| Stan-e5 |
Summary of this Issue
40
Days for Life: we are reaching the mid-way point of powerful witnessing, prayerful
and fasting for an end to abortion. So far, at least 11 Parishes
have responded to the call of a Lenten Pilgrimage for
all the victims of abortion by witnessing prophetically for
the Lord. Others have registered individually for one or
more hours each week as a real Lenten Sacrifice. Everyone who
could is encouraged to see if they could sacrifice an additional
hour this Lenten season in peaceful prayerful vigil outside
the abort facility for a more meaningful Lenten journey.
We
have entered into the season of Lent. The Holy Father
has written powerfully and insightfully to help us recapture
the Lenten discipline of fasting. Jeff Mirus adds his reflections
on this Papal document, and a witty Youtube video explains what
a Great Opportunity Lent is.
On
March 10th, we started the St. Joseph Novena, which
ends on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19th.
As noted in a recent homily on EWTN, devotion to this Saint
has all but disappeared in recent decades, which corresponds
to the period of unprecedented numbers of family breakups. Links
to the St. Joseph Novena as well as pertinent Papal documents
are provided.
With
the lifting of restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
by the Obama administration, quite a bit of misinformation has
been spread about this new technology with the complicity of
much of the mainstream media. To clarify this issue, links to
recent articles which have been conveniently overlooked as well
as scientific studies are given.
Archbishop
Charles Chaput of Denver was in Toronto la few weeks ago and made
some powerful and prophetic statements which warrant repeating.
Priests
for Life Canada have revamped and improved their Web site, which includes a host
of easy to access references dealing with various Pro-life issues.
A
simple video explaining the nature of the Credit Crisis introduces
an article on Pope Benedict’s Economic Realism.
The
State Legislature of Connecticut has found a new disturbing
way to attack the Church which has prompted demonstrations.
A
very timely and informative Adult Faith lecture series
dealing with various arguments of the modern atheists
was recently delivered by Dr. Tim Lau. Link to his slides
and voice files of the talks is repeated
Links
to Christopher West Theology of the Body videos are
still available.
Upcoming
Events of Note:
·
March
14th: Special Pro-life Masses for the intention of the
Ottawa Pro-life Centre
· March
20th: a conference dealing with "Freedom of Speech: Restoring Reason, Truth
and Civility to the Public Square " will take
place in Ottawa.
· March
21st: next Men’s Breakfast.
·
Tuesday, March 24th: MEETING FOR PARENTS
WITH MENTALLY HANICAPPED CHILDREN OF ANY AGE.
·
Tuesday
March 24th: Theology on Tap Lecture – “What Happened to Christendom"
· March
30th to April 1st – Lenten Retreat at St. Augustine
Parish led by Fr. Clement Machado.
·
April 10th: Good Friday Way of the Cross with Archbishop
Terrence Prendergast
· May 4th to
May 16th – Spring trip to Medjugore
· November 27-28th,
Fr. Benedict Groeschl from EWTN comes to St. Pat’s Basilica
|
| John |
"40
Days for Life" Lenten Campaign
Time to Pray, Fast,
Witness…Stand for Life!
This
Lent, from February 25 to April 5, five
Canadian cities will participate
with more than 125 cities across North America and around the world, joining together for the
largest and longest co-ordinated pro-life mobilization in history
-- the 40 Days for Life campaign. The previous campaign in Ottawa from Sep.24-Nov.2, 2008 was
a huge success. We are praying that, with God's help, this groundbreaking
effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion. 40 Days
for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision
to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil.
The central activity of the campaign is a 24-hour-7-days-a-week
peaceful prayer vigil outside of Morgentaler's Abortion Mill on
65 Bank Street. The vigil runs for 40 days, the duration
of Lent. Join us as we advance the respect and
dignity of human life in your city and around the world! God is going
to bring down abortion.
… Read Archbishop Prendergast’s
Vespers homily which was the spiritually launch of the campaign
by clicking HERE .
