SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

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 in 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.

EVEN THE BIBLE IS FULL OF FLAWED CHARACTERS: THE DESTRUCTION OF MONUMENTS ONLY IMPOVERISHES OUR SENSE OF HISTORY
                            by Timothy Cardinal Dolan
 
Years ago I was dedicating a new parish to St. Peter. A woman wrote to protest: “Why would you name a Church after such a coward, a sinner who denied even knowing the Lord when Jesus needed him most, at the hour of His arrest and crucifixion?”
Knowing her and what parish she was from, I wrote back, “But you’re a proud parishioner at St. Mary Magdalene Church. She was sure not a paragon of virtue for a chunk of her life. Yet, by God’s grace, she became a radiant, inspirational saint. If we can’t name churches after sinners, the only titles we’d have left would be Jesus and His Mother!”
Isn’t the same true of America’s historical personalities? All of them had flaws, yet all of them still contributed a lot of good to our nation’s progress.
Defacing, tearing down and hiding statutes and portraits is today’s version of Puritan book-burning. Our children need to know their country’s past, its normative figures and their virtues and vices. That’s how we learn and pass on our story. Is there any more effective way to comprehend America’s history of racism than reading “Huckleberry Finn” or one of Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, works of literature now ominously on the chopping block?
My own mom kept a photo of her parents hanging on the wall of our house. Her dad, my grandfather, was an abusive drunk who abandoned his family. I’m glad we got to know of him, the good and the bad.
The same is true of the church I love and am honored to serve. Yes, there are scandalous parts of our history, and countless episodes when popes, bishops, priests and others—including some who are now saints—didn’t act as they should have.
God forbid we’d go through a cultural revolution as China did five decades ago. Beware those who want to purify memories and present a tidy—and inaccurate—history. And who’s to say which statues, portraits, books and dedications are spared? Remember when some objected to raising the status of the Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday to a national holiday, citing his self-admitted flaws?
If literature that depicts prejudice, or words or scenes that are today rightly abhorred, is to be banned, I don’t know if even the Bible can survive. If we only honor perfect, saintly people of the past, I guess I’m left with only the cross. And some people would ban that.
As a historian by training, I want to remember the good and the bad, and recall with gratitude how even people who have an undeniable dark side can let light prevail and leave the world better. I want to keep bringing classes of schoolchildren to view such monuments, and to explain to them how even such giants in our history had crimes, unjust acts and plain poor judgment mixed in with the good we honor.
 
 

 
MESSAGE TO PARISHIONERS ON THE RETURN OF CHURCH SERVICES
 
Dear Friends,
          I wish to give you a report on the resumption of church services—Masses and other ceremonies—in our church since churches were able to open for public worship on the weekend of June27-28:
 

1. I am happy to report that we are most pleased with the attendance at our Saturday evening and Sunday Masses. I was told to expect a total of about 200 people. However, each Sunday we have had over 350 joining in our Masses, wearing masks, sitting in the designated areas and following our other directives, specifically receiving Holy Communion at the end of Mass and placing collection envelopes in the baskets as you leave church. I am edified with the cooperation we have received and I am happy to be able to tell you each week “Welcome Home!”
2. We have resumed baptisms. Parents who wish to have their child baptized should come to the rectory or see one of the priests on Sunday for the necessary preparation. The Baptismal Instruction for Parents is on our website: www.sttheresachurchbronx.org.
3. St. Theresa School had a Thanksgiving Celebration for our graduates last Saturday, a beautiful event for the graduates and their parents and teachers. We wanted then to have this ceremony before they move on to high school. Thank you to Mrs. Fanelli for making that possible.
4. This Saturday we will have First Holy Communion for children in our school and CCD Program. We had to have a “virtual rehearsal” for them on line, but we do what we have to do. (It may interest you to know that we are having First Communion now because a grandmother said to me, “Father, please have First Communion before she grows out of the dress!” Spoken as a true grandmother!
5. Our school is making preparations for the new school year, waiting for the guidelines from New York City and the Archdiocese. As you know our neighboring Our Lady of the Assumption school sadly is being closed. We are doing our best to accommodate these children in our school.
6. We are currently accepting applications for CCD classes for public school children and the RCIA program for adults wishing to receive the sacraments. This information is on our website and at the rectory.
7. Let me remind you that Cardinal Dolan has excused from the Sunday Mass obligation those who may be sick or worried about sickness at this time. We are continuing to have the Sunday Mass on our parish website for those who are unable to come to church.
8. I want to thank you for your continued support of our church during this difficult time. Thank you for bringing your collection envelopes to church or dropping them off at the rectory. Thank you to the many parishioners who are using the online service called Parish Giving (available on our website). God bless you for your generosity.

 
I shall keep you posted on further developments as the weeks go on. Thank you for showing your love for our parish and for doing your best to keep “St. Theresa Strong.”     
                                                                                          God bless you!
                                                                                          Father Derivan
 
 
 

St. Theresa's Catholic Church
2855 St. Theresa Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461

BIBLE STUDY/SHARING: 

CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM in the Rectory Dining Room a group gathers seeking to grow closer to Christ by meditating on the Holy Scripture. Please come and be nourished by the Word of God. Everyone is invited to attend.   

CONFESSIONS IN OUR CHURCH
The Cardinal has allowed the resumption of confessions in church.  Both St. Theresa Church and Our Lady of the Assumption Church will be having confessions on Saturdays at 4:00PM, beginning on June 6^th.
The following procedures will be followed in our church:
1. All persons must wear protective masks.
2. You will see two confession stations in the church, one by hallway near the sacristy and the other  in the front of church. We will not be using the confessionals for safety reasons.
3. When you come to confession, you may either stand or kneel.
4. Those who are waiting for confession should stand at a respectful distance to preserve confidentiality.  Also while you are waiting, please observe the proper social distancing as marked by the blue tape in the aisles.
5. Please speak loudly enough for the priest to hear, but not too loudly  so that others may hear you.
6. After your confession, you may remain in the church for private prayer. Please sit or kneel only in places  marked with the blue tape.