April 22,2020 (Eastertide Wednesday)
Parish Update
The French philosopher and activist, Simone Weil, wrote a book in 1934 called The Need for Roots. The book examines the social, cultural, and spiritual malaise threatening the world of our contemporary times. She said “uprootedness is by far the most dangerous disease to which human society is exposed. Whoever is uprooted, uproots others. Who is rooted himself, doesn’t uproot others. To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.” Weil has made an extraordinary observation. She believes there is no disease or threat to humanity greater than what she calls uprootedness. Not even the Covid-19 virus is greater. By this she means when a person, or a society, or a culture, family, marriage, loses is roots, its purpose, all sense of its future, or when a person or culture forgets its history, when a person no longer knows who they are, where they come from, where they are going, they end up living in the dark. Living in the dark is a dreadful disease. It infects the soul. One becomes uprooted and lost. And when a lost one uproots others they also end up lost. How many families, homes, and marriages, today, appear uprooted and lost. The earth, the oceans, forests, species, ripped up, infected, torn, and lost. There is a fear now that Western civilization is entering into the dark. When a civilization, a culture, a person chooses to live in the dark, or is forced to live in the dark, they perish. In the Mass readings today, the disciples are forcibly thrown into the dark of a prison. But the prison is unable to hold them, the disciples find their way out because they live in the light. The authorities are unable to explain how they escaped from their dark confinement. The light will always triumph over the dark. When Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a learned man of Israel, they are discussing a deep philosophical question concerning a person’s choice to live in the light or in the dark. It is really about what Weil discusses in her book The Need for Roots. What Jesus and Nicodemus are discussing concerns a person’s choice to live an uprooted life or a rooted life. An uprooted life is an aimless life of dark anger, hurt, lies, and deceit. It is a life that hides from the light. The light of truth. It is a dreadful disease that poisons the soul. A rooted life lives in the light. Its roots are strong and sturdy. The roots have purpose and meaning and reach for the light. Jesus is saying a rooted life is a life rooted in God. It is a life of faith. Without God we become uprooted and the soul is lost. When we are uprooted we end up in the dark. All the vaccines of this world will not cure this dreadful disease. A vaccine might be found to cure Covid-19 and this is important for health and well-being of body, but it will not cure the greatest disease. The disease of the soul. Uprootedness. Weil is saying we must return to our roots. Jesus is saying return to our roots. The vaccine is faith in God. Faith restores the roots of our homes, marriages and families. The roots of our earth. The vaccine is found in the sacraments, attending Mass every week, serving our neighbour, feeding the poor, encouraging our families to be rooted in love.
Scripture Ref: Acts 5.17-26 John 3. 16-21
Thank you to Holy Rosary Catholic & St. Patrick’s Catholic School’s principals, teachers, students, and families for encouraging your children to bring food for the poor to the grey bin outside the church doors. For bringing a personally designed prayer rock placed in the prayer garden below the Blessed Sacrament window where our Lord looks out towards the world. Thanks for praying for the sick and afflicted before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Thanks to all who have who have signed up to help CARE FOR NEIGHBOURS TEAM. Those who have been assigned to help a neighbour calling for help continue to please keep a check on them.
Mass today is offered for the repose of the soul of Margaret Bolton and for the intentions of Albert Black. Prayers requested for the residents and workers of Country Village Nursing Home in Woodslee, Ont. Many of whom are stricken by Covid- 19 virus. Also prayers for all innocents victims of tragic shooting in Nova Scotia. And for our police officers throughout the nation.
Pray the Rosary at 4 PM in your homes offering prayers for end of the pandemic , the sick and afflicted, nurses, doctors, personal care workers serving in our hospitals and nursing homes.
Mail drop off at the Rectory mail box kitchen door. Place prayer requests, Mass intentions, messages, envelopes, letters. The mail box is carefully monitored. Again thank you for your offerings. They are helping me pay for the lights and heat!
This week marks the first anniversary of our One Heart One Soul Campaign. A huge thank you for making a huge success for the Parish and Diocese and for your continued support. We will continue to prepare for repairs!
Dry food items for food pantry can be placed in the grey bin outside office entrance doors. Thanks for the donations.
DIOCESE DECREES ALL WEDDINGS MUST BE CANCELLED UP UNTIL JUNE 30, 2020. A WEDDING CAN TAKE PLACE BUT ONLY WITH THE BRIDE, GROOM, AND WITNESSES. FIRST COMMUNIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS ARE ALL CANCELLED – TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.
Reminder this Third Sunday of Easter 9 AM Mass will be live streamed. Instructions are posted on the Parish Website https://holyrosaryguelph.ca/ under the “MASSES” header on the home page of website. A link to a recording of the previous Sunday Mass is also available in the same location.
The Diocese has informed me today all parishes and parish offices closures are now extended to May 12th, 2020.
Holy Rosary Catholic Women’s League will sew 100 protective gowns for medical staff for St. Joseph’s. Any parishioner willing to help, or donate thread, can call President Cathy Whyte @ 519- 824-5115.
Can Catholics Evangelize at a Time Like This? Free Virtual Catholic Summit April 25, 12PM – 3PM. If interested contact communications@newevangelization.ca
Courage everyone. Pray. With my blessing.
Fr. Vernon P. Boyd S.J.
Pastor
Holy Rosary Parish, 175 Emma Street, Guelph, ON, N1E 1V6
519-822-4701 x 22 www.holyrosaryguelph.ca
