Building and Sustaining One Parish Community St. James Church & St. Michael s Church 26TH S U N D A Y O R D I N A R Y T I M E S E P T E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 3 PARISH OFFICE & STAFF Office & Mailing Address: 30 Elma Street West Okotoks, Alberta T1S 1J7 Phone: 403-938-3122 Fax: 403-938-0524 Email: office@stjamesparishrc.com Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1:00 3:30 pm Closed 3rd Friday of the Month St. James Church Address: 338 Avenue & 32nd St. East Pastor: Fr. Jaroslaw Dziuba, SDS (Fr. Yarek) pastor@stjamesparishrc.com Appointments are to be arranged through the Parish Office. EMERGENCIES ONLY: Fr. Yarek at 403-613-2680 Please speak clearly and state your name and phone number. Dominical Vicar: Fr. Stephen Smith Deacon: Deacon Ken Waddle; kwaddle@xplornet.ca Religious Education & Youth Ministry Coordinator: Sr. Lucille Field, S.I.T.G. religioused@stjamesparishrc.com; youthministry@stjamesparishrc.com Administrative Assistant: Deborah Quinlan Part-Time Secretary: Vi Lake Bulletin Deadline: Thursday, 12 Noon. Send to: bulletin@stjamesparishrc.com. Parish Website: http://stjamesparishrc.com MASS SCHEDULE WEEKLY SUNDAY MASSES 9:00 a.m. Black Diamond 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Okotoks WEEKDAY MASSES Okotoks: Tuesday 7:00pm;Thursday & Saturday at 9:00am. Mass is held in the Chapel unless otherwise noted. Black Diamond: Wednesday & Friday, 9:00am Weekday Masses can be cancelled for pastoral reasons. MASS INTENTIONS (Sept. 29 Oct. 5) Sunday 9:00 am t Allan Johnson 11:00 am Thanksgiving 7:00 pm People of the Parish Tuesday 7:00 pm NO MASS Wednesday 9:00 am NO MASS Thursday 9:00 am NO MASS Friday 9:00 am t Brother Rock Busque Saturday 9:00 am MASS IN OKOTOKS First Saturday of the Month 9:00 am St. Michael s, Black Diamond October 5th CANCELLED. MOVED TO OKOTOKS. Reconciliation Tuesday after Mass Okotoks: Sunday evening only 6:30 to 6:55pm or by appointment Black Diamond: after weekday Masses or by appointment Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament St. Michael s, Friday, 9:30-10:30am St. James, Tuesday, 7:30-8:30pm Sacrament of Marriage Phone the Parish Office at least 6 months in advance to set a date for marriage with the Parish Priest.
Page 2 PARISH ACTIVITIES YOUTH ACTIVITIES AT ST. JAMES Youth Group Fundraiser save bottles and bring to St. James Church, Oct 20 for drop off Youth Rally Oct 19, in Red Deer Registration due by Oct 4 th forms at back of church or contact Sr. Lucille at parish office. Bus will be leaving from St. James Church. SJY Group will meet Oct. 3 rd at St. James Church from 7-9pm. This group is for grades 7-12 Boys Only and Dads meet on Oct 11 at HTA from 6:30-8:30pm. This is a group for boys in grade 3-6 for projects, faith and fun. Girls T&T meet the 2 nd and 4 th Friday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm. Girls in grades 3-6 meet for games, crafts and fun at the Church and at school gyms. Please check the bulletin for location. CatChat Concert is Sunday, Nov 3, at 2:00pm at HTA theatre. Hosted by St. James Parish. Tickets on sale at the office. ADULT ACTIVITIES AT ST. JAMES CHURCH Bible Literacy 101 Monday, Oct 7 and 21, 7:00-8:30pm. An overview of the Bible and how Catholics read it. Men s Prayer Group Every Monday from 7-8pm. Lectio Divina Prayer Group beginning October 2nd, 7pm. First and third Wednesday of the month. Contact Tara at 982-5050. Couples for Christ Christian Life Program every Sunday at 3:00pm. Contact Julius Strachan at 403-630-5291 Book Club meets last Tuesday of every month from 7:30-9:00pm. Books topics are: October Theophilos by Michael O Brien November Why Priests? A failed Tradition by Gerry Willis Moms Group Mothers of all ages come join us on Wednesday from 10:00-11:30am at St. James Church. Child care is provided. Welcome Home and Catholic Refresher Video series is being offered on different evenings throughout the year. The theme for the year is: Faith comes through hearing Romans 10:17. The next one is October 16 from 7:00-8:30pm. Thursday, October 10, Scriptural Rosary for Life at 7pm with video presentation St. James Parish St. James CWL Okotoks Our meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with Mass at 7:00 pm and meeting follows. Our Annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale is on Sunday, October 6th after all Masses. The cost is $10.00. Remember to mark your calendars!!! K of C St. Michael s Church, Black Diamond Meetings: Every 2nd Tuesday, 7:30 pm at the church. For information call Steve Dookie, Grand Knight, at 403-933-5757. Pancake Breakfast: 3rd Sunday after Mass. K of C St. James Church, Okotoks Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of every month after the 7:00 pm mass at the church. Annual fees are $30.00 and can be brought to the meetings or dropped off at the parish office. For information contact Patrick Lamontagne, Grand Knight at 403-899-7472. St. Vincent de Paul Okotoks The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Canada is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is To Live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy. The Mission of the Society implies that as Vincentians we: See Christ in anyone who suffers; Come together as a family; Have personal contact with the poor; Help in all possible ways. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has been in our parish for many years. We continue to help those that need help and since our last meeting in June we helped 10 adults, 11 children for a total of 16 volunteer hours. We would be very happy to have NEW MEMBERS join us in serving others. Our membership is down and the need to help others rises. Please call the phone line 403-938-0562 if you would like to join our group. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month, 7:30 pm, at Holy Trinity Academy (HTA). God Bless
St. James Parish Page 3 Sale of Safeway and Sobeys Gift Cards Safeway and Sobeys gift cards are sold at face value every second Sunday after the 11 am and 7 pm Mass as well as at the Parish Office. Cash, cheque, debit and credit card can be used for payment. An average of 7.5% of the value goes toward supporting Parish activities. Our goal for 2013 is to sell $11,000 per month or $132,000 annually which will contribute $10,000 towards the Parish. Actual September 22 to 28 $ 2,000.00 Year to date $ 81,600.00 Proceeds to the Parish $ 6,120.00 Stewardship 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Alas for those who are at ease in Zion... but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! (Amos 6.1,6). Hunger is the best seasoning. Necessity is the mother of invention. What does it take for the rich man to notice Lazarus? Throughout his life, the rich man never gave a second thought to Lazarus lying hungry and sick at his gate. He was blinded by his comfort and affluence to the need around him. It is only the heat of the fires of hell that open his eyes. What will it take for you to notice Lazarus? Welcome Home & Catholic Refresher Video Series Fr. Barron presents Eucharist Wednesday, October 16th, 7:00-8:30pm at St. James Church Faith Comes by Hearing Romans 10:17 Come and join us Weekly Collection Report 2013 Sept. 22nd Collections Budget Over (Under) Budget Year to date Collections Year to date Budget Over (Under) Budget Operating Fund $ 7,894 $ 10,253 $ (2,359) $ 426,189 $ 402,624 $ 23,565 Together in Action (TIA) $ 20 $ 6,920 $ (6,900) $ 2,844 $ 42,462 $ (17,618) Gifting Options Envelopes are great, so is cash, but make it easier by switching to Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD). PAD ensures regular cash flow for the parish and eliminates seasonal ups and down! You can set the amount you wish to donate and to which fund (operating, Together in Action, etc.) each month. We can debit bank accounts or credit cards. Call the Parish Office, 403-938-3122, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm to have a form mailed or emailed. Forms are also available on the information table in the narthex check the Registration Binder (Blue).
