Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 11, 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  
 
  You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.
Psalm 32 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., Feb.12 – No mass
 
Tues., Feb. 13 – 10:00 am  Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Feb. 13 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous

Ash Wednesday
Wed., Feb. 14 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake)
Wed., Feb. 14 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Sony Abraham by Swapna & Bijo

Thurs., Feb. 15 – 8:30 – 9:30 am Exposition/Adoration before mass
Thurs., Feb. 15 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Anonymous

Fri., Feb. 16 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Henri Lazar Sr by Norman & Frances Steier

Sat., Feb. 17 – 5:00 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Feb. 18 – 10:00 am – (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Parish Fun Day today, Sunday, February 11 after mass.
2. Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, February 14
3. The Way of the Cross begins this Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 pm

Sunday Collection – Feb. 4:  Meadow Lake $1834.00   Green Lake $102.35    Children’s Collection $8.55
                                                            January CAFT $2085.00
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for February – for the terminally ill – We pray that those with a terminal illness, and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment.
 
Evangelization Activity for February – We are encouraging parishioners to pray every day at 1:00 pm for a family member, friend or neighbor to begin attending regular Sunday Mass.
 
Season of Lent – Lent is the yearly celebration by the Church of its corporate conversion in Jesus Christ. During Lent, the liturgy prepares catechumens to celebrate the Paschal Mystery by the various stages of Christian Initiation. It also prepares the faithful for Easter as they recall their Baptism and do penance in preparation for the greatest Feast of the year.
            Lent has two major purposes: It recalls or prepares for Baptism, and emphasizes a spirit of penance. Through forty days of closer attention to God’s Word and of more fervent prayer, believers are prepared to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. Lenten instructions stress these baptismal and penitential themes.
            During Lent, it is important to teach the social consequences of sin as well as the fact that the heart of the virtue of penance is hatred of sin as an offence against God. The Church encourages penitential practices that are external and social, reflecting the circumstances of individuals and communities, as we pray and do penance for sinners.                                Taken from Ordo page 65
 
40 Cans for Lent – For the past number of years the Meadow Lake Knights of Columbus have sponsored 40 Cans for Lent resulting in thousands of pounds of food being donated to the Door of Hope. Unfortunately there are still families and individuals in Meadow Lake and surrounding area that depend on the Door of Hope to supplement their food requirements. To help meet this need, the Knights of Columbus are asking the members of the parish to once again support 40 Cans for Lent. Each day of Lent, one can will be placed in the cross. We are asking families to bring nonperishable food each week of Lent. Thank you.
 
The Way of the Cross – Please join us on Friday evenings for the Way of the Cross. We will gather at 6:30 pm in the Church to pray with Jesus as he makes his way to Calvary.
 
World Day of the Sick – February 11 – The ministry of Jesus to the sick is central to the life of the Church. February 11 (Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes) highlights the healing ministry of the Church. It reminds us that service to the sick and suffering cannot be neglected. It recognizes the great efforts of doctors, nurses, health care institutions and pastoral care givers to restore health to those afflicted with illness and disease.
                                                            Taken from Ordo page 62
 
Scripture Insights – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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. 90.
 
 Today’s readings from the Book of Leviticus and the Gospel of Mark give attention to a disease identified as leprosy. A bit of background can be quite helpful in understanding these texts.
            First, what the Scriptures refer to as “leprosy” (tzaraat in the Old Testament and lepra in the New Testament) should not be understood as synonymous with the illness of this name today. The word leprosy seems to have been a generic term used to refer to a variety of skin conditions, one of which might have been leprosy (Hansen’s disease). Second, specific laws were designated for the purpose of restricting the spread of communicable illnesses, with skin diseases being among them. While these laws may sound harsh to us today, they are best understood as safeguarding the well-being of the community. Third, in addition to making a person unclean, which resulted in isolation from the community, leprosy was often associated with sin.
            In our passage from Mark, we hear that a leper approached Jesus and said: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus wasted no time in responding. He touched the man! This was unheard of! He touched a leper! Jesus then said to the leper, “O do will it. Be made clean.” And immediately the leprosy left the man. Jesus then instructs the man to follow the prescriptions of the Law. Interestingly, within the next thirty-four verses of Mark, in five episodes, some consider Jesus as one who does not uphold the Law but violates it.
                    
·         Whenever the readings reference illness or disability, preachers need to take extra care with their words. Often this metaphorical language is interpreted too literally, and those among our assemblies who carry illness or differently-abled bodies hear their physical and mental limitations as a burden on the community, when actually it is quite the opposite. Bodies and minds, in all their manifestations, make up the full picture of the image and likeness of God.
·         Being an imitator of Christ means reaching out to the peripheries. This can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but there is no way around the reality that our baptismal call insists that we claim this as our mission. Seeing these least among us and journeying alongside them is what gives the greatest glory to God.
·         Each of us carries a burden. Some big, some small. Have we created a safe space in our communities for people to come as they are, to bring their worries and struggles to find healing here?