Bulletin: 3rd Sunday of Lent

Posted 2023-03-10 by @saintmichaelyyc

 

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

 

Download bulletin PDF

 

Water & Faith

March 12, 2023

Thirst, resulting from the absence or deprivation of water, becomes a metaphor for the need for God, for His saving love and forgiveness. 
 
The life-giving water from the rock at Horeb, mentioned in the first reading from Exodus, is instrumental in keeping the Israelites in believing that the journey is the path to salvation. Exodus, the Greek word for “way-out”, is for Israel the way out from the hopeless situation of oppressive servitude through what we can call a journey through a trackless desert where one can die of thirst. The Old Testament thirst for the living water comes to fulfillment with the coming of the Messiah. 
 
The grumbling, the mistrust and ingratitude of the Israelites in the desert is contrasted with the attitude of those who have accepted God’s gift of faith, exemplified by Moses who believes in God’s power to save. In the face of their grumbling, he proves God’s presence by striking the rock to bring forth water. St Paul’s letter to the Romans, in the second reading, reminds us that we have been “justified by faith”. Faith has come to us as God’s gift in Jesus, that is, “the love of God that has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us…”.
 
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of this outpouring of God’s love when He tells the Samaritan woman at the well: “The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life”. In a way, the Samaritan woman represents every infidelity borne of trying to quench our cravings on something other than the “living water” of God’s love. We indeed are thirsty for healing, for an end to hatred and indifference. We are thirsty for love and forgiveness. We are thirsty for acceptance and meaning in our lives. In our hearts, we thirst for God to fill us with life-giving water that only He can give.
 
Lent speaks of this thirst of the human spirit. Lent is a journey of the soul through the desert into the living water of Christ’s resurrection.
 
As we journey through Lent, let us ask God to pour His living water of faith upon all of us, to bless us with the water of life as we journey together in faith. As we make the sign of the cross with the water every time we gather for worship, we recognize and proclaim one faith in one God as we deepen our intimacy with Him.
 
FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca
 
 
Healing Lines
 
This month, we celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), marking a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements for women. Women in every country, often divided by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate this important date that represents equality, justice, peace and development. The celebration is the story of ordinary women as makers of history. It is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women seeking to participate equally in society on an equal footing with men. Until women are fully represented at leadership levels of public, professional, economic and spiritual life, women do not have equal rights or an equal voice. Let us find ways to make the women in our lives count equally in all ways so we recognize that they too are the way-showers for others to find Christ.

 

Announcements:

 

Pastor’s Updates

· We are recruiting a Children’s Liturgy Coordinator as a paid position as well as volunteers to run the Kid’s Kingdom and other related catechetical programs. This year, we are preparing 133 candidates for First Reconciliation/ First Communion (June 11 celebration) and 101 candidates for Confirmation (May 28). There are 16 catechumens/candidates who are currently in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Christian Adults (RCIA), preparing for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation this coming Easter. 

· Last November, the National Evangelization Team (NET) offered a retreat for Grade 4-7 children (not well attended) and another one for Grade 8-12 students (well attended). The parish has a pending application for a NET team to come this year. Last year’s application was not accepted, due to a lack of NET youth workers. After the NET program, we are hiring a Youth Coordinator to continue and sustain the NET initial efforts. Only recently, Michael Chiasson has agreed to prepare a transitional program for our youth, including a monthly or so Youth Mass/gathering. The monthly youth gathering is now scheduled every last Saturday of the month, starting March 25. He is also coming on March 15, Wednesday, 7pm for a Lenten Night of Music & Reflection. 

· Joyce Vayalumkal (as coordinator) with Randy Gritter (an installed Acolyte preparing for his Diaconate) and Michelle Conway (former coordinator) is working on an Altar Servers program manual for the parish. The family-oriented ministry will include a monthly pray/prepare/pizza (PPP) gathering of the altar servers. An Orientation Meeting for those who are interested will be held on Palm Sunday, April 2, after the 11am Mass. Campaign for altar servers will soon be initiated. 

· We need more volunteers for practically all our liturgical ministries and other services. Our current numbers are as follows: Ushers/Hospitality Ministers (58), Lectors (38), Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist (72), Music Ministry (15 for Sunday 5pm Mass & 45 for the rest of the weekend Masses), Pastoral Care Ministers (2), Kids Kingdom (none), Coffee Ministry (3). We need Hospitality Ministers at the Sunday 5pm Mass. We have also a handful of volunteers  helping Francesca in the Sacramental Preparation sessions. Those interested to volunteer have to contact Marvin, our volunteer coordinator or the respective coordinators of the ministries.

· The Gallery of the Pastors will be re-installed.  

· The church has recently installed an alarm system with connection with the police authorities. Access to the building will be limited accordingly. For security and wheelchair access (newly installed), the Columbarium is now accessible only to cardholders. Public access has to be arranged with the office or through families who have authorized access cards.  

· The Day Chapel renovation is now underway. We need your prayers and financial support.

 

Lenten Music and Reflection

Wednesday, March 15 at 7pm

Please join us for an evening of music and reflection hosted by Michael Chiasson on Wednesday, March 15 at 7 pm.

 

God Squad Canada

Registration is open for the 2023 God Squad 26th Annual Conference!

