29th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 19, 2025

 
        
       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 MON, TUES, THURS, FRI
OPEN : Wednesday 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  
 
     Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121 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., Oct. 20 – No mass
 
Tues., Oct. 21 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Oct. 21 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -  For Carl Hofer by Jane Weber

Wed., Oct. 22 – No Mass (Fr. Uche away)
 
Thurs., Oct. 23 – No Mass (Fr. Uche away)
 
Fri., Oct. 24 – No Mass  (Fr. Uche away)
 
Sat., Oct. 25 – No Mass (Fr. Uche away)
 
Sun., Oct. 26 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -  People of God

Sun., Oct. 26 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) -  People of God

Sun., Oct. 26 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. DPC meeting comes up on the 25th of October at Prince Albert.
2. Pastoral Council Meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 21 after evening mass.
3. Catechism  classes every Sunday after mass.
4. Bishop’s Annual Appeal begins next weekend.

 
  Sunday Collection –  October 12  Meadow Lake  $1418.10    Green Lake  $253.50   Children’s $11.90
 
Sunday Church Attendance –    October 12   Adults  138  Children  22  Total  160
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for October – For collaboration between different religious traditions – Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.

​The 2025 Bishop’s Annual Appeal will begin next weekend, and the diocese needs our support. It directs the many programs and ministries that impact the lives of individuals and families. Our parish has been asked to raise $16,489.00 and Green Lake has been asked to raise $1885.00 for this year’s Appeal. The theme of this year’s appeal is “Planting Seeds of Hope”.
 
No masses – Father is away October 22 – 25, there will be no masses those days.
 
Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting – The meeting comes up on the 25th of October at Prince Albert.  Six volunteers are needed to represent us at the meeting.  Please register with the secretary at the office.
 
Our Lady of Peace Fall Supper – will be held on Sunday, October 26 from 4:30 – 7:00 pm in the hall.
 
 Saskatchewan Provincial Knights of Columbus Charity Appeal draw with banquet and dance will be Saturday, November 8 in our hall.  Also calling on all parishioners who can help pull apart tickets on Friday, November 7 evening starting at 7:00 pm, many hands make light work.  Please come and help if you can.  Any questions or to get tickets for the banquet call Chris Bencharski at 306.240.8872.
 
Change in office hours – Office hours will be Wednesdays from 10 am – 4 pm.
 
Christmas Shoebox – The main reason to pack a shoebox is to ensure that children from the poorest families of the world know that someone cares, which is demonstrated by receiving a shoebox that is filled with toys, school supplies and personal care items.  Shoeboxes can be picked up at the back of the church, more have been ordered, also an ordinary shoebox can be used.  All shoeboxes must be at the church before or on November 16.  For gift suggestions and information google, SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC.
 
World Mission Sunday – At the initiative of Pope Pius XI in 1926, the second last Sunday during October became known as World Mission Sunday. Catholics throughout the world are invited to pray for and give to the missions. The collection this Sunday is organized by the Pontifical Missions Society. The funds collected assist some 1250 mission dioceses under the responsibility of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Pastors and pastoral workers are invited to encourage among all the people of God a missionary spirit, to promote missionary vocations, and to collaborate spiritually and materially in the church’s mission work, including support for all the dioceses in our country’s northern regions.
 
Scripture Insights – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2025: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2024, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 354.
 
 The Gospel text for today is unique to Luke a parable often identified as that of “the unjust judge” of “the persistent widow.” What an engaging parable!  Preachers, frequently focus on the character of the judge and, therefore, listeners are inclined to associate the judge with God.  Listeners might conclude that their own prayer is not strong enough and that perhaps, if they just prayed harder or more often, God would answer their prayer as they want it answered.  But we must ask:  Is this how God acts?  Is this how God listens to prayer?  Does God count how frequently we pray?
Another way of looking at this parable is to focus on the character of the widow.  Biblical scholar Barbara Reid has called the woman “an icon for what it means to do the work of justice.”  The unnamed widow in this story repeatedly approaches the unjust judge.  She is persistent in her demand for justice.  Why is this text often presented as the widow badgering the judge?  This widow is requesting (according to the Greek text, “over and over”) justice.
 
·         The persistence needed to constantly turn toward God with faith is best achieved in community.  Even the widow’s pleading was a public spectacle.  We can each strengthen our faith by leaning on each other instead of trying to carry our burdens ourselves.
·         Jesus promises a just response to our petitions.  By presenting our prayers within the context of community, we can better ensure that our requests align with God’s vision of justice: that all humanity be reconciled in right relationship with each other and with God.
·         The verse before the Gospel reminds us to utilize words from Scripture in our prayer.  In this way we keep our desires and hope fixed on God, and in our faith we will find rest.