The tomb is empty! He is Risen!

Transcription

1 The tomb is empty! He is Risen! Our Purpose To raise up disciples who joyfully live out the Great Commission given to the Church by Jesus Christ. Welcome to Holy Cross We believe that all are called to be on a spiritual journey and what matters is not where a person is on that journey, but actually being on the journey itself. Our Vision Holy Cross Parish is a healthy, vibrant, enthusiastic, and growing faith community, who welcomes all and brings people to Christ, forms disciples and sends them out to transform the world. Every member is committed to worship, to grow, to engage and to give.

2 Holy Cross Church 503 Clothier St. W., P.O. Box 224 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: (613) Parish Hall: (613) Pastor Rev. Andrew B. Shim Youth Minister Lorne Plooard Alpha Coordinator Al MacEachern Parish Hall Co-ordinator Marg Arcand Holy Cross Church Caretaker Liz MacEachern Holy Cross Cemetery Al MacEachern Masses Weekend Masses Saturday: 5:00 pm Sundays: 9:00 & 11:00 am Weekday Masses (See weekly bulletin) Sacraments Baptism: Contact the parish office to register in the program. Confession: Friday 6-6:45 pm is the primary time scheduled for confessions. Matrimony: Contact the Pastor a minimum of 9 months in advance. Anointing of the Sick: Contact the parish office to request the sacrament. From The Pastors Desk Fr. Andrew Shim (Pastor) In the brightness of this Easter day, we gather to celebrate not only the resurrection, but the great lengths to which our God is willing to go in order that we, the lost, might be redeemed. Our God was willing to go to the cross for us. You see, without the risk of losing one s life, the willingness to suffer, the humility to carry a cross, the resurrection is impossible. Over these past three days we have devoutly recalled how Jesus was willing to bear the humility of being a man, how died upon a cross, how he descended into hell, unlocked the gates of heaven, and conquered the darkness of evil and sin. From the hopelessness of the tomb and from the emptiness of the grave, the Son of God has risen, and he comes to us this day with the promise of eternal life. The simplest meaning of Easter is that we are living in a world in which God has the last word. I would like to extending to you and your family best wishes and all of the joy of Easter. Since Easter is fifty days long, I will have many opportunities to greet you personally and to thank you for the life you bring to Holy Cross Parish. I would like to extend a word of appreciation to all who made our liturgies this past Lent special, beautiful and meaningful. To all those involved in our Triduum Liturgies, as well as those who decorated our church. Thanks to all who sacrificed to make our Holy Week as prayerful, enjoyable, and inviting as it has been. I would like to also extend a warm welcome to those who are visitors to our Parish. I am happy you chose to celebrate Easter with us. I extend an invitation to you to become a regular part of our Parish Life. What is your next step? Please visit our parish website, or call us (pastor, youth minister or Alpha coordinator), if we can help. Welcome, again, and a Blessed Easter to you. The tomb is empty He is Risen Allelulia! April 6 th April 20 th Youth Group How Many Fish Can You Catch? Religious Vocations Every other Friday, the most amazing youth group - Crossroads - gets together for super-fun games, food, and faith talks. Especially geared for teens in grades 6-8. Call Lorne, the youth pastor, for more information or lplooard@gmail.com 2

