** Please select document to view entire bulletin in separate window ** 14/15 November 2020

The Good Shepherd Parish The Good Shepherd Parish is a Catholic community rooted in the Gospel where all are invited to encounter Christ, grow in holiness, and proclaim His Good News to the world. 3092 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1W 1C8 Telephone (613) 824-4394 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thegoodshepherdparish.com

World Day of the Poor In light of the cancellation of the collection for Development and Peace in , the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall has decided to take up the collection for Development and Peace this weekend. Ways for you to contribute are listed on page 3 of this Saturday 14 November – Thirty-third Sunday in bulletin. ’ Message regarding World Day of 5:00 pm † Ken Kennedy requested by the family the Poor is on page 8-11. Thank you for your generous † Souls in Purgatory requested Maggie Eniem † William (Liam) McAvoy requested by JP and Patricia Clement offering that will go to the Canadian Catholic † Deceased members of the Pereira family † Deceased members of the Alphonse and Gallion families Organization for Development and Peace, showing our

solidarity with the poor of the Global South. Sunday 15 November – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00 am † Hugh Smith requested by Dennis and Sharon Rideout Dear friends and parishioners of The Good Shepherd Parish – † Tim Conway requested by Dennis and Sharon Rideout † Deceased members of the O’Carroll and Martin families requested by Last weekend we were blessed to have Coadjutor Marcel Damphousse Sean and Anna May O’Carroll with us to minister the Sacrament of Confirmation to the remaining children of our

11:15 am † William McAvoy requested by the Knights of Columbus parish. Both Confirmation Masses are now posted to our YouTube channel. I † Carlo Jean-Baptiste requested by Therese Chery invite you all to go to this site and pray along with each of these Masses † Anthony Chery requested by Therese Chery https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvIAvx3oSKZuTIBb1Bwvljg?view_as=subscr iber). While this is an important marker in the lives of these children, it is also, by extension, a very important marker in the life of our parish. Tuesday 17 November † Brian Bedard requested by Anne Rooke There are several pictures from the recent Confirmation Mass with Archbishop † Stanislav and Vera Vychytil requested by Noel and Bohdana Ferreira Damphousse, found on page six of this bulletin. Once again, it was a rich and Intention of Doreen Dumont meaningful liturgy for all, and I thank everyone who helped make it so. We now turn to the enrollment for sacramental preparation of all those children Wednesday 18 November | No intention who will be receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion or Confirmation,

Thursday 19 November | No intention during this current school year. I ask all parents of these children to read the notice on page three of this bulletin. This notice details the process for registering your Friday 20 November child, while the links to the registration forms are on our parish homepage. The † Thomas Sheehan requested by Bob and Joan Dunn “in-church” registration sessions are on Tuesday 17 November (Holy † Abla Hokayem requested by Magda Eniem Communion) and Thursday 19 November (Confirmation). † Souls in Purgatory requested by Magda Eniem This weekend we mark the World Day of the Poor. I invite you all to read the Saturday 21 November – Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe inspiring message from Pope Francis regarding this day and its focus; it is found on 5:00 pm † Sean and Pat Noll requested by Dr. G.M. Lusignan the Vatican website, and is also reprinted in this bulletin (pages 8-11). † William McAvoy requested by Bob and Joan Dunn We are invited to consider making a donation at this time to assist the poor; the † Philip Chan requested by Pauline Siu Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall has decided to take up the collection for the All living and deceased members and Spiritual Advisors requested by Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP); these funds the Catholic Women’s League will go towards assisting the poor in the Global South. As always, your generosity to the less fortunate is deeply appreciated. Thank you very much! Sunday 22 November – Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 9:00 am † Maureen Turner requested by the Clement family God bless each of you, † William McAvoy requested by Sean and Anna May O’Carroll Fr. Virgil Intention of Fides Ledde requested by the Sy and Magmanlac families

11:15 am † Emerson Algan requested by Willy Algan † Deceased members of the Knights of Columbus 9005

Tuesday 24 November † Henriette Rooke requested by the family † Cecilia and Eduardo Fereira requested by the family Wednesday 25 November | No intention Thursday 26 November | No intention Friday 27 November Page 1 of 11 † Souls in Purgatory

14/15 November 2020

Please share all information in this bulletin with your fellow parishioners,

particularly those who do not have access to the internet.

