PARISH BULLETIN * November 19, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

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Rocky Mountain House - St. Matthew

November 19, 2017 – 33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

ST. MATTHEW PARISH AND MISSIONS Rocky Mountain House - St. Matthew Church

Caroline - St. Joseph the Workman Church Evergreen - Jesuit Martyrs Church

Evergreen - Jesuit Martyrs

Caroline - St. Joseph Bulletin QR Code

INTRODUCTION TO THE LITURGY OF THE SUNDAY Nearing the end of the liturgical year, our attention turns to our vigilant and prayerful preparation for the return of Christ in glory. Life

is perhaps best described as a journey with a beginning and an end. As we come to the end of another Church year, we are invited to reflect on what is often referred to as the last things - judgment, heaven and hell. But we do so not in fear but in hope, for while our earthly lives will end, the promise of life eternal shines forth in Christ. The first reading from Proverbs reminds us that having a loving and faithful spouse is a gift from God. The second reading exhorts us to be vigilant for the return of Christ. The Gospel tells us we must each give an account of how we have used the gifts God has given us for the greater good of the kingdom.

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

Date and Time Greeter(s) - Gifts Bearers Proclaimers Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Nov. 18, 2017 at 07.00 PM Andrew & Valerie Schulte 1 Laverne Froese 2 Laurier Nobert H. Ernie Murias C1. JoAnne Como C2. Laurier Nobert

Nov. 19, 2017 at 09.00 AM CWL and Knight of Columbus will serve in ministries today

Nov. 25, 2017 at 07.00 PM Brian & Pauline Morrison 1 Faye Boyle 2 Catherine Bolton H. JoAnne Como C1. Laverne Froese C2. Ernie Murias

Nov. 26, 2017 at 09.00 AM Carla Marks 1 Bill Fletcher 2 Dave Parfitt H. Pat Hughes C1. Roxane Melvin C2. Sarah Cubby

As we come to the end of another liturgical year, our readings seem solemn and sober, challenging us to reflect on our own

lives and to consider our own epitaphs - what we will leave behind or what others will say about us. Will they say that we used

our God-given talents well? That we did our part to improve that little piece of the world we inhabited? Today’s readings help

us with this challenge. The Gospel tells of three investors and invites us to identify with them - the two who risked and

gained and the one who, stricken by fear, made sure he did not lose the little he had. Our initial reaction might be to side

with the prudent guy and why not? In today’s world where the market can be so unpredictable, it makes sense to be cautious,

especially when dealing with another’s money. Yet is that what Jesus wants? If we equate the word talent with a huge

amount of money, we run the risk of misunderstanding this parable. Instead, we should see it as referring to something of

tremendous value - the Gospel message. Because Matthew has chosen to place this parable ahead of the Last Judgment,

we know that it speaks to us of success, failure and judgment. Jesus exhorts his disciples to take risks - to invest their whole

lives in the truth of the Gospel and, if necessary, to risk all for the glory of God. By first leading us to favor the timid servant,

Jesus then turns the story upside down. The irony is that he loses everything - even the little he has. For we need to take note

of the fact that each is given according to his ability and that when risked, the reward is a share in the master’s joy. So

what, then, is the moral of this parable? If we see it as an exhortation to work diligently and fearlessly for the return of Christ,

then now is the time for all Christians to use and, if necessary, to risk all their gifts and talents, their resources and faith to

share Christ with others and to bear the fruit of the dividends of that investment.

PARISH BULLETIN * November 19, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

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FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM KAREN BOSTON

I am forever grateful!

It is a "bittersweet" day as I take leave of my place at the parish office, where I have served St. Matthew Parish and Missions for the past 13 years. There could not have been a more fulfilling or special place for me to have had the privilege to work, as I shared joys and sorrows in the lives of our parishioners. These memories will always be held in a very special place in my heart! But as much as I will miss our 'parish family', there are two (and soon to be three) other special 'family members' - our grandchildren - whose lives Barry and I want to be a part of as much as we can. Our move to Red Deer will make these visits more easily accessible. In seeking to follow God's will, and in facing the unknown in this new 'chapter' of our lives, a song has brought renewed faith, and much encouragement: "I don't know what this day will bring; will it be disappointing, or filled with longed for things. No, I don't know what the future holds; still I know, I can trust Your faithfulness..." Words cannot fully express my sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support given by parishioners of St. Matthew, Jesuit Martyrs, and St. Joseph - those who took part in the pot luck supper, and those who phoned or stopped by, in the previous weeks, to share their words of farewell, smiles and hugs. For all the generosity and caring shown me at this time and all through the years; I am forever grateful! And for all the goodness 'wrapped up' in our shared memories - "to God be the glory"!

