Bulletin: 4th Sunday of Lent
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
Blindness to sight…
March 15, 2026
The theme of blindness/sight and light/darkness, so prominent in today’s readings, continues the Lenten tradition of preparing for the Easter baptisms. It is not coincidental that this period of the liturgical year is referred to as the Period of Purification and Enlightenment. Blindness is a fitting image of the human condition we now know as Original Sin. John tells the story of the man’s cure by Jesus in a way that reveals who it is that is truly blind: those who stubbornly refuse to accept Jesus as the light of the world. Social sin is not the same as original sin, but flows from it, and is the accumulation of human choices to turn away from the light. The dramatic unfolding of John’s story gives eloquent expression to the way individuals in a community compound their blindness. Everyone gets involved: the man’s neighbors, his family, those that have seen him begging, the Pharisees, the evil spread like cancer until in an act the man is expelled from the synagogue for acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.
God’s choice of David over his other brothers in the First Reading from the First Book of Samuel speaks of our own inability to see spiritual truth as God sees it. David is portrayed as the least likely to be the candidate for divine election. God sees into the heart and directs the prophet to choose and anoint the young David and consecrate him to be shepherd of God’s people as king. The blindness of those around David to his potential as God’s chosen leader speaks of how sin can blind us to God’s will for us.
“Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light…”, captures our desperate human situation without Christ’s saving light that eradicates the effects of what we refer to as social sin, a term the Church uses to refer to communal situations, social structures and institutions which are the result of the accumulated effects of personal sin. “Whenever the Church speaks of situations of sin or when the collective behavior of certain social groups, big or small, or even of whole nations and bloc of nations, She knows and She proclaims that such cases of social sin are the result of the accumulation and concentration of many personal sins.”
As we gather today, we ask God to let His light penetrate the darkness of our lives, shining forth in goodness, righteousness, and truth. We seek His light and long to become children of His light, good and pleasing in His sight. Just as Jesus opens the eyes of the blind man to the wonders of belief in God’s Son, God calls us, through baptism and the other sacraments, to insight into His mighty works. God calls on us to believe, to worship, and to follow the footsteps of His Son. God calls us to new life, to become God’s enlightened children.
Fr. Edmund, fredmund@saintmichael.ca
Healing Lines
Women tolerate abuse due to the economic reality of separation. Women cannot provide for their families if they leave the relationship. Many men do not provide child or spousal support. Women fear leaving their partners because it will mean a substantial decrease in the standard of living, both for themselves and their children. Let us not turn a blind eye to the realities that victims of abuse face. Reach out to support those disabled by fear.
Announcements:
Please see this weekend’s bulletins for all announcements:
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.
Easter Fundraiser 2026
St. Michael Catholic Community raises funds year-round to support initiatives within our Church and in the surrounding communities. With our fundraiser, you may choose from 66 products from a variety of meat, fish, seafood, pasta, and sauces. With your purchases, we can help the less fortunate and those in our parish all while enjoying some delicious food over the Easter season which is right around the corner! Stock up your freezers now. The fundraiser opens February 1 and closes March 15. Orders will be available for pick up on Tuesday, March 24 between 4:00-5:00pm outside the parish doors. To view and place an order, please visit St. Michael Catholic Community Spring 2026 – Fund Forward
Fish Friday
On Friday, March 27 the Knights of Columbus will host a dinner event in the Church gathering area at 7:00pm (after Lenten Friday Mass at 6:00pm which is followed by the Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm). This is a free event. Free will offerings are greatly appreciated to cover some of the cost, if you so wish. To register, please click here.
Parish Council
A meeting of Pastoral Council was held on March 10. We are happy to welcome Fr. Andrew Obinyan to SMCC, and to Pastoral Council! We covered many topics, including the Men’s Ministry initiative to send 20 youth (18-35) to World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea in August 2027. Information about WYD is available on-line at https://wydseoul.org/en. Dates have been booked for the parish pictorial directory, April 21 – May 16. Sign-up will be on-line, and volunteers are needed to help at picture sessions. The parish Lenten Retreat is fast approaching, March 22-24. Please watch the bulletin and Flocknote for more information regarding all of these items and more! The meeting minutes for March 10 will be published after Pastoral Council approval at our next meeting, scheduled for April 28, 2026. The minutes from our January meeting can be found here. If you would like to attend one of our meetings as an observer, or if you have any questions or concerns, call 403-249- 0423.
SMILE! You’re Wanted in Our New Parish Pictorial Directory!
Saint Michael Catholic Community is updating its pictorial directory, and we want YOU to be part of it!
·Why? To help us connect, put names to new faces, and celebrate our community, in a spirit of renewal.
·When? Tuesdays – Saturdays, April 21 to May 16
·Where? Rooms 143 and 144
What you get: A FREE high-quality printed directory and an option to purchase your photos (there is no obligation)
How to Register for a FREE PHOTO SESSION:
Online: Visit https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/837754yq/
In-Person: Volunteers will be in the Narthex to help with on-line sign up after Masses April 11 & 12 and April 18 & 19.
