February 12, 2017

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / VI DOMENICA DEL TEMPO ORDINARIO
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / A
The focus of today’s liturgy is “obedience to God’s word.”
We are challenged to “keep the commandments, to walk in
the law of the Lord.” In order to keep the commandments,
we must first know what they are and then we must
understand them correctly. Jesus deals with this problem in
the Gospel. The Jews had a law about murder, but they had
misread it to mean that one was in the clear as long as one
was not actually, personally killing someone. Jesus
challenged his Jewish followers to follow the correct
interpretation of the law, which meant that they were not to
be the kind of people who would kill or would do anything
that leads to someone else’s death. We Christians believe
that God’s “command of perfect love” obliges us to do what
is just and right. It is not good enough to stay out of trouble;
we must work at setting things right in the world. It is not
good enough to give food to the hungry; we must work at
making ours a society in which people do not go hungry.
ST. BRIGID & ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
PATRON SAINTS CELEBRATION
------------------- SPECIAL THANKS ------------------On behalf of Father Carlos Sierra, we wish to thank
everyone that participated in last week’s St. Brigid’s
Triduum Masses. We gathered as a community to celebrate
and reflect on the remarkable life of our Patron Saint. Each
day of the Triduum was made special due to the efforts of
our community as well as the school. Fr. Carlos Sierra, our
spiritual leader, worked tirelessly to ensure that each Mass
was meaningful and memorable.
Special thanks to our parish and school community, near
and far, for gathering together for the St. Brigid’s and
St. Catherine of Siena Mass and Dinner Dance on
Saturday, February 4th. Our event started with a Mass
celebrated by Bishop Robert Kasun and concelebrated by
Fr. Carlos Sierra, Fr. Robert Di Nardo, and by Fr. Jim
Gauthier. Immediately following our Mass we had an
opportunity to gather together to enjoy a special dinner
followed by dancing and the raffling of prizes. A portion of
the evening was dedicated to the future of St Brigid’s Parish
as we move towards the centennial. Fr. Carlos Sierra
expressed what was done in the past, what we are doing in
the present, and what we hope to do in the future to ensure
that our Church lives on for the next 100 years.
This event was successful by the many efforts of our
volunteers. We wish to extend our appreciation to all our
ushers that helped us to sell tickets at each Mass and to the
social media committee for promoting this event through
our website (Ken Lavin), Facebook (Giovanna Filardi and
Francesco Rampino) and through Twitter (Krista Jensen).
We would also like to thank Linda Ward, Vincenzo Camera,
Crocetta Paladino, Donato Filardi, Angelo Berti, Franca
Arabia, Francisco Copto, Maria Quintana-James and the
Wave after Wave Youth Group for all their great help. We
would also like to thank all those that donated prizes for the
raffle: Heritage Funeral Centre, Derlea Foods, Linda, Ward,
O’Connor Florist, Paul and Nancy Crawford, Anne
Musgrave, Salvatore and Lucia Morana, Bike and Forth
FEBRUARY 12, 2017
Sports, and St. Brigid’s Church. We continue to extend our
most heartfelt gratitude to you - our guests who supported
this event. May God bless you all. Let us continue moving
towards the centennial with strength, positivity, and with the
grace of God by our side.
FAMILY DAY ~ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20th
Pope Francis says: Today our gaze is on the Holy Family
and we are drawn into the simplicity of the life they led in
Nazareth. It is an example that does our families great
good, helping them increasingly to become communities of
love and reconciliation, in which tenderness, mutual help,
and mutual forgiveness is experienced. Always live in faith
and simplicity, like the Holy Family of Nazareth! The joy and
peace of the Lord be always with you!
PLEASE NOTE: Chapel Mass will be celebrated at 9:00
am and the Parish office will be closed all day.
WORLD DAY OF THE SICK 2017
World Day of the Sick is an observation started by St. Pope
John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those
suffering from illnesses. In honouring this tradition we have
prepared prayer sheets in both English and Italian for you to
add the names of those in need of healing prayers. Once
complete, please offer your sheet to an usher or you can
hand it in to the Parish office on or before February 19th.
During the weekend of February 25th and 26th, Fr. Carlos
Sierra will present your prayers before God at each Mass.
In June (date to be determined), Fr. Carlos will celebrate a
special Mass for the sick and give to all of them the
Anointing of the Sick. The prayers presented in February
will again be offered at this Mass.
TAX RECEIPTS & DONATION ENVELOPES
Your 2016 donation tax receipts will be ready soon and
will be mailed out. We ask you to please notify the Parish
office if you have changed your contact information.
Your 2017 donation envelopes are now at the Parish
office. Please do not hesitate to come in to pick them up.
POPE FRANCIS’ LENTEN MESSAGE:
FOCUSING ON THE RICH AND THE POOR
Pope Francis reflected on Christ’s parable of the rich man
and Lazarus in his message for Lent 2017, which begins on
March 1st. The Pope said, “Let us find inspiration in this
meaningful story, for it provides a key to understanding
what we need to do in order to attain true happiness and
eternal life.”
The message which was released on Tuesday, February
7th, is entitled “The Word is a gift. Other persons are a
gift.” The brief message has three sections: The other
person is a gift. Sin blinds us. The Word is a gift. “Let us
pray for one another so that, by sharing in the victory of
Christ, we may open our doors to the weak and poor,” the
Pope concluded, “then we will be able to experience and
share to the full the joy of Easter.”
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / VI DOMENICA DEL TEMPO ORDINARIO
FEBRUARY 12, 2017
ST. BRIGID’S PARISH WEEKLY COLLECTION
GRUPPO DI PREGHIERA SAN PADRE PIO
The regular collection for the week ending on February 5th,
2017 was $3,193.85. Thank you for your ongoing
generosity and contribution. Please remember St. Brigid’s
Parish in your last will and testament. Don’t forget to
ask us about Pre-Authorized Giving (P.A.G.)!
Sabato 18 Febbraio, dopo la messa delle 9:00 am, ci sarà.
La Coroncina di San Pio di Pietralcina. Per informazione
chiamate a Chiara a: (416) 466-0445.
VI DOMENICA DEL TEMPO ORDINARIO / A
Un passo avanti nella fraternità. Le parole di Gesù
invitano il cristiano a qualcosa «di più», a fare un passo
avanti nella fraternità. Non basta non uccidere il fratello,
occorre rispettarlo, non prenderlo alla leggera, non sentirsi
superiore a lui. Si può uccidere con le parole, con un
giudizio duro, con un atteggiamento sprezzante. Si può
uccidere il fratello relegandolo nell'isolamento, spegnendo il
suo entusiasmo e i suoi progetti di bene, non
permettendogli di esprimersi liberamente. Gli emarginati, gli
anziani dei ricoveri, i deboli mentali, «i lontani» sono uccisi
dal nostro crudele disinteresse, dal nostro isolamento, dal
nostro dito puntato. Non si può onorare Dio se il fratello è
disonorato, perché Dio è in ogni fratello che incontriamo,
specialmente nei poveri, nei piccoli, negli umili, nei
disprezzati, in quelli che noi, a volte, chiamiamo cretini.
COSA FACEVA DIO PRIMA DI CREARE
IL MONDO? AMAVA!
Papa Francesco ha focalizzato l’omelia della Santa Messa
di oggi sulla “preghiera di lode, la preghiera di gioia, la
preghiera che ci dà l’allegria della vita cristiana“. È questa
una preghiera tante volte dimenticata dal cristiano, non solo
perché poco riconoscente verso Dio, ma, come succedeva
per i dottori della legge ai tempi di Gesù, perché incapaci di
aprirsi alla dimensione di dono che viene dall’amore di
Gesù. Troviamo più facile avere paura dell’amore, infatti,
che non accettare l’amore. E questo ci deve fare riflettere
molto perché il cristiano è “schiavo” dell’amore. Dio stesso
è amore e ha mandato suo Figlio per fare “del brutto un
bello, dell’errore un vero, del cattivo un buono”.
