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St. Leonard Catholic Church
Manotick, Ont
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Monthly E-Newsletter for March 2016
Receive God's Mercy and in Turn Be Merciful
This month we enter into the passion, death and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This is God's ultimate act of mercy. It is through the sacrifice and death of Jesus that we are restored to right relationship with God. As we continue our Lenten journey let us remember when we receive God's mercy we too are called to be merciful. Easter Sunday, is coming March 27th. Let us enter fully into the Parish Lenten activities so that we can truly rejoice in God's mercy!
If you know someone who might benefit from this E-Newsletter, please forward it to them.
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Pastor's Message
Rejoice and Be Happy!
As we continue our Lenten journey this month I hope you remember my message to "rejoice and be happy" during this period of preparation for Easter. Pope Francis' message for Lent "calls for an attentive listening to the word of God" for it is in Lent and Easter that we hear the "very heart of the apostolic kerygma", in which divine mercy holds a central and fundamental place and from which our ultimate happiness as Christians is derived.
The kerygma, the core gospel message, is a simple three part story consisting of Creation, the Fall, and Redemption. If we can't explain this core Gospel message, than many people today, especially our young people will continue to ask the questions, why am I here, what do I need saving from, and how am I saved?
1. Creation: We are here because God created us to be in relationship with Him; he loves us intimately, individually, and unconditionally.
2. The Fall: Sin (past and present) has wounded our relationship with God, causing death and eternal separation from him.
3. Redemption: And finally the good news is that Jesus Christ alone, as God and man, has atoned for our sins and brings us salvation through His death and resurrection.
That's the core Gospel message, the kerygma.
When we hear this message, and make a free and conscious decision to choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we share in God's great act of mercy. This decision enables us to experience eternal salvation and the fullness of life in relationship with Him. Rejoice and be happy! Your salvation is at hand!
God Bless, Father Titus
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Alpha Program Continues Throughout Lent
Our Alpha Program (an Introduction to Christianity) continues through March.
Sessions begin at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall and all are welcome to join us. These are the topics scheduled for the Month of March:
03/02 - Why Did Jesus Die?
03/08 - How Can We Have Faith?
03/15 - Why and How Do I Pray?
03/19 - (Optional Saturday Morning) The Holy Spirit
03/22 - How Can I Resist Evil?
03/29 - Why and How Should I Tell Others?
New Programs on FORMED: Catholic Faith Formation On-line
Symbolon for Discipleship Groups: Knowing the Faith
The same Symbolon Videos that you have come to know and love with
rewritten guides aimed at faith sharing and discipleship.
Too often we try to live a faith we don't know or understand. Some of us stumble along with it, going through the motions. Others simply walk away. That's why the time is right for
Symbolon: Knowing the Faith. Presented by the most trusted and compelling teachers and filmed around the world with stunning cinematography,
Symbolon: Knowing the Faith explains the essentials of the Catholic Faith in a way that will inform our minds and inspire our hearts. Presented in 10 sessions that are ideal for parish catechism, family instruction and personal devotion.
All Parishioners have access to this online program.
If you have not already registered please do so by visiting the St. Leonard's website FORMED page. New content is continuing to be added, so return as often as you wish to discover more.
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Community News
Poor Man's Supper
On Saturday Feb 6th we got the Lenten season off to a good start with our "Poor Man's Supper" brought to us by Pastoral Council. A simple, yet wonderful meal of soup (3 different kinds!) and bread was followed up by a presentation from Andre Regnier (founder of Catholic Christian Outreach) on the topic of Mercy as an encounter with the Love of God. Andre closed his presentation by asking all of us to look deep into ourselves and find those areas where we need God's mercy and ask him for it with the full assurance that our request will be received.
Development and Peace Share Lent Campaign
"Creating a climate of change is this year's theme for the Share Lent campaign of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. A number of Pope Francis' intentions are at the heart of the campaign: most notably, his encyclical on care for our common home, Laudato Si (Praise be to you), and the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Development and Peace, our Church's organization in Canada for international solidarity, offers us concrete ways to respond to the Pope's invitations by working together to build a world that is more just and more in keeping with human dignity. What is proposed is truly an experience of the Church's long-standing tradition of referring to the "corporal works of mercy," which in turn point to the explicit commands of Jesus Christ. "Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Visit the imprisoned - including those caught in unjust economic and social structures, as the Pope has also reminded us."
