Christ the King - November 21, 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  
 
“The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.” Psalm 93 Refrain
  
November 21, 2021 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe
 
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
 
In Saskatchewan, the nurses and doctors in our hospitals and Intensive Care Units continue to struggle to accommodate the sick. People we know in our communities continue to fall sick, suffer and, in some cases, die. Our average daily case rate and death rate continue to be among the highest per capita in Canada. Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Please encourage one another to get vaccinated.  Wearing masks, sanitizing, social distancing and limiting the size of gatherings also help. Let us be safe and care for one another. Please be aware that if you HAVE NOT been vaccinated and you choose to join us for liturgy, you are EXPOSING YOURSELF TO SERIOUS RISK because of the COVID-19 virus.
 
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN YOU ENTER THE CHURCH and the PARISH OFFICE!
2. The next Songs at Seven will take place on November 25 at 7:00 pm.
3. Catholic TRC Healing Response Appeal in English and French
   https://www.padiocese.ca/news-articles
4. You are invited to write the names of your deceased loved ones on paper and bring them to the parish and place them in the basket before the altar.  We will pray for them during the month of November.
5. Thank you to all who participated in Operation Christmas Shoeboxes.  We collected 45 boxes this year.
6. Have you made your contribution to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal?
7. 2021 - 2022 Sunday Missals are available on the table at the back of the church for $5.00 each.  A box is available at the back of the church for recycling of the old missals.  Thanks for being conscious of our environmental stewardship responsibilities.
8. Fr. Doug will be at the Deanery 6 clergy meeting in Loon Lake on Wednesday, November 24th during the day!

 
Mass Intentions

When there is a funeral, the daily mass will be cancelled.  Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information.  Tuesday to Friday and Sunday the masses will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Mon., Nov. 22 – No mass - Personal Intention

Tues., Nov. 23 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Family and friends of Peter Durocher by Peter Durocher

Wed., Nov. 24 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Rose Tourand by Theresa Tourand

Thurs., Nov. 25 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - Ross Staruiala by Audrey Staruiala

Fri., Nov. 26 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Leonard Evans by Ken & Margaret Alger

Sat., Nov. 27 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, ML) - +Ernesto & +Bernadine Manding by Helen Malana

Sun., Nov. 28 – 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Nov. 28 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Church, Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Nov. 28 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen Lake) - People of God

CWL NEWS:  Thank you to all who have participated in our projects.  Please continue your support.

1. “Baby Shower Project”.  We invite parishioners to join with us in donating new baby items (blankets, baby books, clothing, quilts, etc.).  Jesus said: “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers (and sisters), that you do unto me.”  Let us give Jesus gifts through the young mothers, fathers and babies of Meadow Lake & area who need help.  The donated items will be given to the local Kids First organization for distribution.
2. Christmas Card Project - Would you like to help? Do you know of any people who are shut in within the community who would appreciate a Christmas card? Please submit their names and addresses to the Parish Office by email ([email protected]) or by phone (306) 236-5122!  We also need more hands.   Would you be interested in buying or making cards, writing a short note and signing it with your name, CWL Ladies or Our Lady of Peace Parish. The cards can be dropped off at the parish during office hours or in the collection basket at the entrance of the Church. If you have any questions, contact Lorraine at the Parish Office. We are grateful for your help!
3. 2022 Catholic Women’s League Membership Fees of $30 are now due.  Please drop off your payment in the collection basket in an envelope clearly marked with your name and CWL or in-person at the Parish Office Monday to Friday, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Your receipt may be picked up from the pew in the entrance of the church.

 
Pope Francis Intention for November: This month, the Pope is praying for those who suffer from mental health challenges. We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life. You can see the Pope’s reflections by checking out the Vatican website: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-november-2021-prayer-intention-depression-sufferers.html
 
Sunday Collection – Sunday Nov. 14th:  Our Lady of Peace Parish:   $1036.25; St. Jude’s Parish:   $76.75
 
Preparing for the Feast of Christ the King and Youth Day – As we look forward to the end of our liturgical year, it is important to understand the Feast of Christ the King and how it prepares us for the season of Advent! The following is taken from the Ordo – Liturgical Calendar 2020-2021 p 401. “This feast day is dedicated to eschatological themes: Christ the King will restore all creation and restore his kingdom to the Father. The risen people of God will rejoice in a new heaven and a new earth. “There, with the whole of creation, freed from the corruption of sin and death, may we glorify you through Christ our Lord”.
This Sunday, November 21, 2021 is also dedicated to World Youth Day.  Pope Francis’ Message for the XXXVI World Youth Day was published Sept. 27, 2021.  This year’s World Youth Day will be held at the diocesan level on the Solemnity of Christ the King, Nov. 21 with the theme: “Stand up.  I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen.”  (cf. Acts 26:16).  The message is available in various languages at the following websites:  Vatican:  https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/youth/documents/papa-francesco_202110914_messaggio-giovani_2021.html  Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life:  http://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/GMGmessage2021.html 
 