When attending Mass in church, if you WEEKDAY MASSES have hearing challenges, please tune into Current schedule**: Tuesday and Friday at 9:00 am 100.7 FM on your radio to pray along.

** NEW INFORMATION ** For those wishing to attend either weekday Mass, please note, while there is no requirement to register in advance for the Mass, everyone must register on arrival. The front door will be opened at ALL WEEKEND 8:30 am and you will be asked to provide your name and telephone number to Bonnie who will enter this information SUNDAY MASSES on our registration form. This form will be held for 30 days *** Please read the “Welcome Back to The Good should it be needed for contact tracing; forms will be Shepherd Church” document located on our home page shredded after 30 days. prior to registering for Sunday Mass.

** Please read the “Welcome Back to The Good Shepherd ONLINE REGISTRATION for all weekend Sunday Church” document, on our home page, prior to coming to Church. Masses opens on Sunday evening and closes at noon on Saturday.

You are all requested to please follow our COVID-19 protocols to follow when attending Mass in our church: parish COVID-19 protocols: 1. everyone who enters our church must wear a mask that 1. take your temperature at home to confirm you securely covers the nose, mouth and chin; are well enough to attend Mass 2. after confirming temperature and registration, ushers will seat all attendees, according to social distancing policy. 2. **wear a mask that securely covers the 3. the cantor is the only person singing at Mass; the assembly nose, mouth and chin; no gloves when is to please remain in silent spiritual union with the hymns. receiving Holy Communion; 4. all may respond to the spoken prayers throughout the Mass. 3. **REMINDER: NO SINGING PERMITTED 5. there is no passing of the collection basket; please place your envelope or your offering in the box (at the Baptismal 4. enter Church by the Main/Front door Font) as you exit the worship space after Mass ends; 6. please wait for the ushers to guide the assembly, row by 5. on arrival, use the touchless hand sanitizer on row, for the distribution of Holy Communion; no gloves are to the wall be worn when receiving Holy Communion.

6. **REMINDER: Washrooms are to be used 7. Please wait for the ushers to guide the row by row exit, immediately after Mass ends, out the side door (adjacent to only in urgent cases; if you have used the the cloakroom), ensuring social distancing is maintained. washroom, please ensure all washroom spaces are wiped down** 7. provide your name and telephone number to Act of Spiritual Bonnie at the registration table Communion MASS ON YOUTUBE My Jesus, I believe that You Our parish Sunday Mass will 8. take a seat in the Main Worship Space, are present in the Most continue to be on The Good ensuring social distancing between you and Blessed Sacrament. Shepherd Parish YouTube others who are not in your group (at least I love You above all things, channel each Sunday. three (3) seat separation between groups) and I desire to receive You Select the link on our parish into my soul. homepage: 9. **REMINDER: please depart the Church Since I cannot now receive immediately following conclusion of Mass, You sacramentally, come at https://www.thegoodshep ensuring social distancing is maintained at all least spiritually into my heart. herdparish.com/ times I embrace You as if You were Please share this information already there, and I unite with your fellow parishioners, 10. depart Church by the side door (down myself wholly to You. family and friends who are cloakroom hallway) Never permit me to be unable, for health reasons or separated from You. church space limitations, to **Due to COVID-19 requirements to clean between Amen. join us in the church. Masses we are unable to hold more weekday Masses. Saint Alphonsus Liguori

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* * REGISTRATION FOR SACRAMENTS * *

ATTENTION: parents/guardians of children who will be receiving the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion; or Confirmation in the 2020/2021 school year.

Instruction and registration forms are at links on the parish homepage. Please open and complete the form, save it to your computer, print it out, and bring the hardcopy forms to the applicable Registration evening at the church:

! First Holy Communion: 7-8 pm on Tuesday, 17 November; or ! Confirmation: 7-8 pm on Thursday, 19 November.

