Fifth Sunday of Lent April 6, 2025

 
        
       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 MON, TUES, THURS & FRI
OPEN : Wednesday 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 has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126 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. 7 – No mass
 
Tues., Apr. 8 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Apr. 8 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Sarah Koch & family by Theresa Rodrigue

Wed., Apr. 9 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - God’s protection over the family by Bernardo Ferrer

Thurs., Apr. 10 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -          
+Louis & Germaine Wilfing & Raymond Wilfing by Nick & Eileen Charney

Fri., Apr. 11 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -           
Sarah Koch & family by Theresa Rodrigue

Sat., Apr. 12 – 6:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake)  Palm Sunday - People of God

Sun., Apr. 13 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Palm Sunday - People of God

Sun., Apr. 13 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen Lake) -  Palm Sunday - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Stations of the Cross this Friday, April 11 at 7:00 pm led by the ladies of the parish.
2. Meeting for all involved in Easter liturgies after mass Wednesday, April 9.
3. Meeting with Diocesan representatives Thursday, April 10 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in the Hall.
4. Deacon Information Session Thursday, April 10 starting at 7:30 pm in the Hall.
5. No Saturday evening masses at Our Lady of Peace until after Easter.

 
Sunday Collection –  Mar. 30  Meadow Lake  $4481.43   Green Lake  $132.15  Children’s $9.50
                                                           
Sunday Church Attendance –    Mar. 30   Adults  97  Children  20   Total  117
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for April – For the use of the new technologies – Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.
 
Meeting With Diocesan Representatives – On Thursday, April 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Diocesan representatives will be here in our parish to meet with all catechists, pastoral and finance council members. We will meet in the hall. All other parishioners are also welcome. Following this meeting there will be an information session for anyone interested in becoming a deacon.
 
MSP/ASMP Lenten Retreat – Lenten Retreat will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm at St. Joseph’s Parish in North Battleford.
 
Chrism Mass – We are looking for people to go to the Chrism Mass in Prince Albert on April 15 at 6:30 pm to pick up the Holy Oils. If you are interested in going, please call the office or let Father Uche know.
 
Easter Cards – We invite all parishioners to write Easter cards for our shutins and seniors at the Lodge. Please bring the cards to the office and they will be distributed. If you know of someone who would benefit from this, please call Marie Mamchur at 240-6155 with their name and address. Thank you.
 
Parish Garage Sale – We are planning a Parish Garage Sale on Saturday, May 3 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will accept donations at the hall from Wednesday April 30 to Friday May 2.
 
Scripture Insights – Fifth Sunday of Lent
Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2025: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2024, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 144.
 
 Isaiah speaks of the power and sovereignty of God, who has a plan for creation and for each of us. The psalmist then promises that sadness will turn to joy and laughter if we stand strong. Paul, in his gentle Letter to the Philippians, further describes our faith lives as journeys pursuing maturity found in hope and satisfaction with God’s blessings in whatever form they take.
This teaching culminates in our Gospel: an encounter among Jesus, a woman caught in adultery, and those who test Jesus to her harm. This account is well known, but most early manuscripts do not include it. Remarkably, this powerful vignette was so loved that it nonetheless found a canonical home. Audiences of all time now experience this story of merciful wisdom and compassion.
Scribes and Pharisees bring a woman before Jesus as if to stand trial. They caught her in the very act of adultery, a crime punishable by stoning (Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22 – 24), and demand that Jesus render judgment – but John confirms that Jesus too is on trial. The disinterest in the woman’s partner shows that justice is of little concern. Jesus bends down and writes in the sand. He whose words have flowed freely now refuses to speak, perhaps indicating that they are asking the wrong question. Jesus then responds with his encouragement to the one among them without sin to throw the first stone, and then he returns to his writing. One by one, those gathered depart until even the young move away.
The woman stands alone before Jesus. He asserts her autonomy as one who makes her own decisions and has her own relationship with God, then he sends her away with the command to change her ways accordingly.
 

• Archbishop St. Oscar Romero preached that “personal sin is at the base of the great social sin.” In Jesus’ encounter with the woman in today’s Gospel, he brings personal and social sin into dialogue. Violent punishment of “sinners” still happens today in the legal justice system, and we are each holding a stone. How can we build a society driven by mercy, accountability, and healing?

·         Even when we desire change, it is so easy to fall back on old habits and ways of doing things. Sometimes we can’t even imagine anything other than what has always been. God’s promise to make a new way inspires hope for both our ability to change as individuals and the possibilities for transforming society.