom it serves let the gospel be your inspiration and guide gail received this candle a symbol of the light of christ to remind you that in your baptism you are illuminated by christ your ministry is to shine the light of christ in the darkness of life of people a light of justice and hope of dignity and integrity of encouragement and warmth a light that reveals new paths in changing circumstances keep this flame of life alive in your own heart as it will shine brightly in society, particularly in interactions among the members and in the spirit in which you live the gale rule receive this bread and water gifts from the earth that we are called to administer may these symbols remind you of your baptismal responsibility to share what you have so that all may have life and have it in fulfillment as a disciple of jesus model your ministry at his table ministry jesus shared meals and conversations with disciples, family and friends and those who experience disadvantage ensures that god's people are nourished and served with love and respect with truth and integrity creating unity among all gail receive the rule of society to guide you in your service as a leader faithful to the spirit of blessed frederick ozarnam you have been called to this ministry because people recognize in you the gifts necessary to lead society put these god-given gifts to the service of all as bishop of this diocese I charge you gail as president of the diocese of lismore and the central council advance in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, may all the blessings of god be with you, let us stand and together let us profess our faith.

I believe in God, the almighty father, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified. He died and was buried. He descended into hell on the third day. who rose from the dead ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from there he will come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the holy spirit the holy

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church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and eternal life jesus united us to the father in the new covenant by renewing the covenant by offering the same sacrifice let us intercede through him for the needs of others for the church by offering this sacrifice of worship that all members may be strengthened for priestly work in the world let us pray to the lord let us pray for the most vulnerable members of society here and abroad that they be given the vaccination priority that justice demands let us pray to the lord for the young people that our sacrifice of intercession can win more vocations to priestly service let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for us and the members of the st vincent paul society let us pray that we may be more closely united in our mission of service to the poor in our communities let us pray to the lord that all who are sick and afflicted may receive healing and acceptance through Christ and the intercession of Saint Mary of the Cross let us pray to the Lord for the dead that this sacrifice of atonement may free them and bring them to glory especially Emilio Moreldi Janice Guri Norma Wooldridge John Hanger michael lucia and jesseria san diego let us pray to the lord in this time of pandemic let us pray for the almost 4 million people who have died undercover 19 for the speedy recovery of those of us who have contracted the virus for the strengthening of those of us who fight the virus for us We ourselves will have the protection of God and we will do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus and that it will soon pass from among us.

We pray to the Lord heavenly father we make these and all our prayers through Christ our Lord is it is oh it is pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the father almighty grant to his church or lord we pray the gifts of unity and peace whose signs are to be seen in the mystery of the offerings that we present, that we present through christ our lord , I forgot to mention that today is also the feast of Saint Martin and Champagne, the founder of the Marist Brothers, today we have two Marist Brothers with us, so if we keep them and their congregation in your prayers the Lord be with you raise your prayers hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere give thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through christ our lord because at the last supper with his apostles establishing for the centuries to come the memorial savior of the cross he offered himself to you like the lamb without defect the acceptable gift of perfect praise feeding your faithful with this sacred mystery that you sanctify them so that the human race united by a single world may be illuminated by a single faith and united by a single bond of charity and thus we approach the table of this wonderful sacrament so that bathed in the sweetness of your grace we may pass to the The heavenly realities here foreshadowed, therefore, with the angels and the saints we acclaim you without end, You are indeed holy, O Lord, the source of all holiness, sanctify, therefore these gifts we pray to you sending your spirit upon them like the falling of dew that they may become us. the body and blood of our lord Jesus Christ at the moment when he was betrayed and voluntarily entered into his passion, he took the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, everyone, take this and eat from it because this is my body. which will be delivered by you in the same way.

After the meal he took the chalice and, giving thanks again, gave it to his disciples, saying, "All of you take this and drink from it because this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant that will be." poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me the mystery of face therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection we offer you Lord the bread of life and the chalice of salvation giving thanks because you have given us considered worthy to be in your presence and humbly minister to you we pray that by partaking of the body and blood of Christ we may be united in one by the holy spirit remember lord your servant remember lord may your church spread throughout the world and bring it to the fullness of the charity together with Francis Happ and Gregoria Bishop and all the clergy also remember our brothers and sisters who have slept in the hope of the resurrection and all those who have died in your mercy welcome to the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray that with the blessed virgin mary mother of god we bless joseph her husband we the blessed apostles and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the centuries deserve to be coerced into eternal life and praise and glorify you for your son jesus christ through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor be yours forever and ever god by command of the savior and formed by divine teaching we dare to say our father, go out to heaven against We deliver us Lord, we pray to you from all evil, grant us peace in our days so that with the help of your mercy we may always be free from sin and safe from all anguish while we await the blessed hope and coming of our savior Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to your apostles peace I leave you my peace I give you do not look at our sins but at the faith of your church and kindly grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign forever and ever amen the peace of the lord be with you always you take away the sins of the world of god mercy on us behold the lamb of god behold he who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lord lamb I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul will be healed is is oh oh beautiful is is is is is so is worship is god gives me such and let we pray grant us, oh lord, that we may delight for all eternity in that participation in your divine life that is foreshadowed in the present age for the reception of your precious body and blood that lives and reigns forever and ever and if anyone is interested in the saint. vincent de paul society there are enough ads here just go and talk to one of them after

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and if anyone thinks that is the longest sunday mass the bishop has ever had it is true and you can blame the st vincent de paul society That's why, oh, it will be longer because being a father means something just to remind you in our Paris bulletin this week it is Friday it will be the solemnity of the sacred heart of Jesus and mass here midday tour and also the next day Saturday It is the immaculate heart of Mary and also on June 12 at 10:30 a.m. there will be a mass here of the mass of the century for the 100 years of st vincent's hospital here in the cathedral and there is also a new plan to give envelopes to parishioners who receive envelopes, please collect them. right before you leave the church and those who would like to sign up for the planned giving envelopes, uh, Paris and community separationists, please pick up one of those yellow envelopes next to the envelopes when you pick up those envelopes going behind the cathedral Thank you, you forgot to tell us. they the envelopes are safely covered so don't worry about them and it also helps me buy my eggs the lord be with you and bow your heads and pray for the blessing of god heavenly father i ask you to bless all those who are in mass today and those who I will see this online grant them in this time of pandemic your protection protect those who love and those for whom they pray in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit thank god please yes he is a foreigner oh way like that you