<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Dear Sunday Community Friends,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">For me, sharing bread (on a Zoom call) is a symbolic way of saying: Amen, Yes we are! (the body of Christ) - a Sign of Peace as Dwyer has mentioned. It is not a replacement of the in-person community-priest; it is simply a gesture of our belief.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><div class="gmail_default">I truly appreciated the following reflection by Richard Rohr. </div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><a href="https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist/">The Sacrament of the Eucharist — Center for Action and Contemplation</a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The Sacrament of the Eucharist</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Wednesday, November 12, 2025</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><i>Father Richard writes of the sacramental nature of
bread and wine in the Eucharist.</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">When Jesus spoke the words “This is my Body,” I believe
he was speaking not just about the bread right in front of him, but about
the whole universe, about every thing that is physical, material, and
yet also spirit-filled. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Seeing the Eucharist as a miracle is not really
the message at all<i>.</i> I can see why we celebrate it so often. This
message is such a shock to the psyche, such a challenge to our pride and
individualism, that it takes a lifetime of practice and much vulnerability for
it to sink in—<i>as the pattern of every thing, and not just this thing</i>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The bread and the wine together are stand-ins for<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span>the very elements of the universe, which also
enjoy and communicate the incarnate presence. Why have we resisted this
message so much? Authentically eucharistic churches should have been the first
to recognize the corporate, universal, and physical nature of the “Christification” of matter.
While Catholics rightly affirm the Real Presence of Jesus in these physical
elements of the earth, most do not realize the implications of what they have
affirmed. The bread and wine are largely understood as<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span>an exclusive presence,<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span>when in fact their full function
is to communicate a truly inclusive—and always shocking—presence<i>.</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">A true believer is eating what he or she is afraid to see
and afraid to accept:<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span><i>The
universe is the Body of God, both in its essence and in its suffering.</i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The Eucharist is an encounter of the heart when we recognize
Christ’s Presence through our own offered presence. In the Eucharist, we move
beyond mere words or rational thought and go to that place where
we don’t talk about the Mystery anymore; we begin to chew
on it. Jesus did not say, “Think about this” or “Stare at this” or even
“Worship this.” Instead, he said, “Eat this!” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">We must move our knowing to the bodily, cellular,
participative, and thus unitive level. We must keep eating and drinking the
Mystery, until one day it dawns on us, in an undefended moment, “My God, I
really am what I eat! I also am the Body of Christ.” Then we can henceforth
trust and allow what has been true since the first moment of our existence. The
Eucharist should jolt us into awareness that we have dignity and power
flowing through us in our bare and naked existence—and everybody else does too,
even though most do not know it. A body awareness of this sort is enough to
steer and empower our entire faith life. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">This is why I must hold to the orthodox belief that there is
Real Presence in the bread and wine. For me,<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span><i>if we sacrifice Reality in the basic and
universal elements, we end up sacrificing the same Reality in ourselves.</i><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></i> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b>Reference:</b> <br>
Adapted from Richard Rohr, <i><a href="https://store.cac.org/products/the-universal-christ" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)"><b>The Universal
Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For,
and Believe</b></a></i> (Convergent, 2019, 2021), 132, 134, 136,
137. </p></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM Roberto J. via Sundaycommunity <<a href="mailto:sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca">sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Amen, AMÉN 🙌 <div dir="auto"><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 25, 2025, 7:13 p.m. Arthur Blomme via Sundaycommunity <<a href="mailto:sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">sundaycommunity@lists.integralshift.ca</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div style="padding-bottom:1px">
<p>Hi Ron</p>
<p>A senior clergyman in the United Church insists that I am a
protestant because I protest rather than obey the dictates of the
Roman Hierarchy. Yet I remain faithful in spirit and practice to
my RC tradition despite often being sidelined. So i continue to
protest.</p>
<p>Ron, I appreciate both yours and Pope Francis's admission that we
are in a new digital age and that we are being called to be
digital missionaries in this new frontier. In this regard I for a
long time have cherished a notion inspired by Teilhard de
Chardin. When Teilhard explained evolution as proceeding from the
biosphere to the noosphere (The sphere of thought) to the omega
point (being the communion of all) I felt he predicted the arrival
of the internet and the advances in communication technology it
provides. The <i>Internet completes </i> the sphere of thought,
allowing us to communicate with others around the planet. As we
exchange ideas and experience we become one in the truth.("<i> I
am the way, the truth and the life</i>' Jn.14 :16). I believe
that the frontier of the digital age is about communication,
leading us to Oneness. Eucharist is the sacrament that celebrates
our Oneness. So our mission in the digital frontier is to advance
our Oneness using technologies like ZOOM.</p>
<p>And when you, Ron, write, "Thanks, Paul, for outlining the
theological reasoning and the practical implications concerning
the question." I question the frame you are suggesting. It would
have been better to have said the Paul is providing the
pre-reformation inspired cannon law and its practical
implications. No rational explanation for these rules has been
given. Hence there is no Theological reasoning. </p>
<p>When I studied Catholic sacramental theology, I found compelling,
the theological argument that although the ideal complete
sacrament of the Eucharist required a priest, the Eucharistic
prayer, a physical congregation(a priest celebrating a Eucharist
by himself is not a valid Eucharist) and the species of bread and
wine. Given that all these elements cannot always be present, is
it not better to celebrate an incomplete Eucharist than no
Eucharist at all. Invalid seems like such a brutal word. </p>
<p>It makes no sense to me. If I gather two or more people together
and read from Mathew 22, Mark 14 or luke22, (the principle part
of the Eucharistic prayer) I am OK, but if I do the same as part
of a para liturgy or a liturgy I will be condemned by the Roman
Hierarchy. </p>
<p>I worry about the future of my religious tradition in Canada.
Our numbers continue to dwindle in this digital age. There are
every year fewer and fewer priests. Under the existing rules, I
fear that there will no longer be space to celebrate our oneness.</p>
<p>Getting back to the frame of this conversation. It seems to be
about obedience as the primary virtue of our faith. We are not
expected to think for ourselves but only to follow the rules. One
time Priest Ivan Ilych, writing in the seventies, warned us. He
said the new priesthood (of the dominant technocratic religion)
of our time is the medical profession. As we once obeyed our
priests to uphold the dogma of the Church, we now obey our doctors
to uphold the dogma of science. </p>
<p>Irrespective of the structure we chose for ourselves, I believe
that our experiment with a virtual Eucharistic community is a very
valuable project and fills a need in many of us. Hopefully we
will grow in numbers and be able to sustain our organization into
the future. </p>
<p>Peace and Joy</p>
<p>Art</p>
<div>On 11/24/25 9:41 a.m., William Watson
via Sundaycommunity wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
Responses from Paul and Ron...
<div>-As expected, looks like we will stay with our current
practice-we don’t want to put our priests in a difficult
position.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Also, note Paul’s comments about inclusions for Liturgy of
the Word.</div>
<div>Bill<br id="m_-8668145831904220469m_8162983838778625641m_1819323647769950462m_-1891196696085778506m_-1687575125224738826lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage">
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>Begin forwarded message:</div>
<br>
<div style="margin:0px">
<span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>From:
</b></span><span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif">Ron
MacDonell <a href="mailto:ron.macdonell.sfm@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><ron.macdonell.sfm@gmail.com></a><br>
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px">
<span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Subject:
</b></span><span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>Re:
Communion at Zoom masses</b><br>
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px">
<span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Date:
</b></span><span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif">November
24, 2025 at 11:07:15 AM EST<br>
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px">
<span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>To:
</b></span><span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif">Paul
<a href="mailto:ckedobw@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><ckedobw@gmail.com></a><br>
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0px">
<span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Cc:
</b></span><span style="font-family:-webkit-system-font,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,sans-serif">William
Watson <a href="mailto:bill.watson@utoronto.ca" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><bill.watson@utoronto.ca></a>, "Lohale, Fr.
Prakash" <a href="mailto:plohale@archtoronto.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><plohale@archtoronto.org></a><br>
</span></div>
<br>
<div>
<div dir="auto">Thanks, Paul, for outlining the
theological reasoning and the practical implications
concerning the question.
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">One thought that comes to mind is Pope
Francis' call to become "digital missionaries" in our
increasingly digital world. How this would be worked
out is a new frontier for Church...how to listen to
the Spirit....how to grapple with electronic
communication in the religious world and how to
appoach the question of AI and its role in humanity.
Many questions for us and for future generations!</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">Thanks,</div>
<div dir="auto">Ron</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Nov 24, 2025,
21:04 Paul M <<a href="mailto:ckedobw@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">ckedobw@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto">Sure, you can pass the note onto the
community </div>
<div dir="auto">Paul <br clear="all">
<br clear="all">
<div dir="auto">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">Sent from Gmail
Mobile</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Nov 24,
2025 at 10:24 AM William Watson <<a href="mailto:bill.watson@utoronto.ca" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">bill.watson@utoronto.ca</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto">Thanks for the clarification,
Paul. We thought the same but I wasn’t sure if
the Archdiocese/Rome had changed the policy
since Covid.
<div><br>
<div>We certainly don’t want to put you in a
difficult position. I suspect there will
be more discussion at Mass on Sunday.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Would you mind if I sent your note
around to he community?</div>
<div>Bill</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br id="m_-8668145831904220469m_8162983838778625641m_1819323647769950462m_-1891196696085778506m_-1687575125224738826m_-6667883584351487360m_6520974819388267321lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature">
<div dir="ltr">Sent from my I-Phone
<div><br>
<div>William J. Watson, MD,</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<blockquote type="cite">On Nov 24, 2025,
at 10:07 AM, Paul M <<a href="mailto:ckedobw@gmail.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">ckedobw@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="auto">Hi Bill,</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">I would not be
comfortable with that idea if a
priest is the celebrant as it is not
a valid communion and furthermore if
the Archdiocese found out about this
practice, it would put me (and the
Sunday Community) in a very
difficult position.</div>
<div dir="auto">Also, I understand
that there are some in the community
who, when there is no priest
available, wish to include in the
liturgy the Offertory and the
Eucharistic Prayer. This is also
invalid. When there is no priest
available, the community is supposed
to have a Liturgy of the Word, which
only includes:</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">Opening Prayers</div>
<div dir="auto">Penitential Rite</div>
<div dir="auto">Liturgy of the Word
and reflection on the readings </div>
<div dir="auto">Creed</div>
<div dir="auto">Prayers of the
Faithful</div>
<div dir="auto">The Lord’s Prayer</div>
<div dir="auto">Sign of Peace</div>
<div dir="auto">Closing Prayer.</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">There can be no
Offertory or Eucharistic Prayer as
that is reserved for Mass only and
is the purview of the ordained
priest only as opposed to the
“priesthood of the faithful.” </div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">I hope this answers
your question.</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">All the best,</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto">Paul</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br>
</div>
<div dir="auto"><br clear="all">
<br clear="all">
<div dir="auto">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">Sent
from Gmail Mobile</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On
Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
William Watson <<a href="mailto:bill.watson@utoronto.ca" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">bill.watson@utoronto.ca</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
Dear Paul, Ron and Prakash,<br>
<br>
We had a brief discussion today
at our zoom mass about the
possibility of having communion
at our weekly mass. We have
discussed this issue before but
didn’t come to any decision.<br>
One of my Anglican friends who
is a former minister said they
have been having Eucharist
during their zoom masses for
some time. Congregants would
have a small piece of bread
while the priest reads the
Eucharistic prayer at the time
of the consecration.<br>
<br>
There seems to be a lot of
interest and concern in our
group and we would like your
input and feedback on the idea.
We may have a further discussion
with group after mass next week.<br>
If it’s not acceptable to you
all, then we will can the idea.<br>
<br>
Looking forward to hearing from
you.<br>
<br>
Bill</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset></fieldset>
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