Bulletin: Fifth Sunday of Lent

Posted 2022-04-01 by @saintmichaelyyc

 

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

 

Download bulletin PDF

 

The Lazarus Prototype

April 3, 2022

For almost two centuries of Christianity, the story of the resurrection of Lazarus has always been considered a proto-type of our spiritual conversion. His physical death is typical of our spiritual death.  
 
Just as Christ went to the tomb of Lazarus to resurrect and liberate him, He comes to our dead and dying world to regenerate us by conversion. He comes to liberate us from the encumbrances of spiritual grave clothes: old bad habits, rags of self-righteousness and unwillingness to forgive. Christ comes to our lives to destroy the darkness in our souls and enlighten our minds to inspire and guide us in our journey back to our heavenly Father. He has come to redeem us, to rescue us from the clutches of sin and death. The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead represents the power of Christ’s own resurrection and its saving efficacy to liberate us from sin and death, which is also a consequence of sin.   
 
As we spend the last few days of the Lenten season, let us reflect on our life that has been influenced by the power of evil. Let us examine our old bad habits that can be classified as addictions controlling our sense of freedom and dignity and sons and daughters of God. Let us see the darkness that hovers over our horizon because we have chosen to veer away from the light of Christ. Let us feel the weakness that results from our inability to exercise the works of love and mercy mandated by the Gospel. As we reflect on the Christ’s life of love and forgiveness, let us express sorrow for our own unwillingness to forgive one another from our hearts. Let us appreciate how Christ, dying on the cross, expressed forgiveness to those who brought him to his painful suffering and death. Let us learn that forgiveness is a higher level of strength and that the capacity to forgive is not human, but a free gift of participation in God’s divine love and mercy. Let us be more attentive to Christ’s invitation for us to become a forgiven and forgiving community. Let us re-learn to be more open to the healing sacraments of the Church. Let us re-visit the importance of the works of mercy as a reparation for our own sins and the sins of others.
 
As we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, let us re-learn to associate our own trials and tribulations with the saving sacrifice of Christ on the cross. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s death on the cross, especially on Good Friday, let us have the courage to approach His rich mercy and forgiveness. 
 
May these last days of the Lenten period help us to come forth from our spiritual grave to the overflowing grace of God’s liberating love and mercy.
 

FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca

 

Healing Lines

A reflection on healing and reconciliation from Fr. Edmund 

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” We are all sinners but have clear choices to make amends and alter our behaviour. We can never know what others are going through but can choose to respond in non-violent ways and to assist those who have been bullied or abused, or those who choose to be a bully or an abuser. Let us not be the ones to throw the stones but the ones to model forgiveness and to better ourselves.

 

Announcements:

 

Lenten Share Sunday – Palm Sunday

Weekend of April 2/3

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be having its first Share Sunday in over 2 years. Members of the Society will be distributing bags and food lists the weekend of April 2/3 to receive your Lenten offerings on Palm Sunday, April 9/10. May the kindness and compassion of your food and monetary donations stir the hearts of those who receive and fill them with hope. If you are providing from your home pantry, please check the Best Before date as we cannot use stale-dated items.

Urgent Request: plastic bags for hamper packing.

 

Memorial Mass

Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m.

Join us for a Memorial Mass for loved ones we have lost during the pandemic on Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m. in the Main Sanctuary.

 

The Invitation—Lent Tour 2022

Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m.

St. Michael Church is hosting  an evening of talks, music, inspiration and prayer for a one night Parish Mission featuring Michael Chiasson on Thursday, April 7. RSVP/ pre-register here. There is no cost for this event.

 

Synod

Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, welcomes the entire Church to participate in a Synod, in order to listen to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to each member of the Church. We would like to invite you, the parishioners of St. Michael Catholic Community, to share your experiences and insights, at our Parish’s listening session on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. via Zoom. 

If you are interested in being a small group leader, helping to facilitate small group discussions, you can sign up at www.saintmichsel.ca/events. We will contact all the leaders once we have all the names in order to inform them on how to run the small groups.

If you are interested in simply participating in the Parish listening session, you can sign up at www.saintmichael.ca/events. Registration closes on Monday, April 4.

 

Easter Vigil Mass

Saturday, April 16 at 9 p.m.

We will welcome our new members of the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 16 followed by a reception of coffee and cookies. 

 

Divine Mercy Celebration

Sunday, April 24

Please join us for Holy Hour Celebration, starting with confessions at 1 p.m., followed at 2 p.m., by the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration/meditation, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Homily, and Benediction.

