Let us go back to that first Holy Thursday. When Jesus entered the Upper Room to eat the Passover meal he was aware that a dark fate awaited him. That night changed the world for all mankind.

So much happened on that first Holy Thursday - the paschal meal, the washing of the disciple's feet, the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist, the first Communion of the apostles, the conferring of the ministerial priesthood, Judas's betrayal and Peter's denials, Jesus' farewell and a new commandment "Love one another as I have loved you."

St. Paul saw clearly that when we share in the Body and Blood of Christ and when the words "This is my Body" are said, we indeed become one bread, one body. For this to happen the bread must be blessed, broken and shared in communion.

For our physical bodies to survive we need food. For the life of the soul we also need food - food for our spiritual journey. This is not just holy bread that reminds us of Jesus but this is Jesus, sacramentally present to be with us on our journey.

The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a magnet that draws lost sheep home and keeps believers warmed near its fire.

St. Paul was probably one of the first to understand that Jesus was really present in the Eucharist.

So when we come up the aisle to receive the Body and Blood, we must believe and actively discern the body of the Lord in the sacred host. For it is Jesus saying "I am here; I am the Lord" Do you believe?"

Pat McDonald
Rocky Mountain House

Ordination of women seen as 'walking the talk'

Re: "Women decision-makers needed to lift 'veil of masculine secrecy'" (WCR, March 15).

This article makes me wonder just how long the hierarchy is going to continue to exclude women, and how many more people have to suffer before they (the hierarchy) finally see the light?

They have formed a closed society where they have the freedom to act abusively towards others and don't have to answer to anyone.

Because the abuse is so widespread and has gone on for so many decades it proves that change is needed at the highest levels, and a change in attitude toward women is a logical place to start.

But if the hierarchy is sincere in wanting to give women more of a decision-making role in the Church then they must allow women to be ordained; anything less would be just talking the talk and not walking the walk.

So once again I ask, how long? How long before we have leadership that is not afraid to teach the Gospel by example? How long before Church leaders admit that they have no moral, theological, spiritual, or legal grounds to actively exclude women?

How long before we realize that domination tries to destroy the Spirit while empowerment makes it flourish? I realize that it could be a very long time before change comes, but that's OK. For as a Christian I have God's promise of eternal life, which means that I have nothing but time.

Lori Dexter
Gibbons

Share Lent spotlights Development and Peace

Please don't forget Share Lent.

Last weekend, our parish was shown a video for the Cornerstone of Faith campaign. In this video, one of the priests enthusiastically says that if people want to know Jesus and their faith, they should go to Newman Theological College.

He neglects to mention that one must have an undergraduate degree first. The video makes it sound like Newman is a place for all, but it exists now exclusively for post-graduate study.

I also learned on the weekend that our parish council was told by the archdiocese that any promotion of Share Lent was to take a back seat to Cornerstone of Faith.

Lent is the only time of the year that we focus on Development and Peace and its initiatives. This is an important organization doing essential work and it is being bumped in favour of the archdiocese asking parishes to provide millions of dollars to rebuild an expensive institution that most people will never be able to attend.

It seems to me that our archdiocese has lost touch with the message of the Gospel. The command of Christ is clear in Matthew 25: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick and in prison, welcome the stranger.

All these things are being done by Development and Peace and to cut back their foremost opportunity to raise the money they need is unconscionable. The archdiocese has all year to ask us for money for the seminary and NTC; why do they insist on competing with Share Lent?

I say if you want to "get to know Jesus and your faith," look at what Development and Peace is doing. Personally, any money I might have given to the Cornerstone of Faith will now be going to Share Lent.

Lynnell Prediger
Edmonton

Letter to the Editor - 03/39/10

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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

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Make your 'Amen' a strong statement of faith

Ordination of women seen as 'walking the talk'

Share Lent spotlights Development and Peace

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