The Annunciator Newsletter of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Anglican Patrimony within the Catholic Communion Canadian Deanery of St John the Baptist of the Chair of St Peter 289 Spencer Street Ottawa ON K1Y 2R1 613-722-9139 www.annunciationofthebvm.org

Vol. 21 No.04 – APRIL 2019

********************************************************************** Plighting the Troth - A Homily for Palm Sunday

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Philippians 2:5—i.e. share His attitude: His heart, His focus, His will: be one with Him.

That's easy to do on Palm Sunday as He rides into town and adoring crowds praise Him: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! It's wonderful to be there, to enjoy the praise and the uplifting worship! Here is our Beloved, the Church's Bridegroom, and we delight in Him!

If we close our eyes we're carried on the chorus, "HOSANNA!", as though the joy would never end. It's easy to pledge our faithfulness to Him. Yet, the joyous crescendos die away, the sky darkens, the air grows chill, and suddenly a new cry rings out, harsh and dissonant: "Away with Him! Crucify Him!"

Our eyes snap open and we stare horrified. Where is the Bridegroom? We behold Him now as Isaiah did millennia ago "He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. " Isaiah 53:2-3 NKJV

Will we walk with Him now? Will we delight (do we delight) to be His own? We were proud to share in His glory; in His joy. Will we share His humiliation, as He is spat upon, rejected, scourged, mocked, abandoned; crucified!

"Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”, but what of Him who cries, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani?!" "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?!"

Strangely, as I reflect upon this scene, I am drawn back to the traditional marriage vows, exchanged between bride and groom in the Anglican Prayer Book Marriage Service (BCP page 563ff.):

The priest asks the bridegroom: N. WILT thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live? The man shall answer: I will. (Notice that the question is "Wilt thou?", hence the answer: "I will"; not "I do", as every Hollywood wedding styles it).

Then shall the Priest say unto the woman: N. WILT thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together according to God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live? The woman shall answer: I will.

Then follows the "plighting of their troth", i.e. the pledging of their faith — their commitment to each other:

…continued on page 2

The Minister,…shall cause the man with his right hand to take The Bridegroom beheld His Bride and loved her the woman by her right hand — from the Beginning. He saw the beauty in which (I always emphasize that this is set out as a she was created, yet knew it for just a hint of the deliberate action, for he takes her with his right glory into which she was yet to grow; but He also hand as a sign that he, of his free will, chooses to saw her fall into sin and ugliness, her highest take her in marriage). virtues defiled and disordered, her desires

— and to say after him as follows: I N. take thee N. to be my misdirected away from the goods which would truly wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for satisfy her soul. She rejected Him & sought one better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, lover after another; diseased, disfigured… to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. [to this end, I Still, He knew her and loved her: Wilt Thou love her, promise to be faithful]. Then shall they loose their hands; and the comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; woman, with her right hand taking the man by his right hand, — and, forsaking all other, keep Thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?” “ I will.” She too chooses freely, taking his right hand in hers. We are His Bride. Christ has loved us from the beginning —even while we were enemies, as St. Paul — shall likewise say after the Minister: I N. take thee N. to be my attests in Romans 5:10 — and He has given Himself wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to us and for us; and to His vows He adds, “And death to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's shall not part us, for Love is stronger than death; and as she is holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.” gathered into My death, so shall she be into My Life: eternal Life.” and in the background we hear a further echo It's always been part of my marriage preparation of St. Paul, from Romans 8: I am persuaded that neither with couples, as we read over the vows together, to death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor remind them that, while they did indeed choose to things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any take each other, the vows are not to be read as a other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39. choice of "either or"—I actually have a cartoon in my files featuring the bride ticking off her fingers, "Wilt Thou have this Bride?" Jesus answers, "I will." "Let's see, I'll take better, richer and in health."—it's stretches out His arms to embrace us, and seals the both; a whole package. Nor is it, “If we do Covenant with His Blood. everything right, then it should be just better not worse”; nor even, "Perhaps there may be both." No, "Wilt thou have this Saviour to be thy Lord, to have the fact is rather that there will be better AND and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to worse, richer AND poorer, sickness AND health. We cherish,…and, forsaking all other, [denying thyself, taking up hope that there will be more of the better, and we thy cross daily], keep thee only unto Him, so long as you…shall don't know what the worse will be like, but the live? vows are to be made with eyes wide open, aware "We would, Lord, but You don't know how hard the that there will be both. The vows, the commitments "worse" is: rejection, humiliation, disappointment — are made in that light, mutually and in self-giving God is sometimes silent; and we cannot always feel love, to be faithful for the rest of our lives, until we the love, nor do we feel like loving; we sin; sometimes are parted by death. Your will is hard…" In that context come the solemn questions to the He does know; and He will take us — He has given Bridegroom:"Wilt thou have this woman…?" "I will." Himself for His Bride; and to the Bride:"Wilt thou have this man…?" "I will." Will we take Him? The vows are easy on that wedding day, and when Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… your beloved is lovely in your eyes and a delight to be with; but the years pass, shadows fall, words and actions become careless, tempers are tested and too In Christ Jesus, often fail. Real love must shoulder many burdens, and far too often we stumble and fall. It's difficult, Fr. Doug and demanding; some would say impossible.

