Sixth Sunday of Easter May 25, 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  
 
  Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Psalm 67 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., May 26 – No mass
 
Tues., May 27 – No mass (Fr. Uche on holidays)
 
Wed., May 28– No mass (Fr. Uche on holidays)
 
Thurs., May 29 – No mass (Fr. Uche on holidays)
 
Fri., May 30 – No mass (Fr. Uche on holidays)
 
Sat., May 31 – No mass (Fr. Uche on holidays)
 
Sun., June 1 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., June 1 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) (Lay led) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Fr. Uche starts his holidays Monday, May 5. He has arranged for replacement priests to come for Sunday masses. There will be no daily mass during his holidays.

 Sunday Collection –  May. 18  Meadow Lake  $836.60   Green Lake  $35.00  Children’s $2.40
 
Sunday Church Attendance –    May. 18   Adults  103  Children  17  Total  120
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for May – For working conditions – Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
 
Fr. Uche’s Holidays – Fr. Uche will be leaving for holidays on Monday, May 5. He has arranged for replacement priests to come for Sunday mass. There will be no weekday masses while he is on holidays.

​Grad Scholarship – We are once again hoping to present graduates with a scholarship from Our Lady of Peace. If you would like to participate in this project please place your donation in an envelope marked Grad Scholarship.  Thank you.
 
The Pope’s Pastoral Works – May 25
            This collection provides an opportunity for Catholics to make a financial offering to assist the Holy Father. One-third of the funds collected is for what is traditionally known as Peter’s Pence: donations used by the Pope for his charitable contributions to those most in need throughout the world, as well as for the support of the Holy See and its activities. Two-thirds of the Collection for the Pope’s Pastoral Works is to support the Holy Father in administering the Holy See and serving the Universal Church (see Canon 1271). Information about how Peter’s Pence is used, as well as donations in response to Canon 1271, is available in the Holy See’s yearly financial report.
            “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid.  . . .  The old question always returns: ‘How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods, and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?’ (I Jn 3:17).”                                    Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 187
                                                Taken from Ordo page 141
 
Scripture Insights – Sixth Sunday of Easter
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. 208.
 
 The reading from Acts alerts us to the intense controversy between Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus. While the first two verses of the reading make it clear that circumcision was the primary issue, twenty verses that detail whether this and other Jewish customs were to be practiced by Gentile converts are not part of the reading in the lectionary. In essence, those verses show the significance of these Jewish practices in the early Church. The text goes on to state that the decision not to place any undue burden on the Gentiles came from the Holy Spirit.
The responsorial psalm refrain, “O God, let all the nations praise you,” seems to reinforce the notion of inclusivity that Acts expresses. Our gracious God invites all peoples into a loving relationship. No one from any land is excluded.
The Gospel reading for today is from a section of John known as the “last discourse,” Jesus’ final words to his disciples during the Last Supper. Within these chapters (14 – 17), we hear Jesus giving instructions to his disciples. Today’s portion of this material focuses on the coming of the Holy Spirit, the gift of peace, and Jesus’ return to his Father. The tender words in verse 27, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” were also spoken at the very beginning of this discourse. Jesus’ return to the Father, after his passion, will bring about a new relationship and a new era, that of the Holy Spirit.
 
·         St. Teresa of Avila wrote that “all conceptions of God are like a jar we break.” The early disciples’ understanding of God shattered with the resurrection, and Jesus is preparing them for another revelation. Sometimes it is not through new knowledge that our understanding of God grows but in our return to the simple foundation of love.
 

• From its earliest days, the Church faced difficult and divisive questions. Yet space was made for the people to share their experiences of the Holy Spirit. Difficult and divisive questions abound today around women’s ordination, divorce, LGBTQ rights, and other important areas of Church teaching. The first step in productive dialogue is listening.