| Stan-e5 |
Summary of this Issue
40
Days for Life: we are in the final stretch of this Campaign of powerful witnessing,
prayerful and fasting for an end to abortion. Some remarkable
evangelizations are taking place at the vigil site, primarily
during the quieter night shifts. A noteworthy letter has also
been published by the Ottawa Citizen regarding the 40 Days Campaign.
A healing Mass for the Nation will take place on March 30th.
All are asked to sacrifice additional hours at the Vigil site
to make this Campaign a resounding success.
Development
and Peace Petition: serious allegations from several sources have revealed
that funds from Development and Peace are going to groups promoting
abortion in several countries. In light of these revelations,
a petition has been drafted requesting the complete reform of
this organization.
We
are well 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.
Fr.
John A. Hardon S.J. has been described as the “greatest teacher of
the Catholic faith in the 20th century”. We recently
discovered the text to a conference given by Fr. Hardon on the
hot topic of abortion, a teaching even more relevant today….would
that such a teaching be preached from every pulpit.
Tim
Kennedy
from St. Mary’s Parish gave a very inspiring and passionate
Men’s Breakfast talk on Catholic education…a vital
topic to anyone with children, grand children, nieces or nephews.
Tim not only has an excellent grasp of the causes of our failing
system, but more important, has a clear and realistic vision
of what it will take to renew it.
A
mysterious and coincidental plane crash took place in a Montana cemetery recently
killing all on board. The most peculiar aspect of this event
was overlooked by the mass-media.
The
Pope was on a historic Apostolic Journey to Africa recently.
Links to his homilies, and analysis of its impact from the National
Catholic Reporter are provided.
A
new article on Stem Cell Research was added to our collection
of this vital topic.
Charles
Chaput
of Denver was in Toronto a few weeks ago
and made some powerful and prophetic statements which warrant
repeating. Abortion is the acid test regarding faithful Catholicism.
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
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
28th: Special Pro-life Masses for the intention of the
Ottawa Pro-life Centre
· March
28th: Praise and Worship Evening at Annunciation
of the Lord Parish
· March
30th to April 1st – Lenten Retreat at St. Augustine
Parish led by Fr. Clement Machado.
· March
30th: Healing Mass for Canada.
· April
10th : Beginning of the Divine Mercy Procession on
Parliament Hill
·
April 10th: Good Friday Way of the Cross with Archbishop
Terrence Prendergast
·
May
15th to 17th : Retreat directed by Fr.
Frances McEvoy on Our Lady of The Rosary based on JPII’s Encyclical.
· May 4th to
May 16th – Spring trip to Medjugorje
· 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.
…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.
Some Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor referring to 40 Days
for Life: Letter-writer Frances Wilkinson draws on her own personal experience and her beliefs
to urge women to reconsider their choice of having an abortion….Click
HERE.
Dr. Bernard Nathanson's film "The
Silent Scream" referred to in the letter above can be viewed
at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek
The Gianna Jessen film can be viewed
at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ&feature=related
Evangelization taking place at the Vigil 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. This is also an opportunity for evangelization
to take place, either subtly, or directly…For examples, click HERE.
Registering
for Vigil shifts: as a Lenten Sacrifice for all the victims
of abortion, many individuals have decided to register for
one or more hours each week of the 40 Days. Even if you have registered
for a vigil hour during our Parish day, this doesn’t preclude
you from registering for other days. We need help in the final
weeks of the Campaign to make it a resounding success. 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 30th – 07 to 10 PM:
Healing Mass for Canada will be held at St. Patrick’s Basilica 281 Nepean
St. Ottawa (Corner of Nepean & Kent Streets) The Evening will
begin with the Rosary followed by a Talk on Reconciliation by
Father Bob Poole, Confession, Holy Mass, Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament, Praise & Worship and Intercessory Prayer…click
HERE for details.
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! |
| John
Pacheco |
Petition to Reform Development
and Peace
Please
take the time to read and sign the petition to the Catholic Bishops
to reform the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and
Peace:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/26452.html
Join the Facebook Group here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=63960440495&ref=nf
Follow all of the stories here:
http://www.socon.ca/or_bust/?p=1567
Latest Story here:
Peterborough Bishop to All Pastors: Development and Peace Funding
in Jeopardy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032512.html |
| 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? |
| Maggie
Logan |
Fr. John A. Hardon S.J. on Abortion
The
late Father John A. Hardon, S.J., who passed away in 2000, is described as “the greatest
teachers of the Catholic faith during the twentieth century.”
A very prolific writer, Fr. Hardon left us with a plethora
of teachings which will take a generation or more to fully digest.
With all these great catechistic teachings, in the form of articles,
recordings, and books, what was, until recently, overlooked
was what Fr. Hardon had to say about abortion.
Fortunately,
we discovered the text of a conference given by Fr. Hardon entitled:
This
conference was given in the mid 1990’s. Below is the introductory
paragraph to the text of the conference:
Introduction: There is no
stopping abortion without the Eucharist. Abortion is murder.
It is on a scale today greater than all previous combined abortion
murders in human history. Public demonstrations and statements
of all kinds and sizes are all very important. They offer the
opportunity for the pro-life Catholic to publicly identify before
the world where he or she stands. We must put first things first
to know and understand that behind every abortion is the devil,
a murderer from the beginning. Our own human resources are entirely
inadequate. Divine grace is absolutely necessary to stop abortion.
All graces come through Jesus Christ in His human nature. The
primary source of these graces is Holy Mass, Holy Communion
and Holy Adoration of our Lord in His Real Presence. Eternal
Life’s spiritual director keeps us committed to the truth. Let’s
hear it from Fr. Hardon.
The
discovery of this document turned out to be quite providential
in connection with the 40 Days for Life Campaign.
