What's in this week's Flocknote?
- CWL Events: are you hungry and adventurous? Or thinking of Christmas already?
- Catholic Social Services Sunday
- SSVP Winter Wear
- The Mass Revealed
- School News
- Book of our Beloved Dead
- All Souls Day Masses
- Newman Grads
And always,
Priest's Assembly
- Gospel Reflection
- Holy Heroes Mass prep
- Respect Life reflection
- Mass times
- Office Hours & Contact Information
Priest's Assembly
There will be no morning Masses Nov. 3-5.
The Book of Our Beloved Dead
Each November the Church prays for the souls of our loved ones who have gone before us through death. We have a Memorial Book in the main entry for you to add names. The book is then placed in the Sanctuary for the month of November in their remembrance. Our book has the names entered over the past few years; we continue to pray for them.
Are you ready for
Haluski, Potato Skins, Korean beef, Caramel Popcorn Twist Dessert, Baked Hashbrown Casserole, Lemon Ricotta Cookies with lactose free cheese, Mini Ham Quiche, Palitaw (sweet rice cake. It is a snack or "meryenda" afternoon snack), Roasted Beets with Carrots, Onions and Garlic, Sweet cabbage (kraut) with boiled potatoes (optional sausage), Pork Saté skewer with rice, Pulled pork sandwiches, Fried Lumpia (Vegie spring rolls), Swiss Cake, Lasagna, Chili, lots of Pansit (Filipino noodles), Binignit / Bilo-Bilo (Plantain Sweet), Apple Cake, and Potato Soup??
We hope so! Last minute contributions are welcome, just bring your tasting sized delights, and we'll set you up!
Saturday Supper is taken care of! Enjoy tastings and friendings!
Oh dear, we forgot to mention Butter Chicken - guess who is bringing that?
Catholic Social Services
On Catholic Social Services Sunday, Oct. 25, we give thanks for CSS and its mission to put Christ’s love into action.More than 2,000 employees and 400 volunteers offer compassion, care and connection to individuals and families in need.
As Archbishop Stephen Hero reminds us, this vital work is sustained by your prayers and generosity.
The attached letter reflects on Christ’s call to love our neighbours and celebrates how Catholic Social Services puts that love into action through care, compassion, and support for vulnerable individuals and families throughout our Archdiocese. You will hear it read at every Mass in the Archdiocese this Sunday.
Please join us in giving thanks for this important ministry and all who support its mission.
Please join us in giving thanks for this important ministry and all who support its mission.
As you are pulling out your winter clothing for the upcoming season, please keep in mind those who are less fortunate.
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul will be having a winter clothing drive on November 15. Please consider donating items that are new or gently used that are clean, in good repair and from a smoke-free environment.
In particular we are in need of winter coats/snowsuits, vests, ski/snow pants, hats, boots, mitts/gloves, winter socks, and blankets.
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul will be having a winter clothing drive on November 15. Please consider donating items that are new or gently used that are clean, in good repair and from a smoke-free environment.
In particular we are in need of winter coats/snowsuits, vests, ski/snow pants, hats, boots, mitts/gloves, winter socks, and blankets.
Understand. Celebrate. Participate.
The Mass Revealed is a video series available to help students, families, and parish communities learn about the different elements that make up a Catholic Mass.
The series aims to help build deeper understanding and move people from simply attending Mass to fully, consciously, and actively participating in it.
This series was created in partnership by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, Edmonton Catholic Schools, and St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools, and features one of our former Pastors, Fr. Paul Kavanagh.
We'll share an episode every week, and encourage you to watch, share it with family members. We're sure it will answer some of your questions (why do we do that? what is that object for?) and lead you into a deeper and particular type of appreciation of Mass.
How can we get ready to celebrate Mass?
Episode 1 (3 minutes) explains the ways that people can show reverence when entering sacred space to celebrate Mass. It highlights actions, prayers, and attitudes we bring to Mass.
The presentation assumes that being on time for Mass always happens, though unexpected traffic detours and child-care needs can unintentionally affect this, but God is always happy to see you! To be ready to celebrate Mass at other times, plan to arrive at least 5 minutes in advance to have time to pray, and move yourself from the busyness and activities of the outside world and into the presence of God in his Church.