Our Lady of Peace Parish Reverse Collection held in our parish each Advent will take place again this year. For those who gather physically, the basket containing slips of paper with needed items will be available and Rhys will take out slips of paper for you as you direct him. If you are not attending mass in-person, you can phone the parish office, and the secretary will draw the slips with the name of the items and let you know what you can purchase, or you can just purchase whatever you think is helpful (non-perishable.) In either case, please bring your items to the Church on Sunday or to the Parish Office during the week (2 – 4:30 p.m.)
 
Furnishing a Room in the Northwest Community Lodge. As a Catholic Parish, it is important that we are engaged in the life of the community. Many of our Elders (Family and Friends) are residents of The Lodge. As a parish we will donate $12,00.00 to furnish a room at The Lodge. Our donation will provide the following: new beds with many functions to support each resident’s needs, new mattresses, bed side tables, chairs, built-in desk and closets in each suite. Each resident will have their own private washroom as well.  Parishioners can donate with a cheque payable to, “Our Lady of Peace Parish” indicating it is for “Furnishing a Room at NCL”.  To date, we have collected $2975.00.  When we reach $12,000.00, the parish will pass this on to the Northwest Community Lodge Association. Your donation will be added to your envelope total and your envelope will be receipted as per usual. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Doug or Pat Bencharski!
 
THE BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL: “To Serve and Give His Life”:  Stewardship is a gift from God that enables us to share with others what He has entrusted to us.  When we give, it not only benefits those on the receiving end, but it sows something even GREATER into us.  It is a cycle that was designed never to be broken.  The Bishop’s Annual Appeal is a perfect means of channeling parishioner support to essential ministries that provide care to those in need and support for our mission of evangelization in the Diocese of Prince Albert.  Consider giving to this year’s campaign.  Thank you.  If you have already sent in your pledge, thank you for your generosity.  If you haven’t done so yet and are planning to do so, the Appeal Office would like to have all pledges received on or before December 31, 2021.  If you have lost or misplaced your Appeal information or didn’t receive the information, additional pledge cards are available from the Parish Office.
How are we doing? The goal for Our Lady of Peace Parish is $16,417. As of November 8, 2021, we have received pledges amounting to $5,804.00. The goal for St. Jude’s Parish is $1,228.00, and we have received pledges amounting to $700.00. The Diocesan goal is $450,000.  The Diocese has received pledges in the amount of $187,102 with 583 donors. 
Scripture Insights – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2021:  The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2020, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 398.   On this day, we celebrate the universal kingship of Jesus Christ.  He is the fulfillment of the vision of the Son of Man coming in the First Reading from Daniel.  Dominion and glory are his as he reigns over all peoples and nations.  He is the beginning and the end, as we hear in the Second Reading from Revelation.  His Kingdom does not belong to this world, he tells Pilate in the Gospel reading from John.  Pilate names him a king, though Jesus did not identify himself as such.  Truth is the basis of Jesus’ Kingdom—a far different basis than that of earthly kings and rulers.  As his followers, we belong to the truth.  The truth of Jesus is the basis on which we can build to transform the world, so it more closely mirrors God’s Kingdom of love and justice here and now.
 
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe closes the liturgical year with a paradox.  Two images of royalty and power confront us.  Daniel’s visions portray a powerful being who looks like a human being.  The original Aramaic says, “son of man,” but this is not the semi-divine figure of the early first century.  In the Old Testament, the phrase “son of man” refers to a human being.  What appears to Daniel, however, is no ordinary human being.  The power accorded him is greater than any king’s power; his kingship is over the whole earth.  The figure shares God’s power in both the service of peoples and everlasting kingship.
 
Readers and writers of the New Testament found the Daniel passage and the title “Son of Man” to be profoundly significant in their discussion of Jesus.  Much of the image of Jesus’ glorious reign at the end of time has its roots in Daniel’s vision.
 
The paradox arises in the passage from John’s account of the Gospel.  Jesus is brought before Pilate, scourged, insulted, spat upon.  He endures interrogation about his kingship and kingdom that Pilate has no possibility of understanding because Pilate’s definition of kingship belongs to the world.  It is too narrow to contain the broken man who stands before him.  If Pilate had looked at the Jewish understanding of kingship found in Deuteronomy 17, he would have understood better.  The king of Israel was not to plan battles, attack nations, or make laws.  He was not to protect the people.  The sole duty of the king was to read the law of God and obey it.  He was to provide the example of what it meant to follow God’s commandment.  In this context, Jesus was truly king in a way the world could not understand.
 
