The Ascension of the Lord
Important Updates
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers here in the St. Edmund’s Parish. During the month of May, we not only celebrate the Virgin Mother of God, Mary most Holy, our spiritual mother, we also celebrate all mothers and in them, the gift of maternity. While we certainly do not limit our acknowledgment and praise of mothers to merely a single day once a year, since we ought to do so in different and creative ways every day; nevertheless, it is important to set aside time to recognize all mothers in a special and prayerful way. I say ‘prayerful way’ not as a pious platitude, but because the origin of Mother’s Day is steeped in prayer, rejoicing and recognition.
In many parts of the world, Mother’s Day was known as ‘Mothering Sunday’ which took place on Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent). On this day, it was customary for people to return to their ‘mother Church,’ that is, the parish Church where they were baptized or the mother Church of the Diocese (the Cathedral). As part of their ‘pilgrimage’ home, people would likewise visit and celebrate their own mothers. Overall, the tenor of the day was celebratory, marked with a sense of gratitude for the gift of motherhood and true maternal love - love for Holy Mother Church, for Mary, the Mother of God, and for all Mothers, living or dead. Today things have changed somewhat, but it might be interesting to plan a trip to your baptismal Church, as part of your Mother’s Day festivities.
We must never downplay or overlook the importance of motherhood. While many reduce the importance of motherhood to the one act of giving birth, I would suggest there is more, much more for us to consider and for which to be grateful. One of the commandments given on Mount Sinai was to honor your father and mother. To honor one’s mother and father is to recognize that we are not individuals merely co-existing with others, but rather we have a responsibility for others. We are in relationship with God and with others. We are members of a family, and families are the most basic unit of any and every society. The first three commandments recognize our primary relationship with God; the remaining seven commandments focus on our secondary relationships with others.
Within the context of our families, we learn how to be ‘human,’ how to live with others, care for others, and give of ourselves in a sacrificial way. The importance of the family cannot be overstated. The Second Vatican Council referred to the family as the “domestic Church, the place where we first learn about God and His love for us. In a General Audience on January 7th, 2015 Pope Francis said: Mothers are the strongest antidote to the spread of self-centered individualism. “Individual” means “what cannot be divided”. Mothers, instead, “divide” themselves, from the moment they bear a child… A society without mothers would be a dehumanized society, for mothers are always, even in the worst moments, witnesses of tenderness, dedication, and moral strength. Mothers often pass on the deepest sense of religious practice: in a human being’s life, the value of faith is inscribed in the first prayers, the first acts of devotion that a child learns. It is a message that believing mothers can pass on without much explanation the seed of faith is those early precious moments.
On this Mother’s Day I wish to extend my warmest best wishes and abundant blessings to all mothers. Thank you for everything you do for your families, the Church, this archdiocese, and the world. My prayer for mothers today is that you continue to live in the grace of God, laboring in His vineyard, giving each day a piece of your heart to those around you, nurturing and protecting, and living the abundant life of authentic holiness, in imitation of the Mother of us all, Mary the Most Holy. Please know that you are deeply loved and greatly appreciated.
Happy Mother’s Day
God Bless you
Fr. Steny OCD
FILIPINO MASS is on Sunday, May 12th at 6 pm
Christian Meditation Group will meet in person on Thursday, May 16th at 7 pm
CONFIRMATION is on Wednesday, May 29th at 5:30 pm. Archbishop Michael Miller will officiate. You are all invited to come and join in the Celebration and pray for the 19 Confirmands.
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of ROSE MARIE LUCE BURCHILL who has gone home to our Heavenly Father. May she rest in peace.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! On Saturday, June 8th for the 50th Birthday celebration of Father Steny starting with 4:30 pm Mass and then a party. There is no charge but a ticket is required for entrance. Tickets will be available after all the Masses next weekend, May 18/19…1st come 1st served.
Special Notes
THE KNIGHTS’ FAMOUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST will be after the 8 & 9:30 am Masses on Sunday, May 12th. Bring your appetite and enjoy good food and good company.
FILIPINO MASS is on the second Sunday of the month at 6 pm
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.
Christian Meditation Group will meet in person on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm
2ND COLLECTION OF ENVELOPES FOR ONLINE & PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING USERS IS AVAILABLE. If you would like a set, please pick it up from the parish office.
BISHOP LOBSINGER MEMORIAL BURSARY – go to the Knights of Columbus notices for important information.
Congratulations to our First Communicants
A big thank you to all the PREP teachers; Georgiana, Helen, Ernalda, Maribeth, Isabel, Jack, Doug & Bev.
Special thanks to Annette, Jerny, Maria, Diana, school teachers, parents, and anyone who helped the children.
And thanks as well to those who beautifully decorated the Church and the hall and prepared the reception.
With all the work you all have done, you have enabled our First Communicants to take this important step in their Faith Journey.
God bless you all.
Fr. Steny
In the above is – in the back row from left, Mejdi, Nahom, & Mazin, and in the front row from left, Marta and Mariano.
After a long, tiring trip, our new friends are here!
What a wonderful time to arrive – on Mothers’ Day weekend amid the blossoms of Spring.
We welcome them with our whole heart and ask God to abundantly bless them with health and joy as they settle into their new home.
