31st Sunday in Ordinary Time November 3, 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  
 
   I love you, O Lord, my strength.
Psalm 18 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., Nov. 4 – No mass
 
Tues., Nov. 5 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Nov. 5 – 1:00 pm  Mass at Flying Dust Lodge
 
Tues., Nov. 5 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Frey Family by Geoff Frey

Wed., Nov. 6 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Tearza Hart by her family

Thurs., Nov. 7 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Thanksgiving by Swapna Abraham & Bijo Augustine

Thurs., Nov. 7 – 10:00 – 11:00 am (Adoration after mass)
 
Fri., Nov. 8 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Nick Hrychuk by Jane & Ed Weber

Sat., Nov. 9 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church) - People of God

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

Sun., Nov. 10 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Nov. 10 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Children’s catechism – Classes will be held weekly after Sunday mass.
2. Responsible Ministry Workshop on November 9 at 10:00 am in the Hall.

 Sunday Collection – Oct. 27:  Meadow Lake $2652.00  Green Lake $285.00  Children’s Collection $8.00
                                         
Sunday Church Attendance – Oct. 27 – Adults 146    Children 7  Total  153
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for November – for anyone who has lost a child – We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
 
 Bishop’s Annual Appeal:
“Bring Your Gifts to the Altar”
October 27, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Every gift is greatly appreciated!

 Bishop’s Annual Appeal – We sometimes need to remind ourselves that God has given us all the resources and we are but stewards of what we have been given. The ability of the Church to be fruitful in today’s world is dependent on the willingness of the faithful to nourish the Church with our gifts through such things as the Sunday collection and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Please give generously as you are able.
 
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 be 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 boxes have been ordered (also an ordinary shoebox can be used). All shoeboxes must be at the church on or before November 17th. For gift suggestions and information Google SamaritansPurse.ca/OCC.
 
Pancake Breakfast – The Knights of Columbus will be cooking their famous pancakes after mass next Sunday, November 10.
 
Scripture Insights – 31st 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. 376.
 
 The scribes knew God’s law. They loved God’s law. When a scribe, then, asks Jesus which is the first or greatest of the commandments, he is testing the Lord. Jesus answers the query by naming the two “love commandments”: love God and love your neighbor. The command itself explains how to love God – with all one’s soul, mind, and strength. That is, with your entire being, from head to toe. The scribe agrees; Jesus has identified the heart of the law.
 While the reading from the Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as the wisest of scribes, the Book of Hebrews reveals his identity as a high priest. Jesus is like the high priests because he offered a sacrifice that atoned for the sins of the people. But the risen Christ is unlike them because he will never die; his priesthood endures forever. He is also unlike them because the other high priests had to continually offer sacrifices. Christ needed to offer only one sacrifice: himself. As both priest and sacrificial lamb, Christ made one perfect sacrifice on the cross, “once for all.”
Despite this, Jesus’ work as priest is not done. Although he no longer offers sacrifices to atone for sin, the author of Hebrews writes that “he lives forever to make intercession” for those who approach God through him. That is his priestly role now: when we come to Jesus, he intercedes with God on our behalf.

• Part of our goal in keeping traditions, rehearsing our history, and celebrating through ritual and symbol is so that we might instill our faith and the charge of our baptismal call in our children and our grandchildren. If we rely only on Sunday Mass or religious education to carry this flame of faith for us, is it enough? What is happening in between the Sundays to shape our next generation in the faith, equipping them with the knowledge and respect of whose image and likeness they, too, bear?

·         Rubrics and rituals are tools to help us keep our community on track and our commitment in check. They are ancient, sacred, and there is value in the legacy we share when we become a part of their story. But they are not idols in and of themselves. In today’s Gospel, Jesus distills it down for us: love God, love your neighbor. Don’t get entangled in the rules if they don’t help you do those two greatest commands.

• Do we tend to prefer loving god above all, pointing all our praises upward to the heavens? Or do we favor loving neighbor, those who are across and beside us, with no nod to the one who created us and sustains us? Jesus reminds us that these tow commands go hand in hand, and to embrace one without the other is to miss the point. What biases do we have that challenge our balance of both commandments?