…Prayer and
Fasting are the foundations
of both 40 Days for Life as well as Lent. Click HERE to read reflections on these important topics, as well as some appropriate
prayers for the campaign. Included in these is crucial advice
on the prayerful disposition one should have while doing
the Vigil outside the abortion mill. We should also remember that
“our own human resources are
entirely inadequate. Divine grace is absolutely necessary to stop
abortion …” To read more, click on:
There
is No Stopping Abortion Without the Eucharist
Parish Involvement in 40 Days: many individuals
from most Parishes (not to overlook Evangelicals and other denominations)
are playing an active role in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Prayers
and Mass intentions are offered up so that with God’s help, this
effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion. Additionally,
Parishioners are also encouraged to recite on a daily basis, the
Pro-life Prayers found on THIS SITE
.
The central activity of the campaign is a 24-hour-7-days-a-week
peaceful prayer vigil outside of Morgentaler’s Abortion Mill on
65
Bank Street. This is where we are invited to be Prophetic
Witnesses for the Lord in front of a place where evil
is being done in our midst. With God’s grace, such a witness can
be a means whereby babies are saved, and conversions can start
happening as was the case in the last such Campaign.
At least 11 Parish communities have responded to this call by selecting
either a full or partial day of pilgrimage outside the abortion
mill. Other individuals have decided to register for one or more
hours each week as a Lenten Sacrifice for all the victims
of abortion. Even if you have registered for a vigil hour
during our Parish day, this doesn’t preclude you from registering
for other days: The more time we sacrifice to this cause, the
more rewarding our Lenten journey. (To see which vigil slots are
empty, see Vigil Calendar below)
…For much more information on the Campaign (including Vigil Calendar and Registration)
click on: http://40daysforlife.com/ottawa/
…. or contact your 40 Days for Life Parish Rep. Please verify the Vigil Calendar on the above link, and if you can spare an hour,
please
register!! )
…For riveting Ground Zero reports of spiritual warfare at the vigil
site, click HERE .
Other key dates :
March 19th .. Join us for
a MIDPOINT RALLY as we prepare for the last few weeks of the campaign.
This date is particularly important since it is the Feast of St.
Joseph, BUT ALSO Henry Morgentaler's birthday!
MEET AT 65 Bank Street
from 7
to 9PM. for Campaign
Report & Candlelight Vigil.
April 5th ….Closing Rally.
Be sure to join us as we celebrate another successful 40 Days
Campaign on Palm Sunday with an Ecumenical service. MEET at Ground
Zero, 65
Bank Street, 7pm.
Time to Pray, Fast,
Witness…Stand for Life! |
| Stan-e5 |
Lent
- Perfect for Lent video reflection- whether you've fallen
away from the church or not... It's a great time to re-evaluate
your life – click on Catholics Come
Home "Movie"
- "Fasting
was ordained in Paradise,” and “the first commandment
in this sense was delivered to Adam” ….St. Basil, Church Father. Read
more in the powerfully
insightful Pope Benedict XVI’s Lenten Message, which
deals extensively with fasting …to help us recapture the deep
spiritual meaning which our present materialistic culture has
lost.
Also Read:
·
Do what you are doing - Father George William Rutler
: Lent is a time to increase the power of perception .
·
History of Lent - Father William P. Saunders: What are the origins
of Lent? Did the Church always have this time before Easter? |
| Stan-e5
|
St. Joseph Novena
On
March 10th is the beginning of the St. Joseph Novena
(Feast of St. Joseph falls on March 19th).
On that day, during Mass on EWTN, Fr. Clement Machado
(see CV) delivered
a homily on St.
Joseph
- the recently neglected saint – a saint who after Mary is the
holiest of the saints.
He
observed that in the last 50 years or so, devotion to this great
saint has all but disappeared in many Western countries. Can
we therefore be surprised that this period corresponds to an
unprecedented number of breakups of families resulting social
turmoil in so many former Catholic countries?
For
the Novena to St.
