13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 27, 2021

Our Lady of Peace Parish
Also Serving Our Lady of the Smile Parish, Waterhen Lake and St. Jude’s Parish, Green Lake

Office Hours For Parish Secretary: Monday - Friday: 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Office Hours For Fr. Doug: Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Office Phone:  306-236-5122 
Cell Phone: 306-304-7271
Parish Email: [email protected] Pastor Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake
Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/
Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5

“I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.”   Psalm 30
 
June 27, 2021 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
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: Lorraine Thibeault
Pastoral Council Chair: Doris Beaubien
 
SaskHealth/Diocese of Prince Albert Regulations – On June 20th, we moved to a new phase in the ‘reopening of Saskatchewan’, this phase has little impact on how we celebrate liturgy and gather as a parish. At Our Lady of Peace Parish, we can welcome 25 family groups of people to our Parish Hall and to our Parish Church. The size of the individual groups will determine how many people we can welcome as long as we do not exceed one-third the capacity of our building or 150 people. We are still required to wear masks, to sanitize and to maintain 2-metre social distance, and we are still required to register for mass (Saturday night and Sunday morning at the Parish Office 306 236 5122 before Friday noon). The presence of the Covid-19 variants (Delta) continues to cause concern among health care professionals as it spreads quickly and can seriously impact our health and well being. The virus has not gone away. Our Liturgies at Green Lake and Waterhen Lake are likewise limited by these regulations. 
 
Thank you for all you have done and are doing to keep your brothers and sisters safe during the pandemic. If you can be vaccinated, please get vaccinated to avoid the unnecessary loss of life. Please be aware that if you HAVE NOT been vaccinated and you choose to join us for liturgy, you are EXPOSING YOURSELF TO SERIOUS RISK because of the COVID-19 virus. Vaccinated people may still carry and transmit the virus even though they are not aware of any symptoms. Let us continue to be respectful of people who are cautious and concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones.
Effective June 29th people are welcome to physically take part in the daily masses at Our Lady of Peace Church. Our daily mass schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday and Wednesday mass will be celebrated at 6:30 pm;
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday mass will be celebrated at 9:30 am unless there is a funeral in which case the daily mass will be cancelled that day.
• Tuesday to Friday the masses will continue to be live-streamed on Facebook.
  

Please stay tuned for further adjustments as new information comes from Sask Health and our Diocese.
 
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. June 29th at 7:00 pm, Fr Doug is involved in a Zoom Conference with the Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis.
2. July 1 is Canada – Mass as usual but the Parish Office is closed.
3. Join us for Songs at Seven on Thursdays at 7:00 pm.
4. A reminder to all!  Please get vaccinated if your health allows you to do so! Don’t forget to register for your second vaccine when you are eligible!
5. Painting the Rectory and Deck – The workers have been amazing, and the project is nearing completion. This week the sanding and scraping on the deck was completed, and the deck was stained. The final work is the trim, windows and doors. This work is also nearing completion. A huge thanks to Walter LeBoeuf, Rhys & Pat Beaulieu, Ray Miller, Theresa Rodrigue, Ken Alger and Lorne Hanowski.  

Mass Intentions
 
Mon., June 28 - Personal Intention
 
Tues., June 29 – 6:30 pm (Facebook) - +Eva & Joe Malboeuf by Paulette Tourand
 
Wed., June 30 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +George Malboeuf by Paulette Tourand
 
Thurs., July 1 – 9:30 am (Facebook) - +Victor Tourand by Paulette Tourand
 
Fri., July 2 – 9:30 am (Facebook) - +Ernest and Marie Michel by Carol Preece
 
Sat., July 3 – 9:30 am (Facebook) - +Ernest and Marie Michel by Carol Preece
 
Sat. July 3 - 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Parish Hall, Meadow Lake) - People of God
 
Sun., July 4 - 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., July 4 - 12:30 pm (St Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God
 
A Step in the Process of Healing and Reconciliation:  Last Sunday, the parishioners from Green Lake talked about the Indian Residential Schools and the steps we could take as parish to respond to the information that has been forthcoming. A number of comments were made including words of appreciation for what we are doing currently – the engagement of the people in the life of the parish, welcoming some traditional language and rituals into our gatherings, the memorial to the children, being open to further ideas and celebrating an outdoor mass at the Cemetery for all the children who died in the Residential Schools and all our brothers and sisters who died because of their involvement in the Residential School System. We will continue to welcome ideas and suggestions going forward.
 
Gathering with Bishop Stephen and the Clergy of the Diocese:  On Thursday, June 24, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, the clergy of the Diocese of Prince Albert (deacons and priests) gathered with our Bishop, Bishop Stephen Hero, to celebrate Eucharist and to meet. We were careful to social distance, and we masked up and sanitized for our celebration and gathering.

After Bishop Stephen introduced himself, he invited each of us to introduce ourselves and to share where we were currently working and something interesting about ourselves. He had earlier sent out questions for us to consider; questions about our life and ministry needs, and about our need for ongoing formation. Bishop also invited us to reflect on what are the most urgent needs of our Diocese.

Bishop Stephen then shared with us a few brief comments. He reminded us of our ongoing sorrow as Church concerning the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools, and he noted that we will need to look at what we do as the People of God. He told us that the Saskatchewan Bishops will look at how we approach the question of re-opening our parish churches given the news that Saskatchewan will remove all restrictions on July 11. He told us that following the meeting of the Bishops, the Diocesan Office will send some information out to offer guidance for the parishes. He informed us that the Alberta Bishops are encouraging a cautious re-opening of the parishes, and he appreciates the wisdom of that approach. He noted that our opening should be slow and cautious. As is always the case we follow the direction of our Bishop and not the bishop of a neighboring Diocese.

We had begun our ‘meeting’ with prayer; we finished with prayer; we prayed evening prayer for the Feast of St. John the Baptist. Farewells were said, and we returned to our homes. It was a good day, and when I got home, I discovered that the Montreal Canadians had punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals. Not a bad day! 😊
 
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Scriptural Insights: “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living” (Wisdom 1:13).  How powerfully this divine purpose is illustrated in the two stories in today’s Gospel.  Illness, death—both result from the “envy of the devil.”  Both are rendered impotent by the touch of Jesus.

In the Gospel, Mark frames the story of the woman who was sick for twelve years with the story of Jairus’ daughter, a twelve-year-old child on the point of death.  The woman had suffered as long as the child had lived.  Who cannot resonate with the frustration and expense of consulting doctor after doctor to no avail?  With the anguished helplessness of Jairus?

At the same time, whose faith can even begin to approach that of Jairus and the woman? “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured,” the woman believed.  She touched Jesus and “felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.”  Jairus asks Jesus to lay his hands upon his daughter, “that she may get well and live.”  At the word and touch of Jesus, the girl “arose immediately and walked around.”  What a contrast to Jairus’ faith and the incredulity of the mourners who “ridiculed” Jesus!  What a contrast between the life-giving power inherent in Jesus and the destructive forces of sin and death!

Today’s psalm no doubt captures the joy of those Jesus healed:  “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me…You changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks.”  May we, this day, seek the power of Jesus’ touch for whatever is in need of healing.  Then we too will rejoice and give praise.
 
Muslim-Catholic Resources:  “Maybe it is time for Christians, Jews and Muslims to realize, really realize, that in many areas of faith and charity, we have common interests and must work together!” says Deacon Gregory Bobbitt of the Diocese of Prince Albert.  He passed on a Vatican News article for us to consider. 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-06/reasons-for-our-hope-oasis-christian-muslim-mcgrath.html - “Reasons for Our Hope” project.
 
What’s your Catholic IQ?   Last bulletin’s question and answer:  Blasphemy means (a) speaking or acting against God.  Because blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his name, it is a sin against the second commandment.
This week’s question:  A word used in the Bible to mean “wanting strongly, without regard to the rights of others” is (a) trivet (b) trivial (c) covet (d) civil.

DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
 
MOST REV. STEPHEN HERO, BISHOP OF THE PRINCE ALBERT DIOCESE - GRAD 2021 MESSAGE:  To hear the Most Rev. Stephen Hero's message to the Graduating Classes of 2021, please follow the link and scroll down to his message. www.padiocese.ca
 
WEBINAR - "Where Faith and Life Meet While We're Two Metres Apart: Wisdom from Accompanying Adult Faith during a Global Pandemic."  Two years ago, The Centre for Religious Education and Catechesis at St. Paul University put together a resource exploring how those engaged in adult faith could better help in bridging the faith-life gap, which is so prevalent in society. The resource was entitled, Five Promising Practices and other Practical Wisdom. If you would like a copy of the resource, please contact Christine Taylor at [email protected].
Work on this project has continued, and a new resource is about to be launched during a webinar on Monday, June 28, 2021, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (SK time). The webinar is entitled "Where Faith and Life Meet While We're Two Metres Apart: Wisdom from Accompanying Adult Faith during a Global Pandemic."  To read more about the webinar: 
https://mcusercontent.com/591d1acd55ad247091a13fe7e/files/f983013d-fdb0-cce7-ed32-7b781f4b25c3/WebinarEmailAnnouncement.pdf.  To register for the webinar click on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkceygrTwjGdehei-3OhDadjZneAbQ0OhE.

CHALICE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:  Chalice is searching for the next person to lead our Invitation and Engagement Department as a part of the Senior Management Team at our office in Bedford, Nova Scotia. The Senior Manager of Invitation and Engagement leads the teams dedicated to inspiring more Canadians to participate and join in the Chalice mission with their financial donations and spiritual support, always increasing and deepening involvement and commitment.
As we are a Private Association of the Catholic Church, we are seeking a Catholic person to fill this important role within our organization so we may continue our work in our mission to reveal God's love in action by serving the poor, with the Global Catholic Community.
If there is a way that you can help us share this opportunity with the broader Catholic community within your Diocese/Archdiocese, it would help us cast a much wider net in our search. If anyone is interested, they can visit the Chalice website at: https://chalice.ca/employment-opportunities
 
PILGRIMAGES AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE:  The Pilgrimages at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine are as follows:

Major Pilgrimage July 15-16
   1.  Begins with a 9-day Novena each evening starting at 7:30 pm followed by the Eucharist - July 6-14
   2.  July 15 - Eucharistic Celebration starting at 8:00 pm followed by a Candlelight Procession
   3.  July 16 - Cree Mass 9:00 or 9:30 am outside the Grotto in nature; English Eucharist at 11:00 am

Minor Pilgrimages - depending on whether or not these dates fall on the weekend,
   1.  August 15 - 7:30 pm Eucharistic Celebration and Candlelight Procession
   2.  September 8 - 7:30 pm Eucharistic Celebration and Candlelight Procession

CANADA DAY - (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Day accessed June 25, 2021):  On July 1, we celebrate the birthday of Canada. 153 years ago, on July 1, 1867, Canada became a new federation with its own constitution by signing the Constitution Act - formerly known as the British North America Act.  Canada Day is a national statutory holiday celebrated in all provinces and territories, and it is a day off for most businesses. It celebrates the anniversary of Canadian confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the Constitution Act, 1867 where the three separate colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single Dominion within the British Empire called Canada.[1][2] Originally called Dominion Day , the holiday was renamed in 1982 when the Canadian Constitution was patriated by the Canada Act 1982.