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March 18th, 2007
Sunday of the Paralyzed Man
Gospel: Mark 2: 1– 12
Readings: 1 Timothy 5: 24, 6:5 On St. Joseph’s Feast, we see a righteous man, who unveiled the depth of the mystery of the Lord and the meaningless life of the human kind. He is silent. He didn’t say a word unless to do what was said to him by the angel of the Lord. He is a virgin.
He never had a relationship with a woman. Mary also was a virgin because she never had a relationship with a man. They lived together until they ascended into heaven. God gave Joseph abundantly. The meaning of his name is purity and sainthood. He promoted him from a simple carpenter to be the servant of his household.
He deserved to be beatified. St. Matthew describes for us St. Joseph’s personality. He is a righteous man who found himself facing a dilemma which tested his conscience and his faith and his love for Mary. He knew that Mary was with child. According to the law she was his wife even though they didn’t live together. What to do? Mary’s situation is not faithful to the law.
His dignity won’t allow him to accept Mary’s situation which indicates to stone her. He is a Jew; he doesn’t want to ignore the law. His dignity won’t allow him to accept Mary’s situation and live with her. St. Joseph is the servant of the Holy Family. He waited faithfully for the Lord’s coming.
Collection Last Week’s Collection: $ 1,407.46
Fund Raising Goal: $ 250.000.00
$ 13,906.00 Total Received For the next phase of our plan.
Please Remember St. Anthony's Church In Your Will.
Leamington Ministerial Association invites all the Christians to pray for each other. This week we pray for Calvary Baptist Church Masses & Celebrations during the week:
Sun. March 18th, 2007
Sunday of the Paralyzed Man
أحد المُخلّع
9:30AM: Cathy Jacobs (6 Mths. Mem. Mass) (Family)
11:00AM: Sr. Clautilde Issa (Donated)
Mon. March 19th, 2007
St. Joseph’s Feast عيد مار يوسف البتول
9:00AM: Rosary Prayers (4 Mysteries)
5:30PM: Devotion Prayers to St. Joseph.
6:00PM: For the intention of all Parishioners.
Tue. March 20th, 2007
5:30PM: St. Rafca’s Prayers.
6:00PM: Tannous Salim Nohra & Wife Linda (Family)
Wed. March 21st, 2007
4:30PM: Devotion Prayers to Mother Mary.
5:30PM: St. Rafca’s Prayers.
6:00PM: Bakhos Jacobs (Mr. & Mrs. Youssef Keirouz)
Thu. March 22nd, 2007
5:30PM: St. Rafca’s Prayers.
6:00PM: All Forgotten Souls (Donated)
Fri. March 23rd , 2007
St. Rafca’s Feast عيد القديسة رفقا
5:30PM: Devotion Prayers to St. Joseph.
6:00PM: Semaan Sarkis (Adrian, Angelica & Jaydon Tannous)
6:30PM: Stations of the Cross.
Sun. March 25th, 2007
Sunday of the Blind Man
أحد الأعمى
9:30AM: Hanna Raffoul (1 Yr. Mem. Mass) (Family)
11:00AM: Boula Tannous (1 Yr. Mem. Mass) (Family)
1:00PM: Baptism: Jenna Rose Youssef.
Community News & Events During This Week
Welcome: We would like to welcome to our Parish Rev. Fr. Charles Saad who will be replacing Fr. Elie for the next two weeks. We also thank Fr. Sami Farah for his help. May God bless them and keep them safe.
St. Joseph’s Feast: Tomorrow, March 19th, we celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast. We will have a solemn Mass at 6:00PM for the intentions of all parishioners. We wish all the best to those names after St. Joseph. May God bless them all through the intercession of the Patron Saint of the family.
St Rafca’s Feast: We celebrate St. Rafca’s Feast on March 23rd. We will have three days of prayers to prepare for this feast starting Tuesday, March 20th at 5:30PM. All are welcome.
Congratulations to Isabella Marie D’Angela who received the Sacrament of Baptism in St. Anthony’s Parish on Sunday, March 11th, 2007. May God bless her with her family.
Children Easter Party: All the children J. K. to grade 8 are invited to an Easter Party on Saturday, March 31st, 2007. Please sign up your names on the sheet provided at the Church entrance.
Pilgrimage Trip: St. Anthony’s Parish is organizing a Pilgrimage Trip to France, Portugal and Spain. Departure on May 13 and returning on May 27, 2007. Price is: $ 3,700.00 per person and it includes: Airport taxes, service charges, hotel porterage, hotel tips, bus transfers between Leamington and Detroit. If you are interested in joining, please sign up your names on the sheet provided or call the Church Office at 322-2282. This is a chance to visit all the major pilgrimage sites in France, Spain and Portugal.
Easter Play: Monday, 6:00 to 7:00PM.
Stations of the Cross: During Lent Season, we pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday evening at 6:30PM. All are welcome to attend and remember the passion of Christ our salvation.
First Communion: The First Communion Courses, every Friday from 5:00 to 6:30PM. All are welcome.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Icon will visit this week: St. Anthony’s Parish, 280 Talbot Rd. East, Leamington Phone # (519) 322-2282. If you like the icon to visit your home, please call St. Anthony’s Parish. All are welcome.
Bingo Sessions: Friday, March 23rd, 2007 @ 1:00PM.
Knights of Columbus News:
- Third Degree: March 18th, 2007, Council 2356, Tilbury. Degree starts at 1:00PM. Cost $ 15.00 for the degree and $ 15.00 for the banquet.
- General Membership Meeting: March 20th, 2007 at 8:00PM at Church Hall.
- 1st & 2nd Degree: March 25th, 2007, Council 3305 Essex. Degree starts at 1:30PM. Candidates must be there a minimum 1 hour prior to the degree. (We need 3 new members for this year quota)
- K of C Ontario State 2007 Bursary Program: Ten $500.00 bursaries will be awarded to the children of K of C Members in good standing and proof of attending university or college education is required. Application must be submitted by April 16th, 2007. Form can be obtained from any member of our council, or at www.osc-koc.com
St. Joseph, March 19th
St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus Christ, was a descendant of King David. Betrothed to Mary, he decided to divorce her quietly when he found out she was with child, but an angel of the Lord told him to take her as his wife, since the child to be born was the “Holy One of God.” Joseph assisted at the birth of Jesus and became his support and guide through childhood.
In his work as a carpenter he shared the many hours of his trade with his young son. Joseph, a man of faith, a just man, was a worthy successor to the great patriarchs. God entrusted this silent, humble man with the unique privilege of raising his only son as a growing child. A saint close to God, he is honoured as the patron of the family and the Universal Church.
St. Rafca, March 23rd
St. Rafca was born in Himlaya, a village of Metn, on June 29th, 1832. In 1847, Rafqa chose to enter the monastic life in Our Lady of Deliverance monastery in Bikfaya, to become a nun. On St. Joseph’s day, March 19, 1861, she wore the initiation robe.
On March 19, 1862, Rafqa presented the monastic vows in the Monastery of Ghazir. On August 25th, 1872, she presented her vows in the monastery of St. Simon El – Qarn in Aito and was named Rafqa. There, she spent 26 years. She was a role model to other nuns. On the first Sunday of October 1885, she entered the convent and began to pray, asking God to make her a part of his divine pains.
God responded immediately, as the unbearable pains began in her head and moved to her eyes. All attempts to cure her failed. She returned to the monastery where she suffered terribly in her eyes for 12 years. She remained patient, praying in joy sharing the pain of Jesus.
When the Lebanese Maronite Order decided to build the monastery of St. Joseph in Jrabta, Batroun in 1897, six nuns from St. Simon Monastery were sent to the new one under the supervision of Mother Ursula Doumit from Maad. Rafca was among them. In 1899, she lost the sight in her left eye and became blind.
Rafqa lived the last phase of her life blind and crippled. Only her face was spared and remained shining till the end. On March 23rd, 1914, Rafqa rested in peace, after a life of praying, service and suffering. Pope John Paul II declared her: Venerated on February 11, 1892, Beatified on November 17, 1985, Role Model in the adoration of the Eucharist in 2000, Saint for the entire Catholic Church on June 10, 2001.
Prayer to St. Joseph
Blessed St. Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day. You protected and cherished the Virgin Mother; loving the child Jesus as your Son, you rescued him from the danger of death. Defend the Church, the household of God, purchased by the blood of Christ.
Guardian of the Holy Family, be with us in our trials. May your prayers obtain for us the strength to flee from error and wrestle with the powers of corruption so that in life we may grow in holiness and in death rejoice in the crown of victory. Amen.
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