St. Columbkille Church Uptergrove

4993 Highway 12 Ramara, ON.

L3V 8E1 Phone: 705-325-1033

Mass: Saturday, 7:00 pm

Sunday, 11:00 am Parish: 1855;

Present Church, 1905

Mission Statement for Saint Columbkille Parish

We, the faith community of Saint Columbkille Catholic Church, in the Archdiocese of Toronto, are called through Baptism to celebrate the presence of Christ in word and Sacrament. In the spirit of faith, service and community, we strive to bring people closer together and closer to God.

Parish Team: refer to the Main Bulletin cover of Guardian Angels Orillia

Rectory Office: 115 West St. N., Orillia; 705-326-2849 x121

PARISH MINISTRIES and SERVICE GROUPS Altar Servers: Michelle Stong 705-325-0826 Bulletin: Marg Mulvihill 705-325-1715 C.W.L.: Karen McIsaac 705-325-9904 Cemetery: James F. Smith 705-326-2297 Custodian: Gerald Healy 705-826-3956 Finance: Marg Mulvihill 705-325-1715 Hall Rental: Gerald Healy 705-826-3956 Liturgy: Anne Buchanan 705-327-0266 Music: Anne Buchanan 705-327-0266 Parish Council Chair: Anne Buchanan 705-327-0266 Sacraments:Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation Sherri-Anne Montgomery 705-329-4651 Scheduling: Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors Karen McIsaac 705-325-9904

Readings: Second Sunday Of Lent

The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, his faithful servant.Genesis 15.5-12, 17-18

Christ will transform our humble bodies, conforming them to his glorious body.

Philippians 3.17-4.1

While Jesus prayed, the appearance of his face changed. Luke 9.28b-36

Mass Intentions

Saturday, March 16

7:00 pm St. Columbkille Mass: Anne Martin

St. Patrick’s Day Dance following Mass

Sunday, March 17

● Happy St. Patrick’s Day

11:00 am St. Columbkille Mass: Bento Costa

Saturday, March 23

7:00 pm St. Columbkille Mass: Michael Smith

Sunday, March 24

11:00 am St. Columbkille Mass: Bill Hannan

Rite of Enrollment for Communion Candidates

Baptism following Mass of Sawyer Joseph Stong

Anika became a mother at the age of 19. Soon after, her

fiancé became increasingly controlling. Feeling isolated,

she reached out to a ShareLife agency called Rose of

Sharon. She and her son attended almost every program

offered, including one called Healthy Relationships. Anika

realized she didn’t have to tolerate her partner’s behavior.

Rose of Sharon helped her find an affordable apartment

so she and her son could move out. “I never thought I

could make it on my own,” says Anika. “But with the help

of Rose of Sharon, here I am doing it.”

March 31 is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM

CARDINAL COLLINS REGARDING LENT 2019 Monday, March 4, 2019

Cardinal Collins has prepared a Pastoral Letter for Lent 2019, offering tangible reflections on how we can use this most holy

time of year as a period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. His Eminence also invites us to learn more about the important

work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Lent 2019 Through the penitential season of Lent, Christians are invited each year to look deeply at the foundation of their life in Christ. Lent is a time to focus our so often dispersed attention, to cut away those things that distract us from considering what really matters in life. The great English writer, Monsignor Ronald Knox, once described Catholic education as an enterprise that allowed the students to “fly to the heart of things.” That is what Lent allows us to do: to fly to the heart of things. Lent begins with ashes and ends with fire. The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday are made from the palms that exemplify the fickleness of the human praise received by Jesus on Palm Sunday. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Those words remind us that so many things we waste our time on are useless; they are not at the heart of things. Lent prepares us for the experience of the Easter Vigil, when we celebrate the new life in Christ which is at the heart of things, and which is symbolized by the Easter fire, and by the Easter candle, the sign of the light of Christ, which is ritually carried into the darkened church, which then becomes bright with light as we catch the fire from the candle, and share it with our neighbour. In order to focus our attention in Lent, the Church invites us to engage in the practices recommended by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of Matthew: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In this Lenten pastoral letter I would like to highlight a few ways in which we can respond to this invitation of Our Lord. Certainly it is spiritually valuable to engage more earnestly in a life of prayer in this penitential season. There is no better time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and we can prepare for it by a daily examination of conscience, by making the Stations of the Cross, and by the constant practice of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Daily prayerful reading of a portion of the Bible, especially the Gospels and Psalms, will draw us closer to God, and illuminate the path ahead. And of course, until we see God face to face, there is nothing on this earth more important than the encounter with God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is continued through time in Eucharistic adoration. We can be so enslaved to our appetites, and to the things of this world, which are ultimately dust. Is it not sad that a most common way in which each of us is classified is as a “consumer”? Do I want to be remembered on my tombstone: “Here lies a consumer”? So often we think that our wants are our needs, and become slaves to our desires, weakening our will to control our appetites. In Lent we should fast in some way, so that we may become focused on what truly matters. The most obvious way is to give up some food or drink. But a more fruitful fast might be to cut back or eliminate some

