Hello St Clare,

This is part two of my article on the priestly ministry and the different priests you can and will meet administering the sacraments in the Church. If you missed part one, just go back to the ebulletin of January 21.

You are by now aware that there are diocesan priests and religious priests. Neither is better than the other; each is unique and distinctive. By now you may recall that I am a religious priest belonging to the religious community named Salvatorians.

My particular community consists of 16 priests serving across Canada. At present, I serve as the Superior for all members of my community in Canada. For example, I oversee the placement of priests, I have discussions with local bishops, implement changes, and take care of the well-being of our priests, etc.

Being the superior is for a 3-year term and is both an honor and a great responsibility. Almost all religious communities have the same or a similar period for the term of Superior. When the term ends, we all gather for elections and vote for the next Superior. If the majority consider that our Superior is performing well, he may be re-elected 3 times in a row and then needs to step down to take a break. I was elected the Superior of the Salvatorians in Canada 3 times for 9 consecutive years. By law, I stepped down and after 3 years I was voted again to be the Superior.

I am sharing these insights to give you a sense of the priestly and religious life. I hope that these words will serve to explain my occasional absences from our parish because of my duties as the Superior.

In January, I had to attend a priests’ meeting of all Salvatorians working in Canada. On February 5th, I am going to Poland to attend a conference for all the superiors from 16 countries in which we, the Polish section of Salvatorians, minister. I will represent Canada but also discuss our future challenges, priorities, needs and more.

Please say a prayer for me and all the Salvatorians. We are priests, brothers, nuns and a lay family ministering in more than 40 countries worldwide! You can learn more about us by visiting our main website at www.sds.org

Fr. Maciej

BEWARE OF SCAM EMAIL

There is a scam email going around in Fr. Maciej's name saying that he would like you to handle a request discreetly, asking for cash or gift cards. THIS IS A SCAM. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL FR. MACIEJ ASK YOU TO BUY GIFT CARDS OR GIVE HIM CASH. If you receive one of these, please delete it immediately.

SUNDAY MASSES

Saturday (Mass of Anticipation)  5:00pm

Sunday  8:30am, 11:00am and 5:00pm

        6:30pm (Spanish)

DAILY MASSES 

Monday through Saturday at 9:00am

Morning Office/Breviary at 8:30am from Monday through Saturday. Everyone is welcome to join in.

________________________________________________________

LIVESTREAMING SCHEDULE

We will continue to live stream our masses on YOUTUBE (Link) as follows:

Daily Masses Monday through Friday at 9:00am

Weekend Mass at 5:00pm on Saturdays

All of these are posted on YouTube and Facebook and can be watched either live or after the livestreaming has ended. If you haven't already, please subscribe to our YouTube page and don't forget to "Like Us". These simple moves makes us easier to find on the web.

You can participate in all of our online masses by clicking on the links provided above or by going to our website, www.stclare.ca and clicking on the link provided.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Friday

9am to 12pm

1pm to 3pm

The parish office is closed on statutory holidays.

Tax receipts for donations made online through the Archdiocese of Vancouver will be sent by the Archdiocese directly to donors via email.

The generosity of being a good steward of your gifts has a positive effect on people and it is contagious! Good works encourages more good works. Generosity is a by-product of a grateful lifestyle. The more we recognize God’s gifts, the more we want to share them. Good stewards recognize that God is working through them and they don’t put themselves above the people they have been called to help.

Copyright © 2022 Archdiocese of St. Louis

Food for Thought . . . and for the Soul

Last Saturday (Jan 28) was the feast of St Thomas Aquinas OP (1225 - 1274), and we are fast approaching the penitential season of Lent. So it seemed appropriate to commemorate both by offering you "Daily Meditations for Lent" by the Angelic Doctor.

Link to "Meditations for Each Day of Lent" by St Thomas Aquinas

During his studies, Tommaso d'Aquino was nicknamed the "Dumb Ox" by his peers because of his size and the slowness of his speech. Hence the subtitle of the biography of St Thomas Aquinas by the Victorian/Edwardian English writer G K Chesterton. For a straightforward treatment, read Josef Pieper, 20th century philosopher, who gives a penetrating introduction and guide to the life and works of perhaps the greatest philosopher ever, St Thomas Aquinas, in "Guide to Thomas Aquinas" (1962). Pieper provides a biography of Aquinas, an overview of the 13th century he lived in, and a wonderful synthesis of his vast writings. Pieper shows how Aquinas reconciled the pragmatic thought of Aristotle with the Church, proving that realistic knowledge need not preclude belief in the spiritual realities of religion. Pieper's work illuminates the thought of the great intellectual Doctor of the Church. But if you have any adventurous spirit, by all means read Chesterton's book "St Thomas Aquinas". It is written by a man who loves and understands his subject in his very bones, and who brings his subject to life in a way that is most uncanny. True to form, near the end of the book he bellows out that "on a map like the mind of Aquinas the mind of Luther was barely a speck".