Please Note: incense will be used during the celebration.

 

Fr. Edmund’s Anniversary of Ordination

Wednesday, April 27 at 6 p.m.

Come celebrate Fr. Edmund’s 43rd year of Ordination on Wednesday, April 27 with a Thanksgiving Mass at 6 p.m. followed by fellowship/reception of coffee and cookies.

 

Building Stronger Families

Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m.

Monsignor Frederick Dolan of the Opus Dei will facilitate “Building Stronger Families: Revisiting Patris Corde, the Letter of Pope Francis for the Year of the Family” on Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church. All families are welcome!

 

St. Michael Choir

The Choirs for the Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses are reconvened. Those interested may indicate their intent by contacting Marvin Matthews at mmatthews@saintmichael.ca.

 

Adoration

On Fridays, after the 9 a.m. Mass, we have been observing the Holy Hour before the exposed Blessed Sacrament in the Main Sanctuary. The Holy Hour is preceded by the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and concluded with the Reposition. We encourage our parishioners to visit, in their own time, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for private adoration through the South Entrance which is accessible from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. For security reasons, there are cameras to cover any untoward activity in the area and other areas of the church. We have to be more appreciative of the accessibility of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for twelve (12) hours daily. We encourage our parishioners to commit to a weekly hour-long Blessed Sacrament visitation for private adoration. Committed adorers are required to move forward towards a longer adoration period on Fridays or some other special days.

 

Coffee Reception

Beginning in May, we will hold a coffee reception after the weekend Masses: Saturday, May 7, after the 5 p.m. Mass (1st weekend), Sunday, May 15, after the 9 a.m. Mass (2nd weekend), Sunday, May 22, after the 11 a.m. Mass (3rd weekend) and Sunday, May 29, after the 5 p.m. Mass (4th weekend). If you are interested in volunteering for the coffee receptions, please contact Marvin Matthews at mmatthews@saintmichael.ca.

 

Hydrangeas and Lilies in Memory of a Loved One

Parishioners are invited to help decorate the Church this Easter by purchasing a hydrangea or lily in memory of a loved one. Order forms are available in the Gathering Area. You can drop off your completed form along with your payment ($20/hydrangea or $15/lily) in the collection boxes throughout the church or at the parish office by Wednesday, April 13.

 

Columbarium Access

Update, April 3: Access cards have been received and are being programmed. Once they are all programmed we will make an announcement for pickup. The Columbarium door will be unlocked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to allow for visiting in the meantime. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

 

Society of St. Vincent de Paul 

Special thanks to all St. Michael parishioners for supporting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul!  During the month of February we helped 25 families (44 adults and 35 children). If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122.

We are looking for new members. If you are interested, contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122. 

Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the SSVP food chest in the gathering area. Currently we are looking for: cereal, pasta sauce, canned vegetables and canned fish/meat.

Monetary donations can be deposited in the drop-box in the food chest or by online donations through the St. Michaels Parish website https://saintmichael.ca/giving/. Please indicate funds are for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the drop-down menu.

 

Mass Schedule for this Weekend

Saturday, April 2, 5 p.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

Sunday, April 3, 9 a.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

Sunday, April 3, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

 

2022 Lent & Easter Schedule

 

Ash Wednesday: March 2

Mass at 9 a.m., 6 p.m.

 

Lenten Fridays: March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8

Mass at 6 p.m.

Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.

 

Parish Reconciliation: Thursday, March 31

Liturgy and Confessions at 6 p.m.

 

Palm Sunday: April 9, 10

Regular Sunday Masses: 9 a.m., 11 a.m. (Livestreamed), 5 p.m.

 

Holy Week

 

Holy Thursday: April 14

Mass at 7 p.m.

Adoration following Mass until 11 p.m.

 

Good Friday: April 15

Liturgy at 12 p.m., 3 p.m. 

 

Easter Vigil: April 16

Mass at 9 p.m.

 

Easter Sunday: April 17

Regular Sunday Masses: 9 a.m., 11 a.m. (Livestreamed), 5 p.m.

 

Parish Office: The office will be open regular hours from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. on April 12 – 14. We will be closed on April 15 for Good Friday.

*Live-streamed 11 a.m. Mass can be accessed at saintmichael.ca/Mass and on our Facebook Page. Once the live-streamed Mass has finished, the video can be viewed on our Facebook page. For a list of all live-streamed Masses in the diocese, visit catholicyyc.ca.

Comments

comments

Fifth Sunday of Lent, 03/04/2022, 689.57 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