Page 4 St. James Parish SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION 2013-2014 BAPTISM PREPARATION If your child is seven years old or younger you are required to attend two classes on two consecutive Tuesdays. The classes are from 7:00-9:00 pm at St. James Church. Session One: January 7 & January 14, 2014 Session Two: March 18 & March 25, 2014 Session Three: May 20 & May 27, 2014 Session Four: September 16 & September 23, 2014 A baptismal registration form must be handed into the parish office before the start of the session. Baptisms are on the second Sunday of every month after the 11:00am Mass or by special arrangements with Fr. Yarek. If your child is older than seven years and in need of baptism please contact Sr. Lucille at the parish office 403-938-3122. FIRST COMMUNION 2014 Usually Grade 2 and up. Please bring a copy of the baptismal certificate if your child was not baptized at St. James or St. Michael s. Registration fee $25.00. Sunday, October 6 th All Sacraments Parent Retreat from 9:00-10:30am followed by 11am Mass. Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:00pm Mass Fr. Yarek s homily to parents based on the Eucharist Sunday, May 25, 9-10:30am followed by 11am Mass DYRT retreat for 1 st Communion candidates Parent Information - pick up material to help child prepare for the sacrament and to ask questions. Commitment Mass at 11am and 7pm Masses. Parents please attend with your child. Sunday, June 8, 9:00-10:30am followed by 11am Mass Class for parent and child. (Parent/sponsor is required to attend this class in order to take part in the sacrament.) Rehearsal will take place during this time. Sunday, June 15 or June 22 First Communion Sundays Parents choose which Sunday and they must notify team or parish office at the June 8 th class. FIRST RECONCILIATION 2013 Usually Grade 3 and up. Please bring a copy of the baptismal certificate if your child was not baptized at St. James or St. Michael s. Registration fee $25.00. Sunday, October 6 th All Sacraments Parent Retreat from 9:00-10:30am followed by 11am Mass. Tuesday, November 5 th, 7:00 pm Fr. Yarek s homily will be for parents on the attitude of asking for and granting forgiveness. Sunday, November 17 th - 9-10:30 am followed by 11am Mass DYRT retreat for 1 st Reconciliation candidates. Parent information -pick up materials and ask questions. Commitment Mass Parents and child attend. Sunday, November 24 th -9-10:30am followed by 11:00am Mass Class for parent and child. (You are required to attend this class in order to take part in the sacrament.) Reconciliation Dates: December 4 or 11 or 18 from 7-8 pm with Fr. Yarek or Fr. Steve
CONFIRMATION 2013-2014 Usually Grade 8 and up. Please bring a copy of the baptismal certificate if your child was not baptized at St. James or St. Michael s. Registration fee is $35.00. Sunday, October 6 th All Sacraments Parent Retreat from 9:00-10:30am followed by 11am Mass. Tuesday, October 15, at 7:00pm Mass Fr. Yarek s homily will be for parents and focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sunday, October 20, 9-10:30am followed by 11am Mass Sponsor/parent information and material handed out. Commitment Mass and prayer companion cards after Mass. Sunday, October 27, 9-10:30am followed by 11am Mass Candidate Retreat-letter to Bishop Sarah and Caroline Parent session: How an hour a week can change your life. Candidates begin and complete their 10 Mass Journal entries and assigned activity pages. (Assignments must be completed to complete the program given to Carmen Gill.) December 4 th, 11 th or 18 th or Tuesday evening 7-8pm Families and candidates are encouraged to go to reconciliation prior to receiving Confirmation. Sunday, January 26, -9-10:30am followed by 11am Mass DYRT Confirmation candidate retreat Parent Session: link between Baptism and Confirmation Candidates hand in their Mass Journal and assigned project. Saturday, February 1, 6:30-8:00pm. Candidate and sponsor rehearsal at St. James Church Sunday, February 2- CONFIRMATION MASS AT 11:00AM Candidates and sponsors arrive by 10am. Gift Bearers will be selected from the candidates. MARRIAGE PREPARATION Phone the Parish Office at least 6 months before marriage and make an appointment with Fr. Yarek. Marriage preparation sessions are mandatory for those preparing for marriage. Sessions are at St. James Church, Saturdays, 9:00am to 2:00pm on the following dates: Session Four: October 26, 2013 Session One: February 8, 2014 Session Two: May 10, 2014 Session Three: October 25, 2014 Registration fee is $60.00 per couple. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Registration is ongoing for all those interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. Inquirers are instructed in the Catholic Faith and introduced to the life of the Church. The sessions are Wednesdays from 7-9pm at St. James Church. For more information please call Sr. Lucille at 403-938-3122. Rite of Christian Initiation of Teens (RCIT) This program is designed for all youth from grades 6-9 who desire to receive the Catholic Sacraments they have missed and for any youth who wishes to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Please contact Sr. Lucille for more information at 403-938-3122.
take five minutes to feed your faith every day Remove this page from the bulletin and put it where you ll see it each day. Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow a day at a time. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Get the message Sometimes you have to hear messages several times before they sink in, even ones that could save your life. Don t text and drive. Eat healthy food. Get enough sleep. When you do hear the messages, you might be tempted to ignore them because to act on them may be inconvenient or take away time from your other responsibilities. But in the end it s in your own best interest as well as those around you to take life-saving information to heart. That includes the many things from the rich Christian tradition. Trust God. Be faithful. Love your neighbor as yourself. Which will you take to heart today? TODAY S READINGS: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31 (138) If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 FEAST OF JEROME, PRIEST, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Who is the greatest? Muhammad Ali, the self-proclaimed greatest during his boxing career, once said: A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. Saint Jerome was renowned for his learned views he is the patron saint of librarians but also for a very bad temper. In words attributed to him he chided those who talk like angels but... live like men. When you feel less than holy, remember that the greatest among us have their faults, too. Pray for strength to overcome one particular weakness, then choose an individual to benefit from your renewed efforts. TODAY S READINGS: Zechariah 8:1-8; Luke 9:46-50 (455) For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 MEMORIAL OF THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS, VIRGIN, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Polish up those beads! October is Rosary Month. For folks with rosaries of every material and hue, it goes without saying: Time to put those beads to good use! If you ve mislaid your rosary lo these many years, fear not. You can pray the e-beads at comepraytherosary.org. Here you can join in a perpetual worldwide recitation of the rosary that includes the text of each prayer, audio accompaniment, and optional images from the Holy Land while the beads count down around a virtual rosary. You ll also know how many people are praying with you at that moment. There s even a log to add your own petitions. Saint Thérèse, advocate of little ways to holiness, would surely give her blessing to this simple devotional tool. TODAY S READINGS: Zechariah 8:20-23; Luke 9:51-56 (456) Come! Let us go to implore the favor of the Lord. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS They ve got your back The tradition of a guardian angel that guides and protects each person in life developed gradually in the church. Devotion to angels grew in the monastic tradition, beginning with Saint Benedict and getting a big boost from the 12th-century reformer Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. By the 16th century the feast the church celebrates today in honor of guardian angels was well established. Whether you embrace the tradition literally or think of angels as expressions of God s love and care extended to all of creation or both today is a day to be thankful that you do not walk alone in the spiritual life. TODAY S READINGS: Nehemiah 2:1-8 (457); Matthew 18:1-5, 10 (457/650) Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 What s the good word? What do you think of when you hear the expression the word of God? Perhaps you think of the Bible holy scripture read, proclaimed, preached, heard, taught, and, hopefully, understood? Or maybe you think of Word with a capital W : Christ, whom we believe reveals God so fully that he is God, as the beginning of the Gospel of John says? In fact, you can talk about the word of God in a variety of ways, but it all boils down to one thing: God did not choose to exist in isolation but to share divine love with us. That s a word worth listening to. TODAY S READINGS: Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Luke 10:1-12 (458) The people went to... celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 MEMORIAL OF FRANCIS OF ASSISI Pay attention to the poor That the new pope would choose the name Francis would have likely embarrassed the modest Saint Francis of Assisi, but that the pope would call the Catholic Church to be more clearly the church of the poor would have pleased him a great deal. Francis did not name his followers Franciscans but the Brothers of Penance and himself a little poor man. It s hard to know how to emulate someone who keeps pointing us toward the poor. Are we to divest ourselves and give away all we have? Franciscans have to answer that question for themselves, but for the wider church, Saint Francis (like his papal namesake) would appreciate it if we simply stopped ignoring the poor and pretending they do not exist. TODAY S READINGS: Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16 (459) Justice is with the Lord, our God. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS, PRIEST Joy is a mystery What s the secret to a joyful life? It is not about enjoying happy circumstances, or all privileged people would be smiling and the rest of us would be in therapy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which was very apparent in the life of the cheerful ascetic Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (1819-1867). This Redemptorist priest was best known for his simplicity, sincerity, and good cheer in every situation. Once, upon escaping the fate of being named bishop of Pittsburgh, he threw a party! Before he died while serving victims of the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans, Seelos declared: To become holy is our only purpose in life. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary today to inhabit the spirit of joy. TODAY S READINGS: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29; Luke 10:17-24 (460) Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. 2013 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. PHONE: 800-942-2811; E-MAIL: mail@takefiveforfaith.com; WEBSITE: TakeFiveForFaith.com. Licensed for noncommercial use. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reprints permitted with following line: Reprinted with permission from Prepare the Word ( 2013), PrepareTheWord.com. Scripture quotes come from the New American Bible Revised Edition. Contributors: Clarissa Aljentera, Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Siobhán O Neill, Joel Schorn, Patrice J. Tuohy, Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.
