Saint Jude the Apostle Church

We have had much time for reflection during this quarantine, but during the days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, maybe we can challenge ourselves to go on a “retreat.”   Much like the apostles and Mary, waiting for the Spirit of God can be a test of fortitude: what virtue is being tested in you?  Below are two virtual retreats for your time of waiting.

Waiting for the Spirit is a retreat for the period of Ascension until Pentecost.  The retreat is free from Loyola Press and offers short video reflections and prayer along with reflection questions.

Virtual Memorial Day Retreat  Using a reading from the book of Wisdom, the Paulist Brothers at Busted Halo have developed a reflection to remember all those who sacrificed their lives for our country.

Sunday to Sunday  Wednesday evening bible study preparing for the upcoming Sunday continues to meet…virtually at 6:00 p.m.  Requirements for participation: computer/iPad or smart phone with internet, audio and video capabilities.  Please contact Deacon Jerome:  [email protected]

Prayers for Memorial Day from Xavier University: Memorial Day

Families: Archbishop Gomez along with other Catholic family speakers: excellent recorded town hall from earlier in May.  With a panel, they discuss praying with families, raising kids Catholic, ways to be healthy during this time and they answers questions from the community.  Better Together

Our Loaves and Fishes Ministry is taking a break from food collections.  They are, however, filling requests from local organizations when they can including beds for new residents of Many Mansions. If you wish to help in this way, you are welcome to drop a check off marked “Loaves and Fishes” or donate online through WeShare.

There are also many foodbanks which you can help.  Or, if you have a need, you can contact them to receive help.

• Catholic Charities Moorpark
• Foodshare Ventura County
• Los Angeles Regional Foodbank

The Los Angeles Archdiocese program, in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus, helps those in need - volunteer or request help: Hearts to Serve

Those unable to receive Eucharist can have spiritual communion By Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB / Subiaco Abbey

     In his encyclical, "Ecclesia de Eucharistia" ("A Eucharistic Church"), in April 2003, Pope John Paul II encouraged the practice of spiritual communion, “which has been a wonderful part of Catholic life for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life.”

     Spiritual communion isn’t as much a part of the Catholic vocabulary and consciousness as it was in the past, though it is just as real an opportunity for eucharistic grace as it ever was. Ironically, the encouragement of actual reception of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and the routine availability of eucharistic Communion today, a wonderful development begun in the time of Pope Pius X and emphasized by the Second Vatican Council, may have helped cause this other eucharistic gift to be overshadowed in our time.

     What is spiritual communion? St. Thomas Aquinas described it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the most holy sacrament and lovingly embrace him” at a time or in circumstances when we cannot receive him in sacramental Communion. The Catechism of the Council of Trent devoted a special section to spiritual communion in its program of renewal in the late 16th century. In the past, instruction manuals gave as the most familiar situation, the need of a mother to stay home from Sunday Mass to care for a sick child, thereby missing the opportunity for Communion.

     In such cases, the mother could make an act of spiritual communion, uniting herself with the Mass in her parish church and receive the spiritual benefit of Communion. The opportunities for receiving spiritual communion are limitless, but particular circumstances make it appealing in our time. Today there are many Catholics who may not be able to receive Communion because of a marriage not recognized by the Church. Often they are in a process of getting their marital status rectified, but until that is done, they cannot participate.

     But they are not prohibited from receiving Communion spiritually and receiving strength from the grace of the sacrament during a waiting period which is often painful. As the availability of priestly ministry decreases, daily Mass becomes more and more scarce, and some communities may not regularly have even a Communion service on Sunday. In our mobile society, people who otherwise might be at Mass are frequently on the move.

     Spiritual communion needs no special instruction; it only requires the same disposition as the actual reception of the sacrament and a turning to Jesus with the heart. These days as we experience a renewal of eucharistic adoration, those who come to spend time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament are receiving spiritual communion, even though they may not have called it by that name. 

Prayer of Spiritual Communion

No particular prayer or formulary is required, though there are acts of spiritual communion in Catholic prayer books to help focus a proper intention. One of the most popular is that composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Blessed Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire you with all my heart.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,

I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already in my heart

and unite myself to you completely.

Please do not let me ever by separated from you.”

