Canberra Mass Times

The Mass is the heart, the ‘source and summit’ of the Christian life. It is our identity. Indeed without the Eucharist the Church does not exist, and God remains distant. When the Mass is offered the priest (in the person of Christ the Head) offers the Sacrifice with and for the Whole Body of Christ (the totus Christus), and so all the baptised. This means that all the baptised by virtue of their baptism and being a member of the Body, participate in that one Sacrifice.

The past lockdowns - painful as they were - gave an opportunity to broaden our understanding of our Catholic faith, its heart in the Mass, and the truth it makes present to us - deepening our understanding of who we are as members of Christ’s Body.

This is what it is to be a member of Christ’s Body the Church, and a great teaching point for us all, especially our children.

If you are unable to be physically present at the Mass in these days, there are resources available to support your faith life. 

• The daily Gospel, daily commentary (Living Word) and prayers of intercessions are available for personal and family prayers.

• Liturgical and Scriptural resources (www.catholic.org.au/coronavirus). The last few years was not the first time in history that Catholics had been unable/prevented from receiving the Eucharist in the context of the Mass. In fact it was in these moments that understanding of the Church’s nature grew, and as the Church began to learn more of who She was, Her understanding of Spiritual Communion emerged. Such an understanding gave a window into the life and nature of the Eucharist and the Church.