Pentecost Virtual Potluck

May 19, 2020
 
Dear Friends:  
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It has been some time since I have been in touch with you. You are not forgotten. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with me if there is anything that I can do for you. As you know we are not celebrating any sacraments here in our Church buildings until we have permission to do so from the Saskatchewan Health Authority and our Bishop. If you must enter any of our buildings, please be careful and please be meticulous about sanitizing all that you touch.

During this time, our Parishes continue to have expenses. If you can continue your weekly donations that would be great. Feel free to sign up for automatic withdrawal (Our Lady of Peace Parish), drop off your donation at the Parish Office or mail your donation to the Parish Office here in Meadow Lake [504-3rd Ave East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5]. If you cannot contribute at this time because of your own financial situation, please do not be troubled by that. You are a valued member of our Church and you will be remembered and prayed for just like everyone else!

Right now, I am Live-streaming mass on Facebook using my phone. It is our intention to purchase equipment so that we can properly livestream events now and so that we can continue to do so after this pandemic is over. We are gathering information on what we need and what would serve us well going forward. I will be in touch to let you know what that will cost us.

I have also developed a plan to build a small outdoor grotto here in Meadow Lake, for a statue of our Blessed Mother, given that our parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Peace. I am hoping to build this rather quickly so that people can stop and visit. It will be outside of course, and people will be invited to social distance and to be cautious. It is my belief that an outdoor grotto could be a source of encouragement for us and a reminder that our God is with us. In a word, it would be a source of hope. Again, stay tuned for further plans.

Pentecost Sunday is coming up and we would like to celebrate it virtually. In addition to the mass which will be live-streamed at 10:00 am Sunday, May 31st, we invite you to color this flame'dove which represents the Holy Spirit. We invite you, if you are comfortable, to display your flame in your window or on your door as a sign of the presence of the Spirit in your life. St. Paul reminds each of us that we are "temples of the Holy Spirit," (1 Corinthians 6:19) 
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To further celebrate Pentecost Sunday and the presence of the Holy Spirit we are organizing a virtual Pentecost Potluck. Each person/household is invited to do four things:

1. Do a short write up of your/your family’s favorite Pandemic Pastime. (Example: Every Friday night, I make popcorn and listen to Classic Country music from Stingray Music Television channel 708 and I read a novel. The Thibeault Family is enjoying card and board games.)
2. Prepare your favorite Sunday supper/dish on Pentecost Sunday.  If you feel adventuresome, find a recipe that relates to Pentecost such as fiery chili or flame-shaped sugar cookies to represent the intense love and fire of the Holy Spirit.  Lorraine hopes to try out Holy Ghost Sopas, a Pentecost meal from Portugal.
3. When the dish is cooked/ready for serving take a picture of it.
4. Send an email to me (olpsecretary@sasktel.net) with your Favorite Pandemic Pastime, your recipe and a picture of the completed dish. 
5. ​Lorraine Thibeault has graciously volunteered to gather up all the recipes, the pictures and the stories. She will organize them and create a simple Pentecost 2020 Pandemic Potluck Cookbook. Everything will be in black and white. If you would like a copy you can purchase one for cost when they are ready. If you just want to make a dish and send us the recipe that is fine...if you want to do everything that is great…participate as you would like! There are those who are not great cooks. You might choose to order a pizza, a burger, a subway sandwich – take a picture – tell us where you got it and we will include your contribution too!

 
For those who are gifted technologically, I encourage you to post the picture of your dish on our Facebook page on Pentecost Sunday evening. As I eat, I will ‘comment’ and ‘like’ your picture. We will be eating together virtually! If you (like me), are a bit challenged regarding Facebook, here is how you can do that:

Log on to your Facebook account on your home computer or mobile device.  Go to the Catholic Church Meadow Lake Facebook page.  If you are on your home computer click on ‘create post.’ From there a box will pop up allowing you to insert whatever you have decided to share. You may also copy and paste what you want to share. In the box, you will also see an icon for ‘photo/video’.  Clicking on that icon will allow you to upload your meal pictures.
 
If you are on your mobile device, go to the Catholic Church Meadow Lake Facebook page.  Near the top it has a line of options.  Choose ‘posts’.  A box will pop up saying “Write something on page”.  Clicking on that, will take you to a screen allowing you to share your recipe/activity or photo. 

 Thanks to each of you for your efforts at social distancing, hand washing, encouraging one another, helping those in need and for your faith, your hope and your joy! Have a wonderful celebration of Pentecost and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!

Doug Jeffrey OMI
(Our Lady of Peace Parish, Meadow Lake; St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake; Our Lady of the Smile Parish, Waterhen Lake)

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