COVID-19 Update (26 May 2020 — 10:30PM)
Archbishop Gomez announces a plan to reopen our parishes. The reopening of the churches of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will take place in steps. Pastors who are ready, after they have received approval from their Regional Bishop for their church reopening plan, may proceed to open their church for personal private prayer. As of June 3, 2020, Pastors may offer Mass and Scheduled Confessions with strict social distancing guidelines. Click here to read the guidelines.

COVID-19 Update (23 May 2020 — 10:00AM)
Archbishop José Gomez reflects on the current situation and provides an update on the celebration of sacraments in our parishes. Click here to watch his video message.

COVID-19 Update (15 May 2020 — 4:00PM)
Archbishop José H. Gomez dispenses all the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and all Catholics currently in the Archdiocese from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass until further notice. Furthermore, the public celebration of Mass continues to be suspended in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles until further notice. Click here to read the liturgical guidelines.

COVID-19 Update (11 May 2020 — 9:00 AM)
The Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has announced that its Catholic schools throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will continue with distance learning through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Click here to read the letter from Paul M. Escala, Superintendent of Schools.

COVID-19 Update (8 May 2020 — 6:00 AM)
Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries will be open for visitation Monday – Saturday from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM and on Sundays from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. Click here to read full announcement and policies for visitation. (En español)

COVID-19 Update (19 April 2020)
Parish churches, chapels, centers, and missions are to remain closed to the public until May 15, 2020, or until further notice. Click here to read the full statement

COVID-19 Update (3 April 2020 — 1:00 PM)
Based on the current “Safer at Home” order, we anticipated a return to campus on Monday, April 20th. After consultation with public health officials this week, we should expect this order to be extended again, though, we have not been given a date. Instead, we’ve been advised that a return to in-person instruction will resume when it is safe to do so. Therefore, distance learning will continue. Click here to read the full letter from Paul M. Escala, Superintendent of Schools.

COVID-19 Update (31 March 2020 — 6:30 PM)
We released an addendum is meant to correct a point contained in the “Liturgical Guidelines for the Year 2020 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic” issued on March 24, 2020. Additionally, it extends the dispensation previously granted by Archbishop José H. Gomez from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Lastly, this addendum provides additional information and guidelines regarding the celebrations of Holy Week and the distribution of Holy Oils. Click here to read the addendum. (En español)

COVID-19 Update (24 March 2020 — 6:30 PM)
In continued commitment to reducing the spread of the COVID-19, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced further liturgical guidelines for Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese, including the closure of all churches to the public until further notice. Click here to read the updated liturgical guidelines.

Article: Archbishop José H. Gomez’s weekly column in Angelusnews.com addresses the temporary suspension of public Masses and the crisis: https://angelusnews.com/voices/in-the-time-of-coronavirus/.

Archdiocese’s emergency preparedness webpage: Visit lacatholics.org/emergency, for the most updated information and resources on limiting the impact of the coronavirus in our communities of faith.To receive updates on the coronavirus or other ADLA news and information, please visit this webpage or text ADLA to 84576.

Spiritual Communion Available When Unable to Receive the Eucharist: Please click on the following link https://www.dolr.org/article/those-unable-receive-eucharist-can-have-spiritual-communion

With the present National Emergency, there is now more time for prayer, study and work by individuals and families at home.  The FREE opportunities below for growth and sharing are especially valuable at this time.

1. Order FREE Catholic CDs and books (especially Woman) or listen to the CDs and get links to many other Catholic organizations at http://www.Catholicity.com/.
2. Get FREE Catholic Answers about the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith through articles, videos, Catholic radio and more at http://www.Catholic.com.
3. Access FREE  Catholic Online--the World's Catholic Library at http://www.Catholic.org.
4. Receive FREE helps in many sections in English and Spanish to be a living Catholic at http://www.Catholic.net
5. Receive a FREE complete and long-term Catholic education by clicking http://www.YCVF.org for Your Catholic Voice Foundation.  It offers the Catholic Online School which give FREE Catholic education for 263,000 student enrollments in 184 countries!
6. YOU are invited to view the video series on The Bible and the Church Fathers (such as St. Augustine) by Scott Hahn during Lent and later.  It is available both on DVD and FREE by streaming at http://www.StPaulCenter.com