7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 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: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net
Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake
Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/
Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5  
 
The Lord is merciful and gracious. Psalm 103 Refrain
 
February 19, 2023 - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
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., Feb. 20 – No mass

Tues., Feb. 21 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Agnes Marie Morin by Audrey & Gilbert Griffith

Wed., Feb. 22 (Ash Wednesday) – 12:30 pm (St Jude’s Parish, Green Lake) AND 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Thurs., Feb. 23– 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Ernest B. Morin by Audrey & Gilbert Griffith

Fri., Feb. 24 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Donald Morin by Audrey & gilbert Griffith

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

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

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

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. We will not have Liturgy at the Lodge on Tuesdays until further notice.
2. Beginning February 13, the secretary’s hours will be from 1:00 to 3:00 Tuesday to Friday.
3. Ash Wednesday Services on February 22nd are at 12:30 pm Green Lake AND 6:30 pm Meadow Lake
4. Please pray for the people impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria and the surrounding area.

 
Sunday Collection – February 12:  Meadow Lake $1497.00          Green Lake – $325.55
                                   
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for February – For parishes – We pray that parishes, placing communion at the center, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.
 
Friday, March 3 - World Day of Prayer will be celebrated at 1:00 PM in Good Shepherd/Holy Trinity Church. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this ecumenical service. The theme for this year is “I Have Heard About Your Faith”.
 
Please pray for Sister Murielle Savard of the Sisters of Presentation of Mary, who passed away on Feb. 12, 2023. Her funeral will be Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince Albert. Our sympathies go out to the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary as well as to her biological family.
 
Season of Lent
     Lent is the yearly celebration by the Church of its corporate conversion in Jesus Christ. During Lent, the liturgy prepares catechumens to celebrate the Paschal Mystery by the various stages of Christian Initiation. It also prepares the faithful for Easter as they recall their Baptism and do penance in preparation for the greatest Feast of the year.
     Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for Baptism and emphasizes a spirit of penance. Through forty days of closer attention to God’s Word and of more fervent prayer, believers are prepared to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. Lenten instructions stress these baptismal and penitential themes.
     During Lent, it is important to teach the social consequences of sin as well as the fact that the heart of the virtue of penance is hatred of sin as an offence against God.
     The Church encourages penitential practices that are external and social, reflecting the circumstances of individuals and communities, as we pray and do penance for sinners. Taken from Ordo page 154
 
Scripture Insights – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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. 98.
 
            “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” (Lv 19:2). These words challenge us to imitate God in our actions. The word “holy” embraces the concept of wholeness, as opposed to being divided. Leviticus illustrates this meaning: “You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart” (19:7). Instead, follow the command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18).
In Matthew’s account of the Gospel, Jesus clearly builds on this passage from Leviticus. “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:48). To “be perfect” is the same as to “be holy”. Such holiness would mean that the individual is undivided in their interior and exterior lives. Jesus offers three succinct scenarios of humiliation that reflect Mediterranean culture: being struck on the right cheek by a backhanded slap is an insult; being sued in court where one is humiliated by losing property or dignity; and being forced to carry something by Roman soldiers (see Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross [Mt 27:32]). All of these cultural situations required action to defend one’s honor. Instead, Jesus advises a different approach: Find another way to respond that avoids violence. Rise above these insults. Jesus is abrogating a basic law of the Middle East, enduring to the present, known as the Law of Talion, the law of retaliation: “An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38). Jesus invites his followers to find a third way that rises above humiliation and avoids retaliating in the same way. Use your imagination to discover how best to overcome the insult in ways that rise above it and beyond violence.
 

• Being holy not only includes spending time in prayer and meditation but requires active living on behalf of justice in the world. Faith and action go hand in hand.
• We are at our best selves as followers of Jesus when we recognize we belong to him and not the world. The wisdom of Christ assists us in aligning our will with God’s will so that we might deepen our relationship with God on the path of living perfectly.
• Jesus’ new command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us sets the standard of discipleship high. Each day, each week, even each moment, we discern who our enemies are and how God calls us to love and pray for them. In Christ, this difficult standard becomes more achievable.

 
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
 
Rosary and Reflection – Once a month, from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, with Bishop Stephen beginning February 25th, March 25th, April 15th, and May 27th! Livestreamed from Prince Albert!