September 5, 2010
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Welcome everyone, parishioners, newcomers and visitors, to Saint Patrick's.  We encourage the ACTIVE participation of all in the prayer and song of our community worship.

   
Saturday    5:00 p.m.    Bradley O’Neil + by the Vernell Family
                                  AND Deceased members of the Fitzgibbons family by Kathy & Tim Kennedy

Sunday    9:00 a.m.    People of the Parish AND Leo Landry + by Fred, Emily & the Harding family

             11:00 a.m.    Antonio Rivera + by Russ & Teresa Mildenhall AND Eric Spiers+ by Zeny Spiers & family  
 
Monday     8:30 a.m.    Suzanne Friis+ by Torben Friss
        
Tuesday     6:45 p.m.    Geraldine Bryant+ by John & family 
 
Wednesday     8:30 a.m.    Kae & Butch Boucher+ by the Enright family 

Thursday    8:30 a.m.    Conrado Cosico+ by the De Jesus family

Friday        8:30 a.m.    John McNally+ by Laura Dioguardi 
   
Saturday    5:00 p.m.    John McNally + by Christine & Wilmot Parker AND  Genevieve Pokoj + by Terry & family  

Sunday       9:00 a.m.    Fouad Nayel+ by Chahla Mounzer AND People of the Parish

                 11:00 a.m.    William & Mary Clarke + by the Clarke family AND Ignazio Gregoris+ by his family 

---

FROM THE PASTOR

It was not quite the quiet summer we had hoped for here at Saint Patrick, but we cannot say that there wasn't a lot going on!  As we can all see, the restoration work has taken on a life of its own, and we are extremely grateful for all your prayers and sacrifices, which have allowed the work to begin and continue.  As I mentioned at Mass a few weeks ago, the project was more complicated than we had hoped, and there is more work being done than we had planned.  The original scope included some repointing, chimney rebuilding and window repair on the church and some repointing and chimney repair on the rectory.  As we mentioned, the first problem arose in the quality of the repointing a few years back.  This required more work to be done this time than was originally planned.  And, as expected in an old building, a few surprises were found, including some loose stones on the top of the front of the church and some steeple work that was required in order for the building to be safe.  We also decided to restore all the windows as the carpenters are on site, and scaffolding is a major expense.  I will be providing the costs in a future edition of the Bulletin, but rest assured that the work is required, and in the long run, offers some cost savings because the equipment is on site.  Finance Council, as always, cares about your sacrifices, and in doing so, hired John G. Cooke and Associates, Consulting Engineers to oversee the project.  They have been a real blessing.  Their fee is under $10,000 and they have visited the site regularly and meet with the workers from Atwell Morin and the carpenters to check on the quality of the project.  We have been very impressed with the workers, who, even in the heat of this past summer, have been working away, always respectful of our needs (such as daily Mass and funerals) and getting the job done on time and on budget.  Your prayers and sacrifices are necessary and appreciated as the work continues.  I will of course be providing regular updates via the Bulletin and if necessary, through announcements from the pulpit.  We also had to rid ourselves of a few nests of bees and wasps and had to trim back some trees in order for the work to be done.., which adds to the costs as well.  This week, as we return to our normal routines with school and the unofficial end of summer, we have made changes in our daily Mass schedule.  Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday Mass will begin fifteen minutes earlier ... at 8:30.  In order to celebrate Mass with our groups that meet on Tuesday (Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women's League, Finance Council and Pastoral Council) we will gather at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays.  The Confession schedule remains the same (8:00-8:25 a.m. on Monday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 8:00-8:25 a.m. on Friday).  Throughout the summer, many people have commented on the wonderful number of people at each of our Masses ... thank you for your ongoing support.  Saint Patrick's is truly a wonderful and blessed family ... and each of you is an important member!

