All posts by Christopher Adam

Eleanor Rabnett’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

This Sunday’s reflection is offered by parishioner and Oblate Associate Eleanor Rabnett. The reflection is available as a video below, as a pdf document (Christ the King, November 21, 22 2020 ) and in person at weekend Masses. Eleanor shares: “We are invited by Jesus to turn and walk with him as a shepherd, herding the sheep who are lost, who are hungry, who are cold, and who are unable to find a light at the end of their tunnels of life. This in a time where it is frightening to go outside of our own homes and risk finding that virus invading our own bodies; or worse – the fear of spreading an invisible virus with others…I think again of Francis’s dream and invitation to join together with all of God’s children to build a world renewed. He writes: ‘A journey of peace is not impossible… Its point of departure must be God’s way of seeing things. God does not see with his eyes, God sees with his heart. And God’s love is the same for everyone…’”

Eleanor Rabnett’s Reflection:

Allison Warren’s Reflection for Children:

Liturgical Resources

Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe – November 22 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Christ the King

Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update

Kionyo Tea from Kenya: 

Once again we are selling tea from Kenya – tea that is grown in the plantation in the Oblate Parish of Kionyo.  Once the tea leaves are picked they are sent to a processing plant where many of the parishioners work, including some of the Oblate Associates.

The tea is harvested and packaged and then sent to us by the Kionyo Oblate Associates to help raise money not only for their parish but also to raise money for the Oblates, the Oblate Youth and the Oblate Associates as they work together to help as many as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to COVID-19 we are not able to repackage the tea into smaller amounts; however these bags can be frozen and then once opened kept in a dark place until you are ready to use it.

We will be selling these bags of tea at St. Joe’s following all of the Masses on the weekend of December 5, 6.  Supplies are limited and the cost is $25 for 240 g. of loose tea.  You can pay by cash, cheque or money transfer. If you have any questions please email me at rabnete@gmail.com. Thanking you in advance.  Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate – on behalf of our Associate brothers and sisters in Kenya.

 

Order Baked Goods and Gifts from the St. Joe’s Supper Table Christmas Catalogue 

From homemade spice mixes and rubs, to cakes, loaves, barks, brittles and squares, and even customized ornaments, the St. Joe’s Supper Table Christmas Catalogue has an array of gift options for the holidays. Please consider buying your baked goods or gifts this Christmas from the St. Joe’s Supper Table. All items will be prepared on-site in our kitchen and will be available for pick-up or delivery before Christmas. All proceeds support our community meal service! Download the Christmas Catalogue and order form here: St-Joes-Christmas-Catalogue.

Orders can be placed between November 16, 2020 until December 13,2020. Order Pickup begins December 14, 2020.

For more information, please contact the St. Joe’s Supper Table Manager, Ryan Mitchell: rmitchell@st-josephs.ca

Advent Community Learning Series: 

All are welcome to participate in the St. Joseph’s Parish Advent Community Learning Series entitled “From Darkness Into Light.” The four Zoom sessions include an exploration of sacred music, the biblical narratives of finding refuge, an evening of peace and prayer, and reflections on the portrayal of faith and doubt in literature. Info: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/advent-community-learning-series/ Info: Christopher Adam cadam@st-josephs.ca.  

Upcoming Announced Noon Masses

  • Wed., November 25: Anne Jones — requested by Helen Zettel
  • Thurs., November 26: Fr Gerry Morris — requested Roslyn Brown
  • Fri., November 27: Xun Chueh — requested Haachen Kuo

Be mindful of any personal requests via email purporting to be from Fr. Jim

Some in our parish may have received an email from a Gmail account purporting to be from Fr. Jim. Please know that Fr. Jim would never reach out to you by email with personal requests, nor does he use a Gmail account. If you receive such an email, it is not from our Pastor and please do not respond to it.

Sunday Offering for November 15, 2020: $6,130. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.

St. Paul’s Eastern United Church becomes a Respite Centre: Over the years, our parish has often worked together with St. Paul Eastern United Church — our neighbour at the corner of Cumberland and Daly. Some of our parishioners will recall a period when we held joint healing services with St. Paul’s. The St. Paul’s congregation will no longer be worshiping in this building and the church hall is being transformed into a City of Ottawa Respite Centre for the winter. The Centre, staffed by the City, will offer a safe space for homeless populations, and will serve light meals (sandwiches) throughout the day. They will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our Parish, through its own social outreach programs, has offered to partner with the Respite Centre’s work as needed, and we have been invited to discussions and the opening next week. At this time, we also hold the faithful of St. Paul’s Eastern United Church in our prayers as they seek new ways and places to continue living their faith.

An Oblate Vocations Reflection from Fr. Richard Beaudette OMI: “We are invited to know Christ more deeply in relationship with his beloved poor. Falling in love with Christ in the poor and with the poor in Christ will draw us into a deeper desire to serve him in and with the poor…Jesus tells this parable just before his own suffering and death on the cross – the ultimate expression of vulnerability, poverty and marginalization. Our Oblate cross is a powerful reminder to us of Christ’s solidarity with the most vulnerable and our call to be in relationship with them…”You can read the complete Oblate vocations reflection here, starting Friday evening.

