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Our Lady of Victory / St. Malachy
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PASSION / PALM

SUNDAY

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 Isaiah 50.4 - 7 Responsorial Psalm My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Reading II Philippians 2.6 - 11 Gospel Matthew 26. 14 -27.66
Food for Thought
  • “Who is this?” As we recall this joyous celebration of the arrival of the prophet, Jesus of Nazareth, we are also aware of what lies ahead, as Jesus was.
  • At the start of this momentous week, let me sit and ponder this familiar story. Can I read it afresh, as though for the first time?

 


Pastor
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
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.



M A S S       S C H E D U L E

WED. Mar. 19th   NO MASS
THU. Mar. 20th - 7:00 p.m. OLV Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday)
FRI. Mar. 21st - 3:00 p.m. OLV Celebration of the Lord's Passion (Good Friday)
FRI. Mar. 21st - 7:30 p.m. St. Malachy Reflection/Meditation (Good Friday)
SAT. Mar. 22nd - 9:00 p.m. OLV Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday)
SUN. Mar. 23rd - 9:00 a.m. St. Malachy Eucharist (Easter Sunday)
SUN. Mar. 23rd - 11:00 a.m. OLV Eucharist (Easter Sunday)

OUR FORTY-DAY LENTEN JOURNEY REACHES ITS GOAL
This coming week, on Holy 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 Our Lady of Victory, but they are meant to include St. Malachy. It would be so 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.

CHRISM MASS THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19th, 7:30 P.M.
The Archbishop invites us to participate in the Chrism Mass over which he presides at the Cathedral. 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 representatives from the parishes and institutions where they will be used in the course of the year.

WASHING FEET ON HOLY THURSDAY
This is very much part of the Holy Thursday service. In this, at first light, 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 that was not god-like enough. It is a good thing that Peter consented after some objections.

In Jesus, God chooses to be servant of us all. Hence, all should feel free to be part of this strange, but powerful gesture. So we can have a good number of our parishioners who are willing to have their feet washed. 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 and, as such, it is different from a fast we may be observing during Lent. Eating less is one form of fasting. But a very appropriate form of fasting is to abstain 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 it 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 it.

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
Since Ash Wednesday many of us have had a piece of burlap in 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. 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.

PRAYER DEVOTIONS
There will be no prayer devotions on Wednesday of this week.

“I believe – I give”
“I believe in God who asks me to give food to the hungry; I believe in the cause pursued by Development and Peace; and I believe that this organization – our organization – is an efficient one. This is why I give to Development and Peace, and why I invite my fellow citizens to do likewise.”
  Roger Ébacher,
Archbishop of Gatineau

Because last weekend’s masses were cancelled due to the snow storm, the envelopes for the annual Share Lent collection will be accepted until the end of Lent. The Share Lent collection lets you put your beliefs of justice and solidarity into practice. Please give generously.
Hunger Meal
The six area Catholic churches decided to go ahead with the planned Hunger Meal for Development and Peace last Sunday regardless of the snow storm. The guest speaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo was very inspiring, as all those in attendance can attest. There were 27 parishioners who made their way through all the snow. If anyone wishes to borrow the DVD that was shown during the Hunger Meal entitled “After the Tsunami, Rebuilding our Villages, our Lives”, please call the Secretary.

Fire Leaves Four Families Homeless

The Transformation Committee has been in contact this past week with our municipal councillor, Jocelyne Houle, to see how our two-parish community can assist the four homeless families as a result of last week’s fire on Pine Street. Three of the four families were not insured.


Mrs. Houle suggests the following:

If parishioners wish to make a monetary donation, an account has been set up at the Caisse Populaire – transit 30429, file 81772.

The Knights of Columbus has agreed to coordinate donations of furniture, appliances, dishes, etc. - please call 819-986-3293.

St. Vincent de Paul at 390 avenue de Buckingham will accept all clothing donations.
Mrs. Houle also wishes to thank all those who have already come forward to provide assistance to our neighbors. She indicated that she has received numerous telephone calls from concerned citizens and businesses wishing to help.

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.



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490 Charles Street • Gatineau • Quebec • J8L 2K5
Telephone: (819) 986-3763
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