Introduction to the Liturgy – Ministry of Reconciliation – The Christian life is basically one of reconciliation. All of us move from sin to grace, from alienation to friendship. Every ministry in the church is in some sense a reconciling one. For the Hebrews, the possession of the land was a symbol of reconciliation, just as the time spent in Egypt stood for their life of alienation. The first reading from Joshua speaks of their arrival in Canaan. As in today’s gospel story, it too was a homecoming. The parable of the forgiving father, found only in Luke, speaks as eloquently about God’s desire for reconciliation as does any page in scripture. Against this background of the exodus and Christ’s act of redemption, Paul speaks of his own ministry of reconciliation.

From the Church Fathers – St. Cyril of Alexandria – “And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” As therefore the Pharisees and the Scribes made this outcry at His gentleness and love to man, and wickedly and impiously blamed Him for receiving and teaching men whose lives were impure, Christ very necessarily set before them the present parable, to show them clearly this very thing, that the God of all requires even him who is thoroughly steadfast, and firm, and who knows how to live holily, and has attained to the highest praise for sobriety of conduct, to be earnest in following His will, so that when any are called unto repentance, even if they be men highly blameable, he must rejoice rather, and not give way to an unloving vexation on their account. (Homilies on Luke, Sermon 107)

In your prayers kindly remember the sick and those who care for them, the lonely, the handicapped, those isolated, and those who have died, especially Egon Conrad.

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY WEEK

Your total offering for last Sunday was $5,170.05

Thank you for your generosity and support

In your kindness, please remember St. Columbkille’s Cathedral Parish in your bequests and wills

Stations of the Cross – Stations of the Cross will take place at 7:00 p.m. every Friday throughout Lent.

Saint Michael Prayer – Please join us in a few weeks when we start reciting the Prayer to St. Michael at the end of each Mass. Prayer cards will be made available in all the pews, and we will pray for the sake of this parish and the world.

Looking for Sacristans – We are currently looking for active members of the parish to join the Sacristan Team. Duties would include – setting up before each Mass, cleaning up after Mass, changing linens as required and preparing the Cathedral for special celebrations throughout the year. Please contact Lance Patriquin at 613-633-1108 if you can help.

Latin Mass – A Latin Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962 is offered at St. Columbkille Cathedral at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. This is basically the same form of the Liturgy which nourished the faith of many Catholics for centuries. English translations of the entire Mass are provided. Next Latin Mass – April 2^nd.

First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre AGM Invitation – Please join us for our Annual General Meeting that will take place on Wednesday, March 30^th at 6:30 pm. The decision was made to meet virtually again this year. We would love to have you join us via Zoom or phone. For more details, please contact the First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre at 613 635-7440.

Chrism Mass at St. Columbkille Cathedral – The Chrism Mass will be held at St. Columbkille Cathedral on Tuesday, April 12^th at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception at Cathedral Hall. All are welcome.

Sunday Obligation To Be Restored April 9^th – The Most. Rev. Guy Desrochers has decreed that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass for Catholics will be restored beginning the Vigil of Palm Sunday, Saturday, April 9^th. https://pembrokediocese.com/article/sunday-obligation-to-be-restored-effective-april-9/

CWL – The winners of our annual 2022 Cathedral CWL Membership Contest were: Elsie Carmody & Patricia (Pat) McLaughlin. If anyone else wishes to purchase or renew your CWL membership, please contact: Barbara Clouthier, Convenor, 613-732-9873

History of Laetare Sunday – The fourth, or middle, Sunday of Lent, so called from the first words of the Introit at Mass, “Laetare Jerusalem” — “Rejoice, O Jerusalem”. During the first six or seven centuries the season of Lent commenced on the Sunday following Quinquagesima, and thus comprised only thirty-six fasting days. To these were afterwards added the four days preceding the first Sunday, in order to make up the forty days’ fast, and one of the earliest liturgical notices of these extra days occurs in the special Gospels assigned to them in a Toulon manuscript of 714. Strictly speaking, the Thursday before Laetare Sunday is the middle day of Lent, and it was at one time observed as such, but afterwards the special signs of joy permitted on this day, intended to encourage the faithful in their course through the season of penance, were transferred to the Sunday following. They consist of (like those of Gaudete Sunday in Advent) in the use of flowers on the altar, and of the organ at Mass and Vespers; rose-coloured vestments also allowed instead of purple […] The contrast between Laetare and the other Sundays is thus emphasized, and is emblematical of the joys of this life, restrained rejoicing mingled with a certain amount of sadness. […] Other names applied to it were Refreshment Sunday, or the Sunday of the Five Loaves, from a miracle recorded in the Gospel; Mid-Lent, mi-carême, or mediana; and Mothering Sunday, in allusion to the Epistle [Gal 4:22-31], which indicates our right to be called the sons of God as the source of all our joy, and also because formerly the faithful used to make their offerings in the cathedral or mother-church on this day. This latter name is still kept up in some remote parts of England, though the reason for it has ceased to exist.

https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/laetare-sunday