Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Day of the Sick
This Week
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
NO 7:30 AM MASS
9 AM MASS & Distribution of Ashes
11 AM SCHOOL MASS & Distribution of Ashes
6:30 PM MASS & Distribution of Ashes
FRIDAYS IN LENT
9 am & 7 pm Masses – 6:30 Stations of the Cross (no 7:30 am Mass that day)
Are you ready to deepen your prayer life this Lent? Join fellow St. Edmund’s parishioners in a Lent Pray40 challenge using the #1 smartphone app for Catholic prayer and meditation, Hallow. The app presents prayer in different audio forms and includes many top Catholic speakers. In the Hallow Pray40 challenge, reflect and pray every day of Lent with Father Mike Schmitz, Jonathan Roumie (Jesus in The Chosen), Jeff Cavins, and others.
St. Edmund’s has organized a 90-day free trial of Hallow for parishioners. To access the free trial, from your smartphone:
Go to https://hallow.com/share/YXE51C and follow the directions to create your account. OR
Using the camera on your phone, focus on the QR code below. A link will pop up. Select the link and follow the directions to create your account.
THE KNIGHTS’ FAMOUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST will be after the 8 & 9:30 am Masses on Sunday, February 11th. Bring your appetite and enjoy good food and good company.
FILIPINO MASS – is on Sunday, February 11th at 6 pm
CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP will meet in person on Thursday, February 15th at 7 pm
Important Updates
PLEASE PICK UP YOUR 2024 ENVELOPES – from the Parish Office. If you still have envelopes from other years, kindly do not use them. Instead, use a plain envelope noting your name and the amount until you pick up your 2024 set. Thank you.
BISHOP LOBSINGER MEMORIAL BURSARY – go to the Knights of Columbus notices for important information.
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 an e-transfer, contact Donna @ dkmajeau@shaw.ca
Reflections
The Depth Of Jesus' Compassion
In today’s Gospel, we continue to hear Mark report the miraculous healings that Jesus performed in Galilee. The Gospel begins with Jesus healing a man with leprosy. Leprosy is a disfiguring, infectious skin disease that has been surrounded by many social and religious taboos throughout history. In 1873, the cause of leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, was identified. We now know that leprosy is caused by a bacterial infection. Although it is infectious, modern medical studies have shown that transmission is more difficult than previously thought. Since the 1940s, medical treatments have been available, and the patient no longer needs to be isolated once long-term treatment has begun.
In Jesus’ time, however, religious and social taboos dictated the behavior of those with leprosy and other skin diseases. The Law of Moses provided for the examination of skin diseases by the priests, and if leprosy was identified, the person was declared unclean. People with leprosy lived in isolation from the community. They were instructed to rip their clothes and to announce their presence with loud cries when moving in the community. If the sores of leprosy healed, the Law of Moses provided a purification rite that permitted the person to return to the community.
In today's Gospel, the man with leprosy took the initiative, approaching Jesus and asking for healing. In doing so, the leper violated the religious customs of the day by approaching a person who was clean. His request to Jesus can be interpreted as a courageous and daring act. The confidence of the leper in Jesus' ability to heal him is evident in the words of his request. But his words can also be read as a challenge to Jesus, asking just how far Jesus was willing to extend himself in order to heal someone. While healing the man, Jesus touched him, which also violated established social norms. This is an important sign of the depth of Jesus' compassion for the man and an important statement about Jesus' interpretation of the Law of Moses.
Although Jesus touched the leper, he did not break completely with the Law of Moses. He instructed the man not to tell anyone about the cure and told him to present himself to the priests as prescribed by the Law of Moses. The first instruction sounds nearly impossible to honor. Certainly, the man would want to share the good news of his healing, and his quick improvement would require an explanation. The second instruction honors the Law of Moses.
Mark's Gospel tells us that after this healing, it became difficult for Jesus to travel freely. There are several possible explanations for this. There might have been concern about the repercussions of Jesus' breach of social and religious norms. In touching the man with leprosy, Jesus made himself unclean. Mark's narrative, however, leads to the conclusion that Jesus' movement was hampered by his popularity. Despite his instructions, the cured man spread the word about Jesus' healing power. Even when Jesus was in deserted places, people sought him out in search of his healing.
- Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, February 11
• Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantel Pean
• Spec. Intention for Nora Gemino by Zofia Bronowska
• Repose Michael Lee by Zofia Bronowska
• Repose Raffaele Cusano by Vickie & family
• Repose Custis Dayton by Aime & Terry Lehouillier
Monday, February 12
• Repose Joanne Durkin by Cecily McLarnin
• Spec. Intention Janet Ficocelli by Zofia Bronowska
• Spec. Intention Elizabeth Livingston by Roz Kerr
Tuesday, February 13
• Repose Joanne Durkin by Cecily McLarnin
• Repose Betty Shamley by Zofia Bronowska
Wednesday, February 14
• Spec. Intention Brison Geue by Barbara Stuart
• Spec. Intention Cari Mendoza by Joel & Erneida de Guzman
• Repose Grace Keller by St. Edmund’s School Staff
Thursday, February 15
• Spec. Intention Jovita Ramirez by Legion of Mary
• Repose Saturnina Diego by Maribeth Bihis & family
Friday, February 16
• Repose Carol & Harold Palleson
• Repose Anna Franco by Vendargon family
• Spec. Intention Marsha Hursham by Cecily McLarnin
Saturday, February 17
• Repose Lolita Acosta by Acosta family
• Repose John Cusanelli by Giovanna Cusanelli
• Repose Mrs. Rose Kerr by daughter
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
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
UPCOMING MARRIAGE & FAMILY EVENTS
• Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference - February 16 - 18*
• Momentum Single Mothers Gathering - February 24
• Together for Good Marriage Workshop - March 2
* Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference
Dates are Friday, 16 February to Sunday 18 February
Accommodations at the Fairmont Empress Victoria, 721 Government Street, Victoria for conference participants should be booked separately. The fee is usually $299. Use promo code RCAVVIC to register for $199.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, February 14. For more information, please call Joyce at 604-683-0281 ext. 223 or visit beholdvancouver.org/events
VOCATION LIVE-IN
There will be a Vocation Live-In on the weekend of February 10 -11 at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, BC. Anyone wishing to enter the Seminary in the next couple of years is welcome. For more information phone 604-826-8975 or email rector.minors@sck.ca
WORLD YOUTH DAY - LISBON 2023
Discover the essence of WYD Lisbon 2023 in the video created by WYD Canada.
Please click the link below:
CATHOLIC INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS VANCOUVER ARCHDIOCESE
Invite you to be a part of their upcoming Catholic Educators Conference that will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, BC. The event promises to be a fantastic platform for showcasing and promoting your products and services to a diverse and engaged audience.
Here’s why you won’t want to miss this opportunity:
• Exposure: With the Catholic Educators Conference set to attract a large crowd of over 1500 attendees, your brand will gain maximum exposure
• Networking: Connect with our 46 schools, potential clients, and fellow vendors to establish valuable business connections
• Promotion: Benefit from our extensive marketing efforts that will promote your presence before, during and after the event
• Innovation: Showcase your latest products and innovations to a captivated audience
For more information on how to become a vendor and sponsor of the event, please visit the following link: https://cisva.regfox.com/cec2024
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of something truly special and grand. Your presence at the 2024 Catholic Educators Conference will be a highlight, and we can’t wait to have you on board!
This Lent, let’s work toward Reaping our Rights
This year, Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s Create Hope: Reaping our Rights campaign calls you to stand with small-scale farmers and peasant communities who feed the world while caring for the Earth. Do this by:
1. Donating online at devp.org/give or during the Solidarity Sunday collection on March 17, the fifth Sunday of Lent. Your generosity helps support over 73 projects in 36 countries around the world!
2. Learning more by reading the Mini-magazine and other resources available at devp.org/lent/resources.
3. Meeting our solidarity visitors and participating in the campaign launch webinar on February 17 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Special Gifts
Remember a loved one with a special gift
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Prayer Requests and Advertisements
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Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intentions of Ashley |  |  |