3rd Sunday in Lent
Our Lady of Victory Sunday - 9:00 A.M.	CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST	St. Malachy Saturday - 7:00 P.M.

F O O D   F O R   T H O U G H T

Reading I Exodus 17.3-7 Responsorial Psalm If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts. Reading II Romans 5. 1- 2, 5 - 8 Gospel John 4. 5 - 42 Food for Thought When Jesus crosses these religious and social barriers, speaking to this woman who is also a Samaritan, she does not retreat but responds – first in astonishment and then with curiosity. In her astonishment she is open to new possibilities; in her curiosity she is willing to explore what they might be. How am I responding to Jesus’ message? Am I still curious? Do I want to know more, or have I ‘’switched off’’?

Pastor	Gyanprakash Topno
Rectory	490 Charles Street Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K5
Secretary	Monday and Thursday - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Email	Info-Request@stmalachyolv.com
Telephone	(819) 986-3763
Fax	(819) 961-3159

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.

40-3-50

M A S S       S C H E D U L E WED. Feb. 27th - 11:00 a.m. OLV Peter Lawlis by Wes Lambert SAT. Mar. 01st - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy All Parishioners by the Pastor SUN. Mar. 02nd - 9:00 a.m. OLV Lyall Sicard by Nan and family Louis Weatherdon (1st Anniversary by Rose & family Bernard Belter (8th Anniversary) by Veronica

LENT - WE CLIMB THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF EASTER
The Lenten season gives us a rich fair of Scripture readings. That is especially true of the Scripture readings for the Sundays of Lent. What they have in common is that they all prepare us for the celebration of the central mystery of the Christian faith: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Not all Scripture readings can be mentioned here, but notice this fixed pattern of the Gospel readings in Lent. The first Sunday always deals with the Temptation of Jesus in the desert; temptations that threaten every Christian but that by the power of Jesus' Spirit we are able to deal with. The second Sunday always gives us the story of Jesus' Transfiguration, a preview of His resurrection and glory in which we are called to share.

When it comes to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent, the Gospel readings follow a different pattern over a three-year cycle. This year we are in year A. The focus is on the Baptism, the baptismal orientation of the Christian life. That is why we are given three lengthy passages from John's Gospel that each brings out an aspect of baptism:

3rd Sunday:	The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) from sin/thirst to grace/living water
4th Sunday:	The healing of the man born blind (John 9) from darkness/blindness to light/sight
5th Sunday:	The raising of Lazarus (John 11) from death to resurrection.

These Gospel passages remind us that the Christian life is an ongoing passing over from sin and darkness and death into grace and light and life. How far are we on that "passing over"? Those 3 Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving give us a hint to where we are being led – transforming us and the world along with us. That is where Development and Peace continues to push, ushering the hope and promise of the Kingdom into our broken world.

The symbols displayed at the front of the church represent the earth and its resources. We have left copies of the descriptions of these symbols on the display table for you to take home. One of these symbols is a bank. The coins in the bank are made from ores mined in countries where many groups of people have been affected with a loss of plant life, clean water and no sewage treatment. Pollution is a major concern in our industrialized countries. Each is responsible for taking care of our earth.

There is an insert in today’s bulletin called Partners in Action. In Sierra Leone, a decade of civil war partially over diamonds left a heritage of poverty. But it also sowed the seeds of determination in Development and Peace’s partner, the Network Movement for Justice and Development. Read about their commitment to equality of all peoples and the dignity of the poor.

PRAYER DEVOTIONS
During Lent, the prayer devotions will be held on Wednesday mornings at 10:15 a.m. instead of Thursday afternoons. The prayer intention box is at the back of both parishes if you wish to have any petitions/intentions prayed on your behalf.

RETREAT DAY
- Sunday, February 24th, after 11:00 Mass, at St. Aloysius church, 300 Abbé-Murray, Gatineau. All are welcome.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
- Will be held at OLV on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. This will be followed by a light lunch which will be served in the parish hall. Everyone is welcome.

PPC NEEDS NEW BLOOD - REMINDER
Two members of PPC will be stepping down on April 1st 2008 -- one from St. Malachy and one from OLV. Become more involved. Please advise our secretary, Alma Miller, no later than March 3rd, 2008 if you are interested. Any of the current members of PPC would be only too pleased to answer any questions you may have.

PRAYERS & SYMPATHY
- to the family of Kenny D’Aoust, brother of Lorraine Charbonneau and Philip. His funeral and burial will take place at a later date. Please remember Kenny & his family in your prayers.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
A team has been formed from OLV to participate in the Knights of Columbus sandbag event on Saturday March 8, to show our appreciation for the previous donations that they have made to the parish. We will keep you posted on the outcome (Signed Ken & Monique).

ST PATRICK’S TEA
March 15th, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. OLV Parish Hall. Admission: Adults $4:00, Children: 6 to 12: $2.50 Under 6 free. If you can help, please call Monique at 986-3166.

COUNTRY DANCE & SUPPER
March 14th, 6:00 p.m. at the Palais Gomme, 562 Doherty Road, L’Ange Gardien. Supper& Dance: $20:00, Dance only $6:00. Music by the Talegators from 9:00 pm to 1:00 a.m. For information or tickets please call Susan at(819)281-5487, Alma at (819) 986-3534, or Louise at (819)281-9882.

ST PATRICK’S DANCE
March 15th 8:00 p.m. Gatineau Legion hall sponsored by St.Columban Church. Admission: $8:00. Live Country Band, Spot dances, Door Prizes and light lunch. For tickets or information 819-561-3352.

ARE YOU A CANCER SURVIVOR? DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS?
The first Relay for Life (sponsored by the Cancer Society) will be held on Friday, June 13 from 7 p.m. to Saturday, June 14 at 7:00 a.m, at McAndrew Park in Gatineau (Buckingham sector). Family, friends and supporters of the cause are invited to participate in this rally.

Relay for life information:

Relay for Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s unique, hope-filled community event held mostly throughout the month of June across the country. Monies collected helps the Canadian Cancer Society fund promising research projects; provide information services & support programs to improve the quality of life of those touched by cancer; advocate for public policies & promote healthy lifestyles & strategies to reduce the risk of cancer.

Recruit 10 people and then select a captain. The captain will register your team and then receive a Team Captain’s Kit containing important information for all members of your team. Each team member must collect $100.00 to participate. In other relays, each participant collected an average of $200.00. This team of 10 will take turns walking or running around a track.

To open the event at 7:00 pm on June 13, 2008: Cancer survivors, and those in treatment, are invited to walk the first lap of the Relay For Life to acknowledge and celebrate their courage in the struggle against the disease. During this time, their names will be read from the stands, while family members, friends and colleagues cheer them on.

At dusk, candles (luminaries) are lit in a moving ceremony, providing light & inspiration as participants walk through the night. Luminaries are candles placed in paper bags that line the Relay For Life track. Each bears the name of a loved one who has either survived cancer or lost his/her life to the disease. (Luminaries can be purchased in advance or at the event for $5.00 each.

If you have a team, would like to buy luminaries, know a survivor/treatment person, or would like more information please call Monique Simpson at 819-986-3166.

REMEMBER cancer NEVER sleeps and neither will we, during this 12-hour relay.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS CAUSE.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday and Thursday:	1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday:	9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

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

If you have any items for the bulletin, please send them to Alma at olv@videotron.ca before Wednesday afternoon.

W E E K L Y     R E C E I P T S   Date Collection OLV St. Malachy      Feb. 16/17 Sunday $   487.00    $   223.00