A Message from OMRA on Gift Cards: 

It’s time to order your December grocery cards and to think about the New Year. Cards ordered by Nov 30th should be available on Dec 10th or 11th. December Christmas gift cards will be available in smaller denominations. Many of you have asked if we could get smaller denominations for you to give as gifts to friends, family and to those in need. For December $10.00 and $25.00 cards will be available from all of our stores – Metro/Food Basics; Loblaws/No Frills/Independent; Shoppers Drug Mart and Farm Boy. Please think about this and let me know if you would like some cards in smaller denominations. We continue to offer the $50 and $100 cards from Metro and Loblaws and $50 cards from Farm Boy and Shopper’s Drug Mart. For more information on the cards or how to donate to OMRA, please contact Donna Rietschlin: dbrietschlin@hotmail.com.

There is an on-going daily protest at the corner of Laurier and Nicholas, leading to the closure of parts of Laurier Ave. East since Thursday. This may effect access to the Parish for some parishioners this weekend. If necessary, please consider alternative routes and allowing a little more time to get here.

To share your ministry news with parishioners, please contact us using the email address below.

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

Andrew Pump’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

This weekend Andrew Pump, our Coordinator of Faith Formation and Young Adult Ministry, offers us both a Sunday reflection and a special reflection for children on the readings and the Parable of the Talents. In his reflection, Andrew shares: “In these stories, we are dealing with a pre-capitalist economic worldview. This means that they would have seen the goods of the earth as limited and finite. If you have more, it means someone else is doing without or has a lot less. But in our modern capitalist values and outlook, which we are not often generally aware of because it has become the air we breathe, we have an assumption that we can create wealth; that value is added through the production process and that investment grows the economy…Since the Industrial Revolution, the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church, has been a sobering voice, challenging the direction of the promises of progress and growth of modern capitalist societies; showing the shadow side and underbelly of modern life as it was unfolding. Development and Peace is a product of this Catholic social tradition…”

You can view the video version of this homily here, or listen in person at Mass this weekend.

Andrew Pump’s Reflection for Children:

Liturgical Resources:

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 15 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Prayers of the Faithful – World Day of the Poor

Message from Pope Francis – World Day of the Poor 2020

Parish Update

From Darkness into Light — An Advent Community Learning Series at St. Joe’s: Join us for a new Parish educational initiative offered entirely through Zoom this Advent. Based on the theme of moving from darkness into light, we are offering four Zoom sessions on different topics, facilitated by members of St. Joseph’s Parish. These include an exploration of sacred music with Jamie Loback, an evening of prayer and peace with Michelle Miller, stories of flight and refuge with Deborah Dorner and John Weir, as well as other members of the Refugee Outreach Committee, and an exploration of faith and doubt as portrayed in literature with Christopher Adam. All are welcome to these Zoom sessions. Participants will receive in advance of each session by email readings and other resources from their Zoom facilitator. Please register for the session(s) of your choice using the links below. Following registration, Zoom will automatically send you the link to join the actual session:

  • Faith and Doubt in Literature: (Thursday, December 3rd, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.): We will read and discuss three short works of literature, including poetry, in which the author or speaker struggles with, and negotiates faith and doubt through the written word. The session will contextualize each work and author within the milieu of the relevant cultural and social history. Facilitator: Christopher Adam. Zoom Registration — Click here.
  • The Refugee Experience as Part of the Advent Narrative (Thursday, December 10th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.): St. Joseph’s Refugee Outreach Committee (ROC) hears many stories from families who are seeking refuge from persecution. The Flight into Egypt (Matt 2:13-23), part of the Advent/Christmas narrative, is such a story. In the second session of Darkness into Light, members of the ROC will share themes and experiences common to both of our stories. Facilitators: Deborah Dorner and John Weir. Zoom Registration — Click here.
  • An Advent Evening of Prayer and Peace (Thursday, December 17th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.):  Even at a time when the world around us seems so unsteady, we are invited to pause, relax, and gather together for an Advent evening of peace. They’ll be time for sharing, silence, and prayer. Facilitator: Michelle Miller. Zoom Registration — Click here.
  • Exploring Sacred Music (Monday, December 21st, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.): Learn about the principles of sacred music and its development; hear some music performed live during the session. Facilitator: Jamie Loback. Zoom registration — Click here.

A SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE – CARITAS CANADA: 

Our bishops invite us to make a donation on November 15, the World Day of the Poor, to DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE-CARITAS CANADA. This is to support our partners in the Global South who have been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE has 100 projects in 35 countries. As Pope Francis said: “An emergency like that of COVID 19 is overcome with the antibodies of solidarity.” The pandemic is worsening poverty in communities already lacking in food and experiencing hunger, conflict, insufficient health care and gender inequality. In some refugee camps there is a lack of soap for handwashing. Please remember how interconnected our human family is. DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE donations can be made on-line at www.devp.org or by cheque and placed in the basket at the back of the church.

