Fr. Doug’s Musings
First Sunday of Lent
This Sunday, we hear God establish a covenant with Noah and his family and with the whole of creation. In the covenant, God promises to care for them and never again move away from them. As a sign of his covenant, he offers the rainbow. In our Christian tradition, the rainbow is a sign of hope, of promise, of fulfillment and of the faithfulness of God.
As our Lenten Season unfolds, we have the opportunity to think about God’s covenant with Noah and all of creation. The covenant that God established is for us too – it extends through time. It has been renewed in Jesus Christ with his coming as a child, his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension and his giving of the Holy Spirit. The covenant binds us to God and binds God to us. God promises to never walk away from us.
The new covenant established in and through Jesus is a fulfillment of the first covenant and God commits to share life with us for all eternity. Are we like the people of Israel? Will we receive this gift of life or will we turn away from it? Will we deepen our relationship with God or will we continue as we are? God will not give up on us. God will continue to invite us to make choices that bring life to the world around us and to our very selves.
During the 40 days of Lent, the Church offers us various opportunities to reflect and to make choices to deepen our connections to one another and to the Lord. Let us dig in and take advantage of the love and mercy of God!
Altar Servers and Some Changes
This weekend, you will notice a few changes with our new servers. We are in the process of learning and so things may not be as smooth as we would like but we will get there. Thank you for your patience as during the weekend Masses we will do things a little differently. A special thanks to the young people and their parents who are supporting them as they take on this new ministry.
You will notice that candles (either 2 or 4) will be brought forward in our opening procession, depending upon the number of servers. At the beginning of Mass, the Book of the Gospels will be carried in during the procession and placed on the altar.
When the procession arrives at the foot of the sanctuary – the ministers will pause. Those who are not carrying something will bow. Then all will proceed to their proper places.
During the Gospel Acclamation, the Presider will lift up the Book of the Gospels and take it to the Ambo. During this time, the servers will carry the candles and hold them during the proclamation of the Gospel.
At the Preparation of the Gifts, the people will bring the gifts forward and present them to the Presider and the altar servers. The people will return to their places. The Presider will then offer the Bread and the Wine at the altar and all will respond, “Blessed be God forever.”
At the end of Mass, after the Communion Prayer and the blessing, we will have the announcements. Following the announcements, the ministers will once again gather at the foot of the sanctuary and those who are not carrying something will bow. We will then turn and proceed out of the nave (main body of the church).
Thoughts and Things
News of the Missionary Oblates – On Thursday, February 15, Fr. Doug will be officially installed as the Superior of the Oblate District in Saskatchewan. As such, he will be responsible for the care of the Oblates in Saskatchewan and accountable to the Provincial Superior, Fr. Ken Thorson, OMI and the Provincial Council in Ottawa.
Please pray for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, priests and associates in Saskatchewan as they seek to make known the Good News of Jesus Christ. Saturday, February 17 marks the 198th anniversary of the approval of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules by Pope Leo XII. When Pope Leo XII approved the Constitutions and Rules of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he gave them a place in the Universal Church and acknowledged the unique gift they are to God’s holy people. Today, the Oblates number over 4000 in the world and serve in over 60 countries. In Saskatchewan, we are 16 priests (mostly retired or semi-retired) and over 20 Associates. On or near February 17, it is customary for the Oblates to renew their vows and for the Associates to renew their commitments. |