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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Psalm 85 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., Aug. 14 – No mass Tues., Aug. 15 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., Aug. 15 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intentions by Sandra Senga Wed., Aug. 16 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Fr. Doug Jeffrey by Cheryl Russell Thurs., Aug. 17 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Wayne Bettcher by Chris & Pat Bencharski Fri., Aug. 18 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Fr. Doug Jeffrey by Martin Bishop Sat., Aug. 19 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Aug. 20 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – August 6: Meadow Lake $1393.20 Green Lake – $306.00 Children’s Collection $4.40 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for August – For World Youth Day – We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives. Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. So far, $3750.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. Looking for Catechism Teachers – We would like to start a catechism program in the fall . Anyone interested in helping with catechism is asked to come to an organizational meeting on August 26th at 10:00 in the Parish Hall. Pastoral Council – There will be a Pastoral Council Meeting in the Parish Hall after mass on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Finance Council – The Finance Council will meet in the Parish Hall at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 23. Scripture Insights – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 298. In Romans 9, Paul turns from discussing an Adamic humanity to the people who have descended from Abraham. Earlier Paul asserted the priority of Jews in God’s salvation plans (Rom 1:16; 2:9 – 10). Paul has already asked in Romans 3:1 – 8 if the Jews’ rejection of the Messiah can revoke the entrusting of God’s Word given to them and, hence, whether God is faithful. This issue is important, especially given the long anti-Jewish history of the Christian church. Just as – and because – Paul has adamantly declared God’s goodness and generosity in Romans 8, he will argue fiercely for Israel’s salvation and God’s faithfulness. We see Jesus’ faithful determination to save in our gospel reading today. Although the disciples mistake him as a ghost and Peter doubts, Jesus walks on the stormy sea to join them and reaches out to save a sinking Peter. Psalm 85 and Elijah’s story in I Kings 19 affirm this divine and faithful determination to save. Because of Jezebel’s death threat against him, Elijah becomes fearful, runs away, feels sorry for himself, and even asks God to take his life. But God’s angel provides for him, and God assures him that he still has a mission to perform and that God will have a faithful following despite how things may look (I Kgs 19:15 – 18). Paul also expresses a wish for self-destruction in Romans 9, not as a way to end one’s disappointment, but so his fellow Jews would replace him in God’s redemption. To be condemned and cast off himself so others would be saved is precisely what happened to Jesus. By alluding to this, Paul points to God’s faithfulness while showing his own commitment to salvation through solidarity with Jesus’ suffering.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th. Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm.
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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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. Psalm 97 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., Aug. 7 – No mass Tues., Aug. 8 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., Aug. 8 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Fr. Doug Jeffrey by Melba Cariou Wed., Aug. 9 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Darla Glosser by June Paulhus Thurs., Aug. 10 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Wayne Bettcher by Chris & Pat Bencharski Fri., Aug. 11 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intentions by Sandra Senga Sat., Aug. 12 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Aug. 13 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God Sun., Aug. 13 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – July 30: Meadow Lake $1332.30 Green Lake – $54.00 CAFT $2325.00 Children’s Collection $4.75 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for August – For World Youth Day – We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives. Transfiguration of the Lord – Jesus’ transfiguration impels us to transform the world by letting our faces shine like the Son and by shining the Light of Christ on others. Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. So far, $3750.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. Pastoral Council – There will be a Pastoral Council Meeting in the Parish Hall after mass on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Finance Council – The Finance Council will meet in the Parish Hall at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 23. Scripture Insights – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 292. Every year on August 6, the church takes a break from the normal cycle of readings to reflect on Jesus’ transfiguration. Each Gospel tells of this event or alludes to it (Mt 17:1 – 8; Mk 9:2 – 8; Lk 9: 28 – 36; Jn 1:14), but its meaning for Jesus’ mission and our own discipleship remains a mystery. This year, the transfiguration account comes from the Gospel of Matthew, who understands it as a moment of new awareness. The disciples came to see Jesus as God sees him. The readings this Sunday help us do the same. The disciples had realized that Jesus was the Messiah, but they struggled to understand what that meant (Mt 16:16 – 28). What God showed Peter, James, and John on the mountain revealed Jesus as God’s beloved Son whose teaching and example they should follow without fear. In Israelite tradition, certain characteristics belong to God alone. As the first reading and psalm recount, God has power over clouds and exhibits sun-like radiance. The first reading speaks of other divine characteristics – authority, glory, and kingship – that God has shared with a mysterious being called “one like a Son of man” (Dn 7:13). Jesus’ transfiguration reveals to Peter, James, and John that he is that being. A cloud surrounds him, his face and clothing glow, and God reveals a Father’s love. Insights once limited to mystics and prophets now belong to fishermen who can behold such things without fear. The second reading promises that such insight can become our own. Peter, James, and John were just the first who saw the glory of the Son they loved and followed. Indeed, every Christian who believes and pays attention can encounter the risen Christ transfigured. But the transfiguration is about more than Christ. Every person is beloved in the eyes of God, but we can be slow to understand God’s reasons for this. By recognizing the glory of the living Christ, we can tune our hearts to apprehend the subtler glory of every person on earth.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th. Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm. 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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Lord, how I love your law! Psalm 119 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., July 31 – No mass Tues., Aug. 1 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., Aug. 1 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Edward Michel by Elsie Michel & Family Wed., Aug. 2 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Adelard Paulhus by June Paulhus Thurs., Aug. 3 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Fr. Doug by Mary Betker Fri., Aug. 4 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Robert G. Morin by Florence Morin Sat., Aug. 5 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., Aug. 6 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – July 23: Meadow Lake $1094.00 Green Lake – $402.00 Children’s Collection $5.00 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – For a Eucharistic life – We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters. The Pope’s Prayer Intention for August – For World Youth Day – We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives. Old Greeting Cards – If you have any old greeting cards (birthday, Christmas, etc.) please don’t throw them away. I will take them off of your hands and put them to good use. You may drop them off at 302 7th Ave East or phone 306-236-5217. Thank you. Renee Scherr Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. So far, $3650.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. Scripture Insights – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 286. If someone offered you whatever you wished, for what would you ask? What do you truly want? Today’s readings begin with that question. The first reading recalls a scene from the beginning of King Solomon’s reign. Because the young king had done everything that a good king under God’s authority should, God appeared to him in a dream and invited him to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon could have asked for material things, but instead he asked for an understanding heart (Hebrew, leb, also meaning “mind” or “will”) to know how to lead well and follow God’s will. In the ancient world, the heart was where one’s mental capacities resided. The parables in today’s Gospel appear only in Matthew’s account. In the first two, about the hidden treasure and the pearl, it is not immediately clear whether the message lies in the thing being sought or in the one doing the seeking. But the wise saying that appears at the end of the reading and its mention of the “scribe who has been instructed” (Mt 13:52; literally discipled) suggests that the parables are about how to enter the kingdom. The seekers of the hidden treasure and the pearl are willing to give up everything to obtain this most precious gift – being a disciple in God’s kingdom. When Jesus’ listeners reply that they understand “all these things” (13:51), he continues, giving further instruction to those who will teach others about the kingdom, advising them that they must use both the “old” (the Law and the Prophets) and the “new” (the Gospel). In the second reading, Paul gives insight into the path that God has laid out for those who love him. They are called to be conformed to the image of Christ and, in the end time, glorified.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th. Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm. 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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Lord, you are good and forgiving. Psalm 86 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. Doug Jeffrey, OMI 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., July 24 – No mass Tues., July 25 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., July 25 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Fr. Doug Jeffrey by Marcel Sergent Wed., July 26 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Jim Sergent by Marcel Sergent Thurs., July 27 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Edward Michel by Elsie Michel & Family Fri., July 28 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Edward Michel by Darcy, Dustin & Jim Thomas & Kelty Esau Sat., July 29 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., July 30 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God Sun., July 30 - 3:00 pm - (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – July 16: Meadow Lake $935.25 Green Lake – No collection The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – For a Eucharistic life – We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters. Old Greeting Cards – If you have any old greeting cards (birthday, Christmas, etc.) please don’t throw them away. I will take them off of your hands and put them to good use. You may drop them off at 302 7th Ave East or phone 306-236-5217. Thank you. Renee Scherr Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. So far, $2900.