The presentation assumes that being on time for Mass always happens, though unexpected traffic detours and child-care needs can unintentionally affect this, but God is always happy to see you! To be ready to celebrate Mass at other times, plan to arrive at least 5 minutes in advance to have time to pray, and move yourself from the busyness and activities of the outside world and into the presence of God in his Church.
School News
You would have seen Staff and Students serving in some Liturgical Ministries at all Masses last Sunday.
Fr. Thomas visited all our schools to bless each class and space. He prayed with staff in their 'green room' or Office, broadcasting this prayer to each class, then blessed each classroom, space, and the people in them.
The Prayer Vigil ends on Nov. 1.
The Vigil is a silent prayer-filled time on the sidewalk 50m from the clinic. The Back Porch is also nearby. Our Knights of Columbus and you have been supporting this pro-life organization, "offering life affirming options to people facing life altering decisions." https://www.alies.ca/
Sunday Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’Jesus said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus names love of God and neighbor when a scholar challenges him to identify the greatest commandment.
Since love (caritas) is what God is, it is also that virtue that conforms us most dramatically to God. Thomas Aquinas says, in eloquently simple language, that caritas is friendship with God. In his great farewell discourse, offered the night before his death, Jesus says to his disciples that he no longer calls them servants but friends—and in this he opens up a new world.
In any other religion, a human being could be called, vis-à-vis God, a creature, a penitent, or an eager supplicant, but only in Christianity could she be called an intimate of God. This is true because in Christ, God has become one of us, thereby establishing a parity beyond our capacity even to imagine.
The participation in what God is is what Aquinas means by caritas, friendship with God. The moral challenge, of course, is to live out the implications of that friendship, listening and speaking to God, obeying the promptings of his voice, opening one’s heart to him, and, above all, loving what he loves—which is to say, everyone and everything.
Bishop Robert Barron
Since love (caritas) is what God is, it is also that virtue that conforms us most dramatically to God. Thomas Aquinas says, in eloquently simple language, that caritas is friendship with God. In his great farewell discourse, offered the night before his death, Jesus says to his disciples that he no longer calls them servants but friends—and in this he opens up a new world.
In any other religion, a human being could be called, vis-à-vis God, a creature, a penitent, or an eager supplicant, but only in Christianity could she be called an intimate of God. This is true because in Christ, God has become one of us, thereby establishing a parity beyond our capacity even to imagine.
The participation in what God is is what Aquinas means by caritas, friendship with God. The moral challenge, of course, is to live out the implications of that friendship, listening and speaking to God, obeying the promptings of his voice, opening one’s heart to him, and, above all, loving what he loves—which is to say, everyone and everything.
Bishop Robert Barron
Join parish families in preparing for Sunday's Mass! Children will like this acting and presentation.
We missed including St.John Paul's Feast Day (Oct. 22) and colouring page last week; here it is now!
Fun Facts about St. Pope John Paul II
- He had to study in secret while in seminary during World War II
- He loved the outdoors and especially skiing
- He worked hard to visit as many nations and peoples as possible to bring the light of Christ far and wide. He is the most traveled Pope in history.
Reverence for Life Prayer
Lord we pray for all those who are indifferent to the holocaust of abortion and euthanasia in our country. "A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world from every family and from the heart of every believer"
~Pope St. John Paul II
Lord we pray for all those who are indifferent to the holocaust of abortion and euthanasia in our country. "A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world from every family and from the heart of every believer"
~Pope St. John Paul II
Sunday Mass Times
9 am 10:30 am 12:30 pm
8:30 am Tuesday - Friday
Parish Office Hours
Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
9 am - 3 pm.
Closed Thursday for behind the scenes work.
sje@caedm.ca (780) 452-3988
Celebrate Catholic Education!
"Newman Theological College is a Roman Catholic School of Theology committed to theological education and missionary discipleship. The college prepares laity, religious, & ordained ministers for Christian service and leadership in Western Canada & beyond."Master of Religious Education Convocation
Two of our St. John Parishioners received this Degree: Tara Pev, and Syna Maclagan (6th and 9th from the left). They will enrich the faith lives of students, staff, and families even more with their academic, practical, and personal experience of our Catholic faith learned through this Degree.
Congratulations, and thank you!
Have you considered deepening your knowledge of our faith and meeting like-minded Catholics? Investigate the courses and programs, and inquire how you can take advantage of this treasure of a Catholic college in our city.