ST. PATRICK’SSt. Patrick’sCHURCH Church ANDand Shrine SHRINE Merlin MERLIN 57735773 Tenth Tenth Line Line Merlin,Merlin, Ontario ON N0P N0P 1W0 1W0 THE OFFICE AND STORE ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID-19. Messages can be left on the office phone and someone will return your call.
PASTORAL TEAM: CHURCH OFFICE: Fr Antony & Fr. Sebastin: Phone: 519-689-7760 Phone: 519-689-7760 | E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] | Fax: 519-689-4788 Board President: Andrew Van Zelst Website: olrshrine.ca | Facebook: Finance Committee Chair: Mike Buis facebook.com/stpatrick Cemetery Committee Chair: Randy Moynahan
CHURCH SERVICES
May 23-29, 2021 All church services, have been suspended until further notice. The office and store will remain closed until further notice.
Messages can be left on the office phone (519-689-7760) or
e-mailed at [email protected]
Someone will get in touch with you. In this issue:
Reconciliation: Mass Intentions …………………………………. 2 Confessions are available by Readings for the Week ………………………. 2 appointment only. May 2021 Calendar …………………………….. 3
Fr. Antony - 1-519-350-3437 Pentecost Sunday…………………………………. 3 Fr. Sebastin – 1-416-276 -0489 Saint Philomena ………………………………….. 4 Baptism / First Communion: About St. Patrick’s Shrine …………………… 4
Contact our office - 519-689 -7760 Holy Humour ....……………………………….…. 5 St. Vincent de Paul ….………………………….. 5 Thank you to our Sponsors …………………. 5
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St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
Readings for the week MASS INTENTIONS May 23-29, 2021 May 24-29, 2021 Sunday, May 23 Monday Herb & Ada Dillon by Bill & Connie Dillon • 1st Reading – Acts 2:1-11 May 24 Manuel Seixas by the Alves Family • Responsorial Psalm – Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Tuesday All Souls in Purgatory Especially Deceased • 2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 May 25 Members F.O.S.S. • Gospel – As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Rosalie MacDonald Receive the Holy Spirit. by Antonietta Calabrese & Family • Monday, May 24 Wednesday All Souls in Purgatory Especially Deceased • 1st Reading – Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Members F.O.S.S. May 26 • Responsorial Psalm – You are the great pride of Richard Fortier by the Quirions our nation. Special Intention for Fr. Antony & Fr. Sebastin • Gospel – John 19:25-27 by Jules & Mary Rousseau Special Intention for the Living & Deceased • Tuesday, May 25 Members of the VanMiltenburg Family • 1st Reading – Sirach 35:1-15 by John & Mary VanMiltenburg • Responsorial Psalm – To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Thursday Special Intention for the health of Mellissa May 27 Brooke by Maurice & Elaine Devlaminck • Gospel – Mark 10:28-31 • Wednesday, May 26 Manuel Seixas by the Alves Family Friday • 1st Reading – Sirach 36:1-2, 5-6, 13-22 May 27 Special Intention for the Living & Deceased • Members of the Van Roestel Family Responsorial Psalm – O Lord, look on us with by John & Mary VanMiltenburg mercy. • Gospel – Mark 10:32-45 Saturday All Souls in Purgatory Especially Deceased May 28 • Thursday, May 27 Members F.O.S.S. • 1st Reading – Sirach 42:15-25 by Marie & Gerald Alexandre • Responsorial Psalm – By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
• Gospel – Mark 10:46-52
• Friday, May 28 • 1st Reading – Sirach44:1, 8-13++ • Responsorial Psalm – The Lord takes delight in his people. Alleluia! • Gospel – Mark 11:11-25
Mass intentions will still be offered at • Saturday, May 29 private masses being held daily by Fr. • 1st Reading – Sirach 51:12-20 Antony and Fr. Sebastin. • Responsorial Psalm – The precepts of the Lord Mass Intentions can be mailed, dropped give joy to the heart. off at the mailbox in front of the church, • Gospel – Mark 11:27-33 or phoned in to the office.