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly July 23 – Pope Francis instituted the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on January 31, 2021 to highlight the importance of providing adequate pastoral and spiritual attention to the elderly and to call upon communities to manifest the closeness of the Church to them (especially in this time of pandemic). It is to be celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Taken from Ordo 2022 – 2023 page 303 Scripture Insights – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 280. Today’s readings highlight the mystery of kindness. Most of us think we know what kindness is so why call it a mystery? We tend to think of a mystery as something hidden or unknowable. But, in the biblical sense, a mystery is something that is hidden until God chooses to reveal it. In the first reading, the sage, or wise person, praises God for his response to the sinner. Although God could respond with wrath, the sage says, God judges with clemency and treats the sinner with mercy. Why? To teach God’s people that those who wish to be righteous must be kind. The Greek word is philanthropos, meaning “humane or tenderhearted.” When applied to God, it means “people-loving.” If we want to be just, the sage says, we must act in kindness as God has done. This is no ordinary kindness. It is a kindness deeply rooted in the life of God. Paul echoes a similar theme in the second reading. God is a people lover who recognizes humanity’s struggle to pray and responds with compassion, sending the Spirit to intercede for us. In today’s Gospel, Matthew provides several parables that talk about the mystery of divine kindness. As is typical of parables, these are fictional stories with a surprising twist. The hearers of the first parable probably thought, “That master is not very smart about farming,” because he told his servants to wait until the harvest to separate weeds from the good grain. But the interpretation of the parable (Mt 13:36 – 42) makes it clear that God does not behave as humans do. Rather, God is people-loving and will act in patience and restraint even to the end of time.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th. Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm. A Farewell Message It is hard for me to write this message and yet the time has come for me to write a word to you and to say goodbye to all of you who call Our Lady of the Smile, St. Jude’s, and Our Lady of Peace your parish. As you know I am being transferred by my Oblate Community to St. Philip Neri Parish in Saskatoon. Please drop in if you find yourself in Saskatoon. I would love to see you! This Sunday, July 23rd is my last Sunday praying with you here in God’s country. After the last liturgy on Sunday, I will make my way to Saskatoon. When I arrived in Meadow Lake and area, I remember telling you that I had never really been to Meadow Lake before. I had driven through it but never really stopped! I had no idea what to expect. My one desire was to serve you to the best of my ability. You welcomed me so generously. As I was getting to know you the Covid 19 pandemic came, and we were required to make changes to the way we encountered one another. I am so grateful for your generosity, your kindness and your prayer. As I take leave of you, I want to share two thoughts: I want to ask you for your forgiveness. Forgive me for the times I have not served you as Jesus Christ would serve you. I acknowledge my limitations and my sin, and I ask you to forgive me and pray for me that I might become more and more Christ like as I encounter God’s holy people. Secondly, remember that you are made in the image and likeness of God, that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and that God is always waiting to forgive you. When God looks at you, God sees you as you are – God sees how you sin and how you bless the world with your goodness. As I leave Meadow Lake, Green Lake and Waterhen Lake I take with me so many precious memories. I shall leave a part of myself here and I shall take a part of you with me. If, down the road, our paths cross, please stop and say hello. I would love to see you and hear from you. I will be focused on the new people I am being called to serve but I will not forget you and your needs. I shall remember you in my prayer. Fr. Mike and I will pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day. Fr. Mike told me that his practice is to light a candle as we pray, and he said that the candle will burn for all those people who have asked us for prayer. That candle will burn for you and your family. May you continue to believe in the God who loves you and may you see that God reflected in the face of your sisters and brothers. May the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the friendship of the Holy Spirit and the love of God our Father come upon you and remain with you forever! Fr. Doug Jeffrey, OMI Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly July 23 2023 Dear brothers and sisters! “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50). This is the theme of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, and it takes us back to the joyful meeting between the young Mary and her elderly relative Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1: 39 – 56). Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth addressed the Mother of God with words that, millennia later, continue to echo in our daily prayer: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (v. 42). The Holy Spirit, who had earler descended upon Mary, prompted her to respond with the Magnificat, in which she proclaimed that the Lord’s mercy is from generation to generation. That same Spirit blesses and accompanies every fruitful encounter between different generations: between grandparents and grandchildren, between young and old. God wants young people to bring joy to the hearts of the elderly, as Mary did to Elizabeth, and gain wisdom from their experiences. Yet, above all, the Lord wants us not to abandon the elderly or to push them to the margins of life, as tragically happens all too often in our time. This year, the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly takes place close to World Youth Day. Both celebrations remind us of the “haste” (cf. v. 39) with which Mary set out to visit Elizabeth. In this way, they invite us to reflect on the bond that unites young and old. The Lord trusts that young people, through their relationships with the elderly, will realize that they are called to cultivate memory and recognize the beauty of being part of a much larger history. Friendship with an older person can help the young to see life not only in terms of the present and realize that not everything depends on them and their abilities. For the elderly, the presence of a young person in their loves can give them hope that their experience will not be lost and that their dreams can find fulfillment. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and their shared awareness that the Lord’s mercy is from generation to generation remind us that, alone, we cannot move forward, much less save ourselves, and that God’s presence and activity are always part of something greater, the history of a people. Mary herself said this in the Magnificat, as she rejoiced in God, who, in fidelity to the promise he had made to Abraham, had worled new and unexpected wonders (cf. vv. 51-55). To better appreciate God’s way of acting, let us remember that our life is meant to be loved to the full, and that our greatest hopes and dreams are not achieved instantly but through a process of growth and maturation, in dialogue and in relationship with others. Those who focus only on the here and now, on money and possessions, on “having it all now”, are blind to the way God works. His loving plan spans past, present and future; it embraces and connects the generations. It is greater than we are, yet includes each of us and calls us at every moment to keep pressing forward. For the young, this means being ready to break free from the fleeting present in which virtual reality can entrap us, preventing us from doing something productive. For the elderly, it means not dwelling on the loss of physical strength and thinking with regret about missed opportunities. Let us look ahead! And allow ourselves to be shaped by God’s grace, which from generation to generation frees us from inertia and from dwelling on the past! In the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, between young and old, God points us towards the future that he is opening up before us. Indeed, Mary’s visit and Elizabeth’s greeting open our eyes to the dawn of salvation: in their embrace, God’s mercy quietly breaks into human history amid abundant joy. I encourage everyone to reflect on that meeting, to picture, like a snapshot, that embrace between the young Mother of God and the elderly mother of Saint John the Baptist, and to frame it in their minds and hearts as a radiant icon. Next, I would invite you to make a concrete gesture that would include grandparents and the elderly. Let us not abandon them. Their presence in families and communities is a precious one, for it reminds us that we share the same heritage and are part of a people committed to preserving its roots. From the elderly we received the gift of belonging to God’s holy people. The Church, as well as society, needs them, for they entrust to the present the past that is needed to build the future. Let us honor them, neither depriving ourselves of their company nor depriving them of ours. May we never allow the elderly to be cast aside! The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is meant to be a small but precious sign of hope for them and for the whole Church. I renew my invitation to everyone – dioceses, parishes, associations and communities – to celebrate this Day and to make it the occasion of a joyful and renewed encounter between young and old. To you, the young who are preparing to meet in Lisbon or to celebrate World Youth Day in your own countries, I would ask: before you set out on your journey, visit your grandparents or an elderly person who lives alone! Their prayers will protect you and you will carry in your heart the blessing of that encounter. I ask you, the elderly among us, to accompany by your prayers the young people about to celebrate World Youth Day. Those young people are God’s answer to your prayers, the fruits of all that you have sown, the sign that God does not abandon his people, but always rejuvenates them with the creativity of the Holy Spirit. Dear grandparents, dear elderly brothers and sisters, may the blessing of the embrace between Mary and Elizabeth come upon you and fill your hearts with peace. With great affection, I give you my blessing. And I ask you, please, to pray for me. Rome, Saint John Lateran, 31 May 2023, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. POPE FRANCIS 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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 The seed that fell on good soil produced a hundredfold. Psalm 65 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. Doug Jeffrey, OMI 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., July 17 – No mass Tues., July 18 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., July 18 – No mass Wed., July 19 – No mass Thurs., July 20 – No mass Fri., July 21 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -Anonymous Sat., July 22 – 5:00 pm - (St. Jude’s, Green Lake) - People of God Sun., July 23 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – July 9: Meadow Lake $1555.50 Green Lake – $77.05 Children’s Collection $7.50 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – For a Eucharistic life – We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters. Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. The Statue was ordered and should arrive in approximately 10-12 weeks! So far, $2650.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. THE THIRD WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY The third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated this year on Sunday, 23 July 2023. Pope Francis inaugurated this World Day to be celebrated by the universal Church each July, either on or near the liturgical Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus, to help “treasure the spiritual and human wealth that has been handed down from generation to generation”. Pope Francis’ chosen theme for this year’s World Day is “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50), raising the relational interconnection between the old and the young. The theme is especially fitting in light of the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, which will take place from 1-6 August 2023. Scripture Insights – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 274. Today’s readings use farming images to teach about God’s powerful Word and about our receptiveness to that Word. The first reading is part of an oracle, a prophetic message of consolation intended for the people of Judah as they suffered in the Babylonian exile. God’s Word is gentle like the rain, the prophet says, and as effective as the watered earth, which gives life to seeds and produces food for the hungry. In the second reading, Paul uses creation and birthing imagery to talk about the glory that awaits us in the life to come. His argument is difficult to follow, in part because of some grammatical problems with the text, but also because he is referring to the Adam and Eve story from Genesis. Paul is saying that God’s cursing of the ground as a result of Adam’s sin (see Gn 3:17) is a reason for hope, not despair. Creation as we know it is like a woman in labor who is about to give birth, and the baptized are the first fruits of the harvest offered to God as a pledge that all of creation will one day be redeemed. The Gospel reminds us that the fruitfulness of the earth and our own lives should not be taken for granted. Matthew describes Jesus as teaching a parable about planting seeds. A parable is a true-to-life symbolic story that surprises its hearers with its message. Everyone in Jesus’ time would have known about the challenges of farming. But the surprising thing is that the good soil – those who hear God’s Word and act on it – produces a harvest so abundant that it would have been impossible in the ancient world and still today.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE Plan to attend the August Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) which will be held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven – Tuesday, August 15th. Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reconciliation: 6:30 pm, Marian Prayer and Rosary 7:00 pm, Celebration of Eucharist and Candlelight Procession 8:00 pm. 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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 I will bless your name for ever, my King and my God. Psalm 145 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. Doug Jeffrey, OMI 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., July 10 – No mass Tues., July 11 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., July 11 – 6:30 pm Fr. Doug on holidays - Gaylen & Eleonore Smith Wed., July 12 – 6:30 pm Fr. Doug on holidays - Anonymous Thurs., July 13 – 9:30 am Fr. Doug on holidays - Anonymous Fri., July 14 – 9:30 am Fr. Doug on holidays - Anonymous Sat., July 15 – 5:00 pm Fr. Doug on holidays – Lay Led Service - People of God Sun., July 16 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – July 2: Meadow Lake $1955.75 Green Lake – No collection June CAFT $2330.00 Children’s Collection $2.50 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July – For a Eucharistic life – We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters. Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue – Our Lady of Peace is the patron of our Parish and her Feast Day is celebrated July 9th. The statue of the Sacred Heart will be relocated to the back corner of the Sanctuary – to the right of the Presider’s Chair when facing the Sanctuary. The statue of Our Lady of Peace will take its place. If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue of Our Lady of Peace, please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. The Statue was ordered and should arrive in approximately 10-12 weeks! So far, $1500.00 has been donated to cover the cost of the Statue. Scripture Insights – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 268. Do society’s powerful people hold wisdom and favor from God? Today’s readings remind us that human expectations will be overturned by the wonderfully paradoxical reality of God and his kingdom. In the first reading, Zechariah declares God’s promise to send a king who is not like the kings of other nations. He will be just (Hebrew, saddiq, also meaning “doing God’s will”) and meek. This king will have dominion over all of creation and his reign will be one of security and peace. In the ancient world, the donkey was a beast of burden, used for riding, for carrying heavy loads, and for agriculture. By contrast, horses and chariots were symbols of aggression and devastation in war. In the second reading, Paul uses a contrast between two metaphors, flesh and spirit, to talk about the new life the baptized have gained in their baptism. Continuing from what he said last week, through baptism they went down into the waters to share in the death of Christ so that they could share in his resurrection through the Spirit. Now that powerful Spirit can dwell in them and keep them from their old sinful life lived “according to the flesh” (Rom 8:12). They must not reject their baptismal calling, for that will certainly bring death. The Gospel turns upside down all our common conceptions of God and his Son, Jesus. This gracious God, Jesus says, hides his wisdom from those who claim to be wise and reveals it to the little ones (Hebrew, nepioi, meaning “infants” or “unlearned”). They are the ones who are invited to bring their burdens and rest in Jesus. How? By joining themselves to his yoke (a wooden bar placed over the shoulders so two can pull together) and learning what it means to be meek and humble. This is the Good News of today’s Gospel.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Fr. Doug’s Contact Information Effective July 24th and following: Phone: (306) 480 2536 Email: 2014dougswork@gmail.com Address: Doug Jeffrey, OMI c/o St. Philip Neri Parish 1902 Monroe Ave Saskatoon, SK S7J 1R8 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE You are invited to attend the Pilgrimage Days at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St. Laurent, SK (northeast of Duck Lake) on Saturday, July15th and Sunday, July 16th. July 15th schedule: Guest Speaker Bishop Bryan Bayda CSsR 5:00 pm at the Grotto, Marian Prayer and Rosary at 7:00 pm, Eucharistic Celebration/Candlelight Procession at 8:00 pm. July 16th schedule: Pipe Ceremony and Cree Mass at 9:00 am at the old Pieta Site; French Mass at 9:30 am at the Grotto; English Mass 11:00 am at the Grotto; Guest Speaker Bishop Bryan Bayda CSsR 1:00 pm at the Grotto; Anointing of the Sick 2:00 pm at the Grotto; Way of the Cross 3:00 pm at the Grotto. For more information about the Shrine and the Schedule for this year please contact: Celine Perillat at 467-2057, Rachelle Poirier at 467-2047, or visit https://www.pa diocese.ca/st-laurent-shrine 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: olpsecretary2023@gmail.com Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@gmail.com Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 We are his people: the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100 Refrain June 18, 2023 - 11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 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: 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., June 19 – No mass Tues., June 20 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., June 20 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) +Maurice Vandale and +Brittany McNab by Edna Vandale Wed., June 21 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) +Jeff smith by Eleonore & Gaylen Smith Thurs., June 22 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) +Robert G. Morin by Florence Morin Fri., June 23 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) Anonymous Sat., June 24 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) People of God Sun., June 25 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) People of God Sun., June 25 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile, Waterhen) People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH 1. Join us this Sunday after mass for burgers, salads and squares in honor of Father’s Day 2. On Thursday, June 22nd we will have a Baptismal Formation Session at 6:30 pm. Please make sure to read and complete Lessons Eight and Nine. Fr. Doug will facilitate the conversations for this session. 