SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST SUNDAY............................................................................................................MAY 19, 2013

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT:   It is our mission to live out the message of the Gospel.

PARISH VISION STATEMENT:  It is the vision of Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish that its parishioners be a more loving, giving, and involved people in Christ.

MAY 19 - PENTECOST SUNDAY: Today we transition from the Fifty Great Days of Easter to the Solemnity of Pentecost. As Christians, we celebrate Pentecost as the birthday of the Christian Church because it is the day that the disciples received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and were empowered to begin to share the good news with others. In the first reading we hear that “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place” and that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability”. Today too, across the world, a myriad of voices, different languages and many cultural expressions will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us join our voices with that universal Pentecost chorus.


PARISH BAPTISMS:               Call the parish office to register.

BAPTISM PREPARATION:    The baptism of a child is a very important event in the life of the child, the child’s family, and the parish community. To help parents enter more fully into the celebration of their child’s baptism the Cathedral Parish offers a Baptism Preparation Course several times a year.  Parents along with godparents are expected to attend a Baptism Preparation Course before the baptism of the child.  Please call the parish office to register.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION:   Call the parish office.

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE:   Saturdays 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm; and also by appointment.

ROSARY is prayed each Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the Cathedral.  Perpetual Novena Devotion will follow the Rosary.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:  Wednesday 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE:

Kevin Lewis  Chair  489-6026
Jonathan Gaye Vice-Chair 489-9318
Mary Kelly Secretary 489-2351 
Sister Connie Power Pastoral Care (Hospital) 489-5777
Anne Griffin Liturgy Resource Person

489-6911

LITURGY FOR THIS WEEKEND

Saturday         May 18       Cathedral        5:00 pm       Ronald Gorman
Sunday           May 19       Cathedral      11:00 am         Pro Populo
Sunday           May 19       Cathedral        7:00 pm       Alice & Fred Poole 
 

LITURGY FOR THIS WEEK
     
Tuesday          May 21     Cathedral         5:15 pm         Angus & Julie Gunn & Kitty Clarke
Wednesday     May 22     Cathedral       10:00 am          Laurie Ann Griffin (rescheduled)                                   
Thursday        May 23     Cathedral         5:15 pm          James & Mary Ellen Benoit                   
Friday             May 24    Cathedral        10:00 am          Terry Power 


LITURGY FOR NEXT WEEKEND
Saturday         May  25   Cathedral         5:00 pm       Bert Lewis
Sunday            May 26   Cathedral        11:00 am       Pro Populo
Sunday            May 26   Cathedral          7:00 pm       Mary Isabel Healey 
 


ROSARY: During May month, the Rosary will be led by various parish groups at 4:45 p.m. before the 5:15 p.m. weekday Masses. If a Funeral Mass replaces the Mass of the Day, or if for some other reason, there is no 5:15 p.m. Mass, there will be no Rosary. The schedule for the remainder of May is as follows:
                                                
                                                 Tuesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 23 Catholic Women’s League
                                                 Tuesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 30

THANK YOU: The parish would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to Notre Dame Council #2052, Knights of Columbus for their generous contribution of $2,000.00 towards the purchase and installation of a new steel door with coded access lock for the Cathedral.

Our VOCM BROADCAST MASS will be broadcast live on VOCM this Sunday morning.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY BAPTIZED CHILD: Riley Josephine Healey, daughter of Cyril Healey and Amanda Mercer. Godparents - Russell Primmer and Danielle Mercer. May God continue to touch your life, especially through your family.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

i) Bishop O’Neill Assembly, Fourth Degree will meet this Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Council Chambers, Monsignor Finn Council, Bishop’s Falls. Dinner will be at 1:00 pm following by the meeting at 2:00 pm.
ii) The Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 7:00 pm at St. Catherine’s Renewal Centre.

PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, May 20 in observance of the Victoria Day Holiday. The office will reopen on Tuesday, May 21 at 8:00 am.

EXPLOITS VALLEY HIGH GRADUATES: All Exploits Valley High Graduates and their families are invited to attend Mass on Sunday, June 2, 2013, 7:00 pm. A special blessing will take place for all graduates as they begin the next step on their faith journey. A social will take place following the Mass for graduates at the Diocesan Centre.

BISHOP ANTHONY DANIELS ANNOUNCES PASTORAL CHANGES FOR THE DIOCESE OF GRAND FALLS:
His Excellency, Most Reverend R. Anthony Daniels, Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Falls, announces the following clergy changes: Father Pio Sumbilon is appointed Pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Holyrood, and Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Harbour Main for the extended period of May 6 - June 29, 2013, effective May 14, 2013. Father Ken Walsh, on loan from the Archdiocese of St. John’s, is appointed Administrator of Holy Cross Parish, Holyrood and Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Harbour Main for the period of July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014, effective July 1, 2013.