An unknown tragedy: A very serious need has occurred in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, The Rohingya purge of close to a million refugees from Burma/Myanmar by their military began in 2017.  There is an immediate need for shelter, food, water, hygiene and medical supplies needs, especially for women-led households. Global Affairs Canada has given Development and Peace a $1 million grant for immediate needs.  Development and Peace supports training and micro-entrepreneurship for the future when less aid money will be available. Sometimes there is resentment in the host communities because of the large influx of refugees. There has been a significant spike in COVID 19 which has wiped out many businesses. Both the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in the host communities need our prayers and support.

Why I give to Development and Peace – Caritas Canada: A Testimony from St. Joe’s parishioner Joan O’Connell 

I have been a donor to Development and Peace-Caritas Canada for almost 20 years.  When I think of why, words like democratic, Catholic, Canadian, challenging, enduring, come to mind.  But it is also the words describing Development and Peace’s mission and fundamental principles: justice, solidarity, education, respect, partnership, subsidiarity, peace, participation, action, equality.  In short, Development and Peace provides me a way that I can actively live out my faith.

My first involvement with Development and Peace was during the education and action campaign about genetically modified seeds.  It introduced me to a topic I knew nothing about and the impacts that GMO’s were having on the people and land of the Global South.  Each year, I learned more about different challenges confronting our sisters and brothers of the Global South and what actions we could take to help change the systems allowing these injustices to take place.  I decided to become a monthly donor.  I was fortunate to go on a Development and Peace solidarity trip to Ecuador in 2008 just after I retired.  There, my understanding of the history of the Americas was challenged and upended.  I met many of Development and Peace’s partner groups and learned about and saw firsthand the work they were doing and the impact that my monthly donations were having on the people we met.  It was a moment of pride and great joy when I saw an old sign in front of the rustic eco-lodge where we stayed one night high in the Andes thanking Development and Peace for its support.

The pandemic has affected us all.  It has affected Development and Peace in a big way too as the annual Share Lent collection did not take place on the 5th Sunday of Lent because the churches were closed.  This in turn has affected how much support Development and Peace can provide to the people of the Global South who often do not have access to the social and governmental supports we have here.  That is why this week-end’s collection is so important.  If you would like to learn more about Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, www.devp.org has lots of great information and stories from the field and a place where you can donate.

St. Joe’s Supper Table Fundraiser — Order Gifts from Our Christmas Catalogue!

From homemade spice mixes and rubs, to cakes, loaves, barks, brittles and squares, and even customized ornaments, the St. Joe’s Supper Table Christmas Catalogue has an array of gift options for the holidays. Please consider buying your baked goods or gifts this Christmas from the St. Joe’s Supper Table. All items will be prepared on-site in our kitchen and will be available for pick-up or delivery before Christmas. All proceeds support our community meal service! Download the Christmas Catalogue and order form here: St-Joes-Christmas-Catalogue. For more information, please contact the St. Joe’s Supper Table Manager, Ryan Mitchell: rmitchell@st-josephs.ca

Upcoming Weekday Noon Mass Intentions:

  • Wednesday, November 18: Intention for David Mallet who is ill, requested by Louise Lalonde
  • Thursday, November 19: Intention for Kay Duggan & Diane Routliffe, requested by Mary Duggan
  • Friday, November 20: Intention for Dorothy Hamm, requested by Margaret, Stephanie and Daryl Hamm

“My Branches Bear Much Fruit” — An Oblate Vocations Reflection: As an Oblate Associate, I have come to appreciate community more than I could have ever imagined. As a religious order, the Oblates are called to live differently than most Diocesan Priests. They would typically live in community and everyone would work together to support that community as well as the broader community they serve. I know I have had a number of conversations over the years about how difficult it must be for priests to live alone.” To read Oblate Associate Serena Shaw’s complete reflection, please click here this weekend.

Sunday Offering for November 8, 2020: $5,165. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.

To share your ministry news with parishioners, please contact us using the email address below.

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

Donna Rietschlin’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

Parishioner Donna Rietschlin shares with us her thoughts on this Sunday’s readings, exploring what we might take away from the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, especially in light of developments and life in our contemporary world. Donna reflects: “Wisdom sits at the gate and waits for us. She is available. God is with us at all times. We don’t know the day nor the hour when we will be called to respond with all the gifts God has given us.  Let us be watchful.  Let us be responsive, using all the love God has given us to be present to others, especially those we see as very different from ourselves…”

To read the full reflection, click here (Donna Rietschlin–32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time ), see the video below or hear it in person at our weekend Masses.

Parishioner Jessica Laframboise offers us this Sunday’s Reflection for children in our community. Please see the video below:

Liturgical Resources

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – November 8 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update:

  • A SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE – CARITAS CANADA: Our archbishops invite us to make a donation on November 15 to Development and Peace – Caritas Canada.   It is in support of our sisters and brothers in the global south who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As Pope Francis said,  “An emergency like that of COVID-19 is overcome with above all the antibodies of solidarity.”  Please visit devp.org to learn how the Recovering Together Campaign  is  helping our most vulnerable neighbours in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. You can use your Share Lent envelope or envelopes will be available in church at all weekend Masses on November 14/15.  Thank you.
  • Congratulations to Dean Siraco who made his First Communion at the noon liturgy on Friday, November 6, 2020.
  • This weekend we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for Malcolm Thomas Ash — son of Michael Ash and Kelly Seymour and sibling of Luke, Isla and Claire. Let us keep the family in our prayers as we welcome Malcom into our faith community.
  • Upcoming Announced Masses 
    • Thurs., November 11, 2020: Bernhard Mauron (Requested by Helen Zettel)
    • Fri., November 12, 2020: Maria Jimenez  (Requested by Sandra Luna)
  • Employment and Social Development Canada student placements in the St. Joe’s Supper Table: We will be welcoming three students to the Supper Table program in temporary positions that are fully funded by Employment and Social Development Canada. By making possible these short-term placements, the Government of Canada aims to provide young Canadians with opportunities to gain workplace experience in holistic, supportive environments — often in nonprofit organizations like St. Joe’s.
  • Sunday Offering for November 1, 2020: $5,077. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.

A Prayer for Remembrance Day written by Fr. Jim Bleackley OMI:

O God, the men and women whose memory we celebrate today died defending and preserving our freedom and our democracy, and all those values we so highly cherish. Today, we honour their sacrifice by remembering and praying for them. We ask you to bless them with the gift of eternal life.

We pray in a special way for their families and friends who deal with loss today. Gracious God, overwhelm them with your and love, may you be their strength and courage today.

We pray for all veterans; may they always know how grateful and thankful we are for their courageous stand on our behalf.

Also, we pray for all armed forces personnel who continue to bring freedom and safety to war-torn countries of our world and for those in our community who serve and protect us; we ask you to watch over them and keep them safe.

We pray that Canada and all nations may continue to work for peace and justice.

For all of us, may the sacrifice and example of others encourage us to be peacemakers. At all times may we have the grace and the knowledge to walk gently on the earth with a profound respect for all we meet.

O God may your gift of peace bless us now and forever. Amen

A prayer and some thoughts as we continue to live this uncertain period in time…
“A pastor attended a men’s breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast. “Lord, I hate buttermilk,” the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour.” The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you’re saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen.”

Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Our life is being mixed with lots of things that we don’t care for…relax and wait until the mixing is done.

*

We continue to welcome updates on the work of ministries and clusters in our parish, whether on-site or virtually. Please contact us using the email address below.

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

Fr. Jim Bleackley’s Homily, Liturgical Resources and a Parish Update on the Solemnity of All Saints

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

This weekend, we invite you to listen to a homily from Fr. Jim, as well as a children’s reflection from parishioner Melissa Demers, both of which we are sharing as videos. We also remember all those in our community, our family and our circle of friends who have died. You will find below a list of names added to our Parish’s Book of Remembrance.

In his homily, Fr. shares a story from a time when he served the Carrier peoples of central British Columbia, and specifically this Indigenous community’s connection to those who had died. Fr. Jim reflects: “Their November ritual expressed the deep union that exists between the living and the dead, and the idea that the good done by one part of the faith community impacts the rest…even those who had gone before them, marked with a sign of faith. There was an awareness that these people, these saints, continue to support them on their journey of life and faith. Today, on All Saints’ Day, we celebrate that communion with all those unnamed saints who during their life on earth discovered the utter goodness at the core of their being, and who now see God face-to-face.” Canadian players have more options than ever for example the Casino Canada Online, where you can find exciting games, welcome bonus options including free spins and real money, exciting slots, and more.

Fr. Jim’s Video Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints

Melissa Demers’ Reflection on the Beatitudes for Children:

Liturgical Resources

Solemnity of All Saints – November 1 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Solemnity of All Saints

All Saints – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

The Book of Remembrance

In October, we invited parishioners to submit to us names of loved ones to add to our Book of Remembrance. As many of our parishioners are not able to attend Mass at this time, we are sharing the names added in 2020 to the Book of Remembrance here, in alphabetical order. We invite parishioners to continue to send us names for inclusion in the Book during the month of November.

Parish Update:

  • Fr. Jim will celebrate Mass on All Souls Day — Monday, November 2nd, 2020 at Noon in the church. All Are welcome.
  • Upcoming Announced Noon Mass: 
    • Thurs., November 5, 2020: Paulette Kavanagh (Requested by Helen Zettel)
  • We remember and pray for Fr. Johannes (Jan) Rademaker, OMI, an Oblate from the Ontario District who died on October 30th at Bruyère Hospital, in Ottawa. We give thanks for Fr. Jan’s life and his many years of faithful ministry.
  • Sunday Offering for October 25, 2020: $4,535. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.
  • Development and Peace -Caritas Canada Fall Campaign – Covid-19 – Recovering Together: Please join us this Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual gathering to learn about the impact of Covid-19 on the Global South and how Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is assisting our partner organizations, through your contributions, to respond to the pandemic.  We will also be discussing fundraising and other actions we can take to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Global South.  Please RSVP to either Larry Martin at ldmartin@sympatico.ca or Joan O’Connell at joanoco@rogers.com and we will send you the Zoom link.
  • With the Word in Silence — A Lectio Divina Retreat for Advent at the Galilee Centre: Come away and pause awhile in the silence of community prayer, in the silence of nature, in the silence of the heart. You are invited to participate in a 24hr. period of silent Advent Hope on November 27-28, 2020. Susan Kehoe of Contemplative Outreach of Eastern Ontario and West Quebec will be facilitating this program. Also available virtually. For more information, please click here.
  • Dear parishioners of St. Joseph’s Parish: We were pleased to be able to join the Universal Church celebrating Mission Sunday in October. Thanks to all of you who were able to be present physically at the parish to share in our prayer and reflection. Hopefully, you received a copy of our “Oblate Spirit” booklet. For those who could not attend due to precarious health, we want to include you. We invite you, as members of our Oblate Parish, to show as special concern for our Mission work by becoming committed with us in partnership with the poor through our Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate (MAMI). THIS IS YOUR INVITATION:   https://omilacombe.ca/your-invitation/We, as Canadian Catholics, have also much to celebrate as we reflect on the 175 years of Evangelization from the Red River Valley west. The Missionaries of Mary Immaculate played a very significant role in that early ministry supported by several hardy Religious Congregations of women.Read the “Oblate Spirit” booklet to appreciate that the same heart is still present in missionaries today. This booklet, and former editions, are available in both English and French on the OMI website. Follow this link:       https://omilacombe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Oblate_Spirit_Newsletter-Sept2020-6.pdf Why should you consider the Oblate Missions a priority among the many charities seeking your support?
    1. In the document from the Canadian Catholic Bishops regarding “Freedom of Conscience and Religion”, the Bishops state: “ In obedience to Christ’s command, she proposes the Gospel to all people, which she is duty bound to do, because Jesus Christ is ‘the way and the truth and the life.’ All evangelization is but an effort to awaken the listener’s religious freedom to desire and embrace the saving truth of the gospel. We are never to impose our religious beliefs on others, but always to respect individuals and cultures, honoring the sanctuary of conscience.… No religion, therefore, can ever be externally imposed but must be adopted by a person ‘only through the process of conviction.’” This mandate is not only to religious congregations but to the whole church.
    2. We show Christian love not just in sharing the gospel message but assisting them to have the basic material things necessary for life. The people themselves choose and plan various projects that respond to these essential needs of water, education and medical for the communities.
    3. These projects are overseen, and an accountability report is made by an Oblate in the field for the MAMI office here in Saskatoon and for CRA oversight of our Registered Charity.
    4. The people must demonstrate commitment to raise funds or contribute labor. Their financial contribution has historically been matched by donations from MAMI. Their dignity is respected, and they have pride in their community effort.
    5. There are no administration fees, as the Oblate Province cover these costs. Every cent of every dollar you give goes directly to the mission’s projects.

    We have had great support from the seniors, but now we also need young families to step up and say that you are with us. Membership in MAMI will be a great catechetical tool to teach your children two very important paths to God. Firstly, regular prayer as a family for Oblate Missionaries. Secondly your financial donation to partner with the Oblates, as lay missionaries, will teach your children to be Christ’s love and compassion to the poor and those who have less.

    Seniors: Have you considered including the Missionary Oblates as a beneficiary in your will?  Contact the MAMI Office or: https://omilacombe.ca/mami/donations/

    Thank you for hearing this invitation! (–Fr. Jim Bleackley, OMI)

During the month of November, you are invited to continue sharing with us names of deceased loved ones for inclusion in the Parish’s Book of Remembrance. Please write to: frontdesk@st-josephs.ca

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
cadam@st-josephs.ca

Book of Remembrance 2020

The names below have been added to the Book of Remembrance at St. Joseph’s Parish in 2020. During the month of November, we will honour all those whose names are found in the Book of Remembrance. May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace and enjoy the fullness of the resurrection. 

A-C

Barbara Abraham
Peter Adam
Don Adams
Doreen Adams
Barbara Abraham
Peter Adam
Don Adams
Doreen Adams
Joyce Albert
Bea Alexandrovich
Monty Alford
Françoise Allard
Jean-Louis Allard
Allison Family
Fr Andrew Anderson
Brother Louis Andreas, OMI
Odilia Augusto Pereira
Brain Ballard, OMI
Joseph Began
Jean André Florent Beauregard
Verna Anna Beauregard
Alejandro Bermúdez
Sr. Betty Berrigan
Casey Bialek
Rita Bialek
Mary Bingham
Bill Bleackley
Val Bleackley
Susan Bloos
Peter Boccasi
Brady Family
John Brieux OMI
Garry Bryne
Harold Burns
Otto Burns Burns
Liane Choquette
Minnie Clemenhagen
Danielle Cossitee
Gloria Coutiño
Janet Courture
Corrinne Cyr
Fernand Cyr
Lawrence Cyr

D-G 

Claire Darling
Guadalupe Dávila
Fr Dave Daws
Helen DeBrule
Helen Delaney
Irene Delaney
Pat Desmarais
Peter Desmarais
John Dourley OMI
Duggan Family
Cathleen Dunnigan
Edward Dunnigan
Patricia Dunnigan
Peter Dunnigan
Paul Feeley OMI
John Ferby
Kevin Figley
Paul Flaherty
Frank Fowler
Mary Fox
Bill Franz
Shirley Freeborn Taylor
Barbara French
Ernest French
Ethel French
Phylis Gates McKay
Aileen Granger
Angelina Gutierrez

