The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral today,
the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time,
January 23rd at
8 am, 10:30 am & 7:30 pm
Confessions ½ hour before each Mass
We must physically distance and wear masks.
SIMPLY COME, SANITIZE YOUR HANDS AND FOLLOW THE USHERS INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHERE TO BE SEATED.
The 10:30 am Mass will continue to be live-streamed. You can view it at stmaryscathedral.ca
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Day 5 of Nine Days for Life
Intention
May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy.
Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection
When God fashioned the human person in His own image and likeness, He destined us for eternal life with Him. Yet because of the sin of our first parents, death entered the world. The book of Genesis recounts the first occasion in which a person takes the life of another, as Cain violently kills his brother Abel. This instance of brother rising up against brother “at the very dawn of history is thus a sad witness of how evil spreads with amazing speed” (Evangelium vitae 8).
From the time of creation, disregard for human life has continued to spread. When we, like Cain, allow sin to find a place in our hearts, we become blinded to the truth. Sometimes this blindness might be so deep that we fail to recognize the undeniable humanity of unborn children. We may even tragically believe the lie that abortion is an act of compassion. But we know that “life, especially human life, belongs only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself” (EV 9). Let us pray that all who support abortion will encounter the transforming love of the Father and, with repentant hearts, seek His mercy.
Acts of Reparation
(Choose one.)
- Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and to share the light of Christ with those most in need of His love and mercy.
- Make an act of faith, hope, or love.
- Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
One Step Further
Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) was written to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love, and serve every human life. A brief summary highlights key themes and foundational teachings from the papal encyclical, exploring how the Church’s teachings regarding human life are at the heart of Jesus’ entire Gospel message.
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The Following is the
Program of Prayer & Study
Sunday, January 23rd, 2022
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ
Please stay safe. Be prudent. Wash hands often. Practice physical distancing. Wear your mask in all indoor public places.
Contact one person today who does not have many people to contact them.
Above all, pray!
United in prayer in Christ.
Father Shawn
Daily Readings: cccb.ca
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Catechism in a Year 12
25. How does man respond to God who reveals himself?
Sustained by divine grace, we respond to God with the obedience of faith, which means the full surrender of ourselves to God and the acceptance of his truth insofar as it is guaranteed by the One who is Truth itself.
Further reading: CCC 142-143
26. Who are the principal witnesses of the obedience of faith in the Sacred Scriptures?
There are many such witnesses, two in particular: one is Abraham who when put to the test "believed in God" (Romans 4:3) and always obeyed his call. For this reason he is called "the Father of all who believe" (Romans 4:11-18). The other is the Virgin Mary who, throughout her entire life, embodied in a perfect way the obedience of faith: "Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Further reading: CCC 144-149
Sustained by divine grace, we respond to God with the obedience of faith, which means the full surrender of ourselves to God and the acceptance of his truth insofar as it is guaranteed by the One who is Truth itself.
Further reading: CCC 142-143
26. Who are the principal witnesses of the obedience of faith in the Sacred Scriptures?
There are many such witnesses, two in particular: one is Abraham who when put to the test "believed in God" (Romans 4:3) and always obeyed his call. For this reason he is called "the Father of all who believe" (Romans 4:11-18). The other is the Virgin Mary who, throughout her entire life, embodied in a perfect way the obedience of faith: "Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Further reading: CCC 144-149
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You will notice in The Week Ahead that all the intentions that we have had booked have been offered and therefore there are several Masses this week that have no specific intention attached to them. I would encourage you to offer Mass intentions for your dearly departed loved ones and Mass intentions for those who are very sick or experiencing some form of struggle. Call Liz at the parish office to make an offering to arrange for a Mass to be offered for your intention.
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Corporal Works of Mercy
Give Alms to the Poor
The Corporal Works of Mercy
The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. They "are charitable actions by which we help our neighbours in their bodily needs" (USCCA). They respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life.
Give alms to the poor
Donate money to organizations that have the ability to provide support and services for those in need. Do research and find organizations that put people in need first, rather than profit.
- Skip the morning latte and put that money in the collection basket at church.
- Find a charity that is meaningful to you and volunteer your time or donate. A good suggestion would be our very own Drop-in Centre. It continually needs more volunteers and financial assistance.
- This Lent, give up eating out at restaurants. Pack you meals and donate the extra money to charities