March 27, 2020

Catholic Yokohama Diocese Sueyoshicho Church

Parish Priest Joseph Akihisa Hamada

 

Dear Sueyoshicho Church Faithfuls

 

 

March 28th (Sat) and 29th (Sun) Church Closures

 

+ Peace of the Lord

The spread of the new corona virus is continuing around the world, and Japan is required to take even greater efforts to prevent the spread of this infection. The Catholic Church is no exception.

Moreover, last March 26, the Governor of Kanagawa requested that people refrain from going outside this weekend, and the Mayor of Yokohama also asked people to stay at home as much as possible on March 28 and 29.

In response to requests from the prefectural governor and the mayor, the Catholic Sueyoshicho Church has decided to close the church on March 28th and 29th.

 

According to the provisions of the New Catholic Church Canon Law, the Parish priest will dedicate “Sunday Mass” privately  (Missa pro populo) on Sunday, March 29, 11:30, at Sueyoshi-cho Church. Please pray and share spiritual communion together.

The canonical law is Latin, so the translation and the original are listed below.

Article 534 (1) of the Canon Law: After a pastor has taken possession of his parish, he is obliged to apply a Mass for the people entrusted to him on each Sunday and holy day of obligation in his diocese. If he is legitimately impeded from this celebration, however, he is to apply it on the same days through another or on other days himself.

(2) A pastor who has the care of several parishes is bound to apply only one Mass for the entire people entrusted to him on the days mentioned in (1).

 

Can. 534 – § 1. Parochus, post captam paroeciae possessionem, obligatione tenetur singulis diebus dominicis atque festis in sua dioecesi de praecepto Missam pro populo sibi commisso applicandi; qui vero ab hac celebratione legitime impediatur, iisdem diebus per alium aut aliis diebus per se ipse applicet.

§ 2. Parochus, qui plurium paroeciarum curam habet, diebus de quibus in § 1, unam tantum Missam pro universo sibi commisso populo applicare tenetur.

 

[Prayer for Spiritual Communion] (“Catholic Prayer Book” Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki @ 2000)

O my Jesus, I believe that you are really present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you and I unite myself to you as if you were already there.

Let me never be separated from you.

Amen.