Bulletin: Sixth Sunday of Easter
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
Keep Working on Love….
May 14, 2023
A key character in Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull is Jonathan’s teacher, Chiang. When the day comes for Chiang to say goodbye to his young student, Jonathan knows it is a special moment. He wonders what parting advice his old teacher will give him. Chiang utters it in just five words: “Jonathan, keep working on love”. It is this same parting advice that Jesus gave to his own disciples: “Keep working on love…”.
Indeed, Christ’s example of love and sacrifice invites us to love beyond ourselves. It is this kind of selfless and unconditional love which Christ has shown us that conquers sin and even death itself. With this kind of love, death is transformed from the taking away of life into a voluntary return of the gift of life to the Giver of life.
Love reaches the eternal level when it goes beyond ourselves, when we are able to love others more than ourselves. It is this kind of love that makes our human relationships last, transforming them to eternity. This kind of love outlives death, defeating death’s power over us. Unconditional and selfless love is the real measure of Christian life. His kind of love is the reason for the resurrection.
Our love for one another has to be filled with the love that inspires the Eucharist, the living memorial of Christ’s love for us. This re-enactment of Christ’s sacrifice in Calvary, which is the ultimate expression of His self-giving, inspires and powers us to love as He does. The love Christ has left as a legacy is the greatest of God’s gifts. When we learn to love as Christ loves, we learn to believe and hope without seeing. St. Augustine declares in one of his writings: “He (Christ) disappeared before our eyes, that we might find Him in our hearts”.
During this Easter season, let us continue to discover the love that Christ has placed in our hearts. This is the season for our hearts to memorize the example of Christ’s love.
Announcements:
Pastoral Care Ministry Update
Augusto Bitter, our coordinator and his wife Emilia are now looking for volunteers to work in this important ministry. You may wish to join us as a new volunteer, resume your previous (pre-pandemic) volunteer activity, to join another area of this ministry, or to help us recruit others who may respond to your invitation to serve. For details, please reach out to him at abitter@telus.net or 403-804-5047.
Moms and Tots
Thursdays 9:30 – 11:30 am
Moms and Tots is every Thursday 9:30 – 11:30 am in the St. Nicholas Room. This program will end for the season with our last meet on June 1st (come for a celebration!) and return in September.
43rd Annual Hike for Life
Saturday, May 13
Please join Fr. Edmund in support of the Calgary Pro-Life Association’s 10K Hike For Life at Prince’s Island. You can join the St. Michael’s team, start collecting pledges and hike on your own or you can make a donation to Fr. Edmund or any other team member from now until May 13. All donations go directly to Pro-Life and will be accepted until June 30th. All funds raised will go to support the Respect for Life program.
Saturday Night Lights with Michael Chiasson & Access 52
Saturday, May 27 – 6pm
All students for life (Grade 7-12) are invited to an amazing youth experience on Saturday, May 27, 6-8pm after the 5pm Mass. This will be followed every last Saturday of the month: June 24, 6-8pm.
To register please go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/saturday-night-lights-youth-group-may-tickets-633655419417
St. Mike’s Garden
St. Mike’s Garden group is looking for volunteers to assist with the cultivation, weeding and watering of the raised flower beds on our property. The vegetables will be distributed at the end of the season to various schools to provide nutrition to those in need. If you are interested, please contact, Leticia.sheldon@cssd.ab.ca for further information.
Women’s Conference by Beloved Daughters Ministry
May 26-27
Join Beloved Daughters Ministry for their first annual women’s conference entitled, “Restoring the Feminine Heart.” Conference will be held from May 26-27, 2023 at St. Luke’s Parish (Calgary, AB) and guided by guest speakers Heather & Jake Khym of Life Restoration Ministries. For more information visit: www.beloveddaughtersyyc.com
“TRAiD for MAiD”
Tuesday, May 30 – 7pm
True Assistance in Dying: why is MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) embedding itself in our country? St. Michael’s Catholic Women’s League will be hosting Dr. Peggy Thomson-Gibson, MSCM. FRCP(C), as she presents on how to “Defend the Faith without Raising our Voice” to shed the light of faith through prayer, action and sacrifice on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30 pm in St. Mary’s Chapel. All are welcome to attend this timely event.
CCEF Ignite the Spark Gala
Thursday, June 1
Please join the Calgary Catholic Education Foundation in an evening of celebrating and fundraising at Ignite the Spark on June 1, 2023, at Telus Spark. Hosted by Michael Chiasson of Access52, you’ll be dazzled all evening with live entertainment, inspiring stories, a decadent display of food & beverage, plus an online live auction & wine raffle. Tickets are on sale now and available at https://bit.ly/Ignitethespark. Proceeds support enhanced learning opportunities for students and schools in the Calgary Catholic School District.
Feed the Hungry
Sunday, June 18 at St. Mary’s Cathedral
St. Michael’s will be sponsoring dinner at Feed the Hungry on Sunday, June 18 at St. Mary’s Cathedral hall. If you’re interested in helping, there are different food prep and dinner service volunteer roles available for you to sign up for. Please sign up in the gathering area.
St. Michael Catholic Community Pastoral Council
Greetings to our fellow parishioners and visitors at Saint Michael Catholic Community. We hope that you enjoyed a blessed and joyful Easter! Thank you to all volunteers who helped to make the Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday liturgies as beautiful as they were. Your dedication to our catholic community is appreciated.
Highlights from our meeting on April 25:
– A Children’s Liturgy Coordinator has been hired. Children’s liturgies start on Sunday mornings in June.
– Michael Chiasson of Access52 updated us on the success of the Saturday evening youth events.
– Coffee is being served after both Sunday morning Masses (volunteers needed for 11 am)
– Coffee after Thursday morning weekday Masses will begin late May (volunteers needed)
– The next Name Tag Sunday will take place the last weekend in May.
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.
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Special thanks to all St. Michael parishioners for supporting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul! During the month of March we helped 25 families. If you have lost your job please contact us for food support.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS. If you are interested contact us by email SSVP@saintmichael.ca or phone 403-249-0423 ext 122
DONATIONS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS can be dropped off in the SSVP Food Chest in the church Gathering Area or make arrangements by e-mailing us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca. 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.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please contact us by email SSVP@saintmichael.ca or phone 403-249-0423 ext 122.
Holy Land Pilgrimage
November 13 to 21, 2023
Holy Land Pilgrimage Alert! The space reduction date is May 14 on the Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land tour with Fr Edmund on November 13-21. After May 14, reservations will be based on first-come first-serve availability. After the reduction date, air rates can vary and the legal names and dates of birth are required to request airline space. It takes approximately 48-72 hours to hear back from the airlines if we can get the seat back at the same rate or what else they can offer.
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Sixth Sunday of Easter, 14/05/2023, 713.97 KB