St. Francis of Assisi Parish 49 Blueridge Ave., Kitchener, Ontario N2M 4E2 519-745-7301 www.stfranciskw.ca [email protected]Administered by the Congregation of the Resurrection: www.resurrectionists.ca Lord’s Day Masses Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am Weekday Masses Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am Reconciliation By Appointment Only, please call the parish Sunday Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy at this time Prayer Network Call parish office to request prayers Baptism Please call the parish office. Marriages Please call the parish office. Administrator: Fr. Raphael Ma, C.R. ([email protected]) Pastoral Minister: Miss Ruthann Fisher ([email protected]) Music Ministry: Mrs. Terrianne Moulton Admin. Assistant: Ms. Alice Soeder Building Manager: Mr. Gary Howell Parish Office is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – noon & 1:00 – 4:30 pm by Appointment Only Please call ahead Vocations Information: www.vocationinfo.ca www.vocationculture.ca “We are a Christ-centred faith community seeking to be instruments of God’s peace.” 17 th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME July 26, 2020 “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.” Matthew 11: 25
IN ORDINARY TIME July 18/19 Collection $4,087.25 2020 Total Collection $145,883.50 2020 Total Budgeted Collection $309,450.00
“Christian joy flows from listening to, and accepting, the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Whoever believes this message knows that life is born of the love of God the Father.”
~ @Pontifex, July 3, 2020
Looking Ahead to August 2, 2020
18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Isaiah 55: 1-3 Romans 8: 35, 37-39 Matthew 14: 13-21
DIOCESAN PRAYER
CALENDAR Mon. July 27: Rev. Miro Grubisic, OFM
Tues. July 28: Rev. David Perrin Wed. July 29: Our Parish Community
Thu. July 30: Rev. Raphael Ma, CR Fri. July 31: Rev. Tim Uniac, CR
Sat. Aug. 1: Most Rev. Anthony Tonnos
MASS INTENTIONS July 27 – August 2, 2020
Tuesday, 28th - Weekday
9:00 am +Bill Haid – Eleanor Buchanan
Wednesday, 29th - St. Martha, Disciple of the Lord
9:00 am Intentions of Maria Cabral
Thursday, 30th - Weekday
9:00 am Intentions of Laura Donald – Joan Ferraccioli
Intentions of Hrolt Jerberloh – Hildegard Tolgyesi
+Jack Donald – Peter & Chris Higgins
+David Angelis – Dennis & Joanne Chenard
+Robert Montag – the White Family
+Theresa Smith – Catholic Women’s League
+David O’Farrell – Nate & Alison O’Farrell & Family
Friday, 31st - St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
9:00 am +Sarah Ramon – Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Saturday, 1st - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
5:00 pm Intentions of Maria Ferreira & Family
+Jose Gouveia – Maria Gouveia & Family
+Irena & Gabriel Prudnikowicz – the Family
+Janice Galloway – Gail & Ruthann Fisher
+Lorne MacDonald – Aunt Margie & Dana Marsh
+Annabelle Ritchie – the Family
Sunday, 2nd - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:00 am Parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi
11:00 am +Maria DeSouza – Jose Lindo
WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY BAPTIZED!
During the pandemic we are not able to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism during Mass, so you may not know that we have welcomed a few new members these past weeks. Welcome to the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Community and the Catholic Church:
Anthony Kai Hem Aaliyah Madilynn Hem Jacob Yohana Toma
May you always know God’s love for you and the prayers and support of our parish community.
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD
SHEPHERD COLLECTING ITEMS Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd leaders are preparing a special
presentation for their catechists, History of the Kingdom of God - The Gifts. The program invites our children to marvel at all the complexity and diversity of the
gifts given to us by God, found in creation, that unfolded over the eons. When humans finally arrived on the scene, they found everything ready
and waiting for them, as if God was just waiting to see what we would do with all these gifts. God then gave us the gift of each other, families, friends, and the ability to work with God. Finally, in the fullness of time, God gave the gift of God’s very self, in the person of Jesus. We continue to receive Christ each time we gather for Mass until God’s Plan reaches completion, when God is all-in-all. As the narrative for this presentation continues, a timeline is unfolded on the ground, and the children are invited to place small samples of these many gifts along the timeline.
What we need to collect for the St. Francis atrium is a multitude of gifts!
Paula has provided a list of objects she needs, all should be small to fit into a child’s hand. If you have any items you would like to donate please contact the parish office to schedule a time to bring them in.
Click here to see the list of items. Thank you for your help stocking our atrium!
An Update from our 60th Anniversary Cmte
Statue Gardens: We would like to thank our gardening team of Beanie Watson, Bruce McNeil, and Gary Howell for the work they have done this spring around the St. Francis statue. It was decided last year to create new flower beds near the statue. Bruce enlisted the help of Master Gardener Marianne Weiler, who also assisted in the design of gardens at Blessed Sacrament church, to help us re-imagine the gardens around the St. Francis statue. Marianne helped grow plants during the winter months which were then transplanted in our new beds. Gary spent several days removing the old plants, which were given away to neighbours, including the Parents for Community Living home across the road. Gary, Bruce, Marianne and other volunteers then planted the new additions in our flower beds. Thank you all of you for your hard work!
Because of COVID-19, the diocese has asked us not to spend money on unnecessary work around the parish. For this reason the garden benches which were in our original design have not yet been purchased or installed. We do plan to add these at a future date, and our garden will be complete!