Joseph,
click on: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/joseph.htm
ENCYCLICAL
OF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH … Click on QUAMQUAM
PLURIES
APOSTOLIC
EXHORTATION OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II ON THE PERSON
AND MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND OF THE
CHURCH…..click on REDEMPTORIS
CUSTOS
|
| |
Obama Lifts Restriction
on Human Embryo Research
As
expected, President Obama has lifted restrictions on human embryo research. As a
choice between politics and ethics, it was a no-brainer….Read
Mixing
politics and science
|
| Scott
M |
On Stem Cell Research
Where
are these two stories in the mainstream media???? Oh, right, they don't
use embryonic stem cells so they are not newsworthy.....................what
was I thinking.
"Among
the four primary sources of human stem cells (human embryos,
fetal tissues and organs from aborted or miscarried babies,
pregnancy matter (umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid),
and adult tissues and organs), the extraction of stem cells
from human embryos is always morally evil on account of the
method necessarily destroying the life of the embryo. Fr. Pacholczyk
explained that the Catholic Church only applauds that
research which uses stem-cells procured from methods that do
not violate human life." Source: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jul/06072709.html
……………………………………………
Two-year-old
girl can see for the first time following stem cell treatment
Two-year-old
British girl Dakota Clarke can see for the first time after
undergoing pioneering stem cell treatment in China.
By
Nick Britten
Last Updated: 3:07PM
GMT 04 Mar 2009
Dakota Clarke,
who was born blind, is the first British patient to undergo
the new type of therapy in China Photo: BARCROFT
Dakota, who was born blind, is
the first British patient to undergo the new type of therapy…..For
more, click HERE.
Fighting to walk again
Westhoff man sees hope in stem-cell
treatments
Photo Credit: FRANK TILLEY/Advocate Photo Editor
Bradley Koenning thinks about
his future and the stem cell treatment that he has been receiving.
Friends of Koenning are sponsoring a benefit to help defray
the costly expense of the treatments....For more, click THERE.
……………………………………………………………………...
To see Fact–Sheet regarding Stem
Cell Research, click on: Adult
Stem Cells v. Embryonic Stem Cells
Canadian charities and embryonic
stem cell research. LifeSiteNews.com has often been asked if
certain Canadian charities support embryonic stem cell research
- which causes the death of human persons at their embryonic
stage of development. This is pertinent information for Catholics
and Catholic organizations when deciding to donate their hard
earned charitable contributions. Read: List
of Canadian Charities Which Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
|
| |
Visiting Denver Archbishop
Makes Powerful and Prophetic Statements
On
the Church
On
his visit to Toronto in late February (at the invitation of
the Archdiocese of Toronto, Salt + Life TV, and others) - Archbishop
Charles J. Chaput of Denver did not mince any words in his appraisal
of the failures of the Church in the past 40 years …”poor
instruction of Catholics over the past 40 years has to a large
degree been responsible for many of today's serious problems
within US Catholicism, especially the lack of "understanding
of the horror of abortion." To read more click
on: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030212.html
Complete
LifeSite News interview with Archbishop Chaput: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030211.html
------------------------------------------
On
Politics
Archbishop
Chaput delivered
a lecture at St. Michael's College to a near capacity
audience of 700. “It was likely the most forthright and challenging
presentation on Catholic political responsibility ever given
in Canada by a bishop” – Read summary of: Denver Archbishop
To Toronto Audience: "We Can't Build a Just Society With
the Blood of Unborn Children"
To
read the text of Archbishop Chaput's entire lecture, click on:
RENDERING UNTO CAESAR:
THE CATHOLIC POLITICAL VOCATION
----------------------------------------------
On
Business
On
Tuesday morning (February
24th 2009),
Archbishop Chaput addressed 100 business, banking and legal
leaders in downtown Toronto. Noting the moral imperative
to live for others, the archbishop urged them to “light the
marketplace” with generosity, justice and honesty. Read
EWTN summary by clicking on: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=93976
The
title of this breakfast address was “Character and Circumstance”.
For the full text, click on: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=93967
|
| Brenda Zahara |
I
would like to have prayer concerning the sale of my moms mobile
home in that....Mom passed away...and all the family far away...we
need it to sell quickly....thank you
|
| Michael V |
Web Site of the
Issue
Priests for Life Canada
Priests for Life Canada has totally revamped their
Web site (click on icon).
