Welcome Back!

We always start the year with a plan and a theme. this year's theme is pretty straight forward.

We are MADE FOR A PURPOSE.

It’s not a new idea and I am not the brilliant one that came up with it but I believe it.  

With every fibre of my being I know that I was made for a purpose…

And so are you!  We all are. We just need to be convinced sometimes.  Scripture tells us that we all, yes... I mean ALL of us, are made in the image and likeness of God and that we all have a reason to be here.  

You know... here in this school,

here in your family,

here wherever you are.

But honestly…  we talk ourselves out of “our purpose” because we think we are not special enough or not good at anything.  And sometimes we think that if we can’t identify our purpose this minute that we are never going to find one, but that’s not real life either. Did I know that my purpose was to be a wife and mother, or Campus Minister when I was 16, No!

But I did know I had one.

If you do not know what your purpose is, find your passion. Your passion will lead you to your purpose. My passions were people and faith and I found the perfect purpose for me.

Do not assume that your purpose must be to run the country or do brain surgery,  It may be, but it might also be to be an amazing parent, or build houses, or work with kids or animals or be a teacher. And right now, your purpose may be to be a good friend or teammate, student, son, daughter, artist, musician, justice team member, whatever it is, you need to be passion about it.  

Mark Twain said The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. It is a bit of a journey to figure it out and sometimes it takes a bit of time.

I heard a saying that goes something like this…

Not working to find your purpose is like having a perfectly good lamp in a dark room and refusing to plug it in.  We’ve got to plug in our light… everyday. Each one of us has to work to find our gift, and then we need to give it away.  That is your purpose.

Don’t waste your life standing around, unplugged with a lampshade on your head.  

God has bigger plans for you than that.

Our theme is Made For A Purpose. 

And as always…   

Fiat Lux - Let there be light.

Local Mass Schedules

Good Shepherd Parish
      

Holy Thursday - March 29,  7pm Mass of the Lord's Supper

 Good Friday - March 30, 

     11am Children's Stations of the Cross

     3pm Passion of Our Lord Solemn Service

Easter Vigil Saturday, March 31    8pm

Easter Sunday April 1       9am & 11am  

St. Simon & St. Jude Parish

Holy Thursday

Thursday, March 29:             7:00 pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:00 pm

Good Friday

Friday, March 30:                  3:00 pm

Easter Vigil

Saturday, March 31               8:00 pm

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 1                       9:00 am & 11:00 am         

St. Anne’s Parish Tecumseh

HOLY THURSDAY –

 March 29, 7:00 pm – Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper

8:30 pm - 12:00 am (Midnight): Reposition in the Parish Hall

GOOD FRIDAY - March 30, 2018

11:00 am - Children's Service

3:00 pm - Passion of Our Lord (Bilingual)

EASTER VIGIL - Saturday, March 31, 2018

8:30 pm – Mass of New Life, Light & Water

 EASTER SUNDAY –  April 1. 2018 7:00 am, 8:30 am (Fr.), 10:00 am, 12:00 Noon

St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary’s

HOLY THURSDAY –  Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper

March 29, 2018 7:00 pm – St. Mary’s

GOOD FRIDAY –  Passion of Our Lord

March 30, 2018 3:00 pm – St. Mary’s

EASTER VIGIL – Mass of New Life, Light & Water

Saturday, March 31, 2018 7:00 pm – St. John’s

 EASTER SUNDAY –  April 1. 2018

9:00 am – St. Mary’s

11:00 am – St. John’s

Visitation Parish - Comber

Holy Thursday - March 29,  7pm Mass of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday - March 30, 

           3pm Passion of Our Lord Solemn Service

Easter Vigil Saturday, March 31    8pm

Easter Sunday April 1       9am(francais) & 11am  

Holy Week 2018 is here!

As was said today at our Holy Week Prayer Service, this is the holiest week in our Church year.  This is the culmination of a lifetime of work, Jesus' work... His ministry. 

He knew…

      He knew from the time he could think rationally that the cross was his destination.  He knew he was the sacrifice, that he was the one who would willingly travel that road to Calvary, reach out his arms and give his life … for us.

What kind of courage does that take…

what kind of strength …

      what kind of Love…

It was and is…  an all encompassing, you are my person, you are my people, I give my life for you, I love you beyond compare, I know your secrets and I don’t care I love you anyway ...kind of love

In Scripture John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Bloody, beaten, and bruised he looked out onto all the world, those who mocked him, beat him, and hated him.

Yes even those who hated him.

He looked out on all those people and He...loved them.

He came and walked on this earth knowing...

...Knowing that his purpose was to love.

He spoke of love when he said

“No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

He made a promise, and that’s what he did.

He climbed on that cross…

stretched out his arms...

and willingly laid down his life for us.

He knew…  He was Love.      He is Love.

Epiphany Sunday!

This past Sunday we celebrated Epiphany, the arrival of the three wise men to the stable in Bethlehem.  

We recognize this day and this NEW YEAR with our own Epiphany Blessing. 

This is a traditional Catholic blessing for your home and all you need is the prayer and some chalk.

We ask God’s blessing on this home and on those who come here. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest, part of our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the entrance  

20 + C + M + B + 18.

The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2018 is the year.

Let us begin with the sign of our faith.  In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessing the Chalk

Let us pray.
Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows  20 + C + M + B + 18 while saying:

Prayer:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and sisteen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year.

Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

Good St. Anne, Pray for Us.

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus Mansionem Benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.”

 

Have a safe, healthy, prosperous and faith-filled new year.