Third Sunday of Lent

March 7 , 2010

Parish News Notes:

Lenten Reminder

The Eucharist will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily from Monday through Friday during Lent. Stations of the Cross take place every Friday evening at 7:30.

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT – March 7, 2010

This year, the Development and Peace Partner in Action sheet features a full-cover story in drawings about the communities our Colombian partner Justice and Peace, helps. During our Fall campaign, we showed how the spread of argrofuel crop plantations in the Global South leads to the loss of land and livelihoods for small-scale farmers. In the Choco region of Colombia, small rural communities have been persecuted, their houses burnt to the ground, and family members assassinated to clear land for these plantations. Justice and Peace helps them reclaim their land and their rights. "Thanks to Justice and Peace, we have some peace," say community members. Your copy of the Partner in Action sheet will be in your Easter Mailing.

Interesting Background

(Bishop Ken Untener +2004)

Almsgiving and Stewardship

Pope Benedict: The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of time, talent and treasure.

Fundraising: Fund raising has to do with paying bills, with raising the money needed to run an organization. Fund raising is like bringing your share of food to a potluck. Fund raising is a financial matter. Stewardship is also a financial matter but more fundamentally, a spiritual matter.

What is stewardship?

Stewardship is a way of life based on the Gospel. How do I make it my way of life?

• I take to heart the opening words of Psalm 24: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it."
• I recognize that part of my God-given make-up is a need to give, and that it is a source of my own peace and happiness.
• I return a portion of my time/skills and possessions to God in a spirit of gratitude.
• I decide on a planned and consistent way of doing this.
• I take it off the top, rather than from what is left over.

A Novena of Thanksgiving for
the Canonization of Brother André
March 10 – 18

Definition: A novena is a series of prayers that are said for nine straight days, usually as a prayer of petition but sometimes as a prayer of thanksgiving. The nine days recalls the nine days that the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent in prayer between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday.
A Novena of Thanksgiving: The Holy Cross Fathers have been honoured to serve St. Kevin's for 15 years. Two weeks ago, we received the wonderful news that our confrere, Alfred Bessette, better known as Brother André, will be made a "saint" of the church on October 17, 2010. Brother André had a profound devotion to St. Joseph, whose feast is March 19. Father Norm and Father Jim invite the members of the parish to join with the Congregation of Holy Cross for the nine days leading up to March 19, in thanking God for the gift of sainthood given to Brother André.

Prayer Intentions for the Novena:

March 10 – We thank God for Brother André – a Canadian, one of us!

Reflection: How do I follow Jesus and strive to live the Gospel in my Canadian context today?

March 11 – We thank God for Brother André – the friend of St. Joseph!

Reflection: Think imaginatively of Joseph's role in the life of Jesus.

March 12 – We thank God for Brother André – a faithful Holy Cross religious!

Reflection: How faithful am I to my baptism and my vocation in life?

March 13 – We thank God for Brother André – an instrument of God's healing!

Reflection: Where do I need healing? How can I be healing for others?

March 14 – We thank God for Brother André – a source of hope for the poor!

Reflection: In a practical way, how can I be hope for the poor?

March 15 – We thank God for Brother André – a man of deep prayer!

Reflection: Identify the prayer moments in my everyday life.

March 16 – We thank God for Brother André – a companion for those who suffer!

Reflection: Name those who are suffering with whom I journey.

March 17 – We thank God for Brother André – a model of perseverance!

Reflection: God calls us to be faithful, not successful. (Mother Theresa).

March 18 – We thank God for Brother André – a saint for our times!

Reflection: A "saint" enjoys eternal life with the community of the Holy Trinity. In my time and in my place, I am called to be a saint.