H-L

Khadija Haffajee
Margaret Hearty
José Luis Hernádez
Vicenta Herrera
Gordon Hilchie
Bill Holl
Rose Holl
Liz Holmes
Suzanne Joubert
Mary A Joy
Joan Fulthorp Jubb
Carl Kelly OMI
Kerr Family
Kizas Family
John Kroetch
Marc Laforge
Lionel Lalonde
Daniel Lamont
Patricia Langley, SC
Joanne Laplante
Leo Laurin Laurin
René Laurin
Ghislaine leBlanc
Bishop Thomas Lobsinger, OMI
Beth Ann Lowe

M-P

Hugh James MacDonald OMI
Lucy MacInnis
Jack MacLennan OMI
Lawrence MacLennan OMI
MacMillan Family
Maingot Family
Cecilia Malikail
Joseph Malikail
Doris Martin
George Martin
Graham Martin
Ivan McCormack OMI
David McLaren
Janice McLaren
Brother Yvon Mercier, OMI
Agnes Middlested
Adolfo Evaristo Milla Morales
Annie Miller
Alvin Miller
Carl Miller
Dolores B. Miller
Gladys Miller
James Miller
Joseph Miller
Marjorie Miller
Moore Miller
Andrew Mooney
Rita Mooney
Alfonso Filiberto Moran Reyna
Armando Esteban Moran Reyna
Flora Albina Moran Reyna
Ines Susana Moran Reyna
Nelly Carlota Moran Reyna de Milla
Pedro Buenaventura Moran Reyna
Alice Moore
Leslie Mullally
Margaret Murdoch
Sarolta Nagy
Sean Naipaul
Inés Navarro
Irv O’Connell
Mary O’Connell
Muriel O’Connell
Nell O’Connell
Roger O’Connell
Sel O’Connell
Bishop Hub O’Connor
O’Donnell Family
O’Meara Family
Margaret Oszlanszky
Jorge Paniagua
Gloria Luz Paniagua
Hermisendo Paniagua
André Perron
Malcolm Perry
Sister Miriam Phelan, SNJM
Susan Pye

R-Z

Joe Redmond, OMI
Laura Anne Reilly
Amanda Rietschlin Squires
Joan Rice, FDLP
Royds Family
Christopher Rush
Mary Ruth
John Ryan
Mary Ryan, FDLP
Nelly Ryan
Don Saul
Ann Smallian
Robert Smallian
Delina Solis
Fernando Solis
Pantaleón Solis
Brother Hoby Spruot, OMI
Ray Standen
Swift Family
Swine Family
Peter Sutton OMI
Rita Tayler
Dorothy Teske
Martha Toledo
Emily Tripp
Elizabeth Udell
Michael Valiquette
Eva Wahba
Bill Walker, OMI
Paul Watson
Marion Wheelton
Jean Wright
Walley Wright
Anna Yensen
Hector de Jesus Zenteno

Raphael Amato’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

This weekend’s reflection is offered by parishioner Raphael Amato on a concept that is familiar to us: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Raphael shares: “I believe that Jesus is guiding us in how to respond to a dilemma that we are confronted with in our lives; how our beliefs in God can easily become separated from how we interact with others and the world around us.  Like the understanding of the Old Testament, being righteous means we live within our understanding of the rules/commandments.  Jesus reminds us that disconnecting our beliefs in God from relationship with others is not a full understanding of our relationship with God.”

You can view Raphael’s reflection as a video below, read the full text (Reflection – October 25) or hear it in-person at Mass this weekend.

Liturgical Resources

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 25 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update:

  • Fr. Jim will celebrate Mass on All Souls Day — Monday, November 2nd, 2020 at Noon in the church. All Are welcome.
  • All Saints’ Day: St. Joe’s parishioners are invited to submit the names of deceased loved ones to the front office by email (frontdesk@st-josephs.ca) and staff will add these names to the Book of Remembrance. The Book of Remembrance will be displayed at Mass on Saturday, October 31st, Sunday, November 1st and Monday, November 2nd. The names of our parish community’s deceased loved ones will also be projected on the screen in the sanctuary during the weekend liturgies. Please submit names by October 29th. In light of the pandemic, this approach will allow us to remember loved ones while still maintaining sanitation protocols.
  • Upcoming Announced Masses
    • Wed., October 28, 2020, Noon: Marilyn D’Amour (Requested by: Helen Zettel)
    • Thurs., October 29, 2020, Noon: Francis Fedor (Requested by: Dan Riley)
    • Fri., October 30, 2020, Noon: Sarolta Nagy (Requested by: Christopher Adam)
  • From Darkness to Light: The Parish is preparing an interdisciplinary educational Zoom series for Advent, including four sessions offered via Zoom and open to the community.  The themes to be explored will include literature, music, social justice and contemplative reflection. Stay tuned for the details!
  • Quality of Life Virtual Fundraiser:  The St. Joe’s Women’s Centre is holding its Quality of Life fundraiser virtually via Zoom on November 19, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. The ticket price is $70 and includes a special delivery to your home of a package of freshly-prepared items for your personal cocktail reception. For tickets and more information, please click here
  • Donation of Securities — A New Way to Support the Parish: A gift of eligible securities to a registered charity is one of the most tax effective ways to give. Eligible securities include publicly listed stocks, bonds, mutual fund units or exchange traded funds on approved stock exchanges in Canada and internationally. If you make a gift of eligible securities, it is exempt from capital gains tax, which applies to the increase in the value of the securities over what you paid to acquire them. To find out how you can donate securities to St. Joseph’s Parish, please click here for our new guide and form.
  • Sunday Offering for October 18, 2020: $5,332. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/.
  • An Oblate Vocations Reflection from Fr. Arokia Vijay Deivanayagam, OMI: “God, Neighbour, Self cannot be separate – we are all one in this powerful, mysterious, and creative energy called LOVE. Therefore, love of God and love of neighbour are inseparable and relational. One of them cannot be accomplished without the other, for he who loves God, loves neighbours.” Read the full reflection here.