Feastday: October 5 1905-1938 Beatified By: Pope John Paul II Canonized By: Pope John Paul II Maria Faustyna Kowalska, commonly known as Saint Faustina (born Helena Kowalska, 25 August 1905 in Głogowiec 5 October 1938 in Kraków, Poland), was a Polish nun who has been canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. She is considered to have been a mystic and visionary and is known and venerated as the Apostle of Divine Mercy. At age 20 she joined a convent in Warsaw and was later transferred to Plock and then to Vilnius where she met her confessor, Father Michael Sopocko, who supported her devotion to the Divine Mercy. Faustina and Sopocko directed an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image, based on Faustina's reported vision of Jesus. Sopocko used the image to celebrate the first Mass on the first Sunday after Easter - which later became known as Divine Mercy Sunday. A special mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 5th, 9:00am at St. James Church followed by talk and prayers Everyone Welcome!
Back by Popular Demand!! 3 rd Annual Parish Spaghetti Supper October 18 at St. James Church Doors open at 6:00 Supper served at 6:30-7:30pm Hospitality all evening!!!! Tickets: $5 each Family of 5 or more $20 Children under 5 free Door prizes, raffles and lots of fun!!!
821-101 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6A 0L1 T 780.869.1010 F 780.865.3003 Reflecting on the Ministry of Catholic School Trustee Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we prepare for our upcoming municipal elections, the Bishops of Alberta would like to offer a reflection on the importance of Catholic education and the ministry of a Catholic school trustee. Our intention in doing so is to encourage your participation in the electoral process and to offer considerations to guide your discernment of the appropriate candidate. In Alberta, Catholics have the right to a publicly funded Catholic education. From this right arises the responsibility of the Catholic community to seek out and choose from among its members those with the gifts required to strengthen and protect our Catholic schools through the ministry of trustee. Christian leadership assumes various roles in our community. One such role is that of the Catholic school trustee. As the name indicates, the trustee is one to whom has been entrusted by the Church and the electorate the serious responsibility of governance. In the context of the Alberta educational system, the trustees who protect and govern our schools are in a unique position. Catholic Separate schools have two classes of rights, duties and responsibilities. There are those conferred by civil legislation (the provincial School Act) and shared with all other schools and those conferred by Canon Law (the universal law of the Church) upon the Catholic school. These two lines of accountability require of trustees that they be not only stewards with exceptional governance skills but also people of faith and commitment to the Church and her mission. In a Catholic school, all curricular and extra-curricular activity is to be rooted in and consistent with the principles of Catholic doctrine. A Catholic school is a unique and distinctive faith community of learning that not only pursues academic excellence but also nurtures the entire person. It is an instrument of the Church s evangelization, apostolate and pastoral action. Catholic school trustees are a vital link between the school, the church, the community and the government, and they provide an essentially Catholic oversight of the school division or district. This vocation of stewardship is a call from the Church and the community to unite faith and political life in the service of handing on the Catholic faith to our children. In practice this means a careful attentiveness to the wishes of the constituents and the mandates of Alberta Education in decisions that will always accord with the truth of the Gospel and the teaching of the Church.
2 From this responsibility it is clear that the Catholic school trustee must possess attributes consistent with faith in Christ. Trustees are first and foremost disciples of our Lord. Their love of Jesus will be reflected in full participation in the life of the Church and engagement in the community. Fidelity to the Church, its teaching and its leaders enables the board of trustees and the local Church to think with one mind and work together in ministry to our students. The willingness and ability to share the faith with administration, teachers, students and the community is an essential feature of a Catholic school trustee. It requires the forging of trusting relationships with and among fellow trustees, staff, students, parents, clergy, and parishioners. The Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World, #75), issued at the Second Vatican Council, explicitly outlines the duty and obligation of all Catholics to be active in the political process. This duty to make an informed, moral choice in the selection of representatives of the community who will guide and govern, protect and maintain our Catholic schools is a sacred obligation. We must select leaders who will ensure the continued formation of our school communities in the values and teachings of our Lord as taught through our Church. We encourage you to exercise this responsibility in a spirit of prayer and in accord with an informed conscience. Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT Most Reverend Richard W. Smith Archbishop of Edmonton Most Reverend Frederick Henry Bishop of Calgary Most Reverend Gregory J. Bittman Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas CSsR Archbishop Grouard-McLennan Most Reverend David Motiuk Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton Most Reverend Murray Chatlain Apostolic Administrator of Mackenzie-Fort Smith Most Reverend Paul Terrio Bishop of St. Paul 28 September 2013