Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept. 7, 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  
 
  Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Psalm 90 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., Sept. 8 – No mass
 
Tues., Sept. 9 – 10:00 am Liturgy with Communion at the Lodge
 
Tues., Sept. 9 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - +Paul & Theresa Tourand by Wayne Tourand

Wed., Sept. 10 – 6:30 pm (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) -  For all who are coping with illness by Sandra Senga

Thurs., Sept. 11 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - For all farmers as they harvest by Sandra Senga

Thurs., Sept. 11 – 10:00 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
 
Fri., Sept. 12 – 9:30 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - For Mary Durocher’s successful surgery by Peter Durochar

Sat., Sept. 13 – No mass (Fr. Uche will be away in Prince Albert)
 
Sun., Sept. 14 – 10:00 am (Our Lady of Peace Church & Facebook) - People of God

Sun., Sept. 14 – 12:30 pm (St. Jude’s Green Lake) - People of God

Sun., Sept. 14 – 3:00 pm (Our Lady of the Smile Waterhen) - People of God

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

1. No mass next Saturday, Sept. 13 as Fr. Uche will be away in Prince Albert.
2. Parish Ministry Workshop next Sunday, Sept. 14 after mass.
3. Jubilee Year Cross Icon will be coming to our parish for a week starting next Sunday, Sept. 14.

 
  Sunday Collection –  August 31  Meadow Lake  $1399.60  Green Lake  $120.00  Children’s $7.40
                       
Sunday Church Attendance –    August 31   Adults  97  Children  10  Total  107
 
The Pope’s Prayer Intention for September – For our relationship with all of creation – Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
 
Baptism Preparation Classes – will be held on Wednesdays after evening mass on September 10, 17 and 24.
 
Parish Ministry Workshop – There will be a workshop after mass on Sunday, September 14 for everyone involved in the various parish ministries. If you would like to volunteer please attend this workshop to see what is involved.
 
New Parish Secretary – Myra Briscoe will be taking over as parish secretary starting September 9. She will be working two mornings a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 12 noon. Please welcome her as she starts this job.
 
Scripture Insights – Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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. 316.
 
 Today’s Gospel reading from Luke, like last Sunday’s Gospel, draws our attention to discipleship. While last week’s text took place at a table, the setting of today’s passage is quite different. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, where he will be crucified. Crowds followed Jesus as he made his way to his death and resurrection.
Jesus’ words to the people seem shocking. Does Jesus really want us to hate our parents, our spouse, our siblings? Is this what it takes to be a disciple? Doesn’t this contradict Jesus’ teaching on love? Aren’t disciples supposed to love one another, even those who hate us? Three times in this text, we hear that unless a person does or does not do something that person “cannot be my disciple” (14:26, 27, 33). In essence, Jesus states that we must hate our family, carry our cross, and renounce our possessions. The text could be understood as stating, “Whoever prefers family over me, cannot be my disciple.” Again, to be a disciple of Jesus means be ready to follow him without compromise.
 
·         Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first African American Catholic priest, whose own birth certificate identifies him only as “a child, property of . . . “ found a space of inclusion within a Church with a painful history of justifying and participating in slavery. He claimed before the Black Catholic Conference in 1889: “The Catholic Church deplores a double slavery – that of the mind and that of the body . . . .She is the Church for our people.” May we continue the work to fully realize this vision.

• Jesus uses King Herod’s notoriety in this parable – a king known to go to extremes to build up and protect his power and status. To what extent are we willing to go to secure our own position within our family and community? To what extreme is a nation willing to sacrifice charity and justice in the name of security and military might? To choose the way of humility and love defies logic – it is a path that can only make sense with the light of the Holy Spirit.