Parish Bulletin – 5th Sunday of Lent – 21 March 2021
Masses for the Week of 23 March to 28 March
STREAMED MASSES:
TUESDAY: 10 AM John “Jack” Jennings – Helen & Maureen Morris
WEDNESDAY:** 10 AM Kevin Harrington – Pat Hynes
THURSDAY: 10 AM Special Intention of Kenny Bresseau & Family – Genevieve Keogh
FRIDAY:*** 10 AM Wilfred Lariviere – Eddie & Gene O’Brien
LIVE MASSES:
SATURDAY 5 PM (SH) Carmelita Gleason – Raymond Morris
SUNDAY 9 AM (SJ) Loretta Reid – Ashley, Brandon, Parker & Olivia
10:30 AM (CH) Mary & Tommy Carrol – The Family
Mike & Françoise Keon – Mado & Family
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:
GREAT NEWS! Effective Monday March 8th, the government will permit up to 100 people to attend religious services so long as the requirements of social distancing, masks, etc. are maintained. Thus we can now accommodate 100 people in Chapeau, 75 people in St. Joseph’s, and 40 people in Sheenboro while respecting these obligations. We are still obliged to take names of those who attend in case contact tracing is required should someone who contracts the COVID virus attends and exposes fellow Mass goers. You can either call in advance to have your name put on the list or give it at the door when you show up for Mass. I eagerly look forward to seeing as many as possible in Church once again!
Last Weekend’s Collections:
St. Paul the Hermit: $280.00
St. Joseph’s: $2111.80
St. Alphonsus: $1078.00
Thank you for your generous support of our parishes!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Tax receipts for 2020 donations (excluding the online donations which produce receipt at time of donation) are available in the Churches now that the government has allowed us to reopen our offices for business. We thank you for your patience.
2) St. Alphonsus CWL News: Thank you to all CWL members who have already send in their membership ($20). We would appreciate receiving others ASAP as it makes it much easier for all concerned when they can be sent in at one time.
3) The Stations of the Cross: Will be celebrated each Friday during Lent in St. Alphonsus Church at 7 pm. Our thanks go out to Michael Mainville who has accepted to lead this devotion for the community.
4) MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP/ MESSAGE DE L’ÉVÊQUE
Share Love, Share Lent Campaign under way!
Dear Lay Faithful,
Inspired by Pope Francis’s newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this year Development and Peace’s Lenten campaign, Share Love, Share Lent, invites us into a global solidarity. Pope Francis writes, “All of us have a responsibility for the wounded, those of our own people and all the peoples of the earth. Let us care for the needs of every man and woman, young and old, with the same fraternal spirit of care and closeness that marked the Good Samaritan” (79).
This Fifth Sunday of Lent, or ‘Solidarity Sunday’ is designated by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for a collection for Development and Peace – Caritas Canada. Now into our second year of the global pandemic, there is much upheaval in many of our lives – and even more so for our brothers and sisters in the Global South. I invite each according to their means to give generously in your parish or online at www.devp.org (choosing the “Give Now” tab) or by calling 1 888 234-8533. Thank you in advance for promoting the fraternity and social friendship of which Pope Francis speaks. Wishing you and yours continued blessings in this Lenten season.
Sincerely yours in Christ our Redeemer,
Bishop Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.
Bishop of Pembroke
5) Chrism Mass: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chrism Mass scheduled for Tuesday, March 30th will be held privately.
Messe chrismale : La messe chrismale prévue le mardi 30 mars aura lieu en privé en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19.
6) Next Diocesan Marriage Preparation program – April 17th and May 1st: This program will be ONLINE only. To register click here or go to https://pembrokediocese.com/flymo/marriage-and-family/ . Deadline to register is April 1st. All couples will be mailed a package with the materials needed for the program.
7) First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre – Annual General Meeting: The FSO Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, March 29th, starting at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Please RSVP to matthewgiberson@gmail.com to receive the link to join.
Scripture Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, Jesus announces that His “hour” has come. The “hour” refers to His passion. He is about to die for our sins. We see Jesus here expressing anguish over His coming suffering. Still, He submits Himself completely to this task and willing goes to the cross for our salvation. Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about the glory of God, as was announced by the voice from heaven. Jesus’ death was the culminating moment of all of human history. In death, He conquered the devil (i.e. “the ruler of this world”) and brought salvation to the world. Just like a grain of wheat, Jesus had to die in order to bring about new life. He offered Himself on the cross in order to offer us life. The salvation Jesus offers is for all people. But it still involves a choice on our part. Jesus can save everyone, but He won’t save anyone against their will. Jesus offers us all salvation from sin and, as a result, eternity with Him in heaven. But will we accept His offer? Jesus calls us in today’s Gospel to serve Him. This means that we follow His ways, living in relationship with Him. We seek to be with Jesus, so that where He is, we will also be. Jesus calls us into communion with Him, aligning our wills with His and obeying Him. Will you go where He leads you?
Taking it Home:
- Make the refrain of today’s Psalm (“Create in me a clean heart, O God”) your prayer. In what areas have you strayed off the path of following Jesus? In what ways have you disobeyed His commands? In the new covenant, we have forgiveness offered to us as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Will you accept it?
Upper Pontiac Parishes 
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