Ascension Sunday Bulletin & Homily

 

On Ascension Sunday,  Fr Jim Bleackley offers the Homily.

Excerpt

There once were two monks who had read in a very old book that somewhere in the world there is a place where heaven and earth touch each other.  All they would have to do is knock at the door and they would be able to enter the place where God lives.”

Printable Bulletin 

May 29 Bulletin

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Refugee Outreach Commeitte: Official Book Launch Invitation for Ordinary People Extraordinary Actions

On World Refugee Day (June 20, 2022), come celebrate 30+ years of refugee settlement with St. Joseph’s Parish and their Refugee Outreach Committee (ROC).

Location: Outdoors on the Tabaret Lawn (555 Cumberland Street, Ottawa)

Time: 2-4pm

St. Joseph’s Refugee Outreach Committee (the ROC) is one of Ottawa’s longest-serving, volunteer-run refugee outreach groups. Since 1990, this group of dedicated volunteers has helped to welcome and support hundreds of newcomers and refugees in the city.

This event will honour the ROC’s impressive 30+ years of history, and prompt a larger conversation about how we can all get involved in welcoming refugees in pressing and meaningful ways today. It will also mark the launch of the book Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions, which relates stories about how “ordinary people” in Ottawa, and particularly at St. Joseph’s Parish, have taken small and big steps to welcome people seeking refuge into their communities (see publishing details).

Formalities will run from approximately 2:30-3:15pm. This event will include brief remarks from:

  • Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
  • Jacques Frémont, President of the University of Ottawa
  • Louisa Taylor, Director of Refugee613
  • Past and current members of the ROC
  • Past newcomers with a connection to the ROC
  • The authors of the book Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions: Refuge Through Activism at Ottawa’s St. Joe’s Parish

All are invited! Come learn about Ottawa’s rich refugee history and about how to get involved.

For any questions concerning this event, please email patti.lenard@uottawa.ca.

 St. Joe’s Supper Table: Volunteer Meeting

With COVID restrictions easing, we are putting out the call for new/returning volunteers for St Joe’s Supper Table. We are seeking volunteers who are able to commit to a regularly weekly shift. We will be holding an information evening on Tuesday, May 31st at St Joe’s at 7pm. If you are interested in attending, please email suppertable@st-josephs.ca by 5pm on Monday, May 30th to confirm your attendance. We look forward to meeting you! Sue-Anne and Kathleen.

Reconciliation Discussion Series

Discussion Series occurred this past Monday with a short gathering in the church and a sumptuous pot-luck meal. Overall, our series attracted 85 registrants, and most gatherings had 30 or more participants, from St Joe’s, Canadian Martyrs and other groups. This is a beautiful demonstration of parishioners’ commitment to learning about reconciliation issues and opening up to new directions in the future. Further details will be available in the Parish Report for the  2022 AGM.

On that note, there has been strong interest expressed for an ongoing collaboration between Canadian Martyrs and St Joe’s in this space and we hope to work together going forward. Participants, please be sure to check your emails for updates (and sometimes junk/spam folders) as we’d love to keep in touch. If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel welcome to email reconciliation@st-josephs.ca

OMRA

You can be a part of OMRA!  This organization sells grocery cards to raise funds to offer refugees in Ottawa portable rental subsidies.  OMRA has been active at St Joe’s since 2017.

Last weekend OMRA was in the Ottawa Citizen:

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/outside-the-box-how-one-not-for-profit-leveraged-its-assets-to-ease-rent-for-refugees

If you’d like to know more about how to become involved, please contact Donna Rietschlin at dbrietschlin@hotmail.com or 613-270-0438.

Upcoming change in Pastor

Fr. Jim’s appointment at St. Joseph’s Parish will conclude on August 1, 2022. A few weeks ago, Fr. Jim received a new obedience from the Provincial and will be moving to British Columbia. We’re grateful for his pastoral leadership over the course of nearly three years – especially in the difficult environment of the on-going pandemic. Fr. Robert Laroche OMI has been appointed as the new Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish beginning August 1, 2022. Fr. Robert comes to us from Manitoba, where he is currently completing his appointment as Pastor of St-Pierre-Jolys Parish, near Winnipeg. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more information on both Fr. Jim’s departure and on Fr. Robert’s arrival.