- (Most Rev.) Douglas Crosby, OMI Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
REMINDER: March 13 will be Solidarity Sunday, the time of year where donations are made to support Development and Peace and their partners around the world as they work for justice and to alleviate the effects of poverty. Please check your envelope box for the special yellow donation envelope. Thank you for your support.
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What's on in March
Lenten and Easter Celebrations
Wednesdays During Lent - at 12:00 noon
Ecumenical Prayer Service followed by lunch
All services are held at Manotick United Church
Feb. 24 St. James Anglican leads & provides lunch
March 2 St. Leonard Church leads & provides lunch
March 9 St. James Anglican leads & provides lunch
March 16 Manotick United leads & provides lunch
Fridays during Lent: Mass 6:30 a.m. followed by the Rosary
Mass 9:30 a.m.
Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m.
Friday March 4 Diocesan Day of Confessions
Confessions at St. Leonard's 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Reconciliation Service Wed. March 16 7:00 p.m
Holy Thursday March 24 7:00 p.m. Mass of our Lord's Supper
Good Friday March 25 Two celebrations 10 am and 3:00 pm
(Children's DVD- The Easter Story - in the parish hall
during both celebrations
Easter Vigil (First Easter Mass) March 26 8:00 p.m.
(Followed by a Wine and Cheese)
Easter Sunday March 27 Sunrise Mass 7:30 a.m,. 9:00 am and 11:00 p.m.
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March 1 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Session # 4
March 2 7:00 p.m. Alpha
March 5 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. CPR Course
March 8 7:00 p.m. Alpha
March 9 7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus Meeting
March 10 7:00 p.m. Baptismal Preparation Meeting
March 15 7:00 p.m. Alpha
March 16 7:00 p.m. Lenten Reconciliation Service
March 19 9:00 a.m. - Noon Alpha
March 22 7:00 p.m. Alpha
March 29 7:00 p.m. Alpha
March 30 7:00 p.m. CWL Meeting
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After the 9 am and 11 am Sunday masses in March coffee will be served in the Parish Hall. Click on the Parish Calendar for a full listing of upcoming meetings and events.
CPR and Defibrillator Training
The Knights of Columbus have purchased a Zoll plus
©
automated external defibrillator for
St. Leonard's Parish.
First Aid Plus
©
will
be offering a course in CPR and on how to use the Defibrillator.
When:
March 5, 2016
Where: St.Leonard's Church
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00pm
Cost: $ 50.00 per person
Who: Recommended for 14 years old &up
The Benefits:
- You get the certification
- You gain the confidence to use the defibrillator
- St. Leonard's gains a pool of prepared parishioners
To Register:
Complete sign-up sheet at the back of the church;or
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Update on St. Leonard's Communications
Timely information and resources
Here are some of the new capabilities that are available from St. Leonard's in addition to the E-Newsletter, the Website, and the weekly Bulletin.
Mobile App Minute
The St.Leonard's Parish mobile app is so very handy in many ways. It is a tool for gathering our Parish information in one concise location - your smart phone, iPad, ortablet
Events
- Wondering about upcoming special events held at the Parish? Get involved with the many events but how many of us say this... "When do they start? What are they? Can I invite friends? I know it was written in a bulletin somewhere..."
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Most Parish special events will be posted in the app complete with a description and start/finish times. There are driving directions and contact information if you need more information.
Messages
- St.Leonard's Parish sends out push notifications to remind of special eventsand happenings at the church such as special bake sales or collections for donations. Receive timely reminders of these events so you can plan and contribute. The messages can be found on your app for quick reference.
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The St. Leonard Parish app is easy to install from Apple iTunes and Google Play stores
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Link of the Month
Each month we highlight a link to online sources that can help us better understand and live our C
hristian faith.
News coverage includes local, national, and international Church-related news. Check it out for good Catholic news!
If you have been forwarded this newsletter and would like to be part of our mailing list click the button below.
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