Parish Bulletin – 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time – 31 January 2021
Masses for the Week of 2 February to 7 February
STREAMED MASSES:
TUESDAY: 10 AM Fred Meilleur (ann.) – The Family
WEDNESDAY:** 10 AM Elizabeth Donnelly By: Marie Paule Muldoon
THURSDAY: 10 AM Hughette Groulx – Sheila Morris
FRIDAY:*** 10 AM CANCELLED DUE TO FUNERAL IN CHAPEAU
SUNDAY: 10:30 AM (1) Iona Morris – Paulette Demmons
(2) Rita Jacqueline Hurd – Denzil & Claudette Spence
(3) Marie Drapeau – Annie & Clarence Gaudette
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: $ 2,084.09
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) Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family of Mrs. Nora Smith (nee Conway) of Nichabeau who died on Friday evening. Her funeral will be privately celebrated in Chapeau this week in accordance with the COVID restrictions of the province.
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.
7) Chronicle from Bishop Guy Desrochers: NEW!Click here to read Bishop Guy’s chronicles. This week’s chronicle: Pope Francis creates a new ecclesial entity called CHARIS.
Chronique de Mgr Guy Desrochers: NOUVEAU! Lire les chroniques de Mgr Guy ici. Le titre de sa nouvelle chronique: Le Pape François crée une nouvelle entité ecclésiale appelée CHARIS.
8) 2021 World Day of the Sick: The 29th World Day of the Sick will be celebrated, as it is every year, on 11 February, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Holy See has released the Holy Father’s Message which is entitled “You have but one teacher and you are all brothers” (Mt 23:8), which encourages a trust-based relationship with the sick and the nurturing of integral human healing. In his Message, Pope Francis writes: “…the commandment of love that Jesus left to his disciples is also kept in our relationship with the sick. A society is all the more human to the degree that it cares effectively for its most frail and suffering members, in a spirit of fraternal love. Let us strive to achieve this goal, so that no one will feel alone, excluded or abandoned.”
Journée mondiale du malade 2021: La 29e Journée mondiale du malade aura lieu le 11 février, mémoire de Notre-Dame de Lourdes, comme c’est le cas chaque année. Le Saint-Siège a publié le message du Saint-Père qui est intitulé « Vous n’avez qu’un seul maître et vous êtes tous frères » (Mt 23, 8), qui souligne une approche à l’égard du malade fondée sur une relation de confiance et favorisant une guérison humaine intégrale. Dans son message, le pape François écrit : « …le commandement de l’amour que Jésus a laissé à ses disciples se réalise aussi concrètement dans la relation avec les malades. Une société est d’autant plus humaine qu’elle prend soin de ses membres fragiles et souffrants et qu’elle sait le faire avec une efficacité animée d’un amour fraternel. Tendons vers cet objectif et faisons en sorte que personne ne reste seul, que personne ne se sente exclu ni abandonné. »
9) Diocesan Young Adult Ministry (18-35 yrs.): This gathering is postponed until further notice due to the Ontario government restrictions.
10) Teens– be prepared for Lent: Order the Teen Lent Companion by LIFETEEN and use it to develop a daily prayer life that will last you a lifetime. See other great resources for teens at www.lifeteen.com.
11) Calling All Moms: Check out the options for Moms to stay connected at www.CatholicMomsgroup.com and sign up to Midday Moms, a regular virtual Mother’s group meet up with host Mary Wagner and her MOM Jane Wagner on Zoom.
12) Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO): Are you in University and interested in learning about the Catholic faith and meeting others like you? CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach) is a University Campus ministry that does just that AND is now online! Contact a CCO representative at your University by clicking here: https://cco.ca/get-connected.
13) Rosary: Father Réal Ouellette is planning the recording/editing of the Rosary to be broadcast on various social media. To participate and contribute, please see details here.
Chapelet/Rosaire: Père Réal Ouellette planifie l’enregistrement et le montage du Chapelet/Rosaire pour être diffusé sur les médias sociaux. Pour participer et contribuer, veuillez consulter https://fr.ourabcparishes.com/rosary-project.
Scripture Reflection For This Weekend
Opening Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with love for your word as I reflect in these moments. Send me not only understanding, but a deeper movement of my heart toward you.
Encountering Christ:
1. A New Teaching: In this first chapter of Mark, Jesus was just beginning his ministry and was welcomed in the synagogue to teach. As he began, the devout Jews who were listening realized something greater was in their midst (Luke 11). He taught with authority—with power from the Father, and they were astonished. Every day when we reflect on the word with Christ, he wants to teach us in the same way. He has given us commandments and the Church as authorities in our life. May we be as receptive to his authority as were the men in the synagogue that day.
2. Even the Devil: Jesus’s authority and power calm stormy seas, heal the sick, forgive sins, and expel demons. We know this about Jesus because of his word, but the congregation that day didn’t have hindsight, and they failed to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. The demons even proclaimed that Jesus was “the Holy One of God” but the men did not yet believe. When we listen attentively to Jesus’s teachings and subjugate ourselves to him, we will grow to recognize Jesus’s actions in our daily lives. And we’ll be astonished as he teaches us and shows his tender loving care for us and those we love.
3. Jesus Was Famous: Mark tells us in this Gospel that fame followed Jesus from the very beginning of his ministry. In our modern post-Christian culture, Jesus is “famous” as a spiritual leader of sorts, but those of us who love him want a different kind of fame for Jesus. We want others to know and love Jesus the way we do. When those bogged down with temporal needs come to us for consolation, are we able to give them Jesus? To remind them that they are children of this powerful and loving Trinitarian God? Are we able to spread Jesus’s fame person by person?
Conversing with Christ: Lord, even though I talk to you daily in my prayer, I know that I do not even begin to comprehend the depths of your love for me. I want to recognize your actions in my daily life, to become ever more aware of your presence. And I want to share the “good news” with others so that they too will love you. Speak to me, teach me, and allow me to be your messenger to someone today.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will speak your name aloud if given the opportunity to console or advise someone.
Upper Pontiac Parishes 
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