Please pray for those who have requested our prayers: Deacon Dan Careau � Doreen Dumont � Bruce Hodgins � Jean-Ella Lemire � Joe MacDonell � Jeanne Manegre � Michael Nortey � Rosi Saunders � Jean Scharf � Jim Stroeder �

Collection of 07/08 November 2020 Envelopes ...... $1939.00 Loose ...... $286.00

PAC ...... $2830.00 NATIONAL PASTORAL INITIATIVE Total ...... $5055.00

FOR LIFE AND THE FAMILY

Lord of life, you created all things and Remaining Church Collections for Autumn 2020 Several collections that would normally take place in the Lenten Season and asked humanity to be stewards of creation. before the end of the Pastoral Year, were deferred due to COVID-19 restrictions. This means there’s a larger number in the fall of this year. In Reveal to us where we have grown entitled order to assist you in your giving plan, here is the remaining re-scheduled or enslaved, and grow in us a spirit of collection: stewardship that allows us to care for your ! Sunday, 15 November 2020: World Day of the Poor to benefit the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace-Caritas gifts with open hands. Amen. Canada (rescheduled by the Archdiocese from the Fifth Sunday of Lent) Thank you for your consideration of this and all the extra collections – your (15 November 2020) generosity is deeply appreciated and welcomed by all the charities.

How to donate… You are asked to consider making a separate allotment in support of any of the extra collections. Donations may be made via one of the following ways: Are available for sale at all Sunday weekend Masses. ! a separate cheque in any weekly envelope (specify the collection on the memo line of your cheque); 00 Cost is $5. each ! a separate donation placed in the designated basket at the Baptismal Font; Due to COVID protocols, we will not be or able to offer any change; please make ! contact Bonnie at the Parish office (613-824-4394) to arrange an added sure you bring along the correct one-time amount, for any of these worthy charities, to your Pre-Authorized amount. Thank you! Contribution. Page 3 of 11 14/15 November 2020

Good Shepherd Parish Conference of the

SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL (SSVP) News from the Knights of Columbus Council 9005 Good Shepherd Parish

In the Book of Ephesians we read of the four characteristics of the church; they are: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. The Knights of Columbus also have four characteristics. They are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. They are all important,

but it is to be noted that this past week we celebrated Remembrance Day, for some people made the supreme MISSION sacrifice for our country. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in However, it is our commitment to fraternity that sets us apart the poor with love, respect, justice and joy. from other charitable organizations. It is our fraternal approach Donations to SSVP to charity, our fraternal approach to unity, our fraternal The Conference of SSVP here at our parish are very thankful for all approach to insurance, which makes us unique. The Principle the help and donations last year. Your continued help and support of Franternity inspires in the Knights "that creativity of charity will enable us to carry on with many good works in our community. inculcated by the Gospel for a more fraternal, just and equitable The SSVP wooden box is now located by the entry of the hallway to world in which all are recognized as neighbours and no one is receive your contributions. Heartfelt gratitude for your left behind." (Columbia Oct. p.5) In this way the Knights seek to consideration and continued generosity to help the poor. serve and not to be served, just as Christ did. THEME FOR THIS YEAR: Now the Knights always honour their members. And so, on Sunday November 15th at the 11:15 am Parish Mass we will Stretch forth your hand to the poor honour the life of Br. William (Liam) McEvoy. Br. Liam was a This theme is a summons to responsibility and commitment as men Knight for a short period, and he participated in some of the and women who are part of our one human family. activities of the Knights. God is outside space and time; moreover, eternal life is a gift. It is an unearned gift and God The Good Shepherd Conference continues to provide does not shortchange anyone. With these thoughts in mind we outreach to those in need within our community and to hope to see as many Knights as possible to be present at this other regions where help is needed. We have been carrying Mass where we will celebrate his life and pray for the repose of out visits and delivering food vouchers to numerous people. his soul. Also, the food box in the cloakroom is open for your James P. Tierney, Faith Director KofC food contributions (please drop off your donation when you attend a Sunday or weekday Mass). The larger donation bin (located in the church parking lot) is Food Cupboard also open, so any gently used goods that you may have are The food box in the always needed. Our next meeting is on Monday cloakroom is still 14 December at 7:00 pm, via Zoom; if you are open and we are interested in joining our team please contact Sharon very thankful for Rideout, President, St. Vincent de Paul Conference at your contributions The Good Shepherd Parish via email at of any non- [email protected]. perishable foods.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR NOVEMBER 2020: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind.

