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6/2/2023 0 Comments June 4th - Trinity SundayOur Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-4:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Glory and praise for ever! - Daniel 3 Refrain June 4, 2023 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., June 5 – No mass Tues., June 6 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., June 6 – No mass Wed., June 7 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +McCallum Family by Florence Bell Thurs., June 8 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +McCallum Family by Florence Bell Fri., June 9 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Lachance Family by Florence Bell Sat., June 10 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God Sun., June 11 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God Sun., June 11 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – May 28: Meadow Lake $1392.30 Green Lake – No mass Children’s Collection $18.30 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for June – For the abolition of torture – We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families. About Today’s Solemnity – The essential component of being in relationship with our Trinitarian God is to allow that relationship to impact all that we say and do. To be disciples of the Lord is to live according to Jesus’ values and lifestyle and to model for others what relationship with God entails. Our mission is to do for others what Jesus has done for us, in both his words and his deeds, most especially in his loving outreach to all. Blessed are we for having been chosen to be apostolic witnesses to all. Taken from Sourcebook for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays page 228 THANK-YOU I want to personally thank the people from Waterhen Lake, Green Lake and Meadow Lake for your kindness and generosity. I wanted to give thanks to God for the call he gave to me over 40 years ago, the call to be a priest and to be a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. On Sunday, May 28th you touched my heart again! I am so grateful for all of you, your words, your gifts, your kindness, and your presence. I am grateful also for all that you do for the Church and for your respective communities. We each live out God’s call to love one another and to forgive one another in different places. As I read through the cards that you gave to me and as I looked at your gifts and as I remembered your many words and the music you shared with me, tears of gratitude flowed. I am blessed by your goodness. Through you God is continuing to call me to serve the People of God. Thank you and may the God of peace be your constant companion, now and always! Flowers and Flower Beds – A special word of thanks to Chris for tilling our newest flower beds, to Rhys and Pat for putting in new borders on our two flower beds and to Marie and Melba for planting and transplanting. This work helps to make our Church Building look a little more welcoming. Thank you! Rosary at the Grotto – During the month of May several folks gathered at the Grotto each night at 6:00 pm to pray the rosary. Our prayer intention was the well-being of those who are sick and suffering in any way in our Meadow Lake Cluster. A word of thanks to all who gathered with us and prayed. A special word of thanks to Bernice who led us every day without fail. May God bless you all for your care of your brothers and sisters. NEEDING A JANITOR OR JANITORS – The Finance Council is looking for one or two people who are willing to clean the Parish Hall after our functions. If you or someone you know is interested in providing on demand cleaning, please call the Parish Office as soon as possible. We cannot rent the Parish Hall without having someone to clean it. Thanks for your help in this matter. Our Lady of Peace Scholarship Our Pastoral Council is promoting the idea of a Scholarship for students who graduate from Carpenter High School and pursue post secondary studies in the Fall of 2023. This week, June 4, we will take up a collection at the end of mass. The money collected will be set aside for the Our Lady of Peace Scholarship. If you prefer you can drop off a donation at the Parish Office during regular Parish Office hours. Please put your donation in an envelope – include your name and your Envelope Box number and your donation will be credited to you. If you offer a cheque, please make the cheque payable to Our Lady of Peace Parish and on the memo line indicate that it is for the Our Lady of Peace Scholarship. Ordinary Time – In his Apostolic Letter approving the Roman Calendar (14 February 1969), St. Paul VI noted some important facts about the Liturgical Year: 1. Over many centuries, Catholics had become accustomed to so many special religious devotions that the mysteries of redemption lost their proper place. This was due to the large number of vigils, holydays and octaves, and to the growing dominance of various seasons over the Church year; 2. St. Pius X and St. John XXIII restored Sunday to its former dignity, so that everyone should once more consider it as the Church’s original Feast Day; 3. The Popes restated the traditional teaching of the Church: The celebration of the Liturgical Year has a special sacramental power and force which nourishes and strengthens the life of Christians. The Church Year is not merely a recalling of the historical events by which Christ won our salvation; 4. The reason for the restoration of the Liturgical Year is to help believers through their faith, hope and love to share more fully in the entire mystery of Christ as it is unfolding throughout the year. Taken from Ordo: Liturgical Calendar 2022 – 2023 page 255 Scripture Insights – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 228. The first reading, from Exodus, comes just after the sad story about the Israelites making a golden calf and offering sacrifices to it (Ex 32). Although God pronounces judgement against the people, he comes down to meet Moses on the mountain; God reveals his true nature by reinstating the covenant with Israel. Why? Because God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, faithful, and kind. The second reading is the closing greeting of Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. In it, he suggests that God extends grace through the Father, love through the Son, and fellowship through the Spirit, so that humanity can live in love and fellowship with one another. Later theologians would see this as an example of the activities of the “economic Trinity.” The term comes from the Greek word oikonomikos, which means “pertaining to the management of a household,” in this case, the household of God. Likewise, the Gospel highlights God’s activity in salvation history. God the Father is described as giving the greatest gift of love to the world – his only son – and the Son is described as doing the work of the Father. The Spirit is not mentioned here, but later in John’s Gospel account we learn that the Spirit is the Advocate sent to be with the believers after Jesus’ return to the Father.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Catholics and Our Use of Social Media "Towards Full Presence. A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media" (#FullyPresent) is the title of the document published by the Dicastery for Communication on Monday 29 May. The aim of the document is to promote a common reflection on the involvement of Christians in social media, which have increasingly become part of people's lives. Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, the document offers an opportunity to begin a shared reflection on how to promote a culture of being "loving neighbours" also in the digital world. Looking at the theme within the context of the world of social media, where individuals are often both consumers and commodities, the pastoral reflection seeks a faith-based response. And this response begins with discerning the stimuli we receive and with intentional listening. Attention, together with a sense of belonging, reciprocity and solidarity, are key for creating a sense of unity that should ultimately strengthen local communities, enabling them to become drivers of change. By becoming "weavers of communion" through the creativity of love, we can imagine new models built on trust, transparency, equality, and inclusion, learning to be present in God's style and bearing witness. Beware of pitfalls on the "digital highways" The digital revolution has certainly created opportunities, but it also presents many challenges. The document identifies several pitfalls to avoid as we travel the "digital highways." From treatment of individual users as only consumers and commodities, to the creation of "individualistic spaces" that target like-minded people or encourage extreme behaviour, the journey through the online environment is one where many have been marginalised and wounded. For Christians, this raises the question: how can we make the digital ecosystem a place of sharing, collaboration and belonging, based on mutual trust? From awareness to real encounter Becoming a "neighbour" in the social media environment begins with a disposition to listen with the awareness that those whom we meet online are real people. Even in an environment characterised by "information overload," this openness to intentional listening and of the heart allows us to move from mere perception of the other to an authentic encounter. We can begin to recognise our digital neighbour, realising that their suffering affects us. Our goal then is to build not only "connections," but encounters that become real relationships and strengthen local communities. From encounter to community In our journey along the "digital highways," we can meet others either with a spirit of indifferent bystanders or with a spirit of encouragement and friendship. In the latter case, we - who are sometimes the good Samaritan and sometimes the wounded - can begin to help heal the wounds created by a toxic digital environment. Here we need to rebuild digital spaces so that they become more human and healthier environments. At the same time, we can help make these environments more capable of fostering real communities, based on a person-to-person encounter that is indispensable for those who believe in the Word made flesh. A distinctive style Christians bring to social media a distinctive "style," one of sharing that has its origin in Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us with his words, actions, soul and body. He taught us that truth is revealed in communion and that communication also springs from communion, that is, from love. The presence of Christians in digital media should reflect this style that communicates truthful information in a creative way, one that springs from friendship and builds community. This style often makes use of stories. It will bring to bear its influence online in a responsible way, as Christians become "weavers of communion." It will be reflective, not reactive, and it will be active in fostering activities and initiatives that promote human dignity. It will also be helping us to open our hearts and welcome our brothers and sisters. Witness in the digital world The presence of Christians in social media will also bear the mark of witness. Christians are not there to sell a product or proselytize, but rather to bear witness. They are there to confirm with their words and their lives what God has done by creating a communion that unites us in Christ. Whether Christians may find themselves the wounded or the Good Samaritan, or both, their engagement on social media platforms can be encounters with neighbours, brothers and sisters, whose lives concerns them and, therefore, encounters with the Lord. In this way, communication offers a glimpse of the communion that is rooted in the Holy Trinity, our true "promised land." Taken from: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-05/good-samaritan-inspiration-those-inhabiting-social-media.html VOCATION WALK 2023 The Diocese of Prince Albert Vocation Commission invites you to a pilgrimage walk from Duck Lake to St. Laurent Shrine. July 15, 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm; Supper at 6:00 pm; Confessions at 7:00 pm; Mass at 8:00 pm; Torch Light procession at 9:30 pm. The Diocese of Prince Albert Vocations Commission is having a student coloring/poster contest. The purpose of this contest is to invite students to create art that promotes vocations to religious life. The invitation to participate is open to students from grade 1 to grade 12. There are four categories: Gr.1-3, Gr. 4-6, Gr.7-9, Gr.10-12. The regulations and entry form can be found at the following link: https://www.padiocese.ca/vocations-commission