Of
particular interest are the Web-based Resources,
which provides a host of factual information on a variety of
Pro-life issues including abortion, contraception, stem-cell
research, NFP, etc, in an easily accessible way.. The site also
includes suggestions for church involvement in the Pro-life
cause be it through specific prayers, or the liturgy.
|
| Halyna |
|
| |
Videos
of the Issue
A beautiful and positive video on the prolife
movement–
click on We
Will
|
| Fr.
Ignatius |
Legislative Attack on Catholic Church in
Connecticut
This is a different approach than I expected.
I was suspecting the main financial attack would be either to
strip the Church of any tax exempt status or simply bankrupt
it through encouraging civil suits over the "Pedophile
Priest" scandal or residential schools (and relaxing rules
of evidence and statues of limitations, while expanding liability,
to accommodate it). Years ago a number of pro-life groups
were attacked in the US through the RICO laws meant
for use against organized crime groups. Hatred knows no bounds.
On
Thursday, March 5, a bill was introduced in the Connecticut state legislature, and immediately referred
to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. It targets one
– and only one – church in the state, the Catholic Church, and
would strip the bishops and priests of the state of any power
to exercise administrative authority over their parishes.
Raised Bill No. 1098 is a committee bill and does not
bear the names of any individual sponsors. Both co-chairmen
of the committee, State Sen. Andrew McDonald and State Rep.
Michael Lawlor, are outspoken proponents of same-sex marriage
in Connecticut and have been critical of the Catholic Church’s opposition
to both civil unions and same-sex marriage.
The stated purpose of the bill is to “provide for the investigation
of the misappropriation of funds by religious corporations,”
but it deals only with the corporate structure of the Catholic
Church. No other church is mentioned, or would be subject
to the bill’s requirements.
The measure has been put on a legislative fast track, with hearings
scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, less than a week after its
introduction. Knights of Columbus, and all concerned Connecticut
Catholics, are encouraged to attend the hearing that day and
express their opposition to the bill. They may also call
or write the committee co-chairmen, State Sen. Andrew McDonald
(800-842-1420 or McDonald@senatedems.ct.gov), and State Rep. Michael Lawlor
(800-842-8267 or MLawlor99@juno.com.
Bill 1098 is clearly unconstitutional. For more than 200
years, federal courts have consistently held that the First
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars the government from
interfering in the internal affairs of churches. This legislation
not only violates that fundamental principle, but also would
single out the Catholic Church for discriminatory treatment
applied to no other religious organization.
More information:
Diocese
of Bridgeport
Family Institute
of Connecticut
National Catholic Register
Archbishop Mansell Statement
Connecticut Catholic Conference Action Alert
|
| Stan-e5 |
ADULT FAITH EDUCATION SERIES: THE GOD DELUSION
and other errors in logic.
By Dr. Tim Lau
These ADULT FAITH EDUCATION lectures were
given at St. Augustine Parish on Thursday
February 5th, 12th & 19th: The series investigates the following questions:
Is the belief in God a delusion? Is religion the reason
we go to war or the root of all evil? Does evolution exclude
God? Is God a ‘blind’ watchmaker? Are we nothing
more than cells in the service of some ’selfish’ genes? What
does it mean to be human?
View slides and listen to voice file
of all three sessions by
clicking HERE
|
| Jim Meuse |
Theology of the Body
A
few months ago we completed the 8 week series about Theology of the Body by Christopher West entitled
" Created
& Redeemed " at both Annunciation &
St. Augustine parishes.
Below
is a link to video # 7 of the series called, " A Living Morality ", which
we believe, pardon the pun, is where the rubber hits the road.
We
hope you will be blessed when you view this important teaching.
http://dev.annunciation-ottawa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=853&Itemid=154
This
video is 58 minutes in length (48 minutes if you exclude the Q's
and A's). IMHO, the teaching should be mandatory from Senior High
School onwards in order to be able to confront the prevailing
culture where narcissistic indulgence is the norm. Everyone regardless
of his or her age group can profit greatly from it.
