HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten

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1 HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten March 2017 Year A Sunday Mass 10:30am Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor

2 MESSAGE FROM FATHER: THE LITURGICAL CALENDER FOR LENT Dear Parishioners, Looking at the month of March, we see the following celebrations, worth remembering. March 1: Ash Wednesday. The Church begins the Lenten Season as a preparation to her solemn Easter celebration. Holy Family Parish has no special celebration in the chapel, but you are invited to participate in the blessing and imposition of the Ashes in a Flemish church. Many churches have a special service in the morning or the evening. In Belgium Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence. We are invited to fast or do some good work at home or school, in business or wherever we have a chance to do so. March 3: World Day of Prayer. Every year, on the first Friday of March women from all over the world come together to pray for the special needs of the world, putting one country into the center of their prayers. Holy Family Parish has always taken an active part in the Service. This year the local service was cancelled due to lack of necessary organizers. March 19: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Joseph is the Patron of the Roman Catholic Church. In Louvain, the church of the Picpus Fathers is a well-known pilgrimage place. Many people go and pray to Saint Joseph, especially during the month of March, which is consecrated to Saint Joseph. It is also the church where Father Damian, the great apostle of the lepers of Molokai, is buried. March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The angel Gabriel asked Mary if she would accept to become the mother of the Messiah. Mary agreed, and conceived Jesus in her womb. We are nine months from Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and our Christmas celebration. April 2: Sunday of the Passion: At the beginning of our Eucharistic celebration we shall have 'The Rite of Reconciliation' as our preparation to Easter. Although a general absolution will be included, if you like a private confession you can always ask Father before or after Mass for confession. After Mass we go the Stations of the Cross, remembering Jesus Passion on Good Friday. April 9: Palm Sunday. We bless the palm branches, hear the Passion of our Lord, and begin the Holy Week. Holy Family Parish does neither come together to celebrate Holy Thursday nor the Good Friday Liturgy. You are invited to participate in the services of a Flemish church in the evening. Have a nice Lent / Easter preparation! Father Francis Peerlinck

3 PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS For all those who have asked anonymously for our prayers. For strength and guidance for marriages enduring hard and stressful times. Please pray for friends and relatives who are suffering mental and physical illnesses, that God comfort them and give them hope that their lives will improve and they will return to good health and be happy. For families separated because of work and life situations. That they may stay strong and close in spite of the miles separating them. For all those making Lenten sacrifices, that their efforts help them to come closer to Jesus and come to know better His love and mercy. PRAISE GOD FOR HE IS GOOD Praise God for ALL the blessings he has given me! Praise God for the love of good people! Praise God for my family and friends! Praise God for my good health! Praise God for being there ALWAYS! Praise God for my Guardian Angel and all Angels watching over me.

4 WHO S DOING WHAT IN MARCH Liturgy Readers: 05/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 12/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 19/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 26/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Graeme 02/04/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lisa If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Altar Servers: 05/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Virag & David 12/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David & Job 19/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Virag & Job 26/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Archie and Cassius 02/04/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Archie and Cassius If you have any questions, please contact Eszter Our after Mass bakers are: 05/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 12/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marta 19/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 26/03/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Myra 02/04/17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lauren If you have any questions, please contact Renee

5 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS MARCH 26 th! Don t forget to change your clocks before you go to bed Saturday night or you might just make the final Blessing. No stress!! No worries! There s a simple way to remember which way to turn your clock for Daylight Saving Time. In the SPRING you should set your clocks ahead or SPRING FORWARD March 26 th - Daylight Saving time begins at 2am March 26 th in Belgium. Remember to turn your clocks ahead (Spring forward, Fall back) Saturday night March 25 th before going to bed. Otherwise you will be an hour late for Mass. April 2 nd - Penitential Service will be held during the 10:30 mass. We will go the stations of the cross after mass. April 9 th - Palm Sunday April 16 th May 6 th Easter Sunday! Halleluiah! The Lord is risen today! Confirmation, St. Cordula church May 14 th First Communion Mass at 11:00 June 4 th June 11 th June 25 th Pentecost Sunday Annual Parish Picnic. Please keep this date free for our annual Parish picnic. Mass will start later for this day at 11:00 Last mass at Don Bosco chapel before the summer break. Mass will start at the regular time of 10:30.

6 March 17 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ St. Patrick s Day St. Patrick is one of the Church s most famous saints. His story is one of deep personal faithfulness, which led him to the edge of the known world where he evangelized the whole of Ireland. Patrick was born in 389 to parents who were Roman officials helping to govern far-flung colonies of the Roman empire in the British Isles. He was kidnapped when he was a teenager and sold as a slave to a chieftain in Ireland, where he tended sheep. He would spend his days in the mountains, and he came to rely on God through prayer. He would even stay late in the wilderness to continue his prayer. Constantly I used to pray in the daytime. Love of God increased more and more, and my faith grew and my spirit was stirred up, he wrote. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain." After six years of servitude, he heard voices in a dream that told him to prepare for a difficult journey. He took the dream as a sign and ran away from his captors, covering 200 miles to reach the coast of Ireland. There, he joined a ship that was headed for the European mainland. The ship reached land in a desolate place and Patrick and the sailors wandered for months, looking for civilization. At one point, they ran out of provisions and were on the brink of starvation. The sailors ridiculed Patrick for being a Christian who believed in a loving God, who apparently was allowing him to die of starvation. Turn in good faith and with all your heart to the Lord my God, to whom nothing is impossible, Patrick replied, that this day God may send you food in your journey, until you are satisfied, for God has abundance everywhere. A herd of pigs suddenly appeared and the party had more than enough to eat. They finally reached safety, and Patrick was eventually reunited with his family. They were overjoyed at his return, and tried to make him promise to stay with them. Patrick was touched by the people he had come to know in Ireland, however, and voices returned to his dreams, telling him, We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.

7 Patrick resolved to follow this call and left home. He first studied at several monasteries and was ordained a priest, and then a bishop, before being sent as a missionary to Ireland because of his knowledge of the language and customs of the people there. As he began his ministry in Ireland, Patrick returned to the mountain on which he used to pray as a young shepherd, where he fasted and prayed for 40 days. There he had a vision of the vast multitude of holy people that this land would produce, thanks to his efforts, and this vision gave him consolation and strength to face the many difficulties and challenges ahead. In Ireland, Patrick made his way among the different clans and kingdoms, confronting paganism. He asked the leaders of Ireland to come together at Tara, the ancient seat of power on the island. There, he preached the Gospel and overcame the signs and magic of the druid pagan priests with the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Historical records confirm that some agreement was made there that allowed Patrick to continue his preaching. The high king of Ireland was not converted, but members of his household were, which afforded Patrick some protection. Still, he faced much opposition and many threats to his life. Daily I expect either a violent death or to be robbed and reduced to slavery or the occurrence of some such calamity, he wrote. I have cast myself into the hands of the almighty God, for God rules everything. As the prophet says, Cast your care upon the Lord, and God will sustain you. At one point, his chariot driver, Odhran, was assassinated by a spear intended for Patrick. Thanks to Patrick s evangelization the Gospel spread through Ireland rapidly. He overthrew local idols and built churches on those spots, and he gathered many followers and helpers around him. In 444, a cathedral was erected in Armagh, and that became a center of learning and the primary place of leadership for the Church in Ireland. People who came into contact with Patrick had a deep impression that he cared for them and loved God intensely. In about 30 years, Patrick converted the whole of Ireland to Christianity, baptizing and confirming thousands. Ireland became known as the land of the saints and its monasteries saved much of Europe s learning during the Dark Ages all thanks to Patrick. He died on March 17 and was buried where he built his first church in Ireland.

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9 MONTHLY PRAYER CONNECTION ~~~~~~~~~~~ TUESDAY MARCH 7 Herewith we invite you to our next prayer connection which will be held on: Tuesday March 7, 2017 at the home of Marie- Louise, Valkenlaan 67, 2950 Kapellen (tel ). You are welcome from 10 o clock in the morning. Prayer time starts at The theme will be God s Right Hand. There are numerous Bible verses mentioning God s Right Hand. Ps. 63:8 says : My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. God s hand that holds the ocean s depths Can hold my small affairs; His hand that guides the universe, Can carry all my cares. No one is more secure than the one who is held in God s Hand. If you are unable to come and have a prayer request please reply to this . In Christ, Sharmini Marie-Louise WHAT TO GIVE UP FOR LENT

10 Pope Francis Five Finger Prayer guide. 1. The thumb is the closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you: Mom and Dad, Grandparents, brothers and sisters and others in your family. 2. The next finger is the index, pointing the way. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you: teachers, doctors, care-givers, scout leaders, priests. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers. 3. The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors, and those who have authority. They need God s guidance. 4. The fourth finger is the ring finger. It may surprise you, but it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers. 5. And finally we have our smallest finger. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way. Re-printed from STL Catholic Youth

11 PRAYER INTENTIONS AND OTHER ITEMS If you have any prayer or intention that you would like Father to say during Mass, either for your family, someone or something in the Parish, or the community, please give these to Father in writing before Mass. This way, the prayers read aloud are directed to the needs of those present. If you would prefer it not be mentioned but still would like to ask for prayers, give thanks or share an inspirational prayer, you can write it down in the Intentions book that sets on the table in the back of church. This book is brought to the altar with the gifts and remains there through the rest of the mass. Any intentions written in it are included in the prayers. Prayer is a very powerful thing. I know from personal experience just how powerful. Please use the Intentions book for any prayers or meditations you might have. As well, if there is ever any prayer request, inspirational quote, funny joke or good news you would like to share with the parish, I am always happy to include it in the bulletin. You can send me items through the month and I will save them for the next month s bulletin and as always, the Sunday before the bulletin is to be published, I will remind everyone that they still have time to send these things.

12 PARISH COUNCIL 2016/2017 Pastor Fr. Francis Peerlinck President Graeme Stephan Vice President Alan Barnett Treasurer Brigitte Preuss Religious Ed. Marta Krzyskow Parish Registration Paul Van den Bossche Bulletin Rosanne Pizzella Sunshine Vivianne Staplehurst Hospitality Liturgy Rosanne Pizzella Advisor Barbara Noels Music EricWouters&OlgaVelez UPCOMING EVENTS: March 26 th - Daylight Saving time begins April 2 nd - Penitential Service will be held during the 10:30 mass. We will go the stations of the cross after mass. April 9 th - Palm Sunday April 16 th May 6 th Easter Sunday! Halleluiah! The Lord is risen today! Confirmation, St. Cordula church May 14 th First Communion Mass at 11:00 June 4 th Pentecost Sunday PLEASE SEND ROSANNE ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR THE APRIL BULLETIN BY MARCH 28 TH. THANK YOU!