2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28, 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: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net
Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5
 
“From the bright cloud the Father’s voice is heard:  This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him.” 
Luke 9.35
 
February 28, 2021 - 2nd Sunday of Lent
 
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
 
Finance Council Chair:
 
Mass Attendance:  If you would like to attend mass on Saturday night or Sunday morning in Meadow Lake, please call the Parish Office 306-236-5122 BEFORE FRIDAY NOON and leave a message.  Reservations are necessary as we have limited capacity (30 people) and we do not want to turn someone away from the door.
 
Income Tax receipts were mailed out last week for those who had not picked them up from the Parish Office. Donation Envelopes and Missals are still available at the Parish Office during Parish Office hours.
SaskHealth/Diocesan Covid-19 Guidelines – A notice from the City of Meadow Lake reminds us that we have an infection rate eight times that of the North West Region. Let us please respect the SaskHealth Guidelines by putting our sisters and brothers first.
 
Mass Intentions
 
Mon., March 1 - Personal Intention
 
Tues., March 2 - 6:30 pm (Facebook) - Michael and Graeci by Marie and Ellice Mamchur
 
Wed. March 3 - 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Jeff Smith by Eleanore and Galen Smith
 
Thurs., March 4 - 6:30 pm (Facebook) - +Lena Hughes by Judi Lang and Doris Young
 
Fri., March 5- 6:30 pm (Facebook) - +Joe Palmer by Judi Lang and Doris Young
 
Sat., March 6 - 9:00 am (Facebook) - Anonymous
 
Sat. March 6 - 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Parish Hall) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
Sun. March 7 - 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
Sun. March 7 - 12:30 pm (St Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
1.      “Songs at Seven” (Facebook - Catholic Church Meadow Lake) takes place Thursdays - 7 pm.
2.      40 Cans for Lent:  The Knights of Columbus are once again inviting us to think about our neighbour. Our ‘40 Cans for Lent’ project began Ash Wednesday. Each household is asked to contribute one can for each day of Lent – hence 40 cans for Lent. The contributions from our households will be taken to the Door of Hope at Easter. Please bring cans of fruit, vegetables, soups, beans, chili, fish, or stew or anything else that is non-perishable. Let us be mindful of what we have and let us be mindful of the needs of our brothers and sisters. Let us make this the most generous 40 Cans for Lent project ever!
 
Finance Council Report:  The Finance Council met on Thursday, February 4, at the Parish Hall. We made sure to wear masks and social distance. We reviewed some of the things that have been happening in the parish: the construction of the Grotto, the new shingles on the Parish Hall, the move of the Parish Office, the demolition of the Old Parish Office Building, the work on the Chapel Hall and the purchase of new Audio and Video equipment to assist us in our live streaming work.
Feedback received so far seems to suggest that parishioners are pleased with what has been accomplished. There was a word of appreciation thanking Fr. Doug for the way he has kept the people of the parish informed of what has been happening. There are a few outstanding tasks – the Emergency Lighting for the interior of the Church has yet to be installed and the doors for the Parish Office have not yet come in. This work will be done as soon as possible. The construction of a porch on the east side of the Church will be cancelled for now. Landscaping where the Old Office Building stood will take place in the Spring.

The extraordinary expenses re: demolition of the Office Building, the preparation of the new Parish Office Space, the purchase of the Audio and Video Equipment were covered by monies from our Building Fund.
We reviewed our Financial Reports. Our income for 2020 was down by about $40,000.00 and our expenses (extraordinary things aside) were also down. Our total income was $104,740.61, and our total expenses were $206,954.76 for a net income of -102,214.15. The total of our Extraordinary Expenses was $102,959.35 (covered by our Building Fund).
Our budget for 2021 projects an income of $88,700.00 and expenses of $103,700.00 for a net income of            -15,000.00. As we reviewed our budget, we struggled with considering the SaskHealth Regulations and the impact on our attendance and the impact on our financial situation.

Decisions were made to invest some of our Funds into long term GICs – some into 6-month and some into 12-month investments. The Finance Council encouraged Fr. Doug to send a letter to the parishioners giving greater detail re: our financial situation.
 
Congratulations to Myra and Cody Briscoe and family as they brought their son Hudson to the parish for the celebration of the sacrament of Baptism.
 
Celebrating St. Joseph: Beginning on February 26, and continuing throughout the year, on the last Friday of the month, at 11:30 am, we will livestream a prayer in honour of St. Joseph. Please join us on Facebook as we ask for help and give thanks and praise to St. Joseph for his faith and his generosity.
 
First Reconciliation – If your child is ready to begin preparation for the celebration of this sacrament, please contact me (Fr. Doug) at the Parish Office (306) 236 5122.
 