Friday March 17 from 6-9 pm, Saturday March 18 from 9-4 pm at St. Michael’s Catholic Community
Take this opportunity to empower and inspire you to become who God created and calls you to be.
Why should you come to this year’s conference?
Why should you bring another man with you?
To strengthen our culture, our family and our faith.  And the way we do that is becoming men of the cross, living our faith from the Cross of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This year’s theme is Memento Mori which invites us to remember our death, that the final things are death, judgment, heaven or hell.
In the sheer silence of our hearts, the Lord’s theophony calls us to be bearers of light and to live for heaven, drawing upon us amidst today’s darkness of spiritual famine and moral confusion.
Register today: https://godsquad.ca/2023-conference-deacon-harold.html

 

Righteous Sounds of the Passion

Saturday, March 18 at 7pm

Come and experience the Inspirition Band perform songs from their highly anticipated and emotional Good Friday service music on Saturday, March 18, 7 pm in the Mezzanine. Bring someone and listen to the Passion in song. Admission is free.

 

Undie Sunday

Saturday, March 18 & Sunday, March 19

The Annual Undie Sunday is back in support of the Elizabeth House on March 18 and 19. At this time, they are seeking women’s personal hygiene items (conditioner, body wash, deodorant, body lotions, hair products), baby lotion and wash, hand soap with pump, towels – all sizes, dish towels and kitchen wash clothes, pots and pans, HE laundry soap, collapsible laundry baskets, double bed sheets and bed in bags, 2T -4T boys and girls clothes, Women’s leggings ( basic black), and Women’s socks and underwear (M- XL). Please note, all items must be NEW. A drop off table will be set up in the main entrance. 

Financial donations can be made online & will be matched 50%, please use https://shawcharityclassic.com/charity/participating-charities/elizabeth-house/ . Cash and cheque donations can also be given on March 18 & 19 at the tables. Thank you for your support – Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus.

Baby Blanket Raffle – 6 gorgeous, stroller sized, hand-knitted, 100% acrylic baby blankets are up for raffle with all proceeds going to support the Elizabeth House. Pictures of the blankets can be seen on the poster board in the main gathering area. Tickets can be purchased in person on Undie Sunday, during Mom’s & Tots on Thursday mornings, and also online by sending an etransfer to SMCWLTREASURER@gmail.com with the password of “raffle”. Tickets are 3 for $5 or 1 for $2. 

 

Liturgical Ministers Lenten Retreat

Friday, March 31, 7pm

Please join us for a Liturgical Ministers Lenten Retreat led by Fr. Edmund on Friday, March 31 at 7 pm (following Mass and Stations of the Cross). Enjoy a Lenten fish dinner while you listen to Fr. Edmund; free will offering to the Knights of Columbus. ALL ARE WELCOME!!  This retreat will be especially beneficial for volunteers who serve in a liturgical capacity at Mass (Communion Ministers, Proclaimers, Ushers and Choir members) or for anyone who would like to serve as a Liturgical Minister. To register, please call the office at (403) 249 0423.

 

40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign

Friday, March 31

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 innocent human beings. 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? 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, March 31. 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, March 31. Please sign up for a time slot between the hours of 10 am to 4pm. Up to four persons can sign up for each one hour time slot. Signs are provided. 

 

St. Michael Catholic Community Pastoral Council

Every month, a dedicated team of Pastoral Council members meet with our Pastor to discuss and advise on issues that affect Saint Michael’s Catholic Community.

At our meeting in February, some of the matters we discussed were:

· Hiring a Children’s Liturgy Coordinator

· Blessing of St. Mary’s Chapel on Divine Mercy Sunday

· The Triduum – help is needed to decorate!  Please email Bob camaro11@shaw.ca

· Liturgical Ministers Lenten Retreat on March 31 at 7 pm ALL WELCOME! Register at the office.

If you would like to read the minutes from our most recent meeting, or any past meeting, please go to www.saintmichael.ca/bulletin          

Questions? Concerns? Please reach us at (403) 249 0423

 

Holy Land Pilgrimage

November 13 to 21, 2023

Holy Land Pilgrimage Alert! The deposit ($600) due date for the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr Edmund this coming November is May 7, after which reservations will be based on availability.  Deposits are refundable until May 14. Book now and save $150 per person. Cost: double $5,699, single $6,849 and triple $5,669. For more information visit: gateway.gocollette.com/link/1122663.

 

 

Lent & Easter Schedule

Lenten Fridays: March 10, 17, 24 & 31

Mass at 6 pm, Stations of the Cross at 6:30 pm

 

Parish Reconciliation: Thursday, March 23

Confessions at 6:30 – 8:30 pm

 

Palm Sunday: April 2

Regular Sunday Masses: 9 am, 11 am, 5 pm

 

Holy Week

Holy Thursday: April 6

Mass at 7 pm, Adoration following Mass until 11 pm

 

Good Friday: April 7

Liturgy at 12 pm, 3 pm

 

Easter Vigil: April 8

Mass at 8 pm

 

Easter Sunday: April 9

Regular Sunday Masses: 9 am, 11 am, 5 pm

 

Parish Office: The office will be closed on Good Friday.

Comments

comments

3rd Sunday of Lent, 12/03/2023, 748.08 KB

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our Flocknote emails to always stay up to date on community events.

Subscribe
© St. Michael Catholic Community | Built by: Infinity Reef partnered with Primal Tribe