PARISH BULLETIN St Kieran’s, the Catholic Church in

Campbeltown and Islay Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain

14th June 2020

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and

Precious Blood of Christ

St. Kieran’s Due the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic until further notice:

The public celebration of Holy Mass has been suspended for the time being.

Fr. Tony will continue to celebrate Holy Mass daily for the intentions of the parish: take part via Zoom or Facebook

Liturgies via Zoom or Facebook

Holy Mass, 10.00 am Adoration and Benediction, 3.00 pm

Holy Mass, 9.30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praise and meditation, 6.00 pm

Holy Mass, 9.30 am, the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, 10.00 am

Holy Mass, 10.00 am Anyone requiring pastoral care and/or help during this time should contact Fr. Tony by telephone or email. 01586 552160 campbeltown@rcdai.org.uk

Psalm response

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! Gospel acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. Alleluia!

Communion antiphon Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.

Take Five Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Monday, Jun 15, 2020 Cheeky faith There was a time when the rite of Confirmation included a tap on the cheek – symbolic of being struck – by the bishop, who at the same time wished you peace. The custom was knightly in origin. When you are confirmed, you become a “soldier of Christ,” so you must be ready to risk danger for your faith. But the sacrament strengthens you for the spiritual battles of your lifetime, including for times of crisis. Turning the other cheek hardly means being passive in the face of trials, but rather never giving up in the struggle. Offer yourself over and over in the service of good.

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42. “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”

Tuesday, Jun 16, 2020 Perfectly clear The phrase “biblical criticism” doesn’t mean to criticise Sacred Scripture, though Pope Leo XIII seemed to think so when he wrote the 1893 encyclical Providentissimus Deus, which took a dim view of the practice. Rather, it refers to the use of scholarly disciplines – such as literature and history – to uncover the Bible’s deeper meanings. Fortunately, 50 years later, Pope Pius XII penned On the Most Opportune Way to Promote Biblical Studies to encourage what had been discouraged. Thanks to it, we can delve into the word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 and learn it’s an imperfect translation of the Greek “teleios,” which means to have integrity. May your actions match your words.

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 21:17-29; Matthew 5:43-48. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Wednesday, Jun 17, 2020 Love leads the way Doing good is not only what we are called to do as Christians, it is also a benefit to all human beings in the long run. Evolutionary studies show that cooperative behaviour has long-term benefits for human beings; whereas selfish behaviour is a short-term win. In these difficult days, let love be your guide, your inner voice, and your consolation. Doing good is indeed its own reward.

TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.”

Thursday, Jun 18, 2020 Lead on

A small change in translation can be a big deal when the words of the Lord’s Prayer are at stake. After years of consideration, Italian and French bishops embraced a change in the version said at Mass, from “lead us not into temptation” to “do not let us fall into temptation.” The change intends to clarify the fact that God doesn’t lead people toward evil. So, if you are tempted toward sin today, why not ask God to lead you elsewhere?

TODAY'S READINGS: Sirach 48:1-14; Matthew 6:7-15. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.’”

Friday, Jun 19, 2020 SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS Get to the heart of the matter Expressions of the meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have come from everywhere – from saints and theologians to singers and tattoo artists – each trying to give shape to the meaning of the unconditional love of Jesus the Christ. The Sacred Heart reminds us to allow ourselves to experience Jesus’ great love for us, to dwell in Jesus’ way of being in and for the world. Use your imagination to place yourself within Jesus’ heart, within love. And you might see just how ungrateful humanity has been through the ages!

TODAY'S READINGS: Deuteronomy 7:6-11; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God.”

Saturday, Jun 20, 2020 MEMORIAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY What have we done? During the coronavirus pandemic, some have asked why God would “do this” to us or what have we done to “deserve this punishment.” A similar question was asked of Jesus in the story of the man born blind. Jesus replied that it was nothing the man did and neither was it some form of punishment. Think of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose Immaculate Heart is the expression of her sinlessness. She did nothing wrong yet she suffered mightily. Even her Immaculate Heart is shown encircled with thorns and pierced with a sword. Many have suffered in this season of sickness and loss, through no fault of their own. Pray for those whose hearts are heavy with grief.

TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25; Luke 2:41-51. “His mother kept all these things in her heart.”

Readings for Corpus Christi Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Remember your God, who has never forgotten you. Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

God has personally undertaken the education of the holy people. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

By our sacrament, we participate in the life of Christ.

John 6:51-58

Living bread is given, but not all are prepared to receive it.

Words on the Word: Deut. 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10:16-17; John 6:51-58 A grasp of readings for the Corpus Christi celebration of the year A. In this context of the readings, especially the Gospel, feeding on the body and blood of Christ seems a prerequisite for a Christian's life. Yes, whoever believes in Christ has eternal life. But at the same time Jesus clearly says that whoever does not feed on Him - and in this context it is not only about feeding in the sense of faith, but about physically receiving His Body and Blood - he has no life. The question about the possibility of achieving eternal life without having life here and now is probably well founded. The relationship of this Gospel scene with the Old Testament manna that Israel ate on the desert before it was united to the Promised Land also makes us see in Communion the Bread of pilgrims, Wanderers on their way to the Father. Those who despise this food may lack strength ... In practice Jesus teaches that being nourished by His Body and Blood gives communion, life and eternal life. Their absence means that there is no life in you. In this light, receiving Communion seems to be an important element of our faith. It is good that the times when it was recommended to receive Communion rarely are long gone as well as the understanding that this gesture as a kind of reward for a holy life or good confession. Bread is a basic food, something which it is difficult to do without. If Jesus wanted us to receive Him rarely as a reward, He would probably not become present under the appearance of Bread for us, but rather some sweet treat. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is certainly commendable. It has its justification in faith enriched by the tradition of centuries. However, one must always remember that in relation to being nourished by the Lord's Body it is something secondary. In the light of the first reading ... It is worth looking at the hardships of life as a kind of trial that will end in eternal life. And we must constantly remember who our benefactor is, to whom we owe everything ... In the light of the second reading, it’s worth realising your distinctiveness from other people. We are united to God through the Eucharist. Others can live just as they like, it's no longer for us. We must demand much more from ourselves ...

