ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

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

After five weeks of a well-observed Lent, the Church enters the holiest and most solemn week of the year, the week in which we remember and commemorate the Passion and death of Christ. This week is the Triduum: the three-day celebration of Christ’s Passover from death to life. We celebrate this in our lives and in our parishes through the Baptism and Confirmation of the elect and their first reception of the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation.
It is a week of contradiction because it marks both sorrow over death of the Lord and joy in the face of the promised Resurrection, and we remember and commemorate the crucifixion and at the same time hail the coming of the day that sees Christ’s victory over death. It is a week of contradiction as it begins with the reading of the Passion and ends with the story of the empty tomb.
Through Holy Week, we are reminded of our identity as people who have died with Christ and who have been raised with him in Baptism. Through Holy Week we remember the sin of the world, our own sin and failure, and the mercy and love of God who, through Christ, won life back from death!
In as much as we are able, we mark this week as different, we enter and go through these days in a more reserved, reflective manner. During these days we set aside as much usual activity (business, preoccupation, hectic schedules) as possible. We mark these days as our final spiritual preparation for the great feast of the Resurrection of Christ, through whom our death has been destroyed forever.
First Reading: Isaiah 50.4-7
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord helps me, therefore I have not been disgraced.
Second Reading: Philippians 2.6-11
Jesus humbled himself. Therefore God highly exalted him.
Gospel: Luke 22.14-23.56
The passion of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Tuesday April 3rd 7:30 p.m. Mass of Chrism, Basilica, St. John’s
 

WednesdayApril 4th  7:00 p.m. Leander Bickford; Bernard Brazil; Betty Brazil;
Thomas J. Brazil; Edward Brown

Holy Thursday April 5th 7:00 p.m. Holy Thursday
William Gordon Lahey; Cecil Penny; Amelia Hammond; Emily Bennett; Alexander Willcott
11:30 p.m. Night Prayer

Good Friday April 6th 3:00 p.m. Good Friday Memorial Service
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday April 7th 8:30 p.m. Eveleigh, Stone & Hammond Family; George Young;
Thomas & Gerald Coombs; Marge Sweeney; Veronica Andrews; Fred , Bridget & Tony Carroll; Andrew & Mary Dobbin & Mary (Dobbin) Lahey
Easter Sunday April 8th10:30 a.m. Parishioners: Living & Deceased
 

 
Collection for Mar. 24th & Mar. 25th, 2007
Offertory – 120 envelopes…………………………….……………………… $1, 224.50
Dues – 38 envelopes………………….……………………………………… 380.00
Development & Peace – 10 envelope………………………………………… 105.00
Flower Donations in Memory:……………………………………………… $150.00
William Rockwell; Annie Gosine; Harold & Francis Gosine; Kevin Byrne & Dec. Byrne & Lane Families; Glenn Newell; Fred French & Dec. Family; John, Johanna, Dave & Ray Mclean & Bartlett Family; David & Alice Kennedy; Gerald & Mary McCarthy; Ed Hurley; Charles, Margaret, Fred & Walter O’Leary; Dawn Cahill; Bill Cahill Sr.; Bart & Beryl Bartlett; William Yetman

Thank – you for your Financial Support

Church Cleaning Team - #1 - for week of April 2nd-April 6th, 2007
Ray Whalen Jr.; Joey Kent; Amanda Curnew; Jasmine Brazil; Tasha Brazil
 

Mass of Chrism
On Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 7:30 p.m., The Mass of Chrism will be celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The Archbishop will bless the oils to be used in all parishes for the year. The Mass of Chrism is a special celebration and all parishioners are invited to attend.

Knights of Columbus Ticket Sweep
The ticket sweep for our Parish continues to be doing very well. We still must sell a lot more tickets if we are to gain the extra bonus for the sale of 400 tickets. To those who are home on a holiday or if you have not yet purchased a ticket at a cost of $40.00, please stop by the Sacristy after Mass and support this very important cause. Please support St. Michael’s Parish and the local council of the Knights of Columbus.

St. Michael’s High School Dinner Theatre
On Saturday, April 21st, 7:00 p.m. St. Michael’s High School will be holding its Annual Dinner Theatre at St. Michael’s Parish Hall. For tickets please call St. Michael’s School at 488-2828. A hot meal will be served and the cost of the ticket is $15.00 single and $25.00 double.
 

New Life in Our Parish
Our Parish welcomes into the Christian Community, Jacob Alexander Childs; Nikita Simone McLean and Lexie Marie Gorman who became a member of Gods’ family through the Sacrament of Baptism during the Month of February and March, 2007.

Bell Island Minor Hockey Ticket Draw
The March 9th, ticket draw of $500.00 for Bell Island Minor Hockey was won by Breanna and Brant Bickford. The next $500.00 ticket draw is scheduled to be drawn on April 7th.

Divine Mercy Sunday
On April 15th, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. a Divine Mercy Hour of Prayer Service will be held at the Basilica in St. John’s, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Outer Cove and St. Michael’s Parish, Bell Island.

Creating Youth Friendly Parishes
“ENGAGING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE: WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE YOUTH FRIENDLY PARISHES”: On Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 9:30 p.m. -1:00 p.m., Neil MacCarthy, of the Archdiocese of Toronto will be offering this inspiring workshop to share with us his wealth of knowledge working with youth and youth leaders. Neil is a dynamic, funny speaker who has a great love for ministry with youth and the Church. Parents, Clergy, Teachers, Youth Leaders, Adults and Catechists involved or interested in youth faith formation will not want to miss this session! Call Linda Maher, Catholic Youth Office or connect with your Parish Pastor to register. Join us as we continue to Celebrate the Year of Youth 2007!

Visitation of the Sick & Shut Ins
Father Beresford & Sister Phyllis will visit the Sick & Shut Ins on Monday, April 2nd,.
As this will be the opportunity for your Easter Duty, we will celebrate Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. Due to the extra time needed for this Service, the following areas will be reached after 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon: Quigleys Line, Bennett Street, Armoury Road, Grammer Street, and the homes in the Green Area, all other Areas will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the morning.

2) PASTORAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS:
This course is designed to introduce pastoral care assistants to skills and theories of health care chaplaincy. There are seven (once weekly), 2.5 hour sessions. These sessions begin Wednesday, April 4th. If you are interested or wish to pass this information to anyone who may be interested, contact Susan Cummings, Manager of Pastoral Care at the Waterford Site. E-mail: susan.cummings@easternhealth.ca or call 777-3545.

3) WEEKEND OF GRACE CONFERENCE: 38 spaces left. There are currently 262 women registered with a maximum capacity of 300 from across Atlantic Canada.

1st Annual Regional Catholic Women’s Conference to be held the weekend of April 20 - 22, 2007 at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We invite you to join women from across the Atlantic Provinces and experience the transforming power of God’s love. Call (902)423-9759 or visit www.stacm.ca select “Programmes” and click on “Weekend of Grace”. Pre-Registration Only $119. Please contact the hotel directly for prices and book your reservations as soon as possible

Did you know?....
That on March 14th the Basilica/Cathedral 150th Anniversary Committee was presented with the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Manning Award in recognition of the great work they did in presenting the history of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in original and effective ways through their year long celebrations. This prestigious annual award was established in 1993 as a tribute to the late Bill Manning who realized that the preservation and presentation of our heritage requires the involvement of the people in our communities. The 150th Anniversary Committee was a volunteer committee of clergy, religious and lay people who worked very hard over a period of two years. Mr. Kevin Dormody, chair of the committee, accepted the award on behalf of the committee
 

Choir Practice
Choir Practice will take place on Monday, April 2nd, after the Evening Mass. All members are pleased asked to make an effort to attend.

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