Parish Bulletin – 2^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time – 17 January 2021

Masses for the Week of 19 January to 24 January

STREAMED MASSES:

TUESDAY:                10 AM             Candice Conroy – Marie-Paule & Jerry Muldoon

WEDNESDAY:**      10 AM             Merrill Allard – David & Julie Gallagher

THURSDAY:             10 AM             John Keon – Angie Retty

FRIDAY:***              10 AM             Loretta Reid – Pat & Diane Gallagher

SUNDAY:            10:30 AM             (1) Mary Evelyn Morris – Raymond Morris

                                                            (2) Ken & Mae Conroy – Paul & Rose Stebbins

                                                            (3) Terrie Wickham – Sheila Stacey

All weekday Masses are celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church.

** Includes public recitation of the Rosary

*** Includes public recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

LIVE MASSES:

All Live Masses are suspended in accordance with Quebec COVID regulations until at least February 8, 2021

Collections:

Total Online Donations For 2020:  $11,098.68

Total Online Donations For 2021:  $     173.45

Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Well, sadly 2021 hasn’t exactly started off any better than the last year ended, at least as regard to the pandemic. The provincial government, on top of instituting a night-time curfew has also ordered the closing of all churches and church offices until at least 8 February 2021. I will continue to stream both weekdays (10 AM) and Sunday Masses (9 AM) from St. Joseph’s, including the public recitation of the Rosary on Wednesdays and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Friday. On Sunday, I will offer the Mass for three intentions, one from each parish. Please pray that we will soon find our way out of danger in these difficult times and get back to celebrating as usual in all three parishes.

2) Just a reminder that just because you can’t come to church doesn’t mean you can’t continue to support your parish. You can go to the parish blog at www.uppontiacparishes.com and make an online donation. Just remember to include which church you are directing your donation to in the message box of the donation widget. I thank you for your continuing support by whatever means possible in these difficult months with large heating bills and no regular Sunday collections. Your generous help is much appreciated.

3) Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program (Feb. 27th and March 6th): This course will be online only. New deadline date to register is Feb. 15th as materials need to be mailed out to participants.

4) 2021 Diocese of St. Augustine Virtual Catholic Holy Spirit Healing Conference “Who Do You Say I Am?” (Matthew 16:15) on January 31st. Keynote speaker: Dr. Ralph Martin, President Renewal Ministries. No Cost, however donations are greatly appreciated. Click here to register or for more information.

5) 2021 National Theology on Tap: Intentional Disciples presents “Virtual National Theology on Tap” on Friday, February 12th at 9 p.m. E.T. with guest speakers Ralph Martin and Archbishop Chaput. Visit the Intentional Disciples website for more information.

6) Tax receipts for 2020 donations (excluding the online donations which produce receipt at time of donation) will be available once the government allows us to reopen our offices for business. We thank you for your patience.

Scripture Reflection For This Weekend

1. What Are You Looking For? The questions God asks through the Bible are always penetrating and pertinent. Today, he asks us, “What are you looking for?” That is to say, when we approach Jesus, are we looking for a solution to a problem? Someone to blame? An answer? Consolation? Or, are we looking for a person? Do we approach prayer as a relationship? Time to be with someone whom we love and who loves us? If we want to know Jesus better, let’s imitate the disciples in this Gospel and stay with him. 

2. Where Are You Staying? The questions we ask God are also important. We shouldn’t be afraid to ask God questions, especially questions that can lead us into a deeper relationship with him, such as, “Where are you Lord? Where are you staying? Where do I find you time and again?” And we ask ourselves, “What aspects of Christ in the Gospel always stand out to me? What kind of needs do I feel called to respond to? Where do I experience God working through me for the good of others?” By seeking the answers to these questions we discover Christ within us.

3. Come and See: In the day-to-day experience of prayer, it can be hard to see where God is leading us, but by looking back and seeing the patterns of his presence and love in our lives, we can grow in our recognition of his guidance. When the first apostles initially experienced Christ, they immediately invited others to come and see. The Christ that we experience is the Christ that we are called to transmit to others. By reflecting upon our own experiences of Christ’s loving presence in our lives, we become better apostles of his love for those around us.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, help me to enter into dialogue with you every day. I want to be able to hear your questions and also ask you mine. I want to know you better so that I can follow you more closely and bring others to do the same.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take time to recognize your presence in my day.