4th Sunday of Lent - March 19, 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 1-3:00 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  

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23 Refrain
  
March 19, 2023 - 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:
Pat Bencharski
Pastoral Council Chair:
 
Mass 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., Mar. 20 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Feast of St. Joseph

Tues., Mar. 21 – 10:00 am Liturgy at the Lodge - Liturgy with Communion

Tues., Mar. 21 – No public mass - Mary Anne McIntyre by Dan & Theresa Martian

Wed., Mar. 22 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Tilly Redhead by Dan & Theresa Martian

Thurs., Mar. 23– 9:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Souls in Purgatory by Josette Couillonneur

Fri., Mar. 24 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Souls in Purgatory by Josette Couillonneur

Sat., Mar. 25 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church) - Feast of the Annunciation and Silver Rose

Sat., Mar. 25 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude Parish, Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Mar. 26 – 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

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

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Please join us on Friday evening at 6:30 for the Way of the Cross in Meadow Lake and at 7:00 in Green Lake
2. Beginning February 13, the secretary’s hours will be from 1:00 to 3:00 Tuesday to Friday.
3. Liturgy of the Word with Communion at the Lodge on Tuesday, March 21.
4. Come join us for Bingo March 19 in the hall.  Doors open at 6:30 pm.

 
Sunday Collection – March 12:  Meadow Lake $1530.00         Green Lake – $251.00
                                   
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for March – For victims of abuse – We pray for those who have suffered harm from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.
 
40 Cans for Lent Project – Once again this year we are asking everyone to donate one can of food per day for the 40 days of Lent. This project has marked our Lenten practice for a number of years. We have donated thousands of pounds of food to the Door of Hope. Just before Easter the food will be taken to the Door of Hope. Help us make a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters here in Meadow Lake who struggle to feed their families. Please feel free to bring your non-perishable food to the Parish Church at mass times or to the Parish Office during Office Hours. Many thanks for your generosity.
 
The Way of the Cross – Please join us on Friday evenings for the Way of the Cross. In Meadow Lake we will gather at 6:30 pm in the Church and in Green Lake we will gather at 7:00, to pray with Jesus as he makes his way to Calvary. As we pray, let us offer to God our own suffering.
 
Taize Evenings – Join us on Tuesday evenings for 45 minutes of Taize prayer and reflection. Our prayer begins this week, March 14th at 6:30 pm.
 
Father Doug Leadership Meetings – After celebrating the mass for the Feast of St. Joseph on Monday, March 20, Fr. Doug will leave for Saskatoon to take part in the Oblate Leadership Meetings. Fr. Doug will return in time for the mass on Wednesday evening at 6:30.
 
March 23 Deanery Meeting – On Thursday, March 23, the clergy from Deanery 6 will meet in Paradise Hill. Please note that the mass will be celebrated at 9:00 am that day. Fr. Doug will be out of the Office for the day!
 
March 24 – Confessions in Goodsoil – On Friday evening at 7:00 pm Fr. Doug will be in Goodsoil helping Fr. Dong at the Parish Penitential Service. Are you a sinner? Need forgiveness? Come and join us!
 
March 25 – Feast of the Annunciation and Silver Rose – On Saturday, March 25 we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation – Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and informed that through the power of the Holy Spirit she will become the Mother of God. Mary says, “Yes!” to the angel and the story of our salvation begins a new chapter. As part of our celebration on Saturday we will receive the Silver Rose which is a part of the Knights of Columbus prayer campaign to help deepen our devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to help us deepen our respect for life at all its stages from conception till natural death. Join us for the rosary, for the mass, for our Consecration to Mary and for the Litany of the Blessed Mother. Our prayer will begin at 9:30 am.
 