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AMPAIGN IFE HRISTMAS UNDRAISING Traditional cake made by the monks of Val Notre-Dame Abbey

Each cake is slowly baked and aged to perfection. Choice fruits soaked in wine, pecans, creamery butter and quality ingredients are carefully blended according to a traditional recipe creating the perfect

-841-6505 cake.

Contact Gillian @ 613 Campaign Life fruitcakes and gift baskets will be available to purchase in the cloak room at the end of all three Masses

ONLY ON ONE WEEKEND:

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21ST AND SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22ND Cakes are available in two sizes, priced at $20 and $27. Gift baskets are either $25 or $30 and make a great Christmas gift, while also supporting a vital cause. Please bring exact change or your cheque book.

If you wish to order directly through our parish representative for this fundraiser, please contact Gillian Keenan at 613-841-6505. Thank you very much for supporting Campaign Life through this initiative.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE Thursday 24 December 2020 The Nativity of the Lord at 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00 pm; Friday 25 December 2020 The Nativity of the Lord at 10:00 am; Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 December 2020 Regular Mass schedule; Thursday 31 December 2020 Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God at 5:00 pm; FridayC onfirmation01 January 2021 M assSolemnity at T ofhe Mary, G Theood Holy S Motherhepherd of God C athurch 10:00 am; and

Saturday and Sunday 02 and 03 January 2 021 Regular Mass schedule.

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Confirmation Mass at The Good Shepherd Church Most Revere nd Marcel Damphousse, Coadjutor Archbishop of Ottawa- Cornwall was the Celebrant at Mass on Saturday, 07 November 2020, where he ministered the Sacrament of Confirmation to children of our parish. Thank you to everyone involved in making this liturgy a memorable occasion for these children; and thank you to Archbishop Damphousse for being with us for this, his first official visit to our parish.

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The Good Shepherd Parish (GSP) Knights of Columbus (KofC)

is sponsoring a free

Online Christmas Concert featuring singers from the GSP Music Ministry. Wednesday 02 December at 8:00 pm

The performers and the audience will be in the safety of their own homes, as the concert is virtual and will be streamed on YouTube (link to be published prior to event). The concert is for the benefit of two KofC projects: ! The Christmas Hampers; and ! Coats for Kids. The Hampers project will provide food and grocery supplies to 35 less-fortunate families in the neighbourhood this Christmas. The Coats for Kids project will provide winter jackets for 12 girls and 12 boys in the local schools. The KofC is accepting free-will donations from all parishioners and friends of GSP. Marked donation trays are located in the Church Gathering Space.

E-mail Address for Interac E-Transfer Donations: [email protected]

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MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

FOURTH WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 15 November 2020

“Stretch forth your hand to the poor” (Sir 7:32)

“Stretch forth your hand to the poor” (Sir 7:32). Age-old wisdom has proposed these words as a sacred rule to be followed in life. Today these words remain as timely as ever. They help us fix our gaze on what is essential and overcome the barriers of indifference. Poverty always appears in a variety of guises, and calls for attention to each particular situation. In all of these, we have an opportunity to encounter the Lord Jesus, who has revealed himself as present in the least of his brothers and sisters (cf. Mt 25:40).

1. Let us take up the Old Testament book of Sirach, in which we find the words of a sage who lived some two hundred years before Christ. He sought out the wisdom that makes men and women better and more capable of insight into the affairs of life. He did this at a time of severe testing for the people of Israel, a time of suffering, grief and poverty due to the domination of foreign powers. As a man of great faith, rooted in the traditions of his forebears, his first thought was to turn to God and to beg from him the gift of wisdom. The Lord did not refuse his help.

From the book’s first pages, its author presents his advice concerning many concrete situations in life, one of which is poverty. He insists that even amid hardship we must continue to trust in God: “Do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days. Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust him and he will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not turn aside in case you fall” (2:2-7).

2. In page after page, we discover a precious compendium of advice on how to act in the light of a close relationship with God, creator and lover of creation, just and provident towards all his children. This constant reference to God, however, does not detract from a concrete consideration of mankind. On the contrary, the two are closely connected.