Invitation to St Joe’s 2022 Annual General Meeting

St Joe’s Annual General Meeting will be held on June 15 2022 at 7pm in the Parish Hall.  Please plan to attend.  We will review last years minutes, our annual report, the financial report and appoint the auditor for the upcoming year.  We will also consider possibilities for next year. Please rsvp to Kathleen Strader kstrader@st-josephs.ca by Sunday, June 13th

Remembering Dan Handfield

Dan Handfield died this week at age 63. In October 2021, Dan retired from the staff team. Just about anywhere we look, we can see how Dan applied his carpentry gifts to our parish – from the cabinetry in the Sacristy, to the Oblate, Supper Table and Women’s Centre kitchens, to the railing and storage space in the sanctuary, the rectory deck – and, of course, the confessional kitchen near the entrance of our church. These are just some of the many ways Dan improved our facilities over the past 15 years. St. Joseph’s Parish was his family, and he will be missed by all of us – and most especially by his colleagues in the maintenance department, Nick and Normand, who worked so closely with him over the years.

A funeral liturgy for Dan will be held in our church on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome.  We will continue to remember Dan — his life and his many contributions to our parish — and we pray for the repose of his soul.

Parish Updates

Financial Stewardship

Offering for Sunday May 21, 2022: $4,240

Library News  — May 29, 2022 – Titles about  HOPE and GRATITUDE include – Miller, J. Change & possibility: discover hope in life’s transitions (BV4435.M56 2005), Chittister, J. Uncommon gratitude: alleluia for all there is (BV4647.G8C45 2010) & Leddy, M. J.  Radical gratitude (BV4647.G8L43 2002).

Christian Meditation

Monday Christian Meditation Sessions have resumed in person at 9:30am in the Sacristy Library.

Wednesday Christian Meditation Sessions have resumed in person at 3pm in the Main Floor Meeting room. Please contact Chaplain Rick at 613-265-1652 for more information.

Friday Christian Meditation Sessions have resumed in person at 7pm in the Oblate Lounge. Please contact Beth at bborris59@gmail.com for more information.

English Conversation Circles

We hold Zoom and in person sessions each Wednesday from 7pm to 8:30 pm. We welcome any parishioners who would like to be a volunteer or a participant. For further info contact Michaelrichard2008@hotmail.com

Community News

Canadian Martyrs: Employment opportunity

Canadian Martyrs Parish is looking for to fill the position of Parish Life Coordinator. The Parish Life Coordinator works closely with the Parish’s ministries, committees, and Pastoral Team to guide and facilitate virtually all facets of the life and organization of the Parish. This person will need to have strong communications skills: oral, written and presentation. The candidate must demonstrate leadership ability and be able to work with others collaboratively, independently, and in team situations, by both delegating and accepting delegation with an attitude of welcome, openness and approachability. Please email office@canadianmartyrs.org for a complete job description.

Pastoral Volunteers wanted: Garry J. Armstrong Home, 200 Island Lodge Rd

The pandemic is slowing down, and our residents are looking forward to returning to some sense of normalcy. We are looking for Pastoral Volunteers that would be interested in visiting our Roman Catholic residents and enrich their spirituality.

Join our volunteer team here at Garry J. Armstrong Home and help make a difference in the lives of the residents! Orientation/training opportunities will be provided. Please contact Julien Roberge at 613 580 2424 ext. 22950 or Julien.roberge@ottawa.ca  for more information.

Canadian Christian Meditation Community 2022 National Conference
The Canadian Christian Meditation Community 2022 National Conference with Dom Laurence Freeman, OSB,   is taking place the 10th & 11th June 2022 at Saint Paul University, 110 Hazel Street, Ottawa. For more information and Registration: National Conference Registration.

Front Office
If you have questions or require, 2021 Tax Receipts, 2022 Church Envelopes, or 2022 Missals, [please contact the Front Office at 613-233-4095 or frontdesk@st-josephs.ca.

Prayers for those who have died:  Dr Kwesi Baffoe,  Ann Young, J Lucille Muldoon

Mass Intentions
Wed.  June 1st, 2022: Daniel Robin
Thur. June 2nd, 2022: Not Available
Fri.  June 3rd, 2022: Available

Please contact Kathleen in the Front office (kstrader@st-josephs.ca) for questions, bulletin submissions or to add a name to the prayers for the sick & deceased.

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