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Our Lady of Victory / St. Malachy
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JESUS,

THE SON OF

GOD

 
CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST
Our Lady of Victory   St. Malachy
Sunday - 9:00 A.M.   Saturday - 7:00 P.M.


Q U E S T I O N    O F    T H E    W E E K

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME       Jesus, the Son of God

Reading I Isaiah 49:3,5-6 (the servant of the Lord)
Reading II 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (greeting to the church)
Gospel John 1:29-34 (John's testimony to Jesus)
Key Passage

John said,] "I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel ." (John 1:31)

Adult

When have you been surprised to see goodness that you had overlooked in someone?

Child

Who has surprised you by doing something kind for you when you did not expect it?


Pastor
William Marrevee s.c.j.
Email
Rectory
490 Charles Street
Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K5
Secretary
Monday and Thursday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone
(819) 986-3763
Fax
(819) 986-9889

A sincere welcome to those who are new among us. We hope you find a warm and welcoming faith-home with us. Please introduce yourself after Mass and call the Rectory to register.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) JANUARY 16, 2005

WED. 19 - 9:00 a.m. Hugh Berndt by O.L.V. Society Martin Cullen by Helen Desjardins & family
SAT. 22 - 7:00 p.m.

Deceased members of Thomas Garvey family by Brother Matt Garvey

SUN. 23 - 9:00 a.m. Bernard Belter by Veronica & family
Deceased members of Casey & Tambeau families by Phil & Dorothy
William Miller (10th) by Bea's family

WOW! WHAT A GENEROSITY!
That is a beautiful response to the special collection that our bishops called for last Sunday on the occasion of the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia. The moneys go to Development and Peace which is the official relief agency of the Catholic Church in Canada. Because of its local contacts in the countries affected, D & P has a good track record in reaching those most in need. Some more contributions will be coming in, and others had already contributed to other relief agencies. Beautiful!

This generosity is a good demonstration of our shared humanity and that we are each others keepers. Yes, there are other disastrous situations that call for our attention, some of them "natural", others shamefully man-made. So many in our world must do without the things we so easily take for granted. True gratitude for all we have empowers us to be generous to those in need.

NEXT WEEK (JANUARY 23-30) WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
This year's theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is Our Foundation is Jesus Christ. Is it just a coincidence or is it a significant convergence? The catechetical document Discovering Jesus Christ: the Way to Freedom which our bishop presented to our Gatineau-Hull Diocese last year outlines the basic orientation for all catechetical activities for the next 10-15 years. In other words, both projects center on Jesus Christ. By having our lives more firmly rooted in Jesus Christ we as Church are being renewed which is the aim of the diocesan catechetical project. But having all still divided Christian Churches focus on their common foundation Jesus Christ, which is the aim of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will bring them closer together and find the path towards reconciliation.

Next week the bulletin will contain some biblical reflections for each day of that week. Could we take a few minutes each day to use those reflections, either individually or as a family? That sort of reflection at home is what the catechetical project has in mind too.

DISCOVERING JESUS CHRIST: THE PATH TO FREEDOM (5)
(Please note: the piece-by-piece summary of our diocesan catechetical project document we are attempting is not meant as a substitute for the reading of it; it is meant to encourage it being read and reflected upon over and over again)

We face a huge challenge today. The document is quite realistic: "The Gospel no longer seems pertinent to today's social, cultural and religious context." Some would argue with this statement, but let us be honest. Many are quite indifferent to the Gospel of Jesus today. It is not that they are hostile to it, but they have the sense that it has nothing of significance to say to what they figure life is all about for them. Why bother with it? This is especially true for the impression they have of the way the Church handles the Gospel of Jesus. It is irrelevant; it is outdated; it is not compelling; you are not missing anything if you shape your life without any reference to it.

Talk about a challenge! It is reflected in the title of the document. It has a lot to do with a re-discovering of Jesus Christ, not as a relic of the past, a museum piece, but as the one who on God's behalf enriches our life, who is the path to a full human life, or a path to freedom. Can we break through the stereotype images we may have of Jesus and re-discover Him in all his beauty and strength? Yes, it is all centered on Him, but then in such a way that He brings a richness to the human adventure, to our search for happiness that we cannot and would not want to do without.

DISCOVERING JESUS CHRIST: THE PATH TO FREEDOM (6):
Our challenge is to propose (Please note: not impose) Jesus Christ as the path to freedom, as the path to a full human life. Such a proposing of Jesus Christ must be very attentive to and respectful of those to whom this proposal is made. In other words, the particular life-situations of "the hearers" must be taken seriously. When it comes to the journey of faith we are not all at the same stage nor do we all move at the same pace. This is especially important to consider when we realize that the primary "target" is not children, but adults. We cannot simply ignore the actual life-experiences of the "hearers", the questions or doubts they may have. In fact, these must be honoured in the hope that Jesus may indeed be discovered as the God given light on the human journey.

Who are to be the bearers of this message of Jesus Christ? Not just "the religious professionals", but all those who in baptism have been anointed with the Spirit and have thus become his witnesses. In this case the witness of our daily lives becomes crucial, the way we are present to others and involved in the world. That is the way we may be called to give an account of the hope we find in Jesus Christ.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING:
Tuesday, January 18, 7:15 p.m.

O.L.V. WARDENS MEETING:
Thursday, January 20, 7:00 p.m.

ANY CANDIDATES FOR FIRST COMMUNION?:
Please register now as we plan to start our journey to the Table of the Lord on January 29.

CONGRATULATIONS to Joe & Lucille Allen who celebrate their 54th anniversary on January 20.

O.L.V. SUNDAY ENVELOPES:
Please do not use your 2004 envelopes. Your donations may accidentally be credited to someone else, because the envelope numbers for 2004 and 2005 are not the same in some cases.

FOR INCOME TAX RECEIPTS - O.L.V.:
Please drop a self-addressed envelope in the collection basket.

ARTISTS:
A group of artists meet in the O.L.V. basement every Monday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Some painting experience is preferable as there is no teacher. Cost is $2.00 per evening.


Weekly Receipts O.L.V. St. Malachy  
Regular
$   585
THANK YOU!
Tsunami Relief - D&P
$3,675

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490 Charles Street • Gatineau • Quebec • J8L 2K5
Telephone: (819) 986-3763
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