This is clearly demonstrated by the passage from which the theme of this year’s Message is taken (cf. 7:29- 36). Prayer to God and solidarity with the poor and suffering are inseparable. In order to perform an act of worship acceptable to the Lord, we have to recognize that each person, even the poorest and most contemptible, is made in the image of God. From this awareness comes the gift of God’s blessing, drawn by the generosity we show to the poor. Time devoted to prayer can never become an alibi for neglecting our neighbour in need. In fact the very opposite is true: the Lord’s blessing descends upon us and prayer attains its goal when accompanied by service to the poor.

3. How timely too, for ourselves, is this ancient teaching! Indeed, the word of God transcends space and time, religions and cultures. Generosity that supports the weak, consoles the afflicted, relieves suffering and restores dignity to those stripped of it, is a condition for a fully human life. The decision to care for the poor, for their many different needs, cannot be conditioned by the time available or by private interests, or by impersonal pastoral or social projects. The power of God’s grace cannot be restrained by the selfish tendency to put ourselves always first.

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Keeping our gaze fixed on the poor is difficult, but more necessary than ever if we are to give proper direction to our personal life and the life of society. It is not a matter of fine words but of a concrete commitment inspired by divine charity. Each year, on the World Day of the Poor, I reiterate this basic truth in the life of the Church, for the poor are and always will be with us to help us welcome Christ’s presence into our daily lives (cf. Jn 12:8).

4. Encountering the poor and those in need constantly challenges us and forces us to think. How can we help to eliminate or at least alleviate their marginalization and suffering? How can we help them in their spiritual need? The Christian community is called to be involved in this kind of sharing and to recognize that it cannot be delegated to others. In order to help the poor, we ourselves need to live the experience of evangelical poverty. We cannot feel “alright” when any member of the human family is left behind and in the shadows. The silent cry of so many poor men, women and children should find the people of God at the forefront, always and everywhere, in efforts to give them a voice, to protect and support them in the face of hypocrisy and so many unfulfilled promises, and to invite them to share in the life of the community.

The Church certainly has no comprehensive solutions to propose, but by the grace of Christ she can offer her witness and her gestures of charity. She likewise feels compelled to speak out on behalf of those who lack life’s basic necessities. For the Christian people, to remind everyone of the great value of the common good is a vital commitment, expressed in the effort to ensure that no one whose human dignity is violated in its basic needs will be forgotten.

5. The ability to stretch forth our hand shows that we possess an innate capacity to act in ways that give meaning to life. How many outstretched hands do we see every day! Sadly, it is more and more the case that the frenetic pace of life sucks us into a whirlwind of indifference, to the point that we no longer know how to recognize the good silently being done each day and with great generosity all around us. Only when something happens that upsets the course of our lives do our eyes become capable of seeing the goodness of the saints “next door”, of “those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence” (Gaudete et Exsultate, 7), but without fanfare. Bad news fills the pages of newspapers, websites and television screens, to the point that evil seems to reign supreme. But that is not the case. To be sure, malice and violence, abuse and corruption abound, but life is interwoven too with acts of respect and generosity that not only compensate for evil, but inspire us to take an extra step and fill our hearts with hope.

6. A hand held out is a sign; a sign that immediately speaks of closeness, solidarity and love. In these months, when the whole world was prey to a virus that brought pain and death, despair and bewilderment, how many outstretched hands have we seen! The outstretched hands of physicians who cared about each patient and tried to find the right cure. The outstretched hands of nurses who worked overtime, for hours on end, to look after the sick. The outstretched hands of administrators who procured the means to save as many lives as possible. The outstretched hands of pharmacists who at personal risk responded to people’s pressing needs. The outstretched hands of priests whose hearts broke as they offered a blessing. The outstretched hands of volunteers who helped people living on the streets and those with a home yet nothing to eat. The outstretched hands of men and women who worked to provide essential services and security. We could continue to speak of so many other outstretched hands, all of which make up a great litany of good works. Those hands defied contagion and fear in order to offer support and consolation.

7. This pandemic arrived suddenly and caught us unprepared, sparking a powerful sense of bewilderment and helplessness. Yet hands never stopped reaching out to the poor. This has made us all the more aware of the presence of the poor in our midst and their need for help. Structures of charity, works of mercy, cannot be improvised. Constant organization and training is needed, based on the realization of our own need for an outstretched hand.

