Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Week in the Church
FIRST FRIDAY is on February 2nd – Adoration begins after 9am Mass (no 7:30am Mass that day) followed by Benediction at 6:45pm and Mass at 7pm. Sign-up sheet is at the Church entrance – it would be greatly appreciated if 2-3 people can sign up per time slot.
Our heartfelt condolences to the family & many friends of Betty Shamley who has gone home to our Heavenly Father. May she rest in the Comfort of the Lord. Memorial Mass: Saturday, Feb. 3rd @ 11am here at St. Edmund’s with a Reception to follow in the Parish Hall
Important Updates
CWL COFFEE SUNDAY & BAKE SALE is after all Masses on Sunday, January 28th. Baking donations will be gratefully received prior to the Masses. Please allow the CWL to price your baked goods.
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.
Reflections
JESUS’ FAME SPREADS
Today’s Gospel continues our reading from Mark and describes what some believe was likely to have been a typical day in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus and the disciples that chose to follow him in last week’s Gospel arrive at Capernaum, a small village on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Mark reports that the people respond to Jesus’ teaching with astonishment, noting Jesus’ authority and contrasting it with the scribes’. Early in Mark’s Gospel we already find evidence of the tension that will manifest itself fully in Jerusalem.
After Jesus’ preaching, an even more astonishing thing happens. A man possessed with an unclean spirit calls out to Jesus. As we see in this example and throughout Mark’s Gospel, the spirits and demons seem to know Jesus and are often fearful of him. In fact, they seem to understand Jesus’ identity better than his disciples. As we will read again and again in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus orders the spirit to be quiet and drives the unclean spirit out of the man. Jesus’ ability to heal those possessed by demons is an indication of his power over evil.
In the prescientific age of Jesus’ time, all illnesses were understood to be manifestations of evil and sinfulness. Our modern understanding of illness is very different. Possession by unclean spirits may have been a way to describe what we might call mental illness today. It may have even been a way of describing certain kinds of physical conditions. There is evidence that there were many kinds of exorcists and healers in first-century Palestine. Jesus appears to be like these healers, but he heals with unique authority and connects his healing activities with the words of his preaching.
We are missing the point that Mark is trying to make in this Gospel, however, if we try to explain away the healing work of Jesus. The crowds see in Jesus’ cure of the possessed man further affirmation of his authority. Jesus’ power to heal gives greater credence to his teaching. Jesus impresses the crowds through his words, which are manifested with power in his deeds. Mark’s Gospel tells us that because of the authority with which he healed, Jesus’ fame spread throughout all of Galilee.
- Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, January 28
· Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantel Pean
· Repose Giuseppe (Joe) Rucci by family
· Repose Tessie McMillan by Isabel Urayenza
· Spec. Intention Kole Harriott by Barbara Stuart
· Spec. Intention Charmaine Guindon by Legion of Mary
Monday, January 29
· Spec. Intention Edita Tumaneng by Maribeth Bihis
Tuesday, January 30
· Repose Ken McCrea by Peter & Diane Nation
Wednesday, January 31
· Spec. Intention Ceara Boyer by Barbara Stuart
· Repose Rosario Frias by Gerwyn Frias
Thursday, February 1
· Repose Agnes MacIntyre by Elizabeth Livingston
· Spec. Intention – Thanksgiving – Mylene DeGuzman by Cari Mendoza
· Spec. Intention - Thanksgiving – Saozinha by Ludovina Santos
Friday, February 2
· Repose Joesfa & all mu loved ones by Flory Nielsen
· Spec. Intention Fe Copeland by Bev Watson
Saturday, February 3
· Repose Betty Shamley by Nora & Jane
· Repose Patrick Magee by Peter & Diane Nation
· Repose Mum & Dad Cusanelli by family
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
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
Mondays @ 7 PM
Participation in person: please contact Luis Zunino (lzunino@gzarchitects.com) or at 604-987-8304.
Option to participate via ZOOM: For an introductory conversation, please contact Luis Zunino
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 6:00 - 7:00 pm at St Edmund’s School
Children's Choir Training
Every Saturday at 10am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
UPCOMING MARRIAGE & FAMILY EVENTS
• Spiritual Care Training Program - February 1 - March 21*
• Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference - February 16 - 18
• Momentum Single Mothers Gathering - February 24
• Together for Good Marriage Workshop - March 2
* Spiritual Care Training Program
8 Thursday evenings, February 1 - March 21 | 1:30 - 4:00 PM
Online via Zoom | $30 cost to register
Pope Francis has challenged everyone to think about their brothers and sisters in a new way. May are experiencing loneliness and isolation.
The Archdiocese of Vancouver is offering the Spiritual Care Training Program as one way to answer the call of reaching out to those who are suffering right now and need support, expressions of care, and love. The course will be offered online with small discussion groups.
NORTH SHORE PRO-LIFE SOCIETY
The Society invites you to attend our free Annual General Meeting on Sunday, Feb 4th in the Holy Trinity parish church hall at 3:30pm (after the 2:30 PM Mass). Guest speaker Angelina Ireland, President of the Delta Hospice Society, will speak on how to protect each other from MAiD. The first 40 people pre-registering to email: northshoreprolife@gmail.com or by phone message to 604 980-7189, will receive a Precious Feet lapel pin at the event.
Refreshments will be served.
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!
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 |  |  |