Turning a New Page...

One of our parishioners has been hard at work over the past few weeks creating a new Stations of the Cross booklet for our parish, and the mission is now complete!  Congratulations on a job well done!

This booklet is unique in that it features our very own Stations of the Cross as they appear mounted in our church.  These stations were acquired by our founding pastor, Fr. Maynard, S.J.

This customized Stations of the Cross is one of a number of initiatives undertaken to mark the Year of Faith on the parish level.  The new booklets will make their debut at this Friday's Stations of the Cross service. 
 

Hot off the press...

A sneak preview!

Sprinkling Rite During Easter Season (Practice Video)

Choir members are invited to view this video below, courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed, to help learn the chant which is to accompany the sprinkling rite during the Easter season.  Enjoy!

Way of the Cross (Time Change for February 22)

For this Friday only (February 22), the praying of the Stations of the Cross will be moved to early morning due to a funeral vigil which will be held in the church at 7 p.m. 

Those who wish to pray the Stations in common are asked to meet at 8 a.m.. Thank you for your understanding.

Parish Potluck Supper

All parishioners are invited to attend this informal gathering this Sunday, February 24, at 5 p.m. in the church hall.  Those planning to come are asked to sign up on the sheet provided in the foyer, or if this is not possible, to contact the parish office.  Plan to attend, and bring a friend!

Sleigh Ride and Winter Fun Day

Once again, our parish will be holding a sleigh ride and winter fun day at Highland Draft Farm.  This event is open to all at no cost and will take place this Sunday, February 24, from 2-4 p.m.  Call Lucie at 622-8219 for more information.

Lenten Holy Hours 2013

 

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place one hour prior to Mass throughout the Lenten season, weekend Masses included.

Along with your personal intentions, let us also pray in thanksgiving for the papacy of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, who has, through word and example, drawn the hearts of many closer to Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Farewell, Holy Father...

The two videos below capture scenes from the conclusion of the Ash Wednesday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome.  This Mass is said to be Pope Benedict XVI's last public liturgy before he formally resigns at the end of the month.

 

Shrines of Quebec Pilgrimage

 

Celebrate the Year of Faith by journeying with Fr. Terry to the historic shrines of our beloved saints from  August 18 to August 25, 2013.  Stops will include St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Old Quebec City, the tomb of St. Kateri, Ste. Anne de Beaupre, and more.  For full details on this Year of Faith pilgrimage please contact Maria at Nuevo Tourism (345-3800) or email her at nuevo@tbaytel.net.

"Exploring the Catechism of the Catholic Church"

Year of Faith Lenten Series

This Lent, Fr. Terry will be offering three presentations on the following Thursdays: February 21st, February 28th, and March 7th. 

 

The main theme will be "Exploring the Catechism of the Catholic Church."  All sessions will take place at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in the General Meeting Room from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  All are welcome!

"The Supreme Pontiff shows supreme humility"

Pope Benedict's announcement of resignation given at a gathering with Cardinals in Rome:

Dear Brothers, 

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is. 

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.  

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013  

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Ash Wenesday Mass Schedule

Our observance of Lent officially begins with the celebration of Ash Wednesday.  This day we recieve the traditional challenge to renew our commitment to prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Ashes mark the foreheads of the faithful to represent outwardly our inner desire for conversion of heart.

 

On Ash Wednesday (February 13), Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. and at 7 p.m.  Imposition of ashes will take place at both Masses.

Bishop Colli's 2013 Lenten Message

As we begin the holy season of Lent this year, we recall that we are in the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. In his Lenten message the Holy Father brings together the virtue of Faith and the virtue of Charity. He notes that Lent gives us an opportunity “to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God, the God of Jesus Christ, and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others.”

 The season of Lent gives us forty days to reflect on our relationship with God. We do this through our prayer and fasting. In our prayer, whether at Mass or in private prayer, we converse with the Lord and share our needs and hopes. We give God praise and thanks for the graces we have received, and we petition God in prayer to assist us on our faith journey on earth, until we meet together in the kingdom He has prepared for us. Lent is a time for more fervent prayer on the part of all of us. Our fasting or suffering is a sign too that we share in the cross of Jesus in order to share in His victory. The deepening of our faith and prayer, leads us to action and especially to acts of charity.

 

Pope Benedict XVI notes: “Faith is knowing the truth and adhering to it; charity is ‘walking’ in the truth. Through faith we enter into a friendship with the Lord, through charity this friendship is lived and cultivated. Faith causes us to embrace the commandment of our Lord and Master, charity gives us the happiness of putting it into practice. In faith we are begotten as children of God; charity causes us to persevere concretely in our divine sonship, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Faith enables us to recognize the gifts that God has entrusted to us; charity makes them fruitful.”

As the Holy Father notes, during this season of Lent we not only deepen our faith life and relationship to God, but also it prompts us to act in charity and generosity to our neighbour, whomever that might be. In our church during Lent we direct our special efforts towards our neighbour in developing countries of our world. We support the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, which extends this outreach of charity for us throughout the world in countries needing our help.

Also during Lent, and during this special Year of Faith, we reflect on the sacraments that are so important for us. We recall our Baptism when we were given the gift of Faith, and united to Christ and to one another in the community of the Church. We share in the Holy Eucharist more frequently during Lent, knowing that this sacrament nourishes us for our Christian journey and transforms us in holiness, to act in the name of Jesus in our charity towards others.

As we prepare to celebrate the event of the Cross and Resurrection - in which the love of God redeemed the world, may the light of Jesus shine upon us, may we deepen our understanding of our faith in Him and in His Church and its teachings. May our prayer life prompt us to action in ways of charity and love towards our families, our neighbours and our community. May this holy season be a time for us to enter with Jesus into the dynamic love for God our Father and for every brother and sister that we encounter in our lives.

Bishop Fred J. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay