The 5th Sunday of Easter
Important Updates
FIRST FRIDAY is on May 3rd – Adoration begins after 9 am Mass (no 7:30 am Mass that day) followed by Benediction at 6:45 pm and Mass at 7 pm. A sign-up sheet is at the Church entrance – it would be greatly appreciated if 2-3 people can sign up per time slot.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION is on Sunday, May the 5th at 2 pm. All of you are invited to join in the Celebration and pray for the 29 children.
CONFIRMATION is on Wednesday, May 29th at 5:30 pm. Archbishop Michael Miller will officiate. You are all invited to come and join in the Celebration and pray for the 19 Confirmands.
Special Notes
CWL COFFEE SUNDAY & BAKE SALE is after all Masses on Sunday, April 28th. Baking donations will be gratefully received before the Masses. Please allow the CWL to price your baked goods.
FILIPINO MASS is on the second Sunday of the month at 6pm
Christian Meditation Group will meet in person on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm
2023 TAX RECEIPTS CAN BE PICKED UP FROM THE PARISH OFFICE or call the Parish Office to have the receipt mailed or emailed.
2ND COLLECTION OF ENVELOPES FOR ONLINE & PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING USERS IS AVAILABLE. If you would like a set, please pick it up from the parish office.
CWL MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2024 are due before the end of APRIL. Kindly bring your cheque or EXACT cash of $40.50 to the office during office hours, or drop an envelope into the communion basket, tagged CWL Membership. If you need to do e-transfer, contact Donna at dkmajeau@shaw.ca.
BISHOP LOBSINGER MEMORIAL BURSARY – go to the Knights of Columbus notices for important information.
After 2 years of working with Immigration, we are delighted to introduce you to Marta, Nahom, Mazin, Mejdi, and Mariano - the Refugee family from Sudan who will arrive here on May 9th. We welcome them into our Parish Community.
We ask that you help with your gifts of food and clothing. Your financial help is also needed to pay the rent for housing.
We are grateful for any assistance you can give – may God bless you for your generosity.
~ Father Steny
Reflections
The Living Word of God
Today’s reading from the Gospel of John is part of Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper. Recall that John tells the story of Jesus’ Last Supper differently from the other Evangelists. In John’s Gospel, the Last Supper begins with Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Jesus then provides them with a series of instructions. We call this section the Last Supper discourse or Jesus’ farewell discourse. In these chapters of John’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples about the importance of following his example of love and service, about the gift they will receive when Jesus sends them the Holy Spirit, and about their relationship with Jesus and with the world. The Last Supper discourse concludes with Jesus’ prayer for his disciples.
Today’s Gospel reading is taken from middle of the Last Supper discourse. Jesus speaks about his relationship to his disciples. In his metaphor of the vine and the branches, Jesus is referencing the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel is the vineyard, and Yahweh himself tends the vineyard. One of the primary themes of John’s Gospel is to show Jesus to be the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
In this passage, Jesus teaches his disciples that his relationship with them will not end after his death; he will remain with them always. This unity between Jesus and his disciples is the basis for their ability to continue to do the work that he began. Similarly, Jesus’ presence with us through the Gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to continue the work of love and reconciliation that he began.
Jesus also teaches his disciples about the importance of the words he has taught to them. Just as Jesus will remain in the disciples, so too will his words. We come to know Jesus through the Scriptures, the living Word of God. Our commitment to be Christ’s disciples is sustained through God’s Word. This commitment is also strengthened by our life of prayer and nourished by the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, Jesus dwells in us, remains with us, and transforms us so that we might bear fruit in his name.
We observe many people who act in ways that show their commitment to serve their neighbour. Christians and non-Christians feed the hungry, care for the sick, shelter the homeless, and give alms to the poor. These actions become acts of Christian discipleship when they are motivated by our relationship with Jesus. Whatever the immediate results, Jesus promises us that these actions will bear fruit when we undertake them in his name.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, April 28
Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantelle Pean
Repose Giuseppe Rucci by family
Repose James Deal by Grace Koo
Repose Romulo Rubino & All Souls by John Paul Robino
Repose Halina Slupska by Szewczyk family
Monday, April 29
Spec. Intention Liz Shaw by Sue Farrell
Repose David Brading by Liz Wong
Tuesday, April 30
Repose St. Edmund Parishioners
Wednesday, May 1
Repose Beverley Larose by Antoine Larose
Thursday, May 2
Spec. Intention Tyler Harriott by Barbara Stuart
Repose Josefa & All My Loved Ones by Flory Nielsen
Friday, May 3
Spec. Intention Zofia Bronowska by Marie Dayton
Spec. Intention Christine Gallagher/House of Prayer by Janet Ficocelli
Saturday, May 4
Repose Nicolau S. Cardozo by the Daytons
Repose Anne C. Everest by Joan Leslie
Parish Events
CWL
2nd Thursday of each month @ 7 PM
CWL MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2024 are due before the end of APRIL. Kindly bring your cheque or EXACT cash of $40.50 to the office during office hours, or drop an envelope into the communion basket, tagged CWL Membership. If you need to do e-transfer, contact Donna @ dkmajeau@shaw.ca
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus general meetings are in person on the 1st Tuesday each month @7pm/executive meetings are also in person on the last Tuesday of the month @7pm
SPECIAL OFFER - Knights of Columbus - Free 1 Year On-Line Membership. You can enjoy the benefits of being a Knights of Columbus member including Accidental Death Benefit and the famous Columbia Magazine.
Promo Code: BLESSEDMCGIVNEY
After joining, please check your Inbox for confirmation.
St. Eds Christian Meditation Group
Thu 15th Feb @ 7 PM
The St Edmund's Parish unit of the 'World Community for Christian Meditation' (WCCM) will resume its in-person meditation meeting, on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7.00 pm in St Edmund's Church.
The first (resumed) in-person meeting will be held Thursday, 15 February at 7.00 pm.
WCCM had suspended in-person meetings owing to COVID-19 restrictions but continues to hold a weekly virtual meeting on Mondays (via ZOOM), also at 7.00 pm.
You are sincerely invited to attend the WCCM meeting(s). All are welcome.
To learn more about WCCM, kindly contact: Luis Zunino - email lzunino@gzarchitects.com
School Events
St. Edmunds Elementary School
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Spring is here! The STA Parent Association is once again selling a beautiful selection of spring plants, hanging flower baskets, herbs, veggies, succulents, and more. Click here to make your purchase today.
Deadline: Tuesday, April 23 at midnight/Pick up: May 8 & 9
Pilgrimage to the Medjugorje Youth Festival & Italy - The STA Alumni Association, in conjunction with STA Campus Ministry, is hosting a Pilgrimage to the Medjugorje Youth Festival and Italy from July 22nd - August 8th, 2024. All STA alumni & their families (18+) are invited to join.
Find more information at: https://www.aquinas.org/alumni
Religious Education
PREP
PREP classes will be held every Wednesday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at St Edmund’s School
Children's Choir Training
Every Saturday at 10 am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30 am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
Save the Date: Ministry to Divorced & Separated Easter Retreat
Saturday, April 27 | Saint Francis de Sales
To register or learn more email Joyce Baniqued at jbaniqued@rcav.org
BIRTHRIGHT MASS
The Mass will be at 12:10 pm on May 4th in Holy Rosary Cathedral preceded by Rosary at 11:40 am. All welcome.
Special Gifts
Remember a loved one with a special gift
Bread and Wine
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Prayer Requests
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intentions of Ashley
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Father Steny & Father Cannio
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of St. Edmund Parishioners
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intentions of All Carmelite Priests
Advertisements
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