Fr. Jim’s reflection and a parish update on the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Exploring community and relationships, Fr. Jim offers the homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. In it, he shares:

“Every morning as I pray, I give thanks for the people whose love and friendship have brought the best out of me; with gratitude and a sense of wonder I give thanks for those wonderful people. Yet as I ponder the different stages of my life, I can recall times when my fear, confusion, lack of maturity, and weaknesses closed my heart to the ideal and vision God offers to humankind. In the midst of our struggles and difficulties, it is good to be reminded that from the beginning of creation, God intended for us to live in community and be in life-giving relationship with each other and all of creation.”

Liturgical Resources

Parish Update

Donna and John Rietschlin celebrate 50th wedding anniversary!

Many blessings on parishioners Donna and John Rietschlin as they celebrate 50 years of marriage! We will have a blessing for them at Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mass.

Ordering 2022 Sunday Offering Envelopes

This month, we will be placing an order for 2022 Sunday offering envelopes. If you currently use envelopes for your offerings and would like to switch to auto-debit or Canada Helps, or if you no longer require your annual box of envelopes, please contact David in the front office by email: dtrepanier@st-josephs.ca. Please also contact us if you currently do not have a box of envelopes, but  would like one for 2022. This information will help us to order the correct number for next year.

Reflecting on Truth and Reconciliation at Thursday Noon Mass

As shared in last week’s online parish update, on Thursday, September 30th noon Mass reflected, in the prayers, elements of the script and in the homily, on Truth and Reconciliation. In praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased children found at former residential schools, the 20 parishioners gathered in the church at this midday Mass also prayed for the consolation of their families, for all those whose lives were affected, for those whose past trauma has resurfaced and for the Indigenous peoples of this land who were impacted. As well, the prayers of the faithful called upon “the whole Church to recognize the injustices of the past and present, to fully apologize and atone for those wrongs, to listen with humility, and to move forward in solidarity with our Indigenous sisters and brothers in the healing and reconciliation process.”

Oblate resources on Indian Residential Schools

OMI Lacombe Canada launched a new section on its website dedicated to Indian Residential Schools and Truth and Reconciliation. This new section is a small part of the commitment to transparency regarding the Missionary Oblates’ role in Canada’s residential school system and the pledge to continue working towards reconciliation. See the new resource section here.

Together we Heal — Learning to be Trauma-Informed

The TRC Call to Action # 59 asks church groups party to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, as well as the history and legacy of residential schools. Realizing the area of education is a role the Star of the North Retreat Centre could play, we decided to transform the monthly Twilight Retreats we were conducting into monthly dialogue circles to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to learn from each other and journey forward together. For more information, see here.

Collecting toiletries for Afghan refugees

In partnership with an initiative supported by the Catholic Centre for Immigrants Foundation and Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery, for the next two weeks at Mass, you will find a basket near the entrance of the church where we will collect toiletries for Afghan refugee families. Toiletries that are most needed at this time include: tooth paste, tooth brushes, shampoo, soap, feminine products, deodorant, razors and diapers. Thank you in advance for contributing!

Season of Creation Week Five – and the end of this year’s Season of Creation

Let us hope that this Season of Creation has renewed our ecumenical unity, in our baptismal call to care for and sustain an ecological turning that will ensure all creatures can find their home to flourish, and participate in renewing the oikos of God.

This week-end is Bike or Walk to Church Sunday.  If it is possible for you, consider walking or biking to church this week-end.  Reduce your carbon footprint, get in shape and get together with family and friends to and from church.

Monday, October 4 marks the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Feast and the end of the Season of Creation for this year.  To mark the Closing of the Season of Creation 2021, a bilingual Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Kevin Maloney at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at Holy Redeemer Church in Kanata.  Attend in person or by livestream on YouTube at Holy Redeemer Parish Kanata – YouTube.  Holy Redeemer Church is located at 44 Rothesay Drive, Kanata.  For info, contact Mireille Church at creationcare@archottawa.ca.

Reflecting on the Sunday Readings – October 3 – Home and A Hope for The Future

Genesis 2:7, 15, 18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

The Gospel speaks of the place of children in God’s kingdom. Jesus states, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Today’s children might inherit an impoverished and unstable world due to our failures to address climate and ecological breakdown. How can we both learn from today’s children and young people, and become like them in trust and in seeing clearly?

The Gospel speaks of the place of children in God’s kingdom. Jesus states, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Today’s children might inherit an impoverished and unstable world due to our failures to address climate and ecological breakdown. How can we both learn from today’s children and young people, and become like them in trust and in seeing clearly?

Practical ideas regarding Food

Each year, the food we waste in Canada costs $49 BILLION dollars! Food that is produced but not eaten ends up in landfills and creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, 25X more damaging than CO2 in the environment. 35 million tons of food is wasted each year (95 CN towers in weight)!

When food is wasted, all the resources used to produce it are also wasted. By reducing food loss and waste in Canada, we can also reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.” Food Waste in Canada: The Facts | Waste Reduction Week in Canada (wrwcanada.com).  Consider:

  1. Visiting farmers’ markets: Enjoy the freshness of locally produced foods and at the same time reduce packaging, avoid transportation fuel and handling costs and appreciate the work of local farmers. Freeze fresh produce to last. Avoid foods from the other side of the planet. Farm to table tastes better!
  2. Buying less meat and complement with more vegetables and grain products. Diversify your diet and try a meatless recipe once a week (because cattle produce and emit significant quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent by quantity than CO2). https://www.whyeatlessmeat.com/
  3. Planning your meals: Don’t buy more than you can eat. Freeze leftovers. Activities for kids: Food Matters Action Kit (cec.org)

 

Vocation Reflection: “It Is Not Good To Be Alone”
By Susai Jesu, OMI – Vocation Team West

“Through this gospel reading, Jesus is recalling us to our lost childhood so that, though old and frail in body, we might be reborn in innocence of character. We are invited not to become children, but to become like children. Responding to our vocation can trigger our childishness, fears, worries and opposition.  But surrendering to our vocation turns us to trust in the God who calls, sustains, and guides us to fulfill our calling and build up the community to which we belong.” Read the reflection here (published on Friday October 1): https://omilacombe.ca/become-an-oblate/

Sunday offerings:

  • September 26, 2021: $5,025
  • September 18, 2021: $5,170

Thank you for your continued support of our Parish!

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