PASTOR’S MESSAGE

Dear Friends,         

During this week we celebrate two important feast days within the Church. The first, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; and secondly, the Feast of Saint Blaise (Bishop and Martyr). On each of these feast day’s carry a nice tradition. 

            The feast of the Presentation of the Lord (also known as “the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary” or the “Candlemas”) falls on February 2nd. Parishioners usually bring candles they would like to have blessed for the rest of the year – the candles are usually blessed at the beginning of the Holy Mass. Although candles can be blessed on any day of the year; February 2nd is considered the designated day – by Church Traditions – for blessing candles.

            If you would like to have your candles blessed – you are more than welcomed to join us for Holy Mass on that Thursday, at Sacred Heart Church, 8 AM. If you cannot attend that Mass and would still you’re your candles blessed, you may leave your candles at the back of the Church the day before (or that morning). You can put your candles in a box or bag and put your name on it; then you can pick them up after the Mass at a later part of the day.

            Then, on the following day – on February 3rd (Friday) – we celebrate feast of Saint Blaise with the traditional blessing of throats. At the end of the mass, before the final blessing, the priest with two candles form a cross and blesses each person’s throat. As they prayer says, “…may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness.” This prayer and tradition remind us that Jesus Christ is both physician of our body and our spirit.

            Given that it is also the first Friday of the month, there will be two opportunities for participating in the Mass (Sacred Heart at 8 AM and Sacred Heart at 6:45 PM) and in receiving the blessing of the throat. If you cannot attend either Mass but would still like the blessing, please let me know, we can arrange something.

Together in Prayer

WEEKLY NEWS

Candlemas Thursday February 2^nd

You are invited to bring your candles at the 8AM Mass at Sacred Heart (see pastors message above), they will be blessed before the Holy Mass.

Blessing of the Throat Friday February 3^rd

There will be two Masses at Sacred Heart on Friday Feb. 3^rd at 8AM and 6:45PM, as it is the first Friday of the Month.

Volunteers needed for Shrove Tuesday

We are still in need of volunteers to help organize the Shrove Tuesday Dinner. The next meeting will be on Thursday February 2^nd at 11 AM in the parish hall at Sacred Heart. All help is much appreciated.  For information or would like to help but cannot attend the meeting please let Fr. Alex know: fralexsalazar@peterboroughdiocese.org

Annual Camp Northern Lights Special Collection After two years of not operating due to Covid, Camp Northern Lights did reopen last year. It was a successful and we are looking forward to operating for our 51st year this summer. Your contributions in the past have helped us to continue to provide this experience to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity to do so. We are once again running our Collection to help operate the camp. The collection will be next weekend Feb. 4th and 5th. Collection envelopes are available at the entrance of the Church. A reminder that the Camp offers a wilderness camping experience for campers aged 9-13 from local areas as well as a leadership experience for high school students as volunteer counsellors. Your Camp donation will be added to your Parish tax receipt. Please be sure to print your information including your Parish envelope number clearly on the special collection envelopes provided. Please make all cheques payable to your Parish and reference Camp Northern Lights on the memo line on the cheque. For further information please contact Randy Riel 705-872-7343.

Thank you for your continued support.

Catholic Missionary Children Oratory For Children 7-12 year old. Saturdays 10:15 AM to noon at St. John the Baptist. For info or to register contact Sr. Inmaculada stjohnandsacredheart@gmail.com

Young Adult Group at Sacred Heart on every 2nd, 4th and 5th Friday of the Month. Please join us at 6PM for 30 minutes of adoration followed by dinner in the Hall, talk and games.

Friday Adoration at Sacred Heart

Every Friday there is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Sacred Heart in reparation for the offences made to the Sacred Heart of Jesus from 1:30 to 6:30PM and confessions from 5:00 to 6:30PM.

Altar Boy Group at Sacred Heart 

1st & 3rd Fridays of the Month, 6:15 – 8:30 PM.