The
whole series of eight DVD lectures is available for a limited
time on the following site: http://dev.annunciation-ottawa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=22&id=114&Itemid=154 |
| |
|
| Rene |
Saturday March 14th at 10:00 AM, Special Pro-life Masses
at Queen of the most Holy Rosary Church (20 Grant Street), and at
Georges Church - 415 Piccadilly St. (off Wellington) - at
10:30 a.m., also on Saturday, March 14th,
The
intention that the proposed Ottawa
Pro-life Centre, which is still in its concept
form will soon become a reality…..The proposed Centre in Ottawa
will be staffed by Pro-Life Doctors and will have Pro-Life teachings
on Natural Family Planning and the Theology of the Body. Click
HERE for details. |
| Amy |
Friday
March 20 - The Ottawa-based Neeje Association for Women and Family is hosting
an event aimed at professionals in the National Capital Region
on, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Chateau Laurier. The
event is entitled "Freedom of Speech: Restoring Reason, Truth
and Civility to the Public Square ".
This panel of excellent speakers will explore the elements that
work for - and against - the advancement of a healthy and civil
society. …. Come and hear Barbara Kay, Robert A. Kenedy, Nicole Scheidl,
Tarek Fatah and moderator Brian Lilley in this panel
discussion.
This
event is open to both men and women. The target audience,
but not exclusively, professionals, business people, academics,
senior civil servants, policy makers, parliamentarians and their
staff, etc… . Participants can register online at www.neeje.ca/march2009conference
or by mail using the information in the attached
material. |
| André |
SATURDAY,
MARCH 21ST - 08 :00
to 10:00 AM in the Church basement:
Men’s Breakfast at St. Augustine Parish. Come
and hear an inspiring talk by Tim
Kennedy,
a father of seven, a consultant and recent Catholic convert.
The title of his talk is: “Our Living Sacrifice: The Transformation of our World
by the Renewal of Our Minds.” This
should be an exciting presentation, so encourage a friend to come.
For details, please click HERE. |
| Maureen |
Tuesday, March 24th:
MEETING
FOR PARENTS WITH MENTALLY HANICAPPED CHILDREN OF ANY AGE: Annunciation of the Lord parish,
2414 Ogilvie Rd., March 24, 7:00 p.m. Carole Coulombe will speak
on 'Faith and Light' (younger children), and Donna Rietschlin
of L'Arche Ottawa, (all ages). The goal of the meeting is to try
to move the province of Ontario to open a facility in Ottawa catering
to the needs of the mentally handicapped. RSVP to Mike Newton
(manewton@rogers.com). |
| Ray
Duplessis |
Tuesday,
March 24th, Theology on Tap. Speaker: Prof. Michael
Farrow (McGill University) will give a talk entitled : "What Happened to Christendom?” Christians
are members of the Church and citizens of the State. They live
simultaneously, as Augustine put it, in two cities. But what does
that mean today in Canada? Join leading academic Douglas Farrow,
Associate Professor of Christian Thought at McGill University
in Montreal as he explores this topic. click HERE for details. |
| |
From
Monday March 30th until Wednesday April 1st
at 07:30 PM
Parish
Lenten Mission at St Augustine Parish led by Fr. Clement Machado
(Click HERE
for details). The theme for the mission is “ Victory in Christ” . Fr Clement, who is Canadian
by birth (Click
HERE
for CV),
and
previously served in the Ottawa Archdiocese will also give the
Sunday Homilies at St. Augustine the weekend of March 28th
- 29th. |
| Maureen |
April
10th: Good Friday Way of the Cross. Communion and Liberation
will be holding a procession through the streets of downtown Ottawa.
Led by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast. Departure 9:30 a.m. from
St. Patrick's Basilica; arrival at Notre-Dame Cathedral 11:30
a.m. Info: (613-241-7496); to download the flyer and the
route: (www.communionliberation.ca). |
| Tim Dooling |
Spring 2009
Trip to Medjugorje:
May 4th to May
16th
Tim Dooling,
Pilgrimage co-ordinator
Our Pilgrimage
to Medjugorje this May, includes Mother's Day,
For more information
please contact Tim at:
613-722-9594, or
timdooling@rogers.com
Thank you and God
bless you! |
| Fr.
Lindsay |
|
|
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