25. The Soul
Living through a pandemic has many challenges, not the least of which is separation from our communities of worship. While our participation in Mass is currently possible through online offerings and reservations at restricted parish Masses, real connection with our parish community is difficult.
Worship is an expression of reverence and adoration towards God. How do we authentically worship, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, so that we may assist our students and peers in contemplating the mystery of God?
The Catholic parish school is the educational project which supports parents in guiding students toward a belief in God. This belief, revealed in Jesus Christ and brought alive in the Holy Spirit, guides each and every student towards goodness. Within this educational project, worship is an all important foundational value and practice.
Worship comes to us through the 2000-year-old tradition of the Church and is shown to us in an apostolic way. The teaching of the Church regarding worship can be traced back to the living Christ through the apostles and popes who have taught us how to worship. It is the oldest truth-filled and living tradition in the world.
If tradition is to come alive in worship it must be grounded in scripture, as the two are inseparable. They must become part of the Christian practice, lived out in fellowship. Worship should immerse the community in liturgy and the sacraments, to assist students in contemplating the mystery of God, encountering and knowing Christ, and learning to pray. Worship also opens our staff and students to becoming witnesses through praise and to understanding their religious experience.
The extent to which there is meaningful participation by the school in the life of the Catholic parish community relies on worship. The worshipping Catholic school community is only part of the wider Sunday Eucharistic community. Teachers as authentic witnesses are called and welcomed to the table of the Lord on Sunday, within the whole parish setting. Worship is still an option in parishes during COVID-19 restrictions. Checkout your parish website for Mass times and reservations.
In this beautiful series of short videos, Youth Ministry Officers from Proclaim Lismore Wildfire share a glimpse of what worship means to them and how it transforms their life.
- Struggling to connect to Jesus due to the pandemic? Listening to Caleb and Kelsey’s version of Here I Am to/ Heart of Worship helps draw us into an intimate relationship with Jesus.
- Build My Life speaks into the freedom of building our lives anywhere but as Christians, we are called to build our lives with a strong foundation of faith and trust in God.
- This Gospel version of How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art helps us discern where God is working in our lives. Pray with it where you’re free to worship out loud and let loose with the Holy Spirit!
This week would have been the 9th annual SHINE gathering for Youth Ministry students across the diocese. With this event and many others like it cancelled, it’s great to know that Youth Ministry within each school is alive and well. Accendere retreats for Year 4 students continue to take place in Parish Primary Schools with Exuro on offer in term 4. Meanwhile, many Secondary Schools are implementing their annual Catch the Wave retreat in preparation for launching into the Stage 5 Youth Ministry program, and wait in anticipation for the SHINE Unplugged program being developed by the CSO for implementation in schools.
For a taste of Catch the Wave check out this great video from St John’s College Woodlawn:
The Bishops’ Social Justice Statement for 2020-21, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, has just been released ahead of the Church’s Social Justice Sunday, which will be celebrated on August 30 this year. Given the challenges our country and the world are facing due to COVID-19, the issue of mental health is very much front and centre for many people.
The Statement challenges everyone – individuals, schools, parishes, communities, policy-makers, governments – to take an interest in the issue of mental health.
In addition to the written statement, which is now available online, an audio recording of the Statement has been created, as well as a prayer card. Other material to support the celebration of Social Justice Sunday on August 30, including liturgical resources and homily notes, will also be produced.
All material related to the Statement can be accessed on the Office for Social Justice website.
- REACHOUT.com - A guide to dealing with constant change due to COVID-19
- The Search - All seven episodes are now included in our FORMED subscription!
The Search is a thought-provoking, compelling series that tackles the biggest questions of every human heart. In seven visually stunning episodes, participants journey together as they explore: Why are we here? What is life all about? What happens when we die?
At a time like this, there is a great need to connect people to their parish, to each other, and to God’s plan for their lives. View all 7 episodes now on FORMED.
Click the image above to submit your prayer intentions. Each week the prayer intentions are passed onto the Carmelite Sister's at the Carmelite Convent in Goonellabah.
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Proclaim Lismore Staff
All staff in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore receive The Soul by email. The link in these emails can be forwarded and shared with family and friends. Alternatively, use this form to subscribe as an additional reader to The Soul mailing list.