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Cyber counseling not sacramental confession

Celebrating Mass in an "Undisclosed Place" in Hong Kong

Since, I returned to Hong Kong without the permission of the Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong to celebrate mass in any church, school or space within its given ecclesiastical jurisdiction, I have been celebrating Mass privately (alone). I go to a quiet (undisclosed) place, a hill, mountain, park, etc, and celebrate the Eucharist. More often, I celebrate Mass in my flat, alone. On some occasions, I celebrate the Eucharist in the presence of one or two others but never to a crowd and never for the purpose of getting a "stipend" or creating a parallel church. I remain in communion with the Catholic Church even if I am made to go through this painful irregularity in my priestly life.

Celebrating the Eucharist whether alone or in the presence of a small group is my way of nourishing my priesthood. More and more I am learning to celebrate the Eucharist in the presence of nature. I remember my running mantra, "The roads are my pulpit, the trees my altar, the universe my church." Celebrating the Eucharist alone under a tree is not easy. It can even be rather painful. Yet, it can also be deeply fulfilling when I begin to feel the extraordinary presence of God in the silence or even in the noise around me. How unique and beautiful to celebrate the Eucharist amidst the all-consuming beauty of nature.

I thank the Lord for this precious opportunity to commune with Him in the proclamation of the word and the breaking of bread.

Now, thanks to technology, I can celebrate the Eucharist and share my prayers and reflections on the Sunday Readings with many more through our parish on the web, www.parokyasaweb.org.

Photo by The Instant Classic™ on flickr; licensed under Creative Commons License BY-NC-ND-2.0.


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Tess dela Rama 29 September 08, 08:54 AM
:D Hi Fr..... m glad 4 ds parokya on d web dat u created. Mga tga UP po misses u a lot. Hope i cud still vct us more often, thanks ,,,,,,,,
fr robert 29 September 08, 05:00 PM
Hi tess...oo..masaya din ako na nagkita tayo....salamat sa pakiki-isa sa paglulunsad ng parokyasaweb.....makabuluhang simula...ngunit malayo pa ding lalakbayin....sama sama tayong maglalakbay...God bless
edna aquino 06 October 08, 07:18 PM
Dear Fr. Robert:

Congratulations for this broundbreaking initiative which hopefully will further bring the Word of our Creator closer to where it matters most.

I'm particularly pleased with the reassuring message of treating 'confessions 'in strict confidence but I'm not entirely sure if your technology has that functionality. Perhaps you can explain more exactly how this is going to be done. I'm a bit anxious on the confidentiality aspect based on certain principles I have acquired in my work with women and distressed victims of violence.

Mabuhay ka!
Edna
fr robert 07 October 08, 12:22 AM
H Edna,
Cyber confession is a bit problematic...Canon law and catholic theology are quite specific about the requirements of Sacramental Confession...matter and form...actual face to face encounter between confessor and penitent, sins confessed and penance, advise prayer of absolution verbally expressed...In my long experience of using the internet...people really do not "confess" but communicate very personal issues and concerns...the need is not really to feel saved and forgiven...but most of all to be connected, to feel that they are understood...I would know where my limits are when the issue gets too sensitive and complicated...if the person/penitent is not far away...perhaps when the opportunity present itself, it still is better to to speak and listen face to face....salamat sa comment....and thanks for visiting the parish....God bless you always..
Leonora Dompor 08 October 08, 09:28 PM
The next time you measure the worth of a man,try putting the measure around his heart instead of his title,money,or intellect. GOD CAN WORK ONLY THROUGH UNWORTHY MAN.THOSE WHO FEEL WORTHY CANNOT SERVE GOD.
runningpriest 08 October 08, 11:11 PM
Yes Leonora,
That is why the Lord said, I came not for the healthy but for the sick...not the saint but the sinner....Change is only possible for those who humbly admit that they need and want it....God bless.
mommy ni diane 13 October 08, 02:19 PM
hi fr robert!

nangako ako kay diane na pupuntahan ko ang webpage ninyo.

high tech na rin pala ang inyong counseling. ngayon may mapupuntahan na ako online para kumunsulta lalo na at marami akong nararanasan dito sa CA na para sa akin hindi kanais-nais.

mabuhay kayo lalo na malaki ang naitutulong ninyo sa mga OFW diyan sa China at Hongkong.

God bless you and all of us!

mommy ni diane
runningpriest 13 October 08, 10:57 PM
Hi mommy ni Diane
Natutuwa po ako na sumunod kayo sa inyong anak...kailangan po ng maraming dasal para sa ating bagong parokya...bagong bago pa lang ...at marami pang kailangang gawin...hindi ko pa natutupad ang pangako kong mag karoon ng on-line mass...medyo teknikal ang problema...hindi basta-bastang gawin ito...dahil kailangan ang video streaming...kaya mga abbreviated homilies lang ang puede...pero wala pa akong digital camera...kaya kailangang manghiram muna...mukhang meron naman akong mahihiraman....I pray for you and your work at the CA....Kumusta po kay Diane...God bless you..
beth_daluraya 18 October 08, 12:05 AM
Hello Father, una po binabati ko po kayo at ako'y natutuwa at natupad na rin po natin ang ating Parokya sa Web.. Magkakausap n rin po tyo at makakarinig ng mga mabubuting salita mula sa inyo.. kumusta po sa lahat ng ating ksama..
jane_heartbeat 18 October 08, 12:16 AM
Hi Father Robert, kumusta n po kayo?.. namimiss ko n po kayo.. Sana po natatandaan niyo pa po ako.. Secretary ng PYM-OLMM..Im still here in Dubai, almost 2 years na rin po akong malayo sa atin at sa pamilya.. mabuti nman po ang kalagayan ko.. masaya ako at meron ng ganito wherein we can have our communication again.. Good luck po sa inyo Father and pagpalain po kayo ng Diyos.. Hanggang sa muli..
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