ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

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

The Good Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday, because the Gospel for each year of the Lectionary comes from the tenth chapter of Saint John, in which Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd. Jesus says that he knows his sheep and that they follow him because he “gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28).
If we’re not careful, the images of the shepherd and of knowing can be lost on us in today’s modern, fast-paced society. The shepherd would put his very life on the line for his sheep. Their well-being, their safety, and providing for their needs were the shepherd’s chief responsibility. Elsewhere in John’s tenth chapter, Jesus says that “a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.
To know, in the biblical sense, is much deeper and more personal than in the sense with which we may use it today. In the biblical sense, to know something or someone is to have an intimate, personal experience of the thing or person that is known. In the Bible, to know someone is to be in relationship with that person.
In the Gospel today, Jesus says that he knows his sheep. It is in this deeply profound, relational way that he speaks of us – the sheep for whom he has laid down his life. On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we continue to celebrate the great love of God shown to us in the Paschal Mystery. In this we, the members of Christ’s Body, find our hope and our strength.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. James & Anne Roberts; Kareen Farhat; James Metcalfe;
May 2nd Leonard & Margaret Metcalfe; Rita Newton

Thursday 7:00 p.m. Carol Mosdell; Joseph Normore; Charlie & Rita O’Brien
May 3rd Richard O’Brien; Frank Pendergast Jr.

Friday 9:00 a.m. Frank Pendergast Sr.; Aiden & Madonna Power; Gordon
May 4th Power Sr.; Pete & Nell Power; Leonard Quinlan

Saturday 3:30 p.m. Sacrament of Penance
May 5th 4:00 p.m. Eveleigh, Stone, Hammond Family; Tommy Brown Jr.;
Joseph, Mary & Patrick Normore; Lillian Power; Agnes Reid; Luke Roberts; Delorosa Roche; Murry Seward
5:00 p.m. Graduation Church Service
6:00 p.m. Graduation Dinner
7:00 p.m. Grand March, St. Michael’s High School

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life
May 6th

Please Note: Changes in the Mass Schedule for this Saturday, May 5th, 2007

Collection for April 21st – April 22nd, 2007
Offertory – 127 envelopes…………………………….…………………… $1,159.50
Dues – 3 envelopes………………………………………………………… 40.00
Lenten Folder – 2 ……………….…………………………………………. 45.00
Development & Peace – 1 envelope……………………………………….. 10.00
Thank – You for Your Financial Support

Cemetery Cleanup
Throughout the coming weeks, you will read many times in the bulletin about the importance of cleaning up our cemeteries. The Cemetery is very sacred ground and our loved ones deserve the most dignified and respected property in our Community.
We will have a busy summer and many tourists and family members will visit our Community. Please start early and remove the debris, especially old fences and concrete that have deteriorated during the past years. Let us be respectful and reverent for all our beloved dead and care for their resting places with love.

Liturgical Ministers
Saturday 4:00 p.m. Readers: Teresita McCarthy & Des McCarthy
May 5th Eucharistic Ministers: Ros Hurley; Sister Phyllis Corbett; Loretta
Byrne; Rosanne Grant
Presentation of Gifts: Shirley Murphy & Carol Clarke
Ushers: Bill Hammond; George Hickey; George
Jackman; Keith Pitts

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Readers: Geraldine Fitzgerald & Christine Quinlan
May 6th Eucharistic Ministers: Keith Kent; Sarah Burt; Judy Burt;
John Kent
Presentation of Gifts: Tom Cole Family
Children’s Liturgy: Susan Boone
Ushers: Ray Kennedy; Alex Newell; Charlie
O’Brien; Ray Whalen

Church Cleaning Team - #2 - for week of May 1st – May 4th, 2007
Madeline Lewis; Angela Johnson; Marg Lewis; Jean Ezekiel; Angel Ezekiel; Peter Power

Cemetery Mass Schedule - 2007
Bell Island (The Front) July 22nd , 2007 Sunday – 2:30 p.m.
Bell Island (Lance Cove) August 5th, 2007 Sunday – 2:30 p.m.
Kilbride July 3rd, 2007 Tuesday – 7:00 p.m.
Mt. Carmel July 10th, 2007 Tuesday – 7:00 p.m.
Belvedere July 17th, 2007 Tuesday – 7:00 p.m.
Holy Sepulchre July 24th, 2007 Tuesday – 7:00 p.m.
St. Thomas of Villanova (Topsail) July 22nd, 2007 Sunday – 2:00 p.m.

Word Day of Prayer for Vocations
On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Christians are invited to reflect on the meaning of God’s call and to pray for vocations. The Vatican Council documents (Church, bishops, priesthood, religious life, laity, church in the modern world) speak of the ways in which God calls us to serve and work for the spread of the kingdom. Christ the Good Shepherd continues to lead his people through his Bishops, priests, and deacons, and calls many to follow him in this way.
The whole Christian community shares the responsibility for fostering vocations. The first step is to live in a full Christian manner. Families with a lively spirit of faith, love and reverence contribute greatly to this work. Spiritually active parishes, where people take a full part, help to promote vocations. Today, we offer gratitude and best wishes to # 1930 Immaculate Conception Council Knights of Columbus who are devoting this weekend to special prayer and service for Vocations.
 

Rosary: Month of May
During the month of May, parishioners are invited to pray the Rosary as a family , privately or before our weekday Mass. Please take time to reverence Mary, the Mother of God and our Spiritual Mother.

Visitation of the Sick and Shut Ins
On Friday, May 4th, Sister Phyllis and Father Jim will visit the Sick and Shut Ins of the Parish. If you cannot be home on that day, please notify the office at 488-2525. If any Sick or Shut In member of our Community wishes to have a visit, please register at the office.

Cenacle of Prayer
Father Andy Goodwin of the Marian Movement of Priests will be holding a Cenacle of Prayer on May 12th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Marian Chapel of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John’s. All are welcome to join us in prayer. For information call Tim Seifert at 364-3337.

Samplers, Embroidery and Needlework
The Basilica Museum Committee is in the process of doing an inventory of material for future exhibits. In particular we are working on developing an inventory of samplers, embroidery and needlework.
In the schools of this province in the 1800 and 1900’s needlework was one of the courses that were taught to the young women. The students in the classrooms created some very beautiful work. We want to find out how much of this work that was created has survived. If you know of any needlework creations – please contact: Larry Dohey, Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese: P. O. Box 1363, St. John’s, NL A1C 5M3 or ldohey@nf.aibn.com or 709-726-3660.

Archbishop’s Appeal
Please consider supporting the Annual Archbishop’s Appeal, which takes place this year on the weekend of May 26th & 27th and the weekend of June 2nd & 3rd. “We pray that God may bless our Parish and our Diocese, and strengthen our Faith by opening our hearts to the needs of the Archbishop’s Appeal.

“Last Dance: The Knights of Columbus Fire”
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the deadly Knights of Columbus Hostel Fire on Harvey Road, St. John’s in which 99 people died. To mark this sad event, Flanker Press has re-leased the book “Last Dance: The Knights of Columbus Fire” by Darrin McGrath.
“Last Dance: The Knights of Columbus Fire” is available at most bookstores in the Province. For more information contact Flanker Press at 1-866-739-4420 or 709-739-4477.

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