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Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-4:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth! (Psalm 66 Refrain) May 14, 2023 - 6th Sunday of Easter Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., May 15 – No mass Tues., May 16 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., May 16 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis & Yolande Gratton Wed., May 17 – No mass Thurs., May 18– No mass Fri., May 19 – No mass Sat., May 20 – 5:00 pm – St Jude Parish, Green Lake - People of God Sun., May 21 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – May 7: Meadow Lake $1464.05 Green Lake – $35.00 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for May – For church movements and groups – We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelization each day, placing their own charisms at their service of needs in the world. Pancake Breakfast – On Sunday, May 14, we celebrate Mother’s Day, and the Knights of Columbus are hosting a Mother’s Day Breakfast after the 10:00 am Mass at Our Lady of Peace Parish. Come and join us for Mass and/or Breakfast. Everyone is welcome and the Breakfast and the Company will be great! 😊 Thank you! I want to express my gratitude to the People of St. Jude and Our Lady of Peace Parishes who volunteered to lead the Sunday Liturgies of the Word with Communion while I was away on retreat. Along with your brothers and sisters I am so grateful for your generosity. I have heard good things about the prayer that has taken place! Thank you! I had a wonderful retreat at Chitek Lake. I used Week 3 of the Ignatian Exercises to guide my prayer. In Week 3 we are invited to reflect on the story of the Passion and Death of Jesus. As I prayed, I identified with the disciples who fell asleep. How often have I made choices that keep me from staying awake with Jesus – focused on myself and the things that are important to me rather than on the work of Jesus. I was brought to a heartfelt awareness of my tendency to remember the wounds from my past – I carry them with me and too often they influence in a negative way my present relationships. As I spend time with these wounds, I realize my attention is not on Jesus and on his Good News but rather on my past and what happened or did not happen to me. I was surprised as I became aware of the many ‘wound moments’ that I carry with me and worry over. At the same time, I became aware of how willing Jesus is to forgive me. As my retreat ended, I became aware of a desire and an invitation to let go and to share with others the same mercy and compassion that God constantly extends to me. After all, I too am a sinner, and I am in constant need of God’s grace. Perhaps my future will look a little different because of God’s mercy. Baptismal Formation Session, Thursday, May 18th at 6:30pm – Make sure to read and complete Lessons Three and Four. Janessa will facilitate the conversations for this session. We will move forward according to our time! The Pope’s Pastoral Works May 21 – This collection provides an opportunity for Catholics to make a financial offering to assist the Holy Father. One-third of the funds collected is for what is traditionally known as Peter’s Pence: donations used by the Pope for his charitable contributions to those most in need throughout the world, as well as for the support of the Holy See and its activities. Two-thirds of the Collection for the Pope’s Pastoral Works is to support the Holy Father in administering the Holy See and serving the Universal Church (see Canon 1271). Information about how Peter’s Pence is used, as well as donations in response to Canon 1271, is available in the Holy See’s yearly financial report. “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid. . . . The old question always returns: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods, and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (I Jn 3:17). Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 187 Taken from Ordo: Liturgical Calendar 2022-2023 page 244 St. Eugene de Mazenod Feast Day – Eugene de Mazenod was born on August 1, 1782, at Aix-en-Provence, France, on the eve of the French Revolution. His father, Charles, was of the noble class; his mother, very wealthy. At the age of eight, young Eugene had to flee France as it was rumored that the revolutionaries intended putting to death the sons of nobles. His exile lasted eleven years. Returning to Aix-en-Provence as a very worldly young man of twenty, Eugene sought to re-establish the family fortune by marrying into wealth. First, he could not find a woman rich enough, and then, the woman he intended to marry died! But on Good Friday, 1807, at the age of twenty-five, Eugene encountered Christ in his own life and recognized him as his Savior. “My soul was longing for its ultimate goal, God, the unique good whose loss I deeply felt.” Long dormant aspirations came alive. At the age of twenty-six, Eugene entered the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris. His ideal was clear: He would be the servant and priest of the poor. Ordained in 1811, his bishop was faced with the dilemma of what to do with this young aristocrat. “…so personal and impetuous” he was relieved when Fr. de Mazenod asked to work with the poor and abandoned of the cities and outlying missions. The zealous young priest turned his efforts towards the youth. He founded an association for young people. He worked also with prisoners and preached to the poor. In 1815, Eugene de Mazenod felt the need for companions, who would share his apostolate, live in community with him, and commit themselves to God through religious vows. On January 25, 1816, Fr. de Mazenod and four companions committed themselves to God and dedicated their lives to bring the Good News to the poor. This they would do primarily by preaching parish missions. Pope Leo XII approved the Society in 1826 under the name of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary. At his death on May 21 in 1861, his religious congregation numbered 417. His Oblates were found in France, Great Britain, Canada, the United States, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Today the Oblates number over 4000 brothers and priests working on five continents. In 1995, the Church officially recognized him as a Saint. Saint Eugene’s main spiritual synthesis is the book of the Constitutions and Rules of his Institute, a code of missionary action and of apostolic religious life. “The spirit of total devotion for the glory of God, the service of the Church and the salvation of souls is the spirit proper to our Congregation”, he wrote in 1817. He further stated, in 1830, that we must look upon ourselves “as the servants of the Father of a family commanded to succour, to aid, to bring back his children by working to the utmost, in the midst of tribulations, of persecutions of every kind, without claiming any reward other than that which the Lord has promised to faithful servants who have worthily fulfilled their mission”. All his life, as a priest, a missionary and a bishop, Saint Eugene sought to teach the poor “who Jesus Christ is”. Paul VI said of him that he had been a pastor passionately committed to Jesus Christ and an unconditional servant of the Church. John Paul Il on the day of his canonization, December 3, 1995, declared Saint Eugene as an “Advent man”, one who opens the ways to the Lord whose new coming will be the fulfillment longed for by all humanity. In 1861, on May 21st, the person who started the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, St. Eugene de Mazenod, died. Today, we as Oblates celebrate this day with glad thanksgiving. After serving the people of God and experiencing extensive suffering, St. Eugene was happy to return to the God who created him. In his last words he urged his brothers to be charitable to one another and to work hard so that everyone might come to know Jesus Christ. Perhaps as we remember St. Eugene, we can look at our own sufferings and our response to them and ponder the question, “What is God asking of me?” There is no doubt that God needs each of us to help people become aware of God’s love for the world. Let us join with St. Eugene and with countless others and try to make the world a place where God is known and loved by all people, a place where the hurts of my brothers and sisters are my hurts too, a place where each person looks to care for and support their neighbour! Fr. Doug is Celebrating 40 years as a Priest (June 3, 1983) – Come and join us for a special mass of thanksgiving on Pentecost Sunday, May 28th. The mass will be followed by a special pancake breakfast and program in the Parish Hall to celebrate Fr. Doug’s anniversary. The theme of his ordination was “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The people from St. Jude’s and from Our Lady of the Smile are invited to join us for this celebration. There will be no mass in Green Lake on May 27th and there will be no mass in Waterhen on May 28th. DEANERY 6 CATECHIST APPRECIATION EVENT - On May 30th here in our Parish Hall, we will welcome Christine Taylor from the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to animate a meeting for Parish Catechists. Catechists from the various communities in Deanery 6 will gather and Christine will encourage us to share our thoughts on catechesis, celebrate what has been done and offer some direction for new catechists. At the present time anyone interested in helping with children’s baptism, children’s liturgy, sacramental preparation, general catechesis, and RCIA are welcome to join us for the evening. If you want to take a closer look at what being a catechist is all about…come and join us. Our parish needs catechists, so your generosity is appreciated. Our evening will begin at 7:00 and conclude at 8:30 pm. Special CWL Mass at 6:30 pm on May 31. You are all invited to come and share in the prayer and in the social time that will follow the mass. There will be coffee, tea and snacks following mass. Please join us for this evening as we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of Mary and give thanks for the work that God is doing in the Catholic Women’s League. Report from Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen Lake – On Sunday, April 30th after the celebration of our Sunday Eucharist at Joanne’s house we reviewed a sketch that had been developed for our new faith and worship space. Having made some adjustments and additions we will now meet with Bishop Stephen to look once again at our Facility. We will also make plans for the next step which involves obtaining a draftsman to make a technical drawing. Once a technical drawing is in place and we know the cost of what we hope to create we will begin fundraising and putting our finances in place for the construction and furnishing of the Church Building. Please continue to pray for us. We left Joanne’s house with lots of energy and enthusiasm. One person noted, “I can hardly wait until it’s built, and we can pray in it!” Scripture Insights – Sixth Sunday of Easter Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 202. Jesus reminds his followers of his call to follow his commandment of love: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). Love is at the heart of every relationship, especially our relationship with God and with our neighbor. We share in the very life of God, a life of love: “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father” (14:21). In the reading from Acts, the life of the early Church flourishes through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hearing that the Word of God had been preached to the Samaritans, the apostles send Peter and John to empower them with the gift of the Holy Spirit as “they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16). As Jesus came “to baptize with the Holy Spirit” (Jn 1:33), the apostles confer the gift of the Holy Spirit by “[laying] hands on them” (Acts 8:17). Here the foundation for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation is expressed clearly.