Message From Father Boyd – June 8, 2020

Monday June 08, 2020  Ordinary Time

Parish Update

There comes a time in life unless help arrives one might not make it.  A person stranded or stuck on an isolated road waiting for help.  A person lost in the bush looking for a way out.  A family about to be evicted for not having the rent money and no place to go.  These are just some of those moment in life when all seems lost.  They are terrifying moments.  The Discovery Channel viewed a series recently of persons lost in hopeless situations and death was imminent.  A man hopelessly lost in the outback of Australia is down to his last drop of water, and unless rescued, he will soon die.  He lays down but thinks to say a prayer to God, and suddenly, a helicopter comes and rescues him.  The man knew God had come to help him.

In the readings today Elijah reveals to the King a terrible drought will strike the nation.  Many do not believe Elijah and many will die.  Elijah knows unless help arrives no one will make it.  Help arrives when God tells Elijah what to do.  God instructs him to the place where food and water will be found.   Elijah and those who follow God’s Word find ample amounts of food and water and survive the drought.  If one listens to God he helps those find the food and water they seek.  The food and water is really his Body and Blood.  It is the food that feeds us, strengthens us, heals us, and rescues us.  In the gospel today Jesus sees a world full of suffering encountering countless hopeless situations.  It is a world full  hungry, thirsty, poor, and persecuted souls who might not make it.  Many need rescue.  And so Jesus offers his Word.  His Word is love, his Word is mercy, his Word is our rescue.  His Word helps us find the food one needs in all the hopeless situations of life.  If we love, if we are merciful, if we forgive, if we listen to God he rescues us in all those moments in life when we know we might not make it without his help.  (Scripture Ref. 1Kings 17.1-6    Matthew 5.1-12)

Announcement:  Ontario Government and Diocese now extend health emergency and closure of parish until June 30, 2020.   The Diocese and Government are preparing health guidelines to follow when the Parish reopens.

Prayers Requested:

For those suffering pain, depression, anxiety,  and fear.

For a relative of the parish asking for God to help a cousin Ennio suffering from leukemia and seeking a bone transplant in Italy.  For Danilo, also in Italy, gravely ill.

Prayers for all health workers, doctors, nurses, personal support workers.  For all who have been afflicted and who have succumbed to Covid-19.

For Ashley Kinsheneg of Manitoulin Island  for his healing.

For a mothers request for her son, Adam, for his intentions and needs.

For Nicola Contini who passed into mercy of God.  Funeral internment took place Saturday.  May he rest in peace.

For Charles Robertson in hospital.  For Charles Cunningham in hospital.

For Your Information:

Weekend Mass offered for intentions of Sasha Bucek, the repose of Carlo Di Pede, Nicola Contini, and the parish living & deceased. Today’s Mass is offered for intentions of Charles Robertson and Charles Cunningham.

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  Sunday 9 AM Mass June 14  Feast of Corpus Christi 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