PARISH BULLETIN April 19, 2020 – 2nd Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday

“Actively live the Gospel through discovering the Spirit alive within our parishioners”.

ST. THERESA’S ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH

7508 – 29 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6K 3Y8

Phone: 780.463.8646 Fax: 780.450.2431 Email: info@strcp.com https://sttheresa.caedm.ca

PARISH TEAM

Fr. Patrick Baska (2227) Pastor Fr. Felix Devasia (2223)

Associate Pastor

Sr. Cristina Naranjo, RVM (2224) Sacramental Preparation

Deacon Tony Obleada Permanent Deacon

Chad Miciak (2234) Seminarian Santo Chines (2226) Youth Minister

Marie Woolgar (2233)

Bus. Admin. Volunteer/Web Coordinator

Marilyn Aninipot (2225) Finance Coordinator Dany Lee (2221) Reception/Secretary Sherry Robak (2222) Records Coordinator

Brian Grandish Maintenance Fernando Hermoso Custodian Piotr (Peter) Kus Custodian Pamela Petruchik Rectory Housekeeper

ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?

Please make an appointment 6 months to

1 year prior to your wedding date.

Fr. Patrick Baska:

780.463.8646, ext. 2227

frpatrick@strcp.com

SACRAMENTS

RCIA ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN

WHAT IS IT?

The RCIA is a process for anyone who

wishes to join the Catholic faith.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

RCIA adapted for children is intended for:

1. Children who have never been baptized

as infants and are of catechetical age

(7 to 14 years old).

2. Children who were baptized in another

Christian tradition and now wish to

become part of the Catholic Community.

3. Children who were baptized as Catho-

lics but have not received the sacraments

of Eucharist or Confirmation.

HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS?

September 23, 2020 – May 19, 2021

Children of catechetical ages 7 to 17

years old, need to be registered in the

RCIA adapted for children on or before

Sept. 23, 2020 to prepare for the

reception of the Sacrament of Initiation

(Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucha-

rist) during Easter Vigil on Apr. 3, 2021.

WHO DO I CONTACT?

Sr. Cristina Naranjo, RVM at

780.463.8646, ext. 2224 or

srcristina@strcp.com

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

RCIA

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is for anyone 18 years of age and over wishing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. Meetings are Thursdays, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, MacDonald room. Call Genevieve - 780.437.8011 or Sharon - 780.462.2867 No meeting until further notice.

MASS OFFERINGS

Daily Mass intentions are still accepted as per the Archdiocesan policies on Mass offerings: Our priests will celebrate Mass privately for the intentions of the parish community.

TEMPORARY OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Closed for lunch Noon - 1:00 pm

Saturday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Our priests are available to hear Confessions on Saturdays from 9:45 - 11:00 am. They will also be able to hear confession upon request and availability.

SACRAMENTS

ARCHBISHOP SMITH: THE INVISIBLE ENEMY - OVERCOME!

April 6, 2020

We are hearing a lot of reference made to the “invisible enemy” that has been wreaking great havoc in the lives of people all over the world. This term refers, of course, to the COVID-19 coronavirus. It has done damage to physical health and psychological well-being for some months now. Researchers are working hard to find a vaccine to protect us against this disease, and an antidote to cure it in those who are infected. As we enter the blessed time of Holy Week, the sacred liturgies focus our attention upon another invisible enemy, namely, Satan. The damage he seeks to create is far worse than any disease. COVID-19 attacks the body; the devil targets our soul. Unlike in the case of the virus, we know both a vaccine and a cure for the devil’s work; he has been definitively overcome by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like a virus, that can remain in existence and communicable even when science has found remedies for it, Satan continues to prowl, seeking to worm his way into our minds to seduce us away from Christ. This means that, as we celebrate this week the definitive victory of Jesus Christ, we recognize the need to stay always vigilant against the evil one’s treachery.

This vigilance of soul requires that, first of all, we keep in mind how evil contagion spreads so that we can be inoculated against it. Since the very beginning of humanity’s sojourn on earth, Satan has operated by means of the lie. Adam and Eve were the first to hear him say that God is not to be trusted, that He is a threat to our freedom, and that we need to – and can – take control of our own lives. When our first parents chose to believe the lie rather than the promises of God, sin – separation from God – entered the world. The evil one continues to tell us the same lie. To prevent this from having damaging effects, we can best inoculate ourselves by receiving the vaccine of truth. Here we see why a regular pattern of reading Sacred Scripture is vitally important for the health of our soul. There we encounter the Truth, which by its own radiance and splendour shields us from diabolical deception. And what about a cure? We are still anxiously awaiting one to be announced for the coronavirus. The healing of sin was announced by God immediately after the original transgression (cf. Genesis 3:15). The antidote is divine mercy, which exploded into the world when Christ rose from the dead, and which is communicated to us now through the ministry of the Church. In our weakness, we regularly fall prey to the wiles of the devil. Yet we need never despair, because the cure is always available. When a remedy is found for COVID-19, it would be foolish for those infected not to avail themselves of it. When the far worse disease of sin weakens our soul, it would be all the more foolhardy not to call upon Christ to be healed by His mercy and forgiveness. We continue to pray – fervently – for an end to the pandemic and the discovery of both a vaccine and antidote to the virus. We rejoice that these are already ours to protect and heal us from the infernal invisible enemy. They are given in the Cross and Resurrection of Christ. As we celebrate this Holy Week Christ’s victory over the devil, let us pray for His grace to keep us inoculated by attentive listening to His Word, and to be healed by His mercy of any sin infecting our souls.

DO YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE IN HOSPITAL?

When you can't visit the hospital, here's a link by which you can send well wishes to patients. Your kind words of encouragement will be delivered by the volunteers of Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health facilities. albertahealthservices.ca/info/wellwishes

LITTLE LITURGIES

Edmonton Catholic Schools is offering a video feature called Little Liturgies to assist parents and young children during their time of at-home schooling. In this episode, Father Glenn helps us to pray and reflect on how we can be good Christians. New episodes will be posted each Monday on the ECS YouTube Channel.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL ST. THERESA’S CONFERENCE

VINCENTIAN SPIRITUALITY (Part 1)

By treating the poor as worthwhile people, Vincentians swim against a strong current in society, which would prefer to hide them, take them for granted, or make them invisible. But this has never been the Vincentian way.

Vincentian spirituality is Gospel-based, Christ-centered, and focused on the dignity of the individual because only man is made in God’s image and likeness (making us “a someone”, not just a ‘something’). Being endowed with freedom, self-knowledge, and self-possession we are therefore capable of fulfilling our purpose in life: to know, love, and serve God. In this way, we, human beings are called by grace to a covenant with God by which we share God’s own life, and can offer Him the response of faith and love which no other creature can give. This is the essence of our human dignity.

Intuitively we appreciate this dignity. In the experience of encountering someone who is very difficult to help, perhaps because they’re dirty, drunk, and uncooperative, it’s most likely that everyone wants to help just because ‘the victim’ is human. We understand that the victim could be ourselves, that we feel good when we help, and that failing to help may give rise to guilt.

Maria - 780.940.9010 www.ssvpsttheresas.org or www.ssvpedmonton.ca or www.ssvp.ca

LIFE ACCORDING TO MOTHER TERESA

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it."

Mother Teresa

I fully agree with Mother Teresa, but I also view life as a gift that needs to be cherished, appreciated and lived fully with love, kindness and care for all humanity and the environment.

Maria - 780.940.9010 or maria1lup@gmail.com

SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY

ST. THERESA’S PARISH

Stewardship Corner

2nd Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday Weekend of April 18/19, 2020

In today’s first reading, the four activities of the earliest Church are introduced to us as priorities of the Church: Devotion to the teachings of the Apostles, communal fellowship, the Eucharist and

prayer. The early members of the Church saw themselves as devoted stewards of these activities. These were not options. They were the fruits of a genuine conversion to a life in Christ. Sharing in the Eucharist was the most intimate expression of fellowship, while the most common expression of fellowship in the New Testament was that of sharing financial resources – giving. It was not a perfect community, but one that offered evidence of God’s active presence in its midst. This early community offers us an excellent example of how to better exercise stewardship in our own parish families.