Fr. Jim’s Reflection and a Parish Update on World Mission Sunday

In his reflection on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Jim Bleackley OMI shares his thoughts on the characteristics of a church that is both mission and missionary. We find ourselves when we give ourselves to others, Fr. Jim notes, and then adds: “We are both baptised and sent to others. It is what Pope Francis calls ‘the church on the move.’ This special Sunday helps us to realize that we are each other’s sister and brother.” Fr. Jim’s reflection explores the Oblate involvement in mission and our own parish’s place within the Oblate charism and family.

You can view the complete video homily below, or listen to it in person at Mass this weekend.

Liturgical Resources:

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 18 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update

  • Mission Sunday: The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have served in Canada for more than 175 years and established the Catholic Church in the Canadian West. They continue to do missionary work in Canada and abroad. The Oblates are proud of the daring spirit of our early missionaries and our perseverance in difficult missions today. We invite you to accept and read the “Oblate Spirit” booklet that will be handed out in a sanitized manner after Mass this weekend at St. Joe’s. You may desire to become a missionary associate and partner with the Oblates in their compassionate humanitarian work. We invite you to receive a copy of this publication on a regular basis (free of charge) by contacting the MAMI office at 601 Taylor Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9 or by Toll Free phone: 1-866-432-6264 or by e-mail: lacombemami@sasktel.net The Oblate Spirit publication is available on-line in both English and French at: www.omilacombe.ca/mami/oblate-spirit
  • All Saints’ Day: St. Joe’s parishioners are invited to submit the names of deceased loved ones to the front office by email (frontdesk@st-josephs.ca) and staff will add these names to the Book of the Dead. The Book of the Dead will be displayed at Mass on Saturday, October 31st and Sunday, November 1st. The names of our parish community’s deceased loved ones will also be projected on the screen in the sanctuary. Please submit names by October 29th. In light of the pandemic, this approach will allow us to remember loved ones while still maintaining sanitation protocols.
  • Thank you to the Ottawa Food Bank for $8,000 in new funding to the St. Joe’s Supper Table through the Global Marketplace Grant. The goal of this funding is to purchase ethnically-appropriate healthy food for our guests and clients.
  • Sunday Offering for October 4, 2020: $5,752. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/.

If you have ministry-related announcements that you would like to share with the Parish in upcoming online updates, please write to my email address below.

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

John Mark Keyes’ Reflection and a Parish Update on the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

As we enter a Thanksgiving long weekend during which we may not be able to gather with our loved ones in the ways that we did in past years, parishioner John Mark Keyes offers us a reflection, on video and in person at Mass, on the Sunday readings. Exploring the readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time from the perspective of the vineyard, a central concept over the past weeks, John Mark reflects: “Today’s Gospel has much in common with those we have heard about the vineyards. The readings are not so much about vineyards or feasts, as about responding to someone’s call — God’s call. The marvelous thing about these parables is that we can relate to things going on in them. Our world still has vineyards and feasts. The Parables endure the passage of two thousand years…” For the full video reflection, see below:

Liturgical Material

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 11 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update

  • For Thanksgiving this year, the Women’s Centre and the Supper Table partnered up to provide over 100 Thanksgiving meals to those in the community. We would also like to send a big thank you to Gavin Lumsden for his incredibly hard work and donations to this event. We appreciate all who joined us and helped to provide these meals.
    Thanksgiving meal at St. Joe’s
    Thanksgiving meal at St. Joe’s for take-away