3 It Is Fitting! By Al MacEachern On our faith journey we often encounter people who have remarkable stories of their life s journey and how faith has played such a key component in their being. Through our Alpha courses, we have the wonderful opportunity to meet new people who show us how the Lord has worked in their lives, thus revealing His active presence among us. I have been gratefully given an opportunity to share Tracy Larocque s story about her journey in life and in faith. Tracy has been a member of our parish for about the last year and a half. I met her shortly after she arrived and learned that she had just recently been received into the Roman Catholic faith. During this encounter I also learned that Tracy was undergoing treatment for a very serious form of cancer. Tracy was baptized in the United Church and practiced alpha@holycrossng.com her faith with her Father throughout her life. After the death of her Dad a few years past, she found herself with no one to accompany her to church. Feeling a tremendous void, she decided to go to church in Ottawa with her mother-in-law, who was a devout Roman Catholic. This worked out well, but she was somewhat disheartened to learn that she could not receive communion with the rest of the congregation. With the support of her mother-in-law she enrolled in the RCIA program and was received into the Roman Catholic faith two years ago at Easter. One can only assume that fixed the communion problem! Shortly after her arrival at Holy Cross she met our Youth Minister, Lorne Plooard, who overtime invited her to participate in the Alpha course. She wasn t totally sure that was for her, so she chose to think about it. Apparently, I had asked her if she would like to come to a Come and See Dinner for Alpha, and her account is that I asked her again, and yet again. The good news is that she did come to the dinner, and she s still talking to me. Tracy recounted her apprehension about coming to Alpha. She was not sure that it was for her, and was concerned with not knowing what to expect. She found that the meal, at the beginning of the evening, was central to making her feel comfortable and she became at ease with her table group. After the first night, friendship started to blossom, and communication was beginning to flow freely. Over time, Tracy enjoyed the sharing of experiences and life situations within her group. She acquired a feeling of acceptance and community, and affirmed in the caring and concern of those around her. She felt Continued on page 4 3

4 Holy Cross Newsletter It is Fitting.... at home. During the Alpha Retreat weekend, Tracy was taken with what she learn about who the Holy Spirit was, and what he did. She had not realized that the Holy Spirit was a person. During this particular weekend she had a personal experience of the Holy Spirt, and now realizes she has a new best friend who can be called upon at any time. During her life, Tracy encountered a number of major setbacks in losing a young child to cancer, the loss of the close relationship with her Dad, and the challenges of her own episode with cancer to list a few. She knows now that the Holy Spirit was with her at all of these 4 Easter 2018 times. She finds it reassuring to know that she is never alone. Tracy has been exploring ministry within the parish, and searching on how best to use her God given gifts. She had come to learn that our Pastor, Fr. Shim, was in search of a new alb. He liked the style of his current alb, but could no longer find that design. He is now coming to know this happen often as you get older; like bell bottoms didn t stay around forever. However, God always has a plan. In conversation Tracy revealed to him that she loves to sew. She worked with Fr. Shim to develop a pattern for his new alb, Fr. Shim got the material needed, and she produced her first alb. Fr. Shim wore his new alb on Holy Thursday, and is extremely happy with both the quality and the fit. In summary, Tracy started coming to Holy Cross parish out of necessity. She was so weak from her cancer treatment she could not handle travelling into to Ottawa to attend Mass. At Holy Cross, she was befriended early on by someone who shared many of things in common with her. How about, they are both VIKINGS, to name but one. God has a beautiful way of putting people in our paths. Tracy has been living God s plan for her with much more to be revealed. She is in love with her new Church, her new parish, her new family and feels very good to be home. Both Tracy and Fr. Shim would say It is fitting!

5 Holy Cross Newsletter Easter 2018 line: Tickets on zation geli New Evan - location Summit 2 tville or p Kem h eet at churc h s p u n ig s entrance Live in Ottawa and webcast to host sites across North America Streaming to Kemptville, April 27-28, 2018 Cos inclu t $40.00 des and L Snacks unch Holy Cross Church, 505 Clothier St. W. holycrosskemptville@gmail.com OR SPEAKERS Michael Dopp Founder of Mission of the Redeemer Ministries and the New Evangelization Summit Sr. Ann Shields Evangelization Extraordinaire and Acclaimed Speaker Curtis Martin Passionate Evangelizer and Founder of FOCUS George Weigel Acclaimed Author and Renowned Scholar Patrick Madrid Author, Radio Host and Amazing Apologist Christy Dupuis Dynamic Speaker and Committed Missionary Mark Your Calendars! Please note the speakers who will be presenting at the New Evangelization Summit. The schedule for this event is: Friday, April 27, 2018: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Saturday, April 28, 2018: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM Cost for the Kemptville site at Holy Cross Church is $40.00 per person includes all snack and lunch on Saturday. Registration can be done on line, or sign-up on the list in the narthex. Speakers George Weigel Talk: St. John Paul II s Vision of the New Evangelization 40 Years Later George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a Catholic theologian and one of America's leading public intellectuals. Aas a Senior Fellow of the Center, Weigel prepared a major study of the life, thought, and action of Pope John Paul II. Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II was published to international acclaim in the Fall of He is the author of 20 other books and columnist is a number of US newspapers and periodicals. Curtis Martin: Talk: The Power of the Gospel Curtis Martin is the President and Founder of FOCUS, the Fellowship of Continued on page 6 5

