The threat of the coronavirus has the world on pause. It is an anxious time for many, but it is also a good time to take to pray, pause, and reflect. Pope Francis in his Urbi et Orbi meditation reminds us how “we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything”. Now, we feel powerless in the face of this health crisis.
The Lord is calling us to faith, to come to him and to trust in him because as Pope Francis assures as, “turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things” is God’s strength.
We offer the following prayer resources in English, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese to assist us during this time of pandemic.
With Jesus in the Desert: A retreat for a time of isolation
Jesuit Communications Australia has an online retreat for the 14 days of isolation prescribed for those who have been in touch with infected people. With Jesus in the Desert: A Retreat for a time of Isolation offers a programme for praying on the Gospels for each day of the retreat, and a way of reflecting on the movements of the heart each day. Although planned for 14 days, the resource can be adapted in any ways helpful.
Mass live and on demand
The Parish of Our Lady of The Way is bringing Mass from North Sydney to Catholics around the world. Stream Mass daily from St Francis Xavier Church, Lavender Bay.
The Way of the Cross one day at a time and Holy Week retreat from a distance
Pins of Light, a website that provides homilies and recollections by JCAP Education Secretary Fr Johnny Go SJ, presents a different way of praying the Way of the Cross by taking only one station each day and making it the focus of one’s prayer. A new station is uploaded every day and each station features a reflection and an appropriate song to help deepen the reflection. For those who would like to post a prayer petition, Pins of Light has a virtual prayer wall where the global faithful community may post images, videos, and links to accompany prayer petitions. Users may also “like” a petition posted by others to indicate that they will include it in their prayer.
For 13 years in a row now Pins of Light has been directing an online Triduum retreat from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday. This year’s retreat from a distance is called Praying between the Lines: The Stories + Silences of Lent.
Seven Last Words of Jesus
The Chinese Jesuit Province offers weekly meditation in Chinese language based on the fifth chapter of Seven Last Words by Fr James Martin SJ. The faithful is guided through a self-paced session of prayer centered on a passage of Scripture. Each session has five stages and each stage is designed as a meditation on God’s presence in our lives. A new prayer session is posted on their website every Wednesday.
Keeping the Faith: Daily Mass, music and movies for Lent and Holy Week
Jesuit Communications Philippines is live-streaming the Eucharist daily on Radyo Katipunan’s Facebook page at 8am (local time). Furthermore, Executive Director Fr Nono Alfonso SJ hosts The Jesuit Hour, in which he and guests discuss relevant issues in light of Ignatian Spirituality and the current situation.
JesCom Philippines is also showing their inspirational and award-winning Filipino documentaries. Catch the livestream at 7pm (local time) daily. Among the documentaries include, Maging Akin Ka Muli, Ang Pinakabanal na Tao ng Simbahan and Bagong Buhay: Mga Kwento ng Pagbabalik Loob. In addition, they have compiled a Spotify playlist for Lent, Pray. Fast. Give., featuring music from the Jesuit Music Ministry.
On Easter Sunday, JesCom will livestream the internationally acclaimed film, Ignacio de Loyola, on their Facebook page at 7pm (local time).
14 Stations of the Cross amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
The Jesuits of Vietnam have a special Stations of the Cross to help us reflect on our current situation. It is composed by Pham Dinh Ngoc SJ, a scholastic studying in Hungary. The resource is available in both English and Vietnamese languages.
If you know of any more resources around the conference, please contact us.