Bulletin: Fourth Sunday of Lent

Posted 2022-03-25 by @saintmichaelyyc

 

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

 

Download bulletin PDF

 

Darkness Into Light

March 27, 2022

Today’s gospel story reveals who it is that is truly blind: those who stubbornly refuse to accept Jesus as the light of the world. Its dramatic unfolding gives eloquent expression to how individuals in a community can compound a situation. Everyone gets involved: the man’s neighbors, his family, those who have seen him begging, the Pharisees. The whole episode literally explodes until the man is expelled from the synagogue for acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.
 
God’s choice of David over his other brothers from the 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. 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.  
 
Although it would be much later that Augustine would formulate the doctrine of original sin, the author of the second reading alludes to that reality: “Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light…”, using a metaphor to capture our desperate human situation without Christ’s saving light that eradicate the effects of what we refer to as social sin, which is the 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.” 
 
Later in the Eucharistic Prayer, we will proclaim: “Father… we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus.  He came among us as a man, to lead us from darkness into the light of faith.  Through Adam’s fall we were born as slaves of sin, but now through baptism in Christ we are reborn as adopted children…”
 
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 be 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 call us to believe, to worship and to follow His Son. God call us to new life, to become enlightened children of the light.
 

FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca

 

Healing Lines

A reflection on healing and reconciliation from Fr. Edmund 

Women often stay in abusive relationships “for the sake of the children”. Some are afraid of losing their children to their partners’ family if they leave.” In my community children are considered their ‘father’s property’.” Others are afraid that their children would be stigmatized in the eyes of the community if they leave. Still others are afraid that they would be deported without their children if they leave or that they and their children would be deported and they don’t want their children to miss out on a “better life in Canada.” How can we be a pathway of God’s love to help these women?
 
For questions about abuse, please call CONNECT 1-403-234-7233(SAFE)
1-866-606-7233 toll free in Alberta.

 

Announcements:

 

Blessing of Anniversary Couples 

Weekend of March 26/27

There will be a special blessing for couples who have celebrated a wedding anniversary the weekend of March 26/27. Let us celebrate the sacrament of Marriage as an essential component of our life as a Christian community. 

 

Parish Lenten Reconciliation

Thursday, March 31

Please note the date and time has changed for the Parish Lenten Reconciliation. Mass starts at 6 p.m. followed by Adoration and reconciliation.

 

40 Days For Life Prayer Campaign

April 1

The Lenten campaign for 40 Days for Life has commenced and St. Michael is once again participating. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful prayer vigil held near the Kensington Abortion facility in Calgary as part of a world wide campaign of prayer for the unborn taking place during Lent. We encourage everyone to participate. If you’ve never done it before, we encourage you to join us this Lent in union with thousands of people around the world praying for an end to abortion. St. Michael’s assigned day is Friday, April 1. To sign up for a one hour time slot please go to www.40daysforlife.com/calgary and click on the box “Sign up for Vigil Hours”. If you have questions, please call Karen at 403-870-7080.

 

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.

 

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!

 

Columbarium Access

Update, March 27: 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, March 26, 5 p.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

Sunday, March 27, 9 a.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

Sunday, March 27, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

 

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.

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