Praying the Novena of Thanksgiving for the
Canonization of Brother André

1.  Take five to ten minutes each day. Begin your prayer by thanking God for the gift  of Brother André.
2.  Spend a few minutes reviewing the prayer intention and the reflection for the day. How does the saintly life of Brother André speak to your life here and now.
3. Pray one decade of the Rosary. We recommend the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Mysteries of Light for the novena. (See below). It is good to think of a person struggling and in need . . . and to pray for that person.
4.  Conclude each novena prayer session by praying this prayer inspired by the life of St. Joseph:

Called to Love

God of love, the life of Saint Joseph
was filled with calls to love.
As we contemplate his life, you call us today
to unconditional and universal love,
to love faithfully day after day,
to offer a guiding light to our brothers and sisters,
to give of ourselves and to pardon,
to show mercy to the oppressed and to the poor
under whatever guise they appear,
Give us that grace through Jesus Christ,
your Beloved Son
and through the intercession of Joseph,
model of your eternal love. Amen.

5.  Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary: Agony in the Garden / Scourging at the Pillar / Crowning with Thorns / Carrying of the Cross/ Crucifixion.
6.  Mysteries of Light: Baptism of Jesus / Wedding feast of Cana / Proclamation of the Kingdom of God / Transfiguration / Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph – March 19

The novena of thanksgiving has a fitting conclusion with the Eucharist on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph. Eucharist means to give thanks and so our nine days of prayer of thanksgiving for the canonization of Brother André can be concluded with the Eucharist. We have the 8:00 morning Mass and the 7:00 evening Mass. St. Joseph's Day can be a moment to relax our Lenten discipline. The morning Mass will be our occasion for St. Joseph's Table. Those who have baked goods prepared for Easter are invited to bring them for a blessing. Also, those who may have sweets or some baked goods to share that morning are invited to bring them for a blessing and then for immediate consumption. As usual, on such a grand occasion and to salute Brother André, "saint to be", Signore Sambuca and Monsieur Rémi Martin, along with Master Bailey will join us for this mini-celebration.

Parish Planning for March

• March 10 - 18 – Novena of Thanksgiving for canonization of Brother André
• March 12 – Stations of the Cross – Sacristy Collective
• March 19 – Feast of St. Joseph – Blessing of St. Joseph Bread
• March 21 – Fifth Sunday of Lent – Solidarity Sunday
• March 23 – Taizé Prayer for Lent
• March 28 – Palm Sunday – THINKfast
• March 29 – Parish Reconciliation
• March 30 – Chrism Mass – Cathedral
• April 1 – 3 – Triduum
• April 4 – Easter Sunday
• April 7 – Pastoral Council Meeting
• April 18 – Third Sunday of Easter–Wilson Andrade–Final Vows – 5:00 p.m. Mass
• April 20 – Liturgy Meeting

Remember the needs of the Food Bank!

• 500g. & 1kg. Peanut Butter
• sweetened and unsweetened apple sauce
• tea

We are in dire need of the outer 4 litre milk bags (the bag that contains the three bags of milk)

Our parishioners are so very good in stocking our Food Bank.

Respect for Life Mass

Annual Diocesan RESPECT FOR LIFE MASS celebrated by Most Rev. James M. Wingle, will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral in St. Catharines. Reception to follow.

Catholic School Council Spring Convention 2010

The Niagara Catholic Regional School Council and the Niagara Catholic District School Board present the annual Catholic School Council Spring Convention 2010. The convention takes place on Saturday, March 27th, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Holy Cross High School, St. Catharines.

Retrouvaille: Married Singles Lifestyle

Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue. . . or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? This program has helped couples worldwide experiencing difficulty at all levels of marital distress. For confidential information about or to register for the April program beginning with a weekend on April 9-11, 2010 in Niagara Falls, please call 905-664-5212, or email: or visit the web site

Lent 2010 – Lenten Discipline

Lent is about penance and baptism. The first half of Lent calls the Christian community to penance for personal sin and for the sins of the community. We are invited to a deeper sense of PRAYER – reflecting on the direction of our lives, connecting with the Lord Jesus; changing our lives. We are invited to FAST – to fast is to empty ourselves making room for the Lord and for hospitality to others, especially the poor.