3. The office will be closed Tuesday, June 20th. 4. Pastoral Council Meeting June 20th after the 6:30 pm mass. Sunday Collection – June 11: Meadow Lake $966.55; Children’s Collection $9.60 Green Lake – $550.00 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for June – For the abolition of torture – We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families. NEEDING A JANITOR OR JANITORS – The Finance Council is looking for one or two people who are willing to clean the Parish Hall after our functions (payment to be negotiated). If you or someone you know is interested in providing on demand cleaning, please call the Parish Office as soon as possible. We cannot rent the Parish Hall without having someone to clean it. Thanks for your help in this matter. Please Note – Both parish emails have been changed. The new email for the pastor is olpmlpastor@gmail.com. The new email for the secretary is olpsecretary2023@gmail.com. We will be checking the old emails for another week or so but please update our contact as soon as possible. Thank you! National Indigenous Day - For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. National Aboriginal Day, now National Indigenous Peoples Day, was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc, through the Proclamation Declaring June 21 of Each Year as National Aboriginal Day. This was the result of consultations and statements of support for such a day made by various Indigenous groups: in 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood, now the Assembly of First Nations, called for the creation of National Aboriginal Solidarity Day in 1995, the Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people chaired by Elijah Harper, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples also in 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended the designation of a National First Peoples Day On June 21, 2017, the Prime Minister issued a statement announcing the intention to rename this day National Indigenous Peoples Day. National Indigenous Peoples Day is part of the Celebrate Canada program, which also includes Saint-Jean- Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 and Canada Day on July 1. Taken from the following website: https://www.rcaanc- cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100013718/1534874583157?wbdisable=true#:~:text=Indigenous%20Peoples%20Day %3F- ,What%20is%20National%20Indigenous%20Peoples%20Day%3F,Nations%2C%20Inuit%20and%20M%C3%A 9tis%20peoples. Carpenter High School, June 21 - On June 21, at noon, Fr. Doug along with a member of the Pastoral Council will go to Carpenter High School. The names of students who are engaging in further studies and have registered their name for the Our Lady of Peace Parish Scholarship will have their names entered in a draw. Two names will be pulled from the basket for scholarships. They will receive their funds once their applications are approved, and their enrolment ensured. Let us continue to pray for all our young people who are graduating this year. May they know the presence of God in their lives! Finance Council Report - On Wednesday, June 14, the Finance Council met. Some of the highlights of the meeting include: - Concern was expressed about our ability to hire janitors to clean the Parish Hall after events and functions. Given that there has been no response from parishioners re: possible people to hire – the decision was made to post the job in the local community. - The dishwasher in the rectory has arrived and has been installed and is working great. Fr. Doug is happy and making good use of it. - Reviewed the Annual General Meeting – Finances, Buildings and Property. We were pleased with the separation of the two themes: Pastoral Ministry and Finances. Appreciation was expressed for those who took part in the meeting. Appreciated the clear presentation of information. Found that it was a good experience. - Given our need to review the relationship of our parish to the three cemeteries (St. Cyr, Cabana and St. Cyprian), Margaret and Pat will begin by talking to the RM and then discussing with people who have been caring for the cemeteries. They will oversee these conversations in the coming months in conjunction with Fr. Michael from the Diocese. - Renewed our commitment to resolving the ‘sewer smell’ that seems to be present around the rectory. Folks notice it on Sunday morning when coming to mass. - We approved the purchase of a statue of Our Lady of Peace for our Parish - Fundraising – we are considering a garage sale for September and a possible cash Bingo; we committed to doing our Annual Fall Supper for the last Sunday in October. - Pat provided us with an updated Financial Report. A review of our current financial situation shows that we are on track with our Budget thanks to the generosity of our parishioners. - We reviewed a proposal for a brochure to encourage parishioners to think about leaving a bequest to Our Lady of Peace Parish. - We will explore the idea of moving the stove from the Parish Office to the Parish Hall. - We will look at changing the paper towel dispensers in the Parish Hall from Battery Operated to Manually Operated – similar to the ones in the Parish Office. - We will look into the cost of repairing the hand of the statue (Our Lady of Grace) at our Grotto - Fr Doug will talk with Rhys about the lighting at the Grotto. - We will explore how we might support Our Lady of the Smile Parish in their fundraising efforts to furnish their new Church Building. - With Fr. Doug’s move we will explore whether the inside of the rectory should be painted prior to the arrival of Fr. Uche - Given that Fr. Uche is from Nigeria and has no experience with Canada – people, climate and buildings the Finance Council will have to take an even more active role in maintaining our buildings and property. Fr. Doug is preparing a manual to help Fr. Uche adjust to Meadow Lake. - Bishop Stephen Hero has asked that the parish choose four people to assist Fr. Uche in his adjustment to the parish/cluster and ministry. They will be asked to provide encouragement, support, and guidance so as to help Fr. Uche succeed in his ministry as Administrator of our parish. Fr. Uche will be enrolled in an online enculturation course offered by Newman Theological College in the coming Fall and Winter semesters. Meeting with Bishop Stephen Hero at Waterhen – On Tuesday, our Bishop came to Meadow Lake and picked me up and we made the