Development and Peace – Share Lent Sunday – Next Sunday we will present 4 symbols at the beginning of mass. We will present a bowl filled with earth, a microphone, a plant and a box and a ballot. These symbols represent the wealth of the earth, the importance of communication, hope and the importance of democracy and of listening to the many and varied voices of humanity. These are symbols of solidarity and they help us to remember our brothers and sisters in the Global South who are trying to Create Hope as they Stand For the Land. This is the theme that Development and Peace has chosen for our Share Lent program. I encourage everyone to make a contribution to Share Lent – if you have automatic withdrawal put your Share Lent donation in an envelope with your name on it so that we can acknowledge your contribution and make sure it gets included in the Share Lent program.
 
Prayer for Pope Francis – On March 13, Pope Francis celebrated his 10th anniversary as our Pope, the leader of our Church. We have been encouraged to pray for his well-being and for his ministry. On Friday, during our 6 hours for the Lord, we prayed the Litany of St. Joseph for his intention. I ask that each household in the parish say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be for Pope Francis. I suggest that we do this on Sunday at 6:00 pm if possible.
 
Knights of Columbus BINGO – Mark your calendars for the next bingo. It will be on March 19th.  Doors open at 6:30 pm and bingo begins at 7:00 pm.
 
March 20 – Feast of St Joseph – The feast of St. Joseph is usually celebrated on March 19. Because it is a Sunday this year the celebration of the feast will take place on the following day. Please be advised that we will celebrate the Eucharist at 9:30 am on Monday, March 20 in honor of St. Joseph.
 
Large Print Bibles – Fr. Doug purchased several large print New Revised Standard Catholic Bibles. They are available at the parish office for $50.00 per Bible. Enjoy reading your Bible!
The Chrism Mass - April 4 at 6:30pm Bishop Stephen will celebrate the Chrism mass. At this liturgy, priests reaffirm their commitment to serve the Lord, the Bishop, and the People of God. At this liturgy the Bishop blesses the oils that will be used to help us celebrate Baptism, Confirmation, the Ordination of priests and the Anointing of the Sick. If you would like to take part in this liturgy, please be in touch with Fr. Doug. All are welcome to take part in this liturgy at the Cathedral in Prince Albert.
 
Scripture Insights – 4th Sunday of Lent 
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. 130.
 
            In today’s first reading, David, the youngest son of Jesse, seems an unlikely choice for a king as opposed to all his mature, highly qualified brothers. At least he seems unlikely by human standards. But God knows best how to make decisions for the well-being of the Chosen People. Clearly God’s ways are not ours. What’s more, not by chance is David a shepherd! Many centuries later, Jesus too will call himself a shepherd, demonstrating that his mission is grounded in tenderness and compassion.
             The much beloved Psalm 23 is a fitting prayer-hymn for today. Although God is described as “my shepherd” (Ps 23:1), making the psalm a personal prayer, the task of the shepherd, and of Jesus himself, is to take care of the whole flock, the entire people of God. The Lord is portrayed as one who tenderly cares for the sheep, feeding and protecting them all the days of their lives.
              In his Letter to the Ephesians, Paul uses the theme of darkness and light to draw a contrast between a life that is “pleasing to the Lord” and a life of “fruitless works of darkness” (Eph 5: 10 – 11). Paul tells the believers that the light that enables them to live in goodness and truth comes from the Lord. This reading prepares us to hear the healing story of the man born blind, which also contrasts the darkness of unbelief with the light of knowing and believing in the Son of Man.
              Just as, in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus relieved the woman’s thirst with living water, today he gives the man born blind his sight – and the light of faith. In these stories (and also in next week’s story), God works through Jesus to transform the human condition, bringing healing for body and spirit. Many witness his works – the crowds and the religious leaders – but not all come to faith.
            

• There are many kinds of blindness. We can be blind to the gifts in our own lives, blind to the hurt we unintentionally cause others, and blind to the injustice all around us.
• We see in today’s Gospel that vision can come with a price: the man born blind is expelled from the synagogue because he speaks, without fear, the truth he knows in his heart: that Jesus has healed his eyes, and that only through God could this have come to be.
• We pray that we too may have the courage to speak the truth when Jesus gives sight to our eyes and hearts, no matter the cost.

