December 10th, 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  

“Shout aloud and sing for joy: great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Psalm Refrain from Isaiah 12
 
 
December 12, 2021 - 3rd Sunday of Advent
 
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 serve the sick. Our case counts are going down. Let us make whatever efforts we can to keep our brothers and sisters safe. Getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Please encourage one another to get vaccinated and encourage your children 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 & the PARISH OFFICE!
   
   
2. The next Songs at Seven will take place on December 16 at 7:00 pm.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 2022 Donation Envelopes: The primary source of funding for our parish and our parish activities is the monies given at our Sunday Liturgies. Have you been helping our parish during the pandemic? The 2022 Donation Envelopes will be available at the end of December. Be sure to pick up yours! If you do not have an envelope, you can contact the Parish Office to register and receive a set! Thanks for your help! It is needed and appreciated!
   
   
5. Have you made your contribution to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal? See information below.
   
   
6. December 12, 2021, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, is also our National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.
   
   

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., Dec. 13 – No mass - Personal Intention

Tues., Dec. 14 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - Souls in Purgatory by Josette Couillonneau

Wed., Dec. 15 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Parents, Siblings & Friends by Josette Couillonneau

Thurs., Dec. 16 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Louis, Germaine & Raymond Wilfing by Nick & Eileen Charney

Fri., Dec. 17 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - +Louis, Germaine, Raymond Wilfing by Nick & Eileen Charney

Sat., Dec. 18 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church, ML) - Anonymous

Sun., Dec. 19 – 10 am (Our Lady of Peace Church, Meadow Lake & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 19 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Church, Green Lake) - People of God
 
December 15 – Bishop Stephen Hero has asked for a Clergy Zoom Meeting (2:00 pm-4:30 pm) on the afternoon of the 15th. Fr. Doug will travel to Goodsoil and take in the meeting with Fr. Kendrick. Following the meeting, Fr. Doug will join Fr. Kendrick in providing an opportunity for the people of Goodsoil to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Doug will be away from the Parish Office in the afternoon and evening.
 
Meadow Lake Council Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” Coloring Contest. The contest is open to children in 3 age categories: ages 5-7, 8-10, and 11-14 with cash prizes in each category.
Information sheets will be available at the back of the church for parents or grandparents after Saturday and Sunday Masses on Dec. 11, 12 and 17, 18. Entries are due on January 10th.  For more information contact Chris at (306) 240-8872 or Kevin at (306) 240-6661.

 Pope Francis Intention for December: This month, the Pope invites us to pray for catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God:  may they be witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
Sunday Collection – Sunday, Dec 5th:  Our Lady of Peace Parish:   $1,900.00; St. Jude’s Parish:   $172.30
 
Our Lady of Peace Parish Reverse Collection held in our parish each Advent is taking place again this year. Please bring your items to the Church when you come to mass or to the Parish Office during the week (2 – 4:30 p.m.) on or before December 19th! Thank you for all you are doing!
 
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 $6995.00.  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”:  The Diocesan Resource Center is a hidden treasure of the Diocese with items for children, youth and adults to grow and deepen faith.  Money from the Bishop’s Appeal allows the Diocese to bring in new programs to support the parishes.  Over the last few years, it was able to purchase DVD’s, CD’s and books available for all in the Diocese to borrow FREE OF CHARGE.  Adult Faith Formation Resources for use in parishes include Symbolon, A Quick Journey through the Bible and The Chosen (recently ordered).  It also supports other programs within our Diocesan Centre.  The Gift Shop is unique to Prince Albert with beautiful gifts of faith to purchase.  It will also “special order” bibles, medals, statues, crosses, cards for special events such as Ordination, Confirmation and First Eucharist, children’s religious books and items for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.  All of this is possible because of your generosity in supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal each year.  If you have already sent in your donation/pledge, thank you for your generosity.  If you haven’t done so yet, 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 29, 2021, we have received pledges amounting to $12,814.00.  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, and it has received pledges in the amount of $303,153.15 with 918 donors. 
Scripture Insights – Third Sunday of Advent – Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2022:  The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2020, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 20.   Today’s Scriptures repeatedly echo with sounds of joy and gladness in the divine presence, in rescue and redemption accomplished.  The prophet Zephaniah proclaims to Judah that despite her many infidelities, God will “renew [her] in his love” (3:17). In the responsorial psalm, Isaiah announces that Judah can live “confident and unafraid” (12:2) because God remains always in her midst.  St. Paul calls the Philippian community to “Rejoice in the Lord” (4:4) because the Gospel, the Good News of salvation in Christ, continues to spread.
 
In the Gospel, however, Luke brings a note of repentance into this symphony of joy.  By the time Luke wrote his Gospel account, fifty or more years after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, Christians no longer expected Christ’s imminent return.  Hence Luke reminds his hearers that while Christ has begun God’s final rule on earth, they must live each day fully aware of this reality, looking forward to the unknown day of its completion.
 
Thus, Luke often emphasizes the demands of daily Christian living.  A few verses before today’s Gospel, Luke presents John the Baptist preaching a baptism of repentance.  In the Bible, repentance means a radical conversion of one’s entire way of life.  It demands turning away from sin and all that leads to it, while turning toward God in heart and action.  Therefore, the Baptist calls tax collectors and soldiers to cease their common acts of dishonesty and oppression.
 
