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January25th, 2004
Third Sunday after Epiphany, The Conversion of St. Paul
Gospel: John 5: 31 - 47
Readings: 2 Corinthians 4: 1 - 15 Jesus accuses the Jews of giving many testimonies on his behalf without taking advantage of them. Jesus showed them four testimonies: John's testimony, the testimony of the deeds that Jesus did, the Father's testimony and the Gospel's testimony. They did not ask for the first three testimonies. They looked in the Gospel but they did not find a testimony there.
The four testimonies referred to by Jesus are very important to the faithful. He has to base his belief on them. But those testimonies are not limited. These testimonies arose from the incidents lived by the people. The faithful could find countless testimonies if he looked in his own life.
Everything in our lives is a live testimony for Jesus Christ. This is called reading the signs of times. Jesus said that being unable to read these signs is the result of being blinded by false glory. The glory that comes from people forms a barrier between God and men. The refused testimonies are signs of the final judgment.
Do we think that the Jews' fault was the acceptance of the glory from humankind and that it was limited to that time? Do we experience that reality in our daily life? The reality of our lives as faithful people makes us aware of this tendency to follow false glories. It gives us the key to the solution.
Last Week's Collection $ 4,145.58
Leamington Ministerial Association invites all the Christians to pray for each other. This week we pray for First Baptist Church
Masses & Celebrations during the week: Week Ending Sunday January 25, 2003 Sun. January 25th, 2004 Third Sunday after the Epiphany Conversion of St. Paul
10:00AM
Michel Bou Daher ( Family)12:00PM
George Obeid (Family)
Mon. January 25th, 2004
5:30PM
St. Anne's Prayers.
6:00PM
Antoune Nohra (Salim Nohra & Family)
Tue. January 26th, 20045:30PM
St. Anthony's Prayers6:00PM
Joaquim & Joaquima Santos (Maria Santos)
Wed. January 27th, 20045:00PM
Mother Mary's Prayers6:00PM
Kaysar Ncoula & Wife Jawhra & Deceased Children (Boula & Alice Boutros)7:00PM
Visit of Our Lady of the Cape. Rosary Prayers & Litany & Blessing @ The Residence of John & Najwa Tannous, 39 Seacliff Dr. West, Leamington, (519) 326-7927
Thu. January 29th, 20045:30PM
St. Charbel's Prayers6:00PM
Catherine Simon (Mr. Nohra Nohra)
Fri. January 30th, 20045:30PM
Sacred Heart Prayers600PM
Ncoula & Pauline Kaysar (Antoune Obeid)
Sun. February 1st, 2004 Sunday of the Priests10:00AM
Salim Alagha & Wife & Son Michel (Jabar Alagha & Family)12:00PM
Hanna Habshe (40 Days Mem. Mass) (Family)
Comunity News & Events Week Ending Sunday January 25, 2003 Bulletin Advertisement:
If you like to advertise your business in our Parish Bulletin, please call the Church Office at (519) 322-2282.
Advertisement for 6 Months: $ 70.00
Advertisement for 1 Year: $ 120.00Thank you in advance for your support.
Maronite Synod:
Enclosed in your weekly Bulletin you will find questions about the Maronite Synod in English and Arabic. You can answer these questions via email or directly to St. Anthony's Parish. Thank you in advance for your participation.
To view all the photos from St. Anthony's Talent Show, please click here
Income Tax Receipts:
All 2003 Income Tax Receipts were sent by mail. If you have any questions please call the Church Office. Thank you.
Now in Canada:
Noursat / Tele Lumiere, Satellite Telstar 5-KU, 97º West, Transponder 11, Frequency 11929 Ver. Symb Rate: 22 Msymb, FEC: 3/4 . Email: info@telelumiere.com, website: www.telelumiere.com. Pan Sat Dish or Samsung or Cruiser Sat. Check it out for Christian Catholic News and events. Noursat is direct from Lebanon.
Mother Mary's Visit:
If you would like for Mother Mary to come and bless your house, please register your name on the sheet provided at the Church entrance or call the office at 322-2282.
Children's Arabic Choir:
All the children interested in participating in the Arabic Choir will have a practice meeting on Friday, from 4 to 5:30PM. All are welcome.
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores:
We are looking for two enthusiastic individuals at our Chilver location, in Windsor: General Labourer: General warehouse duties, to ride and drive the truck as needed. Must have a valid driver's license and be able to lift furniture. Office assistant: must be computer literate in Word and Excel. General office skills, well organized and able to multi-task. Please fax resume to: 253-1185 or deliver to: 354 Chilver Rd., in Windsor. Thank you.
Mass for the Deceased:
Please join for the celebration of the Eucharist at Resurrection Mausoleum, Heavenly Rest Cemetery, Tuesday February 10th, 2004 at 4:30PM. Celebrant will be Fr. Vince Gleeson, Pastor of St. Alphonsus. The primary intention of this Mass is for those buried or entombed at one of the Catholic Cemeteries of Windsor, and also for all our deceased relatives and friends and for those who have no one to pray for them. Thank you in advance for attending.
The Conversion of St. Paul, January 25th The Church celebrates the conversion of St. Paul because of its extraordinary nature. Paul, who was known as Saul before his conversion, was born at Tarsus in Cilicia, to Jewish parents. He became a Pharisee and fully embraced the Law of Moses. Paul became an avowed enemy of the infant Church and engaged in the persecution of Christians.
Between the years 34 and 36, Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem. His encounter with Christ would change his life and have a dramatic effect on Christianity. Paul set out with the intention of bringing the prisoners he would arrest back to Jerusalem for punishment.
As he was traveling along, approaching Damascus around noon, a great light from the sky suddenly flashed all about him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him. 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' He answered, 'Who are you, sir?' He said to him, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.' His companions saw the light but did not hear the voice speaking to him, 'What is it I must do, sir?'
He asked, and the Lord replied, 'Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told about everything you are destined to do.' But since he could not see because of the brilliance of the light, he had to be taken by the hand and led into Damascus by his companions. There, he met Ananias who said to him, 'Saul, my brother, recover your sight. Be baptized at once and wash away your sins as you call upon his name.' Profoundly influenced by this grace of God, the converted apostle preached Christ to the nations.
Today the feast of Paul's conversion ends the Church Unity Octave - an annual eight-day period of prayer for Christian unity. Inspired by Father Paul Wattson, founder of the society of the Atonement, this observance has spread from the United States to various other lands and is celebrated in many Protestant and Orthodox as well as Catholic Churches.
Lord, in your mercy and by the power of your Spirit, take away the unhappy divisions that separate Christians, so that we may all be one in faith and love.
Prayer for unityEternal Father, we praise you for sending your Son to be one of us and to save us. Look upon your people with mercy, for we are divided in so many ways, and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love.
Protect your Church and make us one. Send your Spirit to guide us back to unity and love. Amen.
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