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Issue 1, Volume 18 (24 January 2023)
In the Midst of Winter
Lord,
In the midst of Winter, when the days are cold and wind can pierce, remind us of the warmth of your love.
In the midst of Winter, when days are short, dawn comes late, and dusk arrives early, remind us that in the darkness your light still shines.
In the midst of Winter, when the flowers of spring still lie hidden in the earth, when leaves are off the trees, and the world can seem bleak,
remind us that Easter is but a short time away.
And when in our lives we feel as if we are experiencing a season of winter, reach out to us with the power of your resurrection so that we may feel the warmth of your love and see your light that alone can take away the darkness of our soul.
- Cal Wick
Source: jesuitresource.org
A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH
as this year's Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity concludes
Lord…We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you.
Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace.
Help us to walk together,
pray together,
sing together,
and live together
until that day when all God’s children
- Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow -
will rejoice in one common band of humanity
in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
- The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
English Speaking Catholic Council (ESCC) announces
new Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the ESCC is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Maria G. Centoni, who succeeds Anna Farrow, following her 10 years of dedicated service.
Read full announcement here.UPCOMING EVENTS
Late Sunday Mass returns
Missed attending your regular Mass time? Coming back late from weekend plans? Consider joining us Sunday evenings, 8 p.m. at our new location: St. Willibrord Parish in Verdun. Organized by Catholic Action Montreal. We welcome this week's celebrant, Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ.
St. Thomas à Becket Parish: Wild Goose Series on the Holy Spirit
A 14-part series has been launched this month, offered Thursday evenings until April 27, 7-8:15 p.m. Eastern via the platform Zoom. The Wild Goose invites viewers to an encounter, or a renewed encounter, with the Holy Spirit. View trailer and register here.
"No Greater Love" - a film on the remarkable life of Mother Teresa - premieres in Montreal theatres January 27
Produced by the Knights of Columbus, the documentary chronicles the life of one of the greatest spiritual giants of the 20th century and witnesses of authentic Christian charity. Learn more.
St. Kevin Parish: Breakfast/Lunch Fundraiser for WYD Lisbon 2023
Come join us for breakfast/lunch on January 29 and help support our parish youth travelling to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day 2023! Cost is $10 per plate. Join us in the parish hall. Bring your family and friends!
Marriage Preparation Sessions begin next month
To be held online:
February 1, 4, 8, 11, 18, 2023.
• Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. AND Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact Bridget Bagshaw or call (514) 925-4300, ext. 232. Visit From This Day Forward.
Intercultural Pastoral Care
Our communities are enriched by a diversity of cultures and people eager to integrate harmoniously into life here. How can we foster a healthy integration? Join us from
9 a.m.-12 noon., February 4, at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Learn more and register in advance.
World Day for
Consecrated Life (WDCL) 2023
All are invited to a special Mass (in French) observing the 27th WDCL on February 4, 10:30 a.m. at Sanctuaire Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs, with Archbishop Christian Lépine as celebrant. To register and learn more, click here.
Spiritual Support for Separated or Divorced Persons
A path of healing and reconciliation for those who want to rebuild themselves in Christ. Free, online sessions, continue next month. Next session will be held 1:30 p.m., February 4. Click here for more information and to register.
Restoring Mental Health in the Church: Alpha Canada webinar
In Canada, we are seeing an immense need for mental health support. People often reach out to the Church before mental health professionals, yet, as the Church, we struggle to know how to journey with them. Join us February 9 as we tackle these issues and more. Learn more and register here.
World Day of the Sick 2023
Join SASMAD/Pastoral Home Care Services on February 11, 9:30 a.m. for a day of prayer and celebration for and with the sick, including Mass celebrated by Archbishop Christian Lépine. Celebrations will be held at Saint-Isaac-Jogues Parish and livestreamed. Learn more.
World Marriage Day 2023
Renew your wedding vows, receive a special blessing and pray for couples and families at a bilingual
Mass celebrated by Archbishop Christian Lépine. To be held 5 p.m., February 11 at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and livestreamed on the Diocesan Youtube channel.
Women's Monthly Retreat: Offered online February 15
Come join a community of women who gather monthly for retreat days, facilitated by Sr. Pat O’Neill, SNJM and with Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ who celebrates Mass. It is a monthly oasis, where we receive "Soul Food" for the mind, heart, and spirit. Learn more and register here.
Free Virtual Event with
Fr. Lou Cerulli: February 24
Peace, Freedom and Healing - a ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, will host an online gathering "Mary Our Mother of Healing in the Eucharist" at 7 p.m. EST via the platform Zoom. Learn more about the ministry and Zoom details.
Share Lent Campaign: National Launch webinar, February 25
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada has chosen "Create Hope" as the guiding theme for the next five years. To create hope in this first year, we will Stand for the Land in solidarity with those defending their territories in the Global South. Learn more and register for the webinar.
Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) celebrates 25 years
Join the ISP community March 9,
8 p.m. Eastern, for a virtual gathering as we celebrate 25 years of inviting people in recovery from addiction and homelessness to experience God's love, hope, and healing.
Learn more.
Montreal Women's Day Retreat:
"Walking Together In Hope"
Registration is now open! Join us for “A Day of Hope” with the Sisters of Life on March 18 at The Sacred Heart School of Montreal. It will be a day to recharge, renew and restore through prayer, music, talks and reflection. All women 16+ are welcome. Learn more.RESOURCES
Divine Renovation Ministry
is offering coaching services for pastors at no cost, through one-on-one and group sessions. Find out more about how DR can help your parish teams grow their ministry and bring about renewal.
Catholic Cancer Connection
Are you suffering with, recovering from, or supporting someone with cancer? Catholic Cancer Con-nection is here for you. Our online gatherings and phone network offer spiritual support through prayer, sha-ring and more. Contact Debbie or join their Facebook group.
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(PDF available above)
The Catholic Church in Montreal is proud to launch a new publication from Archbishop Christian Lépine.
It is prayer booklet, to make it easier to pray, to read the Bible, to recite the rosary, whether alone, as a couple, as a family, with children and young people.
This booklet is called "FAMILY PRAYER - in every home," published on March 25, 2020, in honour of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.
“COVID-19 affects all of humanity in one way or another. Let us take the time to rediscover the importance of prayer in our personal and family lives. Let us open our hearts to God present with us and to his work of salvation. Let us learn, with the help of Jesus Christ, how to grow in solidarity with our families and our society”, Mgr Christian Lépine.
I invite you to use it and distribute it. It is a free PDF document. (The document link is above in red)