Last Friday following morning Mass I approached Frs Clesio and Joe in the sacristy. I requested information re WYD Masses especially during the Pope’s visit on the Tuesday & Friday. These are ‘Sharing the Meal’ days. I also enquired about the Sunday morning Mass for that week. Fr Clesio replied "There will be no mass on those days as the church will be closed to ‘Sharing the Meal’, due to catechesis in the church for that week".
I was taken aback and advised that there would be incredible repercussions if they did this: particularly in the middle of winter when the poor are cold and hungry. I asked him to reconsider. Fr Celsio’s answer to both questions was "he would think about it". I requested that he publish the answer in the Sunday church notices.
Today, Sunday, there was no comment in the notices.
When I approached the priests in the sacristy after Mass Frs Clesio and Joe said that "the church would be closed for the ‘Sharing the Meal’ during the week of the Pope’s visit, due to catechesis taking place in the church.
…
Kate G
Postscript, 18 June 2008
The community received word today (not from the parish clergy, but from a newspaper journalist who had contacted the presbytery about the matter) that Mendes had stated that the Meal would probably be allowed to go on, but that he had to consult with the pilgrims to make sure that they would be happy sharing the church with the Meal!