Bulletin: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
Eucharist is Giving Thanks
October 10, 2021
The celebration of Thanksgiving Day, a holiday in our country, is a testament of a people that are thankful for the bountiful blessings we now enjoy. We can ask ourselves, how do we spend Thanksgiving Day or weekend?
We imagine that everybody is naturally thankful, at least for the good things of life. But this may not be true. Many people go through life complaining and grumbling. They never say “thank you” to God or to anybody else. Perhaps, because they have never been taught to be grateful. As children, we are told to say “thank you” when somebody gives us something. Otherwise we would as children take the good deed for granted and say nothing. We are taught to express gratitude, to say “thank you” when somebody gives us something. Gratitude is a learned habit. It is incumbent on us to teach this virtue of gratitude to our children and our children’s children. We have to become grateful people… Gratitude is a memory of the heart. Our children will learn and remember the various words and acts of gratitude we extend to others.
For thinking creatures, gratitude is supposed to be a natural reaction. The British philanthropist Moses Montefiore has this motto in his home: “Think and thank.” It reflects the linguistic fact that the word “thankfulness” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon term which means “thinkfulness”. “Think” and “thank” come from the same root. To “think” of God’s blessings is to “thank” Him for them. We “think”, therefore, we “thank”. A thinking creature should be naturally and spontaneously “thankful”.
The Mass we celebrate is a Eucharist. And Eucharist comes from the Greek verb “eucharisto” which means “I thank”. Each Mass is an act of thanksgiving to God. The Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer begins with these words: “Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks.” Our duty and our salvation… Why salvation? Because, in a way, we cannot be grateful and unhappy at the same time. Thanking God saves us from unhappiness. When we are grateful, we create a space in ourselves for God and others. When we are thankful, we become loving and generous of the gifts that God has given us. When we are grateful, we are more forgiving of the weakness and failures of others. We share more of ourselves when we realize that our life is a gift.
In Christ,
Fr. Edmund Vargas
Mass Intentions
We are no longer accepting any Mass bookings until December 15th as we are fully booked until December 31st.
Mass Schedule for this Weekend
Saturday, October 9, 5:00 PM – Fr. Raul Hernandez
Sunday, October 10, 9:00 AM & 11:00AM – Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, October 10, 5:00 PM – Fr. Raul Hernandez
Changes to Daily Mass and Office Hours
Effective October 4th there will be no Mass celebrated on Mondays and the parish office will be closed.
COVID Restrictions Update – September 16
The following changes have been made:
• Capacity limited to 1/3 fire code occupancy (400 people per Mass)
• Masks are mandatory
• 2 meters physical distancing between households, or 2 close contacts for those living alone
• For this weekends Masses, first-served approach and locking doors when the capacity limit is reached
• Registration not required
Knitting Ministry
Greetings from the Knitting Ministry! Although we can’t meet in person, we continue our work from home. Currently there is a need for mitts, scarves and hats for the Drop In Centre, Mustard Seed, and CUPS. Since there are only 13 in our group, we invite anyone who knits or crochets to join us in this project. There will be a Knitting Ministry box by the SSVP food donation box where items can be dropped off before December 10, in order to be distributed before Christmas. Please join us in our attempt to meet this need and make a difference.
St. Michael’s Bible Study
Please join us for St. Michael’s Bible Study, starting on Monday, October 18th at 7:00 pm via zoon, and will run until December 13th. Please register online at saintmichael.ca/events. If you have any questions please contact Augusto Bitter by email at: abitter@telus.net
40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign
St. Michael is once again part of this prayer campaign. Over 5000 babies are killed at the Kensington abortion facility every year. 40 Days for Life is a prayerful, respectful campaign that seeks to bring awareness to the inconvenient truth that abortion kills human beings. Our culture tells us to ignore this truth, but we refuse to be silenced. Our prayerful presence during 40 Days at abortion centres around the world draws attention to the plight of preborn children and seeks God’s help through intercessory prayer. Will you join us? Will you stand up for Truth? We need you! St. Michael’s day to pray is Friday, Oct.1. Sign up and be a loving, prayerful voice for the preborn babies who have no voice but ours. We know from the testimonies of many that these campaigns save lives. St. Michael’s day to pray this campaign is Friday, October 1. Please join us and signup online at 40 Days for Life. Click on the “SIGN UP FOR VIGIL HOURS” box and choose an hour or more on Friday, October 1. Up to four persons can sign up for each one hour time slot. We ensure that no one stands alone, so if you are the only signed up, don’t worry , someone will be there with you. Signs are provided. Questions? Call Karen at 403-870-7080
Alpha
Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. It will run Wednesdays at 7 p.m. beginning October 6, via Zoom, gathering once a week over an eleven-week period. Alpha welcomes people from every walk of life, wherever they are on their faith journey. We will have time for connection, dialogue, and small group discussion. Many are looking for meaning in their lives during this time and Alpha is a great place to start! Come and bring a friend! Call Mark at 403-836-0545 with any questions. For more details or to register, go to saintmichael.ca/faithformation.
Alpha Volunteer Opportunity
Would you like to assist as a small group host, helper, or prayer team member for our fall Alpha program? Training is provided. Alpha starts on October 6 and will run online using Zoom. Please contact Mark Richards at 403-836-0545 or via email: alpha@saintmichael.ca.