6 New Evangelization Summit.... Catholic University Students, one of the fastest growing movements in the Catholic Church. Whether he is on college campuses or television, at conferences or working with corporate America, Curtis is an award-winning and proven dynamic speaker who has the ability to help his audience discover a vision for life. Christy Dupuis Talk: 5 Vital Lessons I Learned As a Missionary. While attending University, Christy Dupuis had a powerful encounter with Jesus and fell in love with her Catholic faith. After completing a B.A. in English she went on to serve as a lay missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach. While serving as a missionary Christy began speaking at conferences and retreats and leading workshops on a variety of topics. Her passion for evangelization and communicating the Gospel continues to drive her service to the church. Patrick Madrid: Talk: Evangelizing Families Patrick Madrid is an American Catholic author, radio host, apologist, the host of several EWTN television and radio series, and was the publisher of Envoy Magazine. He is the author of 16 books and booklets on Catholic themes, including the popular Surprised By Truth series of conversion testimony books. He served as vice president for eight years at Catholic Answers. Sr. Ann Shields Talk: To Be Announced Sr. Ann Shields believes there is a major disconnect in the lives of many Catholics: a separation between God s word and its application to our personal/daily lives. Through teaching, stories and inspirational challenges, Sister Ann is able to reach listeners from North America on Catholic radio stations and as far away as China and Pakistan via the internet. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Fr. Cosmas Ajawara of St. Mary s Carleton Place will be leading a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Oct , Leaving from Ottawa and arriving in Tel Aviv, the tour will include visits to such places as Capernaum, a boat tour of the Sea of Galilee, a tour of Cana, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Jericho, the Wailing Wall, Nazareth, Mount Tabor and much more. The cost of this exciting 9 day trip is $ (Ottawa dep., incl. all taxes and tips). Anyone interested in taking this trip or wishing to have more information about it, should pick up a hand-out on the tables at the church entrance or check the bulletin board for the poster. Travel arrangements are by International Heritage Tours. For more information please call or You may also call Fr. Cosmas at Evenings of Recollection: Opus Dei Recollections are offered each month in St. James Chapel at St. Mary s Cathedral from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Two meditations are preached by a priest of Opus Dei, and a talk is given by a lay faithful of Opus Dei. There is also opportunity for confession. Opus Dei is a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church, founded by Saint Josemaria Escriva with the purpose of spreading the universal call to sanctity in ordinary life. Recollections are offered for men and women separately. For women: April 18. For men: April 4, & May 9 Contact Lorne Plooard for info: Chilawee Trails Girls Camp Chilawee Trails is an overnight camp that runs in August for girls ages The camp is located on beautiful Halfway Lake in Barry s Bay. Campers can participate in sports, daily Mass, swimming, rosary, crafts, confessions, canoe, and drama. A week of fun, friendship and faith awaits! Registration opens March 19. If you are interested in helping campers from low-income families, please get in touch! For more information, you can visit the website: chilaweetrails.ca. 6

7 The Paschal Candle (Easter Candle) The Paschal candle is special because of the blessing it receives at the Easter Vigil. It receives this blessing that throughout the Easter season and indeed throughout the year, it serves as a symbol of Christ present, and as a reminder of what it is that Christ achieves for us. The candle is prepared for this service at the Easter Vigil. In the dark of the night of Holy Saturday, the church gathers around the Easter Fire to begin its time of vigil. After the community has been greeted, the first action is the blessing of the Easter Fire and of the Easter candle. The candle, which is much larger than any other candle used in the church during the year, is presented. Our candle is uniquely decorated, and has been prepared specifically for our parish by Leslie Darling, to blend with the décor of our church. However, the most significant 'decoration' is that which it receives next. Marked with the wounds of Christ it becomes for a moment, Christ in the tomb, lifeless. But then, a flame is taken from the Easter fire and the candle lit, comes to life. Can anything appear much more 'dead' than an unlit candle? But lit, it lives. And from it we ourselves draw light and the church, as it were, returns to life. Dispersing the darkness Father Shim initiates the Holy Saturday service with the lighting of the new fire outside the entrance of the church. From this fire the Paschal candle was lit. We ritualize our coming to life with Christ in what is one of the most moving parts of the liturgy each year. The minister bearing the Paschal candle leads the procession into the darkened church. At first the only light is the light from the Paschal candle. He sings out Lumen Christi: The light of Christ. Firstly, it is a source of light, a symbol of the light that Christ brings into the world. From the Easter Fire the procession makes its way into the darkened church, lit first only by this single flame, signifying Christ, the one true light. Then from this flame we all receive light - the flame from this candle lights the small candle that each one carries, and signifies the faith that we all receive and share. We who are united with Christ through baptism, are reminded through this action that we are always to be bearers of the light of Christ, his witnesses to the world. What happens in our ritual with candles is intended to happen in our world, through our sharing with others the love and life we receive from Christ. At the end of Easter, after the last liturgy of Pentecost Sunday, the Paschal candle is moved from the sanctuary to the baptistery. It is lit again for every celebration of baptism during the year. In the church, baptism is very much seen as the Easter sacrament, where we share in Christ's death, dying to sin, and where he shares with us the new life that is his resurrection. The Paschal candle leads us into the Easter Vigil, and from that Vigil we keep the candle, to serve us throughout the Easter Season, at all our liturgies, as a potent sign of the resurrected Christ and the new life he offers. A light at Baptism The other time that the Paschal candle is used outside of Eastertide is at funerals. It is placed at the head of the coffin. With the Paschal candle, however, there is only one candle, and it accompanies us through the whole Continued on page 8 7

8 Easter Candle... year, and we accompany it. At the beginning of the Vigil it stands proud and tall. By the end of Easter it may have been half consumed and then through the remainder of the year, leading up to Lent and Holy Week of the following year it progressively burns lower. By the end of its time there may be just a little stump left. All that it is has been offered for us: and even in its poverty it continues to serve as a potent reminder of the self-emptying, sacrificial love of Christ for us. 10-Day Pilgrimage & Cruise to Greece & Turkey In the Footsteps of St. Paul: An October 10-Day Pilgrimage & Cruise to Greece & Turkey with Fr. Richard Whalen & Fr. Justin Pulikunnel Join us on one of the most exciting pilgrimages and see Athens, with the Acropolis and Mars Hill where St. Paul delivered his famous sermon about the Unknown God, and Corinth, where Paul lived for three years. Plus a 4-day Greek Isle Cruise & Turkey including Ephesus and the House of Mary, islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes and Patmos with St. John Evangelist. Connect to the roots of Christian faith in the most spectacular settings in Europe, from ancient ruins, to towering cliffs, to a relaxing cruise and sandy beaches on the Greek isles. This pilgrimage is from October 18th-27th, Mass and devotions every day, with a special emphasis on the notoriously difficult theology of St. Paul. If you're interested in learning more and want to see a detailed itinerary, Fr. Whalen (frrpwhalen@gmail.com) or Fr. Justin (justin.pulikunnel@gmail.com) directly. The cost of this pilgrimage is $4,190 CDN per person, based on double occupancy. All hotels are upgraded. Why not prayerfully consider joining in what could be an incredible spiritual journey? Deadline to register is April 15th. Pastoral Care of the Sick Is one of your loved ones struggling with illness or homebound? Is your loved one in hospital and would like to have a visit by March a pastoral 2nd The care Magic minister? Show Does March your 16th Board homebound Game Night or hospitalized April 6th How loved Many one Fish wish Can to You Catch? April 20th Religious Vocations receive Holy Communion? Would you like prayers for your loved one? Would you like to add their name to the prayer list in the bulletin? We have pastoral care ministers who take the Eucharist to the sick in their home or hospital. The patient or his or her family needs to call to arrange this. Do you wish to have the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? The Sacrament of Anointing is for the sick, not just a sacrament for those who are actively dying. On the third Friday of the month, at the evening Mass, there will be opportunity for the anointing of the sick. The next ones will be on: April 20, 2018 May 18, 2018 In the event of an emergency, please call: (613)