Bulletin: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
The Call to Discipleship
June 14, 2026
“To another Jesus said, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God’. Christ uses the word ‘dead’ with two levels of meaning, to illustrate the possible conflict or contradiction of two principles of our human life. The word ‘dead’ is used to denote the physically dead as well as to refer to those who are spiritually dead, that is, those who are not being called.
When the prospective follower says to Christ that he has to bury his father first, he does not mean the rather short process of burial but the prospect of having his father cared for on a long-term basis. The person is actually making excuses to put off the responsibility that Christ offers. The person can actually find a way to have his father cared for and still honor Christ’s invitation to follow him.
This dialogue illustrates how we should not let undue care and anxiety over physical or worldly matters distract us from following and serving God once He has called us to His work and ministry. It shows us that we cannot put off our Christian responsibility or make excuses not to place our first priority on our faith and the commitment it entails. It demonstrates how worldly concerns can veer us away from responding to the mandate of the Gospel.
We need consistency and constancy in our determination to follow Christ. “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The first disciples responded enthusiastically to Christ’s call. But it did not take long for the glory of Palm Sunday to become the terror of Good Friday when they scattered in fear, showing clearly their inability to keep the promise to follow Him wherever He would go. Our earlier enthusiastic promises to follow Christ are eventually tested and purified through the trials and tribulations we face in living out the values of the Gospel. We all have to focus on Christ who knows fully the fearful reality of embracing the call to sacrificial love. We have to pray in confidence for the grace to follow him to the cross, and through the cross to the glory of Easter and the fullness of life.
Fr. Edmund, fredmund@saintmichael.ca
Abuse of our senior citizens and elders is a very real and very frightening problem. Studies have found that nearly 1 in 10 senior citizens reports some sort of abuse, including financial abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. “For our elderly who have lost their independence, that those who care for them will continue to give them the respect and honor due to parents and elders, without taking advantage of their infirmities for personal gain, and without losing patience with them, we pray to the Lord.”
Announcements:
Please see this weekend’s bulletins for all announcements:
Mass Intentions
Mass Intentions for 2027 will open up September 1, 2026 and are booked in-person at the office.
Pastoral Council Meeting – May 2026
Pastoral Council had its last business meeting before the summer break on May 26. As usual, it was a full agenda, including an update on plans for two Stewardship weekends in September (12 & 13 and 19 & 20) and plans to reintroduce Alpha in 2027. If you would like to attend one of our meetings as an observer, or if you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to info@saintmichael.ca. The meeting minutes for May 2026 will be published after Pastoral Council approval at our next meeting, scheduled for September 2026. The minutes from the Pastoral Council meeting on April 28 can be found here. We hope you have a relaxing summer break and safe travels wherever you are headed.
Healing Mass at St. Michael
Every last Friday of the month, there will be a Healing Mass at 7:00pm at St. Michael Day Chapel. There will be the blessing of water and olive oil, anointing and laying on of hands, as well as prayers for intentions. All parishioners are encouraged to take note and participate. This pastoral initiative is a way of reaching out to those who need healing and bringing them to Christ for healing, comfort, and strength. Thank you, and God bless you all.
Vacation Bible Camp 2026:
“Rainforest Falls – Exploring the Nature of God”
* SMCC 5-day Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) 2026 has limited spots available (50) for all students/minors aged Kindergarten (6yrs.) to Grade 12. * Online registration is now open. * Thank you to those who have already engaged with our Parish Volunteer Coordinator, Gladys. Please contact Gladys at gdoh@saintmichael.ca to begin/continue the parish volunteer engagement process.
Together in Action (TIA)
The Together in Action 2026 campaign begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The theme for this year’s TIA is inspired by the Jubilee Year of St. Francis. “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (James 2:18) This year’s TIA also marks the final year of the financial commitment of the Diocese to the National Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives across Southern Alberta. Our target goal this year is $121,243, same as last year. We thank God for your generosity! All surplus funds this year will go to our Building Fund to help pay our loan.
Greece: In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle (May 25 – June 2, 2027)
This is an opportunity to visit the places of St Paul’s ministry. Join Fr. Edmund in this religious pilgrimage as we strive to be missionary disciples. For details, email efvargas@shaw.ca or text (403) 874-2015. https://groups.gocollette.com/en-US/link/1442759
St. Michael Event Schedule
Week-at-a-Glance: (Sat. Jun 13 – Sun. Jun. 21, 2026):
Saturday, June 13:
No event.
Sunday, June 14:
Coffee Sunday: Narthex, After the 9:00am & 11:00am Masses
Filipino Catholic Society Meeting: St. Michael’s Room, 1:00pm
Monday, June 15:
No event.
Tuesday, June 16:
Rosary Group: Day Chapel, 5:20pm
Wednesday, June 17:
Coffee Wednesday: Narthex, 9:30am
St. Michael’s Prayer Group (CCCRS): Day Chapel, 7:00pm
Thursday, June 18:
Knight of Columbus Meeting: Theater, 7:00pm
Friday, June 19:
No event.
Saturday, June 20:
No event.
Sunday, June 21:
CANCELLED: Coffee Sunday
African Mass 2026: Sanctuary, 12:30pm
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11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 14/06/2026, 791.76 KB