Easter Sunday March 31, 2024

 
        
       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  
 
  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Psalm 118 Refrain
 
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. Uche Umechikelu, MSP
Parish Secretary:
Pat Bencharski
 
Masses
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., Apr. 1 – No mass
 
Tues., Apr. 2 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Peter & Bernice Martell

Wed., Apr. 3 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Edwin Martell & +Arthur Martell

Thurs., Apr. 4 – 8:30 – 9:30 am Adoration before mass
 
Thurs., Apr. 4 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Theresa & William Hetherington

Fri., Apr. 5 – No mass
 
Sat. Apr. 6 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Apr. 7 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. No mass this Friday, Apr. 5. Fr. Uche will be attending meetings in Prince Albert.
2. No First Saturday BVM Mass on April 6. Fr. Uche will be attending meetings in Prince Albert.
3. No Service at the Lodge this Tuesday, April 2. Fr. Uche will be away.

Sunday Collection – Mar. 24:  Meadow Lake $1743.05   Green Lake $33.50   Children’s Collection $15.00
                                               
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for April – for the role of women – We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.
 
Easter Season – The seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Feast day. St. Athanasius called them “the great Sunday.” Christians sing the “Alleluia” during these days on their rejoicing.
(GNLY, no. 22)       Taken from Ordo  page 99
 
 Scripture Insights – Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2024:  The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2023, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 156.
 
 Jesus has been raised from the dead. Alleluia! Alleluia!
             John is the only evangelist to report Mary Magdalene as the sole visitor to the tomb of Jesus, “early in the morning,” “on the first day of the week.” John’s simplification of Mary’s visit – she neither encounters an angel nor is she invited to peer into the empty tomb – downplays Mary as a primary witness to the Lord’s resurrection. Instead, John places the emphasis on Peter “and the other disciple,” who come to see and believe because of what they see at the empty tomb.
            There is great urgency in the way Peter and his companion run to the tomb. The unnamed disciple runs faster than Peter and is the first to see the burial cloths. Nevertheless, he refrains from entering the tomb. This honor belongs to Simon Peter alone. He is to be seen as the first of the apostles who witness to the resurrection of the Lord. Peter enters by himself and sees the burial cloths. Only after this does the other disciple enter. John reports that “he saw and believed.” It has long been understood that John intended this unnamed disciple to symbolize the believing Christian in general. Therefore, while Peter is the first to “see,” it is every faithful and loving Christian who is called to “believe.” Because this mysterious disciple is the “beloved disciple,” the one who stood by the cross of Christ.
            Although the beloved disciple believes, John makes it clear that such is not the universal experience of all of Jesus’ followers. Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb and weeps. However, her agony provides John the opportunity to include an angelic intervention like those found in the synoptic accounts. Interestingly enough, Mary has no reaction to seeing two angels clad in white sitting in the tomb, asking why she is weeping. In fact, she seems quite calm as she explains: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” In response to this statement, another takes over questioning Mary, who presumes he is the gardener. “Whom are you looking for?” for John, this is the primary evangelical invitation. Mary fails to hear this invitation coming from the lips of the resurrected Lord. Instead, it takes the mention of her name to make her turn to face Jesus and to recognize him at last. With this first sighting of the resurrected Lord, Mary is sent with the mission to tell her good news to the other disciples: “I have seen the Lord.” Mary becomes the first to truly “see and believe.”
                    
Whether it energizes you or frustrates you, or likely some combination of the two, you will see people in your congregation today whom you have not seen before. You will see some that you haven’t seen for quite a while – Christmas, perhaps. Maybe Ash Wednesday. And you will see some people whom you know to expect just these couple times a year. What kind of message, what kind of church are you welcoming them back to? Lean into the Alleluia, the joy of this celebratory day; for what once was lost is now found! Take special care with your words, so that not even a hint of judgement or suspicion be found. Today is about joyful hospitality, new life, reunion, and resurrection.
·         The first person to greet the risen Christ was a woman. Not a priest, not one of the twelve, not the one who will be the rock of the Church. A woman. For a while, the entire Church consisted of just one woman, as Mary Magdalene sprinted from the tomb to spread the Good News. How are women carrying the Good News in your community today? So we offer respect, platforms, opportunities for that woman-borne message to be born?
·         What prevented their eyes from seeing Jesus? Was it the sun? The tears, shed for their dashed hopes and murdered friend? Only after he recounted their history, broke, blessed, and shared bread with them, were they able to recognize him. And by then, he was gone. Where do we miss Christ along our journey? How might we practice better habits to recognize Christ in each other in the moment, in our surprise, and while we are carrying our own grief and questions?