St. Leonard Catholic Parish
M anotick, Ont

"Celebrating 50 Years as a Catholic Community "
Monthly E-Newsletter for Mar 1st
T hank you for subscribing to the St. Leonard's monthly E-Newsletter. Lent 2019 will begin on Wednesday, March 6th  and ends on  Thursday, April 18th with the start of the Easter Triduum. Lots of Parish activities this Lent. Check out the Schedule for details. Let's make it our best Lent ever!
Pastor's Message for Mar 1st

Lent: Living as a Disciple of Jesus

Just Do It! is the highly recognized Nike slogan that calls every individual to action - to get up off the couch and start exercising.

We, as Catholics, are also called to action - to be, not only believers in Christ, but active disciples of Christ.

 “ I am the way  and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6 We are to FOLLOW HIS WAY as we live our daily lives. But what does this mean, and perhaps more importantly, how do we do this?

A specific and prescribed step by step road-map for the “WAY” to follow Jesus does not exist … Jesus will lead us! We are, however, provided with many “signs” from scripture and the teachings of the Church to help illuminate our journey.
  1. Obey the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17)
  2. Strive to live out the Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)
  3. Seek social justice (Matthew 25:35-40)
  4. Sin no more and avoid temptation (Act of Contrition)
  5. Forgive and pray for others (Matthew 6:14-15)
  6. Keep your commitments and be honest (Luke 6:31)
  7. Be a good steward of all that has been given to you (1 Peter 4:10)

Jesus further simplifies all of this for us. In His response to the question by the Pharisees: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is similar: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

But where do we start? Matthew Kelly, a bestselling Catholic writer, may have the answer. He suggests in his latest book, The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity , that it is possible for us to live a holy life that follows the “Way” that Jesus sets out for us. Start by going out today and creating just one “holy moment” - a moment where you embrace what you believe will bring the most good to the most people in that moment. You will be amazed at the impact it has on you and on the people around you. If you can, create just one holy moment next Monday. Then, create two on Tuesday, four on Wednesday, and so on. Make a difference in the world. Leave a legacy of love for your family, friends and community. This is how we should follow the “Way” of Jesus in our daily lives. 

Consider how you may better follow the WAY in your own life.
  • Help anyone around you who is hurting. See who around you is obviously hurting and then look for a way you can help. If you can’t find anybody, then you’re not paying attention - look closer!
  • Give people a second chance. Who in your life needs a second chance? How can you show that person love and compassion this week?
  • Do good to those who hurt you. Maybe you’re suffering from an old wound that has not healed. Choose to forgive and then turn it around for good. Who is that person in your life? Will you make a phone call or a visit this week?
  • Be kind to those who offend you. Who offends you? Maybe it’s a politician or a comedian that you can pray for. Maybe it’s a Facebook friend who has different views and says some offensive things. How can you be intentional about showing kindness to that person this week?
  • Build bridges of love to the unpopular. What person first comes to mind when you think of an outcast? Who spends their lunch breaks eating alone or doesn’t seem to have any friends at soccer games? What specific thing will you do this week to bridge the gap between you and that person with love?
  • Value relationships over rules. What unbeliever could you invite over for dinner in the next few weeks? Will you then step up and invite that person to church?
  • Be patient with people’s quirks. What person in your life has irritating quirks? How can you practice patience with that person this week?

A special prayer for today.

“Heavenly Father, your Word convicts me. I want your blessing on my life, and I want to be a loving person. As I follow your Way, I think of the many shortcomings and weaknesses in my own life. I pray that rather than just hearing your Word, I will do something about it. Give me the courage today to be loving. Give me the strength this week to step out in faith and do radical, premeditated acts of love that point others to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

And now, might I suggest that we, “Just do it!”

May God bless you and those you love.
 
Father Titus
Parish Breakfast This Sunday
This Sunday, March 3rd, after the 9:00 am and 1100 am Masses the Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Parish Breakfast to celebrate our 50th year as a Church Community here on the the shores of the beautiful Rideau River. All are welcome!
Discipleship
LENTEN HAPPENINGS at St. Leonard
Lent at St. Leonard begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6th with Mass at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm.

