Bulletin Reflection
Where Do You See the Face of Mercy
Alice Camille
The face of mercy looks different for each of us. For me, it’s a middle-aged religious sister with dark curls, a round face, 
and soft eyes who taught at my high school 35 years ago. I was a weepy, depressed teen, alienated from my family, alone among friends. I didn’t believe in myself and had no hopes for the future. In other words, I was a pretty normal adolescent girl. And in a sea of dark-minded teenagers just like me this sister plucked me out, took me for a walk, and asked me to tell my story. And I did. And it made all the difference to who I became.
That’s a short-form version of a long story, and each of us has one like it. In a time of need someone looked down, someone who didn’t have to, and gave us the love, attention, and encouragement we needed. Not because we did something to earn or deserve it but because we needed it. If we take the time to remember that story, to retell it in all its details and to rekindle the hope that person’s generosity generated, we glimpse the best face of God we’ll see this side of Paradise.
Jesus with the pastel rays of love shining downward and outward onto a needy world was how Saint Faustina Kowalska glimpsed the face of mercy. In this she shared the vision of epistle writer John, who considers Jesus the one who “came through water and blood”—which the twin rays in the Divine Mercy portrait signify. God showers compassion on the world through the twin signs of Baptism and Eucharist, rescuing us from sin and death and strengthening us with divine life and grace. Faustina imagined the blood and water from the heart of Christ transfigured into light. She understood that we all have a responsibility to shine the light of mercy further through deed, word, and prayer.
How did the apostle Thomas see the face of divine mercy? Perceptively, through the wounds in the body of his friend. Much is made of Thomas’s doubt; little is said about Thomas’s grief. Like the rest of the disciples, he’d lost his teacher, Lord, and friend in that terrible week. When the others brought him words, he dismissed them impatiently. The only thing that would make his experience real is to see—no, to touch—the wounds of Jesus. Apparitions and affidavits wouldn’t do. He had to see the cross in the Christ or it would never be real for him. Perhaps this is why the most profound profession of faith in scripture—“My Lord and my God!”—belongs to Thomas. If the cross does not reveal the mercy of God, nothing can.
Reprinted with permission
Prepare the Word (©2011)
www.preparetheword.com
Announcements
K of C Our Mother of Perpetual Help Council #9538 are celebrating their 25th anniversary on May 1. 2012. A celebration Mass will be held at 6:00pm with a banquet at 7:30pm. Tickets for this event are $15.00 and will be available April 1, 2012 following the Masses. This celebration is open to all parishioners of St. Mary’s.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY—April 15, 2012 at 3:00pm, a service celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy by Fr Geoffrey Young at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, corner of 12th Street and Wiggins Avenue, love offering and refreshments to follow. Everyone welcome.
Accomodations Wanted A single immigrant woman in her 30′s working full time weekdays is seeking room and board in Saskatoon with a female senior citizen in exchange for cleaning, assistance with evening meal and bedtime preparation and companionship. References available. Contact number 880-2484.
Kateri Pilgrimage: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish invites you to join us July 8 to 15, 2012 , for a week-long pilgrimage to the birth place (Auresville, N.Y.) and the burial site (Kahnawake, Quebec) of Blessed Kateri Tekawitha. The pilgrimage is to celebrate the canonization of Blessed Kateri, which will take place in Rome, October 21, 2012. Blessed Kateri will be the First North American Aboriginal person to be declared a saint. Included in the pilgrimage are visits to many other shrines and sacred places throughout Quebec and New York State. Cost for the pilgrimage is $1,978. A $300 deposit must be made upon registration and submitted to Mary Jacobi at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. For more information please contact Mary at 653-4945, or email maryjacobi@shaw.ca . Pilgrimage arranged by Rev. Ralph Kleiter, Ministry to Tourism, Diocese of Saskatoon.
Attention all present and former students/staff of St. Mary’s School in Saskatoon! An invitation is extended to all past and present students, staff and community members of St. Mary’s School to attend the St. Mary’s Community School Reunion being held on Saturday May 5, 2012 beginning at 1 p.m. A Mass will be held to celebrate the event at St. Mary’s Church followed by a program, desserts and tours at the school at 2 p.m. Please consider attending and celebrating with us on this day. For more information, please call Tony Bairos at 281-9564.
