First Sunday of Advent December 1, 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 1-4:00 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  
 
  To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Psalm 25 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., Dec. 2 – No mass
 
Tues., Dec. 3 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Dec. 3 – 1:00 pm Mass at Flying Dust Lodge
 
Tues., Dec. 3 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - For an increase in family prayer by Anonymous

Wed., Dec. 4 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Betty Bettcher by Darcy, Dustin & Jim Thomas & Kelty Esau

Thurs., Dec. 5 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Kevin Friedrich by Eve Remarchuk

Thurs., Dec. 5 – 10:00 – 11:00 am (Adoration after mass)
 
Fri., Dec. 6 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - For an increase in family prayer by Anonymous

Sat., Dec. 7 – No mass
 
Sun., Dec. 8 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 8 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 8 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. No mass at Our Lady of Peace this Saturday, December 7.
2.  One day Advent Retreat in Cochin organized by MSP priests, Saturday Dec. 7 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. All are invited.
3. Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast next Sunday, December 8 after mass.

 Sunday Collection – Nov. 24:  Meadow Lake $974.50  Green Lake $238.15  Children’s Collection $3.00
 
Sunday Church Attendance – Nov. 24 – Adults 81    Children 9  Total  90

The Pope’s Prayer Intention for December – for pilgrims of hope – Let us pray that this Jubilee strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
 
Bishop’s Annual Appeal:
“Bring Your Gifts to the Altar”
October 27, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Every gift is greatly appreciated!

 Bishop’s Annual Appeal –  Thank you for supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. You can bring your donation to the office during the postal strike. We will arrange for it to get to Prince Albert.
            The Annual Appeal goal for Our Lady of Peace is $16,392.00 and for St. Jude’s Parish is $1823.00.
As of Nov. 25 our parish has 20 pledges for $5780.00. The diocese has received 546 pledges for $253535.48.
 
Christmas Cards for the Lodge – Parishioners are invited to prepare 5 – 10 Christmas cards which will be distributed randomly. Please drop them off at the office on or before December 17. Thank you!
 
Reverse Collection – We are once again collecting donations to be taken to the Door of Hope. Please take slips of paper, purchase the items and bring them to the church. The donations will be delivered to the Door of Hope just before Christmas. Thank You!
 
Knights of Columbus – Next Sunday, December 8 there will be a pancake breakfast after mass. Also, the Knights will be having a ham and turkey bingo on Sunday, December 15.
 
Season of Advent – Advent has a twofold nature: It prepares us for Christmas, when we recall Christ’s first coming among us, and it is also a time when we look forward to his second coming at the end of the ages. Advent is a season of joyful expectation.                    Taken from Ordo  page 13
 
 Scripture Insights – First Sunday of Advent
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. 6.
 
 In a time of suffering for the people of Judah, Jeremiah looks forward with hope to God’s fulfilling of the promise of the Davidic covenant. The time is coming, says he, for God to raise up his Anointed One from the line of David to redeem Israel and return justice to the land and its people. The psalmist follows, developing the essence of this covenantal relationship by petitioning God to continue teaching his ways and remember his fidelity, righteousness, and mercy. The hope is for an abiding, life-giving relationship, made manifest in the coming gift of the Christ.
 The New Testament readings spring from the lived reality of this relationship in history. Paul pleads for help for God’s people to abound in love, manifesting that of God the Father in the gift of Jesus the Son through loving care for creation and one another. How we choose to act and interact with one another should reflect this relationship. The hope now is for the time to come, as Jesus expounds in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus calls disciples of all time to stand strong in the face of fear and distraction. Life in covenant relationship with the One who created us and the One who redeemed us is the longer, possibly harder road, but the journey is worth the effort in hope for a destination in union.
 

• Today’s readings invite us to explore the emotion of shame with the goal of releasing those feelings before the love of God (see verses 2 – 3 of today’s Psalm 25). You can almost hear the yearning in St. Paul’s voice as he writes, “Why can’t you love yourselves the way God loves you?” Our society relies heavily on shame in the ways we punish, defame, and even attempt to motivate people around us. God’s way is not to shame ourselves and others, but to foster deep awareness of who we really are and live into that calling.

·         The prophet Jeremiah connects safety with justice. Canada has created a system of “justice” that relies on the imprisonment of wrongdoers – creating an illusion of safety for some while driving others further into isolation and despair. The incarnation of the Word made flesh shows us that true safety and justice come not from separation, but from proximity and relationship.

• Apocalyptic signs abound in the world today, and can leave us fearful, anxious, and looking for escape. Let us lift our eyes toward God and trust that he will lead the way.