 
Lent and Abstinence and Fasting – In the Liturgical Calendar published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops we read the following from page 54:
“b) Fridays are days of abstinence from meat, but Catholics may substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day.
c) Lent has a penitential character. During Lent, penance is an important requirement of Christian Life. Fulfillment of this duty involves prayer, works of piety and charity, and self-denial by fulfilling one’s obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the prescribed fast and abstinence.
d) Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in the Roman Rite, including Canada, are days of fasting and abstinence from meat. Pastors should invite and encourage their people to do special penance these two days.
e) The Paschal Fast is observed on Good Friday and, where possible continued through Holy Saturday.
f) Privileged forms of Penance are recommended, especially during Lent. These forms are privileged because they are based on the teaching of the Gospels (fasting, almsgiving, prayer, works of mercy) or because of their traditional value among the people of God (abstinence from meat).
Christian fasting obtains its full meaning when we deprive ourselves of food in order to be more open to prayer, to share more in the suffering of those who are starving and to save money to give to the poor. Fasting is a penitential discipline intended to open our hearts to God and others, a means of purification and spiritual liberation, a witness of the depth of our faith.
The law of abstinence from meat binds those who are 14 and older; the law of fasting binds those from 18-59 years of age. Parents and educators are reminded of their duty to introduce children gradually to the understanding and practice of penance. The actions modeled by adults will be the greatest influence in this matter.
g) Parish committees should assist the Pastor to help make Christian Penance a reality in the life of their community. “
 
Season of Lent (Taken from the Liturgical Calendar prepared by the Bishops of Canada page 155)
“The highest point in the Church’s year is the Sacred Paschal Triduum celebrating the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus. We prepare for this three-day period during the season of Lent and prolong it for the great 50 days of the Easter season.”
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes prior to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. The Easter Triduum which begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday concludes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. It is referred to as the Great Three Days or the Easter Triduum – running from sundown on Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday – hence three days. Since 1969, The Great Three days are seen as a liturgical season in themselves.
The early church recommended that prior to the Resurrection (Easter Sunday) the People of God should have 40 days of fasting. When calculating this Paschal Fast we now begin with Ash Wednesday and we conclude with the beginning of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Since Sunday is the day when we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord we NEVER fast or abstain from meat on Sunday.
What is also noteworthy is that we do not fast or abstain from meat when we are celebrating solemnities like the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 19) and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25), both celebrations fall within the season of Lent. So what does that mean for the 40 days of Lent or the 40 days of Fasting?
From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday is 46 days inclusive. Take away the 6 Sundays and you end up with 40 days of fasting. Practically speaking however, the season of Lent is not 40 days and practically speaking we do not have 40 days of fasting because of the Sundays and Solemnities.
We can and we ought to maintain the discipline of fasting and abstinence beginning on Ash Wednesday except for the Solemnities and Sundays. As the bishops suggest, we ought to practice fasting and abstinence on Good Friday and Holy Saturday IF we are able. If we are not able, then we ought to engage in some other form of penance (charity or piety) during these holy days of preparation.
As is the case in all our Christian life, we do the best that we can. Should we fast throughout the Lenten season? Yes, if we can! Should we fast and abstain from meat on Good Friday and Holy Saturday? Yes, if we can! We fast to be more open to prayer, to share in the suffering of others and to save money which we then give to the poor!
We encourage each other to the best of our ability. When we do this we set a good example for one another so that our parish community is known as a community that takes seriously our preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection. In doing this we become more like Christ.
 
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
 
Rosary and Reflection – Once a month, from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, with Bishop Stephen. The next reflections will be offered March 25th, April 15th, and May 27th! Livestreamed from Prince Albert!
 
From Development and Peace -
Standing for the Land in Honduras
Honduras’s diverse ecosystems, fertile lands and rich natural resources attract many profiteering enterprises that overexploit the land to no benefit for local communities.
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada supports Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC, Reflection, Research and Communication Team), an organization that helps communities in their struggle for land and territory and investigates human rights abuses.
This Lent, meet our solidarity visitor Elvin Hernández, a human rights investigator at ERIC. Learn more at devp.org/lent.