Update August 7th, 2020: from Bonnie Kirk, Sacramental Coordinator

AUGUST THURSDAYS You are invited to join us on Thursday evenings during the month of August, on ZOOM, as we explore and prepare the readings for the upcoming Sunday. Contact Bonnie ([email protected]) for more information and to receive the invitation link. We meet from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. RCIA UPDATE In many ways Covid 19 paused the faith journey for our elect, Elizabeth and Mila. We had just celebrated the Rite of Election with them when we were “locked down”. They did continue their preparation within the family and online, and were presented with the creed. We are now able to move forward and so will celebrate a Scrutiny with them on Sunday, August 30th at the 12:30pm Mass. As a result, we will celebrate the liturgy of the fourth Sunday in Lent which proclaims the gospel account of the Man Born Blind. (John 9:1-41). Please continue to pray for them and their families at this time. BIBLE TIMELINE The regular Thursday evening bible study will resume after Labour Day. This year we will be using the Bible Timeline offered by Ascension Press. The Bible Timeline study program takes you on a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins will show you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and give you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven throughout Scripture. Through its 24 sessions, The Bible Timeline will teach you how to read and understand the Bible and introduce you to the wonderful narrative of the Bible in a way that will transform your life. Please contact Bonnie ([email protected]) for more information or to register and make arrangements to pick up the workbook. A THIRD PATH By our baptism, we are all called to discipleship. Each person’s call is unique but embraces one of four states of life: marriage, ordained ministry, , and single life. We find consecrated life expressed in traditional religious communities both cloistered (Carmelites) or active (Holy Names of Jesus and Mary), consecrated virgins and secular institutes. All share the , (vows) of chastity, poverty and obedience as the foundation and support to live our baptism. As I prepare to renew my vows as an Oblate Missionary of Mary Immaculate, on August 14th, I would like to give you a quick snapshot of secular institutes and the OMMI, in particular.

St. Joseph Basilica, August 7, 2020 Sacramental Coordinator update

Secular institutes are a third path of consecrated life. Established in 1947 when Pius XII issued the : Provida Mater Ecclesia. This constitution recognized Secular Institutes as a new form of consecration in the . We are called to be in the world, for the world, with the world, to be a hidden leaven. We do not live in community but support each other through regular contact. We do not have a shared ministry but serve where needed, in all occupations and arenas of life. Currently, there are up to 60,000 members belonging to more than 200 secular institutes in the world. More specifically, the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate is a small international institute founded in New Brunswick in 1952 by Father Louis-Marie Parent omi. Our charism is: A constant availability to the will of the Father to live everywhere the charity of Christ through service, with the help of Mary. Our strength is our spirituality which we affectionately refer to as the 5-5-5. Five spiritual practices: Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, meditation, and review of the day; five attitudes of life: living in the presence of God, abstention from destructive criticism (both interior and exterior), abstention from useless complaint (both interior and exterior), being of service and being a peacemaker and five conscious acts of charity each day. As I renew my vows, I am also beginning my seventh year of ministry with you and would love to tell you more about us. Just ask! ([email protected] )

St. Joseph Basilica, August 7, 2020 Sacramental Coordinator update