St. James Parish Parish Website: http://stjamesparishrc.com 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time February 15th, 2015 Year B St. James Church Church address: 338040 32 nd Street East Schedule for St. James Church Mass Times: Sun: 11:00am & 7:00pm Tues: 7:00pm Thurs 9:00am Sat: 9:00am Reconciliation Schedule: Tuesday after 7:00pm Mass Sunday: 6:30-6:55pm *or by appt. Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday following Mass 7:30-8:30pm Pastoral Staff FR. JAROSLAW DZIUBA, SDS (Fr. Yarek) Pastor pastor@stjamesparishrc.com *Appts to be arranged through the parish office FR. DENNIS BHASKAR Associate Pastor associatepastor@stjamesparishrc.com DEACON KEN WADDLE Deacon kwaddle@xplornet.ca SR. LUCILLE FIELD, S.I.T.G. Religious Education & Youth Ministry Coordinator religioused-youth@stjamesparishrc.com Parish Office & Mailing Address: 30 Elma Street West Okotoks, AB T1S 1J7 Phone: 403-938-3122 Fax: 403-938-0524 Email: office@stjamesparishrc.com Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-3:30pm *Closed for the Noon Hour *Closed 3 rd Friday of the Month Emergencies only (Sacrament of the Sick): Fr. Yarek at 403-613-2680 or Fr. Dennis at 587-432-5792. Please speak clearly and state your name and Phone number DEBORAH QUINLAN Senior Administrator office@stjamesparishrc.com MARIA VAN KAMPEN Youth Assistant youthministrymaria@stjamesparishrc.com VI LAKE Part-Time Secretary vi@stjamesparishrc.com CHRISTINA SPRINKHUYSEN Administrative Assistant Submissions for the bulletin go to: bulletin@stjamesparishrc.com DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 12 NOON Building and Sustaining One Parish Schedule for St. Michael s Church: Mass Times: Sun: 9:00am Wed: 9:00am - Ash Wednesday Fri: 9:00am Reconciliation Schedule: After weekday Mass or by Appt. Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Friday following Mass, 9:30-10:30am St. Michael s Church 402 Government Road (Street address only) Black Diamond
THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH Mass Times & Mass Intentions Sunday - Feb 15 9:00am - St. Michael s Audrey Moore 11:00am - St. James Leanne Kilcommons 7:00pm - St. James People of the Parish Monday - Feb 16 NO MASS Tuesday - Feb 17 7:00pm - St. James James Peloso Wednesday - Feb 18 9:00am - St. Michael s Special Intention 7:00pm - St. James David Quinlan Thursday - Feb 19 9:00am - St. James Gloria Hayes Friday - Feb 20 9:00am - St. Michael s Harold Berry Saturday - Feb 21 9:00am - St. James Gerald & Frances Makiel Activities For The Week Baptism Sunday Coffee Sunday hosted by St. James Knights of Columbus St. James Choir Practice 10-11am, St. James Church Pancake Breakfast hosted by St. Michael s K of C, 10:30-12 at St. Michael s church Prayer of the Heart & Body, 7-8pm, HTA St. Michael s 2nd Sunday Choir Practice 7-8pm, St. Michael s Church Men s Prayer Group 7:30-8:30pm, St. James Church, Children s room. Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group 7-9pm, St. James Church, Lounge Area 24hr Perpetual Adoration begins 11am at St. James Church ASH WEDNESDAY 24hr Perpetual Adoration ends 11am St. James Mom s Group - No Meeting this week Lectio Divina - No Meeting this week Senior Youth at Tudor Manor 6:30pm RCIA - 7-9pm, St. James Church - Attending Ash Wednesday Mass HIS Choir Practice 7:30-10pm, St. James Church Parish Lenten Meal & Stations of the Cross, 6:15-7:30pm, St. James Church Stations of the Cross & Lenten Meal 6:00-7:00pm, St. Michael s Church * Low Gluten Eucharist is available at every Mass Upcoming Events and Activities Couples for Christ, Okotoks is planning to start a new Christian Life Program starting February 22, 2015. The meetings will be Sundays, 2-6pm at St. James Church, Kitchen Area.
St. James Parish Page 3 Upcoming Events and Activities cont d Ash Wednesday Feb 18th, is a universal day of fasting and abstinence from meat. Mass will be held at St. James Church @ 7:00pm Let us welcome, into our parish community, all the children who have received the Sacrament of Baptism today. Alec, Sophia & Claire Finlayson Kinley, Liam & Matthew Thorn GOD BLESS YOU & CONGRATULATIONS! St. James Church Lenten Meatless Soup & Crackers and refreshments Beginning February 20th From 6:15-7:00pm At St. James Church Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm Please join us for our annual Parish Lenten Meal Hosted by: St James Catholic Women s League Love offering for Lent: Fill a bottle change a LIFE St. James Respect for Life group is calling on parishioners to help out young mothers in need this Lent. We will be accepting baby items and household items that can be dropped off in the playpen in the narthex. We are also asking families to fill empty baby bottles with loose change that you offer up during Lent. Some empty bottles will be available after mass at the back of the church. Some suggested items for donation are: Clothing - Maternity, & for babies up to 6 mos. Batteries: AAA,AA,C,D; disposable cameras, Cookware, silverware & Tupperware sets. Gift certificates for groceries or restaurants St. Michael s Church Will be praying the Stations of the Cross during lent. Beginning February 20th through to and including March 27th Starting at 6:00pm at St. Michael s Church Please join us for fellowship and a Lenten Meal of Soup and a bun following this Devotion.
Page 4 FIRST COMMUNION 2014 ALL CLASSES WILL BE SUNDAYS FROM 9-12 WHICH INCLUDES THE 11:00AM MASS. Registration fee $25.00. Sunday, March 29, 2015 Retreat for students Diocesan Youth Retreat Team Parent session Hand-out of material Sunday, April 19, 2015 Class with Students and Parents Commitment Mass Sunday, May 3, 2015 Class with Students and Parents Saturday, May 24, 2015 Student and Parent Rehearsal for First Communion Liturgy Sunday, May 31 or June 7, 2015 First Communion Sacramental Mass *First Communion parents will plan a follow-up gathering in June for parents and students. 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 7:30-9:00 pm at St. James Church. Session Three: March 17th Session Four: May 19 and 26, 2015 Session Five: September 15 and 22, 2015 A baptismal registration form must be handed into the parish office before the start of the session. Baptisms are held on the second Sunday of every month after the 11:00am Mass. If your child is older than seven years and in need of baptism please contact Sr. Lucille at the parish office 403-938-3122. 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, Friday 7-9pm and Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm on the following dates: Session Two: April 24 and 25, 2015 Session Three: October 23 and 24, 2015 SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION Registration fee is $80.00 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. 2 4 Hour Perpetual Adoration C hrist the Redeem e r C a t holic Schools would like to invite all local parishioners to join in 24 hours of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. James Parish. Adoration will commence on Tuesday, February 17 th at 11:00 AM and will continue through the night until 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 18 th. The intention is to surround our Faith Days for staff with prayer. Without faithful, committed adorers, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament would not be possible. Your spiritual commitment would be a blessing and would allow Perpetual Adoration to take place. We pray that you will consider volunteering an hour of your time in adoration. There is a signup sheet in the narthex (St. James) or you may contact Lindsay Fagan at 403-688-8260.
Page 5 St. James Parish REJOICE IN GOD S MERCY: A HUG FROM GOD IS ALL YOU NEED FEBRUARY 15: 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME CATHOLICS CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION BECAUSE WE RECOGNISE THAT SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO DO AS WE OUGHT AND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN GOD S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. HAS IT BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU RECEIVED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION? ARE YOU UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO? MAYBE YOU ARE EMBARRASSED, AFRAID, OR ASHAMED? KNOW THAT THE SACRAMENT IS COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL AND THE DECISION TO COME IS CAUSE FOR REJOICING. THE PRIEST CAN HELP YOU BEGIN AND YOU CAN TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TAKE OVER FROM THERE. EVEN IF YOU DON T KNOW HOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE, SHOWING UP MAKES YOU OPEN TO THE GRACE THAT THE SACRAMENT BRINGS. THE DIOCESE OF CALGARY INVITES YOU TO RE-DISCOVER THE MEANING OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IN YOUR LIFE. ACTION: IF YOU ARE AFRAID TO GO TO RECONCILIATION, SPEAK ABOUT YOUR RESERVATIONS WITH A PRIEST OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO DOES PARTICIPATE IN THE SACRAMENT.
Page 6 ` ` Look Back to Go Forwar d. Join us for the Western Canadian Catholic Home School Conference, March 12-14 at Providence Renewal Centre, 3005-119 Street, Edmonton. This conference is geared for home schooling families, but all Catholic parents will enjoy. Our guest speakers are Jim Morlino and Father Leonard Revilla. For more information, contact Veronica at 780-467-8410 or email wcchscreg@shaw.ca, or visit us online at www.wcchsc.net. Ministry Altar Servers Book Club Children s Liturgy Couples for Christ Program Finance Council Girls T&T K of C - St. James K of C - St. Michael s Lectio Divina Men s Prayer Group Music Ministry Parish Pastoral Council Pastoral Care Prayer of the Heart & Body Prayer Chain RCIA Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group Sacramental Preparation St. James Boy s Group for Father s and Sons St. James Catholic Women s League St. James Moms Group St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent de Paul - Black Diamond Together in Action Youth Group Contact Information Peter Kiranas 403-519-4606 Sr. Lucille 403-938-3122 Roxanne Bruketa rrpasternak@hotmail.com Julius Strachan 403-630-5291 julius_strachanjr@yahoo.com Jim Hart hart.jamesrobert@gmail.com Jane Perreault mommyjane3@gmail.com Kevin Crawford 403-938-4328 Steve Dookie 403-933-5757 Tara Antoniszyn 403-982-5050 Stefan Schwartz 403-850-2057 stefrschwarz@gmail.com Leanne Plamondon 403-982-9876 Dave Wilson 403-995-2201 Ron Nelson 403-995-0089 Pamela Mclean 403-938-5725 pamela_mclean04@yahoo.com Vi Lake vilake@telus.net Cheryl Poulin ccfry47@shaw.ca Shannon Frank smfrankjm@gmail.com Sr. Lucille 403-938-3122 Jason Krueger 403-836-1541 jkrueger@redeemer.ab.ca Pamela Mclean pamela_mclean04@yahoo.com Linda Bryson 403-938-7644 dlbryson@hotmail.com Tara Epp 403-938-0562 tepp@redeemer.ab.ca John Walsh 403-933-4955 Dave Wilson 403-995-2201 Maria van Kampen youthministrymaria @stjamesparishrc.com
take five minutes to feed your faith every day SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Pray for an outbreak of compassion Before the latest Ebola outbreak, there was SARS, AIDS, plagues and epidemics of all sorts, and always, leprosy. In every age, people have been ostracized and worse simply because they carry a disease that is not well understood. Ignorance leads to fear, which in turn leads to discrimination and sometimes to measures that in hindsight are seen as unnecessarily harsh. Thankfully, Jesus modeled another way of interacting with those who suffer from a frightening ailment. Compassionate care is called for. TODAY S READINGS: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Mark 1:40-45 (77). A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, If you wish, you can make me clean. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FEAST OF POLYCARP, BISHOP AND MARTYR Deep faith The Martyrdom of Polycarp is considered one of the earliest accounts of Christian martyrdom and is one of the very few genuine accounts from the actual age of the persecutions. Polycarp, born less than 50 years after Jesus death, may have been one of the earliest believers, but he displayed a very mature faith. At the close of his life, as he faced martyrdom, he is recorded to have said, Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what you will. Though you or I may not face the test of martyrdom, we face small tests of faith daily. How we respond reveals the depth of our own faith. TODAY S READINGS: Genesis 4:1-15, 25; Mark 8:11-13 (335). Why does this generation seek a sign? TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 FEAST OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER, RELIGIOUS Quiet down to listen up Sometimes the burdens of the world seem so heavy and ugly that good souls feel the need to withdraw. The Desert Mothers and Fathers were such persons, and so were many others over the centuries who took the path of isolation. In 1240 seven Florentine nobles did just that, eventually forming the Servite Order. Most people are neither inclined nor prepared for such a radical step, let alone a lifestyle of it. But isn t it possible to withdraw regularly even in a single day, to disconnect from all those electronic wonders, not forever, but for a while? The voice of God is often small, a whispering sound. You need quiet to hear it. TODAY S READINGS: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Mark 8:14-21 (336). Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 ASH WEDNESDAY; DAY OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE Traditions, traditions The Lenten season is upon us, and with it, many traditions. For instance, though Lent is 40 days, echoing Jesus 40 days in the desert, the actual number of days until Easter is 46. But the six Sundays, with the celebration of Eucharist echoing Resurrection, traditionally have been considered days on which fasting is not appropriate, so Lent runs Monday to Saturday (six days) for six weeks, and when you add the first four days, from Ash Wednesday to Saturday of this week, the total is 40 days from today to Holy Saturday. Traditions abound. Another example: The ashes used today were made from palm branches blessed last year on Palm Sunday. Cherish the traditions handed down to you. TODAY S READINGS: Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (219). Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY God willing Choices are a blessing and a curse. You re lucky if you have plenty of options in life, but it s hard to know which ones to pick: Should I go to college? Should I get married? Is this the best job for my career? When should I retire? It s impossible to know what lies ahead, so it helps to let God take the lead. That doesn t mean being passive, but simply trusting in God s will. Relinquishing control to the One who loves you might be the best decision you ever make. TODAY S READINGS: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25 (220). What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY; DAY OF ABSTINENCE Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder Today, like all Fridays in Lent, is a day of abstinence, a day of eating simply and refraining from meat. This simple act can become rote, without much thought about why. It calls for intentionality: a clear, thoughtful, informed decision to abstain, but from what? Meat? Perhaps, but how about abstaining in that same clear, thoughtful manner from gossip, from rash judgments, from nagging, from teasing others? This personal choice to abstain is not merely about building character. It is to build up the body of the church. TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15 (221). Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY; FEAST OF PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Your peer group needs a saint Modern-day sainthood requires endless paperwork before the canonical seal of approval. Not so for 11th-century Peter Damian, who was never formally canonized. As bishop, he was a one-man revolution against bad priests those who took money in return for absolving sins. The rich were always happy to pay for their crimes, and some clerics just as glad to grease the wheels of their patrons salvation. For his learning, zeal, and integrity, Peter was named a Doctor of the church in 1828. Sidestep the paperwork: Be a saint in integrity of heart! TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 58:9b-14; Luke 5:27-32 (222). I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners. 2015 by TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; 800-942-2811; mail@takefiveforfaith.com. All rights reserved. Daily email sign-up and App available online. Noncommercial reprints permitted with the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible Revised Edition.
Saint Vincent de Paul January 2015 The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has been in our parish for many years. We continue to help those that need. We would like to thank all those that continue to support this worthwhile Society. In the past month we have helped 8 families with a total number of people (including children and adults in the family) 18. In order to help those in need we typically make a visit to the home. We have 11 female members and 3 male members. We like to have a male and a female for each visit we make. As you can see the men can get pretty busy and sometimes it is two women that go on the visits. This is not always the best situation. We hope that there may be more males in our parish that would be willing to join our group. Please call Tara at 403-880-4953 if you are able to commit some time to this worthwhile cause. 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 cards can be used for payment. Our goal for 2015 is to sell $9000 per month or $108,000 annually which will contribute $8100 towards the Parish. Actual January 1st to 31st $7,200.00 Year to date $7,200.00 Proceeds to the Parish $ 540.00 Weekly Collection Report 2014 February 8, 2015 Collections Budget Over (Under) Budget Year to date Collections Year to date Budget Over (Under) Budget Operating Fund $ 6,591 $ 11,629 $ (5,038) $48,607 $ 72,777 $ (24,170) Together in Action (TIA) $ 151 $ 801 $ (650) $ 1,049 $ 4,806 $ (3,757)