Dear St. Joe’s community,
In his reflection for this weekend, Fr. Jim explores the Parable of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well and begins with speaking of the time when he was on a sabbatical in the Holy Land and visited the location of the well. Fr. Jim shares: “In that sacred place, it was easy to meditate on the woman and her transformation, especially when the guide at the end of the reading encouraged us to see ourselves in the Samaritan woman. For the author of John’s Gospel, she represents us. The story reminds us that our faith is based on the personal encounter with Christ.”
We invite you to view the video reflection below or in-person at Mass this weekend.
St. Joseph’s Parish History with Terry Byrne (Part 8)
Terry Byrne explores the history of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), theatre pieces, social activities and tennis at St. Joseph’s Parish. Most of the plays were written, directed and produced by the Oblates, with the committed involvement of St. Joe’s youth. By 1955, St. Joe’s decided to put on Broadway shows and continued to do so until 1959, when the pastor at the time felt that the shows and costumes were not suitable for a Catholic church. Please watch the history video below to find out more.
RCIA & Lenten Journey 3: Meet Colette
Each week of Lent at St. Joseph’s, we will feature an interview with one of our RCIA candidates alongside highlighting what the RCIA is and its importance to our experience of the Church and the Church’s liturgical seasons. This week we talk with Colette. YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST SCRUINTY THIS SATURDAY AT OUR 5PM MASS FOR LAURA AND AT OUR 7PM UNIVERSITY MASS FOR ADRIAN.
Organ Music Performed by Tom Fagan
St. Joseph’s Parish History with Terry Byrne (Part 8)
Liturgical Resources
Third Sunday of Lent – March 7 2021 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home
READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Third Sunday of Lent
Third Sunday of Lent – 2021 – Prayers of the Faithful
A Prayer to the Creator – Pope Francis – Share Lent 2021 – Development and Peace
Message from Pope Francis for Lent 2021
Parish Update
Mass Intentions for the Upcoming Week
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
For: Margaret and Tom Ruddy
From: Siblings
Thursday, March 11, 2021
For: George Farahat
From: J. P. Farahat
Friday, March 12, 2021
For: Patricia O’Brien
From: Julie McLaughlin
Virtual Children’s Liturgy of the Word over Zoom:
Each Sunday at 9:30AM we are hosting a Liturgy of the Word for families and children virtually over Zoom. If you would like to join us be sure to send an email to Andrew (apump@st-josephs.ca) and he will send you the Zoom information. Although a Children’s Liturgy with accompanying children’s readings, it is also a great chance to connect for everyone in our community that hasn’t been able to come back to Church yet. So don’t be shy: All Are Welcome.
Lectio Divina over Zoom each Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Lectio Divina is a reflective exercise centered around the reading of scripture. We will be meeting virtually over Zoom to reflect on the Sunday’s Gospel and share with each other our insights and what the scriptures are calling us to look at in our lives and where they are leading us. Please join us by using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2906781332?pwd=VWUvMUtXVlFzUjlSME9velZHRWcrZz09
Church Offering for February 28, 2021: $6,390. Thank you for your generosity. We are grateful for your support during the pandemic, especially as our expenses continue. If you would like to continue giving in this period, you can mail in your offering envelopes/cheques to the parish front office, donate through Canada Helps or call us at 613-233-4095, ext. 251 to donate through credit card. If you are attending Mass in person, you can find the offering basket at the main entrance.
For the Love of Creation – A faith-based initiative for climate justice
March 11 is Sacred People, Sacred Earth, the biggest ever global faith-climate justice day of action. People around the world of diverse religions are organizing in support of key demands for climate justice. You can read and sign the statement of demands that grassroots communities around the world have developed.
On March 11, you can also participate in:
- A Virtual Letter Writing Party – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Join members of For the Love of Creation to learn more about their Faith-in-Action campaign, ask questions, and send letters calling for increased federal climate action. https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/event/sacred-people-sacred-earth-virtual-letter-writing-party/
- A Faithful Climate Conversation – 7:00-9:00 p.m. Join Kylah Lohnes (KAIROS) and James Kornelsen (Canadian Foodgrains Bank) for a public Faithful Climate Conversation on Creation, Climate, and You. https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/event/faithful-climate-conversation-creation-climate-and-you/
Share Love, Share Lent: The Passion of Youth
Did you know Development and Peace has an active youth movement from coast to coast? The Share Love, Share Lent campaign celebrates the passion and commitment of youth, who represent the present and the future of the Development and Peace movement. Join them in supporting our work for positive change in Canada and the Global South.
- THINKfast 2021 – From Mar. 11 at 3:00 p.m. to Mar. 12 at 4:00 p.m. – Calling all youth, young adults and the young at heart – THINKfastis an interactive learning experience designed especially for youth. Learn from a collection of activities and reflections that will help you experience the challenges of poverty and injustice in concrete ways. By participating in this 25-hour educational and fundraising fast, you stand in solidarity with those in the Global South who need our support, both through financial support to projects they are leading, and through a greater understanding of the structures that perpetuate poverty and injustice. In one day, you take a stand against oppression and directly support programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East that bring about peace, justice, and development. Register here – 2021 National THINKfast program | Development and Peace (devp.org).
- Start your own fundraising page in aid of Development and Peace.
Learn how at Spreading solidarity | Development and Peace (devp.org)
Doubling the Impact of Generosity – Development and Peace – Caritas Canada has launched an exciting matching project for its monthly donation program. All monthly donations pledged from Ash Wednesday until Pentecost (Sunday, May 23, 2021) will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of $130,000. This includes new pledges and any increases to monthly amounts already being donated.
This initiative is funded by several Canadian religious communities who have been steadfast allies of Development and Peace since its founding in 1967. They include the Scarboro Missions; The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI Lacombe Canada); the Jesuits of Canada; the Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish; The Missionary Oblates of St. Boniface; the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions; The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie; St. Peter’s Abbey; and the Ursulines of the Canadian Union.
The matching funds initiative was launched to grow the pool of monthly donors to the Share Year-Round program. Monthly donations are important because they represent a reliable, lower-cost, sustained stream of funding for longer-term projects that serve marginalized communities in the Global South. As more religious communities and other benefactors begin contributing to the donation-matching fund, its ceiling may be raised to further amplify the impact of Canadians’ generosity.
To contribute to our Share Year-Round program and have your donation doubled, visit devp.org/shareyearround.
Vocation Reflection: “Our Lives as a Temple”
By Serena Shaw – Vocation Team – Oblate Associate
“Have we asked the right questions throughout our lives? We start asking when children are very young “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I truly believe that is the wrong question. I feel we need to start by asking, “how do you want to serve when you grow up?” If we can start framing our decisions differently, I believe we will have an easier time hearing what it is God wants for us.” Read the reflection here (published on Friday March 5): https://omilacombe.ca/become-an-oblate/
Pastoral Visiting Ministry
Although we cannot visit with you in person, our pastoral care volunteers are wondering if they could call you to see how you are doing. If you or a loved one would like a phone call – to check-in, chat and see how you are doing – please reach out. You can contact Andrew at ext. 235 or apump@st-josephs.ca, who will then forward your information to our ministry. Our prayers are with you all at this time.
To submit news to our weekly update, please email me using the address below.
Chris
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Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca
