FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MASS INTENTIONS

Tuesday, January 30 9:00 a.m. (+) Imelda & Basil Keil req. by Astrid De Jong.

Wednesday, January 31 9:00 a.m. (+) Peter Hutchinson req. by Fran & Jim Hutchinson. Thursday, February 1

9:00 a.m. Private Intentions. Friday, February 2 9:00 a.m. Intentions of Sharon Leonard.

Saturday, February 3

4:30 p.m. (+) Kazimierz Lipski the Lipski family. Sunday, February 4

9:00 a.m. All Parishioners. 11 a.m. (+) Leticia Lapore Andres req. Andres & Crisologo family.

PASTOR’S CORNER

I know that some of you are struggling now with this issue of life vs. death, so I want to share with you this timely personal reflection I came across re-cently:

Most people are not as afraid of death itself as they are afraid of dy-ing, especially dying in pain. Family members who watch loved ones suffer at the end of their lives talk about it as a nightmare experience. The fear and negative situations have resulted in passing laws allowing assisted suicide. By definition, assisted suicide occurs when an “assistant” provides the means for ill or suffering persons to take their own lives – lethal medications, gun/ammunition, carbon monoxide hood, etc. – but the assistant does not partici-pate in the act itself. The ill person chooses the time, place, and circumstanc-es of their death, rather than allowing the dying process to proceed naturally.

The Catholic Church condemns assisted suicide, teaching instead that we need to alleviate end-of-life suffering by utilizing effective pain relief, em-ploying hospice and palliative medications early in the process, and ensuring every patient has proper, compassionate care. Yet the Church also clearly teaches that this does not mean we are morally bound to use every means known to humankind to keep our bodies alive until our bodies simply can’t take it anymore. Life is not the ultimate good, because we are not supposed to be here forever, and God has something better in store.

Recognizing this fact, in document after document the Church calls for “acceptance in the face of death”, and weighing the potential burdens and costs of treatment against the potential benefits it could offer. It is morally and ethically OK to stop or refuse treatments that only serve to prolong dying or that cause increased pain and suffering in the dying process.

For instance, my brother is in an intense 6-month round of chemotherapy to treat his brain cancer, and says he understands as he never did before how a patient could reach a point where they decide to refuse further treatment. It saps so much energy, cognition, and life out of him that if his life becomes an endless cycle of chemo, it would not be worth it and he’ll stop. He be-lieves continuing in that circumstance would prolong the dying process com-plete with painful, debilitating side effects, and he would choose instead to maximize the quality of whatever life remains. This is not assisted suicide. In line with Church teaching, his death would occur naturally, caused by the underlying disease, and foregoing further treatments would allow him to more fully enjoy his final days on earth surrounded by supportive family and friends.

Jim is not anywhere near that decision yet, but it’s clear he is thinking ahead. It’s very hard to hear him talk this way, because I love him and do not want him to die. As Jesus says, though, he is called to cling to nothing, not even life itself. And I am called not to cling to my beloved brother. While I would never participate in any action aimed at proactively causing his death, I also need to let go of my desire to have him on this earth beyond the time when his body is ready to empty itself and free his soul to return to the Source of love that created him. Standing in the way would be self-serving and actually detrimental to Jim. When the time comes, I, too, need to find “acceptance in the face of death.”

Fr. Slawek

First Holy Communion Enrolment Mass

will be held on Sunday, February 11, at 9:00 am again, for those already regis-tered. God Bless!

JANUARY 28, 2018

Youth Ministry News Spiritus Via ~ Young Adult Ministry (19-30 years) - Our next get-together... The World's Search for Identity to be held on Wednesday, Feb-ruary 7, 2018 at 7:00 pm at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, Scar-borough. Please join us for a night of great talks, food, and getting to know each other. For more information please contact Samantha Rossi, Young Adult Minister, Eastern Region Young Adult Ministry Office of Catholic Youth, Archdiocese of Toronto EDGE ~ Youth Ministry (grades 6,7,8 and high school age) - Come join us for our second family night, Grounded, February 2, 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Parish Hall. FEBRUARY 9... Youth Valentines Day Dance, 7:00 -10:00 pm. Music by: DJ Hill. Snacks, drinks, $5.00 entrance fee. For more information contact us at edge.hsyouth@gmail.com FIRST HOLY COMMUNION ~ Fir st Holy Communion preparation sessions will resume on Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 am for those al-ready registered. New workbooks will be provided at this session. Par-ents / Guardians must sign in their child(ren). Looking forward to our continued faith journey!

JANUARY 1, 2018 Regular Envelope Offering $ 155.00 Solemnity of Mary $ 2,862.00 Building Fund $ 195.00 Initial Offering $ 1, 447.00 JANUARY 8, 2018 Regular Envelope Offering $ 4,871.00 Loose offering $ 398.00 Building Fund $ 355.00 Solemnity of Mary $ 316.00 JANUARY 20, 2018 Regular Envelope Offering $ 5,003.00 Loose offering $ 424.40 Building Fund $ 603.00

YOUR HEALTH : As cold and flu sea-son approaches, to ensure the health of the entire community, parishioners are encour-aged to stay home from Mass and parish func-tions if they are experiencing symptoms of the flu virus, colds, etc. Respect and concern for the common good takes precedence. Thank you for your cooperation! To minimize risks please use the hand sanitizers that are located at each entrance!

H oly Spirit Roman

C A T H O L I C C H U R C H

Name(s)________________________________________________

Other family members____________________________________

Address________________________________________________

City___________________________ Postal Code_____________

Phone ( )___________________________

CHECK ONE: New Registration

Change of Address Moving out of Parish Renewal

Please drop this form into the offertory basket. Note: Use of this form does not automatically register

you with the church. You will be contacted by the Parish Office to confirm registration.

UPCOMING EVENTS An Introduction to the Theology of the Body: Why Your Matter

Matters Saturday, February 3 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Augustine’s Seminary 2661 Kingston Rd., Scarborough EASTERN REGION Join us for a day to learn about “An Introduction to the Theology of the Body: Why Your Matter Matters”. From 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ambrozic

room. Mass will be celebrated in the seminary chapel followed by lunch.

Silent Retreat for Men at Manresa Pickering Friday, February 16 to

Sunday, February 18 – 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. Manresa Jesuit Spir itual Renewal Centre 2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering. A silent retreat in the Jesuit tradition. Fr. Gilles Mongeau, SJ, will facilitate the retreat, “Ignatian Basics Boot Camp” for men. We will pray with the central wisdom of the Spiritual Exercises: our Creation by a loving God, our salvation in Christ, our vocation to serve God and our neighbour with Christ.

COST: Suggested offer ing $185 per person. This includes accommo-dation, meals, program and spiritual direction. PHONE: 905-839-2864 EMAIL: pickmanresa@rogers.com WEB: www.manresa-canada.ca

SENIOR’S GROUP: The seniors group in on Wednesday after the 9 a.m. devotion of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Come out and so-cialize, play cards, make new friends in your parish community. Coffee, tea and snack are provided. Everyone welcome!

HOLY SPIRIT PARISH OFFERING JANUARY

CHILDREN'S LITURGY: Will be offered and celebrated at the 11:00 am Mass only every Sunday throughout the school year. Children ages 3 - 8 are most welcome to join us. )