forms of social media, which can truly enslave us. In whatever way is most spiritually fruitful, we should do significant fasting in Lent. Although prayer and fasting are surely important, this year I would like to emphasize the importance of almsgiving, which means a generous sharing with others, especially those in need. It may well be that the most valuable thing we can share is our time, for our lives are woven out of time, and when we give time generously to another, we give our very selves. In this Archdiocese the primary way in which we engage in almsgiving is through ShareLife, in which we as a Catholic community reach out to care for the most vulnerable among us. As disciples of Jesus, when we make a sacrificial gift to ShareLife, we put our money where our mouth is. One most visible aspect of the mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is the way in which it cares directly for our neighbours in need in the parish. Over 1200 volunteers make over 28,000 home visits giving assistance with food, beds, clothing and basic supplies. They visit 18,000 children, and 25,000 adults, including those who are isolated, lonely, and suffering from mental health issues. You may well see members of the Society at the doors of the Church after Mass soliciting donations. In our diocese each year over two million dollars is raised and distributed to those in need. I very strongly urge you to donate. In so many ways, the local conference of the Society reaches out in a most practical way to serve those who are suffering, and also, of course, as with Frederic and his young friends, offers a profound opportunity for the members to grow in holiness as disciples of Jesus. There are conferences of the Society in about half of our parishes. I want a vibrant conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul to be active in every parish in this Archdiocese. I urge you to support generously the work of the Society and to become a member. As we enter into the holy season of Lent this year we need to step back from the clutter and distraction of our lives, and fly to the heart of things, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Two of the ways in which we can generously support our neighbours in need are ShareLife and the Society of St Vincent de Paul. May God give us the determination to put our faith into action by doing so.

Sincerely in Christ,

Thomas Cardinal Collins Archbishop of Toronto

Children’s Channel

Boys and girls, moms and dads The Children’s Channel

will be ready for pick up March 16/17 and continues

the series-“Jesus-The Bridge-Part 4.” We hope you

enjoy it!

Stations of the Cross St. Columbkille Church

Friday, 22 March at 6:30 pm

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Monday, 18 March at 9:30 am

Lenten Series: Save the Date! Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told is a breathtaking journey

combining history, Scripture, prophecy, and the lives of the saints to show God’s

merciful love for you. Come join us for 5 weeks of inspiring videos, discussion and

fellowship as we prepare for the greatest event of our faith - Easter! Join us for

either Tuesday evenings starting March 19th at 7:00 pm or Thursday mornings

starting March 21st at 10:00 am (in the Guardian Angels Church Hall). An optional

book is available for $10 but is not necessary to participate fully in the program. Call

Anne at 705-238-2663 or Marg at 705-325-1715 to register.

Lectio Divina

Come join us on

Angels parish hall from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm as we read

and pray with the gospel reading for the coming Sunday.

Refreshments will be provided.

Please call

2663

Looking forward to seeing you ther

Catholic Women’s League

next Catholic Women’s League meeting will be

following Mass.

Lenten Retreat St. Augustine Seminary is offering a 1 day Lenten retreat entitled: “Mary in the

Heart of the Church”, on Saturday, March 30

online at www.staugustines.on.ca

possibilities.

Volunteer OpportunitiesOur Parish Outreach to Seniors

community that meets the needs of our seniors through

companionship and social visits. If you'd like to join our

extraordinary group of trained volunteers, or if you

would like to have a visitor, please

x 135, or email at seniors.guardianangels@gmail.com

ome join us on Tuesday mornings

Angels parish hall from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm as we read

and pray with the gospel reading for the coming Sunday.

Refreshments will be provided.

Please call Pauline at 705-325-5488 or

2663.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Catholic Women’s League

next Catholic Women’s League meeting will be

is offering a 1 day Lenten retreat entitled: “Mary in the

Saturday, March 30. Cost is $50 (lunch included). Register

www.staugustines.on.ca. Call Anne at 705-238-2663 to explore carpooling

Volunteer Opportunities Our Parish Outreach to Seniors ministry creates a parish

community that meets the needs of our seniors through

companionship and social visits. If you'd like to join our

extraordinary group of trained volunteers, or if you

would like to have a visitor, please contact 705-326-2849

seniors.guardianangels@gmail.com.

Tuesday mornings in the Guardian

Angels parish hall from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm as we read

and pray with the gospel reading for the coming Sunday.

or Anne at 705-238-

next Catholic Women’s League meeting will be Sunday, April 7th

is offering a 1 day Lenten retreat entitled: “Mary in the

. Cost is $50 (lunch included). Register

to explore carpooling

Attention Partners in Catholic Education There is a vacancy on the Board of Trustees of the

Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board,

Ward 1 (City of Barrie wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

We encourage interested and qualified members of

our Catholic community to consider this important

governance role.

This position is advertised at

www.smcdesb.on.ca/trusteevacancy.

The posting closes on March 29 and an eligible candidate will be selected no later

than May 15, 2019.

ShareLife

Archdiocesan Campaign 2019 Goal

$13.8 Million

St. Columbkille Church

2019 suggested ShareLife parish goal - $7, 000.00

St. Columbkille Parish

March 9/10 2019 March 10/11 2018

Total Donation: $ 583 $ 878

Building Fund: $ 642

Thank you everyone for your most generous donation.

Please remember your Parish in your Will or Estate Plan.