Bulletin: Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted 2022-01-28 by @saintmichaelyyc

What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:

A Prophetic Community

January 30, 2021

When the newly baptized is anointed with the chrism of salvation, which is the same chrism used for Holy Orders, the celebrant declares: “He (God) now anoints you with the Chrism of Salvation, so that, joined to His people, you may remain as member of Christ, Priest, Prophet and King unto eternal life.”

Indeed, Christ’s three-fold mission is shared with all the baptized. We share Christ’s kingly function through our own participation in community building and in the various ministries that help and support the administrative aspects of proclaiming the faith. We continue Christ’s priestly role in our liturgical activities which gather us together in Christ’s name and in our daily offering of our life experiences. Sharing Christ’s prophetic office means that we accept God’s word and witness to it in every aspect of our life. Every member of the Christian community is a prophet in this sense of the word. As Christian believers, we exercise our prophetic function through our own outspoken support for the gospel values, especially on the moral stand of the Church on various issues.

Our prophetic role requires us to share our faith with all, especially with those marginalized by our own human categories. In our first reading, Jeremiah is called to speak on God’s behalf, to be a prophet, whose task is often met with opposition. Playing his prophetic role, Jesus challenges his own people to respond to his message of liberation, but they chase him away. The Good News of liberation can contradict our own lifestyles and challenge us to leave our comfort zones or change our ways.

The Church’s prophetic function calls us to be the conscience for our communities, especially when our leaders or organizations espouse what is morally detestable or questionable. The fulfillment of the prophetic role requires us to speak out on social policies that deviate from what is morally tenable. The efforts of the Church to militate against injustice and promote development and peace stem from the inherent mission to bring the good news to the poor, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the time of the Lord’s favor, which is referred to by Christ in our gospel today as being fulfilled in our hearing.

Our prophetic role makes us see things from Christ’s perspective, showing us a different lifestyle that subscribes to the radical values of the gospel rather than embracing the dominant values of our culture. Our prophetic function offers us a different model of life, based on the life of Jesus. Through our sharing of this same prophetic mission, we discover the truth of who we are as followers of Christ who encompasses our cultural boundaries and personal idiosyncrasies. Our role as prophets challenges us to refuse to compromise the values of the Gospel with the powerfully pervasive culture of consumerism and self-gratification. Our role as prophet mandates us to Christianize our world rather than allow the secularization of our Christian identity.

As a prophetic community, we see our life as Christians as radically different from what this world offers. Our prophetic function invites us to a life slated for self-sacrifice and the unlimited ability to love and forgive. We become a Christian counter-culture, working for God’s revolutionary kingdom in this world.

Our prophetic mission transforms us into an alternative community that challenges the status quo. We see a different social order where each can find dignity and equality, love and forgiveness, mutual acceptance and support in our own common journey to the Father.

As a prophetic community, we proclaim a liberating Savior who is at work around us and remains with us, calling us to new opportunities. We become a community that witnesses to our own liberation from sin and death.

FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca

Announcements:

Key Card Changes

Our door system will be undergoing an upgrade the week of February 7. All key cards currently in circulation will no longer work after February 6. Any parishioners with a key card for ministry or program purposes will need to come to the office for a new card starting February 15.

Blessing of Anniversary Couples

There will be a special blessing for couples who have celebrated a wedding anniversary this month on the weekend of January 29/30. Let us celebrate the sacrament of Marriage as an essential component of our life as a Christian community.

Confirmation

Registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation is now open for anyone grade 6 and up. For more information or to register, please visit our website at https://saintmichael.ca/confirmation/

CWL 3rd Annual Fish For Fridays in Lent Fundraiser

January 11 to February 7

“Fish for Fridays” Lent Fundraiser, will be on-line ordering January 11 to February 7. Orders to be picked up at the church on Tuesday, February 22, just in time for Ash Wednesday on March 2.

To place an order, please visit: https://fundforward.ca/collections/st-michael-cwl-lent-2022.

Women’s Ministry Bible Study

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. starting January 26

Symbolon: Part 2, Living the faith. This is a 10 session study, via ZOOM. The study begins on Wednesday January 26 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday January 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To register, please email womensministry@saintmichael.ca.

Catholicism 101: What Do Catholics Believe?

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. starting February 1

Starting Tuesday, February 1 at 7p.m., this ten-week online course presents the central beliefs, teachings, and practices of the Catholic church. Each 1.5 hour session includes a short video from the Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained series and small group discussion. Contact Mark Richards at 403-836-0545 for more information. Go to saintmichael.ca/events to register.

Alpha Online

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. starting February 2

Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal environment. It will run on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. beginning February 2 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, a talk, 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: https://saintmichael.ca/alpha/.

Alpha for Youth (Grades 7 to 12)

Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting February 2

Alpha for Youth provides an opportunity for students in grades 7 to 12 to explore the Christian faith together in a friendly and fun environment. We will gather together weekly on Zoom for 9 weeks and have time for connection, a video talk, and small group discussion. For more information, see this Alpha Youth Series trailer at https://youtu.be/_fyjL4NsAfM or call or text Sara at 403-701-9928.

World Day of the Sick Mass

Friday, February 11 at 2 p.m.

Fr. Edmund will be celebrating a healing Mass in observance of World Day of the Sick, on Friday, February 11 at 2 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Special thanks to all St. Michael parishioners for supporting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul! During the month of November we helped 18 families (25 adults and 9 children). We continue preparing for this year’s Christmas Hamper distribution.

We are looking for new members. If you are interested, contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the SSVP food chest in the gathering area. Currently we are looking for: cereal, pasta sauce, canned vegetables and canned fish/meat.

Monetary donations can be deposited in the drop-box in the food chest or by online donations through the St. Michaels Parish website https://saintmichael.ca/giving/. Please indicate funds are for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the drop-down menu.

If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122.

Indoor Social Gatherings

Due to provincial temporary measures, indoor social gathering after Mass or in the parish halls is not permitted. Please refrain from socializing in the Church after Mass.

Mass Schedule for this Weekend

Saturday, January 29, 5 p.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

Sunday, January 30, 9 a.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

Sunday, January 30, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30/01/2022, 700.03 KB