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Rosary and Reflection The next reflection from Bishop Stephen will be offered May 27th from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm! It will be livestreamed on Facebook from the Diocese of Prince Albert! Oblate Spirit – The Oblate Spirit is published 4 times a year. It is available both online at: https://omilacombe.ca/mami/oblate-spirit/ and twice a year it is available in a magazine format. The move away from the magazine format to the online format is to help us cut expenses so that more money can be sent to our missionary work. If you would like to know about our work please go to the link. You can also offer financial support to our missions by contacting our Office in Saskatoon. Our address is: AMMI Lacombe Canada MAMI 601 Taylor Street West Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9 Phone: 306 653-6453 or Toll Free : 1-866 432-MAMI (6264) or Fax: (306) 652-1133 Email: lacombemami@sasktel.net 5/12/2023 0 Comments 5th Sunday of Easter - May 7, 2023Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-4:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Let your love be upon us, Lord, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33 Refrain) May 7, 2023 - 5th Sunday of Easter Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., May 8 – Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat - People of God Tues., May 9 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., May 9 – Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat - People of God Wed., May 10 – Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat - People of God Thurs., May11– 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention – Louis & Yolande Gratton Fri., May 12 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace church & Facebook) - Special Intention – Louis & Yolande Gratton Sat., May 13 – 5:00 pm – St Jude Parish, Green Lake - People of God Sun., May 14 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God Sun., May 14 – 3:00 pm – (Our Lady of the Smile – Waterhen Lake) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – April 30: Meadow Lake $1329.00 Green Lake – No collection taken The Pope’s Prayer Intention for May – For church movements and groups – We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelization each day, placing their own charisms at their service of needs in the world. Thank you from The Lodge – We recently received a card from The Lodge thanking us for the Volunteer work we do in support of the residents. The card came after National Volunteer Week which was April 16 – 22. Report on Extended Deanery Meeting – On Saturday, April 29th, people from Deaneries 4, 5 & 6 gathered at Edam for an opportunity to listen and to share experiences from the Synod. Specifically, we were invited to share what we have done with the two priorities we chose (Priority #1 and #4). The day began with a prayer and a presentation by Bishop Stephen reminding us of where we started and where we are at now. The work done by the parishes and missions of our Diocese was put together and shared with the Diocese. Our report was sent to a team chosen by the Bishops of Western Canada and a Western Canadian Report was put together. Finally, the reports from across the country were assembled into a Canadian report which was sent to Rome. Reports from around the world were put together and representatives – Bishops and Lay People from across the United States and Canada met via Zoom and responded to the World Report. They listened and discerned what the Holy Spirit was asking of the church at this moment. This process was done by the various continents – South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Each continent will submit a report to Rome for the gathering of Bishops and Lay Representatives in the Fall of 2023. Bishop Stephen urged us to continue listening and responding to what we have heard. Later we will incorporate what the Universal Church is hearing and saying into our own work. Bishop Stephen urged us to continue the work we have begun here and to make it a priority. After Bishop Stephen’s presentation we were divided up into 6 groups of 10-12 people and we listened and shared our responses to 3 themes: 1) Building and Rebuilding Parish Community 2) Listening to the Holy Spirit and 3) Walking with others. We then listened to each group share their insights and reflections on the themes they worked with. In the afternoon following the group reports we listened to each parish share what they had been doing regarding the priorities they had chosen. Unfortunately, I had to leave after the reports and so I was unable to hear the final message of Bishop Stephen. The gathering was good in that we were encouraged by the work being done by one another across the Diocese and the varied ways parishes are trying to rebuild their communities, discern the Spirit and walk with others. One person shared how when she was writing the report for her parish, she was discouraged but when she started listening to what was happening around the diocese in different communities her spirits were lifted. Unfortunately, other than I, no one was present from our Cluster. It was a great opportunity to experience the work of the Spirit in our Diocese. Report from Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen Lake – On Sunday, April 30th after the celebration of our Sunday Eucharist at Joanne’s house we reviewed a sketch that had been developed for our new faith and worship space. Having made some adjustments and additions we will now meet with Bishop Stephen to look once again at our Facility. We will also make plans for the next step which involved obtaining a draftsman to make a technical drawing. Once a technical drawing is in place and we know the cost of what we hope to create we will begin fundraising and putting our finances in place for the construction and furnishing of the Church Building. Please continue to pray for us. We left Joanne’s house with lots of energy and enthusiasm. One person noted, “I can hardly wait until it’s built and we can pray in it!” On May 10, at 2pm (EST), tune in to our Living with Christ webinar: Mary as a Guide to Holiness. Our speaker, Josephine Lombardi, will present us with ways in which we can be more devoted to the blessed Mother of God. More info and registration can be found at https://en.novalis.ca/products/mary-as-a-guide-to-holiness Canada Health Day – Canada Health Day is celebrated May 12 in health care facilities and community services across the country. This day reminds us that health and healing are essential aspects of our baptismal vocation. We are called to take responsibility for our personal health: to prevent illness and to seek a healthy lifestyle. Good health concerns the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health of our communities, respect for God’s creatures and the nurturing of the whole earth. Baptismal Formation Session, Thursday, May 11th at 6:30pm – Make sure to read and complete Lessons Two and Three. We will move forward according to our time! Pancake Breakfast – On Sunday, May 14, we celebrate Mother’s Day, and the Knights of Columbus are hosting a Mother’s Day Breakfast after 10:00 am Mass at Our Lady of Peace Parish. Come and join us for Mass and/or Breakfast. Everyone is welcome and the Breakfast and the Company will be great! 😊 Fr. Doug is Celebrating 40 years as a Priest (June 3, 1983) – Come and join us for a special mass of thanksgiving on Pentecost Sunday, May 28th. The mass will be followed by a special pancake breakfast and program in the Parish Hall to celebrate Fr. Doug’s anniversary. The theme of his ordination was “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The people from St. Jude’s and from Our Lady of the Smile are invited to join us for this celebration. There will be no mass in Green Lake on May 27th and there will be no mass in Waterhen on May 28th. DEANERY 6 CATECHIST APPRECIATION EVENT - On May 30th here in our Parish Hall, we will welcome Christine Taylor from the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to animate a meeting for Parish Catechists. Catechists from the various communities in Deanery 6 will gather and Christine will encourage us to share our thoughts on catechesis, celebrate what has been done and offer some direction for new catechists. At the present time anyone interested in helping with children’s baptism, children’s liturgy, sacramental preparation, general catechesis, and RCIA are welcome to join us for the evening. If you want to take a closer look at what being a catechist is all about…come and join us. Our parish needs catechists, so your generosity is appreciated. Our evening will begin at 7:00 and conclude at 8:30 pm. Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast Day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days in their rejoicing. Taken from the Ordo: Liturgical Calendar, page 211 Scripture Insights – Fifth Sunday of Easter Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 196. The nature of the Church’s ministry emerges in the first reading from Acts. In response to the continued growth of the early Church, the apostles chose seven men, filled with the Holy Spirit, to share their ministry of service. The role of deacon (from the Greek word diakonein, “to serve”) emerges. Preaching (leading people in worship of God) and service (caring for the poor) are the two foundational pillars of ministry. In his first letter, Peter identifies the risen Lord as “a living stone” (2:4), chosen by God the Father, as the cornerstone of a spiritual house where we, his followers, become “living stones.” In spiritual unity with the risen Christ, we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own” (2:9). The context for the Gospel reading is Jesus’ discourse with his followers at the Last Supper. Jesus refers to himself as “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). We are followers of the Way (Jesus) that leads us to the Father. Jesus reveals his intimate relationship with the Father: he is in the Father, as the Father is in him. Jesus’ words are the Father’s words, and Jesus’ works are the Father’s works. United with him, Jesus promises his followers that they too will do great works. From these readings emerge a deeper understanding of Jesus and of our identity. Jesus is the human face of God, as Pope Benedict XVI described him in his encyclicals Saved in Hope and Charity in Truth. As God’s chosen race, we follow Jesus, the Way, to our eternal home.