4th Sunday of Lent - March 14, 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: [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

“Let my tongue cling to my mouth if I do not remember you!” 
Psalm 137
 
 
March 14, 2021 - 4th 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.
 
Celebrating St. Joseph: This week we continue our Novena for St. Joseph. Tune into our Facebook page every day at 6:00 pm to join Fr. Doug in praying the Novena which will remember, honor and praise St. Joseph. We will also ask St. Joseph to intercede for the People of the Meadow Lake Cluster. On March 19th, at 11:30 am we will live-stream on Facebook the Litany for St. Joseph. At 6:30 pm on March 19th, we will celebrate mass in honor of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. If you would like to come and join us in the Church, we welcome you to do so. Our mass will also be live-streamed. Wherever you are, let us give thanks and praise for the faithful life and love of St. Joseph.
 
Mass Intentions
 
Mon., March 15 - Personal Intention
 
Tues., March 16 - 6:30 pm (Facebook) - Linda Lepage by Carmelita Cameron
 
Wed. March 17 - 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Robert Gervais by Paul and Theresa Tourand
 
Thurs., March 18 - 6:30 pm (Facebook) - Private Intention by a parishioner
 
Fri., March 19 - 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - Private Intention by a parishioner
 
Sat., March 20 - 9:00 am (Facebook) - Anonymous Intention
 
Sat. March 20 - 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Parish Hall) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
Sun. March 21 - 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
Sun. March 21- 12:30 pm (St Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God in the Meadow Lake Cluster
 
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
1.      Novena to St. Joseph – Live-streamed each night at 6:00 pm on Facebook
2.      “Songs at Seven” - (Facebook - Catholic Church Meadow Lake) takes place Thursdays - 7 pm.
3.      Catholic Women’s League Virtual St. Pat’s Day Tea & Quilt Display:  The members of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Women’s League are hosting The Virtual St. Pat’s Day Tea and Quilt Display Event.  Look for it on Facebook on March 17, 2021 starting at 2 p.m.  If you would like to submit a photo of a quilt that you made, please send the photo by email by March 13, 2021 to [email protected] including the name of the quilt (if there is one) and your name.  Feel free to encourage your quilter friends to submit photos as well.
4.      People are invited to physically attend the mass in honor of St. Joseph on March 19, 6:30 pm.
5.      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!
 
Sask Health/Diocese of Prince Albert Regulations – We have been informed by the Diocese that the Province of Saskatchewan is suggesting that we can increase the number of people who physically take part in the Sunday liturgy (March 19). The notices from Sask Health and our own Diocese of Prince Albert remind us that other than an increase in number, all other guidelines remain in place. Masks, sanitizing, social distance, and registration for liturgies must still occur to safeguard our parishioners.

However, until further notice all aspects of our liturgy will remain the same – practices and numbers, until I make a parish announcement indicating an increase in numbers. Our case count in Meadow Lake is the highest in the Province. I will be monitoring the case per capita ratio here in Meadow Lake. When our case count goes down (approaches the Provincial average), I will make the announcement that more people may gather, thus ensuring the safety of all.

Regarding the Reception of the Covid-19 Vaccine - On Friday, March 5, the clergy of Saskatchewan participated in a Zoom Conference organized by the Diocese of Saskatoon entitled “Covid-19 and Catholic Church Teaching”. We had two guest speakers, Dr. Moira McQueen and Dr. Brett Salkeld:
 
Dr. Moira McQueen (Executive Director of Canadian Bioethics Institute). Dr McQueen was appointed Executive Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute in July 2004. The Institute, chaired by Cardinal Collins, has a mandate to conduct research and education in bioethics from a Roman Catholic perspective, and pursues bioethical issues in palliative and end of life care, reproductive technologies, stem cell experimentation and regenerative medicine, genetics, transgender issues, and other current areas. Dr. Brett Salkeld is a theologian for the Archdiocese of Regina, a published author, speaker, and father of six children.
 
Our speakers shared information taken from and rooted in the Church Documents from the Pontifical Academy of Life 2005, 2017, Dignitaes Personae 2008, Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories (December 2, 2020) and from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (December 21, 2020).
 
We explored in significant depth the issue of all vaccines and whether we should take them. The speakers reminded us of the Principles found in the teaching of the Church and then applied them to taking or not taking the Covid-19 vaccines. After reviewing all the information from the teaching of the Church, we were told that:
 
1.      Use ethical vaccines if they are available.
2.      If ethical vaccines are not available, then we should use other vaccines to prevent contracting or spreading severe illness or disease (Covid-19 is considered a severe illness)
3.      Questions raised by some re: cooperation with evil (abortion) are valid; however, remoteness from original act is sufficient to justify our use of the vaccines being offered to us in Canada.
4.      We have a moral obligation to help keep our sisters and brothers safe. If we cannot take the vaccine for some reason, then it is required that we self isolate for the common good.
5.      We should make known any concerns or objections regarding the production and the testing of vaccines to government authorities and/or to the various pharmaceutical agencies. (Do not protest to nurses/pharmacists who are offering the vaccines.)
 
The bottom line is that as Catholics if we can take the vaccine (consult your doctor), we should take the vaccine we are offered, when it is our turn.
 
It has been reported in the news that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement suggesting that we should choose certain vaccines over others. The news report may cause confusion. In response to the confusion the Bishops wrote a follow up statement to offer clarification to people. Here is a portion of that statement taken from the Bishops’ website https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CLARIFICATION-CCCB-Statement-on-COVID-19-Vaccine-Choice-9-March-2021-EN.pdf
 
“On 9 March 2021, the Canadian of Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a short “Note on Ethical Concerns Related to Currently Approved COVID-19 Vaccines.” This Note was published in response to questions from Catholics who were concerned about the moral permissibility of receiving currently-approved COVID-19 vaccines. The Note did not refer to, nor intend to question the medical efficacy of any vaccine. In response to questions received since the publication of the Note, the CCCB wishes to clarify any misunderstandings that may have arisen.
 
1. Catholics are invited to be vaccinated, both in keeping with the dictates of their conscience and in contributing to the common good by promoting the health and safety of others.
2. The CCCB Note of 9 March 2021 simply restates the position outlined by the Holy See in its Note of December 21, 2020 regarding the use of vaccines.
3. All COVID-19 vaccines that are medically approved by the relevant health authorities may be licitly received by Catholics.
4. Since there is currently no choice of vaccine being offered, Catholics in good conscience may receive the vaccine that is available and offered to them.”
 
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.
 
Audio and Video Equipment in our Church Building – As some of you have noticed our new audio and video equipment has been installed. We have been making use of the audio equipment and we have been adjusting and learning how to use it. Marty Bishop has been essential in this task. He has been and will continue to attend to this work as we move forward. Marty is now working on learning, testing and adjusting the video equipment for our live streaming of our liturgies and other rituals. We will keep you informed of our progress. As always with new equipment there is a learning curve. Please be patient as old dogs learn new tricks! 😊
 
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 
 
Development and Peace – the Canadian Conference of Bishops and the leadership of Development and Peace have issued a statement regarding the concerns that had been expressed re: monies being given to organizations that are in opposition to Catholic Social Teaching. All points of concern have been resolved and Catholics are invited to support Development and Peace. Our own Bishop, Albert Thevenot has released a letter urging us to support the work of Development and Peace. Please see the websites of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-and-the-canadian-catholic-organization-for-development-and-peace-caritas-canada-conclude-joint-review-of-ccodps-international-partner-organiz/ and/or Development and Peace https://www.devp.org/en/articles/canadian-conference-catholic-bishops-issues-letter-backing-share-lent-campaign for further information.
This Lent, let’s share love!  https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/sharelove Our Share Lent campaign, inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, will invite you to discover a different facet of Development and Peace each week.  Together, let’s bring a message of solidarity and fraternity to our sisters and brothers in the Global South. You can 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.