Last Sunday, I had a pleasant surprise to receive a call
from Fr Constantine. He was very relaxed and graceful as he is about to join
the Anglo-Catholic diocese of Ballarat. He conveyed his kind regards to all at
Corpus Christi. In chatting with him, he incidentally made a comment that he
went to Ballarat Cathedral for reconciliation the previous week before he joined the Anglican diocese and met an
Indian priest, who was a CMI. The first part of that comment really made me
happy, to see how he valued the merits of reconciliation – the sacrament that
has got a very special relevance in our lives, especially during this Lenten
season. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that
the “individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by absolution
remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with the Church”
(Article 1497). Let us receive this sacrament (first or second rite) this
season to merit the necessary grace to overcome our limitations and to
reconcile with God and with the Church. Let us also place Fr Constantine in our
prayers.
This is also a season of farewells – let us
pray for His Beatitude Benedict XVI, the “Pontiff Emeritus” as he boldly paves
way to new leadership in the Church. This may be the last time I will write in
this column before I leave to India after Easter. Thank you so much Corpus
Christi for all that you have been to me for the past two years. It’s a great
parish and you all will continue to remain in my prayers (and in Facebook!).
Fr Jaison Mulerikkal CMI
* Published on 'Out of Silence column' on Corpus Christi Parish Bulletin on 03-03-13
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