Prayers and blessings, Karen Boston

NEW PARISH SECRETARY!

We welcome our new parish secretary - Vivian Duhamel

NEW PERMAMENT OFFICE HOURS IN OUR PARISH OFFICE

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

01.00 PM - 06.00 PM 10.00 AM - 06.00 PM Closed! Closed! 10.00 AM - 06.00 PM

FIRST COMMUNION CLASS Sunday – November 19, 2017 04.00 PM – 05.45 PM

RCIA CLASS Tuesday – November 21, 2017 07.00 PM – 09.00 PM

ST. MATTHEW YOUTH MINISTRY Thursday – Nov. 23, 2017 7.00 PM - 9.00 PM

St. Matthew's Youth Ministry runs most Thursdays from 7.00 PM to 9.00 PM at the Church. All youth grades 6-8 are welcome to attend!

Adult and High School leaders are needed. Please contact Peter van Kampen at vankampen.peter@gmail.com or 403-848-0955.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT - ST. MATTHEW CHURCH

Friday – Nov. 24, 2017 09.30 AM – 01.00 PM (Private Adoration) Mass at 09.00 AM

NEXT BEAUTIFUL BREAKFAST ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE - ST. MATTHEW

Next Sunday After 9.00 AM Mass on November 26, 2017 Hope to see you all!

No Breakfast in December. Many THANK YOUs for all the great support!

ATTENTION

ATTENTION

CHRISTIANS OF THE HOLY LAND COMING TO OUR PARISH

Christians of the Holy Land will be visiting with us next weekend of November 25/26! A display of religious goods will be available for sale after all weekend Masses (Rocky Mountain House, Evergreen and Caroline). All the items are made in the holy land and more importantly, they are hand carved by the local Catholic population there! This is a wonderful way to buy a small piece of olive wood article and support our brothers and sisters! So please, stop buy and see a small part of Bethlehem here at our parish!

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE

In the parish office and the entrance of the churches

Christmas Cards are for sale at the Parish Office during the week or on the weekends after each Mass. Please, consider sending your Christmas cards depicting the birth of Jesus. Thank you for your support!

PARISH BULLETIN * November 19, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

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"WORD AMONG US" - Advent Meditations PLEASE PICK UP ONE! FREE!

Please pick up book of Advent Meditations "Word Among Us" from the back of the church.

The Word Among Us includes daily meditations based on the Mass readings of the Catholic

Church, inspirational essays, testimonies and stories of the saints and other Christian heroes.

Take for yourself, family member, friend or neighbor! Give as a gift! They might read!

SUNDAY MISSALS 2018

$5.00 each

Participate more fully in the Mass with St. Joseph Sunday Missal! This compact missal includes all the readings of the Mass for every Sunday of the year as well as prayers for personal devotion. It’s an excellent resource for those seeking to participate fully in the Sunday Liturgy. The 2018 Saint Joseph Sunday Missal contains prayers, readings, and responses in a simple and continuous flow making it easy to use and understand for everyone. Missals are on display at the entrance of each church. The cost - $4.00 each!

Winter 2018 WISDOM – God’s Vision For Life - RMH Starting in January 2018

If you were asked about The Crusades The Inquisition The Dark Ages The Galileo Affair What would you say? Join us for next Bible Study: WISDOM – God’s vision for life January & February 2018 8 week study

Sundays 10.30 AM to 11.45 AM (30 min. video and 45 min. discussion For more information call/text Lisa at 403-846-7137

Participant journal cost - $40.00. Register and pay by December 01, 2017 at the parish office, during office hours.

Scripture and the Tradition of the Catholic Church provide an abundance of wisdom, though it can often be challenging to apply it to our lives. In this study, Jeff Cavins and Thomas Smith examine biblical wisdom as it relates to daily life. Drawing on the wisdom literature of the Bible - Proverbs, Wisdom, Sirach, and Ecclesiastes - Wisdom will teach you how to actively seek out sound guidance and increase your sense of peace in navigating life. In everything from friendships to finances, from making decisions to attaining peace of mind, Scripture offers a vision for happiness and well-being. With this program, you will learn how to gather, gain, and grow in wisdom, and you will experience the joy it brings to your life. In this program, you will: Discover what wisdom is (and what it isn’t!) Learn new habits for increasing wisdom in your daily life Gain confidence, through role models and practice, in living according to God’s vision. More info - video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xQCwjN2GMLU

ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS

HOW WE CAN HELP!

Over the last three months, persecution and violence have caused several hundreds of thousands of people from the Muslim Rohingya minority to flee their homes in Myanmar and take refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh. This massive influx of refugees has brought about a major humanitarian crisis. Nearly all of those who took part in this exodus left their villages with literally nothing and are living in terrible conditions in makeshift camps. Development and Peace - Caritas Canada is working with local partners to alleviate the suffering, and is making an emergency appeal to Canadians for help. Archbishop Smith is requesting that we answer this urgent call by donating directly to Development and Peace. Donations will serve to provide water, hygiene and sanitation needs as well as food distributions and non-food items over the next few months in the district of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Donations can be made: online at https://www.devp.org/en/emergencies/bangladesh by phone (toll free): 1 888 664 3387 by text message - text PEACE to 45678 to make a donation of $10 by mail - send a cheque made out to Development and Peace and marked Rohingya Refugee Crisis to 1425, René-Lévesque Blvd. W., 3rd Floor, Montreal, Québec, H3G 1T7.

All donations collected in Canada before November 28 will be matched by the Canadian Government.

REFUGEE DINNER

TOGETHER WE RAISED $4,544.00

A very big thank you to all the silent auction donors far too many to mention but very appreciated, the lovely cook Denia Baltzer with Creative Cuisine who volunteered her services and to those that volunteered to assist her throughout the day. The numerous volunteers that helped throughout the event the Catholic Women’s League, Vivian Duhamel, Julie Layden, Debbie Baich, Home Hardware, Peter van Kampen, Catherine van Kampen, Alice Murray, Ravenwood just to mention a few. The kitchen help Mary Ghazoul, Joyce Donald, Michaella Brutas, Nancy Dagher, Suzanne Spierenburg, Bill Fletcher, Adel Reeder, Ricardo Rodriguez and the lovely lady on the dish washer who I unfortunately never got her name. A big thank you to the Knights of Columbus for the large $1,000.00 donation. Together we raised $4,544.00. We are that much closer to helping Alex, Jamil and Dina. Thank you everyone. May God bless you all for the kindness you have shown.

SEMINARIAN PRAYER CALENDAR

There are currently 47 men from 11 dioceses in various stages of formation at St. Joseph Seminary. This includes six who are serving in parishes for their internship year. Each one needs our prayerful support as he continues on his journey of discernment. Pick up the Vocations Daily Calendar to help you pray every day of the month for individual seminarians.

SEMINARIAN PRAYER CARDS

The Archdiocese of Edmonton is blessed to have 12 men studying for the priesthood. They are all in various years of study: Philosophy, Propaedeutic, or Theology. We have wallet-sized cards for each of these men. The archdiocesan prayer for vocations appears on the reverse. They can be picked from the entrance of each church. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue on their discernment journey.

PARISH BULLETIN * November 19, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

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PASTOR - FR. LEON KLER

Deacon (Ret.) – Bernie Ouellette

Secretary – Vivian Duhamel

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

5208-53 Ave (Box 130) Rocky Mountain House, AB * T4T 1A1

Office Hours

Monday 01.00 PM - 06.00 PM

Tuesday 10.00 AM - 06.00 PM

Wednesday Office Closed

Thursday Office Closed

Friday 10.00 AM - 06.00 PM

Contact Information Direct phone line to office Voice 403.845.3457 Direct phone line to Fr. Leon Voice/Fax/Text 587.355.3947 Fax line to office 403.845.7177 Email address to office office@smprmh.ca Email address to Fr. Leon pastor@smprmh.ca

PARISH MINISTRIES

Parish Pastoral Council Lauren MacKenzie 403.845.2836 Ministry to the Sick Ernie Murias 403.845.4860 Called to Protect Ernie Murias 403.845.4860 RCIA

Kristin McKenzie Steve Oscar Vivian Duhamel

403.845.0017 403.895.0373 403.845.9387

Children’s Liturgy Mona Cruickshank 403.845.2454 Youth Group Peter van Kampen 403.848.0955 Prayer Line Alice Murray 403.722.4056 Knights of Columbus Gary Donald 403.845.5269 CWL Karen Carmichael 403.846.2168 Bible Study Roxane Melvin 403.845.3127

SUNDAY MASSES

Saturday 07.00 PM Rocky Mountain House Sunday 09.00 AM Rocky Mountain House Sunday 11.00 AM Evergreen Sunday 01.00 PM Caroline