GIORNATA MONDIALE DEL MALATO 2017
La giornata mondiale di preghiera per i malati e’ stata
iniziata dal Santo Papa Giovanni Paolo II, perché uniti tutti i
credenti offriamo la nostra preghiera per la loro salute.
Per unirci a questa Giornata onorare questa abbiamo
preparato dei fogli per raccogliere dei nomi di coloro che
hanno bisogno dipreghiere di guarigione. Quando avete
completato la vostra lista, vi preghiamo di lasciarla
nell'ufficio parrocchiale o anche potete metterla nel cestino
della colletta domenicale entro il 19 Febbraio. Ad ogni
Messa che verra' celebrate i giorni 25 e 26 di Febbraio
Padre Carlos presenterà i nomi scritti nelle vostre liste con
una speciale preghiera davanti a Dio. Avete anche
presente, che nel mese di Giugno (data da stabilire), Padre
Carlos celebrerà una messa speciale per i malati (quelli che
potranno essere presenti in chiesa) con la Unzione dei
Malati. Ulteriori dettagli sananno comunicati in seguito.
COLLETTA SETTIMANALE
La colletta regolare della settimana 5 Febbraio 2017 e’ stata
$3,193.85. Grazie per la vostra contribuzione per aiutare alle
spese della chiesa. Dio vi recompense. Per favore, ricordate
la nostra parrocchia nel vostro testamento. Avete mai
pensato che la vostra parrochia puo’ essere “il terzo figlio
della carità” nel vostro testamento?
Saturday, Feb. 11th ~ Our Lady of Lourdes / World Day of the Sick
9:00 a.m.
In honour of Our Lady of Lourdes, req. by Gruppo di
Preghiera di Maria Caggianiello
+Antonietta & Francesco Turco, req. by Joe Naccarato
5:00 p.m.
+Nazareno Cesta and all the deceased members of the
Cesta Family, req. by Anna Cesta
Sunday, Feb. 12th ~ Marriage Sunday
8:30 a.m.
+Pasqualina & Leonardo Cornacchia, req. by Gilda Cornacchia
9:30 a.m.
+Michelo & Carlo Doto, req. by the Doto Family
+Nicola & Pasqualina Grosso, req. by Concetta Romagnuolo
+Pietro, Rosina & Pasquale Macchione, req. by the
Sestito Family
+Salvatore Migliore, req. by Joe & Tina Morlando and Family
+Pietro & Maria Meglio, req. by Sara Meglio
+Mario Ambruoso, req. by the Family
+Fortunato, Maria, Teresa, Antonio, Divina, Daniele Ciardullo,
req. by Giovanni & Rosina Ciardullo
+Maria Luisa Basile, req. by the Parish
+Rocco Cornacchia, req. by the Parish
11:00 a.m. Special Blessing for Incoronata Ambrosini
+Vera & Mal Rogan, req. by Denise Semple
+Chandra Udai, req. by the Parish
Monday, Feb. 13th
12:00 p.m. +Joseph Ruggiero, req. by Rocchina Ruggiero
+Maria De Manche, req. by Carmel & Patrick Galvin
Tuesday, Feb. 14th ~ St. Cyril & St. Methodius / Valentine’s Day
12:00 p.m. +Giuseppe Del Grande, req. by Lucia Del Grande
Wednesday, Feb. 15th
12:00 p.m. +Richard McCrorie, req. by Joe Naccarato
7:00 p.m.
Novena Mass: – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
+Crescenzio, Rosario & Maria D’Acunto,
req. by Tina Morlando
Thursday, Feb. 16th
12:00 p.m. +Felicetta & Paolo Lobozzo, req. by Lucia Del Grande
7:00 p.m.
Memorial Mass: +Georgiana Alphone,
req. by Noel & Daniela Ferdinand
Friday, Feb. 17th ~ The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
12:00 p.m. +Joy Collis, req. by Brian and Lisa Dwyer
Saturday, Feb. 18th
9:00 a.m.
San Pio Di Pietralcina, req. by Gruppo di Preghiera di
Santa Brigida
+Paolina Gesualdo, req. by Giovanna Filardi
5:00 p.m.
+Maria & Giovanni Naccarato, req. by Joe Naccarato