The Cluster Parishes of Our Lady of Mercy, St. Benedict, St. Joseph

(Office) St. Benedict Church 1011 Oak Ave., Sarnia, ON N7S 1J4

Our Lady of Mercy Church 390 N. Christina St., Sarnia, ON N7T 5V9

St. Joseph Church 291 Stuart St., Sarnia, ON N7T 3B9

Phone: 519-336-2653 Fax #: 1-833-997-1197

E-mail: saintbenedict@dol.ca Website: www.sbsjolm.dol.ca

Homily… by Fr. Brian

The Ascension of Jesus Christ has particular relevance for us today given the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tremendous death toll around the world and our own separation from the sacraments, public worship at Mass and social distancing. Given these circumstances the Ascension is as much about us as about Jesus. Yes, Jesus completes His mission and victoriously ascends to heaven to receive the crown of glory and now sits at the Father’s right hand. But the benefits to us are also present and real.

First, the Ascension breaks us out of whatever social, psychological and spiritual confinement the pandemic may have imposed on us. Jesus took on a human body like ours and experienced suffering, isolation (“My God, my Lord, why have you abandoned me”) and death. Why? To crush the power of sin. But if that were the only reason to take a body, Jesus would have discarded it in death, set it aside and returned to the Father. But he did not. He rose again with his human body now glorified and took it to heaven into the inner life of the Trinity. Our nature is there now and we in anticipation. So long as we remain in sanctifying grace that redemption should be for us now our hope!

Second, our perseverance in sanctifying grace is made possible because of what Jesus Christ is doing presently. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus is able for all time to save all who draw near to God through Him, since he lives to make intercession for us. It is not a prayer in the abstract. We have a high priest in heaven who can sympathize with our weaknesses because he suffered.

Third, because of the Ascension, the Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit into the deepest cor of our being where he now resides. So we are never truly alone. He is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. The scriptural names for the Holy Spirit clue us in to the many benefits; Advocate, Counsellor, Comforter, Breath of the Almighty.

Fourth, even as we endure the limitations of this earthly life, Jesus in heaven is now at work preparing our future. This has present benefits. In John 14:1-3, we read:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, Trust also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also.”

Fifth, with this promise, we are given a mission that is meant to operate now. In today’s gospel Jesus tells the Apostles “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations and remember I am with you always to the end of the age.” Again it is not a promise in the abstract. In the second reading Jesus says to the disciples and to us: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.” This happened at Pentecost that we will celebrate next Sunday but also individually at our Baptism so that our witness may be effective even during these challenging times.

May we rejoice at our dignity conferred by the Ascension and with joy live out a life of witness as we say the concluding prayer of today’s Mass: Almighty ever-living God, who allow those on earth to celebrate divine mysteries, grant we pray, that Christian hope may draw us onward to where our nature is united with you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Year of Prayer

https://www.facebook.com/sbsjolm.dol.ca

May 24, 2020

The

Ascension

of the Lord

If you have an emergency

requiring the attention

of a priest please call

519-336-2653 and press 9.

Parish Administrator Fr. Brian Jane - ex. 11

Email: bjane@dol.ca

Parochial Vicar Fr. Anthony Eboh - ex. 16 Email: aeboh@dol.ca

Deacon Deacon Lyle LaLonge - ex. 26 Email: llalonge@dol.ca

Pastoral Minister Leonia Downie - ex. 15 Email: ldownie@dol.ca

Secretaries Lisa De Sena - ex. 14 Anna Iafrate - ex. 13 Ginette Villemaire - ex. 13

Housekeeper Gayle Carroll

Caretakers Chris Burley (Our Lady of Mercy) Lauchie MacDougall (St. Joseph) Teena Burley (St. Joseph) Mike Potvin (St. Benedict)

First Reading (Acts 1:1-11) Jesus is taken up to heaven in the presence of the apostles.

Second Reading (Ephesians 1:17-23)

God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand.

Gospel Reading (Matthew 28:16-20) Jesus charges his disciples to make disciples of all nations and promises to be with them forever.

Premier Ford announced an extension to the lockdown.

Therefore, our churches remain closed until the end of May.

Please Note:

May 24, 2020 The Ascension of the Lord

Weekday Masses & Intentions

Note: Fr. Brian and Fr. Anthony continue to offer private daily Masses for our scheduled weekday mass intentions, as well, for the intentions of all parishioners, medical personnel assisting the sick, and for an end to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We continue to accept mass intentions. To book a mass intention please contact the office: 519-336-2653 ex 13 and leave a message or email: saintbenedict@dol.ca. Phone messages and emails will be checked daily. Thank you.