THE READINGS THIS WEEKEND

The readings this weekend, the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, come to us from the Book of Wisdom, Paul's Letter to Philemon, and the Gospel of Luke.  The Book of Wisdom is always filled with good advice.  But it is more than just an advice column like Dear Abby!  It is also meant to provide us with some sound knowledge.  By tradition, King Solomon wrote the Book and he seeks to guide its readers to eternal life with God by living good and sound lives.  The author wants us to live lives of service to God.  What we read today is a part of his prayer for wisdom.  The author knows that wisdom is a gift that comes from God.  What this part of the prayer says is that there are limits to what this life offers and can do.  Even when we plan out for success, it is never guaranteed.  Our lives are filled with mysteries that can never be understood or overcome.  It sometimes feels that all we do is wander around looking for some meaning in our lives.  However, we get some advice through the Book of Wisdom:  recognize our limitations and turn to God as we ask Him for the gift of knowledge.  How do we do that:  by living a right relationship with God.  All of this will lead us to where we want to go, which is eternal life with God.  In Paul's letter to Philemon, which is one of the shortest books in the Bible, we read of Onesimus, who is a runaway slave.  It appears that he has committed some kind of injustice and has made a contact with Paul and has been converted to the faith.  Paul is hoped to convince Philemon to release this new Christian.  He does not want to order him to do so, but is asking "out of love" to "welcome him as you would me."  In the Gospel, we continue the long road to Jerusalem with Jesus.  Today, He uses an opportunity to further explain the demands of discipleship.  Luke has already outlined what discipleship is all about on a number of occasions because this is a very important topic for him.  Today, we read of three absolutely necessary requirements:  the first is that a disciple must be willing to sacrifice family ties in order to follow Jesus.  When Jesus uses the word "hate," His language is less severe than it seems on the surface.  This is not the emotional hate we may think of at first.  Hate here means to give lesser value to someone and not to despise or reject him or her.  The second requirement is carrying ones cross.  This is more than just dealing and accepting the hardships and illnesses that come with everyday living.  This is making a commitment to Jesus Christ.  This may mean accepting the ridicule that comes with standing against the world.  It is more than a way of life.  It is a total commitment.  Jesus tells us about foolish people who are unprepared for what comes.  The committed followers are far from foolish. They are aware and prepared for what lies ahead.  The third requirement is a detachment from possessions.  What we have is not necessarily bad.  We need things!  But what proportion do they require from our lives?  Sometimes they end up owning us rather than the other way around.  In discipleship, we have our priorities.  All of our energies and cares are devoted to following Jesus.  We recognize and celebrate our dependence on God.  So this weekend, as we gather together as followers of Christ, we are called to acknowledge our dependence on God.  In doing so, let us here at Saint Patrick's abandon all that stands between us and living our lives as committed disciples of Christ.

DID YOU KNOW

That the upcoming changes to parts of the Mass are a new translation of the Mass and do not mean a new ritual for celebrating the Mass.  The Mass will still have the same parts, the same patterns and the same flow as it has had for the past several decades.  It is only the translation of the Latin that is changing.  But that is happening in key parts of the liturgy, so each of us will notice the change.  The new translation seeks to correspond much more closely to the exact words and sentence structure of the Latin text.  At times, this results in a good and faithful rendering of the original meaning.  At other times, it produces a rather awkward text in English that can be difficult to proclaim.  Most of those problems though, affect the texts that priests will proclaim rather than the texts that belong to the assembly.

CHANGE IN MASS TIMES:

A REMINDER that beginning on Labour Day, September 6, 2010, DAILY MASS will be celebrated on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:30 a.m.  Mass on Tuesday will begin at 6:45 p.m.  As well, EXPOSITION of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Friday only from the end of Mass until Benediction at 12 noon.

HARVEST DINNER

This year, our Parish Supper will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2010 with seating times of 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. We require the support of the entire parish to make this a success. We need assistance with food donations and volunteers to help with the preparation. Volunteers and food donations are the “heart and soul” of our dinner. Sign up sheets will be at the entrance to the church next week.  Tickets ($15.00 for adults and $6.00 for children 6 to 12 years of age) are available now from CWL members and the parish office.  Next week they will be available at the entrances to the church after all the Masses. Thanks for your help and we hope to see you there!

TRANSPORTATION BUS SCHEDULES FOR 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

Thousands of Catholic school students across Ottawa will be heading back to class on September 7. Ottawa Catholic School Board bus schedules for the 2010-2011 school year are now available on the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority’s (OSTA) website at www.ottawaschoolbus.ca or by calling the OSTA at 613-224-8800, extension 2580.
Additionally, copies of high school bus schedules are now available at all high school locations. Elementary school schedules can be obtained at all elementary school locations as of August 30th.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE SICK IN YOUR PRAYERS

We are always encouraged to pray for those who are sick.  In order to better ensure that the names of those who are sick are prayed for by our parish family, while respecting the need for privacy, we are asking that you receive permission from the sick, or their caregiver before asking us to include their names in the Bulletin.  Starting this next week, names of the sick will be published in the Bulletin for four weeks.  If you would like to have a name added to the prayer list for next week, please call the office 613-591-1135 or email kathken@rogers.com.  If you would like to continue prayers after that time, you are asked to contact the parish office. 

PILGRIMAGE TO CAP-DE-LA-MADELEINE

The Legion of Mary is organizing a Pilgrimage to Cap-de-la-Madeleine, with support from the Knights of Columbus, for the physically challenged, seniors, families with small children and able-bodied pilgrims who want to assist them for September 10, 11 & 12,  2010. Cost, which includes transportation, meals (except Friday lunch en route) and two nights= accommodations at Madonna House: Single-$318; Double-$257 and Triple-$250. Reservations required.  Contact Cheryl Clingaman at 613-728-5687.

MEETINGS OF THE WEEK

MEDITATION GROUP – Sunday 7:00 p.m. Church
PRAYER GROUP – Monday 7:30 p.m. Church
K OF C GENERAL MEETING – Tuesday after Mass 6:45 p.m. in Hall
CHOIR – Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Church
LEGION OF MARY – Thursday 7:30 p.m.  Fr. McGivney Lounge