PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST
Our Lady of Victory		St. Malachy
Sunday - 9:00 A.M.		Saturday - 7:00 P.M.

F O O D   F O R   T H O U G H T

Reading I Isaiah 50.4 Responsorial Psalm My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Reading II Philippians 2.6-11 Gospel Mark 14.1 - 15.47 Adult 1.  How often do you read the word of God? In what ways do you proclaim its truth to others? 2.  Share some examples in your own life when accepting humiliation led to your being lifted up to new life. 3.  In what ways do you minister to Christ's body today? What other opportunities are waiting for your loving service?

Pastor	William Marrevee s.c.j.
Email	w.marrevee@sympatico.ca
Rectory	490 Charles Street Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K5
Secretary	Monday and Thursday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone	(819) 986-3763
Fax	(819) 986-9889

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.

40/3/50 - THE PASCAL SEASON

MASS SCHEDULE

WED. Apr. 12 - 9:00 a.m. OLV Deceased Relatives, Rowe & Lapensee families By Val & Lewis Rowe THU. Apr. 13 - 7:30 p.m. OLV All parishioners of both parishes FRI. Apr. 14 - 3:00 p.m. OLV Celebration of the Lord's Passion FRI. Apr. 14 - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy Reflection / Meditation SAT. Apr. 15 - 9:00 p.m. OLV Easter Vigil / All parishioners of both parishes SUN. Apr. 16 - 9:00 a.m. St. Malachy All Parishioners of both parishes SUN. Apr. 16 - 11:00 a.m. OLV Julia Martin 3rd. Ann. by the family Bill Weir 2nd Ann. by the family

OUR FORTY- DAY LENTEN JOURNEY REACHES ITS GOAL:
This coming week, on Thursday evening, Lent comes to an end, or better it reaches its intended goal: the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus in the annual Three Great Days. The special services that mark these special days are indicated on the extra sheet that is part of this Sunday's bulletin.

Yes, these special services are being held at O.L.V., but they are meant to include St. Malachy. It would be good if we decided to participate in all three of them. Really, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil belong together. If you look at them a little closer, they are one service in three stages.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE, FROM SIN TO GRACE: FORGIVENESS:
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated in the Church's sacraments, especially first of all in Baptism and in the Eucharist. These are the primary sacraments. But the church celebrates that same mystery of God's life and grace in what we could call "spin-offs" from Baptism and Eucharist; in this case, in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We can celebrate it in preparation for Easter in two ways, communally and more individually.

AS PART OF PREPARATION FOR EASTER

Individual Confessions Sunday April 09th After Penitential Service Tuesday April 11th 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Communal Penitential /Reconciliation Service Sunday April 09th 7:00 p.m.

CHRISM MASS - THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12th, 7:30 P.M.
The Archbishop invites us to participate in the Chrism Mass. That is the Mass during which he will consecrate and bless the oils used for Baptism and Confirmation, and for the anointing of the sick. At the end of the Mass, the Bishop will distribute the oils to the representatives from the parishes and institutions where they will be used in the course of the year...

This year the Chrism Mass will take place in St. Joseph Church which from now on is the Cathedral of our Diocese.
The Church is located at 245 St Joseph Blvd. (Hull sector).

WASHING FEET ON HOLY THURSDAY:
This is very much part of the Holy Thursday service. In this, at first sight, embarrassing gesture the basic thrust of what we celebrate in the Three great Days is summed up: God's love for us, God's becoming the servant of us all.

If we feel uneasy about this strange gesture, we are in good company. The apostle Peter did not want to hear of it either when Jesus approached him. In Peter's estimation it was not God-like enough. Imagine God doing a thing like that.

In Jesus, God chooses to be servant of us all. Hence, all should feel free to be part of this strange, but powerful gesture. It is so much part of this Holy Evening.

FASTING ON GOOD FRIDAY AND, IF POSSIBLE, ON HOLY SATURDAY:
The church encourages us to observe a fast on Good Friday and, where possible, on Holy Saturday as well. It is a fasting in anticipation of the feast of Easter. As such it is different from a fast we may be observing during Lent. Eating less is one form of fasting. But there are other forms: abstaining from going out, from having a drink, from watching a movie, from shopping or other distractions that often fill our lives.

The challenge is to keep these days special, to keep them indeed holy, to keep ourselves focused on the Lord Jesus and on what we are given in Him. Let us give it a try. Our faith can only benefit from it.

EASTER VIGIL - PARTICIPATION MORE THAN DESIRABLE
If there is one service that gives a good display of the Christian faith, it is the Easter Vigil. But is strange and unfortunate that many Catholics have never participated in it. "It is too long", some say. Really? A good movie or a hockey game takes about the same amount of time; and there is less at stake in that.

At the Easter Vigil we gather around the primary symbols of our faith: our assembling, the cross, the Easter candle, the scriptures, the baptismal water, and the bread and wine of the Eucharist. All this to celebrate the new light and life with which God graces us in the Crucified and Risen Lord. Not to be missed! 9:00 p.m.

AT THE EASTER VIGIL AND AT THE EASTER MASSES - OUR BAPTISM RENEWED:
Our sharing in Christ's victory over death and darkness and sin began at our baptism. But it takes a lifetime for Baptism "to take". Easter is the best time to have it renewed so that the new life that Jesus won for us in his Death and Resurrection may progressively grow on us.

THE STRIPS OF BURLAP TO BE REMOVED/REPLACED:
Since Ash Wednesday many of us have had a apiece of burlap on our homes. It was to remind us at home that as Christians we were in the Lenten season. Otherwise, the danger is that we only think of Lent when we are at church. That is not very helpful: in fact, it would be rather useless. Lent is part of the Christian Journey wherever we are. We cannot keep it to an in-church activity.

Lent is finished on Holy Thursday evening. So that is a good time to remove the strips of burlap. You may want to bring them to church where you can place them in a box at the entrance of the church. Thank You.

OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS:
- to the Cossette family in the loss of their husband and brother Vic.

WEEKLY RECEIPTS   Date Collection OLV St. Malachy Mar. 26th Regular $ 431    $ 184    Mar. 26th Fuel 378    116    Apr. 02nd Regular 878    235    Apr. 02nd Support 435    97