Our Lady of Mercy

Mon. May 25 Rita Shafton (Brendan Fleming) Sheridan Penhale & Deceased Members of Penhale Family (Chenard Family)

Tues. May 26 Norman & Verna Thompson (Deery Family) Intention of Stephanie & Colin MacAdam (Chenard Family)

Wed. May 27 Terri Farr (Brendan Fleming) Saverio Galizia (Children)

Thurs. May 28 Sheridan Penhale (Brendan Fleming) Elsa McCormack (Cathy & Dennis McCormack)

Fri. May 29 Anthony Fracalanza (Kraemer Family) Francesco D’Angela (Domenica & Family)

St. Benedict

Tues. May 26 Souls in Purgatory

Thurs. May 28 Armand Lauzon (Andy & Jackie Courchesne) Miguel Cabral (Wife Maria Cabral) Intention of Fr. Savel (Cluster Parishes of St. Benedict, Our Lady of Mercy, St. Joseph)

St. Joseph

Wed. May 27 Intentions of Parish Staff

Sat. May 30 Tina & Dialina Arruda (Evaristo Arruda) Intention of Mitro Family (Mary)

Pray For...

Diocesan ministers to pray for

~ Rev. Louis Rivard ~ Rev. William Kornacker ~ Rev. Piotr Wojakiewicz, C.S.M.A. ~ Mrs. Shirley Markham, Parish Nurse ~ Candidates for the Permanent Diaconate ~ Deacon Christopher Stoesser ~ Rev. Michael Prieur

Please pray for our sick

Myrl Leenders, Elly Gilroy, Mary Molitor, Jim Bettridge, Pete V., John V., Lyle Williams, Letizia Iacobelli, Crystal Smyth, Kelly Sweeney, Joe Seward, Savana Michaud, Victor & Vanessa DaSilva, Christopher Philip, Pieter Kole, Brian Winterton, Marilyn Jenner, Greg Detailleur, Angela DeCiantis, Rick Fraser, Jenny Michaud, Sonya Smith, Mary Debus, Pat & Bill Cuthbert, Jennifer Ennett, Carol Haley, Blessa Hindley, Fran LaChance, Athena Fowler, Joan Baley, Jackie Detailleur, Pat Day, Don Desjardins, Shawna Paradis, Frank Power, Armine Dennie, Tyler Manzon, Sandro Manzon, Grace Gauci, Ally Wodham, Thelma Brost, Joan Bunyan, Emaline Rideout, Louise Jovic, June Shepherd, Pauline Mino, Jackie Dunlop, Fatima Ortins, Lena Rattigan, Arlene Fader, Mary Bigras, Cindy Phillips, John Christopher Hummell, Anna Schincariol, Rod McKinnon, Penny Koziol, Evelyn Vollrath, Moira Spowart, Yari & Dan Lynch, Cheryl Kelly, Joseph Dias, Rose Hayes Marcy, Mariamma Jacob, Jackie Croskery, Pamela Cunningham, Yvonne LeBeau, Claude Lalonde, Pat Foster, Averi Durocher.

Mass Intentions (May 25 - 30)

If Cogeco is your provider: EWTN—channel 184 (contact Cogeco to have it set up)

Vision TV—channel 24 (Mass times 8a.m. and 12 noon)

Salt & Light—channel 185

If Bell is your provider: EWTN—channel 633

Vision TV—channel 261 (Mass times 8a.m. and 12 noon)

If you are on Shaw direct satellite: Shaw direct advanced—EWTN channel 292

Shaw classic—EWTN channel 559

Shaw national—EWTN channel 28

St. George Parish, London Mass is also live-streamed every weekend in the Diocese of London, courtesy of St. George Parish, London, available at www.youtube.com/user/sgtvlondon.

Daily Televised Masses...

Offerings/Donations

The following are options for those able

and wanting to continue their offerings:

Drop off your envelope at the Parish

office door mail slot at St. Benedict.

Enroll in Pre-Authorized Donations from

your bank account. Contact Lisa at the

parish office at ldesena@dol.ca

or 519-336-2653 Ext 14.

Use E-Transfer on your online banking

portal using…

St Benedict Parish: saintbenedict@dol.ca

Our Lady of Mercy & St.Joseph: olm@dol.ca

(please specify in your e-transfer under

‘ Message’ if donation is for OLM or St. Joseph)

Thank you to everyone for your continued financial support during this time of closure.

Your support is very much appreciated.

Year of Prayer… Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and fill the hearts of your people with an ardent desire to follow Jesus, to be his missionary disciples. Fill us with joy and a desire to know your word. May we boldly proclaim the Good News to others; for when we help others to know that God loves them, they will know true happiness. Fill us with a deep desire for the Eucharist. May we recognize Jesus in the proclamation of the Scriptures and in the Breaking of the Bread; for when we are united with Jesus, joy is constantly born anew. Fill us with a true love of neighbor. May we seek opportunities for reconciliation, and with big hearts serve those in need; for in serving them, we know we are serving your Son. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we commit ourselves to loving you and doing your will. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May 24, 2020 The Ascension of the Lord

May 24, 2020 The Ascension of the Lord