FATHER ANDREW CUSCHIERI AWARD.
In 1987, Father Cuschieri, a professor at St. Augustine’s Seminary, gave ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to our diocese and requested that the yearly interest accumulated would be awarded to a young person between the ages of seven (7) and eighteen (18). The young person nominated must have been a student for at least part of the previous twelve month period in a primary, elementary, or high school within the Diocese of Grand Falls. This young person must have accomplished a humanitarian act towards another human being. The guidelines, nomination sheets, and information on the award are available at your parish office. Please have your nominations sent to the Youth Office by August 16, 2013. Feel free to call me anytime at 427-6075 or email ocybrian@gmail.com

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE: The league would like to thank parish members who generously supported their Penney/Change Drive last weekend. Approximately $500.00 was realized.

 

                                                        Building a New Culture: Central Themes in
                                                       Recent Church Teaching on the Environment
                                          (From the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the
                                                         Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)
This week we reflect on Theme 6 of the CCCB document, Building a New Culture: Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment.

Sixth Central Theme in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment
6. Solidarity
Because creation has been entrusted to the human race as a whole and not to any one person, group, or nation, both its resources and the responsibility for its care must be shared by all. This implies solidarity between individuals, peoples, and nations, as well as “intergenerational solidarity”, that is, the preservation of the environment for future generations. Also of key importance is our solidarity with the poor, whose ability to access resources is often limited. Since environmental degradation is often related to poverty, solidaritiy demands that structural forms of poverty be addressed. It also demands that those who use and exploit resources bear the true costs of this use, which must take into account the environmental repercussions on future generations. In summary, solidarity with respect to the environment is based on the requirements of justice and the common good, which is understood to extend not only between those living , but forward, to those not yet born.


Building a New Culture: Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment,
Copyright @ Concacan Inc., 2013. All rights reserved. Used with permission.


WEEK OF MAY 19 - 25
ORDINARY TIME: Ordinary Time encompasses that part of the liturgical year that does not fall within the distinctive seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. The Catholic Church celebrates two periods of the year as Ordinary Time: the first following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and continuing until the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday; the second following Pentecost Sunday until the evening before Advent. There are about 33 or 34 Sundays in Ordinary Time, depending on the year. In actuality, however, there are fewer “Sundays of Ordinary Time” because major feasts honouring the Trinity, Corpus Christi, Christ the King, and others replace a particular Sunday of Ordinary Time. It is important to remember that Ordinary Time celebrates “the mystery of Christ in all its aspects”. We also may celebrate the parts of Jesus’ life that were ordinary, much like our own lives.

MAY 20 - VICTORIA DAY: The birthday (May 24, 1819) of Queen Victoria has been celebrated as a holiday in Canada West (now Ontario) since 1845; it became a national holiday in 1901, the year that Queen Victoria died. Although the Sovereign changed along the years, the day of her/his birthday celebration remained. In 1952, it was established on the Monday preceding May 25. Today it is appropriate to offer prayers for the Queen, for Canada, and for justice and peace in the world.

MAY 24 - WORLD DAY FOR THE CHURCH IN CHINA: In May, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI asked that May 24 be observed as a Day of Prayer for the Church in China. He chose this day since it is the traditional feast of Our Lady of Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.
 

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: The parish is looking for a volunteer to assist a lady on Brown’s Avenue who needs transportation to our 11:00 am Masses on Sundays. If any parish member can assist, please call the parish office at 489-6587.

The GRAND FALLS/WINDSOR/BISHOP’S FALLS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC. will hold its annual general meeting and election of officers on Tuesday, May 28, 7:30 pm in the Anglican Church Hall, GFW. All volunteers and the general public are invited to attend.

IRAQI REFUGEE SITUATION: As you are aware, the Diocese of Grand Falls has offered to sponsor an Iraqi Christian Refugee family. The family has been living in Syria for the last couple of years and their refugee papers to Canada could not be processed because the Canadian Government, for security reasons, had to take all government employees out of Syria. Our family has thus been living without access to anyone who could help them process their immigration papers. Recently, I received word that this situation might be resolved in the near future and it seems like the cases in Syria are finally moving and we are hoping in a few months they will be here. Please pray for them. (Father Brian Colbert)

STEUBENVILLE ATLANTIC: The Diocese of Grand Falls is once again sponsoring a youth group to go to Steubenville Atlantic in Antigonish the first weekend of August (August 2 - 4, but we have to leave earlier because of the ferry). The weekend is filled with music, talks, fun, food and is available due to the efforts of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax. If any youth (Grades nine and up) would like more information, Google 'Steubenville Atlantic' or conttact Father Brian at 709-427-6075.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: The parish is looking for a volunteer to assist a lady on Brown’s Avenue who needs transportation to our 11:00 am Masses on Sundays. If any parish member can assist, please call the parish office at 489-6587.
 

WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR: The Watoto Children’s Choir is excited to bring Beautiful Africa: A New Generation to Grand Falls-Windsor. The choir is performing on Sunday, May 26, 2013 @ 2:30 pm at the Classic Theater. Admission is free as tickets are by donation only.  

100TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORABILIA: There are a number of plates and history books remaining from our 100th Anniversary Celebrations. These items will placed at the main entrance to the Cathedral and may be purchased for $5.00 each. Any parish members who have purchased these items at full price are welcome to take an additional plate and history book at no cost.

RESPONSIBLE MINISTRY POLICY: All parish members who serve in ministries involving children or youth, the elderly and vulnerable, as well as the handling of parish monies are required to complete the necessary legal checks, i.e., Court Check and Police Records Check.. If you have not completed the above, please contact the parish office (489-6587) in order to obtain the necessary forms. Once processed, the originals that are received are to be kept on file at the Diocesan Office. Parish volunteers are not required to pay a fee for this process to be finalized.


CHURCH PARKING: We have been notified by town officials that parking on the road in front of the Cathedral is NOT PERMITTED. Please discontinue this practice for safety reasons.    
 


  DIOCESAN POLICY ON OFFERINGS: The diocese policy regarding offering on the occasion of a baptism, marriage and funeral is as follows: Baptism - $25.00; Marriage - $100.00 and Funeral - $200.00. This policy has been established to provide some uniformity throughout the diocese. These offerings will be given to the parish and not to the priest. If parishioners wish to make an extra offering to the priest, this must be clearly indicated. Parishioners need to be aware that no one will be deprived of the sacraments because he/she cannot pay.

... Welcome All Visitors ... We extend a warm and cordial welcome to all visitors to our Parish. We hope you enjoy the warm hospitality of the Newfoundland & Labrador people and that your stay will be met with many blessings.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 12 noon
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

ALTAR SERVERS:  Altar servers at Mass provide a very valuable ministry to the parish community. At the present time, there is a real need for more youth to become involved in this ministry. Parents are invited to speak to their children about becoming an altar server. A formation session will be provided. Children at Grade Five level and above are eligible. Please call the parish office (489-6587).

SACRISTANS:   The ministry of Sacristans is a very important part of the life of a parish in which individuals prepare for liturgical celebrations. At the present time the parish is in serious need of more people in this vital ministry. If you are interested in becoming a sacristan for our weekday and Sunday Masses, please call the parish office at 489-6587.


Stewardship Prayer:
Creator God, at Baptism, we accepted the call to follow Jesus.
Be with us as we move along on our faith journey.
Send us your Holy Spirit, that we might have wisdom for the journey.
Help us to develop and share our gifts as good stewards,
that we may use them in love and service in your Kingdom.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

LIST OF PARISH COMMITTEES:

The following is a list of members of our parish’s committees and a description of the purpose of each committee.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: The purpose of this committee is to assist people in the development of their relationship with God and one another, to build up the Christian community, to promote the liturgical life of the parish, to foster in the parish a living awareness of Jesus’ compassion for all, and to exercise stewardship over the material goods of the parish community.

Kevin Lewis(Chair),   Mary Kelly (Secretary),  Sister Margaret McLaughlin,  Jonathan Gaye (Vice-Chair), Marie Mackey, Imelda Head & Pauline Power.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: The purpose of this committee is to be responsible for overseeing the development and evaluation of all matters relating to the financial administration of the parish.

Pauline Power (Chair), Peggy Sheppard (Secretary),  Mary Kelly, Ben Blackmore and Frank McCarthy.

LITURGY COMMITTEE: The purpose of this committee is to ensure that the public worship of God by the parish community is nurtured.

Anne Griffin (Chair), John Whelan , Maureen Hennessey,  Kathleen White, and Joann Ralph (Secretary).

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE: The purpose of this committee is to respond on the parish level to the Church’s long tradition of upholding human dignity. This committee is to work toward involving everyone in the parish in social ministry and action.  It is to help connect people’s gifts with needs in the parish, or community.

COMMUNITY LIFE: This committee is concerned with building community in the parish and fostering a sense of belonging.  Iris Walsh, Bernadette Wicks, Geraldine Colbourne, and Barbara Horwood.

MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE: The purpose of this committee is to provide for the care of the physical properties of the parish.

Gerald O’Brien, Bill Crawley, Leo Murphy, Jim McCarthy, and Jed Sullivan.