As we know, the central activity of the campaign is a 24-hour-7-days-a-week
peaceful prayer vigil outside of the abortion mill. Hence, Fr.
Hardon clearly recognized the importance of “public demonstrations
and statements of all kinds” against the horror of abortion.
However, Fr. Hardon also stipulates that our “own human
resources are entirely inadequate. Divine grace is absolutely
necessary to stop abortion.” In other words, in order
to combat this evil, so ubiquitous and deeply rooted in our
culture, we must first seek Christ’s graces, which are primarily
available to us through “Holy Mass, Holy Communion and
Holy Adoration of our Lord in His Real Presence.”
We
claim this document to be providential because it provides the
rationale for the St.
Patrick’s Program promoted by the 40 Days for
Life Prayer Committee. (This link is found under “EVENTS”
on http://40daysforlife.com/ottawa/).
Thus, the purpose of this program is to propose that the regular weekday parishioners
of St. Pats, those who are unable to be at the vigil site,
or those taking part in the vigil, spend some time in
front of the Blessed Sacrament in support of 40 Days for Life.
The proximity of St. Pat’s Basilica to the abortion mill, and
the fact that it is open 10 hours a day, render it an ideal
location for this type of devotion. We pray for the conversion
of everyone involved in abortions, and to sustain the sidewalk
counsellors outside the abortion mill.
………………………………………………………
Links to other articles by Fr. Hardon:
The
Marian Catechists have done a commendable job of collating many
of his writings, as well as links to his archives on one Web
page: click HERE.
Another
great site featuring much of Fr. Hardon’s work is: http://www.therealpresence.org/index.html
|
| Stan
e-5 |
Listen to and Read Text of the Latest Men’s
Breakfast Talks:
On
SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST – Tim Kennedy gave an excellent,
inspiring and very passionate talk regarding Catholic
education of our youth entitled “ Our Living Sacrifice: The Transformation of our World by the Renewal
of Our Minds.” It dealt with the crisis facing
our Christian and Catholic education. In the current high-school
system (unfortunately, also including the Catholic Board), our
youth are conditioned to be “conformed to the world”, and, thus,
are ill-equipped to defend their faith “with their minds”. Tim
not only has an excellent grasp of the causes of this crisis,
but more importantly, a clear and realistic vision of the hard
work and sacrifice it will take to renew a failing school system
that is endangering the souls of our youth. To listen to voice
file, and read the text of Tim’s talk, click HERE.
|
| Nora
T |
Mysterious Plan Crash
Highly
coincidental plane crash took place in a Montana cemetery. What was peculiar about this incident is
who was involved in the crash, and, more importantly, what the
cemetery contained. This latter fact was conveniently overlooked
by the mass-media. To read, click HERE.
|
| Graham
C |
|
| Scott
M |
On Stem Cell 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.
…………………………………………………..
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
|
| 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.
|
| Barb |
|
| |
Videos
of the Issue
A beautiful and positive video on the prolife
movement–
click on We
Will
|
| 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 |
| |
|
| Jim
M |
Saturday March 28th - Praise and
Worship Evening:
Everyone is invited for a wonderful evening of Adoration
and praise & worship this Saturday March 28 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Annunciation of our Lord parish. This is open
to everyone of all ages. You are never too young or old to " SING TO OUR KING ".
Come and receive a Eucharistic blessing. |
| Rene |
Saturday March 28th at 10:30 AM - In response to the success
of the previous such events, there will be another Special
Pro-life Mass at St. Georges Church - 415 Piccadilly St. (off
Wellington) - at 10:30 A.M. - 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. |
| |
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. Machado is
a Canadian Priest, currently residing in Rome, who makes frequent
appearances on EWTN
and Vatican Radio (Click HERE
for
CV). He is a great catechizer,
and is a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) – same order to which
Fr. John Corapi belongs. Fr. Machado conducts missions on five
continents, and it is a real blessing to have him with us in Ottawa. Fr. Clement will
also give the Sunday Homilies at St. Augustine the weekend of March 28th
- 29th. |
| Diane
N |
Monday, March 30th at 7:00
PM: A MASS FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATION OF CANADA.
St. Patrick’s Church, 281 Nepean St. Ottawa (Corner
of Nepean & Kent Streets). The Celebrant for the Mass will be Father Bob Poole. The
Homily will be entitled: ‘THE POWER OF A PRAYING PEOPLE’. The evening will include a rosary, confession, exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament, a Mass, and special prayers offered for
the healing of the family tree. Click HERE for details. (For Info,
contact Diane Naipaul: 613-830-0593) |
| John
Z |
Good
Friday April 10th: Beginning of the Special Mercy Novena which
will be celebrated on Parliament Hill at 6:15 AM, each morning
during the days of the Novena April 10th to April 18th).
As a Divine Mercy icon is carried in procession, the Divine Mercy
chaplet is recited. In addition to the Novena
intentions, prayers are also said for the intentions
of the Pope, our Archbishop, as well as our country. This is the
… such Novena organized by the friends of St. Joseph. (Contact
Paul Lauzon 613-565-2325, Michael Brady 613-823- 8618 and John
Zwicker 613-725-3820 for more info). |
| 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). |
| Maureen |
Friday
May 15th until Sunday May 17th. A RETREAT will take place
open to all men and women, directed by Fr. Francis McEvoy.
The Theme is 'Our Lady of the Rosary' a look at the apostolic
Letter of Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae….It
will start Friday, May 15, 2009, 7:30 pm and
end Sunday, May 17, 2009, 1:00 pm and will be held at
Notre Dame de la Providence Retreat House Orleans ON. Reserve by calling-
Suzanne at 613-828-9455. Sponsored by the
Legion of Mary. http://sites.google.com/site/legionofmarysenatusofontario/ |
| 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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