ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PARISH? WELCOME!
Welcome to those who want to make our parish their faith home. You may have come from other places. You may have been “away for a while”. Be assured that we love to have you among us. We would appreciate it very much if you identified yourself at Mass. It would also help if you would take the time to fill out a registration form. The next time you are with us, you may leave it in the collection basket or give it to one of the ushers or to the priest. Thank you and welcome.

PRAYER, POSTURE, PEOPLE OF GOD
Back in September we took some time focusing on a couple of ‘things’ we do at Sunday Eucharist, namely reflecting on the Word of God we hear ever week (before and after each Sunday’s readings are heard), as well as reflecting on why we sing at Sunday Eucharist. This month we’ll take a look at how we pray with our bodies while we’re there. We actually do pray in that sacred space with more than our hearts and heads and voices.

The catechism of the Catholic Church has something to say on prayer, namely in the three major expressions of the life of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation and contemplative prayer.

Vocal prayer is ‘external’ prayer, associated with the ‘internal’ prayer of the heart. It is meant to follow Christ’s example of praying to his Father and his teaching the Our Father to his disciples.

Meditation is a prayerful quest to internalize bits and pieces of what we ‘know’ in faith, making each bit by teeny bit, the true reality of our own life. Ultimately it is learning to truly ‘live’ our faith.

Contemplative prayer is ‘faith-gazing’ on Jesus. It’s a keen attentiveness to the Word of God; a silent love. It’s a union, a sharing, a oneness in Christ – an expression of the mystery of prayer.

Our focus today is on the first of these three: Vocal prayer. To his disciples, drawn by their Master's silent prayer, Jesus teaches a vocal prayer: the Our Father. Since we are body and spirit, Jesus understood our need to translate our feelings externally. We must pray with our whole being to give all power possible to our prayer.

This is easy to understand if we think of how much of our bodies we use when we try to relate an especially exciting story to someone else. Our faces light up, we use our hands, arms, etc. We use our whole being.

At Sunday Eucharist, we walk together, sit together, stand together, sing the Great Amen together, offer the sign of peace together. This is group prayer, vocal prayer, body prayer. And we are invited to do more than this! We’ll look at that next week…

BAPTISM
The rite of Baptism will be celebrated on November 18th at 2:00 p.m .at OLV. Over the years we have developed a series of three evenings of reflection in preparation for the celebration of Baptism. This format gives the parents the opportunity to take a second look at their own baptism and why they want to have their daughter/son baptized. Baptism should not be taken for granted; nor is Baptism something you do around the birth of a child. There is so much more to it.

The next evenings of reflection take place on Monday, November 5th, and Monday, November 12th.

FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION
We would like to hear from parents who would like to have their children make their first communion and from parishioners who are 15 years and up who are interested in being confirmed. Please contact us before November 18th. It would be helpful if you would draw this item to the attention of those who might me interested. Thank you.

NOVEMBER - THE MONTH IN WHICH WE REMEMBER THE DECEASED
November is traditionally the month in which we give more attention to the remembrance of the deceased. Christians do so in a unique way based on what is central in our faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You will see for all of the month of November the so-called Book of Life at the front of the church. The Book of Life contains the names of deceased parishioners and relatives. Some additional pages are provided at the back of the book for that purpose, unless you decide to make up your own book.

It is our way of expressing our faith that the dead find peace with God and will be raised to life when the Lord Jesus comes in glory. The Book is placed next to the Easter Candle which speaks of the ultimate victory of life over death, of light over darkness, in the dead and risen Jesus. We are called to share in that victory.

INVITATION TO THE FALL ZONE WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 17TH
Two and a half years ago, on the Feast of Pentecost, our Bishop Roger Ebacher presented the Church of Gatineau with a visionary document Discovering Jesus Christ the Path to Freedom, a document outlining the catechetical project of the pastoral life of our Diocese for the next 10-15 years. It has been tough going, especially in light of the immense challenge the Bishop gave us when he asks us to move from the practice of preparation for the sacraments to the practice of formation to the Christian life. After all, sacraments function only properly in the context of the Christian life. It is not just for children, but for youth and adults as well, simply because it is a life-long process for all of us. On Saturday, November 17th, those who have a leadership position in our English parishes and all other interested parishioners are urged to once again come together to continue the journey. The session will again take place from 9 am to noon at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Hull.

It has been tough going, especially in light of the immense challenge the Bishop gave us when he asks us to move from the practice of preparation for the sacraments to the practice of formation to the Christian life. This is not to stop preparing for sacraments, but to set all these efforts in a larger context, namely that of formation to the Christian life. After all, sacraments function only properly in the context of the Christian life. Formation in that Christian life is the real challenge today; it is not just for children, but for youth and adults as well, simply because it is a life-long process for all of us.

If you are considering participating at the zone workshop, please note that we will be getting together November 4th at the rectory from 2 to 4 pm, to name all the things we ‘do’ and all that we ‘are’ as a two-parish community, since there won’t be time to spend on this portion of the exercise at the Zone meeting. Be sure to get your copy from Gale or Ellen if you cannot join us; we need each participating member to know what goes on prior to the workshop so we all get the most out of the workshop.

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers those who have died recently, especially Pearl Reid and Steven Desaulniers. Our sympathy is with the mourning families. Also please remember in a special way during the month of November all the deceased parishioners of both parishes who are named in The Book of Life (at the front of the Church).

OUR LADY OF KNOCK SHRINE MEETING
November 6th, 7:15 p.m. (Wardens of St. Malachy are invited)

ARMISTICE DAY CEREMONY
The ceremony at the Cenotaph will take place at 2:00 p.m. on November 11th. following the march from the Legion, Branch 54.

OLV WARDENS METING
Thursday November 8th, at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory.

THAT WAS A REAL GOOD SUPPER! THANK YOU!
Lots of work went into preparing and putting on last Friday’s Harvest Supper. The time for a drink before and the quality of the supper itself drew many compliments. And it was nice to see that all of the tickets were gone. One aspect of the event deserves also mention: the beautiful cooperation between members of both parishes. No fuss. The work simply got done. Many thanks to those who put on the supper. And many thanks too to those who supported the event by participating and enjoying the fellowship and the supper. The amount raised from this event was $3800.00 with $1900.00 going to each parish.

BIRTHDAY WISHES TO
Betty Filiatreault who will celebrate her birthday on November 8th.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday and Thursday:	1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday:	9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Telephone messages are picked up on a regular basis throughout the week.