Total costs for the transformation, thanks to many of the plants being donated, was $155.00. Sod Turning Anniversary: We had also been considering planting a new tree on the 60th Anniversary of the Sod Turning for St. Francis Church, this past Friday, July 17. Due to COVID-19 this project is also on hold until possibly next year. More updates from the committee will be forthcoming as news is available on our other projects and celebrations.
Thank you to all volunteers and to the parishioners of St. Francis for their continued support of our parish!
This past week on July 22nd, we celebrated the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles. You may or may not remember that back in June of 2016, Pope Francis re-elevated the status of her memorial to a feast day. This decision both emphasizes the importance of women in the mission of Christ and His Church, and is more in continuity with the development of the Church’s tradition over the centuries.
Other than the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene is the only other woman whose day has the rank of a Feast. With a few exceptions, the only other Feasts in the liturgical calendar are mysteries of the life of Jesus, and the feast days of the Apostles. But in past centuries, more prominence was given to St. Mary Magdalene. For example, we know that in the Middle Ages, the practice developed of reciting the Creed during Mass on her feast day – something we only do on Sundays and Solemnities now – to reflect how she, the Apostle to the Apostles, was the one who first announced faith in the Resurrection to the Apostles.
Much ink has been spilled over the centuries and more recently, as to whether Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Martha, and the anonymous repentant woman who anoints the feet of Jesus, are the same person. There are a variety of opinions on this question among the Saints and Doctors of the Church. What we can say, however, is that she is not St. Mary of Egypt, with whom her story was sometimes confused in the past, nor is there any substantial tradition identifying her with the woman caught in adultery.
But more relevant for our times is what happened on that morning of the Resurrection. As we know, the Risen Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, and she doesn’t recognize Him at first, because she is so intent on finding the dead body of Jesus. And it’s only her encounter with the Risen Jesus that allows her to let go and be led by Him into her vocation as the Apostle to the Apostles.
Many people have compared the present pandemic as an experience of grieving our “normal” life, of being at the tomb. But the way forward for us, disciples of the Risen Jesus, is to seek Jesus as best we can in the midst of this, and to wait for Him to call our name, like St. Mary Magdalene, and to lead us forward in our vocations.
~ Fr. Raphael CR
AROUND TOWN
Virtual Pilgrimage August 1-8, 2020 Ever thought about going on a Pilgrimage, but didn’t have the time or thought you couldn’t physically do it? Now is your chance. The Guelph to Midland Walking Pilgrimage is going virtual. From Saturday, August 1st to Saturday, August 8th you can join us online as we virtually recreate the journey from Guelph to Midland. Each day will include opportunities for Mass, prayer and reflection. Fr. Raphael Ma, CR will be leading the pilgrimage. You can participate in as much or as little as you want but you must register to have access. Check out the virtual Pilgrimage at:
www.ignatiusguelph.ca/programs/walking-pilgrimage
Camp Brebeuf Looking for Support Camp Brebeuf, run by the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), has been shut down since March 13 due to COVID-19. On May 19 the Provincial Government made the decision to cancel all overnight camping programs for the summer of 2020, with a potential for day camps to operate under strict guidelines. With the loss of their spring and likely fall Outdoor Education Program, as well as the overnight program for the summer of 2020, the future existence of the entire CYO is in the balance.
What can we do? First, please pray for all those
affected by Camp Brebeuf’s closure, the employees, the kids and their families. If you are able, please consider donating to Camp Brebeuf through their online campaign. You can learn all about it on their website, www.campbrebeuf.ca/fundraiser.
If you need to come into the office for any reason please call ahead so we can maintain social distancing and disinfect the area between visitors. We are excited to be able to serve you again in the office while keeping everyone’s safety a top priority.
The Office is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – noon and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
TV & ONLINE MASSES For those who are not comfortable or able to join us at Mass yet, you can still participate in Mass on TV or online. Here are some options for you:
Televised Masses: Mass with Bishop Crosby Vision TV (Channel 27, Rogers Cable) Sunday: 11:00 am on Cable 14 Monday to Friday: 8:00 am, 12:00 pm Sunday: 1:00 pm on CHCH (local Cable channel 10) Sunday: 8:00 am Salt and Light (Channel 240, Rogers Cable) Joy TV (Channel 173, Rogers Cable Monday to Saturday: 6:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, or Channel 656, Bell Satellite) 3:00 pm, 10:30 pm Monday to Friday: 10:30 am, 4:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am,10:30 pm Sunday: 10:30 am
On-Line Masses: www.dailytvmass.com
MASS DURING COVID-19
Thank you to all who have so carefully followed the new instructions when attending Mass these first weeks back. Please continue to maintain physical distancing while waiting to enter the church and as you exit after Mass.
Waterloo Region now has a Mask By-Law which requires everyone to wear a face covering while in enclosed public spaces, including places of worship. There are some exceptions; for all the By-Law details please go to the region’s website: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/MaskByLaw. If you have not joined us for Mass yet and are considering attending, please see the COVID-19 page on our website for information you need before you attend. You can access that page here.
Weekday Masses are Tuesday – Friday at 9:00 am Weekend Masses are Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 9:00 am & 11:00 am
We are very excited to be worshiping together again, but we have to do this carefully so that we keep everyone safe and healthy, so thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to seeing you soon!
