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The Third Sunday of Lent March 3, 2013

Lent is about renewing our faithMy brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one

has it? So it is with faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless (James 14, 17)

This is a segment from the scripture passage that is a part the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hou

(often called the breviary) for last Tuesday (the second week of Lent). It is often thought that this readinis a challenge to St. Pauls assertion that we are justified by our faith alone. But this is not so!

What St. James is saying in this epistle is that faith is empowering; even more than that, faith impels uinto action. He is telling us that if we believe, we cannot sit still, simply thinking good thoughts. Faith doenot allow this.

To believe in God is to know, in the depths of our hearts, that we are truly loved by God. This is an intuitivknowledge; it comes from deep within from the core of our being. When I know that I am loved, a flamis ignited that consumes my being with the desire to act on that love, and to share it with others.

St. James is telling us that when we are burning with this flame, we are impelled into action. Our faith

evident because it empowers us to good works. To say I believe without this intuitive knowledge is whahe says is powerless.

Is this a special charism that is only meant for a few, or is it for everyone? Our faith is a gift from God. It particularly a gift given to all at our baptism. The intuitive knowledge that we are loved comes from thIndwelling Spirit of God.

It is the purpose of our Lenten journey to connect, or re-connect with this empowering faith. This is whLent is more than just, What did you give up? We call it a journey because it is a time that each of utakes to walk with the Indwelling Spirit. The process of Lent is meant to open or re-open ourselves to thdivine presence within and to be empowered by it.

This is why we speak of Lent as a time of renewal. To encounter the God-within is to be reborn. The path t

this encounter is one of prayer and reflection. During Lent we journey inwards to renew our encounter witthe God who loves us, and who is present with us at the very centre of our being. Self-denial is a way thawe put aside the unnecessary, those things or desires that cloud our ability to see the source of all that truly valuable.

The gift of Lent is that as we journey, we become ever more aware of Gods presence within, and that hloves us at a level that surpasses anything that we can describe. The experience builds as we grow evcloser to the God-within. It is a true renewal, because Easter does not mean the end of the journey. Thdiscoveries that we make on our Lenten journey build in us the burning desire to continue to live thempowering love of God.

Easter for us is a celebration not of an historical event that happened long past, but of our daily experiencof faith. It is the faith that St. James is telling us empowers and impels us forward. This is why faith justifiebecause it is the source and the effect of our on-going life with God. This is why we celebrate Lent.

-Deacon Bernie

Restorative Justice SeminarGuest speaker Brian McDonough

At Concordia Multi-faith Chaplaincy (2090 Mackay St., Mtl.) on Tuesday, March 12 from 4 pm-5:30 pm.Register by March 8. Contact Fr. Paul Anyidoho atpaul.anyidoho@concordia.ca.

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Mass Intentions: March 3-10, 2013

March 2, 2013 First Saturday

4:00 In Loving Memory

Mike Kilbertus.the Deceased Members ofthe Charles J. McDonald Family, DorothyMoore, Lucille Wong, Gerry McLaughlin and

the Mother of Richard Ng Yun Wing

March 3, 2013 The Third Sunday of

Lent

8:30 Vincenzo, Antonio &Mariana LaPosta

Concetta LaPosta

11:00 Rosolino, Chiara &Luigi Sparapani

Maria & Family

March 4, 2013 Monday, St. Casimir

8:00 Ignazio Ciampini Ernesta CiampiniMarch 5, 2013 Tuesday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Anna & LorenzoForlini

Luisa Forlini

March 6, 2013 Wednesday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Linus Doyle Marion DoyleMarch 7, 2013 Thursday, Sts.

Perpetua & Felicity

8:00 Iole Falciani G. Foglietta & FamilyMarch 8, 2013 Friday, St. John of

God

8:00 Donny Hogan His Cousin Roger &

FamilyMarch 9, 2013 St. Frances of Rome

4:00 Giovanni & Palma

Farinelli

Friends & Family

March 10, 2013 The Fourth Sunday

of Lent

8:30 In Loving Memory

Joseph Onesi, Luigi & Rosa Mammone, IsaMazzella, Cecilia Scartozzi, Roger Picard

11:00 Antonio Bei His wife Gabriella Bei

& Family

FAITH FIRST/LITTLE GIFTS SPRING BREAKOur Faith First and Little Gifts programs are now onspring break.Faith First classes will resume on theweekend of March 16/17.Little Gifts (Sunday) will

begin again on March 24.

Your GenerosityThank you for your on-going support of our parish

Last Sundays collection was $2,444.75

Adult Faith EnrichmentUpcoming events

VIDEO DIVINAFr. Raymond will present the movie CHOCOLATon Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the parish rector

Join him for this inspirational movie, followed bstimulating discussion.

Please refer to www.stmonica.ca and the posters

the Church entrances for additional information.

you have any questions, please contact Anna at th

office.

Development & Peace

Share Lent Campaign,

Human DignityTo facilitate the implementation of the theme Human Dignity, D & P organizes activities to hethe people of West Africa cope with a lack of foodue to drought. Mining has caused many to suffedue to poor working condition, D & P is providintraining for local leaders to help them understanand defend their rights in the face off minincompanies.

Caring, Not Killing

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, thEuthanasia Prevention Coalition and the Quebebased Physicians Alliance Initiative for the TotRefusal of Euthanasia are asking Quebec citizento show support for the Physicians Alliancdeclaration, Caring, Not Killing. This Declaratioby a group of Quebec physicians firmly opposethe implementation of euthanasia or doctoassisted suicide in Quebec. You are invited tshow support for the Quebec PhysicianDeclaration against Euthanasia by completing short form indicating your endorsement of theposition. Copies of the form and the declaratioCaring Not Killing, are available at the tables the back of the Church.