Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 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  
 
  Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Psalm 80 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. 23 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis Gratton

Tues., Dec. 24 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen)
 
Tues., Dec. 24 – 8:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake)
 
Tues., Dec. 24 – 10:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis Gratton

Wed., Dec. 25 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Robert LaRocque by his family

Thurs., Dec. 26 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Kevin Friedrich by Ken & Margaret Alger
Thurs., Dec. 26 – 11:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
Fri., Dec. 27 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Kevin Friedrich by Ken & Margaret Alger

Sat., Dec. 28 – No mass
 
Sun., Dec. 29 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 29 – 1:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. No mass on Sat. evening til the end of January. Saturday evening mass will resume February 1.

 
Sunday Collection – Dec. 15:  Meadow Lake $3297.00  Green Lake $113.70  Children’s Collection $5.25                                   
Sunday Church Attendance – Dec. 15 – Adults 137    Children 16  Total  153
 
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 generously supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
            The Annual Appeal goal for Our Lady of Peace is $16,392.00 and for St. Jude’s Parish is $1823.00.
As of Dec. 16 our parish has 23 pledges for $6930.00. The diocese has received 805 pledges for $347809.48.
 
Thank You to everyone who donated so generously to the reverse collection. The Door of Hope is grateful for the 789 pounds of food collected.
 
Knights of Columbus Thank You – to all who helped with the pancake breakfast: Gary Bell, Robert Marsman, Larry & rose Sawatzky, Harvey Vollman, Ken Alger, Walter LeBoeuf, Jude Dugbere, Dexter Fehr and Chris Bencharski. Thanks also to all who helped with the Bingo.
 
Scripture Insights – Fourth 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. 26.
 
 Micah speaks God’s Word about a ruler who is both shepherd and a majestic name, bringing peace and greatness. The catch is that he will come forth from tiny Bethlehem, unexpected in every way.
 The guiding hand of God, the psalmist proclaims, is always at work for the good of creation, often despite human plans. The New Testament readings further articulate God’s will to work in the world, often beyond the ken of human expectation. The passage from Hebrews puts forth the atoning sacrifice of Jesus’ body in just this manner. Keeping a ritual is not enough if it is empty of heartfelt desire for change and authenticity. This is as true today as it was in the first century. God’s gift of Jesus, Christ and Son, to the world in his person and ministry, as well as his atoning sacrifice, was far beyond what the people expected but was precisely what the world so desperately needed.
Luke’s Gospel presents the encounter between two faithful women who show themselves open to God working both in the world and in their lives in just such profoundly unexpected ways. As they come together in support of one another, they realize the depth and breadth of God’s plan and how they are called beyond both their comfort and society’s role for them.
 

• God is known to use small and insignificant people and places – like Bethlehem – to play significant roles in building God’s kingdom. We can often catch ourselves judging others, and even ourselves, as unworthy or incapable for any number of reasons: too shy, too troubled, too uneducated, too emotional, too flawed, too poor, too different. Today can be a turning point to see with God’s eyes.

·         Today’s readings invite reflection on obedience, using both Jesus and Mary as examples. Obedience often carries the weight of forced, blind compliance – not what God is asking of us. Elizabeth offers a beautiful image of obedience: believing that what is spoken to us by the Lord will be fulfilled. And we have a God who speaks nothing but love. Let us be obedient and believe that love is the way.