“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 - Photo: Fr Bernard Lane SSC
As we celebrate the annual Feast of "Corpus Christi" I offer this reflection on ministry in the "Corpus Christi" Community.
“Corpus Christi" is a Residential Community located at Greenvale, a northern suburb of Melbourne. Founded by Mother (Saint) Teresa of Calcutta and her “Missionaries of Charity Sisters” in 1974, it is a residential community for men with a background and experience of homelessness and alcohol-substance abuse.
On the Corpus Christi Community webpage, the following words are written:
“Becoming part of the Corpus Christi Community family means you join in a long line of men, from every walk of life, who put trust in human kindness, and rediscovered their own important role in humanity. As they age, and even until their final days, our residents not only experience caring love and community, but also share it with those around them”.
My connection with "Corpus Christi" first began in 2020 when I was stranded in Australia due to the COVID Pandemic restrictions, which prevented me from returning to the mission in Peru. I was invited to help-out in the Community and over 15 months I was evangelized through my sharing in the life of the Community, before I returned to Peru in January 2022. Since my appointment to the Region of Oceania at the end of 2023, I reconnected with the Community and spend 2 days a week learning about life and myself through my presence and ministry among the Community.
When I began visiting the Community in 2020, I was given a text titled “Living the Spirit: Corpus Christi Community”. I quote a few lines from the text:
“The spirit calls all at Corpus Christi outward to true love of the other. It thus values human dignity, respect for self and others, and laughter, and it finds meaning in faithful relationships” …. “Each person in this community is the Body of Christ. In that spirit we proclaim by our name something of the sacredness of each person and the respect that we try to give to each other.”
The name “Corpus Christi – the Body of Christ” highlights the foundational faith tradition of the Greenvale Community since it was founded by Teresa of Calcutta and her Missionaries of Charity in 1974. This was then continued by the Sisters of Mercy, the Jesuits and many generous lay co-workers and volunteers who have served residents over the years. This history, legacy, spiritual foundation, and the people who have been part of the life of the Community, is significant.
52 years have passed since the original residence was built in Greenvale (1974) and there is a rich history of service and care to the residents who have lived in the Community. Times have changed, the organization has changed, the original residence structure has been replaced, and since the beginning of 2024, "Corpus Christi" is now part of "Villa Maria Catholic Homes" (VMCH).
The new facility, opened in October 2019 and can accommodate 90 Residents.
Over 50 years there have been changes, but the essential "Corpus Christi" core values of compassion, respect and stewardship remain. These values continue to challenge us in the human and spiritual dimensions lives of the residents, the staff of health professionals and carers, and Community of friends (volunteers and visiting family and friends). The Corpus Christi Community continues to be a community that welcomes and accepts the homeless through its service and care.
Among many features and aspects of the Community and the facilities there are two special images for me. The first is a simple wooden sculpture that was made by a resident many years ago and is located outside the Chapel (the "heart-centre" of the Community). This sculpture represents the “prodigal son” being received by his loving father. Inside the Chapel there is the broken crucifix with the figure of the body of the crucified Jesus (the Body of Christ) with the words "I thirst" written across the top of the cross.
During my first year with the Community (2020), Pope Francis published the Encyclical Letter on Fraternity and Social Friendship, titled "Fratelli Tutti". I consider this document to be “actual”, prophetic, and a “roadmap” for humanity into the future. It challenges and guides us in living-out the constant challenge to give witness to the fundamental principle of the sacredness of life, the dignity of each person, and the promotion of authentic fraternity.
I quote some words from the text that have challenged me:
“Acknowledging the dignity of each person, we can contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity…No one can face life in isolation…we need a community that supports and helps us., in which we can help one another to keep looking ahead…Let us dream, then as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.” (F.T #8)
“The way to restore hope and bring about renewal is closeness; it is the culture of encounter. Isolation, no; closeness, yes. Culture clash no; culture of encounter, yes” (F.T #30)
May our celebration of "Corpus Christi" nurture and deepen our commitment to live the Gospel of Jesus as his missionary disciples.
Columban Fr Bernard Lane lives at St Columban's, Essendon.