WEEKDAY MASSES

Monday No Mass Tuesday 06.30 PM - St. Matthew Church, RMH Wednesday 09.00 AM - St. Matthew Church, RMH Thursday

10.00 AM - Jesuit Martyrs, Evergreen 06.30 PM - St. Matthew Church, RMH

Friday 09.00 AM - St. Matthew Church, RMH

MONTHLY MASSES

First Wednesday 08.00 AM - St. Matthew School, RMH First Wednesday 11.00 AM - Eckville Manor, Eckville First Friday 10.30 AM - Clearwater Centre, RMH Second Wednesday 08.00 AM - St. Dominic School, RMH Second Wednesday 11.00 AM - Westview Lodge, RMH

REQUESTS FOR USE OF CHURCH FACILITIES MUST BE

APPROVED BY PASTOR AND BOOKED THROUGH OFFICE.

BAPTISM OF CHILDREN

Contact office if you want your child to be baptized in our parish. Preparation Class is mandatory. For more info, call office.

CONFESSIONS

Rocky Mountain House - Every Saturday from 6.15 PM to 6.45 PM Evergreen/Caroline - after Sun. Masses Anytime by appointment

MARRIAGE

Contact office if you want to celebrate Sacrament of Marriage in our parish. Preparation is mandatory. For more info, call office.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Every Friday in St. Matthew Church - Rocky Mountain House 9.00 AM MASS 9.30 AM - 1.00 PM ADORATION

Every First Tuesday of the month in St. Matthew Church - RMH 6.30 PM MASS 7.00 PM - 8.00 PM HOLY HOUR ADORATION

PARISH WEBSITE WWW.SMPRMH.CA

Saturday November 18, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 07.00 PM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Joan Jones Sunday November 19, 2017 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 09.00 AM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Chloe Kaniusis 11.00 AM Evergreen – Jesuit Martyrs Church Intention: ++ Fr. Archie Intengan SJ; Mrs. C.N. Posoncuy; Dr. Ralph J.

Posoncuy; Timotea Nierras; and Blas Nierras 01.00 PM Caroline – St. Joseph the Workman Church Intention: For all members of our parish communities

Monday November 20, 2017 – Weekday in Ordinary Time No Mass

Tuesday November 21, 2017 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 06.30 PM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Bobby Kopp Wednesday November 22, 2017 - St. Cecilia; virgin, martyr 09.00 AM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Ken Banks Thursday November 23, 2017 – Weekday in Ordinary Time 10.00 AM Evergreen – Jesuit Martyrs Church Intention: No intention requested 06.30 PM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Sandra Corazza Friday Nov. 24 - St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest & Companions; martyrs 09.00 AM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Sandra Corazza

09.30 AM – 01.00 PM ADORATION St. Matthew Church, RMH

Saturday November 25, 2017 – Solemnity of Christ The King 07.00 PM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Cyrille Fournier and blessings and grace for Alma Sunday November 26, 2017 – Solemnity of Christ The King 09.00 AM Rocky Mountain House – St. Matthew Church Intention: + Len Kjorlien 11.00 AM Evergreen – Jesuit Martyrs Church Intention: + Sandra Corazza 01.00 PM Caroline – St. Joseph the Workman Church Intention: For all members of our parish communities

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT!

Nov. 12, 2017 REGULAR SUNDAY COLLECTION RMH - $1,491.00 * Evergreen - $771.25 * Caroline - $250.10 Nov. 12, 2017 CHILDREN’S COLLECTION (Friends of Jesus) RMH - $16.35 * Evergreen - $6.20 * Caroline - $0.00 Nov. 12, 2017 TOGETHER WE SERVE COLLECTION RMH - $120.00 * Evergreen - $50.00 * Caroline - $00.00 Nov. 12, 2017 MAINTENANCE FUND: RMH - $220.00 Nov. 12, 2017 REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP FUND: RMH - $1,520.00

Nov. 15, 2017 BANK WITHDRAWAL – REG. COLLECTION: RMH - $2,795.00 * Evergreen - $800.00 * Caroline - $1,000.00 Nov. 15, 2017 BANK – REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP: RMH - $210.00 Nov. 15, 2017 BANK – MAINTENANCE FUND: Evergreen - $75.00

CELEBRATIONS OF THE SACRAMENTS – BAPTISM

We warmly welcome into our Catholic Community Otis Walter Greening

Son of Dee Dee Greening of St. Matthew Parish in Rocky Mountain House. His baptism will be celebrated in St. Matthew Church during Mass at 09.00 AM on Sunday, November 19, 2017.