Introduction to the Liturgy – The Call and Complacency – On the occasion of Moses’ call to liberate his people from bondage, God also chose to reveal his name. This is one of the great moments of the Hebrew scriptures. But election is not synonymous with salvation, as Paul today reminds the Corinthians. Election calls for a continuing response, an ongoing conversion. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that there is a day of reckoning for all. We should learn from misfortunes that occur rather than feel that we are immune. Now is the time to bear fruit. Every day is a gift and a moment of growth.

From the Church Fathers – St. Gregory of Nyssa – “[When]…we are living at peace, the truth will shine upon us and its radiance will illuminate the eyes of our soul. Now this truth is God. Once in an ineffable and mysterious vision it manifested itself to Moses, and it is not without significance for us that the flame from which the soul of the Prophet was illuminated was kindled from a thorn-bush. If truth is God and if it is also light – two of the sublime and sacred epithets by which the Gospel describes the God who manifested himself to us in the flesh – it follows that a virtuous life will lead us to a knowledge of that light which descended to the level of our human nature. It is not from some luminary set among the stars that it sheds its radiance, which might then be thought to have a material origin, but from a bush on the earth, although it outshines the stars of heaven. This also symbolizes the mystery of the Virgin, from whom came the divine light that shone upon the world without damaging the bush from which it emanated or allowing the virgin shoot to wither. This light teaches us what we must do to stand in the rays of the true light, and that it is impossible with our feet in shackles to run toward the mountain where the light of truth appears.” (The Life of Moses, 2.17-21; from the Monastic Office of Vigils for Tuesday of the 1^st Week in Lent, Year 2)

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY WEEK

Your total offering for last Sunday was $2762.05

Thank you for your generosity and support

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

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 Kimberly de Ruiter

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.

Mask Mandate Ending – As of Monday, March 21^st, Ontario will not longer require masks to be worn in places of worship. Anyone is welcome to keep wearing masks if they wish to do so.

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.

Faith Lenten Retreat – The Diocesan Office of Faith Formation and Leadership Development is sponsoring an Adult Faith Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at St. James the Less Parish, Eganville Ontario from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with registration at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $15.00 per person (lunch and refreshments provided). This retreat is open to all the faithful. The theme of the retreat is the “A Walk through the Mass.” Our guest speaker will be Fr. Michael Smith, Vicar General of the Diocese of Pembroke. Please join us for this very special day. To register or for more information, please contact Deacon Adrien Chaput at (613) 732-7933 ext. 206 or dcadriendchaput@pembrokediocese.com. Registration deadline is Thursday, March 24, 2022.

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.

History of Lent – Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter. In the desire to renew the liturgical practices of the Church, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican Council II stated, “The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent — the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance — should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. It is by means of them that the Church prepares the faithful for the celebration of Easter, while they hear God’s word more frequently and devote more time to prayer” (no. 109). The word Lent itself is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten, meaning “Spring,” and lenctentid, which literally means not only “Springtide” but also was the word for “March,” the month in which the majority of Lent falls. [Read the rest of this article at https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-lent.html]