SMC Newsletter ~ Volume 16
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Page 1 Volume 16 March 2016 God’s Healing Mercy St. Margaret Mary’s Church I n some biographical writings on the life of the great parish priest and patron saint of diocesan clergy, St. Jean-Marie Vianney, there is a wonderful story worth retelling. e Curé of Ars spent from eleven to sixteen hours each day in the confessional of his little parish church. e story tells of a woman who heard of this priest’s great giſts of mercy and piety. She set out for Ars, but arriving at the church, saw a long line of people waiting to go to confession. She asked one of those on line, “How long do I have to wait?” To her shock and surprise, the other woman answered, without any irony, “About three days!” is woman could not wait – she was already upset by the long journey to Ars, and was contemplating the journey back, and was weighed down by the troubling thoughts that had first brought her to Ars make her confession. She leſt the line and went to the communion rail and knelt down in prayer. In the meantime, St. Jean-Marie Vianney had just finished a confession, and he excused himself from the confessional for a minute and made his way to the front of the church where the woman was kneeling. He walked up next to her, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, “He will be saved.” Startled hearing these words, the woman turned and faced the saint who was standing there with a gentle smile on his face. She was first shocked and surprised, and then skeptical. You see, the woman had come to church to lay a heavy burden at the feet of Christ on the Cross. Her husband had been an official of the French Revolution, and in a moment of deep despair and depression, he made his way to a bridge over the river in their village, and jumped into the freezing rushing water and drowned. is poor woman, his wife and now widow, was deeply troubled about his eternal salvation. Aſter all, he committed suicide! St. Jean-Marie quietly explained to her that in the few seconds between the leap from the bridge and hitting the water, her husband had made an Act of Contrition. e widow was baffled and confused, not only at how the priest could make such a statement, but also because she knew her husband had not lived his Catholic faith for years. e Curé gently asked her, “Do you remember the time you wanted to place a shrine of the Blessed Mother in your home?” “Yes,” she replied. “Well, did your husband stand in the way?” “No,” she responded. “Well it was through that act of openness that the Lord worked and prompted him at the last moment before his death to make that Act of Contrition.” is little vignette from the life of the Curé of Ars is not only a tale of hope but also one of MERCY – of the Lord’s boundless mercy. It is this same mercy that the Lord offers to each and every one of us, inviting us at many moments in our life to accept, to respond, and to accept. In this Year of Mercy, and as we approach the 2nd Sunday of Easter, the Sunday dedicated to “Jesus Mercy,” let us pray for this inestimable, limitless and loving mercy of God for us – and pray also for those near and dear to us who need to feel the loving hand of Jesus’ Mercy in a special way. The Quality of Divine Mercy Rev. Joseph V. McCabe, M.M.
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Transcript of SMC Newsletter ~ Volume 16
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Volume 16 March 2016God’s Healing Mercy
St. Margaret Mary’s Church
In some biographical writings on the life of the great parish priest and patron saint of diocesan clergy, St. Jean-Marie Vianney, there is a wonderful story worth retelling. The Curé of Ars spent from eleven to sixteen hours each day in the confessional of his little parish church. The story tells of a woman who heard of this priest’s great gifts of mercy and piety. She set out for Ars, but arriving at the church, saw a long line of people waiting to go to confession. She asked one of those on line, “How long do I have to wait?” To her shock and surprise, the other woman answered, without any irony, “About three days!” This woman could not wait – she was already upset by the long journey to Ars, and was
contemplating the journey back, and was weighed down by the troubling thoughts that had first brought her to Ars make her confession. She left the line and went to the communion rail and knelt down in prayer. In the meantime, St. Jean-Marie Vianney had just finished a confession, and he excused himself from the confessional for a minute and made his way to the front of the church where the woman was kneeling. He walked up next to her, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, “He will be saved.” Startled hearing these words, the woman turned and faced the saint who was standing there with a gentle smile on his face. She was first shocked and surprised, and then skeptical. You see, the woman had come to church to lay a heavy burden at the feet of Christ on the Cross. Her husband had been an official of the French Revolution, and in a moment of deep despair and depression, he made his way to a bridge over the river in their village, and jumped into the freezing rushing water and drowned. This poor woman, his wife and now widow, was deeply troubled about his eternal salvation. After all, he committed suicide! St. Jean-Marie quietly explained to her that in the few seconds between the leap from the bridge and hitting the water, her husband had made an Act of Contrition. The widow was baffled and confused, not only at how the priest could make such a statement, but also because she knew her husband had not lived his Catholic faith for years. The Curé gently asked her, “Do you remember the time you wanted to place a shrine of the Blessed Mother in your home?” “Yes,” she replied. “Well, did your husband stand in the way?” “No,” she responded. “Well it was through that act of openness that the Lord worked and prompted him at the last moment before his death to make that Act of Contrition.” This little vignette from the life of the Curé of Ars is not only a tale of hope but also one of MERCY – of the Lord’s boundless mercy. It is this same mercy that the Lord offers to each and every one of us, inviting us at many moments in our life to accept, to respond, and to accept. In this Year of Mercy, and as we approach the 2nd Sunday of Easter, the Sunday dedicated to “Jesus Mercy,” let us pray for this inestimable, limitless and loving mercy of God for us – and pray also for those near and dear to us who need to feel the loving hand of Jesus’ Mercy in a special way.
The Quality of Divine MercyRev. Joseph V. McCabe, M.M.
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After the many liturgical rituals and celebrations of Holy Week, moving from Palm Sunday, through Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday
and the joyous celebrations of Easter Sunday, one might wonder, “What would be so special about Easter Monday?” And it is a good question. And yet, is it purely a civil holiday?
In the years when I was a missionary in Tanzania (East Africa), Easter Monday was the time when our newly-baptized finally packed up all their belongings, after living in and around the central mission station for most of Lent, and moved back to their villages to take up their life – but now as full members of the Catholic community.
Each Easter Monday, as we read in the Gospel reading of the day (Mt. 28: 8-15) we hear how the two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother of James and Joseph) become the first witnesses to the Resurrection, and the ones sent running to tell the other disciples of the resurrection. These two women symbolize all of us, in the joy of the Resurrection celebrated on Easter, now going out to share the joy of the Risen Lord with others.
In some countries, the day is marked by the distribution of the blessed Holy Water from the Vigil service, where the faithful come to church with small bottles to receive some of the Easter water for home use. For others it is a day extending the traditional Easter Blessing of the Table, where special breads and colorful Easter Eggs are placed before the altar and blessed for the use by children and other family members.
For Eastern Rite Catholics and Orthodox, it is “Bright Monday,” a special day in their calendar marked with liturgical processions and the blessing of the faithful with the blessed Easter Water.
For us, it is a day to again celebrate with the newly-Baptized members their Baptism-Confirmation and first Eucharist in our communion, and welcome them around the table of the Lord. Although a bit quieter than the liturgies of the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, for us here at St Margaret’s the Masses we celebrate on Easter Monday can be a time for thanking God for the growth in our community, for the new life in Christ shared by family and friends, and most especially by sharing in our own customs (old and new) the special joy
of Easter, whether we bring colorful Easter Eggs to Mass to be blessed and shared, or special Easter breads and rolls to decorate our tables, or simply again to be blessed with the Easter Water.
The Celebration of Easter Monday
Alter servers in preperationOur Children’s CCD groupFr. McCabe and Fr. Li at Holy Spirit Seminary HOLY YEAR DOOR
Pastoral Corner
Rev. Joseph V. McCabe, M.M.
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Words from Gospel readings in March 2016Fourth Sunday of Lent - Second Scrutiny John 9:1-41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.”
Cuarto Domingo de Cuaresma (Escrutinios) San Juan 9:1-41Jesús les contestó: —Si fueran ciegos, no serían culpables de pecado, pero como afirman que ven, su pecado permanece.
Fifth Sunday of Lent - Third Scrutiny John 11:1-45Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma (Escrutinios) San Juan 11:1-45—¿Acaso el día no tiene doce horas? —respondió Jesús—. El que anda de día no tropieza, porque tiene la luz de este mundo. Pero el que anda de noche sí tropieza, porque no tiene luz.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Luke 19:28-32,35-40Jesus said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”Domingo de Ramos – la Pasión de Señor San Lucas 19:28-32,35-40Pero él respondió: —Les aseguro que si ellos se callan, gritarán las piedras.
Holy Thursday John 13:1-15Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.Jueves Santo San Juan 13:1-15Jesús sabía que le había llegado la hora de abandonar este mundo para volver al Padre. Y habiendo amado a los suyos que estaban en el mundo, los amó hasta el fin.
Good Friday John 18:1-19:42Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from handed over to the Jews.”Viernes Santo San Juan 18:1-19:42Mi reino no es de este mundo —contestó Jesús—. Si lo fuera, mis propios guardias pelearían para impedir que los judíos me arrestaran.
Easter Vigil Luke 24:1-12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
Easter Sunday John 20:1-9Then the other disciple, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed.
Vigilia Pascua San Lucas 24:1-12 Pedro, sin embargo, salió corriendo al sepulcro. Se asomó y vio sólo las vendas de lino. Luego volvió a su casa, extrañado de lo que había sucedido.
Domingo de Pascua San Juan 20:1-9En ese momento entró también el otro discípulo, el que había llegado primero al sepulcro; y vio y creyó.
By post: St. Margaret’s Church (Newsletter) 2A Broadwood Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Fax: 25769764 Email: [email protected]
Article Contributions Welcome
The newsletter is in many ways a ‘family letter’, facilitating the communication and sharing of ideas between different groups in our parish. Therefore you will be most welcome to share with us your
spiritual life and insights, parish activities and pilgrimage experience, etc. Text should be close to a full-A4 page length or half of it, with high resolution photos for print quality where relevant. We also welcome a simpler photo journal format with titles for the photos and may be a few lines to describe an event you have participated; it would be great to see different members of our family. Please send your contributions by email if possible; in case of handwritten manuscripts, please give it to the counter staff at the amenities building next to St. Margaret’s Church. Originals will not be returned so please make copies if necessary.
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Easter and Holy Week
St. Margaret’s Church2016 Easter and Holy Week Liturgy Timetable
DATE TIME ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH PARISH HALL CHRIST THE KING
CHAPEL
Confessions 18 March 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Confessions in English
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
19 March(Saturday)
6:15 p.m. There will be Palm Sunday Procession at 6:15 p.m. (Anticipated Mass)
20 March(Sunday)
Mass Schedule as regular SundayThere will be Palm Sunday Procession at 11:00 a.m. Mass
Mass Schedule as regular SundayThere will be Palm Sunday Procession at 8:15 a.m. Mass
THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUMThe Lord’s Supper(Holy Thursday)
24 March No Mass in the morning (Chrism Mass at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 11:00 a.m.)
8:00 p.m. Mass in Cantonese Mass in English Mass in Cantonese
(There will be special offerings during the Mass) The Passion of the Lord(Good Friday)
25 March No Mass in the morningU Fasting and Abstinence (Note)
9:00 a.m.Way of the Cross (Cantonese)11:00 a.m. Way of the Cross (English)
10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.Lent Retreat (Cantonese)
10:00 a.m.Way of the Cross (Cantonese)
3:00 p.m. The Lord’s Passion (Cantonese)
The Lord’s Passion (English)
The Lord’s Passion (Cantonese)
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night(Holy Saturday)
26 March No Mass in the morning
8:00 p.m. The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (English) (There will be Baptismal Liturgy)
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (Cantonese) (There will be Baptismal Liturgy)
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (Cantonese) (There will be Baptismal Liturgy)
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
27 March Mass Schedule as regular Sunday
Sunday tea & snacks services will be postponed
Mass Schedule as regular Sunday
9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Easter Monday 28 March 9:00 a.m. Mass in English
U Note: Partial abstinence, required of faithful 14 years of age or older, is the avoidance of meat (not including cold-blooded animals) for the entire day. Complete abstinence is required of the faithful between the ages of 18 and 59. Only one meatless full meal is allowed and liquids are allowed in rest of the day.
