May 15, 2020 Eastertide Friday Fifth Week
Parish Update
There is no greater gift than the gift of a friend. Friends are a blessing. The prophet Sirach says if a person finds even one or two friends in a lifetime they will have found a treasure more valuable than gold. A young person once said to his parents that he had a hundred or more friends. And the mother asked where did you meet all these friends? The young man answered on Facebook! The mother then asked her son will all these friends come and help him if he finds himself in trouble, will they visit him in hospital if sick, will they care for him if he has no money, will they love him, forgive him, no matter what, will they die for him? The point the mother is making is that our culture often thinks a temporary passing of acquaintances is the same thing as friendship. Of course acquaintances can become good friends and some of the most beautiful friendships have begun through acquaintance. True friends, however, are not passing temporary acquaintances. They are there for one another through thick or thin. They are willing to give their life for the other. This is the beauty of friendship. It is beautiful to see this kind of friendship between friends, in a family, a marriage, or a community of faith. Unfortunately, deep friendship is becoming less seen in families and marriages. Because too many treat one another as a passing acquaintance.
The Mass readings today speak about friendship. When the apostles gather with one another they gather as friends. They are not passing acquaintances. They have encountered real meaning of friendship in Jesus and now bring the true meaning of friendship to one another. When the early Jesuits banded together to form the Society of Jesus they referred to themselves as friends in the Lord. They were not to be passing acquaintances to one another. In the gospel today Jesus makes a stunning comment. He says I do not call you servants any longer, I call you friends. Today Jesus calls us his friends. Friends he will die for. When Jesus says, there is no greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends Jesus is teaching us the meaning of true friendship. A friend gives one’s life to a friend every moment of the day. A spouse to their spouse, a son or daughter to their parents. The prophet says if we find even one friend in a lifetime then we have found a treasure greater than gold. Jesus is that gold. He is our gold. He is not a passing acquaintance we will find on Facebook. He is a Friend. (Scripture Ref: Acts 25.22-31 John 15.12-17)
Congratulations to Fr. Daniel who has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation. He is now Dr. Daniel Syauswa, SJ. God bless Fr. Daniel on the occasion of his tremendous achievement!
Prayers Requested:
For Margaret Thomas who passed into God’s mercy yesterday. Her private funeral burial will take place at Hart Chapel tomorrow Saturday @10:30 AM. May she rest in peace.
For a relative of the parish asking for God to help a cousin suffering from leukemia and seeking a bone transplant in Italy.
For Chuck Robertson in hospital.
Prayers for all health workers, doctors, nurses, personal support workers. For all who have been afflicted and who have succumbed to Covid-19.
For Mary Margaret Frederick and Rita Wensler received into God’s mercy.
Announcement: Following Government Guidelines the Diocese has extended parish closure to June 02, 2020.
For Your Information:
Knights of Columbus has granted the generous amount of $5,000.00 towards the renovations campaign for the Parish. The Parish thanks the Knights!
The Diocesan Foundation Ex Corde has awarded Holy Rosary Parish the generous amount $25, 000.00 towards the renovations campaign. The Parish thanks Ex Corde Foundation!
The Car Raffle continues but the draw date will be moved to a future time when the church reopens.
Offerings April to May 06 2, 735.00
PreAuthorized to May 06 8,005.00
Regular Offerings 8,150.00
Loose Offerings 733.60
Total 19,623.60
Bottle Drive: 1,097.05
Pantry: 1,865.00
Share Lent: 920.00
Good Friday: 630.00
St. Anne’s: 145.00
Mass was offered today for the repose of the souls of Berto Conte, Margaret Thomas, and for the intentions of Brittany Gray.
For those who signed up for Care for Neighbours Team. Those assigned please keep a check on your neighbours.
Pray the Rosary at 4 PM in your homes offering prayers for end of the pandemic , the sick and afflicted, all who have requested prayers for our families, nurses, doctors, personal care workers. Pray for all in our 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. Thanks for your continued offerings. Very much appreciated.
Dry food items for food pantry can be placed in the grey bin outside office entrance doors. Thank you! Also don’t forget to donate your spirit bottles to grey bin outside parish office door to help raise funds for the capital campaign.
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 that the Sixth Sunday 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.
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
