Dear Friends,

Now that Easter and Divine Mercy Sundays have been celebrated, other occasions advance rapidly. In the spirit of renewal and new life, I invite you to reflect and pray about a specific act of structural renewal that can impact positively on our shared worship.

Some long-time members of our parish might recall when the tabernacle in which the Eucharist is reserved was located in the center of the sanctuary under the crucifix. I am interested in your thoughts on returning our tabernacle to that esteemed place. To be certain that such a move will not disrupt anything, I measured and found that the tabernacle and its present stand could be returned to its original place of honor while leaving the crucifix exactly as it is. It will fit perfectly.

The Revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the book which defines our Catholic worship in great detail, says this: “In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, conspicuous, worthily decorated, and suitable for prayer.” (Paragraph 314). Returning the tabernacle to its original place meets all of those features within the Instruction. Our beautiful church was built to secure the tabernacle in the center of the wall behind the altar. To do so is customary in our Diocese of Worcester and in many churches across the nation. The central location, in particular being under the crucifix, is noble, prominent, etc.

The annual celebration of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, is Sunday, June 2, this year. If we take time this month for your consideration and input, that Feast Day would be a glorious time to return Jesus to the center of our place of worship.

In Christ, the Savior,
Fr.Jim