Each of the weekday Masses during Lent will be followed by another opportunity to grow closer to God and to grow in our faith. Remember Father's challenge to try to get out for at least one weekday Mass.
Wednesday 9:00 am followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Thursday 9:00 am followed by coffee with Father Titus and reflection
Friday 6:30 am followed by the Holy Rosary

Friday 9:30 am Children's Mass

Stations of the Cross every Friday at 7 pm.

Annual Lenten Bread and Soup Supper
Sat. March 9 after the 4:30 pm mass.
The speakers this year are Susan and Mark Lamarre, Lay Directors of the Ottawa Cursillo, who will speak about this international movement open to men and women.
Tickets at $5 will be available in the church office and after masses next weekend.
Parishioners who can donate soup for the event should please contact Charles Slade at ( charlesslade@rogers.com).

Parish Mission With Rev. Lester Mendonsa
Mon. March 11 – Wed. March 13 at 7 pm to 8 pm
Day One: For Families and Youth, and Others
Day Two: For Seniors and Others
Day Three: For All

Parish Reconciliation Service: Tues. April 9 at 7 p.m.

The Easter Triduum begins on Thursday April 18 with our Holy Thursday Mass at 7:00 pm

Father Titus encourages all to sign up for the Best Lent Ever program (see next) as he will be discussing it throughout Lent and reflecting on it after the Thursday weekday Masses.
What Is BEST LENT EVER?
It's a free email program from Matthew Kelly and the Dynamic Catholic team that will guide you on an incredible journey toward the-best-version-of-yourself.
How Does It Work?
Sign Up for Daily Emails
Just  fill out the form  to sign up.
Watch Inspirational Videos
Starting Ash Wednesday (March 6), you'll receive daily emails with short inspirational videos, practical tips for your life, and personal stories from the Dynamic Catholic team.
Become a-Better-Version-of-Yourself
You’ll learn simple yet powerful ways to transform your life in forty days—and you'll be well on your way to becoming the person God created you to be.
Journey through Lent with Dr. Tim Gray
Set yourself up for a transformative 40 days with FORMED Lenten Reflections. Get daily videos from Dr. Tim Gray delivered right to your inbox so you don’t miss a day of growing closer to our Lord.

Visit lent.formed.org to sign up!

Haven’t signed up for your free FORMED account? Register at http://www.stleonards.formed.org
Fellowship
Chili and Trivia Night at St. Leonard

The Knights of Columbus hosted a very successful chili/trivia night on Saturday, Feb 23rd. We welcomed many returning faces to this event from previous years but also a number of new parishioners and guests. The evening started off with tasty chili, prepared by parish volunteers which was followed by the trivia contest. Twelve teams, comprising of between 65-70 people, competed for bragging rights as St Leonard's trivia gurus. We thank all our participants for making this a great event. A special thank you to everyone who helped in the kitchen or who were involved in helping in any capacity. We certainty have to thank also all our chefs, who prepared wonderful chili. This was a wonderful example of your St Leonard community coming together for support and fellowship. The proceeds from the event will assist the Knights of Columbus to continue their financial support of an Ottawa based seminarian and provides our council with funds to assist the parish with its financial needs. A special thanks to Michel Doucet for leading this great fellowship event over the last ten years.
M. Doucet and Team
The Players
The Clean-up Team
Evangelization
Evangelization 101 is a short teaching on one of the fundamentals of Catholic evangelization, drawn from the Church's documents and applied to life. The Church identifies two dimensions of evangelization, implicit and explicit, both of which are necessary for complete and effective evangelizing. In the words of Pope St. Paul VI, “…even the finest witness will prove ineffective in the long run if it is not…made explicit by a clear and unequivocal proclamation of the Lord Jesus. The Good News proclaimed by the witness of life sooner or later has to be...  Read the full article here
Youth Ministry
Steubenville Toronto Catholic Youth Conference

St. Leonard Parish is interested in sponsoring two high school students to join the Ottawa Dioceses’ youth group attending the 2019 Steubenville Toronto Catholic Youth Conference (July 12 – 14, 2019).
To qualify you must:
  • be in grade 9 – 12
  • be a parishioner of St. Leonard
  • be willing to get up in front of St. Leonard’s 4 masses and speak on your experience at the conference
  • provide a short paragraph on why your Catholic faith is important to you and why you’d like to attend the conference.
All applicants will be reviewed by Parish Council Members and the selected candidates will be contacted directly as well as posted in the March 30th Parish bulletin.

