Jan 23, 2022 - Sunday Bulletin

3rd Week in Ordinary Time

This week in the Church

Important Updates

· The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfasts cancelled until further notice

· Catholic Women’s League meeting will be virtual until further notice – no in-person meetings

· Catholic Women’s League Coffee Sundays cancelled until further notice

· 2022 Collection Envelopes

- New sets of envelopes are in the Parish Office for you to pick up. It is important that you use this year’s envelopes to help ensure that you get credit for your donations. Please do not use envelopes from previous years.

- Whoever is using Env#197 in 2022; please contact the Parish office right away.

Reflections

Jesus' Gift to the Church

Today's Gospel reading combines two separate passages taken from the Gospel of Luke. First, we hear the opening verses where Luke establishes the purpose of his Gospel. His style is typical of polished Greek and Roman literature. In this passage, we learn that Luke may have written to a specific person, Theophilus; but the word Theophilus may also be a general reference, functioning as the phrase “Dear Reader” might in contemporary writing. In Greek, the word Theophilus translates as “lover of God.”

Today's Gospel reading then skips several chapters in which one would find the Infancy Narratives, Jesus' baptism by John, the temptations Jesus faced in the desert, and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. In chapter four of Luke's Gospel, we hear that Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth, attending the synagogue on the Sabbath, which is said to be his custom. In this account, we find another important clue that Jesus lived as a faithful, observant Jew. We will continue to read from Luke's Gospel in sequence for the next two Sundays.

As Jesus stands in the synagogue, he reads from the scroll handed to him; it contains the words of the prophet Isaiah. At this early moment in his ministry, Jesus announces his mission in continuity with Israel's prophetic tradition. This reading from Isaiah defines Jesus' ministry. We will find more evidence of this as we continue to read from Luke's Gospel throughout the year. Jesus' ministry will include bringing glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed, and proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord.

Through this text from Isaiah, Jesus announces God's salvation. The “year acceptable to the Lord” is a reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath years and jubilee. The Sabbath year was observed every seventh year. It was a year of rest when land was left fallow and food stores were to be shared equally with all. A year of Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth year, the conclusion of seven cycles of Sabbath years. It was a year of renewal in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed.

This tradition of Jubilee is the framework for God's promise of salvation. And yet in Jesus, something new begins. Jesus not only announces God's salvation, he brings this salvation about in his person. Jesus is Yahweh's Anointed One, filled with the Spirit of God. The Kingdom of God is now at hand. It is made present in Jesus, in his life, death, and Resurrection. Jesus will send the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom of God can be fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus' gift to the Church. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to continue the mission of Jesus. When we do what Jesus did—bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, and freedom to the oppressed—we serve the Kingdom of God.

~ Loyola Press

Mass Intentions

Sunday, January 23

· Repose Li Fo Leung & Tung Ching

· Repose Santokh Singh Athwal by Athwal family

· Repose Concetta D’Aquila by daughter Maria & family

· Repose Joseph Hiep Pham by Rosa Zivarts

Monday, January 24

· Spec. Intention St. Edmund Parishioners

· Repose deceased Lam family members

Tuesday, January 25

· Repose deceased Lam family members

· Repose Carmelina Cusano by Michelina & Tony DiGregorio & family

Wednesday, January 26

· Repose deceased Ho family members

· Repose Rosauro Jimenz by Joel & Erneida de Guzman

Thursday, January 27

· Repose deceased Ho family members

· Repose William So & Florence Gee by Gar Quock

Friday, January 28

· Repose deceased Ho family members

· Repose Erin Annesley by Diane, Peter & Katherine Nation

Saturday, January 29

· Repose deceased Ho family members

· Spec. Intention Ramir & Eloisa Cloma (Wedding Anniversary)

If you need a Mass Intention, please contact the Parish Office

Events

Parish Events

Baptism – Saturday, January 29th

Parish Group Events

· The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfasts cancelled until further notice

· Catholic Women’s League meeting will be virtual until further notice – no in-person meetings

· Catholic Women’s League Coffee Sundays cancelled until further notice

School Events

School Mass - Every Wednesday at 9 AM

Virtual STA Open House

Religious Education

PREP

Every Thursday at 6 PM - Online

Children's Choir Training

Every Saturday at 10 AM

Archdiocese Events

Synod

Pope Francis has decided the next world Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, which will take place in October 2022, will have the theme: "For a synodal church: Communion, participation and mission." With that in mind, there will be information cards available at the Church entrance with Topics of Conversation suggested on the reverse side and encouraging us to check for updates on the Archdiocese site www.rcav.org/synod

Special Gifts

Altar Candles & Sanctuary Lamp

January 22-28

Special Intention for Fr. Venil D’Souza, OCD for speedy recovery

Bread & Wine

January 22-28

Special Intention for Father Cannio

Donated by Sue Farrell & Zofia Bronowska

Flowers

January 22-28

Special Intention for safe travels for Father Steny

Remember a loved one with a special gift

The remembrance can be for an anniversary, a birthday, in thanksgiving or to remember our deceased loved ones. Stop by the Parish Office to arrange to have the Bread and Wine, Flowers, Altar Candles and/or Sanctuary Lamp donated for someone you love. All donations are for one week.

Altar Flowers - $30

Bread & Wine - $25

Altar Candles - $20

Sanctuary Lamp - $20

Masses - $10 (per Mass)

Please contact the Parish Office

Financial Updates

Project Advance

2021 Final Figures

o Annual Goal was: $27,500.00 (to diocese)

o Total collected was: $81,988.00

o Portion of expenses: $ 3,723.53

o Total rebate amount: $50,764.47

We thank all those who have contributed in various ways. Your generosity is highly appreciated. May God bless you, for the sacrifices you make. Without you (U), there is no Success. As you know this project has been identified as a priority that will help our school students to use it as a playground and parking for the Parish.

Remember St Edmund's in your Will

A planned gift to be realized in the future, such as the options below, may be the best approach for you and may allow you to make a larger gift than you might have thought possible.

A Gift in Your Will - This is the most common type of planned gift - a gift in your will. Arranged today, a bequest is paid to St. Edmund’s Parish through your estate, after your death. You can give a specific sum, property, or a percentage of your estate. It is important that the full name of the parish and charitable number be included in your will so that there is no confusion about your intentions. (St. Edmund’s Parish, North Vancouver # 11884 9470 RR0064)

Life Insurance - A gift of life insurance is a simple and thoughtful way to make a gift to St. Edmund’s Parish. Insurance allows you to make a modest gift now for a significant gift in the future.

RRSP and RRIF Funds - Naming St. Edmund’s Parish a beneficiary of your RRSPs and RRIFs means all or a portion of these assets can now be left directly to St. Edmund’s Parish upon your death without having to pass through your estate. This arrangement means that no probate fees are payable on these assets. In most cases, the taxes owing on your donated RRSPs or RRIFs at death are offset by the charitable tax credits generated by your donation. Donations of this type are a great way to reduce the substantial deferred tax burden that many RRSP and RRIF plans carry.

Prayer Requests and Advertisements

Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of St. Edmund Parishioners
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the safe travel of Father Steny
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of All Carmelite Priests