    Thanksgiving at St. Joe’s
  • Our St. Joe’s volunteer gardeners are featured in the current issue of IMAGE Sandy Hill. Thanks for the article, Pat! Click on the following link to read the piece and see the photos: Image_Supper_Table_article
  • OMRA Update: OMRA has accepted the third new family since Covid-19 began. She is a young, recently arrived Eritrean refugee woman who speaks excellent English and studied radiology for three years in the Philippines. She plans to resume her studies here and find a part-time job. Housing Crisis in Ottawa: Her very tiny basement bachelor apartment costs $800.00/month. The government monthly housing allowance for a single person is $590 the first year and $390 the second year. The OMRA rental subsidy is necessary for her to survive. Possible Actions:
    • 1) Write to your provincial MPP and City Councillor asking for rent controls and larger housing allowances for those on assistance.
    • 2) Become part of the monthly OMRA grocery card program. We all buy groceries so it costs you nothing to join. OMRA gets 5% from the stores for bulk orders. Contact donnarietschlin@hotmail.com for more information.
    • 3) Give a tax-deductible donation through OMC – donate@ottawamennonite.ca to help OMRA increase the number of rent subsidies we can provide.  Note that the donation is for OMRA rental subsidies.
    • Thank you so much for all the support you give to OMRA to enable us to offer rental subsidies to refugees.
  • Sunday Offering for October 4, 2020: $5,335. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/.
  • Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI shares the following reflections on Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: “the encyclical has eight chapters within which Francis describes what he calls the darkening clouds over a closed world; the displacement of people around the world and the world’s struggle to deal with this; the need for a new vision for solidarity for our world; the need to open our hearts in a new way to make this vision a reality; the need for a better politics; the need for dialogue at all levels; the paths through which this dialogue can happen; and how all religions, not just Christianity, are needed to bring about a new order…In essence, Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti – On Fraternity and Social Friendship, tries to lay out the reasons why there is so much injustice, inequality, and community breakdown in our world and how in faith and love these can be addressed.” For the full reflection, which focuses on the Oblate community, see here.
  • An Oblate Vocations reflection from Oblate Associate Serena Shaw: “I pray that we continue to make the time to reflect further on what we may have started. My hope is that through more reflection we will discern what is truly important to us in our lives, as well as how God calls us to live out our lives in the hope of the resurrection. Let us all be thankful for the gifts we have received during this time of pandemic and always.” Read the full reflection here: Vocations Reflection – Thanksgiving

Many blessings and best wishes on you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving weekend, as you celebrate the bounties of the harvest!

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

John Rietschlin’s Reflection and a Parish Update on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,

John Rietschlin offers us a reflection this weekend, on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, which is also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. John touches on the feast day and how it marks the end of the Season of Creation in the Church. He notes: “Social justice and environmental justice are two sides of the same coin. If we destroy the land or the forests or pollute the water which people need to have food, clothing and a decent livelihood we are violating both social and environmental justice.”  This reflection is available as a video below, in full-text format and live at Mass this weekend.

Liturgical Resources:

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 4 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE 27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Parish Update:

  • As you likely already heard, our Parish AGM of Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. has moved to Zoom, due to the rising number of new Covid–19 infections in Ontario. For information on how to attend, and for the draft minutes of the 2019 AGM, as well the 2020 AGM Report please click here.
  • St. Joseph’s Parish gratefully acknowledges the $25,000 grant received from the Canadian Women’s Foundation for the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre. Thank you for this generous contribution.
  • On November 19, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre is hosting a virtual Quality of Life fundraiser and will honour two groups that have made a real difference in the community during the pandemic, namely Operation Ramzieh and Food For Thought. The $70 ticket includes the delivery of Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails to your home the evening of the event. For more information, please see the invitation: Invitation-Quality-of-Life-2020.
  • We offer our prayers for Kathleen Kot (née Bull), mother of parishioner Mary Ellen and mother-in-law of parishioner Patrick Shaughnessy, who died on September 29, 2020. Please see the obituary here.
  • Sunday Offering for September 27, 2020: $6,212. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/.
  • This Sunday’s Oblate Vocations reflection is offered by Fr. Susai Jesu OMI. You can read it here.
  • Mission Sunday on October 18th:  The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have served in Canada for more than 175 years and established the Catholic Church in the Canadian West.  They continue to do missionary work in Canada and abroad.  The Oblates are proud of the daring spirit of our early missionaries and our perseverance in difficult missions today.  We invite you to accept and read the “Oblate Spirit” booklet that will be handed out in a sanitized manner after Mass on October 18th.  You may desire to become a missionary associate and partner with the Oblates in their compassionate humanitarian work.  We invite you to receive a copy of this publication on a regular basis (free of charge) by contacting the MAMI office at 601 Taylor Street West, Saskatoon, SK  S7M 0C9 or by Toll Free phone:  1-866-432-6264 or by e-mail:  lacombemami@sasktel.net  The Oblate Spirit publication is available on-line in both English and French at:  www.omilacombe.ca/mami/oblate-spirit

Peace,

Chris

..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

Parish AGM 2020 moves to Zoom

Parish Pastoral Council, in collaboration with Chris Adam and Fr. Jim, has decided to hold the 2020 Annual General Meeting via Zoom on Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. as opposed to in-person as was originally planned. The reason for this decision is the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Ottawa that have occurred since originally scheduling the AGM. The safety of our parishioners is of primary importance and we are aware that many parishioners did not feel safe attending in person. By having a Zoom AGM meeting more parishioners will have the opportunity to attend.

If you would like to receive the Zoom link to participate in the AGM, please register to attend here. You will receive the link to participate in the Zoom meeting upon registration. The meeting is open to all St. Joseph’s parishioners.

Brian Ouellette
Chair
Parish Pastoral Council

AGM Documents:

St Joe’s Parish AGM Report 2020

2019-06-11 – AGM – Minutes-JUNE 11 2019 2 (draft distributed for approval)