The Church chooses to portray the broken king on a cross as a symbol of faith, love and obedience:  Deuteronomy’s definition.  Yet Christians also revere the visions described in the books of Daniel and Revelation, of Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father and reigning gloriously at the end of time.  This paradox is the legacy of the Incarnation.

• Jesus’ glory reigns in our hearts.  He directs us, guides us, and helps us to discern our vocation as his disciples.  We can come away with him to rest when we need to rejuvenate ourselves for our mission or when we need to understand more clearly how it is he is calling us to reflect his glory.  Our relationship with him is one where heart speaks to heart.  This strengthens us as we enter another year in our faith journey.
• The Lord’s glory is in us and all around us.  We celebrate this truth today!  As we go through the day and week, notice the many ways the Lord is present around you.  Take time to breathe in the glory that surrounds you.  Praise God for the glory and splendor of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe!

 
Diocesan Synod – We are forming a Parish Committee to organize how we will celebrate the Synod. If you are interested in helping, please be in touch with Fr. Doug!
 
Advent/Christmas Schedule (This schedule is subject to change depending on Covid-19 regulations.)
This year during the Advent Season we will be celebrating Reconciliation in our faith communities as follows:
December 12 - after the Sunday mass in Waterhen Lake
December 19 - after the Sunday mass in Green Lake
December 21 - from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm in Meadow Lake
December 22 - from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm in Meadow Lake
*Please note!  If these times do not work for you, call the Parish Office to schedule an appointment with Fr. Doug!
This year during the Christmas Season the Eucharist will be celebrated in our faith communities as follows:
Friday, December 24 - at 5:00 pm in Waterhen Lake
Friday, December 24 - at 8:00 pm in Green Lake
Friday, December 24 - at 10:00 pm in Meadow Lake (Live-streamed Facebook)
Saturday, December 25 - at 10:00 am in Meadow Lake (Live-streamed Facebook)

Our Sunday Liturgies will be as follows:
December 26 - at 10:00 am Parish Church Meadow Lake (Live-streamed Facebook)
December 26 - at 12:30 pm in Green Lake
January 2 - at 10:00 am Parish Church Meadow Lake (Live-streamed Facebook)
January 2 - at 12:30 pm in Green Lake

During the week after Christmas
Tuesday, December 28, 6:30 pm in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)
Wednesday, December 29, 6:30 pm in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)
Thursday, December 30, 6:30 pm in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)
Friday, December 31, 6:30 pm in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)

• a Holy Hour will follow the mass.

Saturday, January 1, 10:00 am in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)
 
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
 
5-Week Advent Virtual Bible Study – Wednesdays - Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22 at 7:00 p.m. This bible study will begin the week following Fr. Richard Leonard’s presentation. The bible study content will be the Advent Sunday and Christmas Eve Gospels and our method will be Lectio Divina and small group sharing. Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word. To take part in this program from the comfort of your home, please click on the following link to REGISTER or contact the parish office (306-236-5122) if you would like to join us in the Church.
If you have difficulty registering, please contact the Parish Office. Fr. Doug will register those who choose to gather in the Church, and he will be here for all the presentations.
 
THE LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM was launched on November 14th. It allows Catholic parishes, schools, families to take tangible steps so that their actions reduce their impact on God's Creation, our common home. Each group will create a 7-year plan. The platform is easy to use, allowing you to obtain a certificate later.  https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/.  The Green Churches Network is the official partner of the Laudato Si Platform for Action in Canada. For 15 years now, this charity has been helping churches to care for our common home through concrete actions and a spirituality based on integral ecology.  https://greenchurches.ca/  All of these links can also be found on our Website under Social Justice.
https://www.padiocese.ca/social-justice.
 
What’s your Catholic IQ?   Last bulletin’s question and answer: In Christian art, icons are: (c) sacred representations of Jesus, Mary or the saints used in Eastern churches. They are images painted on walls or flat panels, using rich colours, often backed with gold.  Sometimes they are made of mosaics.  Eastern churches use icons rather than statues in their churches.  Icons are becoming popular for personal prayer use in the West.
This week’s question:  Starting on the first Sunday of Advent, many families and parishes light candles (a) to pray for world peace (b) on an Advent wreath (c) in front of statues of St. Patrick (d) to save on electricity.  [pg. 5, #8]