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Rosary and Reflection The next reflection from Bishop Stephen will be offered May 27th from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm! It will be livestreamed on Facebook from the Diocese of Prince Albert! Ron Rolheiser – “Struggling to Give Birth To Hope” (April 10, 2023). The following article, Struggling to Give Birth to Hope is taken from the following website: https://ronrolheiser.com/en/#.ZEx1IHbMKM8 After Jesus rose from the dead, his first appearances were to women. Why? One obvious reason might be that it was women who followed him to his death on Good Friday, while the men largely abandoned him. As well, it was women, not men, who set off for his tomb on Easter morning, hoping to anoint his dead body with spices – so it was women who were in the garden when he first appeared. But there is, I believe, a deeper and more symbolic reason. Women are the midwives. It is generally women who attend to new birth and women who are more paramount in initially nurturing new life in its infancy. In any birth a midwife can be helpful. When a baby is born, normally the head pushes its way through the birth canal first, opening the way for the body to follow. A good midwife can be very helpful at this time, helping to ease that passage through the birth canal, helping ensure that the baby begins to breathe, and helping the mother to immediately begin to nurture that new life. A midwife can sometimes mean the difference between life and death, and she always makes the birth easier and healthier. Jesus’ resurrection birthed new life into our world, and in its infancy that life had to be specially midwifed, both in its emergence and in the initial breaths it took in this world. The resurrection birthed many things, and these had to be midwifed; initially by the women to whom Jesus first appeared, then by the apostles who left us their eyewitness accounts of the risen Jesus, then by the early church, then by its martyrs, then by the lived faith of countless women and men through the centuries, and sometimes too by theologians and spiritual writers. We still need to midwife what was born in the resurrection. And many things were born in that event – an event as radical as the original creation in what it gave birth to. The resurrection of Jesus was the “first day” a second time, the second time light separated from darkness. Indeed, the world measures time by the resurrection. We are in the year 2023 since it happened. (Christianity was born with that event. New time began then. But scholars calculated that Jesus was thirty-three years old when he died and so they added thirty-three years so as to begin new time with the date of his birth.) Prominent within what the resurrection gives birth to and what needs still to be midwifed, is hope. The resurrection gives birth to hope. The women in the Gospels who first met the resurrected Jesus were the first to be given a true reason for hope and were the first to act as midwifes of that new birth. So too must we. We need to become midwives of hope. But what is hope and how is it given birth in the resurrection? Genuine hope is never to be confused with either wishful thinking or temperamental optimism. Unlike hope, wishful thinking isn’t based on anything. It’s pure wishing. Optimism, for its part, takes its root either in a natural temperament (“I always see the bright side of things”) or on how good or bad the evening news looks on a given day. And we know how that can change from day to day. Hope has a different basis. Here’s an example: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a deeply faith-filled scientist, was once challenged by an agnostic colleague after making a presentation within which he tried to show how the story of salvation history fits perfectly with the insights of science regarding the origins of the universe and the process of evolution. Teilhard went on to suggest, in line with Ephesians 1, 3-10, that the end of the whole evolutionary process will be the union of all things in one great final harmony in Christ. An agnostic colleague challenged him to this effect: That’s a wonderfully optimistic little schema you propose. But suppose we blow up the world with an atomic bomb. What happens to your optimist schema then? Teilhard answered in words to this effect: If we blow up the world with an atomic bomb, that will be a set-back, perhaps for millions of years. But what I propose is going to happen, not because I wish it or because I am optimistic that it will happen. It will happen because God promised it – and in the resurrection God showed that God has the power to deliver on that promise. What the women who first met the risen Jesus experienced was hope, the kind of hope that is based on God’s promise to vindicate good over evil and life over death, no matter the circumstance, no matter the obstacle, no matter how awful the news might look on a given day, no matter death itself, and no matter whether we are optimistic or pessimistic. They were the initial midwives helping to give birth to that hope. That task is now ours. Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-4:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23 Refrain April 30, 2023 - 4th Sunday of Easter Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Pastoral Council Chair: Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., May 1 – No mass Tues., May 2 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., May 2 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis & Yolande Gratton Wed., May 3 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis & Yolande Gratton Thurs., May 4– Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat - People of God Fri., May 5 – Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat - People of God Sat., May 6 – 5:00 pm – Liturgy of the Word with Communion at St Jude Parish, Green Lake (Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat for people of the parish) Sun., May 7 – 10:00 am – Liturgy of the Word with Communion at Our Lady of Peace Church. Live streamed on Facebook - (Fr. Doug will say mass on retreat for people of the parish) THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – April 23: Meadow Lake $1650.70 Green Lake – $99.25 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for May – For church movements and groups – We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelization each day, placing their own charisms at their service of needs in the world. Extended Deanery Pastoral Council Meeting – Saturday, April 29th in Edam. We will be reviewing our Synod statements and priorities. The meeting starts at 9:00am Registration and Opening ritual 9:30am and ends at 3:15pm. Our parish chose points 1 and 4 as priorities: 1. Ongoing opportunities for listening to each other to continue healing and reconciliation in our parishes as we become more a Church that journeys together, particularly, with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. 4. Greater emphasis on outreach to those in our parishes who need support and those in need in our communities, both local and global. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this meeting, especially those in leadership positions and the members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus. Please reserve the date. We will be invited to share how we are doing with our priorities. World Day of Prayer for Vocations – On April 30, the fourth Sunday of Easter, Christians are invited to reflect on the meaning of God’s call and to pray for vocations. Christ, the Good Shepherd, continues to lead his people through His Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and calls many to follow Him in this way. Priestly, diaconal, and religious vocations should be a constant concern in the hearts of God’s people. Taken from Ordo: The Liturgical Calendar page 228 Meadow Lake Parish Annual General Meeting – Finances and Facilities – On Sunday, April 30th we will have our AGM – Finances and Facilities, after 10:00 am mass. Please mark April 30 on your calendars and plan to attend. Depending on the questions and ideas that surface, the meeting should take about 45 minutes. The report for the meeting is at the end of the bulletin. Our Financial Statements will be handed out at the meeting. NEWS FROM OUR LADY OF THE SMILE PARISH, WATERHEN – On Tuesday, April 25th there was a meeting involving the Chief and a representative of the Waterhen First Nation Council, and some members of the Catholic Community at Waterhen and Fr. Doug. We talked about how we might proceed with the establishment of a building for our Faith Community. We discussed what we would like to see in the building, as well as costs and funding. We are in the process of preparing a sketch for a building that we might build, and we will also be looking at the costs of purchasing a modular unit. Once we know what we would like we will have a meeting with Bishop Stephen. Once we can figure out the costs that are before us and following appropriate permissions from the Band and from the Diocese, we will look at fundraising. Please, continue to pray for us as we discern the best path for our faith community and for the people of the wider community at Waterhen! Seating and Reception of Communion - Effective Sunday, April 16 a few pews are reserved on the west side of the Church for those who are concerned about their health and need to take precautions when in large groups of people. These pews will have a RESERVED sign on them. The remaining pews on the west side are open for general use. Fr. Doug will distribute communion to the people in the Reserved section and then go to the front where he will distribute communion to the general members of the congregation. Fr. Doug will continue to sanitize his hands and wear a mask when distributing communion. The extraordinary ministers of communion will be asked to sanitize their hands prior to distributing communion but will no longer be required to wear a mask unless they distribute communion on the west side of the Church. Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, other Ministers and parishioners may choose to wear masks as they take part in our Liturgies and parish gatherings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – On May 4th and 5th Flying Dust, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan are organizing a Conference to raise awareness, share experiences and honor the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls+. On the 4th at 9:00 am there will be a walk that will start out at Our Lady of Peace Parish and conclude at the Gymnasium at Flying Dust. This will be followed by prayer and a Feast to remember and to honor and support the missing people and their families. On May 5th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm there will be a program including information around a safety plan, shared experiences, a panel, and educational speakers. Door prizes and lunch are all a part of this information day. I encourage all who can to take part in this Walk and this conference to support those who are missing and those who are grieving. This is a wonderful expression of reconciliation and of our communion with one another. Annual Retreat – Each year, we as priests are encouraged to make an extended retreat. I have been doing an 8-day retreat since my ordination and I plan to do this again this year. I will be away from the Parish Office from noon on Wednesday, May 3rd until Wednesday, May 10th. I will celebrate mass on the morning of Thursday, May 11. If you need a priest during this time, please contact the Parish Office and Pat will help you. I look forward to this time of prayer and silence and spiritual renewal. I assure you that my daily prayer will be for you and for your needs! Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast Day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days in their rejoicing. Taken from the Ordo: Liturgical Calendar, page 211 Scripture Insights – Fourth Sunday of Easter Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 190. In the first reading, Peter addresses the crowd by professing, “God has made him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). His hearers respond to Peter’s challenge to acknowledge the risen Lord by accepting his message and being baptized. Our second reading from the First Letter of Peter is a true gem. By encountering the risen Christ, we experience the true meaning of the mystery of suffering. Though innocent, Jesus suffered willingly for us. In like manner, we should embrace suffering: “If you are patient, when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called” (1 Pt 2:20-21). We are most familiar with images referring to Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life or the Good Shepherd, but in today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the image of “gatekeeping”. Jesus begins with a parable about a gatekeeper who knows Jesus and opens the gate for the sheep to enter the sheepfold. Since the sheep are familiar with Jesus’ voice, they trust him and follow wherever he leads. Jesus tells this parable explicitly for the Pharisees to identify his role as leader of God’s people. When the Pharisees fail to understand Jesus’ message, he becomes more direct: “I am the gate for the sheep” (Jn 10:7). As the gate, Jesus offers safety as well as freedom on the path to salvation. This image opens a richness for reflection. As the gate, Jesus offers access to what nourishes and protects from harm. The risen Lord sustains us in our journey, accompanying us as we move toward the Father.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine welcomes Pilgrims to our Annual General Meeting When: Saturday May 6, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:00pm Where: Museum in Duck Lake which is right off the highway We welcome Pilgrims:
Rosary and Reflection The next reflection from Bishop Stephen will be offered May 27th from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm! It will be livestreamed on Facebook from the Diocese of Prince Albert! AGM – Finances and Facilities - April 30, 2023 As indicated earlier I have decided to split up the Pastoral Ministry and the Finances and Facilities AGM so that the meetings are not so long. The Finance and Facilities AGM will take place on April 30th after 10:00 am mass. This report will encourage us to think about and reflect on our Financial Resources and the use of our Grounds and Facilities – Parish Hall, Parish Garage, Parish Rectory, and our Parish Church building. This reflection will include our Financial Report for 2022, our Budget for 2023, the new Contract for the Parish Hall, the Cemetery Committee and the possibility of adding a few members to our Finance Council. At the present time our Finance Council is composed of Margaret Alger, Judy Barker, Sandra Senga, Pat Bencharski, (Bookkeeper/Accountant) and Fr. Doug. Financial Report for 2022 - Things to take note of in our Financial Report. In the past year we purchased two new furnaces for the Parish Hall as the previous furnaces had reached the end of their life. We also purchased a furnace for the Church. We completed the fencing of the yard for the Pastor. We resolved the sump pump issues in the basement of the Church and as a result no longer must deal with the sewer gas smell that was often present in the Parish Office. A new lawn tractor was purchased. We paid out our commitment to furnishing the new room at the Lodge. Last year we also experienced a significant increase in our insurance rates, and our Utilities expenses. During the pandemic our Sunday income dropped significantly and in the latter part of 2022 we saw a gradual increase in our Sunday income. Having achieved all those things and the payment of our ordinary expenses we were left with a deficit of $3,636.55. It is important to note that in the past year we set aside $190,000.00 for two long-term GICs. We received good interest rates on both investments in the Royal Bank and in the Credit Union. Budget for 2023 For the coming year there are no significant expenses in our ordinary budget. It is our intention to pinpoint and resolve the sewer smell at the Parish Rectory and to purchase a new computer to broadcast song lyrics at our Sunday masses. It is also our intention to repaint the statue at the Grotto. We incurred an extraordinary expense when we received the bill from the RM ($6000.00) for fighting the fire at Cabana. You will notice that we are anticipating an increase in our Sunday collections. We also anticipate increases in our Power and Heating bills. As a result, we are projecting a deficit of $11,890.00. We are looking at some additional Fundraising activities in the parish that will serve to deepen our appreciation of our community members and at the same time bring in a few dollars for our parish. Parish Hall Contract – copies of the Parish Hall Contract will be made available at the meeting for our consideration and feedback. The rental of our Parish Hall will be dependent upon finding and recruiting an on-call janitor service and parish volunteers to oversee each function. Cemetery Committee – the Diocese has asked us to ensure that our 3 cemeteries are properly cared for – for now and on into the future. To that end we are establishing a Cemetery Committee that will review the status and the state of the three cemeteries and help us make decisions for their ongoing care. Additional Members – while it is our opinion that our Finance Council is working well, we would like to add a few members who would be able to take the place of those who left the Council after the beginning of the pandemic. Things to Note: We exceeded our Bishop’s Annual Appeal Goal for the third year in a row. Thanks to the generosity of our people. We would like to replace the wooden tables in the Parish Hall with plastic tables. Next year’s budget? We anticipate that we will need to arrange for an engineering assessment of our Church building in 2024 as our previous assessment reaches its best before date! Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-3:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Lord, you will show me the path of life. Psalm 16 Refrain April 23, 2023 - 3rd Sunday of Easter Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Pastoral Council Chair: Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., Apr. 24 – No mass Tues., Apr.25 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., Apr. 25 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Wed., Apr. 26 – No mass (Funeral Service – Cindy Carrier at 2:00 pm) Thurs., Apr. 27– 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Fri., Apr. 28 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Sat., Apr. 29 – 5:00 pm (St Jude Parish, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Apr. 30 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God Sun., Apr. 30 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – April 16: Meadow Lake $2292.85 Green Lake – $38.25 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for April – For a culture of peace and non-violence – We pray for the spread of peace and non-violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by States and citizens. Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast Day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days in their rejoicing. Taken from the Ordo: Liturgical Calendar, page 211 World Day of Prayer for Vocations – On April 30, the fourth Sunday of Easter, Christians are invited to reflect on the meaning of God’s call and to pray for vocations. Christ, the Good Shepherd, continues to lead his people through His Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and calls many to follow Him in this way. Priestly, diaconal, and religious vocations should be a constant concern in the hearts of God’s people. Taken from Ordo: the Liturgical Calendar page 228 Cleaning Day in the Church at Our Lady of Peace – Thank you to everyone that came on Wednesday, April 19 to help do a deep clean in the Church. The building has been renewed. Your generosity is appreciated. Extended Deanery Pastoral Council Meeting – Saturday, April 29th in Edam. We will be reviewing our Synod statements and priorities. The meeting starts at 9:00am Registration and Opening ritual 9:30am and ends at 3:15pm. Our parish chose points 1 and 4 as priorities: 1. Ongoing opportunities for listening to each other to continue healing and reconciliation in our parishes as we become more a Church that journeys together, particularly, with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. 4. Greater emphasis on outreach to those in our parishes who need support and those in need in our communities, both local and global. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this meeting, especially those in leadership positions and the members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus. Please reserve the date. We will be invited to share how we are doing with our priorities. Meadow Lake Parish Annual General Meeting – Finances and Facilities – Last Sunday we had the AGM – Pastoral Ministry after the 10:00 am mass. A special word of thanks to all those who took part in the meeting and a special word of thanks to those who said yes to serving on our Parish Pastoral Council. I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have been serving during these last years and especially during the pandemic. A special shout out to Doris Beaubien who was the chair of the Council. On Sunday, April 30th we will have our AGM – Finances and Facilities, after 10:00 am mass. Please mark April 30 on your calendars and plan to attend. Depending on the questions and ideas that surface, the meeting should take about 45 minutes. The report for the meeting is at the end of the bulletin. Our Financial Statements will be handed out at the meeting. Seating and Reception of Communion - Effective Sunday, April 16 a few pews are reserved on the west side of the Church for those who are concerned about their health and need to take precautions when in large groups of people. These pews will have a RESERVED sign on them. The remaining pews on the west side are open for general use. Fr. Doug will distribute communion to the people in the Reserved section and then go to the front where he will distribute communion to the general members of the congregation. Fr. Doug will continue to sanitize his hands and wear a mask when distributing communion. The extraordinary ministers of communion will be asked to sanitize their hands prior to distributing communion but will no longer be required to wear a mask unless they distribute communion on the west side of the Church. Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, other Ministers and parishioners may choose to wear masks as they take part in our Liturgies and parish gatherings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – On May 4th, Flying Dust is organizing a walk to honor the missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The walk will start out at Our Lady of Peace Parish and conclude at the Gymnasium at Flying Dust. Further details will be given as the event draws near. I encourage all who can, to take part in this Walk to support those who are missing and those who are grieving. Annual Retreat – Each year, we as priests are encouraged to make an extended retreat. I have been doing an 8 day retreat since my ordination and I plan to do this again this year. I will be away from noon on Wednesday, May 3rd until Wednesday, May 10th. If you need a priest during this time, please contact the Parish Office and Pat will help you. I look forward to this time of prayer and silence and I assure you that my daily prayer will be for you and your needs! Scripture Insights – Third Sunday of Easter Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 184. Today’s Gospel reading vividly reveals the transforming power of an encounter with the risen Lord. Two bitterly disappointed disciples are leaving Jerusalem, where their hopes have been destroyed. Jesus, “the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word” (Lk 24:19) and whom they believed had promised a new kingdom, had been crucified, died, and was buried. All their hopes and expectations have come to nothing. Along the road to Emmaus, a stranger joins them, and they share with him their frustrations. The Gospel reading contains a remarkable message for us and every generation. Like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we encounter the presence of the risen Lord every time we gather to hear the Scriptures proclaimed and witness the bread of the Eucharist broken. “The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body” (Dei verbum, 21).
