“God is the strength of his people” Psalm 28

From the Pastor’s Desk…

Dear Parishioners;

Our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has requested the faithful of the Catholic Church to intensify their prayer on behalf of priests during the coming year, June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010.  This year marks the 150th anniversary of the saintly Cure of Ars, St. Jean Marie Vianney.  His outstanding pastoral solicitude has made him a model of priestly service.  Our Holy Father wishes each member of the Church to come to know this saint.   

We do not choose the saints we love, in some wonderful way, they choose us.  I remember reading his heroic life in the seminary, bedazzled by his fasts and his constancy in the confessional.  Far from frightening me from the priesthood, he became like a star athlete who set the bar high.  

The priest is essential to the Church; without the priest, there is no offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the tabernacle would be empty, and one could say that the very existence of the Church depends on priests.  This year of the priest must be for each one of us a renewal in our commitment to daily pray for new vocations to the priesthood. 

That being said, it should be noted, that the priest is not a superhero, that everything rises and falls on his poor shoulders.  In the hostile climate of Communism, the persecuted Church often had no priests since most them were martyred.  But the faith did not disappear.  It survived, and even thrived because, the faithful maintained a life of prayer, a constant relationship with God the Father, Jesus, the Incarnate Word, and with the Holy Spirit.   

It would be good to meditate on these words of Fr. Richard Graf CSSP: 

"The priest is the dispenser of the mysteries of God, keeper of God's people, and shepherd in the place of Christ, The priest, the minister of Christ, can only reach to a person's mind and understanding. But the deciding factor in the spiritual life is not the mind but the heart. Whether or not the heart is touched and inflamed depends on the Holy Sprit and the individual soul in the first place, and not on the priest. Priests have as a rule a good deal of work, hard work, to face; but in many cases their efforts are unavailing, the reason being that the impression prevails that they have to do all the work and that success depends on themselves. In fact, however, the priest is only the "friend of the Bridegroom" (John 3, 29); he can but introduce souls to the Bridegroom; the final decision rests with those so introduced, and depends above all else on their prayer. Hence pastors of souls must take pains in the matter of a proper training in prayer. If only the faithful knew how to pray then the priest's labour implanting and watering would not fail in the desired increase (1 Cor. 3, 7 ). If his hearers laid the matter to heart (Is. 57, 1) God's words would blaze within as a burning fire (Jer. 20, 9)." 

St. Jean Marie Vianney did many wonderful things, but above all he taught his people how to pray. He impressed upon parents, especially mothers, the solemn duty they had to train their children in the school of prayer.   He would be the first to admit he was poor preacher, but because his people prayed, his sermons, went straight to their hearts, and they were converted. 

Let us endeavour to set out once again to enter the school of prayer.

 

 

A father wanted to read the paper, but was being bothered by his little daughter, Susie. Finally, he took a sheet out of his magazine, on which was printed the map of the world. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Susie, and said, “Go into the other room and see if you can put this together.” After a few minutes, Susie returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was very surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. “Oh”, she said, “on the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus. When I got Jesus in His place, then the world came out all right.”

 

To an enemy: forgiveness

To an opponent: tolerance

To a child: a good example

To a friend: a listening heart

To your parents: respect

To all men: charity

The birth of John the Baptist was one of the earliest feasts to be named to a particular day on the Church calendar. June 24 was chosen as it is six months before the birth of Christ. With its proximity to the summer solstice, it signifies the waning of the light, while the birth of Jesus near the winter solstice marks the coming of the light. On the occasion of his birth, Elizabeth and Zechariah, his parents, called him John in accordance with an angel’s instruction to his father. In disbelief that they would have a son, Zechariah asked for a sign and was struck dumb, but with the giving of the name, his speech was restored and Luke records that he responded with the Benedictus (“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel…”), the great hymn of love and thanksgiving still recited in the liturgy of the hours.

 

Please remember to drop off your newspapers to any of the following locations: Ray & Pauline White, Ivan & Ann Roobroeck, Ron & Darlene Van Bakel, Bin outside St. Patrick’s Community Centre. Thanks for your support!

 

For St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery will be held June 28^th following the 8:30 a.m. Mass in Mitchell in the church hall. All parishioners are invited to attend. Coffee will be served.

 

Did you know that Malaria kills thousands more people than HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Measles and Leprosy combined?  Did you know that Malaria is a highly preventable disease that kills over 3,000 children every day and claims up to 3 million lives each year in Africa? Did you know long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets are the most efficient and cost effective way to prevent malaria? On Sunday, June 28th following the 10 am Mass, St. Patrick's, Kinkora CWL will be hosting a Bake Sale with proceeds going towards BUY-A-NET Malaria Prevention Group.  All ladies of the parish are kindly asked to donate two baked items (pies, dozen cookies, dozen tarts, plate of squares, etc.) to be dropped off that morning before Mass. Please support this worthy cause; your generosity is appreciated and will save lives!

 

There is a promise of marriage between Karl Gmach, son of Karl & Ruthann Gmach of St. Aloysius Parish, Kitchener and Colleen Walsh, daughter of Patrick & Sharon Walsh of St. Patrick’s Parish, Kinkora. They will be married on Saturday, July 11th at St. Patrick’s Parish, Kinkora. Please pray for Karl and Colleen and the success of their marriage.

1st Publication

Happy Father’s Day!

 

 

Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi) is a program for married couples that feel bored, disillusioned, frustrated, or angry in their marriage. Some experience coldness. Others experience conflict in their relationship. Most don’t know how to change the situation or even communicate with their spouse about it. This program has helped thousands of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. For confidential information about, or to register for the upcoming program beginning with a weekend on August 7th, 8th & 9th, please call 1-800-705-6356.