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St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
May 2021 – Month of Mary
*Prayer of the Day. Refer to the second attachment for the prayers. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
4 5 6 7 7 8 9 5th Sunday of Easter *Prayer Before *The Universal *Padre Nuestro – *Nurse’s Prayer *Blessing of a *St. Augustine’s *The Our Father Starting on a Prayer Lord’s Prayer New House Prayer to the Holy Journey Spirit 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Canada Health 9 days of prayer to HAPPY MOTHER’S *Prayer to St. Gabriel, *Prayer of Praise and Day *Fatima Prayer the Holy Spirit *Prayer to St. DAY! for Others Thanks begins today, in Dymphna - Hope 6th Sunday of Easter *Help Against preparation for Spiritual Enemies Pentecost *Prayer for Travelers *Prayer for Strength to Forgive 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 *Morning Prayer *A Prayer, For *Prayer for the *Prayer to My *Guardian Angel
Those in the Sick Guardian Angel *Daily Offering Prayer # 1 Military World Communications Day *Personal Prayer 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 *Prayer for a *Night Prayer *A Prayer in Praise *Prayer for the *Strength *To St. Joseph for Pentecost Sunday Deceased Father or of God's Greatness Salvation of the World. Protection *Prayer in a Time of Mother Waiting 30 31
A Day of Pentecost Like No Other
On the day of Pentecost (50 days after the Holy Spirit. This was the fulfillment of Easter) all the believers were meeting the prophecy in the Old Testament that the together in one place. Suddenly, there Holy Spirit would be poured out on all was a sound from heaven like the roaring people. It marked a turning point in the early of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the church. With the Holy Spirit's empowerment, house where they were sitting. Then, what Peter preached boldly to them about Jesus looked like flames or tongues of fire Christ and God's plan of salvation. appeared and settled on each of them. The crowd was so moved when Peter told them of their And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and part in the crucifixion of Jesus that they asked the began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" The right gave them this ability. Immediately, the disciples were response, Peter told them, was to repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit causing them to speak in baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the tongues. The crowds of visitors were astonished forgiveness of their sins. He promised that they, too, because every pilgrim heard the apostles speaking to would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. him or her in their own foreign language. Some people Taking the gospel message to heart, Acts 2:41 records in the crowd thought the apostles were drunk. that about 3,000 people were baptized and added to the Seizing the moment, the Apostle Peter explained that fledgling Christian church on that Day of Pentecost. 3 the people were not drunk, but empowered by St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
St. Philomena About St. Patrick’s Shrine
Little is known about the life of St. Philomena. In 1995, three ladies of the St. Patrick’s However, it is believed she was a Greek Parish were given permission by the princess who was born on January 10, 291, parish priest to start a Rosary Trail in the became a virgin martyr, and died on August wooded area behind the church and 10,304 at the age of 13-years-old. cemetery. Thanks to many donations, Remains of a young lady were discovered in dedication of hours of work and prayer May 1802 at the Catacombs of Priscilla on the of numerous volunteers, what began as Via Salaria Nova with three tiles reading "Peace be to you, “Our Lady’s Garden” has now become
Philomena." the home to Our Lady of the Rosary London Diocesan Shrine. All that is known about St. Philomena's life comes from a Neapolitan nun's vision. Sister Maria Luisa di Gesu claims The original Diocesan Shrine was located in St. Mary’s, St. Philomena came to her and told her she was the Ontario It was constructed in 1954 and officially dedicated daughter of a Greek king who converted to Christianity. by Bishop Cody in 1963. At the close of the 1998 When Philomena was 13-years-old, she took a vow of celebrations, Bishop Sherlock then moved the site to St. consecrated virginity. Patrick’s Church in Merlin. After her father took his family to Rome to make peace, “Our Lady’s Garden” began with the creation of the Rosary Emperor Diocletian fell in love with Philomena. When she Trail. The Rosary Trail has been created in the shape of a refused to marry him, she was subjected to torture. rosary and includes all twenty mysteries. The Saints Trail leads you through the lives of over 90 saints. The statue of St. Philomena was scourged, drowned with an anchor St. Philomena was the first to be added to this trail. To view attached to her, and shot with arrows. Each time she was the entire list of saints CLICK HERE for the Saints Trail Map. attacked angels took to her side and healed her through The Stations of the Cross Trail leads you to the Pieta statue. prayer. The Marian Dogmas & Approved Apparitions Trail Finally, the Emperor had Philomena decapitated. According represents some of the locations in the world that the to the story, her death came on a Friday at three in the Church officially recognizes as places where Our Lady has afternoon, the same as Jesus. appeared. This trail includes dedication to Our Lady of Lourdes, Guadalupe, Knock, and Fatima along with others. Two anchors, three arrows, a palm symbol of martyrdom, The trails all will continue to evolve as more statues are and a flower were found on the tiles in her tomb, interpreted donated. All that you see here at the Shrine, including the as symbols of her martyrdom. numerous gardens, are maintained by volunteers. The nun's account states Philomena was born on January 10 and was killed on August 10. In the summer of 2008, a new entrance way was erected, along with the Stations of the Cross Trail being revamped Devotion for Philomena began to spread once her bones and Grotto of Fatima re-erected. The statues of the Stations were exhumed and miracles began to occur. Canon of the Cross, the statues and Grotto depicting the apparition Francesco De Lucia of Mugnano del Cardinale received of Our Lady of Fatima. The two large Church Bells were relics of St. Philomena and had them placed in the Church treasured possessions of the parish of St. Matthew’s Parish of Our Lady of Grace in Mugnano, Italy. in Alvinston, which closed in 2007. They in turn donated Soon after her relics were enshrined, cancers were cured, these to the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at wounds were healed and the Miracle of Mugnano, when Merlin, and were dedicated by Bishop Fabbro C.S.B. on Venerable Pauline Jaricot was cured of a severe heart issue August 15, 2008. These treasures would be used even more overnight, were all attributed to St. Philomena. as part of the Shrine of Our Lady which draws pilgrims from throughout the Diocese and beyond. Other Saints began to venerate Philomena and attributing miracles in their lives to the young martyr, including St. John We pray that the Shrine be an instrument by which people Marie Vianney and St. Peter Louis Marie Chanel. will be led to a true devotion of Our Blessed Mother and to a Although controversy sometimes surrounds the truth behind deeper love of her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lady of St. Philomena's life and sainthood, many believers all the Rosary, “pray for us”. around the world continue to see her as a miraculous saint, canonized in 1837. St. Philomena is the patron saint of infants, babies, and youth. She is often depicted in her youth with a flower crown, a palm of martyrdom, arrows, or an anchor. 4 Her feast day is celebrated on August 11.
St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
\Holy Humour
For those of you who didn’t notice, last week’s Holy Humour was missing the last line (known as the “punch line) and so I have run with it again this week, in its entirety. For those of you who did notice, well, what can I say – good things come to those who wait.
A Parable of Heaven and Hell A man spoke with an Angel about Heaven and Hell. The Angel said to the man, “Come, I will show you Hell.”
They entered a room where a group of people
sat around a huge pot of stew. Everyone was
famished, desperate, and starving. Each held a spoon that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their own arm that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths. The suffering was terrible. “Come now, I will show you Heaven,” the Angel said.
They entered another room, identical to the first.
The pot of stew, the group of people, the same
long-handled spoons. But everyone was happy
and well nourished.
“I don’t’ understand,” said the man. “Why are they happy here when they are miserable in the other room and everything is the same?” The Angel smiled, “Ah, it is simple. Here they have learned to feed each other.”
- Author Unknown
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St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
May 23 – Prayer in a Time of Waiting All powerful and ever-living God, Guard our churches, our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our factories, and all the places where we gather. Deliver us from harm and peril. Protect our land and its peoples from enemies within and without. Grant an early peace with victory founded upon justice. Instill in the hearts and minds of men and women everywhere a firm purpose to live forever in peace and good will toward all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May 24 - Prayer for a Deceased Father or Mother O God, Who has commanded us to honour our father and mother, have compassion in Thy mercy, on the souls of my father and mother; forgive them their sins, and grant that I may see them in the joy of eternal brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May 25 - Night Prayer God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
May 26 - A Prayer in Praise of God's Greatness Almighty, true and incomparable God, You are present in all things, yet in no way limited by them. You remain unaffected by place, untouched by time, unperturbed by years, and undeceived by words. You are not subject to birth and in no need of protection. You are beyond all corruption, above all change, immutable by nature. You live in unapproachable light and are invisible, yet You are known to all those who seek You with hope and love. You are the God of Israel, and of all who hope in Christ. Amen.
May 27 - Prayer for the Salvation of the World. Father, hear our prayers for the salvation of the world. Grant Mercy to all souls that turned away from You. Open their hearts and minds with Your light. Gather Your children from the east and the west, from the north and the south. Have mercy O God on those who do not know You. Bring them out of darkness into Your light. You are our saving God Who leads us in our salvation. Protect us from evil. Bless and praise You O Lord, hear our prayers and answer us. You, our Savior, are the hope of all the ends of the Earth and the distant seas. May Your way be known upon Earth; among all nations Your salvation. We put the world in Your hands; fill us with Your love. Grant us peace through Christ, our Lord. Amen
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St. Patrick’s Church & Shrine News
May 28 – Strength Dear God, please give me the strength to endure this situation, and to find the blessings and lessons that it contains. Please give me the endurance to continue ahead. Please guide my thoughts, words, and actions, so that I walk your path of peace and love. Amen.
May 29 - To St. Joseph for Protection Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen.
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