ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

P.O. BOX 610 - BELL ISLAND, NF - A0A 4H0
PHONE: 488-2525 – FAX: 488-3399

In biblical times leprosy was viewed as punishment by God. It was believed to be highly contagious and its victim ritually un unclean. Therefore, those afflicted were forced to live as outcasts - apart from family, friends and worshiping communities. Thus isolated, their life was a living death. The man who approached Jesus should not have even been in the community - let alone reach out and touch Jesus - because by doing so, he made Jesus also ritually unclean. What was Jesus’ reaction to this brazen touch? Jesus reaction was to reach out in pity and to touch him. We can only imagine the reaction of the leper to this simple yet profound act of human touch. Maybe - momentarily - he even forgot about his disease and was touched to his very soul with gratitude. Only then, perhaps, does he find the courage to say, “Sir, I believe you can cure me if you really want to.” “If you really want to...” what words of hope and longing. Immediately, Jesus replies, “Of course I want to.” He doesn’t say, “Well, if you insist”...or, “I suppose I’d better because people are watching”, or, “I wonder if you deserve it.” Jesus’ response is immediate and filled with love and compassion. He cures the man - not only of his leprosy, but of his social and emotional alienation from his family and friends. Jesus touched the social outcasts of his time. How do we “touch” the so-called social outcasts of our time...to prisoners, drug addicts, sex-trade workers, AIDS victims...Do we have the courage to reach out and touch them-with kindness, compassion, sympathy? Or do we sit in judgement?

WednesdayFeb. 15th 9:30am Gloria Noseworthy; Norman & Mary Luffman;
 Michael, Margaret & Jack McLean; Martin Butler; Helen Dwyer

Thursday Feb. 16th 11:00am Hoyles Home, St. John’s
 7:00pm Marjorie Kelland; Kathleen Reid; Bride & Charles Power; Albert & Nicki Ash; Stan & Harriett Cobb

Friday Feb. 17th 9:30am Colin Gash; Florrie Lahey; Vince Hickey & family;
 Lillian Power; Beatrice Jackman; Melissa Hurley
2:00pm Memorial Service: Chancellor Park Home

Saturday Feb. 18th 4:00pm Sacrament of Penance
 5:00pm Errol Keels; Gertrude Butler, Mary Butler, Bernard Doyle & dec. of Doyle & Butler fam.; Gloria Noseworthy; Bobby Power; Tom Kelly

Sunday Feb. 19th 10:30am Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life
 

Collection
Offertory - 130 envelopes..............................................................................$1151.50
New Year’s - 1 envelope...................................................................................$10.00
Dues - 4 envelopes............................................................................................$20.00
Toonie Collection..............................................................................................$13.00
Donation in Memory of Lillian Power...............................................................$20.00
Donation in Memory of Martin Butler...............................................................$20.00
Thank you for your financial support

Knights of Columbus Meeting
The next meeting for the Knights of Columbus will be Thursday, February 23rd at 7:45 p.m. All are asked to attend.

Liturgical Ministers
Sat. Feb. 18th 5:00pm Readers: Rosemary O’Keefe & Christine Tulk
Eucharistic Ministers: Helen Pitts; Mary Power;
Brenda Sweeney; Carol Clarke
Presentation of Gifts: Irene & Kevin Delahunty
Ushers: Leo Byrne; Fred Carroll; Jim Pendergast; George Hickey; Cyril Jackman; Brian Tulk

Sun. Feb. 19th 10:30am Readers: Teresita & Des McCarthy
Eucharistic Ministers: Keith Kent; Karen Seward; Bonnie & Tom Spracklin
Presentation of Gifts: Rita Lahey Family
Children’s Liturgy: Susan Boone
Ushers: Tom Cole; Rick Whelan; Alex Newell; Kevin Delahunty; Charlie O’Brien; Ray Kennedy

CHURCH CLEANING TEAM - 1 FOR WEEK OF FEB. 13TH TO FEB. 17TH
Madeline Lewis; Angela Johnson; Marg Lewis; Leo Byrne; Carol Clarke; Peter Power

Feast Days
Tuesday: St. Cyril and St. Methodius

Countdown for Lent
The season of Lent is fast approaching. We will celebrate Ash Wednesday on March 1st. Mass for the day will be at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to return the palm branches from last year so that we can burn them for the use of ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday. Let us prepare for Lent and seek to live the message of repentance, change of heart and prayer.

Sympathy
Our parish extends sympathy to the family and friends of the late: Martin Butler, Lillian Power & Melissa Hurley. We assure the families of our continues prayers and support. May our beloved friends share the glory of eternal peace.

Mercy Associates
The regular meeting of the Mercy associates will take place at the Sisters’ Residence on Wednesday, February 15th at 7:00 P.m.

St Patrick’s Day/Weekend
The many events are scheduled for the St . Patrick’s Day Weekend.
Card Game: Wednesday, March 15th
Bingo: Friday, March 17th
Irish Stew Supper & Pub Night: Saturday, March 18th
Concert: Sunday, March 19th
All plans are in progress and we ask for your support. Support our card game, bingo and Pub Night. Also, give Karen Seward a call and get involved in the concert. We ask for the old members of the past to share in the fun and we especially invite new members to offer their talent to our concert. Let’s celebrate and make this event another success.

Knights of Columbus/St. Michael’s Parish Ticket Sweep
We are in need of your support to buy or sell a ticket at a cost of $40.00. The return for the ticket stub and money is not due till April 30th. However, we need to know how many tickets we can sell in order to meet our peak number to gain the bonus. If we are to get the bonus , we must sell a certain number of tickets to gain a profit. Please take a ticket after mass and help with the cause. If we can do well on this ticket sale , then we are assured of our parish remaining strong financially and thus another successful year will be possible. Tickets are available at the sacristy after mass.

Mining Memories
They mucked iron ore out of the Bell Island mines for 70 years. And 40 years after the mines shut down, the people of Bell Island are left to mine the memories. Today, 10,000 fewer people live on Bell Island than lived there in the heady days of the 1960's. The shutdown set in motion a mass exodus to the factories of Ontario, but now they’re coming home. Some to live. Some just to visit and savour the rich history well documented in the Miners Museum, and a tour of the old underground mile that once stretched underneath Conception Bay 4 ½ kilometres towards Harbour Grace. And then, there’s Bell Island’s World War II story. It was the only community in North America to take a direct hit from a Nazi torpedo. It’s now a tourist attraction for divers from around the world. Mining the Memories is a Land and Sea story about Bell Island; the way it used to be, and how they’re mining the past to help secure their future. It airs on CBC Television’s Land and Sea program, Monday, March 6th at 7:30pm.

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