11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Important Updates
KNIGHTS’ BBQ – the Knights host a Season Ending BBQ on Sunday, June 16th after all Masses
CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP will meet in person on Thursday the 20th at 7 pm
Thank you to everyone who made donations of clothing, computers, food, and monetary gifts to our refugee family; it is all greatly appreciated.
Special Notes
CWL COFFEE SUNDAY & BAKE SALE is after all Masses on Sunday, June 23rd. Baking donations will be gratefully received before the Masses. Please allow the CWL to price your baked goods.
VOLUNTEERS CO-ORDINATOR – we are looking for someone who can form a core committee made up of a member from each volunteer group in the Parish. Please contact the Parish Office if you are interested.
FILIPINO MASS is on the second Sunday of the month at 6 pm
Christian Meditation Group will meet in person on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm
2ND COLLECTION ENVELOPES FOR ONLINE & PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING USERS ARE AVAILABLE. If you would like a set, please pick it up from the parish office.
GOD OUR FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE FOR FATHERS YOUNG AND OLD.
WE PRAY FOR YOUNG FATHERS, NEWLY EMBRACING THEIR VOCATION; MAY THEY FIND COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE TO BALANCE WORK, FAMILY AND FAITH IN JOY AND SACRIFICE.
WE PRAY FOR OUR FATHERS AROUND THE WORLD WHOSE CHILDREN ARE LOST OR SUFFERING; MAY THEY KNOW THAT THE GOD OF COMPASSION WALKS WITH THEM IN THEIR SORROW.
WE PRAY FOR MEN WHO ARE NOT FATHERS BUT STILL MENTOR AND GUIDE US WITH FATHERLY LOVE AND ADVICE.
WE REMEMBER FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS, AND GREAT-GRANDFATHERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US BUT WHO LIVE FOREVER IN OUR MEMORY AND NOURISH US WITH THEIR LOVE. AMEN
Reflections
ALL WE NEED IS FAITH
After Lent, the Easter season, and three Sundays of feast days—Pentecost, Most Holy Trinity, and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—the Church returns to Ordinary Time. This Sunday’s Gospel from Mark carries a significant message regarding faith and the Kingdom of God.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus appears reluctant to reveal his identity as the Son of God. After performing miracles of healing, he warns those cured to tell no one (see Mark 1:44, 3:12, 5:43, 7:36, and 8:26). Also, when preaching, Jesus chooses to speak to the crowds in parables, leaving them to discern his message. Only to his disciples does he explain the parable’s meaning, and he does this in private at a later time.
Today’s Gospel Reading consists of two parables about seeds. In the first, Jesus tells those gathered that this is “how it is with the kingdom of God.” A man scatters seed which over time sprouts and develops. Then when the grain is ripe, the man harvests his crop. The emphasis in the parable is on the seed, which seemingly has the power to grow on its own. In this it is like the Kingdom of God. While on earth, Jesus planted the seeds of the kingdom by his life, miracles, teaching, and suffering. However, the kingdom is not yet fully established. Although already present in Jesus and his group of twelve, it has yet to come to fruition; just as the seed in the parable needs time to grow, so does God’s kingdom.
The second parable focuses on the tiny mustard seed. Though not the smallest of all seeds, it is most likely the smallest that a first-century farmer in Jesus’ part of the world would have sown. Small as the mustard seed is, it develops into a tree. Though the mustard tree generally averages only nine to twelve feet in height, it has a wide expanse and provides a nesting place for birds. Just as the tree welcomes the birds, so is God’s kingdom welcoming and open to many.
These parables help us discern something about the kingdom of God and our own faith. In God we live and move and have our being, but God is a mystery and his kingdom, though present, has not yet come into its fullness. Today, the Kingdom of God is present in the Church. The mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom given to the Apostles is now given to us. But just as seeds need time to come to fruition, so does the Kingdom of God. That is why in the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “thy kingdom come.” We know that it will come in its fullness at the end of time. All we need is faith.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, June 16
Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantelle Pean
Spec. Intention Natalie Domitter by Anne Mould
Spec. Intention Natalie Domitter by Bev Watson & friends
Repose Antonio Testa by Lucia & family
Repose Teresa Braham by Carmen Alcantara
Monday, June 17
Spec. Intention Father Steny by Romeo & Elena DeSouza
Tuesday, June 18
Spec. Intention St. Edmund Parishioners
Spec. Intention Father Steny by Jeannette Bertram
Spec. Intention Adrian Brecelj by Mom Janet Ficocelli
Wednesday, June 19
Spec. Intention Father Steny by CWL
Thursday, June 20
Repose Mum & Dad by Rosa Zivarts
Friday, June 21
Repose Gray & Kathy Mills by Jane Richmond
Saturday, June 22
Spec. Intentions by G.M.C.
Repose Clara Alagoa by Manuel Alagoa
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 2024-2025
Information about the next series of classes will be posted in the bulletin nearer the time when they recommence.
Children's Choir Training
Every Saturday at 10 am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30 am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
Street Missionary Weekend 2024 - Learn to serve the homeless in the streets of Vancouver Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14, 2024
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Matt 25:40 Register at www.catholicstreetmissionaries.org
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Bread & Wine
Prayer Requests
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Father Steny & Father Cannio
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of St. Edmund Parishioners
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intentions of All Carmelite Priests
Advertisements
If you would like to let St. Edmund Parishioners know of the services your company provides, please contact the Parish Office about advertising on this page.