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UPCOMING MASS CELEBRATIONS
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| DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE: A MOVEMENT OF SOLIDARITY |
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Established in 1967, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is the official international solidarity organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.
We partner with organizations in the Global South that promote alternatives to unjust social, political and economic structures and support women in their quest for equality and justice.
With the help of our 11,000+ volunteer members, we inform Canadians about the root causes of impoverishment and mobilize them to act for change. Our Lenten campaign, Stand for the Land focuses on people’s defence of their Territories in Colombia and Honduras.
To learn more about our movement and to join us, visit devp.org.
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| THIS LENT, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY |
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This Solidarity Sunday, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada’s Stand for the Land campaign invites you to give generously and thanks you warmly for your generosity.
Your donation transforms the lives of some of our most vulnerable sisters and brothers across the world. Our solidarity rests on your generosity.
“The support we receive from Development and Peace has been very important for me. It allowed me to find myself, to live again.”
— Raquel Soto, participant in the documentary filmmaking school of the Asociación Campesina de Antioquia (ACA, Peasant Association of Antioquia).
Such is the difference you can make by giving to your Share Lent parish collection. If you do not have parish collection envelopes, you can leave your donation in an envelope marked Development and Peace – make cheques payable to the parish. Thank you for helping us build a world of justice.
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| OVERVIEW OF ARCHBISHOP’S VISIT |
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On Saturday, January 28th, Archbishop Paul-André Durocher met with the OLV Wardens and OLV representatives on the Inter-Parish Planning Committee. It was a very positive meeting with open and honest dialogue presented by the individuals at the meeting.
It is important to note that the discussion and the Archbishop’s intention was about addressing issues to ensure Parish sustainability and not about closing the parish’s doors. In fact, the Archbishop indicated that the responsibility for closing parishes was up to Parishioners, not the Archbishop.
It was pointed out to the Archbishop that we had a very strong core of volunteers that keep the parish going. For now, it is a stable core that has been volunteering for quite a while. We told him that this volunteer core totalled approximately 17 individuals and we are having a difficult time obtaining new blood. It was pointed out to him that the average age of parishioners was 75 plus and that typically, we have between 30 to 40 individuals attending Sunday mass celebrations. So this is a challenge that was identified.
On the pastoral front, the Archbishop mentioned that our partnering with St. Malachy through the Inter-Parish Planning Committee was a very important pastoral tool. We provided an overview of the Committee whose key elements are:
- Provide leadership, information sharing and content planning
- Respond to pastoral requests from the Diocese
- Develop special pastoral projects
With respect to partnerships, the Archbishop suggested that the Parishes in the English Pastoral Zone get together to discuss pastoral issues, challenges, and possible solutions. He will follow up on this proposal.
A proposal for a Bible Study session was raised and the Archbishop mentioned he has a colleague who could facilitate such sessions - he will follow up. The study sessions would be open to all parishioners of the Diocese.
Archbishop Durocher commented positively on our use of Zoom technology during the pandemic to broadcast our mass celebrations. He mentioned that many activities are happening over the internet such as retreats and Lenten projects, etc. He is urging everyone to explore the possibilities of the internet.
With respect to the social environment, the Archbishop is very impressed with our involvement in the community at large. In particular, he was impressed with the current initiative where we invite community organizations to attend our fellowship and coffee gatherings and present their organization’s mandate and mission. The Archbishop sees this as an example of what it means to be an outgoing church.
We discussed the Parish’s financial situation and presented him with a chart that indicated that our financial position was solid. We did identify two areas of concern: one is a leakage of water in the basement, and the second, the fact that the wood paneling in the basement may not meet the city’s fire code. We also advised him that our properties (Rectory and Church) were in good shape.
In closing, due to illness, the Archbishop was unable to preside at Sunday’s mass celebration. We look forward to his returning to celebrate mass at Our Lady of Victory Parish once his tour of diocesan parishes will be completed.
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At 4:17 a.m. on February 6th, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Turkey and Syria. Many aftershocks followed. Buildings collapsed like houses of cards, trapping thousands of people. Over 11,000 people have died and more than 55,000 have been injured. The toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue removing victims from the rubble.
Survivors in Turkey and Syria need your support! Our partners in the Caritas family are already mobilized on the frontlines, providing blankets, food and emergency shelter for families who find themselves on the streets. But the needs are great, especially for populations that have already been made vulnerable by 12 years of conflict in Syria.
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is collecting donations to help the survivors and to continue to support the people of Turkey and Syria. In such an emergency, acting now matters! You can donate online at devp.org or by sending your donation to:
1425 René-Lévesque Blvd West, 3rd Floor
Montréal, Québec Canada, H3G 1T7
Thank you for your solidarity!
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NEW FROM THE DIOCESE
A FACEBOOK PAGE AND BLOG ADDRESSED TO OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE PARISHIONERS
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The archdiocese has launched a new Facebook page specifically addressed to our English-language parishioners. You don't need to have an account to see posts, only if you want to comment, share and like them.
See the internet link: https://www.facebook.com/archgat
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We also launched a new English-language blog entitled "Together on the Way". We'll be posting longer articles here, reflections and testimonies. If you want to share a story about something going on in your parish, please feel free to contact our communications team at the diocese.
See the internet link: https://archgatblog.blogspot.com/
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5th SUNDAY IN LENT - 26 March 2023
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First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Ezekiel 37.12-14
With the Lord there is steadfast love and great power to redeem
Romans 8.8-11
John 11.25, 26
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