When Holy Communion is not available . . . (Part 2) We are living in unusual times, and as people of faith have had to adapt to changing expectations. But there have been times and places when receiving the Eucharist was difficult, fraught with danger or just not possible at all for long periods of times. Reprinted here is the scecond of two extracts from the small book of Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana, Kazakhstan called Dominus Est: It is the Lord. After a year, Father Alexij was able to return to Krasnokamsk. This time he could celebrate the Holy Mass and give Holy Communion to the faithful. Maria Schneider asked him a favour: “Father, could you leave me a consecrated Host because my mother is gravely ill and wants to receive Communion before dying?” Father Alexij left a consecrated Host, on condition that Holy Communion be administered to the woman with the greatest possible respect. Maria Schneider promised to act in this way. Before moving with her family to Kirghistan, Maria administered Holy Communion to her sick mother. In order to do this, Maria put on new white gloves and with tweezers gave Holy Communion to her mother. Afterwards, she burned the envelope in which the consecrated Host had been kept. The families of Maria Schneider and Pulcheria Koch later moved to Kirghistan. In 1962, Father Alexij secretly visited Kirghistan and found Maria and Pulcheria in the city of Tokmak. He celebrated Holy Mass in the house of Maria Schneider and, another time, in the house of Pulcheria Koch. Out of gratitude to Pucheria, this old woman who had helped him escape in the darkness and cold of winter in the Ural Mountains, Father Alexij left her a consecrated Host, giving this precise instruction: “I leave you a consecrated Host. Practice the devotion in honour of the

Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday for nine consecutive months. Every First Friday of the month, expose the Blessed Sacrament in your house, inviting for adoration persons who are absolutely trustworthy, with everything carried out in the greatest secrecy. After the ninth month, you must consume the Host, but do so with great reverence!” And so was it done. For nine months, there was clandestine Eucharistic Adoration at Tokmak. Maria Schneider was also among the female worshipers. Kneeling before a little Host, all the adoring women, these truly Eucharistic women, ardently desired to receive Holy Communion. But, unfortunately, there was only a little Host and at the same time many people who desired to receive Holy Communion. For this reason, Father Alexij had decided that at the end of the nine months only Pulcheria would receive Holy Communion, with the other women making a Spiritual Communion. Nevertheless, these Spiritual Communions were very precious, because they rendered these “Eucharistic” women capable of transmitting to their children, as if with their maternal milk, a profound faith and great love for the Eucharist. The entrustment of this little consecrated Host to Pulcheria Koch in the city of Tokmak in Kirghistan was the last pastoral action of Blessed Alexij Saritski. Immediately after his return to Karaganda from his missionary journey in Kirghistan, in April of 1962, Father Alexij was arrested by the secret police and placed in the concentration camp of Dolinka, near Karaganda. After much mistreatment and humiliation, Father Alexij obtained the palm of martyrdom ex aerumnis carceris (from the sufferings of prison) on October 30, 1963. His liturgical memorial is celebrated on this day in all the Catholic churches of Kazakhstan and Russia; the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church celebrates it together with other martyrs on June 27. He was a Eucharistic saint, who could educate Eucharistic women. These Eucharistic women were like flowers that grew up in the darkness and desert of a clandestine existence, thus keeping the Church truly alive.

Prayer Please pray for those who are in need or have asked for our prayers: Catherine Walker, Ken

McCoy, Margaret McCoy and Russell Carroll. Remember all those who are vulnerable to the severe effects of the current epidemic and the doctors, nurses, First Responders and carers who continue to aid the sick and vulnerable. Please remember in your prayers Anthony Wilson (Tony)(1994) and all those whose anniversaries occur at his time.

News and Events Bishop Brian will celebrate mass at 10.00 am each day, which will be available to stream by clicking this link - https://www.rcdai.org.uk/mass/ Fr Tony will celebrate Mass at 9.30 am each day, which will be available via the Zoom App https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6593787274 or Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/campbeltownrcchurch/. Sunday Mass (Holy Days 9.30am) at 10.00 am. ‘When Mass Cannot be Celebrated Publicly’ is available at this link (https://www.stkieransrc.org/when-sunday-mass-cannot-be-celebrated-publicly) for Sundays. Infection control measures for the gradual re-opening of our churches are now being planned for stage 2 when it is announced which allows personal prayer in the church.

campbeltown@rcdai.org.uk www.stkieransrc.org https://www.facebook.com/campbeltownrcchurch/ A Parish of the R.C. Diocese of Argyll and the Isles; Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity, SC002876

Parish Priest: Fr. A. Wood, St. Kieran’s, Campbeltown; Tel. 01586 552160

Prayer of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at

least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.