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

F O O D   F O R   T H E   W E E K Reading I 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19 (revelation to Samuel) Reading II 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20 (against sexual immortality) Gospel John 1:35-42 (the first disciples) Key Passage They said to him, ”Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying”? He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. (John 1:38b-39) Adult What qualities do you have that would cause others to recognize you as a disciple of Jesus?

Pastor	William Marrevee s.c.j.
Email	w.marrevee@sympatico.ca
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.

MASSES:

WED.	Jan. 18 - 9:00 a.m.	All parishioners of both parishes by the Pastor
SAT.	Jan. 21 - 7:00 p.m.	Sarah Doherty by Brian Doherty and family
SUN.	Jan. 22 - 9:00 a.m.	Bernard Belter by Veronica and family Deceased members of the McFaul family and friends by Hugh Larry Prud’homme by Mary Doherty and Jane McNamara

THINGS ARE BACK TO “ORDINARY” IN THE CHURCH:
Thank you so much to those who took the Christmas down earlier this week. That “closes” the Christmas Season, but it does not put an end to our living from what we celebrated in the Christmas season: God’s gift of Jesus who in the power of the Spirit lives among us and is the enduring living source of our Christian identity.

Now we are into Ordinary Time as it is called in church language. It is very much as in life itself; we have our high and low points, and a lot of grey and ordinary areas in between. In all of it, Jesus Christ is the one who leads the way for us and in whom God graces us.

THIS IS THE YEAR OF MARK WITH ITS OWN PORTRAIT OF JESUS:
In the course of this year (for the Church it is year B) the majority of Gospel readings at Sunday Mass are taken from Mark’ Gospel. Mark has his own portrait of Jesus, quite different from Matthew, Like or John. Here is the way Normand Bonneau summarizes the basic thrust of Mark’s portrait of Jesus:

“Although usually off-stage; God is a main actor in Mark’s Gospel. It is his battle against sin and death which he wages by inspiring his agent, Jesus. As God’s special agent Jesus sows conflict wherever he goes. Instead of the serene teaching Jesus of Matthew or the supremely confident Jesus of John, Mark’s Jesus remains at times disconcertingly human.”

“After initial successes during the opening episodes of his ministry in Galilee (filled with violent shouting matches against unclean spirits and acrimonious debates with the Pharisees), Jesus begins to distinguish between two groups: an inside group of disciples who receive special instructions and the outsiders who are destined not to understand. Furthermore, as the feeding of the multitudes story illustrates so well, conflict arises between Jesus and his disciples. This rift of misunderstandings is never fully healed; it widens finally to the point where the disciples abandon Jesus during his arrest.”

“The climatic conflict takes place in Jerusalem , particularly in the arrest, trial and crucifixion. Moreover, Jesus’ personal struggle to face his divine destiny ( Gethsemane and the Cross) is uncompromisingly stark in Mark. The author of the second Gospel seems to insist that the readers never lose sight of the high stakes in God’s plan of salvation.”

A PASTORAL LETTER ON IMMIGRATION AND THE PROTECTIOIN OF REFUGEES:
Yes, as Catholics we have a view on these matters that may differ from what “everybody else thinks.” At least, as Catholics we may want to give some thought to some important information principles of our church’s social doctrine that we may want to guide and shape our thinking on the issues. The Episcopal commission for Social Affairs of the CCCB helps us with that in its document “ We are aliens and transients before the Lord.” Copies of that letter are available at the entrance of church.

“ REDISCOVERING JESUS CHRIST: THE PATH TO FREEDOM ’’:
It is just about two months ago (November 12) that representatives from the English speaking parishes in our diocese met for a workshop organized by the Executive of the English Zone Pastoral Council (ZPC). The workshop dealt with four basic concepts of the above mentioned document that the bishop gave the Gatineau Diocese on the Feast of Pentecost 2004.

The purpose of the workshop was t facilitate the reading and digesting of the above-mentioned document which spells our basic pastoral orientation in our diocese for the next 10-15 years. Here follows the summary presentation of the way the first concept was introduced (the other three will come):

MOVING FROM THE PRACTICE OF PREPARING FOR SACRAMENTS TO THE PRACTICE OF LEARNING TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE:
During the past decades much of our catechetical effort, much of our religious education/instruction or faith formation has in fact become preparation for sacraments.

We are becoming more and more aware of the short comings and/or blind spots in this approach:

• It tends to follow a “schoolhouse “model:
• Look at the language we use: You register for them, first communion classes, teachers…
• The celebration of the sacrament itself is seen as some sort of graduation or gold star (with certificate)
• In many instances contact with the church is sporadic and preparation itself is often isolated from the church life…
• The preparation is often disconnected from the family; they drop them off and pick them up again and go back to the real world…

Does the emphasis on preparation for the sacraments not too quickly overtook that the sacraments themselves are to be embedded in and rooted in the Christian life, that they serve as Power –Bars or Gatorade or compasses on the journey of faith?

Is the preparation for sacraments still seen and experienced as an opportunity for the family to grow in faith?

The aim of formation to the Christian life has a lot to do with:

- Getting to know Jesus Christ
- Becoming more and more united with Jesus Christ
- Being grafted onto Jesus Christ
- Being initiated into Jesus Christ
- Cultivating a taste for Jesus Christ and for the Kingdom of God that he lived for and that he inaugurated

Which is more concretely lived out in what we call the 4-poles of Christian Life…

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
The Country Club 2000 for their generous contribution of $100 to the parish of Our Lady of Victory for fuel.

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

MEETINGS:
PPC - Tuesday, January 17th at 7:15 p.m.
WARDENS - Wednesday, January 18th at 7:00 p.m.

INVITATION
St. Andrew’s Church invites us come help them celebrate the Birthday of Scotland Bard on Friday, January 20th, 7:30 p.m. Songs, Dance or you can just sit. Scottish food served. A free-will offering would be appreciated. For more information please contact Mrs. Todd at 986-5865.

Weekly Receipts	O.L.V.	St. Malachy
Jan. 15 Regular	$   635	$    203