ENOTES FROM RESPECT FOR LIFE “We pray that, like the early Apostles, the Lord will add to our number those who work to protect all human life, especially the most vulnerable.”

FOOD BANK CORNER KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 7070 &

SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL ST. THERESA’S CONFERENCE

40 CANS FOR LENT

“Ask and you shall receive” says the Lord. You sure answered our asking.

This week, we weighed 1,000.7 lbs. of food, for a total of 3,911.1 lbs.

Thank you to all the parishioners that are still bringing in donations, as we have delivered an average of two food hampers per day.

The Knights of Columbus - Council 7070 and the SSVP - St. Theresa’s Conference and its Food Bank are most grateful.

Maria - 780.940.9010 or maria1lup@gmail.com

BECOMING CATHOLIC - A JOURNEY OF FAITH WITH THE RCIA

If you are interested in becoming Catholic and learning more about the Catholic Church, you are invited to journey with members of St. Theresa’s Initiation Team on the rewarding and enriching path to becoming a Catholic Christian. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is the process by which unbaptized adults and adults baptized in other Christian denominations learn about the Catholic faith and way of life and grow in faith and in relationship with God. Adults who are baptized Catholic but have never received the Sacraments of First Eucharist and/or Confirmation are also welcome to join the journey. A new year-long process will begin (date to be announced) with the Sacraments celebrated at the Easter Vigil on April 4, 2021.

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about journeying with the RCIA, please call: Genevieve - 780.437.8011 or Sharon - 780.462.2867

HOW DO I SEND IN MY SUNDAY OFFERINGS?

In the midst of these unprecedented times, we are blessed to have various ways to continue to support our parish in the absence of the Sunday Offertory. Please review the following methods available:

1. Consider setting up Pre-Authorized Offering Plan. Contributions will be withdrawn from your bank account monthly. Contact Marilyn@strcp.com to request a digital POP form. Complete the form and email it back to her.

*Monthly donations can be set up using your credit card.

2. Visit our website (https://sttheresa.caedm.ca) and click on the “Donate” button. It will direct you to the Archdiocese website page “Donate to your parish”. Complete the online form. At the “Parish Name” field, please select “Edmonton - St. Theresa”. Click “Donate Now” button to complete the process.

3. Drop off your donation envelopes to the parish office (hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, closed 12:00 –1:00 pm for lunch, Saturday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm).

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your parish office at 780.463.8646, ext. 2225.

OLVC SUMMER CAMPS CANCELLED

With heavy hearts, we must advise that our planned summer camps at Our Lady of Victory Camp will not take place this year, due to the risk of spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Archbishop Smith recently participated in a teleconference hosted by the Premier, the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer and involving religious leaders from across the province of Alberta. The advice they received was clear: since there is no expectation that a vaccine for the virus will be found before the summer, it would be prudent to take steps now to cancel summer events that draw together large numbers of people.

This is a very sad and difficult decision, especially since so many were looking forward to the reopening of OLVC. But we also realize it is a necessary one. We simply cannot host camps when we know that doing so would risk the health of the young people who participate, their families, and the staff and volunteers. Anyone who has already paid a camp registration fee will receive a full refund; there is nothing you need do.

As you may know, we also had to cancel three parish information sessions in March, where we had planned to share details of the Business Plan for Archdiocesan Camps, as well as the Open House planned for June 14 at OLVC, and the Stewardship Days work bees scheduled for April 18, May 8, May 9, June 12, and June 13.

In light of this news, the redevelopment work on the camps and the Revamp the Camps capital campaign has been paused. But we plan to restart as soon as we are able. If you are able, donations will be gratefully accepted online: http://bit.ly/CAEdm-Camps

We are grateful for your patience and prayers as the Camps Renewal Project proceeds, even if it is not proceeding as we had hoped.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

OTHER CANCELLATIONS

The pandemic has also forced the cancellations of these major events this summer:

Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage initially planned for July 25 - 30, 2020 is rescheduled for July 2021.

Catholic Family Life Conference initially planned for July 1 - 5, 2020 is rescheduled for July 1 - 4, 2021.