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

June 28, 2020 - 13th Sunday Ordinary Time

Homily… By Deacon Lyle LaLonge

The thrust of today’s scripture teaching is on hospitality, welcoming – on how, as disciples, we are called to open our hearts and our lives first and foremost to God, making God our #1 priority, our #1 love (that’s what Jesus means when he says “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”), and then to open our hearts and lives to one another (“whoever welcomes you welcomes me” – it’s like the “love God; love neighbour” commandment). But first, we need to understand the importance of hospitality in Jesus’ time .. In the ancient world, hospitality was not merely a point of etiquette; it was a

requirement for survival in a perilous world. There were no general stores, no restaurants, and no hotels during a journey. There were thieves, robbers hiding, waiting on the roads to beat up the traveller, to rob and steal .. (remember the story of the good Samaritan);

Secondly and perhaps more importantly, it was the Jewish belief that to welcome the stranger was to welcome God. We see an example of this in our first reading from the Book of Kings where the woman from Shunem welcomes Elisha … for this woman, to welcome Elisha was to welcome God.

And Jesus himself gave the supreme example of welcoming by welcoming into his presence, into his life everyone – both sinners and righteous alike. No one was ever turned away or excluded from his open arms, from his heart, from his unconditional & inclusive love.

Jesus says “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” In other words, to welcome the stranger, the poor, the needy is to welcome God into our midst, into our homes, into our worship. But it is not enough that we welcome God into our homes; we need to welcome God into our hearts and into our lives – and not on our terms, but on God’s terms. We’re generally pretty welcoming, hospitable people .. but we like to do it on our terms, when it suits us. “You’re welcome any time, but please call first”. In other words, don’t just drop in; don’t catch me unprepared; don’t interrupt my plans. And you know what? .. what we do to others, we also tend to do the same with God; we like to schedule God into our lives, on our terms, when it’s convenient for us, when it suits us – like Sunday at 10am. But true welcoming isn’t about us and our convenience; it’s about God, and it’s about the real needs of others sometimes taking priority over our own wants and desires and convenience. So, if Jesus were speaking to us today, he might say something like: ‘Whoever loves himself/herself, his/her will, plans, agenda, etc. more than me .. can’t really welcome me, can’t really receive me. First, you have to become less self-preoccupied, less self-centred and more other-centred if you are going to see me in others and welcome others in my name. Bottom line: welcoming, hospitality are first and foremost responses of gratitude and thanksgiving to the God who is always welcoming us into his life, into his love. So, as we have been welcomed, so must we, in turn, welcome. Because you never know how or when God is going to show up in your life.

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

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)

Parish Mission Statement: Offering every person a life changing encounter with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Masses

St. Benedict Saturday - 5:00 pm Sunday - 10:00 am Sunday - 6:30 pm Tuesday & Thursday - 6:30 pm

St. Joseph Sunday - 11:00 am Wednesday & Saturday - 9:30 am

Our Lady of Mercy Saturday - 5:30 pm Sunday - 9:00 am Monday to Friday - 12:10 pm

Confessions

By appointment only. Please contact the parish office or our priests.

Today’s Readings... First Reading - 2 Kings 4:8-11,14-16a Second Reading - Romans 6:3-4,8-11 Gospel Reading - Matthew 10:37-42

Please Note: The parish office will remain closed to the public until further notice. Voice messages and emails are checked daily. Thank you.

June 28, 2020 13th Sunday Ordinary Time

Please Note: The weekday and weekend Masses have resumed and all are welcome.

Although the parish office remains closed to the public until further notice, we continue to book mass intentions. To book an intention please contact the parish office: 519-336-2653 ex13 and leave a message

or email: saintbenedict@dol.ca. Phone messages and emails are checked daily. Thank you.

Our Lady of Mercy

Mon. June 29 - 12:10 Francesco D’Angela (Domenica & Family)

Pietrino Cossa (Rosa & Family)

Intention of Leonila Magsombol & Deceased

Family Members (Rosario Family)

Tues. June 30 - 12:10 Angelo Ferrari (Wife Antonietta & Family)

Wed. July 1 - 12:10

Thurs. July 2 - 12:10 Domingos Correia (Maria Correia)

Fri. July 3 - 12:10 Special Intention & In Thanksgiving

(Rosario Family)

St. Benedict

Tues. June 30 - 6:30pm Raymond Sauve (St. Benedict CWL)

Ulla Leckie (Greg & JoAnn Pinder)

Thurs. July 2 - 6:30pm Jean Bennett (Brendan Fleming)

St. Joseph

Wed. July 1 - 9:30am Malgorzata Lang (Chenard Family)

Intention of Glenn & Nancy Sonier

(Chenard Family)

Sat. July 4 - 9:30am Laura Hardy (Benson Family)

Pray For...

Our prayers and sympathy

to the family of…

† Albert Marcy † Yolande Riopel † Gerald Bernardo † Brenda Maola

May they and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.

Diocesan ministers to pray for

~ Mrs. Laura Lee, Pstrl Min ~ Rev. Paul Baillargeon ~ Deacon Charles (Chuck) Stevens ~ Mrs. Colleen Hanley, Pstrl Min ~ Deacon Wayne Waechter ~ Deacon Roy Brothers ~ Mrs. Deborah Walsh, Pstrl Min

Please pray for our sick

Don Furlotte, 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 (June 29 –July 3)

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 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...

A Prayer of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at the moment receive You sacramentally into my heart,

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Offerings/Donations

If you are not able to attend Mass, the following options are still available for those able and wanting to continue their offerings:

Drop off your envelope/donation 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)

To everyone for your continued financial support of our parishes!

Congratulations!

50th Wedding Anniversary Jack & Dianne Gilhuly

Happy Canada Day

July 1st

June 28, 2020 13th Sunday Ordinary Time

A Prayer in Time of Pandemic

Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd. Though bowed down by our human frailty in the dark valley of this pandemic, we fear no evil, for you are with us, you hear us, and you comfort us.

Grace with the wisdom of your Spirit political and religious leaders helping us. Guide with strength health care workers aiding the sick and dying. Give consolation to families and friends suffering with loved ones.

Grant courage to all – from first responders to those who put food on our tables – providing essential services and the necessities of life.

In this time of darkness and uncertainty, O God, may we be beacons of your goodness and mercy to all in need. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Book Project - Testimonials

I am writing a book on the existence of God and would like to include six or seven personal stories of deep profound

experiences of God in it. I hope to complete the project in the next couple of months. Was there ever a time in your

life when the presence of God in your heart was so vivid that you will never forget it? This experience can happen in

prayer, suffering, stress or joy, helping someone … in the everyday experience of life. If so, I want to include your

story in the book. Please tell others about this project. The book will include academic arguments as well as personal

testimonials. Call or email me at brysonka@hotmail.com or ken_bryson@cbu.ca telephone 519-491-2609 or my

cell 902-322-9555.

Thank you, Ken Bryson, Parishioner OLM, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy

Permanent Diaconate Admissions Process is now Online

The current pandemic situation has made it necessary to move the admissions process in part or in whole to an

online format. Please disregard the dates in the pamphlets that were distributed earlier in the year. Anyone who

would like to inquire about admission to the Permanent Diaconate Formation and Study Programme is invited to

visit www.deacons.space/admissions. Please use the contact forms on the site to register. Any other questions about

the diaconate in the Diocese of London can be directed to pdinquiries@dol.ca.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Many of the SVDP stores have reopened and are now able to take donations. It is recommended that you call ahead to check if any changes to their hours of operation.

SVDP Food Bank & Help Center ~ 228 Davis St. ~ 519-337-1058 ~ Hours of operation: Mon & Wed 11-3 & Fri 1-4

We are in need of a few more volunteers for ushering and cleaning at our churches

for the weekday and weekend masses, as well, for funeral masses and weddings.

If you are able to help please contact Leonia Downie at ldownie@dol.ca or 519-336-2653 ex. 15

Training will be provided.

Thank you to those who have volunteered to help!

Volunteers Needed

Information Update for our Cluster Parish Program

If you have a change in contact information such as: address, phone number, or email address, we ask you to please

inform the parish office in order for us to enter the necessary changes in the parish program.

If you would like to receive any future parish correspondence by email, please send your information to our cluster parish

email address: saintbenedict@dol.ca or contact the parish office: 519-336-2653 ex 13 or 0.

Thank you to those who have shared their email address with us. We appreciate your continued cooperation.

June 28, 2020 13th Sunday Ordinary Time