Bulletin: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
God’s Unconditional Love
October 31, 2021
Today’s gospel about the command to love God and neighbor presupposes His unconditional love for us. Righteousness is not something we acquire by ourselves. God’s love enables us to love Him, to love others and to love ourselves. God loves us all the way. God’s love for us is what makes us loving and lovable. God’s love is covenantal love.
Religion or law may keep us in line by the fear and threat of God’s condemnation. But it does not promote deep and lasting change. The kind of holiness it develops is superficial and self-righteous. In the order of grace, we change not in order to be accepted but because we have been accepted unconditionally. Loving gratitude is the motivation for change which results in a higher level of righteousness. Gratitude moves the heart while the thought of God’s condemnation frightens the mind. Focus on the law complicates our sinfulness (Rom 5:20). God’s grace gradually transforms our lives (Rom 8.4).
Our approach to any human relationship has to be motivated by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Imbued with God’s unconditional love for us, we can relate to one another more lovingly in an approach that can be described as soft and personal. If we come to think about this truth in terms of our own lives, we realize that we tend to withhold love unless others love us. Many times we disregard our covenantal love for our husband or wife or parents or children in order to insist on the “contractual” system, to require love from those we are supposed to love. Filial love or parental love has been made naturally inherent in us so that love becomes the basis of family relationships. Love is not supposed to be based on conditions. The measure of love, it is said, is that it has no measure.
Our journey of faith is a journey back to our Heavenly Father who invites us to see ourselves as children of one loving Father. The prayer Christ taught us begins with our invocation on God as Our Father. As we approach God’s altar of unconditional love, let us resolve to be more loving and more forgiving as children of one loving and forgiving Father.
FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca
SSVP Christmas Hampers:
Hamper Night is on December 14
We are happy to announce that St. Michaels Christmas Hamper will have distributions this year. Due to COVID restrictions, we will have a smaller event, but we need your assistance more than ever as requests for help at Christmas are coming in. SSVP is working to meet the needs and deliver hampers while maintaining the safety of our volunteers and recipients.
This year, we’re unable to handle food donations but we will process Angel Tree gifts. SSVP will purchase all required food from our wholesaler and would welcome your support for this in the form of monetary donations. Donations to SSVP may be dropped in the collection basket, placed in a green SSVP donation envelope and dropped at the church in the SSVP locked box located in our Food Chest, or made online: Donate Now– St. Michael Catholic Community (Canadahelps.org) – Please select Society of St Vincent de Paul (including Christmas Hampers) in the “Funds” drop-down menu. Tax receipts will be issued in January 2022 for any monetary donations.
Gifts for children: In addition to the Angel tree we will be providing gift cards to families with children. Any donations may be dropped at the parish office, labeled SSVP Christmas Hamper Donation, or placed in the locked box located in our SSVP collection bin Food Chest.
If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact SSVP@saintmichael.ca.
Further details will be made available as we complete our plans.
2022 Contribution Envelopes
Next year’s 2022 contribution envelopes are now available for pickup in the Gathering Area. Please look for your name alphabetically-organized, and note that your number may have changed from last year. If you have any questions, call the parish office at 403-249-0423.
All Soul’s Day
The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed is celebrated on November 2. The month of November is Remembrance month. In our faith, we remember our loved ones who have gone before marked with the sign of faith. A Book of Remembrance will be available to write the names of our loved ones, to be included in our community intercession. There are two Masses for the day: 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Gift offerings for All Souls Day will be shared with parishes in need of Mass stipends.
We Are Hiring
We are currently hiring for an Operations Manager at St. Michael’s. Please visit the Calgary Diocese website at www.catholicyyc.ca/careers to view the job posting.
Liturgy 101 with Fr. Edmund
Fr. Edmund will be hosting sessions that explore basic liturgical guidelines on celebrations, worship space designs and furnishings. The gathering provides an open forum. This continuing dialogue/formation strives to eventually come up with a comprehensive program and protocols for various ministries which can be helpful in our volunteer campaign, training & evaluation.
There will be 3 sessions held in the Main Sanctuary:
Saturday, November 13, 6-7 p.m. after the 5 p.m. Mass
Sunday November 14, noon-1 p.m. after the 11 a.m. Mass
Sunday, November 14, 6-7 p.m. after the 5 p.m. Mass
Changes to Daily Mass and Office Hours
With the exception of November 2 for All Souls Day, Daily Mass on Tuesdays will be moved from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective at the beginning of November. As of October 4, Daily Mass is no longer being celebrated on Mondays and the parish office is closed.
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 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
October 30, 5:00 PM – Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, October 31, 9:00 AM – Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, October 31, 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM – Fr. Raul Hernandez