A Prayer as we Wait for a New Bishop
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for sending us your Son, Jesus Christ, to be our shepherd.
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon us during this time of discernment.
We pray that the one you have chosen will respond to your call.
May your Spirit give him the wisdom for this calling and the love to continue to gather Your people in faith, joy, peace and hope.
We ask this prayer through your Son and Mary, mother of the Church.  Amen 
 
SHARE LENT – Theme:  Share Love, Share Lent.  Contribute to Development and Peace (D & P) by using your donation envelopes (Solidarity Sunday, March 21), by donating online at devp.org/sharelent, by mailing a cheque to 1425 Rene-Levesque Blvd. W., 3rd Floor, Montreal (Quebec) H3G 1T7 or by calling 1-888-234-8533.  Thank you for participating in Share Lent 2021.  D & P wishes you health, love and fraternity in the New Year.
Say a prayer this week:  Campaign prayer, “A Prayer to the Creator,” excerpted from Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti. Its underlying message guides and inspires our activities this Lent.
Take action this week:  Help spread solidarity by creating a fundraising page on D & P’s digital platform. Act early, so you can keep reaching friends and family throughout the Share Lent period.  Follow the following link to Create Your Fundraising Page https://www.devp.org/en/spreadingsolidarity

What’s your Catholic IQ?   Last bulletin’s question and answer:   Not counting Sundays, Lent lasts (b) forty days.  Officially the three days from Holy Thursday to Easter are called the Triduum, the holiest days of the year.  It is especially important to go to church on these days.
This week’s question:  Lent is a time for an extra effort in (a) fasting (b) giving to the poor (c) prayer (d) all of these.
 
Lent 2021
 
A Virtual Lenten Retreat with Deacon Mike Hardwicke
The Great Story of Jesus in Nine Acts  March 6, 2021 from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Cost per participant - $10 ·         A bible study of the Gospel readings for each of the six-Sundays of Lent has been created   using the The Catholic Serendipity Bible for Personal and Study Groups, Lyman Coleman. The six-week bible study can be found here. ·         A Virtual Lenten Bible Study with Christine Taylor, members of the Evangelization & Catechesis Commission - Thursdays during Lent from Feb 18 - Mar25 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.  To register for these events click on the following link and scroll down to the appropriate registration prompt... @padiocese/evangelization-and-catechesis

Daily Emails - I am with You: Lessons of Hope and Courage in Times of Crisis from Loyola Press
- Led by the Spirit Lenten Reflections with Dr. Tim Gray from Formed 
- It's Not What You Give Up This Lent: It's Who You Become from Dynamic Catholic
Multiple offerings from Prayer and Retreats to Art to Reflections on Specific Holy Days from Loyola Press
For Young Adults:  Lent in Three Minutes from Busted Halo
Our Journey Through Lent from Franciscan Media
25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent: Besides Giving Up Chocolate from Busted Halo
Preparing for Lent  and What's the Purpose of Lent from Fr. Mike Schmitz
Lenten Calendar - Lent-themed Daily Jolt and Microchallenge! from Busted Halo

Family Faith Formation for the Home:   A video series to support families in telling the Easter story to their children.  Posted on the RC Diocese of Prince Albert: Evangelization and Catechesis Facebook page and later on the Evangelization and Catechesis webpage on the RC Diocese of PA website.  Each video is between 15-30 minutes and contains a short reading from the story Benjamin’s Box, a Scripture reading, a craft, a challenge, and a prayer. By the end, families will have heard the Easter story and collected items symbolizing key moments of Jesus’ experience during his last days:  His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey , the last supper, Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ torture and crucifixion and the resurrection on Easter morning. Here is the video schedule: Mondays during Lent - Feb 22 and Mar 1, 8,15,22, and 29
Good Friday - Apr 2      Holy Saturday - Apr 3      Easter Sunday - Apr 4
Other resources for families - Lenten Activities from Loyola Press:  40 Ideas for 40 Days, Catechetical Activities for Lent, Lent at Home, Lenten Activities for Children, Lenten Family Calendar, Lent Frequently Asked Questions: With Joe Paprocki; CatChat Productions - Treasures of Faith Journey

Amazing Friendships Between Animals and Saints:  Everyone knows about St. Francis and the wolf. But the Christian tradition is full of stories of how animals developed unique friendships with saints. Join author Greg Kennedy, SJ, and illustrator/resources author Kerry Lyn Wilson for a workshop on their latest collaboration, Amazing Friendships Between Animals and Saints.  Learn how this book and its web-based resources, full of fun stories, beautiful artwork and rich in lessons on how to care for our common home, the Earth, can be used in the classroom, in study groups with children, or by parents and caregivers with the children in their care. Adults will also find this workshop (and book) engaging and enlightening.  The webinar is free but registration is required.  Details:  DATE: MARCH 4, 2021  TIME: 4:00 – 5 P.M. (EST/EDT)
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t9bfGWywTGOsc7DewDCZgQ?mc_cid=7569ec5d16&mc_eid=511336735f