THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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 1 Kings 17. 10 -16 Responsorial Psalm Praise the Lord, my soul! Reading II Hebrews 9. 24 - 28 Gospel Mark 12. 38 - 44 Food for Thought The Lord watches the widow making her way to the treasury and handing in two coins. This sight fills him with admiration. Why? What attitude of the heart does he discern in her action? Where, in my experience, have I seen this kind of lavish spending? Does it consist in generosity with money, time, personal space, emotional connection, energy? Something else? “What are my “two small coins”? Do I value them as the Lord does? Do I value the “two small coins” of others around me? What is the Lord teaching me here?

November 12th, 2006

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.

M A S S       S C H E D U L E WED. Nov. 15th - 9:00 a.m. OLV Dorothy Teske by William Lawless SAT. Nov. 18th - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy Paul Aube by Sharron & Bob McDonnell SUN. Nov. 19th - 9:00 a.m. OLV Dorothy Garvey Miller by her family Yves Tremblay (19 Anniversary) by Rita & family Neilson Donovan Sr. by Veronica, Beverley & Maureen Belter

THE NOVEMBER 4th MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ENGLISH PARISHES:
Some 45 representatives from our English parishes in our diocese met on Saturday November 4th. Our Lady of Annunciation Parish did a fine job in hosting us. Their facilities served us well and the coffee and goodies they provided were most appreciated. This coming together is a very encouraging sign. It speaks of our solidarity with and of our care for each other. No individual parish can face today’s challenges on its own. We need to support each other in our ongoing search for finding ways to meet today’s challenges.

What kept us busy for those three hours? We struggled with the notion “moving from the practice of preparing for sacraments to the practice of learning to live a Christian life,”. That is the challenge that our bishop put before us in the document Discovering Jesus Christ: the Path to Freedom. This is not a matter of abolishing the practice of preparing for sacraments. On the contrary, it has to do with bringing that practice out of its isolation. It is too easily seen and dealt with as something on the margin of our parish life.

We spent a fair bit of time on looking at some blind spots and weak points in our present practice. Then we split up in smaller groups to deal with three questions/issues. They are reprinted here in the hope that we can continue this sort of reflection in our local parishes. There are no quick fixes to these questions/issues, but a willingness to look at them and to discuss them among ourselves is already a huge step forward.

Does our preparation for baptism for children have any direct contact with the larger community of baptized people? Provide the community with the opportunity of a firmer appreciation of their own baptism? i.e. NOT the celebration but rather the preparation, the various steps leading to the celebration? Is it inclusive of the larger community in any way? Visible, tangible examples more awareness of celebrations in relation to the liturgical calendar (as opposed to holding them “every second weekend” etc. Does our preparation for First Communion make connection with what the community wants and needs to on the day of the Lord? What does the “Come, join us at the table of the Lord” tell us about preparing for First Communion? What can be strengthened? Changed? i.e. NOT the celebration but rather the preparation, the various steps leading to the celebration: is it inclusive of the larger community in any way? Visible, tangible examples Do the parents and/or leaders understand these sessions to be about the parents themselves looking at their faith, that it includes family involvement, not a “graduation” of sorts? If the life of the Church includes the 4-pole model and if celebrating the sacraments is important in the life of Church, can we see opportunities for growth in what we do from day to day and week to week as a community? Can we tap into the community’s life rhythm(s) rather than focus solely on age groups? Do we tie the D&P Fall campaign into our preparations, especially for families with First Communion kids and for young adults requesting Confirmation? Faith tied into real life exercises, activities, opportunities for the whole community. The whole community working together at these activities, opportunities, celebrations, alongside the Communicants, families, Confirmands - all growing at each own’s pace. All our lives we are confronted with new questions, new experiences — the sacramental mysteries are to be discovered and rediscovered throughout our entire life lifetimes. Preparing a calendar based on the liturgical year for all activities, including post-event reflection times for all.

It could well be that these questions may look rather strange to those who were not at the meeting. If that is the case, you may want to check with those who were there. Who knows? It may lead to a fruitful conversation and probing. That would really be fantastic.

WE HAVE A SAY IN OUR PARISH…….LET’S TAKE IT:
A parish is not run by a priest or by a few faceless individuals. We all have an opportunity to contribute to its life. That contribution of us all must be coordinated and channeled. Two important bodies in the parish are the forum in which that coordination and guidance take place. One of these bodies is for pastoral issues: The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC); the other is for administrative and financial aspects: The Fabrique or The Wardens.

We have a joint PPC for both O.L.V. and St. Malachy.

Each of our two parishes has its own 6 Wardens. They are chosen by the parishioners for a three-year term, renewable once. At O.L.V. Rollie Plouffe is finishing his second three-year term; Phil Daoust is finishing his second three-year term. At St. Malachy Hugh Connolly is finishing his second three-year term; Terry Brennan resigned from his position earlier this year.

Please, let us hear from you if you are willing or if you know of someone capable and willing to serve either O.L.V. or St. Malachy parishes in this capacity.

NOVEMBER 12th - “DEADLINE” FOR REGISTRATION FOR CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION

WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON SERVERS OR ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDER:
We used to call them altar boys. But language changes. So assistants to the priest who presides at Mass comes a little closer to reality.

Whatever the name, we are very low on them. For a variety of reasons we don’t seem to be able to keep our younger parishioners in that ministry a long time, Mind you, we don’t have to keep it limited to younger parishioners either. In fact, a mix of different ages would be great. It would certainly make our Sunday Mass more complete if that aspect of our Mass were properly looked after. Our Sunday Mass deserves better than having to wing it or scramble.

Could you help, please?

KIDS:
Do you like to sing and are 7 yrs old and over? Looking for at least 10 kids to get the choir started. Practices would take place at OLV church once a week for an hour. Possibility of putting on plays and having lots of fun. If you can make this commitment please phone Sandra at 819 986-1185.

COOKBOOK FUND RAISER - DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st TO SUBMIT YOUR RECIPES

CHRISTMAS TEA - DECEMBER 02nd:
If you would like to convene the tea, please contact Evelyn Robitaille at 986-2477.

PRAYERS AND SYMPATHY:
- to the family of George Roos who died this week.

CONGRATULATIONS & BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
- Kay Delcourt who will celebrate her birthdays on November 13th,
- Veronica Smith who will celebrate her 93rd birthday on November 15th, and
- Louis & Rose Weatherdon who will celebrate their 67th Wedding Anniversary on November 16th.