A sincere welcome to those who are new among us. We hope you find a warm and welcoming faith-home with us. Please introduce yourself after Mass and call the Rectory to register.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY:
The scandal of dis-unity between Christian churches is still a reality. This week we pray more urgently that Jesus Christ may show us the way and lead us to reconciliation. We still have far to go. At the same time, we recognize that, for example, between Anglican and Roman Catholics. Between the Orthodox churches and the Roman Catholic church, between Lutherans and Roman Catholics the differences are not as huge as we once thought they were. If we were a bit more deeply rooted in Jesus Christ we might be able to overcome the still remaining differences.

This week’s theme for the week of Christian Unity is “Gathered in My Name.” It is taken from Matthew 18:20. It is unfortunate and even shameful that throughout Christian history many things have been done that resemble neither his teaching nor the way set forward in his living and dying. Jesus brought love on earth, not hostility. It is a self-giving, suffering love, one that “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” If that love of his were indeed the source from which we drew as individual Christians and Churches, there is no question that all dividing differences would fade. What a blessing it would be for all Christian Churches, but even more importantly for our world, if our lives and all Christian Churches were steeped in that love of Christ.

REDISCOVERING JESUS CHRIST - THE PATH TO FREEDOM (2):
That is the document our bishop presented to his Gatineau Church on the feast of Pentecost 2004. In it the bishop spells out the basic pastoral orientation for our diocese for the next 10-15 years.

On November 12th representatives from the English speaking parishes met for a workshop where we dealt with the basic concepts of the document mentioned above. In last week’s bulletin you found a summary of the presentation of the way the first concept was introduced at that workshop. “Moving from the practice of preparing for sacraments to the practice of learning to live a Christian life.”

Here follows the summary presentation of the second basic concept:

PREPARATION FOR FIRST COMMUNION:
How we prepare our younger members of the parish for First Communion is quite different from the way most of us experienced it is in the past. The time that “the school looked after it” is definitely passed. So we have to finds new ways. That is quite a challenge. We have put a process in place for this year that reflects our searching. It is a mixture of sessions with children and parents and also of participating in our Sunday Eucharist.

The parents now have the schedule. More important than the actual dates are the two preliminary remarks which we copy here in our bulletin. The purpose of putting them here is to have all parishioners reflect the challenges we face. The way we proceed is different from the way it was done in the past. That is due to the following factors:

• Preparation for Sacraments on its own accomplishes very little. If it is to accomplish its real purpose, it has to be part of something more important, namely Formation to Christian Life. That is why our Bishop urges us to move from the practice of preparing for sacraments to the practice of forming to Christian Life. To make that switch is not easy. It can only be done in small steps.



• This is not for children only. We are moving beyond the special sessions for children only, isolated from the rest of the family and from the rest of the parish community. We are introducing younger members of our parish community into faith practices that are important to their elders and to the wider community to which they belong. Their elders and the wider parish community have a stake in it.

The schedule of sessions proposed here still borrows heavily from our previous way of doing things. But there are a few wrinkles that put us on the way to a more wholesome approach.

OFFICE AND KITCHEN HAVE A NEW LOOK:
Since last week a few hard working parishioners have been at work in my office and kitchen. And they have done a great job. For the office they removed the wall paper, patched up the walls and painted them a nice green. In the kitchen the wall paper was removed as well, but the toughest part was the new floor. What a difference! Thanks a lot for putting the money into this project, but above all for the time, effort, skill, and good cheer that went into doing the work in such a professional way. The outcome of the hard work is much appreciated.

CELEBRATIONS:
- Birthday wishes to Pearl French who celebrated her birthday on January 15th.
- Congratulations to Joe & Lucille Allen who celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on January 20th.

FUND RAISER FOR OLV & ST. MALACHY - FEBRUARY 26th:
Pancake Breakfast. Tickets will be on sale next Sunday January 29th.

INCOME TAX RECEIPTS:
Please drop a self-addressed envelope in the collection basket.