Rejoicing in salvation that has already come in Christ is praiseworthy, Luke seems to say.  But, he adds, the powerful presence of our saving God in Christ calls for response in daily life and action.  Such response is true repentance, made possible because our saving God is already with us in Christ.  For this we can truly rejoice!

• Imagine the transformation that happens inside a kiln.  The flames dance around pieces of pottery, turning the clay mold into a beautiful, sturdy vessel for use in the world.  Fire alters the very nature of a substance.  Jesus’ baptism “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16) transforms our very beings too.
• The readings for Gaudete Sunday encourage the people to rejoice: “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!” (Zep 3:14).  “Rejoice in the Lord always!”  (Phil 4:4).  Not everyone is in a position to rejoice this holiday season.  All is not merry and bright for families who have experienced miscarriage, a terminal diagnosis, divorce, or another grief.  How can we break open the readings in a way that is accessible to them too?

 
Synod 2021 - 2023 – Please pray for the success of our Synod.  The Synod Committee of Our Lady of Peace Parish is continuing to meet and develop a plan as to how the Synod will unfold in our parish.  You can follow the diocesan Synod plans at https://www.padiocese.ca/synod2023 where you can view Bishop Hero's presentation about the Synod given on October 30 and the opening Mass for the diocesan synodal journey on November 8, 2020. This page will be updated as more of the diocesan plans unfold.
 
Advent/Christmas Schedule (This schedule is subject to change depending on Covid-19 regulations.)
Reconciliation:  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)

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 with Holy Hour (Live-streamed Facebook)
Saturday, January 1, 10:00 am in Meadow Lake Church (Live-streamed Facebook)

CWL NEWS:  Thank you to all who have participated in our projects.  Please continue your support of our “Baby Shower Project”.  Donation of 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.”  We give Jesus gifts through the young mothers, fathers and babies of Meadow Lake & area who need help (distributed by the local Kids First organization.)  Deadline for donations to our Christmas 2021 Baby Shower is Dec. 15, 2021.
 
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND
 
5-Week Advent Virtual Bible Study continues on Wednesdays, Dec. 15 & 22 at 7:00 p.m. The bible study content will be the Advent Sunday and Christmas Eve Gospels using 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 your home, please click on the following link to REGISTER.
 
What’s your Catholic IQ?   Last bulletin’s question and answer: The word Christmas comes from (a) Christ’s mass, an Old English phrase.
This week’s question:  Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid him in a  manger because (a) mangers were fancier in those days (b) sleeping on hay was thought to be good for a person’s health (c) there was no room in the inn (d) none of these. [Pg. 5, #2]

ADULT FAITH JOURNEY:  Here are some links to resources to support your Advent journey. 
Advent Resources for Adults:  There are many options for adults who wish to enter more deeply into their Advent journey. Our challenge is making the time. Some of the suggestions on the Advent Resources for Adults page will take as little as 15 minutes a day to read and reflect upon; whereas others like the Pray More Advent Retreat will take a bit more time. Have a look at the Advent Resources for Adults page and discern which Advent resource will fit your journey this year as you grow your faith. 
Advent Resources for Young Adults:  Though the message is the same, all the generations speak a different language and have a different way of understanding things. The resources on the Advent Resources for Young Adults page have been selected to speak to those of the millennial and Gen Z generations ... those between the ages of 19 and 39. The video at the top of our page is from Fr. Mike Schmitz.  Clicking and watching this video on YouTube will lead you to many more by Fr. Mike. Other items on the page include an Advent calendar and articles drawn from Busted Halo and a retreat by Mike Patin. There are many ideas on the Advent Resources for Young Adults.
Advent Resources for Families:  There are so many resources available to families to support them in bringing the Advent journey to life in their home. This 8-minute presentation, Great Family Activities for Advent, from Ascension Presents offers parents the best advice. Pick one maybe two but not all.
To help parents, we have gathered a few of the many resources available online on the Advent Resources for Families page. The first offering gives a link to the Adult and Young Adult pages because parents need resources for themselves, too. Then there are numerous resources for families from calendars, to videos, to activities, and Catholic traditions such as the Jesse Tree. We have also reposted last year`s weekly Advent activities done by catechists throughout our Diocese because of the many positive comments we had received. To find links to these resources and others, go to the Advent Resources for Families page.

National Day of Prayer:  The National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples will be celebrated this Sunday, December 12, 2021, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.  The 2021 Message for the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, is entitled “We are called to Healing, Forgiveness, Reconciliation.”
The text will be published in the December 2021 issue of Living with Christ and will be posted on the CCCB website. The English and French versions can be found on our Diocesan website at https://www.padiocese.ca/indigenous-relations

A special section has been added to the CCCB website in order to highlight the Indigenous Delegation which had planned to meet with Pope Francis from 17 to 20 of December 2021. The meeting has been postponed due to the pandemic. Included in this section are this year’s Advent video series, educational resources, and information for journalists. All of these resources, and more to come, can be accessed via the following link:  https://bit.ly/healingandreconciliation 

In addition, on behalf of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, there is a video featuring Bishops from across the country reading the “Apology by the Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land.” The video (bilingual) can be accessed via the following link: https://youtu.be/M6BazS2PEN0

Both video and resources are available on the CCCB website:  https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/indigenous-delegation-17-20-december-2021-vatican-city/educational-resources/