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The Fourth Sunday of Lent March 10, 201

RECONCILIATION: GOOD NEWS ENTRUSTED TO USIn our second reading today, St. Paul proclaims that Christ came into the world to reconcile us to God, an

that he has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. But what do we mean by reconciliation

According to Wikipedia, reconciliation is the process of restoring a relationship gone wrong, by putting a

end to a relationship of enmity and by substituting for one of peace and good will. This may be th

relationship between individuals, between nations, or between God and human beings. It then add

Reconciliation is a Roman Catholic sacrament in which a priest proclaims forgiveness of confessed sin

How are these two definitions linked?

If I still go to confession, I could ask what concrete difference has this gift of forgiveness from the Lo

made in my daily life? Am I more at peace with family and friends? Do I have healthy relations at work an

with neighbours? Do I promote justice in my society and respect for the environment? At the same time

if I have given up the practice of the sacrament, I might ask myself whether the grace it offers to kno

myself forgiven and loved unconditionally by the Lord might not be precisely what I need to begin thdifficult road to forgiveness and healing in my everyday life.

In either case, God awaits us patiently, ready to initiate the process of forgiveness in our hearts, to set u

free from the burdens of anger, resentment and fear that we may have been carrying for years. As th

parable of the Prodigal Son makes clear, the bitter and resentful older son has drifted away from h

Fathers love, no less than his careless and dissolute younger brother. The Fathers outstretched arms ar

open, waiting to embrace both sons. He forces no one. He is vulnerable. So he stands and wait

extending his arms in a gesture of blessing. So too God waits for each of us, ready to share the gift of h

forgiveness.

Do I need to hear that voice say to me, Go in peace, your sins are forgiven? Is there something in m

life resentment, fear, anger, cowardice, envy, greed, addiction, discontent, ingratitude that needs to b

uprooted, so that I can stand up and walk free and unburdened? This is what Jesus offers in the gift

his forgiveness, that gift that we will celebrate in the sacrament of reconciliation here at St. Monica

on Tuesday, March 19th, at 7:30 p.m.Please join us so that, as individuals and as a community, we ma

experience the freedom and joy of Gods forgiveness, so that the good news of reconciliation entrusted

us can transform our broken world.

Come Celebrate with usWhat better way to experience the loving mercy of the Father than to return to his outstretched arms

the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Please join the West End zone parishes as we celebrate this sign

Gods healing forgiveness: here atSt. Monicas onTuesday, March 19th at 8:00 PM (following Mass

7:30 PM) and atSt. John Brebeuf Parish in LaSalle on Wednesday, March 20th at 7:30 PM

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Mass Intentions: March 10-17, 2013

March 9, 2013 St. Frances of Rome

4:00 Giovanni & PalmaFarinelli

Friends & Family

March 10, 2013 The Fourth Sunday of

Lent

8:30 In Loving MemoryJoseph Onesi, Luigi & Rosa Mammone, IsaMazzella, Cecilia Scartozzi, Roger Picard

11:00 Antonio Bei His wife Gabriella Bei &Family

March 11, 2013 Monday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Stewart Glover Marion DoyleMarch 12, 2013 Tuesday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Julian, Theresa & Kevin

Rooney

The Rooney Family

March 13, 2013 Wednesday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Nicola Santini Olga Santini MattaMarch 14, 2013 Thursday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Dorothy Rice Anna FitzpatrickMarch 15, 2013 Friday, Lenten

Weekday

8:00 Aniello D'Addio His wife Franca

March 16, 2013 Saturday, LentenWeekday

4:00 Vincent Tedeschi His wife & FamilyMarch 17, 2013 The Fifth Sunday of

Lent

8:30 Colombo & EmmaSalvati

The Salvati Family

11:00 In Loving Memory

Fioravante Rotiroti, Isa Mazzella, Antonio Gammad

FAITH FIRST/LITTLE GIFTS SPRING BREAK

Our Little Gifts program is on spring break and will resume on theweekend of March 24.

Adult Faith EnrichmentUpcoming events

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Positive Discipline In this session wwill focus on a few more parentinchallenges, and discuss ways overcoming them. Join us on SundaMarch 17, from 10 to10:50 AM, in thdining room of the rectory.

Please refer to www.stmonica.ca an

the posters at the Church entrances fo

additional information. If you have an

questions, please contact Anna at th

office.

Restorative Justice SeminarGuest speaker Brian McDonough

At Concordia Multi-faith Chaplaincy (209Mackay St., Mtl.) on Tuesday, March 12from 4 -5:30 PM. Register by March 8T

Contact Fr. Paul Anyidoho paul.anyidoho@concordia.ca.

Triduum Concert The TMR Singers wbe holding a free inspirational HoWeek/Easter concert on Tuesday, Marc26, 7:30 PM atSt. Malachy Parish (533Clanranald Ave., Mtl.). Directed by ManuBlais. Contact Milda at 514-738-3998.

Your GenerosityThank you for your on-going support of

our parish

Last Sundays collection was $2,882.85

Development & Peace Share Lent Campaign,

Human DignityNext Sunday is Solidarity Sunday and is the Share Lent collection Sunday. As D & P`s funding has beegreatly cut by our government, it is very important that we contribute to D & P`s vital work. Last year D P contributed 20.9 million dollars to its international development and humanitarian aid programs. 12

projects in 25 countries were funded by D & P. Human Dignity is in the fore front of D & P`s work.