Third Sunday of Lent March 23, 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  
 
    The Lord is merciful and gracious.
Psalm 103 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., Mar. 24 – No mass
 
Tues., Mar. 25– 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Mar.25 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - Irwin Sinclair & family by Wilfred Sinclair

Wed., Mar. 26 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Louis & Germaine Wilfing & Raymond Wilfing by Nick & Eileen Charney

Thurs., Mar. 27 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -            Parish Retreat Day 1
Sarah Koch & family by Theresa Rodrigue

Fri., Mar. 28 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -            Parish Retreat Day 2
God’s protection over the family by Bernardo Ferrer

Sat., Mar. 29 – 7:00 pm (Our Lady of Peace) - People of God

Sun., Mar. 30 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

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

Sun., Mar. 30 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. Catechism classes every Sunday after mass.
2. Stations of the Cross this Friday, March 28 at 7:00 pm led by the children of the parish.
3. Parish Retreat March 27 and 28 starting with mass at 6:30 pm.
4. Knights of Columbus Meeting and Degree Tuesday, March 25 after evening mass. Silver Rose Prayer Program during evening mass March 25.

 
Sunday Collection –  Mar. 16  Meadow Lake  $951.10   Green Lake  $430.60   Children’s $9.20
                                                           
Sunday Church Attendance –    Mar. 16   Adults  105  Children  12   Total  117
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for March – For families in crisis  – Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
 
Please note – We are reserving the front 3 pews on the west side of the church for those with mobility or health issues.
 
Chrism Mass – We are looking for people to go to the Chrism Mass in Prince Albert on April 15 at 6:30 pm to pick up the Holy Oils. If you are interested in going, please call the office or let Father Uche know.
 
Extended Deanery Meeting – will be held on Saturday, April 5 in Edam from 9:30 – 3:30. If any one is interested in going there is a sign up sheet at the back of the church. Deadline for registration is March 28.
 
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 cans of food and other food products being donated to the Door of Hope. Now with food prices increasing, more families and individuals in Meadow Lake and surrounding area need the Door of Hope to supplement their food requirements. To help meet this need, the Meadow Lake Knights of Columbus are once again asking the members of the parish to support this project. Each day of Lent one can will be placed in the cross. We are asking families to bring non-perishable food each week of Lent. Thank you.
 
Easter Cards – We invite all parishioners to write Easter cards for our shutins and seniors at the Lodge. Please bring the cards to the office and they will be distributed. If you know of someone who would benefit from this, please call Marie Mamchur at 240-6155 with their name and address. Thank you.
 
Knights of Columbus – regular meeting and initiation degree will be held Tuesday, March 25 after evening mass. The  Silver Rose Prayer Program will also be incorporated into mass this evening.
 
Lent/Easter Retreat – We will have a retreat on Thursday and Friday, March 27 and 28 beginning with mass at 6:30 pm each evening.
 
Scripture Insights – Third Sunday of Lent
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. 130.
 
 Our Old Testament reading for today is well known to us – likely one we have heard since childhood. Moses, who is tending his father-in-law’s flock at the base of Mount Horeb, may be looking for distractions to while away the time when he sees a bush in flames just off the path. What is remarkable is not the burning bush itself but its staying power. The bush is not consumed. As many of us would, Moses decides to check it out.
Moses’ openness becomes God’s cue to call out to him, indeed, to summon him far beyond what he believes himself capable of. Notice that when God calls him by name, Moses responds simply, “Here I am.” In Hebrew, this is just one word, hinneni. It is how Abraham responded to God at the ultimate test of his faith (Gn 22) and how many prophets after him also will respond to their call. Once God alerts Moses to the holy ground and identifies himself in the covenantal tradition of Moses’ ancestors, Moses lowers his face in fear but remains. Much staying power will be required of him as well in the coming years.
God then reveals his intentions to bring the Israelites out of oppression in Egypt into this very wilderness where they will worship God in freedom. Moses is God’s chosen prophet and leader. This scene culminates when, at Moses’ request, God further reveals the divine name, YHWH, a form of the verb “to be.” God is the essence of being, the “I AM,” a name so sacred that it should not be uttered. Our reverence is indicated in the address, “Lord.”
 

• We all, at times, experience the temptation to observe tragic events from afar and point fingers at who is to blame – sometimes even blaming victims for their misfortune. In these moments, our response must include a look inward to recognize our own vulnerabilities and culpability. Like Moses, we must notice God’s presence, approach with humility, and discern our own call to action.

·         The gardener is determined to offer every possible form of support to nurture the fig tree. Parents, teachers, and other mentors may experience a parallel in nurturing children and youth. As Jesus never tires of reaching out to us in creative and surprising ways, we can feel affirmed in the effort to meet each child where they are.