Volunteers are needed to help with the sign-up process and with registration at the photography sessions. Please click this link if you are able to VOLUNTEER https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054EA8A623A7FD0-62867253-parish
Lenten Retreat / Mission
“Who is the Man of the Shroud?” Fr. Andrew Dalton L.C. reflects on the suffering (1), death (2) and resurrection (3) of Christ in the light of the Shroud of Turin on March 22, 23, and 24, 2026, respectively. Fr Dalton will celebrate Mass before the talks: Sunday, March 22, 5pm, Monday, March 23, 6pm and Tuesday, March 24, 6pm. Reception follows after the 5pm Mass on Sunday before the talk at 7pm, and after the talks on Monday and Tuesday. If you plan to attend, please click here to register. Donations are appreciated, all proceeds support this retreat. Please click here and select “Lenten Mission 2026” in the fund list to donate.
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. $100 fee per student/minor or $200 maximum fee per family (same household only please). Registration is due by Mon. June 1, 2026 @ 12pm noon. Please contact Caroline Dixon (Camp Director) at cdixon@saintmichael.ca
* Online registration is now open. * Financial assistance is available for anyone in need for the enrolment fee. For more information, please contact Fr. Edmund at 403-249-0423.
* Thank you to those who have already engaged with our Parish Volunteer Coordinator, Gladys. Please note that programs like this requested by parish families (i.e. children’s liturgy, mom & tots, elevate, youth nights, etc.) are also run by parish families as well. If you are in favor, and would like faith-based programs for families like VBC 2026 to proceed, please contact Gladys at gdoh@saintmichael.ca to begin/continue the “parish volunteer engagement process” A.S.A.P.
Lent and Easter Schedule
Lenten Fridays: Fridays, February 20 to March 27, Mass 6pm, Sanctuary
Stations of the Cross: Fridays, February 20 to March 27, 6:30pm, Sanctuary
Fish Fridays: Friday, March 6 and Friday, March 27, Supper 7pm, Narthex
Lenten Mission Day 1: Sunday, March 22, Mass 5pm, Reception 6pm, Talk 7pm
Lenten Mission Day 2: Monday, March 23, Mass 6pm, Talk 7pm
Lenten Mission Day 3: Tuesday, March 24, Mass 6pm, Talk 7pm, Reception 8pm
Parish Reconciliation: Thursday, March 26, 7-9pm
Palm Sunday: Sun. Mar. 29, Regular weekend Mass times
Holy Thursday: Thursday, April 2, Mass 7pm, Adoration 8pm – 12am
(Note: there will be no 9am Daily Mass on Holy Thursday)
Good Friday: Friday, April 3, Services 12pm and 3pm
(Note: Confessions 8:00-8:45am on Good Friday)
Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 4, Mass 8pm
(Note: there will be no 5pm Mass and instead will be at 8pm)
Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, Masses 9am, 11am, & 5pm
Office Hours:
The office will be closed on Good Friday, April 3, and Easter Monday, April 6.
We will reopen on Tuesday, April 7 with regular office hours.
Week-at-a-Glance: (Sat. Mar. 14 – Sun. Mar. 22, 2026):
Saturday, March 14:
Christians of the Holy Land: Mezzanine, after all weekend Masses
Sign up for Feed the Hungry: Narthex, after all weekend Masses
Sunday, March 15:
Children’s Liturgy: 8:30am and 10:30am
Coffee Sunday: Narthex, after 9:00am & 11:00am Masses
Christians of the Holy Land: Mezzanine, after all weekend Masses
Sign up for Feed the Hungry: Narthex, after all weekend Masses
Monday, March 16:
Bible Study: St. Nicholas Room, 7:00pm
Tuesday, March 17:
Rosary Group: Day Chapel, 5:20pm
RCIA: St. Nicholas Room & Theater, 7:00pm
Wednesday, March 18:
Men’s Ministry: Theater, 6:00am-7:30am
Coffee Wednesday: Narthex, after the 9:00am Mass
Women’s Ministry Bible Study: Theater, 10:00am –12:00pm
Thursday, March 19:
Moms & Tots: St. Nicholas Room, 9:30am – 11:30am
Knitting Ministry: Library, 10:00am
Knights of Columbus Meeting: Theater, 7:00pm
Friday, March 20 (Lenten Friday):
Lenten Mass: Sanctuary, 6:00pm
Stations of the Cross: Sanctuary, 6:30pm
Elevation Youth Group: St. Nicholas Room, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Saturday, March 21:
No event.
Sunday, March 22:
Children’s Liturgy: 8:30am and 10:30am
Coffee Sunday: Narthex, after 9:00am & 11:00am Masses
Lenten Retreat ”Shroud of Turin”: Sanctuary, Reception 6pm , Talk 7pm
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4th Sunday of Lent, 15/03/2026, 873.63 KB