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The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Monicas Parish September 15, 2013

MERCY WITHIN MERCY WITHIN MERCY

A few years ago, my friend Fr. Don Bolen, was chosen to be bishop of Saskatoon. When asked for hepiscopal motto typically a Latin phrase taken from the Scriptures Bishop Don chose a phrase inspireby an imagined conversation between God and the prophet Jonah, as related by Trappist monk and mystThomas Merton: I have always overshadowed Jonah with my mercy. Have you caught sight of me, Jona

my child? Mercy within mercy within mercy. This is the vision of God portrayed by our Gospel thweekend, in the timeless story of the Parable of the Prodigal Son: a Father who waits, arms outstretchedunconditionally loving, for the return of two sons who have drifted away: one physically, the othspiritually.

It is also at the heart of the vision put forward by Pope Francis since his election last March, when he chosas his motto:Miserando atque eligendo, a text inspired by the Gospel call to Matthew: Looking upon hiwith mercy, Jesus chose him. Indeed, when Pope Francis went to World Youth Day in Rio last July, thbiggest press coverage was not of the 3.7 million faithful who attended Mass at Popacabana beach. was of an impromptu press conference on the flight back to Rome, in which he spoke of the need for compassionate response to the situation of gays and lesbians, of divorced and remarried Catholics in th

Church, with the phrase: Who am I to judge? He went on:

"Mercy is a larger theme than the question you raise. I believe this is the time of mercy. There are manproblems in the church the bad example of some priests, corruption, clericalism these have left manwounds. The church is a mother: she must reach out to heal the wounds, with mercy. The Lord never tireof forgiving, and we don't have any other path than this one. As a mother, the church must find mercy feveryone. When the Prodigal Son returned home, his father didn't say: Sit down. What did you do with thmoney? No, he held a party. When the son was ready to talk, they talked. The church must do the sameIts not enough just to wait for them to return: we must go and seek them. This is mercy. I believe that outime is a kairosof mercy. In using the word kairos, Pope Francis announces that NOW is the time

mercy, the moment in history in which God's plan for salvation is unfolding. Gods plan IS mercy an

compassion.

PARISH EVANGELIZATION RETREAT: JESUS, PRAYER, WITNESSInspired by these words of Pope Francis, Fr. Guylain Prince OFM, a dynamic Franciscan preacher, biblic

scholar, and musician is coming this Saturday, September 21st, to lead our parish in a retreat day. We w

begin at 9 a.m., share a delicious lunch together, and conclude with a joyful Mass of thanksgiving at 4 p.m

Please sign up this weekend so that we can plan appropriately. Nourished by our faith in Jesus, rooted

prayer, and joyful in our witness, let us embark together upon this adventure of the New Evangelization

Please consider inviting a friend, neighbour, or family member to come and share in this day.

St. MonicasR.C.I.A. Program

The St. Monicas R.C.I.A. Program will begin on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 PM. If you would like renew your faith, complete your Sacramental Initiation, desire to enter into Full Communion with thCatholic Church, or if you are from a different faith background and desire to know more about thCatholic Church, we invite you to contact Glenda Cadogan through the parish office for informatioabout our program. The group will meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in the parish rectory.

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Saturday,Sept. 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross

4:00 Aniello DAddio Wife FrancaSunday, Sept. 15 24th Sunday in Ord. Time

8:30 Luigi & Alba Paliotti The Paliotti Family11:00 In Loving Mem ory: Anthony, James McCool, EricRosentzweig, Sonia Moran, Elena Casale Zilli

Monday, Sept. 16 St. Cornelius, St. Cyprian

8:00 Carlo Scarsella Wife RosaTuesday, Sept. 17 Weekday8:00 Ermando GiuseppeNudo

Wife Elvira Nudo

Wed.,Sept. 18 Weekday

8:00 Brian Foran Lidia & Bob Fisher & FamilyThursday,Sept. 19 Weekday

8:00 Theresa, Julian &Kevin Rooney

The Family

Friday,Sept. 20 St. Andrew Kim Tae-Gon, PaulChong Ha-Sang Companions

8:00 Mickey Laughlin The FamilySaturday,Sept. 21 St. Matthew

4:00 In Lov ing Memory: Mike Kilbertus, The DeceasedMembers of the Charles McDonald Family, Frank &

Rosolino Sparapani, Fioravante Rotiroti, Edgardo Poce,Luigina Cicciarelli, Deceased members of the DeFazio-

Iacovona family, Guiseppe Buono

Sunday, Sept. 22 25th Sunday Ordinary Time8:30 Guglielmo & AgneseTeodori

Vivian & Joseph

11:00 Rosolino & CostanzaSparapani

Maria & family

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

Last weekends collection was $2,485.50

Maintenance Collection: $312.00

FAITH FIRST REGISTRATIONSYou can still register your children for the 2013-14 season of FaithFirst. To guarantee a place for your children, please fill out a

registration form and return it to the rectory as soon as possible.Space is limited. For further information please contact Jennie

Parsons-Armstrong at 514-481-0267 orjennie.armstrong@bell.net.

Adult Faith EnrichmentRegistration - Faith Sharing Groups

Registration to join one of our FaithSharing groups will take place after eachMass on September 21 and 22. Thisyear our reflections are inspired by

excerpts from the book Prism of LoveGods Colours in Everyday Life, whichhelps us to delve a little deeper todisclose the secret of turning our lifearound and of living more freely andabundantly. Groups meet for 14sessions throughout the year atconvenient weekday or weekend timesand locations. Registration by phone ore-mail (anna.diodati@stmonica.ca) wilbe accepted until October 4.

Contemplative Prayer Group

St. Monicas Contemplative PrayeGroupmeets every Tuesday evening at7 PM in the parish rectory. After listeningto a talk on the spiritual journey, wemeditate together for up to half an hourWe invite you to join us! For information,please contact Audrey Booth or PatBrabant through the parish office.

Please refer to our website and theposters at the Church entrances fo

additional information. If registration is

required, kindly use the appropriate sign-

up sheets at the main church entrance o

contact Anna at the office 514-481-0267

From Death to New LifeDo you know someone who is strugglingwith grief? Events such as the death of aloved one, a divorce, or other significantloss can leave us disoriented andvulnerable. From Death to New Life: AChristian Perspective on Loss offerspractical tools for working throughbereavement in talks, reflections and

discussions that are centered on the healingpower of faith, hope and love. TuesdaysSept. 17 to Nov. 26 from 7 to 9 pm

Information and registration:rlboileau@gmail.com.