May 27, 2020 Eastertide Wednesday 7th Week after the Ascension (Memorial St. Augustine of Canterbury)
Parish Update
The day a mother or father sees their child depart home and head off into the world is a day a mother and father might dread. Of course a parent knows the day must come for their son or daughter to leave and set off on their own, to begin college, begin a career, find work, to marry and raise a family. It will be a day a parent will ask a hundred questions. Will the child they have raised and loved find their way, will they keep to the values in which they have been raised, hold on to their faith or lose their faith, might they meet the right person or the wrong person, the right crowd or wrong crowd, or perhaps, even more worrisome, will they make some serious mistake that will forever change the course of their destiny. These are just some of the questions a parent might ask and worry about. In the end parents know they must surrender all their questions, concerns, and worries to God, trusting they have done everything possible to raise their child the best they could and now they must place their child in the hands of God. And they pray, every day, God help them find their way.
The Mass readings today are about the day most people dread. The day a loved one, or a beloved will depart, and the day one might ask the same kinds of questions, with the same kinds of worries and concerns, a parent might have who must put everything in the hands of God. The apostle Paul knows it is time to leave. And he leaves with a heavy heart but also a hopeful heart. It is the last day he will see the disciples face to face. He must leave those he has nurtured, raised, and guided into the faith. It is a hard day for Paul. A day he dreads. For he knows the world is a tough place and it can snatch a soul away. And so his final words to his disciples before he leaves is to be alert, to keep watch, because savage wolves will come and not spare anyone. He commends all to God. He begs his disciples hold true to the faith and to remember it is better to give than to receive. He is like a parent offering a final word to the son or daughter they love before they leave. In the gospel Jesus will also soon depart the world. He too, like a good parent, and like Paul, offers his final instruction. He prays we be one and serve as one. To serve one another in family, and to hold true to the faith. He asks God to send the Holy Spirit to protect us. Even though Jesus will leave the world he really is not leaving us. Just like a loving mother and father never leaves their son or daughter, or a loving son or daughter never leaves their parents, he never leaves us. He will always and forever be one with us. In a few days, we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. He is the gift Jesus will send to protect us when we set off to find our way in a tough old world and who will help us to be one with him forever. (Scripture Ref: Acts20.28-38 John17.11-19)
Prayers Requested:
For those suffering pain, depression, anxiety, and fear.
For a relative of the parish asking for God to help a cousin suffering from leukemia and seeking a bone transplant in Italy.
Prayers for all health workers, doctors, nurses, personal support workers. For all who have been afflicted and who have succumbed to Covid-19.
For Fr. Tony Van Hee SJ pro-life witness, on Parliament Hill past 29 years, facing court proceedings for his witness to life.
Announcement: Following Government Guidelines the Diocese has extended parish closure to June 02, 2020.
For Your Information:
The Car Raffle continues but the draw date will be moved to a future time when the church reopens.
- Today Mass is offered for the intentions of Lucy Wojinarowski on the occasion of her birthday!
- 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 Feast of Pentecost Sunday 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
