What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
Loving Our Enemies
February 23, 2025
In our lives, we are subjected to a retaliation mentality that affects us all. From the sports arena to the criminal justice system, forgiveness, or anything that amounts to it, is regarded as a weakness. But nothing in the Christian life is more radical and more challenging than the mandate to love our enemies, to do good to those who mistreat us, or to lend without any expectation of return. Jesus becomes our model for such unconditional love and mercy in His entire ministry, especially as when He was dying on the cross.
We find it very easy to desire retaliation against those who hurt or hate us. We find this human tendency creeping into our personal lives. We want to get even with others. If our loved ones hurt us, even in some little way, we sometimes find ourselves saying to ourselves or at least thinking about getting back at them. God’s mercy challenges us to a much higher standard. And then there is that daunting implication of that part in the Lord’s Prayer when we ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others. God also provides us with powerful witness of His love and mercy, showing us that it is possible to embrace the perpetrators as well as the victims of crimes. The heroic witness of forgiving by victims is an inspiration to put into practice the infinite mercy of God in our own respective lives.
In my earlier years in the ministry back in my own diocese in the Philippines, one of my homilies on the moral aspects of political elections made a friend and co-worker of my father upset with what I had to preach. He hated me for the strong words I used to condemn certain election practices which he considered part of the political circus. I did not react to his inimical attitude to my own person. I offered a prayer of forgiveness to God for my father’s good friend and continued to do so until after two years later I saw him in Church again and offered to have coffee together after the service. There is a story about a former inmate of a Nazi concentration Camp who visited a friend who shared the ordeal with him. “Have you forgiven the Nazis?”, he asked. “Yes”, his friend answered. “Well, I haven’t. I’m still consumed with hatred for them”, he retorted. “In that case”, his friend said gently, “They still have you in prison”.
In daily transactions with others, we have lots of opportunities to practice this demanding imperative. There are those unfriendly people we encounter in social places, fellow parishioners or priests who don’t respond to our cheerful greeting, or those motorists who irritate us on the road. Will it be our best self or our worst self that responds? Each encounter becomes an opportunity to become more like Jesus who was able to say at the last moments of His life: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do”. These loving and forgiving words capture Christ’s basic attitude in human relationships.
As we gather in worship, let us ask the Lord to transform us into a community of reconciliation, a forgiving community of the forgiven. Let us strive to make love and forgiveness not only an occasional act, but a permanent attitude.
fredmund@saintmichael.ca
Healing Lines
People who reveal that they have been abused often have suffered for a very long time. They may not trust their own judgments or feelings. They may have low self-esteem. They may blame themselves for what is happening. They may feel that they are powerless. But we can empower them by giving them options. Help them to think of several alternative safety plans, so that they can choose which ones best suit their needs. Respond in the way we would to any friend who is in crisis. Be available to talk. Help out and show that we care about what happens to them. They deserve to live in safety. Call Connect at 403-237-5888.
Announcements:
Please see this weekend’s bulletins for all announcements:
Download St. Michael bulletin
Download Diocesan bulletin (Condensed)
Download Diocesan bulletin (Full Length)
2025 Contribution Envelopes
If you haven’t picked up next year’s 2025 contribution envelopes they are available for pickup in the office.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, marks the start of Lent, evolving into a time of celebrating and feasting, like a final opportunity for indulgence before the period of fasting and penance. It is also a significant liturgical movement towards the spiritual discipline of Lent. It is geared towards building community. The Knights of Columbus is hosting a dinner with Marvin’s quartet playing on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00pm. Please RSVP by Friday, February 28 at: https://forms.gle/7hxG5Q1cKugCgaR99
Art Walk 2025
We invite artists and photographers from beginners to professionals to register to showcase their works at the upcoming Art Walk 2025 on March 8 & 9, 2025. The cut off date to register is February 23, 2025. For more information, go on line to www.saintmichael.ca/events or pick up a form in the Narthex after Mass.
Lenten Healing Retreat
March 25 and March 26 – 7:00pm-8:45pm: Holy Mass / Talk / Adoration
March 27 – 7:00pm-10:00pm: Healing Mass / Adoration / Healing Service
This retreat brings life’s struggles to the source of all healing through Jesus to be transformed by His grace. “I Thirst” (John 19:28) is a Lenten Healing Retreat presented by Shalom Media Ministry in association with St. Michael Catholic Community. The retreat offers a unique opportunity for the faithful, thirsting for divine intimacy, to gather and seek healing of mind, body, and soul, led by Fr. Roy Palatty, a gifted priest and world-renowned speaker. Fr. Palatty will lead you in Holy Mass, a spiritual talk, silent reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and special prayers. A Healing Mass/Service and Blessings for the sick will also be offered at this faith-filled, life-changing event. For more information, please visit the website: www.saintmichael.ca
New Social Media Consultancy
We are thrilled to announce that Mario Toneguzzi will be working with St. Michael’s to enhance and amplify the Community’s social media. Mario is a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 and 2024 a Top Business Journalist in the world . He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025. He is Co-Editor-In-Chief at Retail Insider, Managing Editor at Canada’s Podcast, a national freelancer and owner of Mario Toneguzzi Communications Inc. https://bit.ly/3vexSj7Mario can be reached at mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com
Week-at-a-Glance (February 23 – March 1, 2025):
Sunday:
– Coffee Connection: After 9am and 11am Mass
Monday:
– Bible Study: St. Nicholas Room, 7:00-9:00pm
Tuesday:
– Rosary Group: Day Chapel, 6:30pm
– Grief Share Program: Rooms 143 & 144, 7:00pm
– RCIA: St. Nicholas Room, 7:00-9:00pm
– Pastoral Council Meeting: St. Michael’s Room, 7:00pm
– SSVP Monthly Meeting: Room 145, 7:00pm
Wednesday:
– Men’s Ministry: Theatre, 6:00-7:30am
– Coffee Connection: After 9am Mass
– Women’s Ministry: St. Nicholas Room, 9:30am-12:00pm
Thursday:
– Knitting Ministry: Library, 10:00am-12:00pm
Friday:
– Family Adoration Night: Sanctuary, 5:00pm
Saturday:
– No events.
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7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 23/02/2025, 630.68 KB