25th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 24, 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  
 
  
The Lord is near to all who call on him.
Psalm 145 Refrain
 
 
September 24, 2023
 
25th 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. 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., Sept.25 – No mass
 

Tues., Sept. 26 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 

Tues., Sept. 26 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)  
+Minnie Hofer by Jane & Ed Weber

Wed., Sept. 27 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)
+Carl Hofer by Jane & Ed Weber

Thurs., Sept. 28 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)
+Leonard Hofer by Jane & Ed Weber

Fri., Sept. 29 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)    
+Ernest Hofer by Jane & Ed Weber

Sat., Sept. 30 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake)
People of God

Sun., Oct. 1 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook)
People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1.  Next catechism class will be October 1 at 11:15 immediately following the 10:00 am mass.
2. Adoration Of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday from 8:30 – 9:30 am before the morning mass.

 

Sunday Collection – Sept. 17:  Meadow Lake $2085.55   Green Lake – $285.00    Children’s Collection $19.35
                                   
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for September – For People Living on the Margins – We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.
 
Condolences to the family of Rick Roth who passed away Tuesday. His funeral will be held next Tuesday in Wilkie. Please keep Rick and his family in your prayers.
 
Needs of the Church in Canada – September 24  -  Every year, the Bishops of Canada appeal for financial assistance. This collection helps each diocese make its annual contribution to the national Episcopal Conference and to the respective regional episcopal assembly (in the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Western regions). Any additional funds from the collection are at the disposal of the diocese for its own pastoral needs. Contributing to this collection is an act of collaboration with the Bishops in their ministry of teaching, sanctifying and pastoral governance.
 
Parish Pictorial Directory – Our Parish is producing a pictorial directory in order to help us acquaint ourselves with one another and strengthen the bond of our faith community. The photographer will be taking pictures from October 17 – 21 inclusive from 1:30 to 8:30 each day and from 9:30 to 4:30 on Saturday. We will have sign up sheets available after mass this weekend and will also be phoning members of the parish to book appointments. There is no cost to get your picture taken and you will receive a free pictorial directory for taking part. You will have the opportunity to purchase photos if you wish.
 
Thank You to everyone who helped make our fall garage sale a success. Thank you to Judi Lang for helping each day. Thanks to Margaret Alger and Doris Young for helping to set up on Friday. Thanks to Judi, Margaret, Doris as well as Melba Cariou, Lorraine Twidale for helping during the garage sale. Thank you to Marty & Val Bishop for packing up and cleaning up after the sale. Also thanks to Carmelita Cameron for the delicious baking. A huge thank you to Mauri Young for organizing this sale which raised $1510.50 for our parish.
 
Communion to Shut-ins – We are planning to start taking communion to the shut-ins and the sick who are unable to come to mass. If you would like to receive communion at home please register with the parish office – provide name, phone number and address. We hope to provide this service on the last Friday of each month.
 
Scripture Insights – Twenty-Fifth 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. 340.
 
            Today’s parable from Matthew is notoriously difficult. Some have questioned the landowner’s statement that he can do whatever he likes with his money, as it implies that he may be exploitative if he pleases. The parable seems to focus, however, on the landowner’s generosity by juxtaposing two economies to make a statement about drastic change or complete reversal.
            The economies on display are an exchange economy and a gift economy. An exchange economy is based on a tit-for-tat agreement: you know what you will get in exchange for what you give. This economy is generally to the advantage of the owner, centering on cost, price, and profit. Laborers, in exchange for their work, receive wages, but they will only receive what is rightfully earned and rarely more. An exchange economy can be described by the words debt and obligation: laborers owe owners service or toil, and owners are obligated to pay laborers money.
            In contrast, a gift economy declines this tit-for-tat calculation to operate by another principle. It goes by unmerited favor or extravagant generosity. Instead of something negotiated or agreed on, it turns calculated exchange into ungrounded magnanimity or, in Christian terminology, grace.
            God’s generosity with us should model our interaction with each other. We see this in Paul’s willingness to stop calculating what would benefit him and forego his personal preference, so he can imitate Christ and give to the Philippians.
                         
●       As we grow in faith, we open ourselves more and more to understanding God’s revelation in the world around us. We see the inbreaking of God’s justice. Perhaps we participate in the bringing about of God’s kingdom here and now. When we do see how wondrous God’s ways are, when we see the bounty of God’s generosity, we also understand the limits of our humanity. We know we need God, inside us and around us.
●       Silence, nature, music, spiritual direction, time spent in prayer with the Scriptures, the Church’s liturgy – all these are only some of the ways that help us seek God in our lives. We seek to understand God’s ways in community and in relationships with one another. Time spent alone can also serve us well on our spiritual journey. Ours is the task to cultivate ways that assist us in growing in our relationship with the Lord and opening ourselves to the Lord’s generous ways.

• Though God’s ways differ from our human ways, as followers of Christ, God calls us to live according to the Gospel. This is the Gospel of Life, of generosity, of justice, of forgiveness, of mercy, and of love. To the best of our ability, we commit ourselves to live well-intentioned lives that reveal the generosity and mercy of God to others.