17th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 28, 2024

 
        
       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: [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  
 
  You open your hand to feed us, Lord; you satisfy all our needs.
Psalm 145 Refrain
 
 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. Uche Umechikelu, MSP
Parish Secretary:
Pat Bencharski
 
Masses
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., July 29 – No mass
 
Tues., July 30 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., July 30 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Hana Johnson by Troy & Rita Johnson & Family

Wed., July 31 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Manual T. M. by Joby & Dona

Thurs., Aug. 1 – 8:30 am Adoration before mass
 
Thurs., Aug. 1 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - For health & welfare of family & friends by Sandra Senga

Fri., Aug. 2 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Elezebeth by Joby & Dona

Sat., Aug. 3 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church) - People of God

Sun., Aug. 4 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Aug. 4 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. We welcome Fr. Uche’s Superior General from Nigeria to our parish on Sunday, July 28th. We will have a welcome brunch in the hall after mass.

 Sunday Collection – July 21:  Meadow Lake $970.40   Green Lake $237.55   Children’s Collection $3.00
                                                           
Sunday Church Attendance – July 21- Adults 130  Children  14   Total  144
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – for the pastoral care of the sick – We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for August – for political leaders – We pray that political leaders be at the service of their own people, working for integral human development and for the common good, especially caring for the poor and those who have lost their jobs.
 
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – July 28 – Pope Francis instituted the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on January 31, 2021 to highlight the importance of providing adequate pastoral  and spiritual attention to the elderly and to call upon communities to manifest the closeness of the Church to them. It is to be celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
                                                            Taken from Ordo page 177
 
Congratulations to Gary and Geraldine who celebrated their marriage on Saturday, July 27. May their years ahead be filled with lasting love and happiness.
 
Scripture Insights – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2024:  The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2023, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 278.
 
 The theme of today’s texts is apparent in the refrain from the responsorial psalm: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”
 In the reading from the Second Book of Kings, the prophet Elisha uses twenty barley loaves to feed a hundred people, despite the doubts of his servant. The prophet knows that it will be more than enough: “For thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’”  Against this background, we read from John of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish. This is one of the few miracles all four evangelists record in the Gospels.
The disciples Philip and Andrew, like Elisha’s servant, are doubtful that the meager amount will be enough. Elisha had twenty loaves; they only have five. Still, after everyone eats and is satisfied, twelve baskets are filled with the leftovers. The number twelve signifies the fullness of Israel: God has enough – more than enough – to satisfy the desires of all his people. The miraculous loaves also point beyond themselves to the true bread: Jesus, the bread from heaven, who feeds his people with his body.
Several numbers are prominent in the accounts of the miraculous meals (twenty, five, five thousand, twelve), but only the number one is noted in the Letter to the Ephesians. We read of one body of Christ, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. The oneness of the saints points to the Bread of Life: the Body of Christ is Jesus’ flesh and blood, the bread and wine of the Eucharist, and the united Christians who partake of the bread. The Ephesians have been called to “the riches of God’s glory in his inheritance among the holy ones” (1:18), and the apostle Paul urges them to be worthy of that calling through bearing patiently with one another in love.
                    

• Both the first reading and the Gospel tell stories about abundance – specifically about an abundance of food, when what was available seemed woefully inadequate. Many will easily recognize the account of the loaves and fishes, but think of the significance of the evidence of miraculous feeding from the Old Testament: what is God communicating with us by showing us this abundance throughout history? What does it tell us about what’s possible today?

·         The second reading feels a bit disconnected from the other two, but pay attention to the theme of being “one” in the Lord, gathered all together in our baptismal call. Compare this with the Gospel line about gathering up all the leftovers so that nothing is wasted. Nothing is left out. All of God’s creation can be used as life-giving nourishment. How might we, nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, be gathered together so that nothing is wasted?
It would be unfortunate on these weeks when we speak of such abundance of food and resources to forget about those who are still hungry, those who have nothing, those who ache for the basic necessities of life. Don’t forget that the richness we have found here is not meant to stop at our reception: our call is to go out into the world, serving all who need God’s love and abundance to shine through our gifts and generosity.