ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

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

Jesus spoke of his presence as being like that of the bridegroom among his guests at a wedding feast. This is not time for fasting-rather it is a time for joy and celebration. In a thinly-veiled reference to his passion and death, he says that the time for sorrow and fasting will come. Fasting, for ever a brief period, can serve as a reminder to us of what is almost a permanent condition for many people in the world today. Jesus also speaks about the newness he wants to bring. He uses the images of a new garment and new wine. Jesus was talking about a new teaching, a new movement, a new spirit. The new cannot be confined within the limits of the old. New wine will just bring through old wineskins as it ferments. Jesus’ teaching was refreshingly new, yet profoundly disturbing for those who clung to the old ways. This gospel continually challenges us to discard old habits, to cast aside prejudice, and to see with fresh eyes. It is only when we live according to the teaching of the gospel that the new wine begins to flow for us. And that new wine is still being offered to us - this very day we can taste it. In response, we strive to remain open to the wonderful mystery of life, open to see more, to understand more, to enjoy more, so that we may love more fully and richly, and thus prepare ourselves for the mystery of eternal life.

Sympathy
Our parish extends sympathy to the family of the late Murray Seward. May the Lord comfort you in your grief and grant eternal peace to our beloved. We assure the families of our continued support.

Confirmation
On Saturday, April 29th at 5:00pm, Archbishop Brendan O’Brien will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation with our parish. Please make a special effort to attend.

Wednesday Mar. 1st  7:00pm Ash Wednesday
Norman & Mary Luffman; Elizabeth McGrath; Agnes Sweeney; James Keels; Mark Nolan; Peter Hammond

Thursday Mar. 2nd 7:00pm John Whalen; John Barron; Ray Meadus; Cyril
 Greeley; Kit Wade; Gladys Hookey

Friday Mar. 3rd 9:30am Cyril, Eneas & George Cahill; Patrick & Minnie
 Doherty; Fred Watson; Doris & Ambrose McCarthy; Walter Lahey
7 :00pm World Day of Prayer

Saturday Mar. 4th 4:00pm Sacrament of Penance
 5:00pm Kathleen Kent Sr. & Jr.; Marg Stanford; Jeannie Maddigan; Martin Butler; Lillian Power; William & Sarah Curnew; James & Maria Kelly

Sunday Mar. 5th  10:30am Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life
 

SANCTUARY CANDLE: GERALD NOLAN

Collection
Offertory - 138 envelopes..............................................................................$1448.50
Toonie Collection...............................................................................................$1.00
Dues - 3 envelopes............................................................................................$55.00
Initial - 2 envelopes.............................................................................................$9.00
Advent - 1 Folder..............................................................................................$20.00
Development and Peace - 1 envelope..................................................................$2.00
Donation in memory of Walter Lahey...............................................................$20.00
Thank you for your financial support

First Friday
On Friday, March 3rd , we will visit the sick and the shut in’s of the parish. If you are not home on this day, please notify the parish office.
 

Liturgical Ministers
Sat. Mar. 4th 5:00pm Readers: Ashley Curnew & Kevin George
Eucharistic Ministers: Jasmine Brazil, Lydia Brazil, Beth Quigley, Pat Craig
Presentation of Gifts: Shirley Murphy & Carol Clarke
Ushers: Leo Byrne; Fred Carroll; Jim Pendergast; George Hickey; Cyril Jackman; Brian Tulk

Sun. Feb. 26th 10:30am Readers: Kelly Whelan & Karen Seward
Eucharistic Ministers: Sr. Eileen Osbourne, Connie Cole, Geraldine Fitzgerald,
Sid Maddigan
Presentation of Gifts: Valerie Gorman & family
Children’s Liturgy: Janet Lahey
Ushers: Tom Cole; Rick Whelan; Alex Newell; Kevin Delahunty; Charlie O’Brien; Ray Kennedy

CHURCH CLEANING TEAM - 3 FOR WEEK OF FEB. 27TH TO MAR.3RD
George Jackman; Lee Doyle; Dianne Delaney; Mary Delaney; Margaret Bickford; Andrea Galway

Annual World Day of Prayer
The annual World Day of Prayer will be hosted by our parish on Friday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. The theme for this year is: “ The Signs of the Times” with a focus on the women of South Africa.. This year Canon Shirley Gosse of St . Cyprians Anglican Church will preach the homily. Please make a special effort to attend . A social will take place at the parish hall following the celebration.

 Parish Secretary
During the past week our secretary Jody Whalen has accepted another position with Human Resources, Labour & Employment in St. John’s beginning in April. It is a great blessing for Jody to gain full time employment and we are very happy for her. Jody has been a wonderful secretary for our parish and we certainly thank her for her excellent work.
We are accepting resumes from individuals who wish to apply for the position of secretary in our parish. This is a part time position of 9 hours per week at a pay of $10.00 per hour. The work involved is to do the accounting for the finances of our parish; have a knowledge of computers in order to do the parish bulletin; type correspondence etc, and general secretarial duties. If you wish to apply for this position, please forward your resume to the parish office. The deadline for the acceptance of this resume is Friday, March 3rd at 5:00 p.m. Once we have received the applications for employment, we will have the usual interviews and hopefully find another individual to replace Jody.

Bereavement Workshop
On Wednesday, March 8th at 7:00 p.m., we will host a bereavement workshop to help individuals and families who experience grief and loss in their lives especially due to the death of a loved one. Dr. Rick Singleton , director of Pastoral Care for the Eastern Health Corporation will be leading the session. The session is free and to be held at the parish hall. All are welcome and the session will be approximately two hours in length.

Season of Lent
Lent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter. Throughout Lent we are called to believe the Good News, to repent and to turn back to God. It is a time of conversion.
Ash Wednesday, March 1st, 2006 is a day of FAST and ABSTINENCE. This means not eating between meals and eating no meat on that day. Ash Wednesday sets the tone for the next forty days of Lent.
Observing Lent in our Parish and in Our Homes
-Listen attentively to the Word of God at mass, along with personal prayers at home.
-Do Penance, give up sin, turn away from our sinful ways.
Fasting, besides Ash Wednesday & Good Friday, we are encouraged to fast during other days of Lent.
- Abstinence, abstaining from the eating of meat and other desirable foods on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and other days of Lent.
-Alms to the Poor, money saved from fasting and abstinence could be donated to charities.
-Doing Good Works; sharing our time and possessions with others.
-Teaching our Children about Lent. Most children take notice of the sights and sounds around them. When Liturgical Seasons occur, parents and children may need to talk about these changes-how they effect worship and how they give is all a sense of the Season of Lent.

Knights of Columbus
Each year, Conception Council 1930 of the Knights of Columbus reports it’s activities for the year to its Supreme Council Office. Part of that report it its financial contributions for the year. The following is a brief report for the past Columbian year. The contributions are reported under the heading of Church, Youth and Community.
Church $4605.00. This includes the State Lottery rebate, Family Day, Christmas; Children’s Religion program and others.
Youth $1200.00. This includes donations to the RCMP Bike Rodeo, Island Volleyball team, Wabana Boys and Girls Club, RCMP Dare program, etc.
Community $1500.00. This includes donations to Katrina Fund, Rose Sunday, Janeway Children’s Hostel Fund, Stephenville Flood, MSGR. Bartlett Memorial Arena, etc.
The Members of Conception Council would like to thank the parishioners of St. Michael’s and the general public for their continued support and assistance. Thank you.

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