St Thomas Aquinas (GKC 181pp)

Review of GKC's St Thomas Aquinas

Link to Pieper's biography (via amazon.ca)

Please contact the parish office to make arrangements for

baptisms, weddings, funerals and other Sacraments.

Monday through Saturday

8:45am (before morning Mass)

9:30am (after morning Mass, until last penitent)

No registration or appointment is necessary.



ADORATION CHAPEL

The Adoration Chapel is accessible 7 days a week. Entrance to the Adoration Chapel is open between 8am and 6pm.  

Pre-Authorized Payments

We offer a Pre-Authorized Payment (PAP) plan which you can sign up for by completing the form at Pre-Authorized Form and returning it with a void cheque to the parish office. Pre-authorized payments are withdrawn directly from your bank account on the 1st day of the month.

Please remember to sign the back as it is invalid without a signature. You may seal the completed form in an envelope marked Pre-Authorized Payment and drop it in the donation box located in the church, mail it or bring it to the parish office. The form must be in the office by the 20th of the month in order for it to be effective on the following 1st of the month.

Donations at Church

If you wish to continue to make your donation at mass, please note that we will not be passing around the collection baskets at this time. Please leave your donation to the church in one of the boxes at the back of the church either when you enter or when you leave. If you would like a box of Sunday envelopes, contact the parish office.

Second Collections - When there is a Second Collection, a collection box at the back of the church will be specifically labeled for the that collection. The next Second Collection is on the weekend of February 5 for BC Catholic.

UKRAINIAN SUPPORT - We will continue to leave a donation box beside the Ukrainian flag in the lobby as they will need continued support. If you have any loose change or bills please consider making a donation. Thank you.

ADVERTISERS IN OUR BULLETIN

There is an advertiser section at the bottom of today's bulletin. Please support these businesses as they support your parish. Clicking on their ad will take you to their web page.

If you are interested in advertising your company in our bulletin, please contact the office at stclareofassisi@shaw.ca or call 604-941-4800.

Please join us on Tuesday mornings over Zoom from 10:00am till 11:15am as we read and discuss the book ‘The Passion And The Cross’ by Father Ronald Rolheiser.

We will journey together through Lent in preparation for Easter starting February the 7th and finishing April 4th. 

For more details and to register contact Gillian Queenan at queenans@gmail.com or by phone at 604-375-5566.

If you join the team of teachers, you will only teach once a month and training will be provided. This is also a good opportunity for teenagers to get involved. You will work in pairs and typically a teenager will be paired with an adult. 

During the weekend of Feb 11-12 the St Clare Quilters will be displaying their 2022 quilt in the church lobby. We would like to thank our fellow parishioners for their generous donations that helped us to complete this queen-size quilt. This quilt will be donated to the Talitha Koum Society to use towards their fund-raising efforts. Our quilters are eagerly anticipating starting our 2023 quilt very soon and we want to thank the generous donor who anonymously left us beautiful rose-colored quilting fabrics for our new project. 

Another sewing day is being planned this spring on a Saturday in the Church Hall and all people who sew, or who would like to participate by cutting and/or pressing fabrics, are invited to join us and can sign up on Feb 11^th or 12th. The Sewing day date will be announced soon. This year our quilt block pattern is the Pinwheel. Those who participate with the sewing will be expected to bring their own sewing machine, pins, scissors to the hall. If you are able, we could also use ironing boards and irons but we have lots of rotary cutters, mats and rulers. There is an opportunity to participate from home for those not able to attend our sewing day in the Parish Hall and we will be happy to share the information and fabrics by arranging to leave addressed packages in the church vestibule as before.

We would appreciate your help again this year and our volunteers will be accepting cash donations after the Masses on Feb 11th and 12th towards the costs of purchasing batting and backing fabric for the 2023 quilt plus having the quilting of the layers completed. We thank you for your support.

If you would like to learn more please contact Gail Ryan at gail.ryan57@telus.net or phone 604-945-4541.

MISSON

Help to restore a culture of life

INVOLVEMENT

Life Chain

Pro-Life Sunday

40 Days for Life

Hike and Bike for Life

Blooms Into Rooms

Victoria March for Life

LifeCanada

MEMBER UPDATES AND INFORMATION

3 Newsletters Yearly

Emails

Guest Presenters

Facebook @ Life Compass Society

(Life Affirming Stories)

DVDs, Pamphlets, Models

MEMBERSHIPS

$10.00 a year or $25 for 3 Years

LAST YEAR MEMBERSHIP FEES HELPED US TO

 Pay Facebook Fees

Hang Banners in Skytrain Stations

Pay Hike, Bike and Run4Life Fundraiser Costs

Host Angelina Ireland, President of Delta Hospice Society, at our AGM held at St. Clare of Assisi Parish Centre

Members are invited but not required to take part in events.