drive to Waterhen Lake to meet with members of the parish. After meeting everyone we listened as parishioners shared with us the history of the parish among the Waterhen People. We also listened as people shared what is happening in the parish today and how life today is encouraging us to build a slightly different building than what we previously had. Our building will be a gathering place for the people, to encounter each other and to worship God together, celebrating the sacraments, those key moments when God blesses us, making visible his grace, his love and mercy. We then reviewed with Bishop Stephen our design and asked him for feedback. He thanked the people and encouraged them in their efforts. After approving our design the next step will be for us to get a technical drawing from a qualified draftsperson. Following that we will get a sense of our costs to build and to furnish our building. Once we know the costs, we will work to find funding for the construction of the building and for the furnishing of the building. This will mark our fundraising stage. When the funds are in place the construction will begin. Please remember us as we continue our journey of building and rebuilding the community of faith at Waterhen. Purchase of Our Lady of Peace Statue - After some research I have found that we can purchase a coloured fiberglass- statue of Our Lady of Peace for $8900.00. The statue of the Sacred Heart will be relocated to the back corner of the Sanctuary – to the right of the Presider’s Chair. The statue of Our Lady of Peace will replace it. If you would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the Statue please drop your donation into an envelope with the word STATUE on the envelope or on the memo line of your cheque. Please note your name and/or envelope number so you can receive credit for your donation. Thanks in advance for your generosity. Scripture Insights – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 242. “The Lord is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (Ps 100:5). These words, from this Sunday’s responsorial psalm, functioned as a mini-creed in Jesus’ day. Variations on this phrase appear more than a dozen times in the Old Testament. These words acknowledged that, although disasters (some self-inflicted) had happened to Israel, the nation had always recovered whenever it recommitted to faith in God. The primary example of this was the exodus from Egypt, the setting of this Sunday’s first reading. In earlier days, the Israelites had taken refuge in Egypt. Over time, the Egyptians had reduced Israel to slavery. God did not forget the promise made to Israel’s ancestors to provide their descendants freedom and security. God exceeded that promise, in fact, by not only winning Israel’s freedom but in making of Israel a “priestly people,” God’s own friend and representative to the world. In Jesus’ day, another disaster had struck Israel. The Romans had conquered Israel. Roman government and economic policies led to an increase in poverty and its problems: illness, malnutrition, crime, fear, and untimely death. It was among those so afflicted that Jesus found his special possession. Just as God dreamed of Israel teaching holiness to the world, so Jesus sent out his closest associates to establish a kingdom that would share the good news with the world. They cured the sick, fed the poor, forgave sinners, drove out demons, and raised the dead. Writing some decades later, Paul could take a step back to see a larger picture. God desired humanity to share divine life, but so many were unable to receive the gift or rejected it outright. The sacrifice of the cross confirmed Christ’s preaching and changed human nature by revealing the resurrection and sharing the Holy Spirit. Christ’s work overcame the fear and confusion that had led so many astray. In this way, Christ fulfilled God’s dream of making all humanity a special possession and divine friend. Offer gratitude to God for the times when you have experienced Jesus’ compassion because you were troubled, abandoned, and needed guidance. Pause this week when you feel in need of compassion, and offer a prayer asking for Jesus’ direction. Recognizing how Jesus summons us to offer compassion involves us opening ourselves to the world around us, paying particular attention to the people whose paths we cross and those whom we feel God is calling us to put ourselves in a place to encounter. We will know where God calls us to act compassionately as we become fully present every moment of every day. The universal call to holiness extends to all who labor for the kingdom. Acts of healing, bringing life, and cleansing are acts all disciples perform daily. They are acts of compassion. They are actions through which we as disciples grow in holiness and deepen our relationship with God. For when we encounter others and respect the fullness of their humanity, we encounter God. DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Pope Francis - Pope Francis had surgery last week and continues to recover well. Doctors released him from hospital on Friday. He is well although rather tired as a result of his surgery. Many of his upcoming commitments have been cancelled to afford him the opportunity to recover. Let us continue to pray for the health of our Holy Father. VOCATION WALK 2023 – The Diocese of Prince Albert invites you to join in a Vocation Walk from Duck Lake to the St. Laurent Shrine. The walk will take place July 15 from 1:30 to 5:30 followed by Supper at 6:00, Confessions at 7:00 pm and Mass at 8:00 pm. There will be a Torchlight Procession at 9:30 pm. The Diocese of Prince Albert Vocations Commission is having a student coloring/poster contest. The purpose of this contest is to invite students to create art that promotes vocations to religious life. The invitation to participate is open to students from grade 1 to grade 12. There are four categories: Gr.1-3, Gr. 4-6, Gr.7-9, Gr.10-12. The regulations and entry form can be found at the following link: https://www.padiocese.ca/vocations-commission World Youth Day – Let us continue to pray for all who will gather in Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day. Information video for World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon: https://youtu.be/JQZ_VAPZ2ow Please see our website for more information at https://www.padiocese.ca/world-youth-day-2023 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: olpsecretary@sasktel.net Pastor Email: olpmlpastor@sasktel.net Facebook: Catholic Church Meadow Lake Website: https://www.meadowlakecatholicchurch.com/ Address: 504-3rd