Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,
This Sunday’s reflection is offered to us by parishioner Mark McCormick, exploring the concept of leadership from both the perspective of the readings and from the uncertainties of this period in which we are still mid-pandemic. Mark shares: “The canvas of need in our world is large. It’s PRIDE Week here in Ottawa and leaders are encouraging us to proclaim loudly and proudly what we know to be true — every child of God deserves love in their lives, the love of another, the love of each other, the love of God! The structures of systemic racism remain in our country and as one politician said this week- “there is no vaccine for racism”- recognition of hard truths and hard work that await us all.”
View Mark’s video reflection below, read the full text here (Mark-McCormick-21st-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time ), or hear it in person this weekend at Mass.
Liturgical Resources:
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 23 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home
READINGS FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
READINGS FOR CHILDREN – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2020 – Prayers of the Faithful
Parish Update:
- Long-time St. Joe’s parishioner Mary Kehoe died this month. Our community offers its prayers and gratitude for Mary’s presence and involvement in our Parish for many years and for her support of our mission. We were saddened to hear of her death. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in our church at a later date. We are sharing Mary’s obituary, which appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, below:
KEHOE, Mary Frances Teresa
Mary Frances Teresa Kehoe passed away peacefully at the Glebe Centre on August 8, 2020. Born March 14, 1926, in Sudbury, daughter of the late Francis Joseph Kehoe and of the late Mary Alice (Ryan) Kehoe. Beloved cousin to Jane Seymour, Vancouver, and Nora Newton, Toronto.
Graduate of Ottawa University, BA – 1946, MA (Sociology) – 1973. Retired in 1991 after 37 years with the Canadian Labour Congress, chiefly in public relations.
Volunteered many years with the Canadian Mental Health Association, inter-church committees on development of educational programs related to the needs of the poor, peace, and gender equality. Served on committees at St. Joseph’s Church, Ottawa.
Enrolled in September 1977, Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great at a ceremony at Notre Dame Basilica, Ottawa. In June 2008, Mary received the United Way Community Builder Award at City Hall.
Mary was generous towards the poor, a committed social justice activist and a good friend to many. We will miss her hearty laugh. Thanks to Glebe Centre staff, especially to those on the Kentwood Floor; Social Worker, Alison; Spiritual Care Coordinator Jim; her caregivers, Barbara, Nelcia, Florette and Luz.
Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date at St. Joseph’s Church, Ottawa, with burial in the family plot at Notre Dame Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
- We offer our prayers for Michael Wong-Sing, cousin of St. Joe’s parishioner Aaron Wong-Sing, who died this past weekend.
- Nominations for Parish Pastoral Council are open: PPC is looking to fill one Member-at-Large position from within our Parish community and nominations are invited. Membership on Council is open to all Catholics in good standing registered as members of the Parish. As a member of PPC and in the spirit of collaborative leadership, the Council shares in the pastoral mission and activities of St. Joseph’s Parish. Members assist in sustaining and developing St. Joseph’s Parish as an Oblate Mission in the heart of Ottawa, consistent with the Oblate charism of welcoming and solidarity with the poor and the marginalized. Members of PPC attend monthly meetings and may be invited to serve on working groups as the need arises and according to their gifts and experience. A term on PPC lasts for two years. Please complete this form to express your interest in serving on PPC and submit it electronically by September 15, 2020.
- Thank you to St. Joseph’s Parish from AA Sandy Hill: “We would like to thank St. Joseph’s Church for being so accommodating with our Thursday AA meeting. As you are aware, the AA program has helped and continues to help many members in their sobriety journey. Our sincere hope is that someday soon we will be able to resume our meetings like we once had them. In the meantime, we appreciate your support and we are very grateful to have room to hold our meetings. Sincerely, The Thursday AA Group.”
- An Update on a Child’s Summer Camp Experience Supported by Our Parish: In the past “bulletins” of this summer, the Refugee Outreach Committee placed a very specific request. One of our families has a special needs child and we were hoping to secure funding for a special summer camp for her. Due to the 1:1 staffing requirements and special programming, this camp cost $700/week. The ROC appealed to the Parish, and indeed the generosity of our parishioners came to the fore. Funding was secured for 5 weeks of camp! It was perfectly appropriate for her and she thrived. She learned to explore new activities and gained some social skills as well. She had fun and was exhausted by the end of the day. For the first time in her wee life, her parents actually had a break for more than 2 hours. (Camp was from 8AM – 4PM.) They were thrilled to see her enjoy herself, blossom and have some respite for themselves. Due to the generosity of our parishioners, once again we have been able to enhance the quality of the lives of our newcomers. God bless your consideration, thoughtfulness and generosity. –Dona Bowers, on behalf of the Refugee Outreach Committee.
- Eucharistic Visits: We are providing Eucharistic Visiting for anyone or any household in Sandy Hill. If you would like someone to visit you at home and bring you the Eucharist, please reach out to our Faith Formation Coordinator Andrew Pump, at: apump@st-josephs.ca, or call 613-233-4095, Ext. 235.
- Christian Meditation continues in our church every Monday at 9:30 a.m. and on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Please enter through the 151 Laurier Ave. East entrance.
- Sunday Offering for August 16, 2020: $5,820. 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. Jarek Pachocki OMI offers this weekend’s vocations-themed reflection. In it, Fr. Jarek shares: “When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, he didn’t ask for affirmation of his identity or confirmation of his mission. He knew exactly who he was and what his purpose of life was. He simply asked his disciples to recognize who they are in relation to him. This is the only way to discern our identity and vocation!” To read the full reflection as a pdf document, please click here: Fr. Jarek — Vocation Reflection Aug-23
Thank you for continuing to follow our parish updates. If you use Facebook, you might consider following our page for additional material posted during the week.
Peace,
Chris
..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca