Fr. Justin
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Behold, God is my salvation,
I will Trust and not be afraid,
For the Lord is my strength and song:
He has also become my Salvation.
Isaiah 12:2
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5th sunday of lent
"The Raising of Lazarus" (Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat, 1857)
Dear Friends in Christ, This holy season of Lent is a privileged time to experience spiritual renewal through uplifting talks, ministry and liturgy. We’re delighted to have Al Smith, a layman from Welland to lead our Parish Mission. Al has spoken across Canada in parishes, seminaries, and at Catholic conferences highlighting the life and works of the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, and the theme of his talks will be "The Cross through the Wisdom of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen."
As you can see from the schedule, Al and I have arranged the talks to make it as convenient as possible for you to attend all/most of the Mission. I am asking every person who calls SHJ/SHM/St. B's their spiritual home to participate in some way, and to come to confession.
It starts tonight (Friday) with at talk at 6:30pm at SHJ, "Where is the Cross in your life?" followed by 7:15pm Stations of the Cross, composed by Archbishop Sheen.
Saturday, the Solemnity of the Assumption, come an honour our Blessed Mother by attending Al's talk on her, "Behold, Your Mother" at 4pm at SHJ, and maybe stay for the 5pm Vigil Mass.
On Sunday, come early for the 8:30am Way of the Cross before the 9am SHM Mas and stay for the Toonie Breakfast hosted by SHM's Catholic Women's Leage over at O'Neill Parish Hall and listen to Al's talk, "Lord, Teach us to Pray".
And finally, return to SHJ on Sunday at 3pm for Al's final talk, "The Remedy for Overing the 7 Deadly Sins and the Art of Practicing the Virtues" and then make a good Confession to one of the five local priests who will be here.
Al will also bring a relic of the Holy Face from 1888 to be displayed. The engravings of the Holy Face are the reproduction of the veil of Veronica at the Vatican, which have touched the wood of the true Cross and the iron of the spear, which transfixed our Lord. During the mission he will give a short presentation on the Holy Face of Jesus and anyone in attendance can venerate the relic that will be on display if they wish.
Al will also bring a good supply of books, gifts, rosaries, pictures, etc. that will be available for purchase.
In your pews this weekend is an envelope where I ask that you prayerfully discern making a special gift for to offset the cost of this Mission. Please spread the word to your friends, family and neighbour and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our parish throughout this mission.
Fr. JustinThis Weekend
Lenten Parish Mission
The Cross through the Wisdom of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
with Al Smith
Friday, March 24 - SHJ
6:30pm Mission Talk 1
"Where is the Cross in Your Life?"
7:15pm Fulton J. Sheen's Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 25 - SHJ
4pm Mission Talk 2
"Behold, Your Mother" 5pm Vigil Mass
Sunday, March 26 - SHM
8:30am: Stations of the Cross @ SHM
9am Mass @ SHM 10am Mission Talk 3 @ O'Neill Parish Hall
"Lord, Teach us to Pray"
Sunday, March 26 - SHJ
Parish Lenten Penance Celebration
3pm: Mission Talk
"The Remedy for Overcoming the 7 Deadly Sins & the Art of Practising the Virtues"
5 Confessors
Al has written two-dozen books containing the writings of Archbishop Sheen, in addition to producing a radio program for Radio Maria USA, Ireland, Australia and Canada and appearing on EWTN.
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper
April 6 @ 7pm at SHM
Adoration of Blessed Sacrament*
April 6 @ 8-9pm at O'Neill Parish Hall
“Watch and Pray!” * In the Garden of Gesthemane, our Lord asked the Apostles to stay awake and pray. Would you spend an hour with Jesus on Holy Thursday night? There will be adoration for an hour at SHM after the 7pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with a simple reposition at 9pm.
Good Friday Passion of the Lord Stations of the Cross
April 7 @ 11am at SHM
Passion of the Lord
April 7 @ 3pm at SHJ
Stations of the Cross
April 7 @ 6:30pm at SHJ
Holy Saturday Blessing of Easter Food
April 8 @ 11am at SHJ
Easter Vigil in the Holy Night
April 8 @ 8pm at SHJ
Easter Sunday Resurrection of the Lord
April 9 @ 9am at SHM
Resurrection of the Lord
April 9 @ 11am at SHJ
Sat, April 22 6-9pm
Save the Date!
Fundraiser for SHJ's Restoration Fund.
You're formally invited to the prestigious Bloodwood Castle Masquerade Ball. Find your perfect mask and come dressed in your best for a night full of excitement, mystery, and secrets. The evening will include a four course served lasagna meal, mocktails, and the murder mystery dinner live person gameplay. Upon ticket purchase a character package, complete with costume suggestions and personality traits will be prepared for you to come in character. Clues and events occurring throughout the evening will aid you in solving the mystery of the night. Who did it? Who was it done to? What was their motive? All answers will come to light by the end of the evening.
Tickets ($50/person) will be available after Sunday Mass at SHJ & SHM on April 2 & April 9th.
Links, Random Thoughts & Recommendations - Remember that all Fridays of Lent are traditionally days of abstinence. On days of abstinence, meat should not be eaten at any meal. The law of abstinence binds all Catholics who have completed their 14th year.
- This Saturday at 10am, our Confirmation candidates begin the first of their 6 formation sessions at SHJ Hall, led by our sacramental coordinators, Sandra Palma & Jason Reck.
- Sophia Wall
- Hunter Gillis
- Owen Koch
- Olivia Martino
- Mary Williamson
- Jimmy Woof
- Michael Forte-Perri
- Adam Morrison
- Sonny Gillis
- Jackson Gillis
- Erica Spencer
- To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation means preparation – doing some serious praying about and study of the sacrament and getting serious about a life of service of others, and we're happy that our sacramental coordinators, Sandra Palma & Jason Reck will be instructing these budding disciples of the Lord. Please remember to pray them!
- For the last two weeks of Lent, the Church changes her attention from the ascetical disciplines of mortification and conversion to the suffering and death of our Lord. When we hear this word 'Passion', most of us think first of deepest love…either the erotic feelings of lovers or of the single-minded devotion to some beloved work. But the original meaning of the word is actually not love; it is suffering. This is why we speak of the suffering of Christ as His passion, and this is where we see the connection between the meanings of suffering and love: Christ was willing to suffer for us only because He loves us, and the depth of His love is revealed most fully in His suffering and death.
- From today through Good Friday, sacred images are shrouded in purple as a sign of our sorrow for contributing to Christ’s passion by our sins, and over and over during Passiontide, the sacred liturgy prepares us to confess our part in the betrayal, torture, and murder of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. On Palm Sunday and again on Good Friday, we will read together the accounts of Christ’s final hours and the arrival of The Hour for which he came into the world. Together we will shout: Crucify him! Crucify him! And we will look into the Holy Face expecting rejection and condemnation, and instead we will find only forgiveness and infinite love.
- In these last days of Lent, the Church calls to us with ever greater urgency to repent of our sins and believe in the Gospel, and by meditating on the passion of our Saviour, we can be led to proclaim the tender mercies of God with the authentic joy of those who know they are forgiven.
Rome is home to many relics of the Passion of Our Lord. The Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme houses some of the thorns from Jesus’ crown, the finger of St. Thomas, the INRI Sign above the Cross, and a nail from the Crucifixion. St Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, brought many of these relics to the Eternal City, along with some of the wood of the Cross. In St. Peter’s today, many of these relics are placed on the Papal Altar. At Vespers, the crowds are blessed with the Veil which Veronica used to wipe the face of Jesus as the clergy sing in procession the Passiontide Hymn, the Vexilla Regis.
Other Local Lenten Penance Celebrations- SHJ/SHM, Mamora: Sun, Mar 26 @ 3pm
- St. Joseph's, Belleville: Tues, Mar 28 @ 7pm
- St. Charles, Read: Wed, Mar 29 @ 7pm
- St. Mary's, Campbellford: Thurs, Mar 30 @ 6:30pm
- St. Peter's, Trenton: Thurs, Mar 30 @ 7pm
- St. Michael's, Belleville: Sun, Apr 2 @ 3pm
- Veiling the Images: On this Passion Sunday, we veil all of the statues, crucifixes and sacred images in the Church. As we transition from our emphasis on our own spiritual combat during Lent to concentrating on the Lord’s suffering and death in Passiontide, we emphasize the mystery of what we are celebrating by covering up anything that can distract us from the interior life. On Holy Thursday, we change the veil of the Cross to white, and on Good Friday a Cross covered in red cloth is processed through the Church and gradually unveiled before we come to venerate it.
In the Middle Ages it was common for the entire sanctuary to be veiled for all of Lent with what was called a hunger veil, to remind us to develop a hunger for the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Special thanks to Joanne F. & Cathy A. (SHM) & Rory C. & Bob V. & Dale C. (SHJ) for veiling the statues for this weekend. - A Dufferin-Peel teacher told me they've been told that the Board will be 'auditing' religious art in schools, and will remove any that is "culturally insensitive" - (aka Jesus looks too white). And what's the image they used as an example? The Divine Mercy image is apparently too racist to be in their Catholic schools.... God help us.
- MRI scan of a baby at 18 weeks.
- The Good Friday Collection is requested by the Holy See to help maintain the Church's holy places in the Holy Land, so important to the faith of Christians everywhere, and also to support the faithful who struggle to survive under political and economic oppression and persecution. This Pontifical Collection will be taken during the Good Friday celebration on April 7. Those who are unable to attend the service, or who prefer to contribute online, may do so by e-transfer by visiting www.commissariat.ca/supporting-us
- Upcoming Food Drive on April 1st: The Madoc Lions club is holding a food drive on Saturday April 1, from 10-2 in front of Trinity United Church in Madoc to help restock the newly renovated Madoc food bank. (see Madoc Lions FB page) Needed items are: bags of potatoes, lunch items for kids, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pork and beans, peanut butter & sugar. Thanks for supporting the Madoc Food Bank and Madoc Lions.
- Palm Sunday's Archdiocesan Lenten Collection: On behalf of Archbishop Mulhall, please see his letter regarding next weekend's collection. His Grace asks us to be generous, as these funds will be allocated to local agencies serving vulnerable groups in our communities to help alleviate poverty, homelessness, crisis pregnancies, food insecurity, end of life issues, and mental health.
"We do not want, as the newspapers say, a Church that will move with the world. We want a Church that will move the world."
G.K. Chesterton
Friends, check this video out sent by someone I know who does a lot of advocacy work among Canadian politicians, promoting values that used to be common sense but now need advocacy. Here is a video against MAID that she put together with Garnett Genuis (an MP in Alberta). Maybe you’ve already seen it. If not, it’s a good one to share!
A wonderful turnout at This Man Is You last week, where Dr. Scott Hahn got vulnerable when talking about his own marriage. He shares his both biggest cross and his wife’s biggest cross (Spoiler Alert- It’s him!). He recounted the very real struggles his own marriage has faced and how he now delights in what God has accomplished in and through it. The future of the world and the Church indeed pass by way of the family. It is the first society that impacts every aspect of society. In turn, Christ and the Church are a constant source of grace for each of our marriages. The Sacraments don’t make marriage easy, they make it possible.Easter Flowers "In Memory" and "In Thanksgiving"
Parishioners are encouraged to help decorate for the Holy Week and Easter Liturgies. If you wish to honour a loved one, living or deceased, please use your Easter Flower Offering envelope OR our while Flower Sponsor envelopes (located in your pews as well as the narthex) for your donation. For the latter, a one time donation of $40 will cover your week, and you'll also get a Mass intention included in that. So a great deal if you think about it! Whichever you choose, please print your envelope number, your name and the names of those you wish to honour. Memorial requests must be received no later than Palm Sunday 2 April for the names to appear in the Easter Flower list. Thank you for your support.
Next SHM CWL Meeting
Wed. April 5 @ 9:45am following Mass
SHJ's Restoration Fund
This comic made me think of the following story:
A King had a male servant who, in all circumstances, always said to him; "My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes." One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king. The servant managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his Majesty from losing a finger. Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said, "If God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger." The servant replied, "Despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good and everything He does is perfect, He is never wrong." Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his servant. While being taken to prison, he told the king again, "God is Good & Perfect." Another day, the king left alone for another hunt and was captured by savages who use human beings for sacrifice. On the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place, and so he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods. On his return to the palace, he ordered the release of his servant and said, "My friend, God was really good to me. I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger, I was let go. But I have a question; If God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in prison?" His servant replied, "My king, if I had not been put in prison, I would have gone with you, and would have been sacrificed, because I have no missing finger. Everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong. Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that everything happens for a purpose."
Colleen MacAlister and I had a great visit with the residents of Caressant Care on Tuesday. We prayed the Stations of the Cross, sang some classic hymns and distributed Holy Communion and the Anointing of the Sick to the Catholics.
- Project Rachel at St. Mary of Egypt Refuge in Queensborough is offering a retreat for women who suffer the loss of a child from abortion. The hiddenness, the aloneness, and the grief are met by volunteers and God’s healing power. The next retreat will take place in April 28-30, 2023 at the Refuge, near Madoc – “Come away.” For more information, visit stmarysrefuge.org/rachel, and call 289-691-6840 or e-mail projectrachel@stmarysrefuge.org.
Calling all Grade 11 & 12 High School Students: Hey, you! Yes, you! Are you a student in Grade 11 or 12 and looking for a new opportunity to learn about your faith and experience it in a new way with like minds and hearts? If so, then this weekend is for you! The Saint Andrew's School of Evangelization (SASE) is running a New Life for High School Students in April. Leave the world behind and come to Wesley Acres for the weekend of April 21-23, 2023 and experience the Love of God in a new and exciting way! This retreat will be led by a devoted team of young adults and the formed faithful from the parishes in the Western Deanery. Please register no later than April 13, 2023. Cost: $60 Contact: Jude Thusiar, 613-962-4634, jthusiar@gmail.comCome for the weekend and leave with a New Life! (Our parish is happy to assist with the cost of the aforementioned retreat for any students wishing to attend. Jude is one of our seminarians currently on pastoral internship at St. Michael's in Belleville and this retreat will be a blessing to attend)
Please remember in your prayers Michael O'Brien (brother of Carol Gillis) who recently departed this world to go to the Father. Our sympathies and prayers are extended to the O'Brien & Gillis' and the families of all our beloved dead.
Congratulations to SHJ student Mackenzie Donald, who was awarded the Beacon of Hope award for her outstanding contributions to Sacred Heart School. It was an honour to attend the award breakfast at the Ramada Inn this past Monday.
Mass Intentions
If you'd like to schedule a Mass intention, fill out one of the envelopes at the entrance of the church or contact our secretary Pauline at the parish office @ 613.472.2220 or rcmarmoramadoc@gmail.com
The Mass of Chrism is to be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 10:30am on Tuesday, 4 April. Fr. Price and I will be there, and I encourage and invite parishioners to attend this beautiful celebration if possible.- The number of hate crimes against Catholics in Canada rose from 43 in 2020 to 155 in 2021, a new study has concluded.
- Some cool historical clippings of the our Knights of Columbus Council 7301 - a legacy of community giving which continues today...
- Great article from Monday's Wall Street Journal about St. Joseph. Here's the opening line: "Maddy prayed a 30-day novena to St. Joseph two years ago with a single intention in mind: that if it was his will, God give her a spouse."
- Also from Monday, an article in the New York Times about the contemplative Carmelite nuns who left Brooklyn due to excessive noise outside their monastic walls.
"We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives with the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment."
C.S. Lewis
Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe, France
Sent by Justin Pulikunnel
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