SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, FEBRUARY 11 th 2018 IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE that Lent is around the corner. I wish to offer some thoughts before we begin the season of Lent on February 14 th. We don t usually associate Lent with joy. The ashes, more somber music, the dark purple vestments, the discipline and sacrifices, and serious business of repentance all would seem to call for long faces and no room for laughter or joyfulness. But note these phrases from the Lenten Liturgies: When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites! May we keep this Lenten Season in preparation for the joy of Easter. Each year you give us this joyful season Lent calls us to be holy not unhappy. It is indeed a joyful time as we seek to better understand the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection, and to reflect it in our lives. The focus of Lent is not so much on what we can do for God, but on what God has already done for us. Our penance and discipline should enable us to recommit ourselves to God, who has been so gracious to us. Let our Lent be not only cheerful, but deeply joyous, because we have determined to turn to God, and we know to turn to God is to receive an outpouring of His love.then we are at peace and can be useful instruments in His service. (Cardinal Hume) In our desire to grow spiritually let us use the means the Church gives us to become holy: attend weekday Masses during the season of Lent, pray the Stations of the Cross and to perform acts of charity within the local community. As we begin the season of Lent let us ask ourselves this question: What Needs Changing in My Life? We start to come to know that by asking for help. "Lord, help me to know what needs changing." It is often said, "Be careful about what you ask for." This is one of those requests that God must surely want to answer. Then, we have to listen. With a little bit of reflection, most of us will just begin to "name" things that make up our ordinary habits and ways of being who we are, that we aren't very proud of. Things we do and things we never get around to doing. We can "feel" the call to change our attitudes, our self-absorption, or our way of interacting with others. Perhaps a spouse, a loved one, a friend, a family member, a co-worker has told me something about myself that gets in the way of communication, that makes relating to them difficult. Maybe I don't take God very seriously. I go to Church on Sunday, and contribute my share, but I don't really take time to deal with my relationship with God. Perhaps I've let my mind and fantasy get cluttered with escapist litter. I might begin to name a number of self-indulgent habits. I may realize I hear the cry of the poor, and can't remember when I've answered that cry. It could be that dishonesty on all kinds of levels has become a way of life. One of the roadblocks in my relationship with God and others may be deep wounds or resentments from the past, things I continue to hold against others or myself. May we all have a holy and cheerful Lent?
THE MASSES FOR ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES 8: 30 AM (ENGLISH) 11: 00 (LATIN) 7:00 PM (ENGLISH) 8: 15 PM (ITALIAN) HOLY FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE The Knights of Columbus Holy Family Icon that was blessed by Pope Francis will be at the St Lawrence Martyr Parish on Tuesday February 13 th. A special communal prayer service will be held beginning at 7:00 pm. All parishioners are invited. Members of the Knights will be distributing Booklets and Prayer Cards for the event. Please return the booklets at the end of the service so that they could be used by the next group. The Holy Family Icon will remain at our Parish until Friday Feb 16 th for silent daily prayers. For more information please contact Grand Knight Jaime Libaque at (416) 456-7084 or Jack Turner at (416) 476-7653 JOIN US AT ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR for a 10-week small-group retreat that delves into the simplicity and grandeur of Consoling spirituality. This retreat is based on the popular book by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, Consoling the Heart of Jesus. Gain new insights into how you can console Jesus; learn the keys to the great sanctity of the saints and blessed. Sunday evenings from 6: 15 pm to 7: 45 pm in the parish hall. The cost of the program is $20.00. Please sign up at the back of the church. GOSPEL SUMMARY Today s Gospel, a leper asks Jesus to make him clean, knowing that Jesus has the power to do so. Jesus is moved with pity, reaches out his hand, touches the leper, and heals him. Jesus tells the leper to tell no one, but the leper spreads the news of his healing to all he meets. As a result, many people come to Jesus for healing. REFLECTION FOR PARENTS It takes discipline to keep our excitement to ourselves. We tell a close friend and make him or her promise not to tell, but somehow word gets out, and before we know it everyone knows what s going on! In today s Gospel, Jesus asks the leper not to share the news of his healing. This invites us to stop and think. Are we good at keeping confidences? Can we wait to share good news until the time is right to do so? A part of being trustworthy is being able to keep things in confidence when we are asked to do so. Why do you think Jesus asked the leper to tell no one of what happened? What happened when the leper told everyone of what happened to him?
BRINGING THE GOSPEL INTO YOUR FAMILY Think of people your family knows (or knows about) who are excluded or ignored by others. Maybe there is someone at school who has a disability, or whose clothes are worn out or dirtier than everyone else s. Maybe there s someone at work whose odd behavior is off-putting. In our communities those who are excluded or ignored might include the homeless, the unemployed, or those in prison, foster homes, or hospitals. As a family, talk about ways you can reach out to the people you name, just as Jesus reached out to the leper. Decide on one action you will take in the coming weeks. DISCUSSION STARTERS A time when I felt excluded or ignored, like the leper, was when. Someone I find it hard to include or reach out to is because. I would find it hard to keep quiet if. Reprinted with permission from www.faithfirst.com, a Web resource of RCL Benziger, Cincinnati, OH OUR SICK LIST: Grace Canavan, Doris Tippet. Luiza Pinto, Fr. George D Souza, Victor Dizon, Gianna Ramzi, Charles Abreu. DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH Thank you for your continued support of our parish with your regular contributions. ATTEND DAILY MASS- Make an effort during the week to attend Mass as your schedule will allow. It is a great way to grow deeper in your love for the Eucharist. DONATION TOWARDS THE COST OF POSTAGE STAMPS Each year the parish spends close to $1000 to mail income tax receipts. Any donation to offset this expense will be greatly appreciated. Please mark on donation envelope POSTAGE STAMPS.
COINS FOR LIFE 2018 (LENTEN PROJECT FOR LIFE) Perhaps never at any time in history has mankind lived in such a culture of death society as that of today. Over four million babies have been aborted in Canada since the law protecting life was struck down over 30 years ago, to our shame we still have no law to defend the baby in the womb. Part of the pro-life work that Campaign life Coalition does every year is the wellknown March for Life in Ottawa - where in front of Parliament thousands stand calling out for a law for life. Last year 25,000 came and 70% were youth. They were there with our Cardinal, Bishops, priests, families and the more mature among us who walked the entire route with their canes! We cannot do this alone however and would like to ask your help for the March and other pro-life work by taking home with you today small Coins for Life box, which will be handed out as you leave the church. Perhaps this Lent using the phrase deny yourself and give to life you can toss your coinage into the small box. The boxes should be returned to the parish after Easter (the weekend of April 8 th ) Cardinal Thomas Collins said that, The Coins for Life project is a most appropriate way to support the important pro-life efforts of Campaign Life Coalition. PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING This new way of supporting the church is now being offered in our parish and many of our parishioners may find this method practical and convenient. Please call the parish office if this way of giving is right for you. THE PARISH PROJECT: The cost of repairing, replacing and waterproofing the front steps leading into the church is $85,000. If you wish to donate please mark your contribution, "Church Building Fund." TAKE CHRISTIANITY WITH YOU- Don t leave it in the church pews when you leave Mass. Strive to live as Jesus commands us to do as we interact with our family, friends and co-workers.
PARISH MOVIE NIGHTS AT ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR CHURCH the Extended Version of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) will be shown at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish on 6 consecutive Saturdays, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 24. The movie will be shown in the Parish Hall at 6:15 pm. Discussions will take place during the break and end of each session. The movie is free, pizza and pop will be available for $5. LENTEN PARISH MISSION Theme of Mission is Open Wide Our Hearts to Christ this Lent. Fr. Jeffery Jambon will conduct our Parish Mission from Mon. Feb. 19 to Thurs. Feb. 22. Mission Talks will be from Mon. to Thurs. at 7:00 pm. There will be Catechetical classes after the morning 8:30 am weekday Masses from 9 to 10 on the different stages of prayer according to St. Teresa of Avila. Confessions will be heard before and after each evening talk. SOLEMN VESPERS IN LATIN On Sunday Feb. 25, at 6:30 pm, we will pray and singing the official Vespers liturgy, according to the 1962 liturgical norms. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate. Adoration and Benediction to follow. ON FEBRUARY 20 TH AT 7 PM THERE IS A MEETING TO DISCUSS DOING A PHOTO DIRECTORYAT ST. LAWRENCE S. Do you ever see other members of the parish community and wonder what their names are? Have you ever heard an announcement regarding a member and wished you could put a face with a name? Are you a new member and wish you had something to help you put names with faces? If so don't worry help is on the way! Our parish is planning to produce a pictorial directory in 2018 that will feature photos of our parishioners along with their names. Knowing the names of our brothers and sisters within our parish family makes this directory a wonderful addition to our parish!" In any Catholic parish, a strong sense of community and family is very important. A pictorial directory can go a long way in helping to foster familiarity among our members and strengthening our bond as a parish family. We hope that all the members of our parish family will participate in the production of this new directory. We need each member to participate in order to make our parish family directory complete. In addition, this is a great opportunity to have a professional picture taken of your family, as often we put that off too long. In order to make this project a reality we need to form a committee of volunteers. If you wish to attend the meeting please email the pastor, Fr. Roy (fr. roy@rogers.com.)
FR. ROY IS SEEKING seeking parishioners to serve on the Parish Finance Council. Parish Finance Council members serve a three-year term and provide counsel to the pastor on matters related to parish financials. The Finance Council is an advisory body that meets 4-6 times per year to review financial reports, provide suggestions and recommendations to the pastor, and vote annually on the budgets for the parish. Candidates for the Finance Council should have experience reviewing financial reports and an understanding of accounting principles; however, members are not required to be accountants to serve on the Council. Interested parishioners are invited to speak to Fr. Roy explaining why they would like to serve on the Finance Council. Please consider sharing your gifts and talents with our parish family! QUOTATIONS ABOUT LENT: "Are you capable of risking your life for someone? Do it for Christ." -- Pope John Paul II "Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy." -- Pope Francis "As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst...'repent and believe' Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of heart. What are we to believe? Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor -- He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you." -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta