Aug 16/17, 2025 - Sunday Bulletin
- Leslie Mendonca
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Important Updates
Online Giving
Make a weekly, or one-time donation to the St. Edmund's Parish collection.
Mass Times
Weekend - Saturday at 4:30 pm (Anticipated Mass); Sundays at 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am
Weekday - Monday to Friday at 7:30 am and 9 am; Saturdays at 9 am
Confessions - Tuesday to Friday after 9 am Mass; Saturdays from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
Morning Prayer - Monday to Saturday 8:40 am
Adoration chapel - 10am to 12pm (noon).
Office Hours (Summer)
For August – Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Fridays
Hours: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Updates
Parish News
Our Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Pavel Biernet (a former school custodian) who has gone home to our Heavenly Father. The Funeral Mass will be at St. Casimir’s (Vancouver) on Monday, August 18th at 11am.
The Filipino Mass is on the first Sunday of the month at 6pm.
Christian Meditation Group meets in person on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7pm.
Reflections
PREPARING FOR DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND CONFLICT
Having reminded the apostles and the crowd that facing the coming judgment takes patience, Jesus now goes on to speak of how difficult it will be to wait. He tells them that he has come to set the earth on fire. Recall that in chapter 3 of Luke's Gospel, John the Baptist tells the crowd that he is baptizing with water, but someone mightier is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire Jesus speaks of here is the distress caused by the coming judgment. It is also the fire of the Spirit that Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, will describe descending on the disciples on Pentecost. That fire will strengthen them to go out to the whole world to preach the good news of Jesus' Resurrection.
Jesus will be the first to experience the distress of the coming judgment. His baptism will be the conflict into which he will be immersed as he approaches Jerusalem and his death on the cross. His followers will not be spared that distress. The angels at Jesus' birth proclaimed peace on earth, and Simeon, holding the baby Jesus in the Temple, said to God: “Master, now you may let your servant go in peace.” Here Jesus tells the crowd not to think he has come to bring peace; he has come to bring division. Simeon said as much when he turned to Mary and said that the child was destined for the rise and fall of many and to be a sign that will be contradicted. Peace is the ultimate end of the Kingdom of God, but peace has a price. Jesus is warning the crowd that wherever the Word of God is heard and acted upon, division occurs. Fathers will be divided against sons and mothers against daughters.
The coming judgment forces us to look at the implications of our commitments. As Jesus warned in last Sunday's Gospel, a commitment of faith requires us to change our attitude toward material possessions and to take even more seriously our moral responsibilities. Here he reminds the crowd that those who commit to him will find it affects the way they relate to friends and family members. The angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah said John would go before Jesus to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children. But a commitment to Jesus forces us to change the way we live our lives, and this can put strains on relationships.
We don't expect to hear such difficult words from Jesus in the Gospel. But it is good to be reminded once in a while that the decision to do the right thing, the good thing, is not always easy and without conflict. Jesus himself did not make easy decisions and avoid conflict. In today's reading, he reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult decisions and conflict as well.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, August 17
Spec. Intention Boris Brecelj by Janet Ficocelli
Spec. Intention Thanksgiving by Chantal Pean
Repose Mario Cayetano by Janet Ficocelli & Mario’s Prayer Group
Repose Michele Cusano by Rosa Cusano
Repose Clara & Manuel Alagoa by daughter Marilyn Alagoa
Monday, August 18
Spec. Intention Sister Catherine by Zofia Bronowska
Repose Mario Cayetano by Janet Ficocelli & Mario’s Prayer Group
Tuesday, August 19
Spec. Intention St. Edmund Parishioners
Repose Mario Cayetano by Janet Ficocelli & Mario’s Prayer Group
Wednesday, August 20
Spec. Intention Edzer Charles (for good health & sight) by Chantal Pean
Thursday, August 21
Spec. Intention Curtis Harriott by Barbara Stuart
Spec. Intention Fr. Jeevan by Liz Wong
Friday, August 22
Repose Bruce Halliday by Diane & Peter Nation
Saturday, August 23
Repose Cristino Ficocelli by Janet Ficocelli
Repose Diorio family by Ness & Roger
Parish Events
CWL 2nd Thursday of each month @ 7 PM
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
St. Eds Christian Meditation Group
The St Edmund's Parish unit of the 'World Community for Christian Meditation' (WCCM) has in-person meditation meeting, on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7.00 pm in St Edmund's Church.
"No Experience Necessary"- The group leader will give new people the basics of meditation and some resources.
WCCM 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
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 832 0552 4810
Passcode: 965923
Religious Education
PREP 2024-2025
Any questions can be sent to prepatsteds@shaw.ca
Children's Choir Training
Practices will be every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month @10am
Masses will be every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month @ 11am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30 am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
JUBILEE YEAR 2025
Learn more about this special year, stay updated with the latest news, and explore how you can participate at rcav.org/jubilee.
Upcoming Marriage & Family Events
Monthly (First Saturday of the month) | Pro-Life Mass and Prayer Vigil
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
Rekindle the romance, remind yourselves why you fell in love and learn how to make a good marriage even better!
WWME is offering a weekend marriage retreat this fall. Oct. 24-26, 2025.
For more info and to register visit: https://beholdvancouver.org/events/couple-retreat-by-worldwide-marriage-encounter#overview
❤Early bird special before Sept. 11. ❤ Registration closes Oct. 11, 2025
Financials
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Bread & Wine
Prayer Requests
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 Father Jeevan Prakash D'Almeda
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
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Anish Rodrigues & Nileema D’Souza
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