ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH

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

The Sign of the Cross

In today’s second reading from Galatians, Saint Paul asks that he may “never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (6:14). More than anyone else besides Christ, Saint Paul knew the power of the cross. He called it a stumbling block and a source of folly and foolishness for those who do not believe (see 1 Corinthians 1:17). For those without faith, they only see a source of torture and death. Yet, for those of us with faith, we see the gateway to eternal life, a source of the new life that comes through Christ Jesus.
This is why the sign of the cross is so important as a ritual gesture. For those of us who have been “claimed by the sign of the cross”, each time we trace it on our bodies we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice, which has brought us eternal life.
Through the cross, Saint Paul reminds us today, one is created anew. Today’s reading, in fact, is the basis of the great statement of faith that we hear at the beginning of the Triduum on Holy Thursday night: “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection; through him we are saved and made free. It is quite fitting, then, that when we gather as the Church, the Body of Christ, we begin by first marking ourselves with this sign of our salvation. As well, when we finish our prayer, the Church calls us to once again mark ourselves with the cross, the pledge of our future glory in Christ.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Walter Lahey; Edward Laurie; Marie Lavers;
July 11th Pete & Nell Power; Delorosa Roche

Thursday 7:00 p.m. Bart & Beryle Bartlett & Dawn Cahill; James Metcalfe, James &
July 12th Ann Roberts; Kareen Farhat & Leonard & Margaret Metcalfe;
Lillian Power; Murry Seward

Friday 9:00 a.m. Rosemarie Murphy; Rita Newton; Joseph Normore;
July 13th Barb Stoyles; Gordon Stoyles Sr.

Saturday 3:00 p.m. Wedding Service of Catherine Dwyer & Jamie Squires
July 14th 4:00 p.m. Sacrament of Penance
5:00 p.m. Pat Byrne; Frank Pendergast Jr.; Loretta Kennedy; Doraval Skinner; Bridget Whalen; John Reid; Loretta Quirke Dwyer & Bill & Dawn Cahill; Patrick & Catherine & David Fitzpatrick &
Mary Michael

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life
July 15th

Please Note: Mass Schedule for Cemetery Weekend:
*** Sunday, July 22nd their will be no Mass on Sunday morning. The only Mass for Sunday will be the Cemetery Mass at 2:30 p.m.****
Saturday July 21st 5:00 p.m.
Sunday July 22nd 2:30 p.m. (Cemetery)
Bell Island (Lance Cove) August 5th, 2007 Sunday – 2:30 p.m.
PLEASE MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE GRAVE SITES AND REMOVE ALL DEBRIS FROM THE AREA.

Collections for June 30th & July 1st
Offertory – 106 envelopes…………………………….…………………. $1,067.03
Dues – 10 envelopes……………………………………………………… 117.00
Cemetery Fund – 11 envelopes…………………………………………… 89.00
Archbishop’s Annual Campaign – 1 envelope…………………………… 5.00
Donation in Memory of Loretta Kennedy……………………………….. 25.00
Donation in Memory of Doraval Skinner………………………………… 50.00
Thank – You for Your Financial Support

Liturgical Ministers
Saturday 5:00 p.m. Readers: Ros Hurley & Christine Tulk
July 14th Eucharistic Ministers: Cecilia Kent; Rosemary O’Keefe; Joey Kent;
Mary Power
Presentation of Gifts: Shirley Murphy & Carol Clarke
Ushers: Bill Hammond; George Hickey; George Jackman; Keith Pitts

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Readers: Janet Lahey & Kelly Whelan
July 15th Eucharistic Ministers: Judy Burt; Sarah Burt; Riv Fitzgerald; Patricia
King
Presentation of Gifts: Tom Cole Family
Ushers: Ray Kennedy; Alex Newell; Charlie O’Brien; Ray Whalen

Saint Anne
The Novena to Saint Anne begins on Tuesday, July 17th to Wednesday, July 25th.
The Feast of Saint Anne is on Thursday, July 26th

Summer Vacation’s/Ministries
During the summer months, many of you will be away on weekends and enjoying a well deserved holiday. If you are unavailable to fulfill weekend ministries at the Church, please find a substitute as it is difficult to replace you a few minutes before Mass. Thank you for your continued support and faithful service to our Parish. Please pick up your ministry schedule at the back of the Church.

Events in the Parish
Monday and Wednesday nights at St. Michael’s Hall……….…….. Card Game at 8:30 p.m.
July 21st, 2007………………………Annual Dinner Theatre and Dance at St. Michael’s Hall
July 23rd, 2007.…Waterloo Regional Police Male Chorus at St. Michael’s Church, 7:00 p.m.

Annual Dinner Theatre & Dance
Voices From The Past – Remembering Days Gone By:
Date: Saturday, July 21st, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Hall. Cost of the ticket is $25.00 each with your choice of Hot Roast Beef or Hot Turkey. Join us for an evening of entertainment and fun and kick up your heels to some wonderful music. Tickets can be purchased from Rosanne Grant; Christine Quinlan and Ursula Lahey.

INVITATION
Before leaving the Archdiocese of St. John’s for the Archdiocese of Kingston, Archbishop O’Brien will preside at the Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 15th in the Basilica. After the liturgy, there will be light refreshments and an opportunity to greet the Archbishop. All are cordially welcome!

Visitors Collection
Our Parish extends a warm welcome to all who have returned home or are visiting the Island.
For those who are visiting our Parish and wish to make a contribution to our weekly collection, you may use the Donation Envelope which is located on the table at the entrances of our Church. All contributions over $5.00 will be acknowledged and a receipt will be forwarded to you for tax purposes. We thank you for celebrating Eucharist with us.

Let Us Pray
During the past few weeks several parishioners have mentioned that there is too much talk before Mass and that we should respect others who are trying to pray. It is always kind to greet each other before Mass but we would ask that it be done quietly so that we do not disturb others. We would strongly encourage all parishioners to celebrate the Mass and kindly respect others who are trying to pray.

Bereavement Seminar
There will be a Bereavement Seminar for people who have lost a loved one. This session will be presented by Dr. Rick Singleton, Director of Pastoral Care and Ethics with Eastern Health, on Monday, July 16th, at the Health Science Centre in room 2J-619. Stay on the main corridor through the main entrance. No registration is necessary. For more information you can call 777-6959.

THE PRIEST
Nowhere does a Parish community show forth the mystery of the Church more clearly than in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Mass requires the presence and ministry of a priest. Like John the Baptist, the priest is the “friend of the bridegroom” rejoicing in the union of Christ with his bride, the Church. The priest effectively fosters that union by standing in the person of Christ at the head of the assembly (in persona Christi capitis), by presiding over its prayer, preaching the word of God, and offering the sacrifice of Christ in the Holy Spirit to the Father. “When he celebrates the Eucharist, therefore, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he says the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ.”
The priest must be ablaze with what John Paul 11 calls “Eucharistic amazement” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia,). When the priest speaks words of consecration first uttered by Christ in the upper room, he places his voice and his whole being at the disposal of the Lord. Thus awed by what happens on the alter before which he stands, he proclaims the presence in the mystery of faith in the midst of the Church. Everything in the life of the priest flows in this moment, and flows out of it.
 

QUOTE:
Where there is faith, there is love. Where there is love, there is peace.
Where there is peace, there is God. Where there is God, there is no need.

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