CHECK OUT THE DISPLAY DURING OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.

You are invited to attend a fraternity gathering taking place every last Saturday morning of the month at 10am (Sept - June) in the St. Clare of Assisi Parish Centre. Contact: Carmen Moorhouse at carmenmoorhouse@gmail.com for more info. 

“Come and See”…observe…listen…share…participate if comfortable, and enjoy the Word of God in The Holy Bible. Open to all…no, little or a lot of experience but looking to spend time understanding Gods Plan for you as revealed in the Bible by the Holy Spirit. Check it out; Come and See. 

Contact Matthew biblemondaystc@gmail.com, 6047542762. 

“Come and See”…check it out…enjoy conversation as if on a walk with Jesus 

and the Apostles. All informal, flowing, open, friendly, and using a verse, or a 

Psalm, or a chapter, or a Book of the Bible to start the conversation each week.

Come and listen, or talk, and simply enjoy good conversation about your Faith.

Contact Matthew bibleportage@gmail.com, 6047542762

The Legion of Mary Praesidium, Mary Mother of the Church, is now meeting in person every Thursday from 9:45am to 11am at St. Francis Room of the Parish Centre.

To join as active or auxiliary member, please call Ofelia Estrada at (604)240-9101 or Lourdes Cabael at (778)986-7516.

If you wish to book a Mass Intention please email the office at stclareofassisi@shaw.ca giving the name of the person, whether it is for a living or deceased person, who it is from and if you have any preferences for the day of the week, a weekend mass or specific date. We will try to book your mass intention as close to the request as possible.  Please note that there may be rare, unforeseen situations when your scheduled date may be changed without notice.

The suggested offering for a mass intention is $10 and can be brought to the office, mailed to 1320 Johnson Street, Coquitlam, V3B 4T5 or dropped in the collection box in the church. Please DO NOT use a collection envelope but put it in a regular envelope clearly marked for what it is for. This offering will go to the priest who says the mass, not to the church.

If you are unable to use email, mass intentions may be phoned in at 604-941-4800.

We are able to accept multiple Mass intentions on Fridays. For all other days, we can book one Mass intention only.

Please pray for the sick of our Parish

Noah Zanatta, Loni Cain, Brendan Pace, Gracienda Ramos, Brian Stewart, Catherine Dunne, Lucy Chase, Doreen Allyen, Tyson Ward, Nora Arroyal, Christopher Brown, Joan McDonald, Annabella Cirko, Frank Matchett, Kelly Durkin, Jason Kendall, Bill Clendinning, Chris Mah, Lydia Guzman, Angelo Visentin, June Cross, Katelyn Boudewyn, Karen Morris, Ramon Montecillo, Janice Caine, Nadine Classen, Leanne Theiss, Sierra Osborne, Sebastien Robillard, Sandra Diersch, Lori Dennis, Mazoe Kaufman, Cindy Mazerolle-Kass, Anna Figura, Ed Garcia, Viray Family, Walter Banke, Etheen Lowry, Elizabeth Teixeira, Reema Ferreira, Terry McDonald, Andrew De Boda, Hari Vijay, Peggy Maas, Chad Galitzky, Al Trotter, Pat Dizy, Brett Lawrence, Norman Schuster, Brenda Haines, John Bergen, Laud Vidal, Rick Empey, Dan Arseneault, Addie Jamieson, Jean-Yves Duret, Valerie Ng and all recipients of St. Clare’s Prayer Shawls.

The Poor Clare sisters are praying for our parish and would be happy to take your personal prayer requests by mail or telephone. For vocation inquiries, send an email to callclaremissbc@telus.net

The Mardi Gras Gala 'Auction & Fundraiser' in support of Domestic Abuse Services - Our Lady of Good Counsel Society is being held on February 18, 2023 at Anvil Centre New Westminster. For more info/buy tickets: (604)585-6688 or visit www.MardiGras2023.ca.

The show runs March 2-4, 2023. 7:00pm at the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam. Tickets are $17 at acrss.org

If you are interested in joining us or would like to know more about Mothers Prayers, please contact Thelma Rose at (604) 464-3383 or by email at glenthel@shaw.ca

For more information, please visit: www.mothersprayers.org or https://stclare.ca/parish-life/faith-formation/mothers-prayer/

The goal of “Fiat” Women’s Online Discernment Group is to provide a prayerful environment for young women to discern their vocation, primarily the possible call to Religious Life. These women are given an opportunity to listen to and discuss certain topics about discernment and Religious life in general. Hopefully this Discernment Group will be a good preparation for women who are called to Religious Life to enter the community they are called to with peace and an adequate knowledge of what the Church is asking and desiring for Religious Life.