Let us continue to keep them in our prayers
~ Father Steny
Reflections
HE CONTINUES TO HELP US
Today is our liturgical celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, when Jesus was taken to heaven on the fortieth day after Easter. In Cycle B, our Gospel is taken from the conclusion of the Gospel of Mark. Scholars have long noted some irregularities about the ending of Mark’s Gospel. There is a natural break in the story line at verse 8, when Mark’s report of the discovery of the empty tomb comes to an abrupt conclusion. This verse reports that the women were so frightened by what they had seen at the tomb that they told no one. This may be the original ending of Mark’s Gospel, but it is also possible that the more complete ending has been lost.
Some manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel, written between the fourth and ninth centuries, include what scholars have termed the Shorter Ending. This is often printed in our Bibles for reference. This ending indicates that the women told their story to Peter’s companions. Scholars believe that this ending is not original to Mark. They theorize that this ending was added by copyists who sought to resolve the original abrupt ending at verse 8.
Other early manuscripts include a Longer Ending that scholars also believe was written by someone other than the Evangelist. Nonetheless, quotations from this Longer Ending are found in the writings of the early Church Fathers, and it was accepted at the Council of Trent as part of the canonical Gospel of Mark. Our Gospel for today’s celebration of the Feast of the Ascension is taken from this Longer Ending.
There are similarities in the reports of Jesus’ Ascension found in the Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke. In each case, Jesus assigns his disciples the task of proclaiming the gospel message to the entire world. There are also notable distinctions. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, the disciples are sent by Jesus to baptize and to preach. In Luke’s Gospel, however, the commission to baptize is absent. Instead, Jesus directs the disciples to return to Jerusalem to await the fulfillment of his promise to send them the Holy Spirit. Curiously, only the Gospels of Mark and Luke actually report Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Matthew’s Gospel concludes with Jesus’ promise to remain with his disciples forever. Only the Gospel of Mark notes that Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God. In noting this, Mark teaches that Jesus’ ascension affirms the glory Jesus received from God after his death and Resurrection.
Even if this ending to Mark’s Gospel was written by someone other than the Evangelist, in the commission that Jesus gives to his disciples, there are elements that are quite typical of Mark’s Gospel. The signs that will accompany belief in Jesus are as vivid as the action performed by Jesus during his ministry. Those who believe in Jesus will be empowered to do what Jesus himself has done. During his ministry, Jesus sent his disciples to preach, to heal, and to drive out unclean spirits. Now they are sent again to do these things and more. From his place with God in heaven, Jesus helped his disciples, and he continues to help us as we try to live as his followers.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, May 12
Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantelle Pean
Repose Raffaele Cusano by wife Rose
Spec. Intention Ehtan Geue by Barbara Stuart
Repose Halina Slupska by Szewczyk family
Repose Marisa Bueno, Angelina Olaso & Victoria Dizon by Elisa & John Bueno
Monday, May 13
Repose Ellen Karame by Marie Dayton
Tuesday, May 14
Spec. Intention St Edmund Parishioners
Repose deceased family members by Antoine Larose
Spec. Intention Liz Wong by Zofia Bronowska
Wednesday, May 15
Repose David Brading by Liz Wong
Thursday, May 16
Repose Laurette Larose by Antoine Larose
Friday, May 17
Repose Carol & Harold Palleson
Saturday, May 18
Spec. Intention Celia Brading by Liz Wong
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
Parish Education Committee (PEC) Elections
Notice is hereby given that elections to St. Edmund’s Parish Education Committee will take place on the weekend of May 25 & 26th, 2024
For the coming year, we need to elect (two) members from St. Edmund’s Parish for St. Edmund’s School Education Committee.
Eligible to nominate and to be nominated for election are all registered parishioners (Catholics living within our parish boundaries), over 21 years of age, and Catholic non-parishioners who have been attending our parish upon written agreement of their proper canonical pastor. (Pastor Authorization Forms are available in the parish office).
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Spring is here! The STA Parent Association is once again selling a beautiful selection of spring plants, hanging flower baskets, herbs, veggies, succulents, and more. Click here to make your purchase today.
Deadline: Tuesday, April 23 at midnight/Pick up: May 8 & 9
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
Saturday, May 18| 5:00 PM |Good Shepherd Parish, Surrey
Join us for a special Mass as we remember our little ones in heaven. There will be candles lit in their honour and we will have light snacks and a chance to connect after Mass. To register or learn more email Joyce Baniqued at jbaniqued@rcav.org
Friday, May 24 - Sunday, May 26 | All day
Vancouver, BC (please contact us for more details)
Rachel's Vineyard retreat offers a beautiful opportunity for healing for any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion. Registration fee includes lodging for two nights, meals, and material. For those needing financial assistance, sponsorship is available.
To register or learn more email Joyce Baniqued at jbaniqued@rcav.org
Momentum Single Mothers' Retreat May 24-26 | Friday, 5:00 pm - Sunday, 1:00 pm Charis Camp, Chilliwack | $150 cost per family All Catholic single mothers are invited to a two-night retreat hosted by the Archdiocese of Vancouver in collaboration with Momentum. Mothers are welcome to attend this retreat with or without their children. To register or learn more email Joyce Baniqued at jbaniqued@rcav.org.
"Fall in Love, Stay in Love" Marriage EnrichmentSun, May 26 (2:00-4:00 pm) & Sun, June 9 (1:30-3:30 pm)Online via Zoom
Marriage Enrichment offers all couples, at whatever stage of their marriage, including those preparing for marriage, an opportunity to enrich their relationship. We are exploring the "Fall in Love, Stay in Love" marriage materials, including tools for better communication and strengthening our relationship with each other and God. This program offers opportunities for individual couples to connect privately and for optional group conversations.
Contact Saint Mark's Parish to register.
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
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
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