Ave. East, Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1H5 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Psalm 147 Refrain June 11, 2023 - Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ 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: Pat Bencharski Mass 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., June 12 – No mass Tues., June 13 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge Tues., June 13 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Lachance Family by Florence Bell Wed., June 14 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - In Gratitude by Swapna & Bijo Thurs., June 15 – 9:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +McCallum Family by Florence Bell Fri., June 16 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +PJ Augustine by Swapna & Bijo Sat., June 17 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God Sun., June 18 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday Collection – June 4: Meadow Lake $2047.85 Green Lake – $317.00 May CAFT $2310.00 Children’s Collection $11.40 Scholarship $1108.20 The Pope’s Prayer Intention for June – For the abolition of torture – We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) – As Christians, we are called to share in Christ’s life and sacrifice. On this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally known as Corpus Christi, we delve into Christ’s willingness to sacrifice himself for others. God becoming human in Christ was the beginning of a life devoted to others. World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests – Catholics worldwide are urged to pray for Priests June 16th on the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. The day was begun by Saint John Paul II in 2002 with the objective of having all Catholic faithful join in prayer for the sanctification of Priests. The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests coincides with the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please pray for Father Tai Le and his family on the death of Father Tai’s maternal grandmother, Anne Nguyen Thi Phuong in Vietnam. May Anne’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Congratulations to Manuel and Bernadette Franco on their celebration of the sacrament of matrimony, which took place on June 8 at Our Lady of Peace Parish. May God richly bless their life together. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the scholarship collection. $1108.20 was collected and the Pastoral Council will oversee the distribution of these funds. Tuesday, June 13 – As I have mentioned the people of Waterhen are looking at building a facility for the Catholic community. We have talked about, and we have shared our hopes and expectations for our new building over the course of the past year. We now have a sketch of what we would like. Bishop Stephen will join us on Tuesday, and we will talk about our plans and how we might work together to realize the construction of our Church. Please pray for us as we move forward following the loss of our Church a year ago. Following our meeting we will have lunch together and Bishop will return to Prince Albert. NEEDING A JANITOR OR JANITORS – The Finance Council is looking for one or two people who are willing to clean the Parish Hall after our functions. If you or someone you know is interested in providing on demand cleaning, please call the Parish Office as soon as possible. We cannot rent the Parish Hall without having someone to clean it. Thanks for your help in this matter. Scripture Insights – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Taken from Source Book for Sundays, Seasons and Weekdays 2023: The Almanac for Pastoral Liturgy, LTP Liturgy Training Publications Copyright 2022, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, pg. 234. In the first reading, Moses reminds the people of the ways that God tested them to be sure that their intention was to keep God’s commandments and also cared for them as they wandered through the wilderness. The manna and the water from the rock were small examples of God’s kindness toward his creation. But Moses wants the people to know that their real nourishment comes from God’s Word. The second reading is the conclusion of a long argument that also recalls the Exodus story of the gift of manna in the wilderness. Paul used the story to highlight the enormousness of the gift that Christians receive in the Eucharist. It is so distinctively different from the social rituals of their pagan neighbors that Christians are forbidden to do both. Why? The answer is today’s reading: Eucharist is an authentic participation in the body of Christ. (Anything else is idolatry.) Today’s Gospel is also about participation in the Eucharist. The evangelist presents the audience as quarreling – like the Israelites did in the wilderness – about Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, because they thought he was advocating cannibalism. His response is even more shocking. “Those who eat my flesh [Greek trogo, eat, also carries the sense of ‘gnaw on’] and drink my blood have eternal life” (Jn 6:54). In other words, the fullness of life belongs to those who fully and actively experience Christ in the body and Blood.
DIOCESAN NEWS & BEYOND Pope Francis - Pope Francis had surgery this week and remains in hospital. Doctors say that the Holy Father is doing well. Let us pray for the health of our Holy Father. VOCATION WALK 2023 Please see the Vocations page for information! The Diocese of Prince Albert Vocations Commission is having a student coloring/poster contest. The purpose of this contest is to invite students to create art that promotes vocations to religious life. The invitation to participate is open to students from grade 1 to grade 12. There are four categories: Gr.1-3, Gr. 4-6, Gr.7-9, Gr.10-12. The regulations and entry form can be found at the following link: https://www.padiocese.ca/vocations-commission WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023 Information video for World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon: https://youtu.be/JQZ_VAPZ2ow Please see our website for more information at https://www.padiocese.ca/world-youth-day-2023 OUR LADY OF LOURDES SHRINE 144th ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE 2023 St. Laurent, SK. (north east of Duck Lake) July 15th & 16th, August 15th, September 8th, 2023 Mary, Queen of Peace For detailed information please go to https://www.padiocese.ca/st-laurent-shrine |
Parish BulletinThis bulletin is prepared by the Parish Secretary and the Pastor Archives
May 2024
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