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Message from Fr. Ken Forester OMI, from the Oblate Missionary Association – Fr. Ken Forester, OMI, one of the Directors of our Missionary Association has taped a message for all who have helped or are interested in helping the Oblates share the Gospel around the world. The message is entitled: You are Simon of Cyrene Carrying the Cross of Christ! It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlcFzsoL_8&feature=youtu.be From Catholic Missions in Canada – The Tastes of Heaven Gala will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 27, 2023, beginning at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (3:00 pm here in Saskatchewan). This event is a fundraiser for Catholic Missions in Canada. Faith communities here in our Diocese receive some funding from Catholic Missions in Canada. Both Waterhen Lake and Green Lake receive funding from Catholic Missions. The goals of the Fundraiser include raising $250,000.00 and making known the work of Catholic Missions in Canada. Please mark your calendars and inform yourselves of the work of the Church in Canada. This year (2023) Catholic Missions in Canada will disburse $4,834,441.00 to parishes across our Great Country. The funds are used to pay salaries, pay for travel, train lay people, provide funds for seminarians, help with Church repairs, provide utilities in remote areas to name just a few. If you would like to make a donation please contact Pat or Fr. Doug. Rosary and Reflection – Once a month, from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, with Bishop Stephen. The next reflections will be offered May 27th! Livestreamed from Prince Albert! Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine welcomes Pilgrims to our Annual General Meeting When: Saturday May 6, 2023 from 1:00 - 2:00pm Where: Museum in Duck Lake which is right off the highway We welcome Pilgrims:
AGM – Finances and Facilities April 30, 2023 As indicated earlier I have decided to split up the Pastoral Ministry and the Finances and Facilities AGM so that the meetings are not so long. The Finance and Facilities AGM will take place on April 30th after 10:00 am mass. This report will encourage us to think about and reflect on our Financial Resources and the use of our Grounds and Facilities – Parish Hall, Parish Garage, Parish Rectory, and our Parish Church building. This reflection will include our Financial Report for 2022, our Budget for 2023, the new Contract for the Parish Hall, the Cemetery Committee and the possibility of adding a few members to our Finance Council. At the present time our Finance Council is composed of Margaret Alger, Judy Barker, Sandra Senga, Pat Bencharski, (Bookkeeper/Accountant) and Fr. Doug. Financial Report for 2022 - Things to take note of in our Financial Report. In the past year we purchased two new furnaces for the Parish Hall as the previous furnaces had reached the end of their life. We also purchased a furnace for the Church. We completed the fencing of the yard for the Pastor. We resolved the sump pump issues in the basement of the Church and as a result no longer must deal with the sewer gas smell that was often present in the Parish Office. A new lawn tractor was purchased. We paid out our commitment to furnishing the new room at the Lodge. Last year we also experienced a significant increase in our insurance rates, and our Utilities expenses. During the pandemic our Sunday income dropped significantly and in the latter part of 2022 we saw a gradual increase in our Sunday income. Having achieved all those things and the payment of our ordinary expenses we were left with a deficit of $3,636.55. It is important to note that in the past year we set aside $190,000.00 for two long-term GICs. We received good interest rates on both investments in the Royal Bank and in the Credit Union. Budget for 2023 For the coming year there are no significant expenses in our ordinary budget. It is our intention to pinpoint and resolve the sewer smell at the Parish Rectory and to purchase a new computer to broadcast song lyrics at our Sunday masses. It is also our intention to repaint the statue at the Grotto. We incurred an extraordinary expense when we received the bill from the RM ($6000.00) for fighting the fire at Cabana. You will notice that we are anticipating an increase in our Sunday collections. We also anticipate increases in our Power and Heating bills. As a result, we are projecting a deficit of $11,890.00. We are looking at some additional Fundraising activities in the parish that will serve to deepen our appreciation of our community members and at the same time bring in a few dollars for our parish. Parish Hall Contract – copies of the Parish Hall Contract will be made available at the meeting for our consideration and feedback. The rental of our Parish Hall will be dependent upon finding and recruiting an on-call janitor service and parish volunteers to oversee each function. Cemetery Committee – the Diocese has asked us to ensure that our 3 cemeteries are properly cared for – for now and on into the future. To that end we are establishing a Cemetery Committee that will review the status and the state of the three cemeteries and help us make decisions for their ongoing care. Additional Members – while it is our opinion that our Finance Council is working well, we would like to add a few members who would be able to take the place of those who left the Council after the beginning of the pandemic. Things to Note: We exceeded our Bishop’s Annual Appeal Goal for the third year in a row. Thanks to the generosity of our people. We would like to replace the wooden tables in the Parish Hall with plastic tables. Next year’s budget? We anticipate that we will need to arrange for an engineering assessment of our Church building in 2024 as our previous assessment reaches its best before date! Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-3:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118 Refrain April 16, 2023 - 2nd Sunday of Easter Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Pastoral Council Chair: Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., Apr. 17 – No mass Tues., Apr.18 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., Apr. 18 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Wed., Apr. 19 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Thurs., Apr. 20– 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Fri., Apr. 21 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous Sat., Apr. 22 – 5:00 pm (St Jude Parish, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Apr. 23 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – April 9: Meadow Lake $1949.10 Green Lake – $365.60 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for April – For a culture of peace and non-violence – We pray for the spread of peace and non-violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by States and citizens. Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast Day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days in their rejoicing. Taken from Ordo: the Liturgical Calendar page 211 Easter Liturgies in the Meadow Lake Cluster – Many thanks to all who helped prepare and celebrate our Easter Liturgies. Many visitors (physical and virtual) commented positively on the quality of our celebrations. Good celebrations are possible when we work together. Thank you! Meadow Lake Parish Annual General Meeting – This year we will have a Parish AGM for the first time since 2019. To avoid a long meeting and to enable us to have a clear focus, we will have two meetings, one will focus on our Parish Ministry, April 16 after mass and one will focus on our Finances and Facilities, April 30 after mass. Please mark these dates on your calendars and plan to attend. Depending on the questions and ideas that surface, the meetings should not take more than 45 minutes. Baptismal Formation – Beginning on Thursday, April 20th at 6:30 pm those who would like to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism with their children are invited to come and begin our Baptismal Formation Program. We will be gathering as a group to deepen our sense of community and learn together. These formation sessions are required prior to the celebration of the sacrament. Please bring your Bible and please come having read Chapters 1-4 of Luke’s Gospel. In addition, please make attending Sunday mass a priority for you and your family. Thank You from the Door of Hope Board of Directors - A special thank you to all who donated food items and cash to our 40 Cans for Lent Food Project. 1,068 food items or 917 pounds of food were donated to the Door of Hope. This is a great example of exemplifying the Corporal Work of Mercy of feeding the hungry. Donations of food or Cash are welcome at any time. Thank you! On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Chris Bencharski - Board Member Seating and Reception of Communion - Effective this Sunday, a few pews will be reserved on the west side of the Church for those who are concerned about their health and need to take precautions when in large groups of people. These pews will have a RESERVED sign on them. The remaining pews on the west side are open for general use. Fr. Doug will distribute communion to the people in the Reserved section and then go to the front where he will distribute communion to the general members of the congregation. Fr. Doug will continue to sanitize his hands and wear a mask when distributing communion. The extraordinary ministers of communion will be asked to sanitize their hands prior to distributing communion but will no longer be required to wear a mask unless they distribute communion on the west side of the Church. Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, other Ministers and parishioners may choose to wear masks as they take part in our Liturgies and parish gatherings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Doctrine of Discovery – Recently you may have heard various news outlets saying that the Vatican, in response to requests from Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world, has rescinded the Doctrine of Discovery. They have also published various reactions to the information. You can read the Vatican statement for yourself by following this link: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/03/30/0238/00515.html And you can read the statements made by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops by following this link here: https://www.cccb.ca/letter/statement-by-the-permanent-council-of-the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-on-the-joint-statement-of-the-dicastery-for-culture-and-education-and-the-dicastery-for-promoting-integral-human-deve/ Extended Deanery Pastoral Council Meeting – Saturday, April 29th in Edam. We will be reviewing our Synod statements and priorities. The meeting starts at 9:00am Registration and Opening ritual 9:30am and ends at 3:15pm. Our parish chose points 1 and 4 as priorities: 1. Ongoing opportunities for listening to each other to continue healing and reconciliation in our parishes as we become more a Church that journeys together, particularly, with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. 4. Greater emphasis on outreach to those in our parishes who need support and those in need in our communities, both local and global. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this meeting, especially those in leadership positions and the members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus. Please reserve the date. We will be invited to share how we are doing with our priorities. Highlights from the Finance Council Meeting – April 13, 2023 - Our Finance Council met on Thursday afternoon to continue our work. We reviewed the renewed contract for the use of the Parish Hall. We are now looking for a janitor to clean the Parish Hall when needed. When a janitorial team is in place, we will then look at organizing volunteers to oversee the use of the Parish Hall when it is rented. We have increased the fee for the use of the Parish Hall to $500.00 per day. The last increase was in 2016. This will help us to cover our increased energy, power, and maintenance costs. The new Parish Hall Rental contract will be presented at the AGM – Finances and Facilities, scheduled for April 30th after mass. We continue to examine the insurance coverage that we have for our facilities, and we hope to make some decisions in the near future. We reviewed our Financial Reports for 2023 and we are pleased to note that our income has increased. After paying our expanses our net income is about $7,000.00 for the First Quarter. A huge word of thanks to those who are so generous in supporting our parish community. As a parish we are responsible for 3 cemeteries, and so we will be establishing a Cemetery Committee to make sure that the cemeteries are properly cared for. This work is just beginning. We will be looking for people who are interested in helping us care for these cemeteries. If you are interested in helping us, please contact the Parish Office. The Diocese has recommended that we attend to this important work. We reviewed the information we received from the Diocesan Finance Webinar and noted where it pertains to us. Of special interest to us was the information around an updated inventory. As a Finance Council we are looking at some Fundraisers for our Parish. We are looking at a Bingo with some larger prizes, a 50/50 draw and a Fishing Derby. If you have thoughts or are interested in volunteering, we would like to hear from you. We also prepared the agenda for our AGM – Finances and Facilities. Some of the items include a Financial Report, our 2023 Budget, the renewed Parish Hall Rental Contract, and an invitation for additional members to assist us in our work. Diocesan Finance Council – On Wednesday, April 12th our Finance Council took part in a webinar around the Finances of the Diocese. A few take aways for us include: The income the Diocese has comes from three main sources – Cathedraticum, Bishop’s Annual Appeal and from the Diocesan Investments. Due to increased expenses and decreased income from investments the Diocese has been using investment monies to continue with ordinary operations. Cathedraticum - The tax (12.5%) that each parish pays to the Diocese on their income. Bishop’s Annual Appeal – Each parish is given a target amount based on a formula of number of people, Sunday Collections, Financial trends. The parishes hopefully meet their target, and the money is used to finance programs in the Diocese. This year a much smaller number of parishes reached their target, but the Diocese reached their goal thanks to a very generous donor. Investments – Money from the Diocese that has been placed in a conservative investment plan. Generally, the diocese uses 5% of their interest to help cover operational costs. According to Rules for Charitable organizations we are not allowed to offer receipts for In-Kind contributions without establishing a clear paper trail. If anyone has questions, please contact the Parish Office. It is important for us to have an updated inventory of our Assets. This is something we as the Finance Council need to work on. If we rent our facilities and alcohol is served the renter must obtain liability insurance. The Finance Council will review our Parish Hall policy re: serving alcohol. Insurance costs have increased over the last number of years due to spiraling construction costs and risk assessment. Several Church properties have been vandalized or destroyed in recent years and a lot of money has been paid out by our insurance company. Commercial properties are high risk because they are large and expensive to replace, and no one lives in the building. When considering the viability of a parish and how much insurance is required re: replacing an existing Church, Rectory or Hall we should consider – How many people contribute to the Parish? What does our volunteer base look like? What is our financial situation re: income, expenses, and savings? What is the age of our facility? Cleaning Day in the Church at Our Lady of Peace – The cleaning folks are inviting parishioners to come on Wednesday, April 19 to help do a deep clean in the Church. They will be working from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm … any hands are welcome, and your generosity is appreciated. Green Lake News
Scripture Insights – Second Sunday of Easter/Sunday of Divine Mercy Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 178. The resurrection’s transforming power is apparent in today’s readings. In the Gospel, the frightened disciples are changed as Jesus enters the room in which they are hiding. With the greeting Shalom, Jesus offers them blessings on every dimension of their being. This blessing, translated as “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:21), communicates God’s mercy. Jesus goes further by extending the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (19: 22-23). The Spirit’s power transforms their lives, enabling them to extend God’s mercy and forgiveness to those who seek it. The risen Lord still bears the marks of his crucifixion. He is always the wounded Christ, as the Book of Revelation relates (5:6). The apostle Thomas is not present on this occasion and refuses to believe the witness of the other disciples. A week later Thomas is present when the risen Lord appears again. There, Thomas makes a confession of faith as he says, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). Jesus responds by blessing those who have not seen and yet believed. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles offers an insight into the life of that first Christian community transformed by the risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. United in Spirit, they shared their possessions, and no one was in need. They present the ideal Christian community open to God’s grace. Peter, in the second reading, uses the form of a Jewish blessing to praise God. These words remind people today of the risen Christ’s new life received in baptism. “Although you have not seen him you love him” (Pt 1:8) are the most reassuring words addressed to us today.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Message from Fr. Ken Forester OMI, from the Oblate Missionary Association – Fr. Ken Forester, OMI, one of the Directors of our Missionary Association has taped a message for all who have helped or are interested in helping the Oblates share the Gospel around the world. The message is entitled: You are Simon of Cyrene Carrying the Cross of Christ! It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlcFzsoL_8&feature=youtu.be Fr. Zdzislaw Karcz, MSF a missionary of the Holy Family died in the monastery in Poland on Good Friday, April 7. Fr. Zidi served in the parishes of Shellbrook, Krydor, Hafford, Mayfair, Blaine Lake, Tisdale, Bjorkdale, Sturgeon Lake, Marcellin and in Prince Albert at the Victoria Hospital, Mont St. Joseph, Pineview Terrance, Columbian Centre and the Herb Bassett Centre. Fr. Zidi returned to Poland in 2014. From Catholic Missions in Canada – The Tastes of Heaven Gala will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 27, 2023, beginning at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (3:00 pm here in Saskatchewan). This event is a fundraiser for Catholic Missions in Canada. Faith communities here in our Diocese receive some funding from Catholic Missions in Canada. Both Waterhen Lake and Green Lake receive funding from Catholic Missions. The goals of the Fundraiser include raising $250,000.00 and making known the work of Catholic Missions in Canada. Please mark your calendars and inform yourselves of the work of the Church in Canada. This year (2023) Catholic Missions in Canada will disburse $4,834,441.00 to parishes across our Great Country. The funds are used to pay salaries, pay for travel, train lay people, provide funds for seminarians, help with Church repairs, provide utilities in remote areas to name just a few. If you would like to make a donation please contact Pat or Fr. Doug. Rosary and Reflection – Once a month, from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, with Bishop Stephen. The next reflections will be offered April 15th, and May 27th! Livestreamed from Prince Albert! 4/6/2023 0 Comments Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake Office Hours: Closed Monday Tuesday - Friday 1-3:00 pm Office Phone: 306-236-5122 Cell Phone: 306-304-7271 Parish Email: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Psalm 118 Refrain April 9, 2023 - Easter Sunday Our Vision: A Community of Disciples Our Mission We commit to form disciples who joyfully and faithfully live out the mission of Jesus Christ by enriching our relationship with God and neighbour through the intercession of Our Lady of Peace. Pastor: Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Parish Secretary: Pat Bencharski Pastoral Council Chair: Mass Intentions When there is a funeral, the daily mass will normally be cancelled. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information. On Tuesday to Friday and on Sunday, Our Lady of Peace masses will be livestreamed on Facebook. Mon., Apr. 10 – No mass Tues., Apr.11 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Wed., Apr. 12 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Thanksgiving by Swapna & Bijo Thurs., Apr. 13– 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Annie Santos by Darcy, Dustin & Jim Thomas & Kelty Esau Fri., Apr. 14 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Agnes Marie Morin by Audrey & Gilbert Griffiths Sat., Apr. 15 – 5:00 pm (St Jude Parish, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Apr. 16 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – March 26: Meadow Lake $3319.60 Green Lake – $591.00 March CAFT $2160.00 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for April – For a culture of peace and non-violence – We pray for the spread of peace and non-violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by States and citizens. Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast Day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days in their rejoicing. Taken from Ordo: the Liturgical Calendar page 211 Fr. Doug will be available for liturgies and meetings this week but will not be in the Parish Office during the day! In case of an emergency please call the Parish Cell Phone! Meadow Lake Parish Annual General Meeting – This year we will have a Parish AGM for the first time since 2019. To avoid a long meeting and to enable us to have a clear focus, we will have two meetings, one will focus on our Parish Ministry and one will focus on our Finances and Facilities. Prior to the meetings we will distribute reports concerning our Pastoral Ministry and our Finances and Facilities. Our first AGM in Meadow Lake will take place immediately after mass on Sunday, April 16, and will focus on the Pastoral Ministry of the Parish, and we will have elections for our Parish Pastoral Council. On April 30th we will meet again immediately after mass, and we will focus on our Finances and Facilities. We will review our Financial Statement for 2022 and we will look at our Budget for 2023. We will also look to adding a few additional members to our Finance Council. The reports provided before the Pastoral Ministry Sunday and the Finances and Facilities Sunday will give us the opportunity to think deeply about what we need and want for our parish community. Please mark these dates on your calendars and plan to attend. Depending on the questions and ideas that surface, the meetings should not take more than 45 minutes. Doctrine of Discovery – Recently you may have heard various news outlets saying that the Vatican, in response to requests from Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world, has rescinded the Doctrine of Discovery. They have also published various reactions to the information. You can read the Vatican statement for yourself by following this link: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/03/30/0238/00515.html And you can read the statements made by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops by following this link here: https://www.cccb.ca/letter/statement-by-the-permanent-council-of-the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-on-the-joint-statement-of-the-dicastery-for-culture-and-education-and-the-dicastery-for-promoting-integral-human-deve/ Meaning of Easter Season - Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pp 149-150. The Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year state: Since Christ accomplished his work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God principally through his Paschal Mystery, in which by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life, the sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord shines forth as the high point of the entire liturgical year. These three days make up the heart of the liturgical year and, in turn, the very spiritual life of the Church. Christianity is built on the paschal mystery: Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The Triduum revives the Christian narrative of these mysteries as each festal day flows into the next. Martin Connell notes that the celebrations of Holy Thursday and Good Friday do not end with direct dismissals as a typical Mass does but are rather marked with “ritual ellipses,” which bring us into [the next day’s] liturgy (Eternity Today, volume 2, p. 128). Thursday’s story cannot end with the Lord’s Supper. We are submerged into Christ’s death on Friday, and yet his death is not the end, either: hope remains in the resurrection! Praying with the many signs and symbols of the Sacred Paschal Triduum is a powerful experience. Holy Thursday invites us to engage with the story of the Last Supper, bringing out themes of the Eucharistic banquet and service, as portrayed by the washing of the feet. Bread, wine, and water are central to this celebration. The Church fasts from all sacraments except penance and anointing of the sick between Thursday evening and the Easter Vigil, so the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is the last Mass celebrated until Saturday night. This might surprise parishioners – even those who attend the Triduum liturgies every year – so liturgical catechesis is key to the connection between Thursday and Friday. Although the Eucharistic banquet is essential to this celebration, many parishioners likely equate Holy Thursday with the footwashing. We see both themes represented in The Roman Missal texts of the day: the opening collect of Thursday’s Mass dubs this the “banquet of [Christ’s] love,” while the entrance antiphon looks ahead to the cross: We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. Water cultivates community and cleanses us on Thursday, while on Good Friday water and blood flow from the body of Christ on the cross. The central ritual of Good Friday is, of course, the adoration of the cross. An ancient rite, this public action unites our individual and communal suffering with that of Christ, the Suffering Servant described by the prophet Isaiah. It is notable that the adoration of the cross takes place after we have heard and prayed the solemn intercessions. We place these prayers at the foot of the cross, “on which was hung our salvation,” and together we pray for the salvation of our Church and world. When looking upon the cross, we grieve as though looking at death. Good Friday puts into practice the Benedictine way of “keeping death daily before our eyes” (Rule of St. Benedict, chap. 4). While most of us probably don’t think of death daily, the Triduum places death in front of the Church in a visceral way, with both John’s lengthy account of the passion and the physical, tangible cross. The cross leads, of course, to the hope of the resurrection celebrated first at the Easter Vigil. Throughout Saturday night’s liturgy we recall salvation history through many elements: the swirling chaos of creation, dust, water, darkness, light, and fire. The Easter Vigil is the “mother of all holy Vigils” as we celebrate the joy and light of the resurrection breaking through the darkness of the night! The Vigil can feel like time outside of time as we set fire to the past, hear the Exultet proclaim that “this is the night,” and prepare a new paschal candle. While many parishioners have never attended an Easter Vigil, those who have usually never forget their Vigil experience. In order to truly make this the “mother of all holy Vigils” at which the Body of Christ gathers and participates, catechize your congregation about its importance and invite the wider community to the Easter Vigil. This is the heart of our liturgical year. These three days can be particularly hectic for liturgical ministers. Ensuring that preparations are made well in advance can aid the ministers’ prayer during this sacred time. While the Church calls for fasting throughout Friday and Saturday, it is important to prioritize care for oneself and for your ministry team. Consider having an honest conversation with the liturgy preparation team before the Triduum about what each person will do to maintain self-care amid the call to fast. Your team might assemble a plan to eat as usual while fasting from other things such as technology, dessert, or alcohol. The Triduum requires our active, bodily participation in its sacred rituals. Ensure that those who prepare and “run” the liturgy have a chance to participate in each action! Take an opportunity to see the Vigil fire and to joyfully sing, “Glory to God in the highest,” and “Alleluia!” As the Triduum deeply nourishes our communities, we must participate in these embodied rituals so that our faith might also find joy in the resurrection of Christ. Scripture Insights – Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 166. “The Lord is truly risen, alleluia,” proclaims today’s entrance antiphon. All three readings speak to this foundational confession. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus and draws out its significance for us: “Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, also expresses the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Since we have been raised with Christ, our focus should not be on things of this world, but we must “seek what is above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1). One figure central to all of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection is Mary Magdalene. The early Christians called her “the apostle to the apostles.” She was the first to break the news to the disciples of the empty tomb and the first to witness the risen Lord. In today’s reading from John’s Gospel, Mary, on discovering the tomb to be empty, tells this news to “Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 20:2). The two run to the tomb. The Beloved Disciple arrives first but, out of deference, allows Peter to enter the tomb before him. Peter sees the burial cloths lying there. When the Beloved Disciple enters, the narrator deliberately comments that “he saw and believed” (20:8). Until this time, they had failed to understand Jesus’ teaching that “he had to rise from the dead” (20:9). The Beloved Disciple was the first to believe. Only through love does one come to grasp the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection and God’s love for us.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND From Catholic Missions in Canada – The Tastes of Heaven Gala will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 27, 2023, beginning at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (3:00 pm here in Saskatchewan). This event is a fundraiser for Catholic Missions in Canada. Faith communities here in our Diocese receive some funding from Catholic Missions in Canada. Both Waterhen Lake and Green Lake receive funding from Catholic Missions. The goals of the Fundraiser include raising $250,000.00 and making known the work of Catholic Missions in Canada. Please mark your calendars and inform yourselves of the work of the Church in Canada. This year (2023) Catholic Missions in Canada will disburse $4,834,441.00 to parishes across our Great Country. The funds are used to pay salaries, pay for travel, train lay people, provide funds for seminarians, help with Church repairs, provide utilities in remote areas to name just a few. If you would like to make a donation please contact Pat or Fr. Doug. Rosary and Reflection – Once a month, from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, with Bishop Stephen. The next reflections will be offered April 15th, and May 27th! Livestreamed from Prince Albert! *********************************************************************************** Dear Parishioners: Once again, we are celebrating the central mystery of our faith: Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus. On Holy Thursday we are reminded of the Last Supper and how the friends of Jesus gathered with him. They had a wonderful meal and Jesus reminded them that they are to be servants of their brothers and sisters. The lesson is not lost on us. We need one another. How far will we go in our acts of service. On Good Friday, Jesus demonstrated how far he was willing to go. He was willing to give his life for us. He did this not because we had earned his generosity but because he loved us. At the Easter Vigil we remember our history as God’s people. Throughout human history God has been reaching out to us. God’s commitment to us knows no bounds. God raises Jesus from the dead and not only Jesus, but God also raises us up too! Perhaps as we celebrate Easter this year, we can stretch a little and make an extra effort to be patient, to encourage, to teach, to forgive, and to love. Perhaps we can once again reveal that God is at work in the world. As you gather with family and friends let your love shine for all the world to see. Begin at home with your partner, your family and slowly widen the circle to include the earth that is our home! Happy Easter and may the Holy Spirit continue to shape us as disciples of Jesus Christ! Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI (Pastor) and Pat Bencharski (Parish Secretary) |
Parish BulletinThis bulletin is prepared by the Parish Secretary and the Pastor Archives
June 2023
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