Wilt thou love, comfort, honour, and keep, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto [your beloved], so long as you both shall live?  

PRAYERS FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH ii) SUNDAY, APRIL 7th : PASSION SUNDAY 9:20AM Mattins/10:00AM Sung Mass 4:00PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction

HOLY WEEK 2019

th SUNDAY, APRIL 14 (PALM SUNDAY)

Bangladesh's history was greatly influenced by traders; Arabs and 9:20AM Mattins/10:00AM Sung Mass Persians in the 10th century, and Europeans starting in the 16th th century. The country, once considered part of British India, was MONDAY, 15 (Holy Week) 7:30 Mattins/8am Mass partitioned as East Pakistan. It eventually gained independence in 1971 after a struggle that resulted in thousands of civilian deaths. TUES, 16th (Holy Week) 8:30 Mattins/9 am Mass

Following the gain of independence, the country faced numerous th coups until the first democratic elections in 1991. Since then, it WEDNESDAY, 17 (in Holy Week) has been governed by a democratically elected government, with 5:30 Evensong/6:00 Mass/8:00 p.m. Tenebrae the exception of a military-backed control during 2007 to 2008 in 18th MAUNDY/HOLY THURSDAY an effort to root out corruption. 5:30 Evensong /6:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper/ Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. Churches Stripping of the Altar/Prayer Vigil in LADY CHAPEL are careful when offering relief to the poor and needy because they do not want to encourage false conversions among people 19 th GOOD FRIDAY who accept Christ solely for economic benefit. While Bangladesh 1:00 p.m. SOLEMN LITURGY of GOOD FRIDAY is a Muslim majority nation, the government strives to remain secular. The government also actively fights extremism, which is 20th HOLY SATURDAY prevalent. Many in Bangladesh are learning more about Jesus and 8:30 a.m. Mattins & Ante-Communion the Bible through YouTube channels. Reports indicate that more 8:00 p.m. EASTER VIGIL than seven million people have watched Christian videos using this technology. st iii) SUNDAY, APRIL 21 EASTER DAY Many Christian groups meet publicly, while others worship in 9:20AM Mattins/10:00 Sung Mass unregistered churches. Some Christian Bangladeshi groups often iv) vi) SUNDAY, APRIL 28th: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY commission missionaries to do evangelistic work within their own 9:20AM Mattins/10:00AM Sung Mass country. However, when Muslims convert to Christianity, they rd are often forced out of their communities. While Bibles are v) FRIDAY, MAY 3 SS. PHILIP & JAMES APOSTLES available in many of the country's languages, they can be very 5:30PM Evensong/6PM Sung Mass difficult to find. And although it is legal to have God's Word, vi) SUNDAY, MAY 5th: THIRD OF EASTER many inhabitants are too poor to afford the purchase of their own 9:20am Mattins/10:00 Sung Mass Bible. 4:00PM Evensong and Benediction  As the Word of God goes forth in Bangladesh through the Altar Flowers Christian radio and television broadcasts, may the "Good News" of the Gospel accomplish mighty things in the lives of all who The sign-up list for placing flowers hear it! at the altar in memory of loved ones Pray that the seeds sown in hearts will take root and bear healthy is on a bulletin board in the parish hall. People signing up and lasting fruit, and that the spiritual leaders of this country will may choose to purchase and arrange their own flowers or be ready and equipped to disciple the resulting influx of new ask me to do it. In the case of the latter option, donations for believers. (From the Voice of the Martyrs web site) the cost may be placed in a collection envelope in the  collection plate on Sunday and thereby the donor will be \ SOME NOTES FOR APRIL 2019 credited on his or her year-end tax receipt. Alternatively,

th cash or cheque may be given to the Treasurer or myself. i) SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Mattins 8:30/Mass 9AM/Breakfast/ Generally, flowers last for two weeks so this is helpful to 11AM SCREENING of the FATAL FLAWS video + Q & A bear in mind when signing up if there is some flexibility in choosing the week. If choosing a particular week is important, then flowers can be replaced weekly.

Barbara Coulson  https://fatalflawsfilm.com/

Pope Francis appoints new head of Personal Ordinariate in Australia

Our assigned minimum Parish Bishop’s Appeal target for 2019 has been set at US $2,000 (c. $2,700 Cdn,), but we are challenged to shoot for US $3,400 (c. $4,600Cdn) or higher. Charitable Tax Receipts will be issued for donation cheques , designated for the Appeal, made out to St. John the Baptist Deanery Inc., and sent to:

Attention: Bruce Travis, Deanery Treasurer, St. John the Baptist Deanery Inc. , 1423 – 8 Avenue SE , Calgary, AB T2G 0N1. Monsignor Chapel Reflection for Ash Wednesday 2019 In an Audience of February 7, 2019 given to the Prefect of the (…as preached at Holy Trinity Catholic High School to introduce Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Luis Lent and Easter to a non-religious audience). Ladaria, the Holy Father Pope Francis accepted the resignation Michael Trolly of the pastoral governance of the Personal Ordinariate of Our So it's Ash Wednesday. Lady of the Southern Cross (Australia), presented by the Rev Monsignor , in conformity with canon 401 §1, Today, all over the world, hundreds of millions of people CIC, and nominated Ordinary of the same Personal maybe are going to services like this one--in churches, Ordinariate, Father Carl Reid, until now Dean of all of the schools, prisons and hospitals—to receive ashes on their Canadian parishes of the Personal Ordinariate of The Chair of foreheads. St Peter (USA) and pastor of a community of the same Ordinariate in British Columbia, Canada. Not just Catholics, but many other types of Christians as well. And not just religious people. Lots of people who Father Reid has accepted the nomination and the Apostolic don't normally go to church feel drawn to receive ashes on Nuncio in Australia has been informed of the appointment. their forehead--and all of you are invited to come forward Father Reid, born on December 14 1950, was baptized on for the ashes, whether you're Catholic or not. January 14, 1951 in the Anglican Church of Canada. But why? Why something that seems so strange? Isn't He earned a bachelor’s Degree in Geological Engineering Easter all about, well, life? New life, and springtime, and from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1973. He bunnies and baby chicks and stuff? Why start to prepare earned a Master of Divinity Degree from St. Bede’s Online for a celebration of life with ashes? Doesn’t that sound Theological College. In 2006, he was given the title of Doctor more like death? of Divinity honoris causa. If I go on to Google Maps to get directions somewhere, I He was ordained a in the Anglican of need two things. I need the address of where I want to go, Canada in 1988, and a [priest] in the same jurisdiction on June and I also need to know (or for my phone to know) where I 23, 1990. He was ordained a suffragan bishop of the same am right now. With Easter, we know where we want to go. communion on January 27, 2007. We want life—whatever that means. If we're Christians, we After being received into the full communion of the Catholic know we want the type of life that Jesus has. All of us, I Church, Father Carl Reid was ordained a priest on January 26, think, want to live life to its fullest. 2013 of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter But where are we now? Well, I think most of us would say (USA and Canada). that we don't have the kind of life that Jesus has. We’re not Father Reid will be installed as Ordinary of the Personal like him. Compared to him, it's like we're not alive at all. Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross on Tuesday August 27th at 7pm at the Cathedral of St Mary’s in the We're not only mortal—we'll all die one day—but even Archdiocese of Sydney by Archbishop , OP, now, it's like there's something dead inside of us. Archbishop of Sydney. Sometimes we feel it. Sometimes I've said things to my family—my mother, one of my brothers, even my kids— Archbishop Fisher will be joined by Archbishop Augustine where part of me "dies inside" when I realize how much DiNoia, OP, Adjunct Secretary, Congregation for the Doctrine I've hurt them. I look in the mirror and realize that I can't of the Faith, the Most Reverend Steven J Lopes, Ordinary of look myself in the eye. Maybe this has happened to you. the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter (USA) and We all have these times where we feel dead inside. When Monsignor Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal we feel cut off from everyone and every thing, even our Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (UK). selves, and where we feel so, well, wrong. That everything From Ordinariate News in Australia (edited) has gone wrong.

We feel dead inside. And the Bible says that this is actually of our evil—all our mess—on himself. And he gave us all what's happened. We're spiritually dead. And we need to of his love and goodness. And he didn't do it because we be made alive. deserved it. He did it because he loves us, and he wanted to. He wanted to become part of our family, and he invites This is why we start Lent with ashes—because it's a sign of us to become part of his. death and destruction—it's admitting where we are, that our lives are all broken and falling apart, and that we Paul says, "Be reconciled to God"—that means, imagine desperately need God's help. we're fighting with God, and we become friends again— things are right again. If we want to be raised to new life, the Life Jesus gives, we start by admitting that we're dead. This isn’t about looking religious... Jesus criticized people who pretended to be very holy. It's about actually being Ashes, in addition to being a sign of death, are also a sign of friends with God. That's for everyone. what's called penance. It's a sign that we want to change our lives. Traditionally, there are a few things we do No matter who you are, God wants to be your friend—if during Lent. Many Christians fast, sometimes they go you think you're the worst person in the world and there's without eating meat—this can be good for all sorts of no way God could love you, I think you're someone who reasons, helping us to think about the environment, and the Jesus especially loves. Jesus always spent most of his time many people in our world who are hungry. Some give up with people who didn't have friends, who were picked on, certain habits or luxuries for Lent. I know one boy once who thought they were bad people—who felt guilty and who gave up having Nutella for breakfast during Lent. ashamed. Jesus didn't have a lot of time for people who There are all sorts of things people. The point isn't just for thought they were so good and holy. us to do without something--it's so we can give back in This message is for you—yes, even you—especially you— some way. Maybe we give money we'd spend on snacks to especially you if you’re saying, “No, I could never do a charity. Maybe we take a few minutes to pray each that… I could never be good enough.” morning. Maybe we help someone out who needs help. It’s for you. Each of us, I know, can think of one thing we'd like to do during the next 40 Days to make us a better person. But You’re invited. the good news is we don't have to do this alone. Come, come to God. Come receive By receiving these ashes, we're admitting that we can't save new life. ourselves. We can't fix ourselves. We can try—we can do Yes, you are dust and ashes. But all sorts of things. But what we really need is new life— repent—turn around—and believe the Good News. what Jesus gave us at that first Easter. So we start by recognizing how helpless we are.  Remember, this is a journey towards life, and beauty, and hope and goodness. We begin with ashes—but we don't stay here. We've put our location into the GPS—our location is here, covered in ashes of a life that's falling apart. We've put our destination into the GPS—Easter— new life—the life Jesus gives. Now we're on a journey. There are lots of things that we can do on the journey, but really, it simply comes down to asking God to take us there. How does God do this? If the story of Jesus means anything, it means that God wasn't okay just sitting in heaven giving out rules, commandments, "Thou shalt not..." and then threaten to strike people down if they disobeyed. God wanted to know exactly what it was like to be human. God became a human being, a real person... a baby, a child, teenager, grown up... he worked hard. He had a hard life, was hated by lots of people and picked on. Eventually, he was beaten, and then executed. And then he rose from the dead—just so he could forgive us, and tell us how much he still loved us. Jesus never did anything wrong, but somehow, he took all

Monday, APRIL 1st (in the 4th Week of Lent) [PURPLE] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Tuesday, April 2nd (in the 4th Week of Lent) [PURPLE] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, April 3rd (in the 4th Week of Lent) [PURPLE] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Thursday, April 4th (in the 4th Week of Lent) 5:30PM Evensong [PURPLE] [St. Isidore, Bishop & Doctor of the Church; Collect only] 6:00PM Mass th th Fri., April 5 (in the 4 Week of Lent/St. Vincent Ferrer) [PURPLE] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass/7PM STATIONS OF THE CROSS Saturday, April 6th (St. Mary on Saturday) 7:45-8:15AM Confession/Reconciliation [ /Blue] 8:30AM Mattins/9:00AM Mass

SUNDAY, APRIL 7th LENT V: PASSION SUNDAY 9:20AM Mattins [PURPLE] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass 4:00PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction Monday, APRIL 8th (In Passion Week) [PURPLE] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Tuesday, April 9th (in Passion Week) [PURPLE] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, April 10rd (in Passion Week) [PURPLE] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Thursday, April 11th (In Passion Week) 5:30PM Evensong [PURPLE] 6:00PM Mass Friday, April 12th (In Passion Week) [PURPLE] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass/7PM STATIONS OF THE CROSS SATURDAY, April 13th (In Passion Week) 7:45-8:15AM Confession/Reconciliation [PURPLE] 8:30AM Mattins/9:00AM MASS HOLY WEEK BEGINS SUNDAY, APRIL 14th : PALM SUNDAY 9:20AM Mattins [RED]{Solemnity} 10AM Sung Mass Monday, April 15th (IN HOLY WEEK) [PURPLE] 7:30 Mattins/8:00AM Mass Tuesday, April 16th (IN HOLY WEEK) [PURPLE] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass APRIL 17th WEDNESDAY 5:30PM Evensong/6:00PM Mass [PURPLE] (in HOLY WEEK) 8:00PM TENEBRAE APRIL 18th MAUNDY THURSDAY 5:30PM Evensong [ ] 6:00PM Mass APRIL 19th GOOD FRIDAY[BLACK] 1:00PM SOLEMN LITURGY of GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 20th HOLY SATURDAY 8:30AM Mattins & Ante-Communion [PURPLE/ ] 8:00PM EASTER VIGIL

SUNDAY, APRIL 21st EASTER DAY 9:20AM Mattins [ ] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass Monday, April 22nd (In the Octave of Easter) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Tuesday, April 23rd (In the Octave of Easter) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Wednesday, April 24th (In the Octave of Easter) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Thursday, April 25th (In the Octave of Easter) 5:30PM Evensong [WHITE] 6:00PM Mass Friday, April 26th (In the Octave of Easter) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Saturday, April 27th (In the Octave of Easter) 7:45-8:15AM Confession/Reconciliation [ ] 8:30AM Mattins/9:00AM Healing Mass

SUNDAY, APRIL 28th 2nd of EASTER: DIVINE MERCY 9:20AM Mattins [ ] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass Monday, April 29th (St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor) [ ] 7:30 Mattins/8AM Mass Tuesday, April 30th (St. Marie of the Incarnation, Religious) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass

Wednesday, May 1st (St. Pius V, Pope) [ ] 8:30 Mattins/9AM Mass Thursday, May 2nd (St. Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor) 5:30 PM Evensong [ ] 6:00 PM Mass Friday, May 3rd (SS. PHILIP & JAMES, APOSTLES) 5:30 PM Evensong [RED] 6:00 PM Sung Mass Saturday, May 4th (The English Martyrs) 7:45-8:15AM Confession/Reconciliation [RED] 8:30AM Mattins/9:00AM Healing Mass

SUNDAY, MAY 5th 3rd of EASTER 9:20AM Mattins [ ] {Solemnity} 10:00AM Sung Mass 4:00PM Solemn Evensong & Benediction

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