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The present experience has challenged many of our assumptions. We feel poorer and less self-sufficient because we have come to sense our limitations and the restriction of our freedom. The loss of employment, and of opportunities to be close to our loved ones and our regular acquaintances, suddenly opened our eyes to horizons that we had long since taken for granted. Our spiritual and material resources were called into question and we found ourselves experiencing fear. In the silence of our homes, we rediscovered the importance of simplicity and of keeping our eyes fixed on the essentials. We came to realize how much we need a new sense of fraternity, for mutual help and esteem. Now is a good time to recover “the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world… We have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty… When the foundations of social life are corroded, what ensues are battles over conflicting interests, new forms of violence and brutality, and obstacles to the growth of a genuine culture of care for the environment” (Laudato Si’, 229). In a word, until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbour and for every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue.

8. This year’s theme – “Stretch forth your hand to the poor” – is thus a summons to responsibility and commitment as men and women who are part of our one human family. It encourages us to bear the burdens of the weakest, in accord with the words of Saint Paul: “Through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’… Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 5:13-14; 6:2). The Apostle teaches that the freedom bestowed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ makes us individually responsible for serving others, especially the weakest. This is not an option, but rather a sign of the authenticity of the faith we profess.

Here again, the book of Sirach can help us. It suggests concrete ways to support the most vulnerable and it uses striking images. First, it asks us to sympathize with those who are sorrowing: “Do not fail those who weep” (7:34). The time of pandemic forced us into strict isolation, making it impossible even to see and console friends and acquaintances grieving the loss of their loved ones. The sacred author also says: “Do not shrink from visiting the sick” (7:35). We have been unable to be close to those who suffer, and at the same time we have become more aware of the fragility of our own lives. The word of God allows for no complacency; it constantly impels us to acts of love.

9. At the same time, the command: “Stretch forth your hand to the poor” challenges the attitude of those who prefer to keep their hands in their pockets and to remain unmoved by situations of poverty in which they are often complicit. Indifference and cynicism are their daily food. What a difference from the generous hands we have described! If they stretch out their hands, it is to touch computer keys to transfer sums of money from one part of the world to another, ensuring the wealth of an elite few and the dire poverty of millions and the ruin of entire nations. Some hands are outstretched to accumulate money by the sale of weapons that others, including those of children, use to sow death and poverty. Other hands are outstretched to deal doses of death in dark alleys in order to grow rich and live in luxury and excess, or to quietly pass a bribe for the sake of quick and corrupt gain. Others still, parading a sham respectability, lay down laws which they themselves do not observe.

Amid all these scenarios, “the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others, or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own” (Evangelii Gaudium, 54). We cannot be happy until these hands that sow death are transformed into instruments of justice and peace for the whole world.

10. “In everything you do, remember your end” (Sir 7:36). These are the final words of this chapter of the book of Sirach. They can be understood in two ways. First, our lives will sooner or later come to an end.

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Remembering our common destiny can help lead to a life of concern for those poorer than ourselves or lacking the opportunities that were ours. But second, there is also an end or goal towards which each of us is tending. And this means that our lives are a project and a process. The “end” of all our actions can only be love. This is the ultimate goal of our journey, and nothing should distract us from it. This love is one of sharing, dedication and service, born of the realization that we were first loved and awakened to love. We see this in the way children greet their mother’s smile and feel loved simply by virtue of being alive. Even a smile that we can share with the poor is a source of love and a way of spreading love. An outstretched hand, then, can always be enriched by the smile of those who quietly and unassumingly offer to help, inspired only by the joy of living as one of Christ’s disciples.

In this journey of daily encounter with the poor, the Mother of God is ever at our side. More than any other, she is the Mother of the Poor. The Virgin Mary knows well the difficulties and sufferings of the marginalized, for she herself gave birth to the Son of God in a stable. Due to the threat of Herod, she fled to another country with Joseph her spouse and the child Jesus. For several years, the lived as refugees. May our prayer to Mary, Mother of the Poor, unite these, her beloved children, with all those who serve them in Christ’s name. And may that prayer enable outstretched hands to become an embrace of shared and rediscovered fraternity.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 13 June 2020

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua

Franciscus

Taken from The Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/papa- francesco_20200613_messaggio-iv-giornatamondiale-poveri-2020.html

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