If interested please submit your application by Friday, March 22 nd , by email to Colleen O’Mahony-Menton at  colleen.menton@rogers.com  Include your full name, age, high school and contact information.

For more information on the Steubenville Toronto Catholic Youth Conference go to http://steubenvilletoronto.com/info/team.html
Good luck!
Stewardship
Financial Update
We have just completed our 2018 parish financial statements and are reporting an operating deficit for the year of $26,847 . Total revenue including Collections and Other Revenue (incl. Gifts and Bequests which we are very grateful for) increased by $12,672. Total expenses increased by $52,813. The incremental expenses occurred as a result of the planned investments in the new heating system and the parish hall renovations. The shortfall for the year was funded from our capital reserve fund. The capital reserve fund is a result of previous year’s surpluses. Please visit our website to view the detailed financial statements.
 
There are two minor capital projects planned for 2019; 1) Church air conditioning and 2) repairs to the rectory garage and roof. We plan to return to a balanced budget and look to replenish our capital reserve fund. Our goal is for a 5% increase in collections this year. It is your financial support that has made new programs and capital improvements in the Church possible and we are extremely grateful for your ongoing support.
 
We would also like to highlight that the number of people using the pre-authorized monthly banking option or Canada Helps (credit card) has grown to 86. If you are not part of this group, we continue to encourage you to consider joining. The pre-authorized options ensure financial viability throughout the entire year, especially in those summer months when church attendance typically declines but expenses continue. They also are critical when a snow storm hits us on the weekend as we have seen several times so far this year. Here is a link to the pre-authorized monthly banking form which can be dropped off at the church office. To use your credit card through Canada Helps use this link.
Charity
Development and Peace Share Lent Campaign
This Lent, Development and Peace invites you to share with them your Lenten Journey. The campaign this year, "Share the Journey", launched by Pope Francis, is based on fostering "a culture of encounter": - to challenge our faith, to meet "the other" and to see Jesus in them.

The first Sunday of this month, you will receive the Solidarity calendar to guide you in this journey along with a letter from Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Ottawa and Lionel Gendron, P.S.S. Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, in support of this Lenten Campaign. These letters support the Campaign.

To guide us in encountering refugees and migrants, our parish's Facebook page will feature videos interviewing a few of the 68.5 million people forced from their homes that are receiving support from Development and Peace.   https://www.facebook.com/st.leonardparish/

Please consider joining us for the Stations of the Cross on March 22 at 7 pm as we pray for solutions to and understanding of the refugee crisis in the world.

In April, Archbishop Prendergast will be joining Development and Peace in a Solidarity Walk followed by a Mass at the Basilica - details will follow in the April newsletter. Please mark April 6th on your calendar for this event.

The review of some partners of Development and Peace is on-going but there is a spirit of collaboration and mutual commitment between D&P and the CCCB on this dossier.   Updates will be provided as soon as the review is complete. The spirit of hope for a positive outcome is high at this stage and we are grateful for the prayers and support we continue to receive.

Carroll Woods, Jean Lashley and Sandy Woods
What's on in March?
March 2 CWL Meeting 3:00 p.m.
March 6  Ash Wednesday Mass 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
March 9 Lenten Soup Supper after the 4:30 pm Mass
March 11-13 Parish Lenten Retreat 7 p.m.
Fridays during Lent Mass 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m.
March 13 Knights of Columbus Meeting 7 p.m.
After the 9 am and 11 am Sunday masses in March coffee will be served in the Parish Hall.
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