SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH BULLETIN PALM SUNDAY APRIL 5TH, 2020

844 Notre Dame Avenue, St Lambert, QC, J4R 1R8 TEL: (450) 671-6149 FAX: (450) 671-6792 email: stfrancis@videotron.ca Website :- www.saintfrancisparish.ca

Priest:- Fr. Gérard LachapelleSAINT JOHN PAUL II PASTORAL UNIT

Fr. Manus Bradley, Pastor : polbradley@aol.com Susan Gardner, Coordinator susan.gardner@dsjl.orgFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-John-Paul-II-Pastoral-Unit/983390895019278

Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil - Bishop, Claude Hamelin - Aux. Bishop, Louis Dicaire

Diocesan website: www.dsjl.org Saint John Paul II website: http://johnpaul2.weebly.com

WARDENS:- Chair of the Fabrique – Ted Colavecchio 450-671-6818

Anne-Marie Armeni, Treasurer 450-671-1042 Richard Zavergiu, .................Bld. & Maint. 450-671-8908Marianne Hinger, Secretary 450-465-0827

Craig Mcara, Fundraising 514-618-3352Julie Belanger, Special Events 450-466-3303

Amanda Simard, Hall Rentals, 450-671-9164Six days before the Passover, when the Lord came into the city of Jerusalem, the children ran to meet him; in their hands they carried palm branches and with a loud voice cried out: Hosanna in the highest! Blest are you, who have come in your abundant mercy! O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is this king of glory? He, the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blest are you, who have come in your abundant mercy!PRAYER INTENTIONS –Remember in your prayers Brian, Leona, Emmanuel, Diane, Howard and our armed forces. Pray for the repose of the souls of all our deceased. To add a name to our prayer list, call the office 450-671-6149.

THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL - FREEDOM FROM ADDICTION We pray the those suffering from addiction may be helped and accompanied.Pope Francis encourages this prayer: THE PRAYER, STAR OF THE SEA.Star of the Sea, Light Our Way Star of the Sea so radiant in the glory of God’s Love, Your crown outshining all the stars of heaven up above, O, lovely Queen of Peace,

gowned in azure's of the sea, Help us find the way to Jesus, in your wise serenity. We ask you Pearl of Grace to grant us vision, courage, will, So 'peace on earth', that miracle, at last might be fulfilled! Dear Mother of the Church, blessed beacon of God's Light, May you always guide your children on the stormy seas of life. Make our hearts into safe harbors, where dear Jesus is received Hear our prayer, O Spiritual Vessel, Mother of God, Star of the Sea.A BEAUTIFUL IDEA FOR PALM SUNDAY How can we publicly acknowledge this important day on our calendar when so many of us will be behind closed doors? The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit posted this idea on their Facebook page:What if everyone on Sunday April 5 in the morning, puts a branch on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday? It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks.

Want to join? We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the body of Christ.We are the Church.Yes, we are. We’ve got this. Let’s do it.

EASTER AND THE AWAKENING OF THE VISION OF THE HEART

The heart of faith is, first and foremost, the way we look at realities, people, events and ourselves. Under the vision of faith, our ways of living and acting can only be oriented in the perspective of God. The Gospel of Easter Sunday during the Day (John 20:1-9) relates that when Mary Magdalene rose early in the morning to go to the tomb of the Lord, she found it empty. The other disciple follows her (the one whom Jesus loved) but does not enter the tomb. From the threshold he sees only the linen wrappings lying there. SimonPeter enters the tomb and sees the wrappings lying flat and the cloth rolled away in its place. Then the other disciple entered, “He saw and believed”.

That’s the good news for us today! We who take part in the liturgy regularly are reliving what the first witnesses experienced. They approached the mystery of Christ in such a way that their vision was transformed and they were able to see life arise. We confront this same reality as our ancestors did in faith. That other disciple is us.

God loves us. For us today, we may see the empty tomb, but we believe! So, the conversion of the vision is the story of a whole life, a life of faith.Michel BoutotDiocesan Administrator Liturgy & Sacraments www.dsjl.org

THANK YOU FOR GIVING FROM THE HEART TO SHARE LENT 2020!Development and Peace — Caritas Canada thanks you for your Share Lent donation. This sum will help support our sisters and brothers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. If you have not had a chance to donate, there is still time to donate.Concerning the COVID-19 crisisAs the COVID19 crisis starts to spread to the Global South, we wanted to let you know that we have started a section on our website dedicated to providing field reports from our partners as they respond. If you are interested in learning more about the subject of the crisis and its impact in developing countries, I recommend reading this article by Reliefweb: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/dealing-covid-19-towns-and-cities-global-south

A prayer for compassion amid the coronavirus crisis has been published on our website, on this page: https://www.devp.org/en/blog/prayer-compassion-amid-coronavirus-crisisThank you for continuing to pray for all those who are working to build a world of peace and justice. Your support is vital.

As Church closures are already impacting collections in parishes across Canada, we are asking for donations by mail, phone or online:Send a cheque to:Development and Peace,1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, 3rd Floor,Montreal (Quebec) H3G 1T7Call to donate: 1-888 664-3387Give to your Share Lent collection at devp.org/give.

MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR, FR. MANUS BRADLEYFr. Manus Bradley will be offering Mass in his home for the intentions of allparishioners during the two weeks that he will be self-isolating after his return from

Last week I promised to keep this candle burning for all those who were anxious and worried in this present time. It’s now burned down and shows us that time is passing and that this too shall pass. I have another large candle ready to be lighted, Christ be our light!

MESSAGE FROM FR. JOHN TORRANCE

We are certainly living in difficult times. Who would have thought that our Churcheswould be closed. Who would have thought that many places we take for grantedwould be closed without any clear idea of when they will open. This is a challenge,but it is one that we can face together. We can be united in prayer, praying together,in many different places. Perhaps we can read the Sunday scriptures as we make our

way through Lent. Perhaps we could give a quick call to those who are confined toWe are certainly living in difficult times. Who would have thought that our Churcheswould be closed. Who would have thought that many places we take for grantedwould be closed without any clear idea of when they will open. This is a challenge,but it is one that we can face together. We can be united in prayer, praying together,in many different places. Perhaps we can read the Sunday scriptures as we make ourway through Lent. Perhaps we could give a quick call to those who are confined toWe are certainly living in difficult times. Who would have thought that our Churches would be closed. Who would have thought that many places we take for granted would be closed without any clear idea of when they will open. This is a challenge, but it is one that we can face together. We can be united in prayer, praying together, in many different places. Perhaps we can read the Sunday scriptures as we make our way through Lent. Perhaps we could give a quick call to those who are confined to their homes, seeing if they need anything, giving a encouraging word or two.We do not know when we will worship together, until then, you are in my prayers, and please return the favor. God bless. Fr. John

MESSAGE FROM FR. LINDBERGH MONDÉSIR, C.S.V.

I want you to stay healthy and in spiritual

fellowship.

I celebrated Mass in union with all our

parishioners, and will continue to pray and

celebrate for the intentions of all our parishioners.

Take care.

May the Lord always be with us.

Fr. Lindbergh, c.s.v

MESSAGE FROM FR. VINCENT ESPRITKwe Friend of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier,Webless you in the precious and holy name of Jesus for your generous interest andsupport of the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier / Sanctuary of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha inKwe Friend of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier, We bless you in the precious and holy name of Jesus for your generous interest and support of the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier / Sanctuary of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in Kahnawake, situated in the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil.In light of the ongoing health Pandemic, Bishop Claude Hamelin and his Management Team have promptly directed the entire Diocese to make the necessary adjustments to the parish activities. This is why we have adjusted our program accordingly. Please find attached our program for the Novena, leading up to the Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Lilly of the Mohawks. We depend on you prayers at home for the success of the Novena. The Feast itself will be celebrated by the pilgrims from the privacy of their homes.May Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Lilly of the Mohawks pray for you and your families during this health pandemic in the name of the Blessed Trinity.Blessings and Skennen KowaFr. Esprit fmi

MESSAGE FROM BISHOP CLAUDE HAMELINI invite the faithful to devote a suitable amount of time to prayer and to the reading ofthe Word of God, to follow if possible the Sunday celebration on television (in French

"Le Jour du Seigneur" on public television; in English on the Salt and Light Network)

I invite the faithful to devote a suitable amount of time to prayer and to the

reading of the Word of God, to follow if possible the Sunday celebration on

television (in French "Le Jour du Seigneur" on public television; in English on

the Salt and Light Network) and from Monday to Friday at 8:30 a.m. the daily celebration on TVRS.

Kwe Friend of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier,We

bless you in the precious and holy name of Jesus for your generous interest andsupport of the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier / Sanctuary of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in

https://www.olfatima.ca/virtual-stations-of-the-cross/

https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/stations-of-the-cross-according-to-the-method-of-st-francis-of-assisi/

VARIOUS LENTEN RESOURCEShttps://onlineministries.creighton.edu/

CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/lenten-prayers.html

https://www.catholic.org/lent/livinglent.php

PRAYER NETWORK - VIRTUALWe will pray for anyone from anywhere and for anything. Anonymity is an option for those who prefer it. There is just this one central e-mail for receiving prayer requests: jp2pu.prayers@gmail.com, and all requests will be forwarded from the same! Also, if you wish to be on the list of people

willing to pray, email jp2pu.prayers@gmail.com and you will be added to the pray-ers list!

Communique - March 24th

Longueuil, Tuesday March 24, 2020

To All the Diocesan Faithful,To All Pastoral Personnel, Pastoral Agents and Priests,To Diocesan Centre Staff,To Fabrique Presidents,

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic health crisis, I am proud to note thatour diocese has responded creatively to the calls of the extraordinary challenges weface. First of all, I would like to salute the seriousness with which everyone is makingefforts to respect the rules of public health, despite the many inconveniences that thisentails. Secondly, I am impressed by the resilience and diversity of the initiatives thatmany have put in place to maintain vital links between members of our communities.I see this as a concrete manifestation of the missionary fibre that lives in everybaptized person.

Here we are with the situation changing and challenging us even more. The QuebecGovernment’s request yesterday to close all businesses until April 13th adds anadditional restriction to our Diocesan organization. The closure of our offices andrectories as well as of our churches for the past few days compounds the economicpressure already felt by the administrators of our parishes. Many pastoral teams andfabriques are rightly questioning their ability to continue to serve in suchcircumstances. Hence the need to speak to you once again to share with you the fruitsof the reflection I have had with the Leadership Team over the past few hours.

ConvictionsSince the beginning of this crisis, I have urged that our pastoral personnel, pastoralagents and priests, remain actively in service. To my mind, it is inconceivable that theyare not at the forefront of the fight against the social exclusion that such a pandemicrisks creating within our society. The very meaning of the mission we have receivedfrom the Lord and the seriousness with which we want to follow the words of theGospel, i.e., to become close to every person. As we delved into this together duringthe Pastoral Day of March 2018, we were called, each in our own way, to become moreand more artisans of community ties. We were made aware then of the importance ofthe realities brought about by the expression “counting on”, which sums up quite wellwhat the individual can expect from his relationship with others and institutions interms of protection, and “counting for” which expresses the expectation, just as vital,of recognition[1] . In fact, throughout this public health episode, whose duration wecannot predict, I would like all members of our communities to know that they countfor us and they can count on us.

For several years now we have been discussing our dream of acting as a Church in anew way, of renewing the community spirit, of daring to try new approaches. TheSpirit is now urgently calling us to make this unfortunate circumstance an opportunityto become fully involved together in missionary conversion. Even as the comingmonths are critical in showing the importance and relevance of our Christiancommunities at the heart of our world. We must use all our resources to offer to oursociety what we know how to do best: to place ourselves at the service of one another.

I therefore reiterate the essential aspect of pastoral service. Having said that, I remainmindful that the conditions in which this service can be performed are more difficultand that public health must never be endangered by our actions. However, in hisappeal to the public yesterday, Premier François Legault invited healthy people tooffer their services to organizations that provide assistance to the most vulnerablepeople in society. I endorse this call for solidarity and ask that all of our pastoralpersonnel who are able to work do the same.

Expectations and CommitmentsIn keeping with these fundamental convictions, here are my pastoral expectations andfinancial commitments to support you.• I expect each parish community to help and support community organizations intheir neighbourhood or city. To this end, I invite you, if you have not already done so,to make a list of the needs they face and to see how pastoral personnel and theirnetwork of contacts can support them. - If physical contact is not possible, it is my fervent desire that our parishcommunities should always demonstrate creative initiative. Whether by telephone,social networks, mail and e-mail or local newspapers, among other means, I urgeeveryone to stay in touch with all those to whom the expression of pastoral charityand spiritual comfort remains essential in these difficult times, especially the mostdestitute, the bereaved and the lonely. - In this spirit, I challenge more particularly our retired priests to providelistening and support to our seniors by telephone.• We will release substantial financial resources for the exercise of the mission.

For the next few months, and in order not to diminish the social ties between the

members of our communities, the Diocese is committed to providing the fabriques

donations equivalent to the salaries of their active pastoral personnel.o You will receive in the next few days the concrete terms of this measure

which willo be communicated to you by the Diocesan Treasurer's Office and the

Diocesano Human Resources Office.

I call on each fabrique to make the effort to review its priorities in order to focus on

services to the population. Freed from certain financial obligations, I invite them,

among other things, to examine all the measures they could take to help their support staff. I invite the pastoral personnel to be generous by sharing, for example, a

percentage of their salary. Those who benefit from supplementary income (pension plan,

pensions, etc.) or other sources could also donate part of their salary to the diocese.

They will receive a tax receipt for this amount. I also appeal to the generosity of our donors. Thank you for continuing to

support your Christian communities.

I am proposing these measures knowing full well that they will also weaken ourDiocesan financial resources. However, if I am committing the Church of Saint-Jean-Longueuil in this direction, it is because I am certain that it is a gesture made in faithand abandonment in the One who gives us strength (cf. Phil 4:16). It is a risky, butnecessary action; daring, but in solidarity and rooted in the hope that comes to usfrom the Lord.

Remain PropheticWhen the crisis is over, what will we say about our Diocesan Church? What will beremembered of our actions? Do we want to be remembered as those who only knowhow to close churches or lay off mothers and fathers? Or will we have the pride ofhaving opened other horizons by experiencing a pastoral care of closeness, in theimage of the Good Samaritan?I hope that these questions will inspire all of us and motivate our efforts, our sacrificesand our actions.For my part, I hope that we will look upon this time as being one of a community insolidarity, of a prophetic and daring Church, a sign of the One who conquered death, aPeople who belong to God and who love the world as God loved it, giving his life outof love.__________________________________[1]From: PAUGAM, Serge. « Chapitre 15. “Compter sur” [counting on] and “compterpour” [counting for]. Les deux faces complémentaires du lien social », Robert Casteléd., Changements et pensées du changement. Échanges avec Robert Castel. LaDécouverte, 2012, pp. 215-230.

Claude Hamelin,Bishop of Saint-Jean–Longueuil

In Solidarity with the members of the Leadership TeamJean Roudy Denois, psjPaul De LeeuwGinette FournierYvon MétrasFrancine Vincent

For Immediate Release

740, boulevard Sainte-FoyLongueuil (Québec) J4J 1Z3

Téléphone : (450) 679-1100

COMMUNIQUEImportant Update of Diocesan Directives in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Longueuil, March 19, 2020. — The Crisis Committee, chaired by the Bishop and composed of the members of the Leadership Team, the Communications Officer and the Diocesan Co-ordinator of Assistance to the Fabriques, is advising you of the following information: A. Complete Closure of All Churches

Effective immediately and until further notice, all the churches and chapels of the religious communities of the diocese are closed to the public.

B. Changes at the Diocesan Centre Effective immediately and until further notice, the Diocesan Centre is also

closed to the public. However, a telephone reception service will be maintained between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday to Thursday.During these hours, the Centre's staff will remain on duty and follow up, either on-site or working remotely, on requests received by telephone or email.

C. Broadcasting of Diocesan Holy Week CelebrationsEven though public celebrations are forbidden in places of worship, the Bishop wishes to celebrate with the Diocesan Faithful the highlights of the Easter Triduum. In our particular circumstances, technological tools offer him the possibility of keeping in contact with the Diocesan community and of sharing these celebrations in a union of heart and prayer. The Bishop will therefore preside, in camera, at the Mass commemorating the Lord's Supper ( Holy Thursday) during which he will proceed with the blessing of the oils, the celebration of the Passion ( Good Friday) and the Easter Vigil. The times and channels will be communicated to you shortly. The Diocesan community is invited to join in the Eucharistic celebration of Resurrection Sunday, the summit of liturgical life, on the usual networks: Le Jour du Seigneur, Salt and Light, TVRS, etc.

D. Importance of our Pastoral PersonnelIn compliance with health regulations and government directives, the pastoral personnel are still working, in solidarity with other social actors. In the perspective of a Church “going forth”, in spite of the constraints, they are even more called to be on duty. Certainly, their tasks are different and are carried out in different places, but our priests and pastoral agents are all called

to bear witness to the solicitude and compassion of Christ the Good Shepherd. They perform an essential service in the life and presence of the Church in the heart of our world.

E. Appeal to the Diocesan Faithful In these troubled times, your parishes still need you. Thank you for

continuing to support them with your prayers, your advice, your donations and your solidarity.

Everyone's health is of great concern. Let us remain attentive to scrupulously following the health directives.

If you need help, moral support, spiritual accompaniment or prayer, consult your parish: we are here to support you.

F. Diocesan and the John Paul II Pastoral Unit Websites The Diocesan www.dsjl.org and johnpaul2.weebly.com both offer a wealth

of information, including liturgical resources, spiritual reflections and constant updates to the Bishop’s messages. Consult them regularly.

G. Residences for People in the Consecrated Life The people of consecrated life are a most important spiritual support in

these troubled times and we count on their collaboration in the mission. However, in view of the age of the residents and the priests who minister

in these residences, Eucharistic celebrations are cancelled. The other gatherings (Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, etc.) must be carried

out according to the directives already issued by the Directorate General of Public Health.

H. Support for Fabriques As mentioned in the March 16th Decree, the Caisse d'entraide financière

des fabriques (CEFF) will offer its assistance to parishes in need, with priority given to underprivileged communities.

However, should they need to review the tasks and working hours of their support staff, the Service de l'économat - Aide aux fabriques [Diocesan Treasury Office - Assistance to the Fabriques] will provide them with support and expertise. In this respect, watch for a communication from the Diocesan Treasurer very shortly.

SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR 1ST REFUGEE FAMILY

Hello to all, I would like to share some news about our 1st refugee family. Mom Thaera & the 2 children, Majd & Leen, are happy to announce that they are now officially Canadian citizens after 4 years here. They were sworn in on Feb 21st &

fortuitously, it was Fr. John Walsh who presided over the ceremony that day. Fr. John Walsh, was part of the St. Lambert

Ministerial way back when he was Episcopal Vicar for the English Region of our diocese under Bishop Hubert. The 1st photo is at the moment they received their documents; the 2nd is with dad, Samer, after the ceremony. Samer's swearing-in will

be a little later because he wrote his citizenship exam several months later than did Thaera. Hope you are all well, Lucyna all, I would like to share some news about our 1st refugee family. MomThaera & the 2 children, Majd & Leen, are happy to announce that they are nowofficially Canadian citizens after 4 years here. They were sworn in on Feb 21st &fortuitously, it was Fr. John Walsh who presided over the ceremony that day. Fr. JohnWalsh, was part of the St. Lambert Ministerial way back when he was Episcopal VicarMeals on Wheels Services are still being offered. However, contact between the drivers and clientele is very limited.The Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization who provide home support for people who have lost their autonomy. Hot meals are home-delivered to participants by volunteers twice a week. All production costs, such as food purchasing, packaging, and transportation are included in meal charges.

La Petite Cuillère ..........................................450 748-4918

Meals on Wheels of Brossard ......................450 678-8275

Meals on Wheels of Greenfield Park ...........450 678-8755

Meals on Wheels of Saint-Hubert................450 656-9110

Meals on Wheels of Saint-Lambert..............450 672-5560

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Volunteers from the All for the Children community organization are available to help seniors and those with other health issues pick up groceries and go to the pharmacy. They have a team of volunteers who are available to help in Greenfield Park, Brossard, St. Hubert and Lemoyne. Contact them at 438-938-6003.FOOD BANK INFORMATIONhttps://missionnouvellegeneration.org

Address:Mission Nouvelle Generation1423 Provencher blvd. Brossard, Quebec J4W 1Z3

Email info@missionnouvellegeneration.orgPhone number: Tel : 450-486-7667 Fax : 450-486-6283Business hours-Monday: 9am to 4pm

-Tuesday: 8am to 7pm-Wednesday: 9am to 4pm-Thursday: 8am to 8:30pm-Friday: 8am to 12pm-Saturday & Sunday: Closed

CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS

All weekend and weekday masses in the churches of the Saint John Paul II Pastoral Unit and the Diocese of Saint Jean Longueuil - cancelled

Lectio Divina Sessions in the parishes of the Saint John Paul II Pastoral Unit - postponed

Lenten Lunches in St. Lambert and St. Bruno - cancelled

IICG'S Faith Education - postponed

Exercise classes at St. Mary's church cancelled until further notice.The premier of Quebec has asked people 70 years and older to stay home to reduce their risk of getting Covid 19 virus. We have decided to cancel all exercise classes at St Mary's until further notice Stay healthy. Thanks. Frances & Brian & Bob

ARC Assistance and Referral Centre has made the decision to close our office for the following two weeks, effective immediately.We are still here working for our community, but from a distance in our homes. We will continue to post important information on our Facebook page (look us up by entering @arcaccess in the search field). Please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone at 514-605-9500 or email at arcinformation2@gmail.com. And don’t forget to keep abreast of the most current information by consulting the Quebec Government website: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/. If you feel unwell, please seek medical guidance by calling the Info-Santé by dialling 8-1-1. Best regards from The ARC Team