Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 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  
 
 Shout aloud and sing for joy: great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 12 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. 16 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Special Intention by Louis Gratton

Tues., Dec. 17– 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Dec. 17 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Adelard Paulhus by Don & Bev Campbell

Wed., Dec. 18 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Hector Lamontagne by Don & Bev Campbell

Thurs., Dec. 19 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Kevin Friedrich by Marcel, Elaine & Mark Sergent

Fri., Dec. 20 – 5:00 pm Advent Reconciliation***
Fri., Dec. 20 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Kevin Friedrich by Marcel, Elaine & Mark Sergent

Sat., Dec. 21 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 22 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Dec. 22 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast today, December 15 after mass.
2. Ham and Turkey Bingo Dec. 15 at 7:00 pm in the Hall. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
3. Simbang Gabi means “Night Mass” and is a unique practice of Filipino culture. Please note that from December 16 – 24 our daily mass schedule will be altered. Join us this advent for a novena of evening masses. Everyone is welcome.

 Sunday Collection – Dec. 8:  Meadow Lake $2412.00  Green Lake $260.15  Children’s Collection $3.55
                                    November CAFT  $2330.00
 
Sunday Church Attendance – Dec. 8 – Adults 122    Children 12  Total  134
 
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 Dec. 10 our parish has 22 pledges for $6430.00. The diocese has received 740 pledges for $325004.48.
 
Christmas Greeting – ‘Praying this Christmas Season that you’ll have time to reflect upon the goodness of God and enjoy memorable times with family and friends.’  Christmas Blessings from Lorraine and Bill Thibeault
 
Poinsettas – We are gratefully accepting donations of poinsettas for Christmas.
 
 Opportunities for Confession – Reconciliation will be available in Waterhen and Green Lake after Sunday Mass or by appointment. In Meadow Lake reconciliation will be available December 20 starting at 5:00 pm and on December 21 between 9:00 am and 10:00 am.
 
Scripture Insights – Third 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. 20.
 
 Entering the third week of Advent, we remain in expectant preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Yet our focus shifts to joy. Indeed, this is Gaudete Sunday: the Sunday of joy! As John the Baptist continues his ministry of the good news in Luke’s Gospel, Paul expounds on his manifesto of rejoicing in the Lord in his letter to the Philippians, and the prophet Zephaniah exhorts all God’s people to shout for joy. Today’s readings exemplify how looking inside to God for guidance and outside to one another for our mission grounds us in authentic joy in this life.
 Writing in the seventh century BC in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah, Zephaniah looks ahead to the day of the Lord and living in the kingdom of God. Once God’s people are purged of their wrongdoings and shortsighted turning away from God, they will be restored to right relationship with God, who will live in their midst as a mighty savior. Here we can find true joy, relieved of the burdens of this life, living in unmediated relationship with God. Writing to Christians in first-century Philippi, the apostle Paul reinforces that God’s peace is found in laying ourselves bare before our god in relationship with Christ Jesus. This is how we can live in the joy of our innermost selves.
The missionary activity of John the Baptist teaches us to turn this profoundly personal relationship to those we encounter in the world. Giving from our excess and holding ourselves to a strict integrity are required, even if others do not manifest this joy that radiates from our grounded center. Thus, we await in hope and, indeed, bring near the kingdom of God.
 

• Charitable giving is at its height this time of year. When those who have wealth and power become fully invested in the well-being of those who do not, both materially and through relationship, we will all be able to shout together in joy over Jesus’ glad tidings to the poor.

·         Today’s Scriptures seem to work together seamlessly to affirm and build up our holiday spirit despite having been written in very different contexts and moments in time. As we strive to open our hearts more fully to Jesus in the coming year, these readings can serve as nourishment to meet him with joy.

• Before Jesus’ arrival, the people were filled with expectation. For some, those expectations were exceeded while others were left demanding a different kind of messiah. Our own ways of responding to God might also be shaped by our expectations of how God should show up in our lives.