17th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 30, 2023

         
       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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com
Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake
Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/
Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5  
 
  Lord, how I love your law!
Psalm 119 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 31 – No mass
 
Tues., Aug. 1 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Aug. 1 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)  - +Edward Michel by Elsie Michel & Family

Wed., Aug. 2 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Adelard Paulhus by June Paulhus

Thurs., Aug. 3 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Fr. Doug by Mary Betker

Fri., Aug. 4 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)  - +Robert G. Morin by Florence Morin

Sat., Aug. 5 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Aug. 6 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. We welcome Fr. Uche to the Meadow Lake Cluster.  May the Spirit of God bless him and guide him as he walks among us.

Sunday Collection – July 23:  Meadow Lake $1094.00     Green Lake – $402.00
                                                            Children’s Collection  $5.00
                                                                       
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – For a Eucharistic life – We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for August – For World Youth Day – We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.
 
Old Greeting Cards – If you have any old greeting cards (birthday, Christmas, etc.) please don’t throw them away. I will take them off of your hands and put them to good use. You may drop them off at 302 7th Ave East or phone 306-236-5217. Thank you.  Renee Scherr
 
Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity.  So far, $3650.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue.
 
Scripture Insights – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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. 286.
 
            If someone offered you whatever you wished, for what would you ask? What do you truly want? Today’s readings begin with that question.
            The first reading recalls a scene from the beginning of King Solomon’s reign. Because the young king had done everything that a good king under God’s authority should, God appeared to him in a dream and invited him to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon could have asked for material things, but instead he asked for an understanding heart (Hebrew, leb, also meaning “mind” or “will”) to know how to lead well and follow God’s will. In the ancient world, the heart was where one’s mental capacities resided.
            The parables in today’s Gospel appear only in Matthew’s account. In the first two, about the hidden treasure and the pearl, it is not immediately clear whether the message lies in the thing being sought or in the one doing the seeking. But the wise saying that appears at the end of the reading and its mention of the “scribe who has been instructed” (Mt 13:52; literally discipled) suggests that the parables are about how to enter the kingdom. The seekers of the hidden treasure and the pearl are willing to give up everything to obtain this most precious gift – being a disciple in God’s kingdom. When Jesus’ listeners reply that they understand “all these things” (13:51), he continues, giving further instruction to those who will teach others about the kingdom, advising them that they must use both the “old” (the Law and the Prophets) and the “new” (the Gospel).
            In the second reading, Paul gives insight into the path that God has laid out for those who love him. They are called to be conformed to the image of Christ and, in the end time, glorified.
                         

• A heart filled with God’s wisdom is an understanding heart. It is a servant’s heart and a heart that leads with love and justice in the world.
• As disciples of Jesus, God calls us to live with an understanding heart in the world. Part of what this means is that we consider the wisdom of Jesus and how we should respond to people and in particular situations. In other words, we must ask how our hearts hold out to others the coming of God’s kingdom of righteousness and justice in our midst.
• When we grow in God’s wisdom, we increase the understanding in our hearts. We open ourselves to the treasure of joy of the kingdom and are able to extend that same gift and joy to others, so they too might understand.

 
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following:
Phone:            (306) 480 2536                        Email:             2014dougswork@gmail.com
Address:          Doug Jeffrey, OMI
                        c/o St. Philip Neri Parish
                        1902 Monroe Ave
                        Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8
 
OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE
Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent,
SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th.
Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm.