HOLY FAMILY PARISH WEEKLY BULLETIN

"Stewardship - A Way of Life"

February 21, 2010

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Administrator - Fr. Vernon F. Driscoll
Pastoral Associate - Deacon Howard Gotell
Religious Education Coordinator - Deacon Howard Gotell
Office Manager - Maria Kirkpatrick
K of C 3rd Degree Grand Knight - Jack Leger 545-2418
K of C Community Centre- 667-8252


Click here to visit our Diocesan Website


We have added a new page for the building news as it happens. This is the place to come for news and updates throughout the construction phase of the Holy Family complex. We have also started a photo page on Flickr. Check it out! Holy Family Parish Amherst Flickr site


~News from the Construction Site~

Photos from the construction site through February 14th. More Photos are posted on our Flickr site.


exterior   exterior   exterior   exterior   interior   exterior   exterior  



~WE ARE ON THE JOURNEY TO EASTER~

The ashes have been blessed and distributed and we are in the Season of Lent 2010. But it is a special Lent for our Parish as it will be the last Lent that we celebrate in this church. We have been given a unique gift as we began our worship this Sunday, the universal Christian sign, the cross. These crosses, made from one of the pews of the church, will be a remembrance of all the blessings and liturgical celebrations that have taken place here over more than one hundred years. At Easter, another gift will be ours to celebrate our transition to the then new church.



~THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE RETURNED PYXES~

At least fifteen pyxes have been returned to the Parish since we put out the call a couple of weeks ago and we are grateful for that. But the return shows us the good work that is being done by faithful parishioners for those who are confined to their homes. A blessing indeed.



~LITTLE ROCK SCRIPTURE SERIES~

The Little Rock Scripture Series continues this week. Monday's session for this week is cancelled, as some participants will be away. Monday participants are encouraged to attend the Thursday morning session on February 25th beginning at 10:30am. During Lent, the Thursday morning session will be followed by Mass at 12:10noon. Please note Little Rock will resume for Monday participants on March 1st beginning at 7:00.



~STEUBENVILLE ATLANTIC 2010
“THE WORD BECAME FLESH”~

Steubenville Atlantic for 2010 will take place at St. FX University in Antigonish, from July 30th to August 1st. Cost of this year’s event is $185.00 per participant who registers before March 31st. Those registering after March 31st will pay $210.00. A non-refundable $50.00 deposit is due within 10 days of the group’s registration. We would like to form our parish group to meet the March deadline. The event is open to those preparing to receive Confirmation this year and also to High School youth. Interested young people, please call Deacon Howard 667-2523, Geoff Baldwin 686-3021 or Maria Boudreau 661-0667 for more information.



~PARISH PRAYER WALL~

During the Lenten Season parishioners are encouraged to place prayer intentions on our prayer wall, located in the Church. Frequent visits to the wall will encourage you to pray for the intentions placed there as part of your Lenten prayer. Intentions will be mentioned at least once during the weekend masses in our Prayers of the Faithful.



~COFFEE MORNING – NEXT WEEKEND~

Next Sunday, February 28th after both masses, the Parish Life Committee will host our regular coffee morning. The committee will be serving “Sinn-A-Buns” on this occasion. Everyone is welcomed to “socialize with us – no cost but your time”.



~RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS~



~FAMILY MASS NEXT WEEKEND~

Next weekend, the Second Sunday of Lent, will be our monthly Family Mass at 11:15. The M & M’s, our youth music group, will lead our music and all families are encouraged to attend this Mass.



12 EFFECTIVE MEASUREMENTS OF PARISHIONER ENGAGEMENT

There are 12 measures of parishioner engagement and over the next few weeks we will offer some reflection on these measurements and how we might integrate these within parish life, committees and organizations. This week our measures for parish engagement are these:

  1. I have a best friend in my parish.
  2. Someone has talked to me about the progress of my spiritual growth.
  3. In my Parish, I have opportunities to learn and grow.

Have I found a best friend in the parish that I can speak to about my feelings and spiritual growth? A like-minded person sharing a common vision can become an asset in our spiritual journey. As a parish, have we provided opportunities to learn and grow? During the past few weeks, we have looked at 12 effective measures of Parishioner Engagement. This concludes the series but these 12 measures will reappear in a survey that will be conducted in the parish later in 2010. The results will reflect the level of Parishioner Engagement at Holy Family at that point in time. Accompanying the survey results will be a strategy to increase Parishioner Engagement over a period of time. This approach is a component of developing a pastoral plan for Holy Family as we move to our new facility. More details will be outlined in future bulletins. This is part of the on-going work being done by the Stewardship Council of the Parish.



~LENTEN FOLDERS~

Lenten folders are included with this week’s bulletin. We ask that you take them home and return them with your offering at Easter.



~SCHEDULES TO BE PICKED UP ~

Please Note: The new schedules for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Hospitality and Usher/Collector are ready to be picked up for those who do not have an e-mail address.



~KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP~

The Knights of Columbus scholarship applications are now being accepted for post secondary education. Scholarships are open to those graduating from High School this year, as well as, students enrolled in their first year of post secondary education. Deadline for applications is March 12, 2010. Forms are available at the back of the Church.



~2009 DONATION RECEIPTS ~

Donation receipts are available on the table at the back of the church for those who did not receive their receipt.



~BOOKS WANTED~

The Bridge Adult Service Centre is looking for donations of used books and magazines for their book sale at the Amherst Centre on Friday, April 9th from 10am to 7pm and Saturday, April 10th from 10am to 2pm. Call 667-5670 to have your book donation picked up.



~STEWARDSHIP CORNER~

Jesus retreats to the dessert for 40 days, preparing for His role in bringing salvation to humankind. The account portrays a time of trial and great difficulty. Effective discipleship requires time of personal and communal preparation. Personal and communal preparation strengthens us spiritually for the pitfalls and blessings discipleship can bring. Spiritual preparation helps define gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure we bring to our life and mission. Will I use this Lenten season to prepare myself to answer God's call and give thanks for blessings already received?



~MEETINGS~

Meetings this week...



Notes and Reminders



FINANCIAL CORNER
St. Vincent de Paul - $291.50
Children's Offering - $21.31
Fuel Offering - $577.00
Sunday Offering
Envelopes (164) $2,776.00
Loose $145.54
Pre-authorized ( 63 ) $ 1,401.08

Budget $4,519.00   shortage $196.38
Thank you for your generosity.

~READINGS For Next Week~
 
1stReading –  Genesis 15.5-12, 17-18

2nd Reading –  Philippians 3.17 -4.1

Gospel –Luke 9.28b-36 

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