In Canada, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence from meat. It is in the best interests of the church that these days be proclaimed and practised in the parish community as days of true penance. You are invited and encouraged to do special penance on these two days.
Christian fasting obtains its full meaning when we deprive ourselves of food in order to be more open for prayer, to share more in the suffering of those who are starving, and to save money to give to the poor.

And we are invited to give ALMS: Our Share Lent collection takes place Palm Sunday. Donor fatigue is never an option for the believer who takes discipleship seriously. Penance remains an important theme through the second half of Lent but now we reflect on the power of baptism and renewing our baptismal commitment at Easter. Our RCIA members are especially in our parish prayer as they prepare for the sacraments of initiation into our Catholic Christian community at the Easter Vigil.

An invitation to pray before the suffering Christ!

In the corner of the sanctuary, you will notice the Crucifix – The Crucified Christ. This crucifix is the work of the Peruvian artist, Edilberto Merida. Throughout Lent, you are invited to take two or three minutes and kneel in meditation before Christ on the cross and pray especially an act of contrition for the sins of the world. We all share a common humanity which makes us responsible, in a social sense, for the awful sins of pride, waste, greed and indifference that inflict so much pain and suffering on persons in every part of our world. During Lent, we are invited to pray the Act of Contrition you will find at the prayer station before the Crucifix.

EMPTY Fair Trade Coffee Bags

Please bring in your EMPTY Fair Trade Coffee Bags, Two ND students are going to recycle them!

Catholic Marriage Tribunal

If you are considering remarriage in the Catholic Church at some point, or hoping to enter a marriage with someone previously married, please speak to a priest, or contact the Diocesan Catholic Marriage Tribunal in St. Catharines at 905-687-8817. Information Pamphlets are available through the parish.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Due to the privacy laws, the hospital does not list our parishioners by address or parish unless you state your religion as ST. KEVIN PARISH when you are admitted. It would help the parish visiting team if when the hospital asks religion – you respond ST. KEVIN'S PARISH. If you or a family member enter a hospital for several days please be sure to call the parish office to let us know if you wish a visit. If you wish the Anointing of the Sick before an operation, either at home or while in the hospital, be sure to inform the parish office. A priest will come as soon as possible to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. We also have a group of lay people from our parish who each week visit or bring communion to Catholic parishioners in the hospital. Please, we need to know that you are there!

THE FIVE SECRETS – Of successful parking at St. Kevin's!

1. Our parking lot parking is limited and so must be modeled after the way one would park on a ferryboat. Please enter by Niagara Street and exit on to Northcote. Please, please do not park in front of the exit, blocking all cars!
2. For maximum efficiency – use the three lanes and please move directly up to the space behind the car ahead of you. Spaces are clearly marked.
3. Do not give bad example. The one-way arrows clearly indicate the flow of the traffic from Niagara Street to Northcote. Do not slip your car in and put it in the opposite direction for quick exit. That is illegal.
4. Upon leaving church and exiting the parking lot, please be patient and respectful of one another.
5. Beware! If you are parked illegally on the streets surrounding the parish – the Niagara Regional Police (to borrow a phrase from St. Peter's letter) are lurking about like a lion – waiting to ticket you.

Sunday Offering Envelopes for 2010

Envelopes for 2010 are available in the foyer. If you did not use envelopes last year, and wish to use them in 2010, please fill in a registration form and take a blank box and write your full name and address on the first few envelopes.

REMINDER:

Are You Registered in Our Parish?

Please do not take for granted that you are registered in the parish just because you attend Mass here. If we have no record of your parish membership, it could be quite embarrassing to us, or to you or your family, when someone wishes to make wedding plans, have a baby baptized, or if you have been asked to act as a sponsor for baptism or confirmation. Please fill out a registration form. This form is on the shelf in the book stand in the foyer of the church. When you have completed the form, place in the collection basket or return it to the Parish Office