Fill These Hearts: God, Sex and the Universal Longing will be presented 7 p.m. Saturday April 28 at Circle Drive Alliance Church, Saskatoon. Join renowned author and speaker Christopher West for an evening of beauty and reflection on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body — a bold, organic and contemporary understanding of human love in the divine plan. West is joined by indie-folk band Mike Mangione & The Union whose music explores the themes of the Theology of the Body. Through spoken presentation, visual art and live performance, enter into the beauty of this message and how it illuminates life’s deepest questions. Come to know the “whys” behind the “what” of this Christian understanding of sexuality. Adults: $40, Students: $25 (save 10 per cent by registering before March 31.) For tickets call the box office at (306) 384-7727 or for more information go online: www.St-T.ca/fth2012
Momentum Youth Rally: for Grades 6-8, Saturday, April 28. Highlights: Praise and worship, great keynote talks, Mass with Bishop Donald Bolen; skits, epic games, faith enrichment, food and tons of fun! Who: All Grades 6-8 youth are welcome to this diocesan youth rally! High School students are able to apply as student leaders. Location: Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon; Cost: $40. Time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, April 28; registration opens 9 a.m. Keynote Speaker this year is Greg Thompson; find out more about Greg online at: http://web.me.com/gtministry. For more information about Momentum, talk to Fr. Steve or e-mail Colm Leyne at: youthmin@saskatoonrcdiocese.com
ST. ANN’S POLKA MASS Watrous, SK., at Danceland, Manitou Beach, Sunday, April 29th 2012, 11:00 am. Plan to come and listen to the Gospel singing at 10:30 am. Mass will be followed by a hot Brunch of Hashbrown Casserole, Ham, Pancakes, fruit and muffins, with Ice cream for dessert
Adults – $8.00, 12 & Under – $5.00, Pre-school – Free
Home Ministry of Care
Caring for others bridges the unmet needs in our broken world. We are people of hearts … the Gospel message flows from us. We touch hearts and we touch lives.
To be effective we must be a GOOD LISTENER. Listening is a skill and the most valuable of all skills. By listening, we can be in touch with the other person’s feelings, concerns and fears. To be listened to can be very healing. When we truly listen, with our ears and our hearts, we can be empathetic, genuine, respectful and compassionate.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK This is a special time set aside to recognize all our volunteers who donate time and energy to their fellow parishioners and aspire to make life better for others. Your spirit of service and generosity touches many lives. You are a special blessing. We thank you and want you to know you are very much appreciated.
ANOINTING MASS Our annual Mass with Anointing of the Sick will be held on May 8th at 1:00pm. Refreshments will be served in the upper hall following the Mass. If you require a ride to this event, please contact the parish office no later than Friday April 27. VOLUNTEERS, please inform the people you visit about this Mass and offer to bring them, if possible.
Youth Ministry
Jesus I trust in You! These are the words our Easter season calls us too share. They are clearly the words that Devine Mercy Sunday calls to us. We are called to trust. Every Sunday this space shows us different aspects of trust and this weekend is no different. We trust in God’s Mercy as we pray about and act on Vocation questions in our lives. We pray for God’s Tender Mercy as we find ways for our parish young adults and youth to share their faith.
In the next few weeks we will be invited to trust in God’s great generosity for us as our Vocations are clearly brought to the fore front. On Sunday April 29, the entire world, especially the church in Canada, celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We are given a chance to pray for our diocese, the seminarians for our diocese, all of our priests, the men and women who are being called by God, those people who have responded already and the many people who are called to live in this world as single adults. More information will be coming about World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
Also on the same weekend is a great chance for all of us to pray. Fill These Hearts, Pope John Paul II’s work on the Theology of the Body is being presented. See the poster at the back of the church, read the insert in the bulletin, ask Fr. Steve about this great opportunity to learn more about who we are and God’s love for all of us, tickets are going fast, GET YOURS!
Check out the information/poster at the back of the church about Blackstrap camp this summer, it is a great place for faith to grow!
Altar servers, the end of June/end of school camp weekend is not that far away keep looking here for more details. Permission forms will soon be in your hands, servers talk about it!
Mass Intentions
Monday, April 16 9:00 a.m †Virginia Cabading
Tuesday, April 17 9:00 a.m †Henry Boire
Wednesday, April 18 9:00 a.m †Walter Stasiuk
7:15 p.m †Camielle & Emily Demeester & Family
Thursday, April 19 9:00 a.m †Juliana Faurillo
Friday, April 20 9:00 a.m †Natalie Melo & †Joe Moreira
Saturday, April 21 9:00 a.m †Rachel Trumpy
7:00 p.m †Jaromir Zalesak
Sunday, April 22 9:00 a.m †Jose Bairos
11:00 a.m For the parish
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