Sunday Mass
We Pray Together
Each Saturday evening at 5.30 pm Sunday Mass becomes available for viewing. This is the same Mass that is broadcast on Shine TV Sunday at 2.00pm.
On behalf of the thousands of people who gain great spiritual sustenance and sense of belonging by tuning in to Mass broadcast on Shine TV each Sunday and watching via YoutTube or Facebook the Diocese of Auckland would like to say thank you to all those who contribute to the preparation of Mass for broadcast. By being part of the ‘Mass Squad’, those who work towards ensuring Sunday Mass is available these communities agree to have cameras ‘getting in the way’ when they are praying the Mass, the readings are those for next week when they will hear them again. It is disruptive. We are mindful that getting Mass ready for broadcast is a interruption to the liturgical rhythm of their community and all are deeply grateful.
We receive many expressions of gratitude for the ability of people to pray the familiar prayers and connect to the Church community in familiar ways. So again thank-you, thank-you to all that enable it to happen.
Praying Mass in a digital context
Christianity is a gathering religion. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I amongst them. The Catholic Liturgy is a gathering activity. The Church calls her people to gather each Sunday, the Lord's Day. While it is our habit to meet weekly and, by our participation in it, pray the Eucharist, when we need to pray Mass in a different context we need to find new ways of doing so. When participating through streamed Mass or pre-recorded Mass
our challenge is to be prayers of the Mass, not simply watchers of the Mass.
What might help us to do this?
- Prepare a 'sacred space' beforehand, perhaps with a cloth of liturgical colour and candle, aim to listen closely
- Respond at the appropriate times
- Read the readings before Mass begins
- Welcome Jesus into your heart during Communion.
Because of the time constraints of videoing, it is difficult to allow times of silence during the Mass; maybe take a few moments of silent prayer at the end. And as there is a limit to the good works we can currently get involved in, celebrate this Eucharist by praying specifically for one group of people affected by the Covid-19 virus, perhaps those people dying alone and without a funeral, or health workers or supermarket workers.
