In the homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Fr Jim Bleackley reflects:
Our Lenten prayer and sacrifice should serve to take away our blindness so that we can look into the hearts of others and love them as brothers and sisters. It “should turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life.” It should enable us to say with the blind man: “I can see and I believe in God’s saving action in my life.” To receive sight is to be different; to see in a new way, to be in a new way, to do in a new way.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV0ZVcKWz1o
Liturgical Resources
Vocation Reflection: Gifted by God By Richard Beaudette, OMI
vicar1@omilacombe.ca
Supporting Ukraine
A Message from Fr. Vitalij Podolan OMI – Superior of the Oblate Delegation in Ukraine: https://frjarek.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/a-message-from-fr-vitalij-podolan-omi-superior-of-the-oblate-delegation-in-ukraine%f0%9f%87%ba%f0%9f%87%a6/
Catholic Near East Welfare Association:
https://cnewa.org/ca/campaigns/ukraine/
Development and Peace:
https://www2.devp.org/en/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=3&gl=24360
Lacombe MAMI:
http://www.st-josephs.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lacombe-MAMI-Appeal-for-Ukraine.pdf
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Update on the Synodal Process of the People of God
March 27, 2022
What do you like most and least about St. Joes? What are your dreams for St. Joes?
Sign up to be a part of the parish Synodal Journey and share what you love most and least about being a parishioner at St. Joe’s. And then have the opportunity to state and share what you would like to see at St. Joe’s in the future.
GROUP 4 will be meeting by Zoom on Tuesday March 29 at 7PM with the second session on Tuesday April 5 at 7PM.
GROUP 5 will be meeting by Zoom on Thursday March 31 at 7PM with the second session on Thursday April at 7PM.
GROUP 6 will be meeting by Zoom on Saturday April 2 at 2PM with the second session on Saturday April 9 at 2 PM.
REGISTRATION: To register please email synod@st-josephs.ca and include the particular group that you wish to participate in. We will be adding more groups in the following weeks once we have a better idea of how many interested in joining us.
Once you register you will be sent a copy of the Participant’s Guide that will accompany you on your two-session journey of prayer, discernment and sharing. It will help you to prepare what you want to share in each of the sessions.
We will then begin to capture the essence of what you have shared so that it can be sent to the Archdiocese to become a part of the message to go to Rome.
Eleanor Rabnett
FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Read Archbishop Marcel Damphousse’s Letter in support of Development and Peace – Archbishop Marcel Damphousse’s letter
Standing up to corporate power in Honduras
The People and Planet First campaign is about helping communities stand up to corporate power.
In Honduras, as in much of the Global South, corporations often threaten and criminalize activists who speak up against their abuses.
The Lenca Indigenous leader, Víctor Vásquez, was imprisoned for fighting the corporate takeover of his people’s ancestral territory. Development and Peace’s partner, the Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Community Development (CEHPRODEC), helped free him from jail.
Another partner, Caritas Choluteca, trains and accompanies community leaders in advocating for policies that respect human rights and the environment. Recently, they persuaded mayoral election candidates to pledge to declare the municipality of Orocuina a mining-free zone if elected.
Read more about these people’s victories in our Mini-magazine at devp.org/lent/resources
Solidarity Way of the Cross – Join us this Sunday at 10:45 in the Parish Library – Final Five Stations
Development and Peace members invite you to join them in the Solidarity Way of the Cross this Sunday, March 27, in the Parish Library in between the two Sunday morning masses at 10:45. We will do Stations 11 through 15 this week. We share a short period of reflection afterwards as well and will finish by 11:15. All are welcome.
Wondering how to give to Development and Peace?
There are lots of ways:
- On Solidarity Sunday, April 3, using the envelopes in the pews or from your parish envelope box.
- Via the Development and Peace website – Give now | Development and Peace (devp.org)
- Using the drop-down menu on the parish Canada Helps page – Saint Joseph Parish | Charity Profile | Donate Online | Canadahelps. Click on the “Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity” and choose “Development and Peace.
- Become a Share Year-Round donor or increase your monthly donation during Lent and Double your impact. A fund endowed by some generous individuals and religious communities will match new monthly pledges (and increases to existing monthly donations) dollar for dollar! (Until the $160,000 fund runs out.)
Solidarity Calendar
Continue your Lenten journey by following along each day with our Solidarity calendar – Solidarity Calendar – Development and Peace (devp.org). Don’t forget to colour it!
Weekly Gospel Reflections
Check the Development and Peace Resources section each week for the reflection on the Gospel reading for each Sunday. They are written by Development and Peace staff from across Canada.
CARE FOR CREATION
Save the Date! – Tuesday, April 26, 9:30-2:00 p.m. EDT – The Contribution of Catholicism to Global Sustainable Development.
Keynote Speaker – Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., ad Interim Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Many distinguished panelists, including our own Joe Gunn from Centre Oblat!
To register –
World Water Day Photos
Photos from a World Water Day visit to beautiful Pinecrest Creek in the west end of Ottawa –
An evening of music for peace, featuring the Capital Chamber Choir.
Saturday, March 26, 2022 – 8:00pm – St. Joseph’s Parish
Program and Ticket Information:
https://www.capitalchamberchoir.ca/tickets/illumination
Parish Updates
St. Joe’s Parish History Video Series
Marion Kerans, joined by her daughter Joanne, shares memories of St. Joseph’s Parish in Ottawa, especially from her childhood in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOpOhFEjPpg
Financial Stewardship
Offering for Sunday March 20, 2022: $ $5,440
Adoration
First Friday of the Month after the 12pm Mass. All are welcome.
Event Calendar
March-April 2022 at St Joseph’s
Community News
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.
The Canadian Christian Meditation Community 2022 National Conference is taking place the 10th & 11th June 2022 at Saint Paul University, 110 Hazel Street, Ottawa. For mor 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 are sick: Bēatē Bernhardt, Marie Budden, Paul Chamberlain, Loretta Doherty, David Friday, Ethel Garrett, Jane McGarry, Henri Van Zandvoort
Prayers for those who have died: Donna Andrew, Pat Barr, Christine Crawford, Gail Ford, Sister Patricia McCarney CND, Nina McCullough
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.
