Submitted by Julian, an FCJ Companion in Mission from Canada
For many years now, a group of us Edmonton Companions in Mission (CIM) attend the 9:30 mass at St. Joe’s Chapel. In an effort to cultivate community, we host coffee, cookies and a chance to visit with our fellow worshippers. This has been a wonderful way to get to know each other and create meaningful connections as well. Small children love it as they can roar around with each other in that big open space where we gather. Now that St. Joe’s has been asked to close down all worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, our CIM group was feeling a sense of loss without our weekly liturgy and gathering around the coffee urn. So for those interested, we will „attend“ the mass at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, broadcast live online. Our group are inviting those interested in keeping our after mass fellowship alive, to bring their coffee to the computer and join us for a Google Hangout. Not as good as face to face but very refreshing to see our friends and connect during these times of social isolation. Technology will also be a huge asset in keeping our monthly CIM meetings alive.
Our group is scheduled for our first online meeting on Saturday, April 4. To date we have been using Neal Vaney’s book, Christ in a Grain of Sand. However, given these present circumstances, our assigned reading is the weekly reflection Sr. Susan fcJ sent out from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. It is hoped that the prayers and reflection questions will provide a supportive opportunity to share how this challenging time is impacting them.
Seeing God in all things poses a challenge to us all at this time and yet, so many stories and heart-warming examples of what is best in humanity has surfaced during these trying times. We long for the rolling back of the tombstone from this dark arduous Lent!
Julian, Companion in Mission
As we move into the celebration of the great Paschal Mystery, the death and resurrection of Christ may we find hope in the one who has conquered death and holds our suffering world in his healing hands.
