Dear parishioners,

With Ash Wednesday we have started the Season of Lent. We have received the ashes on our foreheads and heard the words: ‘remember you are dust and to dust you shall return’ (Gen. 3:19), remembering us our mortal condition. Lent began when the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the desert. The same Holy Spirit drives the whole Church and all of us into this spiritual desert – into ‘this sacred time’. The reason why the Holy Spirit led Him into the desert is given by the Gospel itself “to be tempted by the devil” This is why we call this Sunday, the Sunday of the Temptations. In Jesus’ temptations are the matter of all sins, as we can testify this from the Gospel “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time”

Jesus was tempted: First, TO STRENGTHEN US against temptations. Second,  to give us an example and to teach us HOW TO OVERCOME temptations. Third, to WARN US that however safe we may think we are; we are not free from temptations. Finally, to fill us with trust in His mercy: “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin”

         Temptations will come, but we should not get discourage; temptation is not a sin. A sin is when we consent (accept) the temptation. If we fail, there are 2 kind of sins which keep a paralell to the natural order: Venial sin which is compared as to when we are sick: we need to stay in bed, take medicine (but we are still alive); and Mortal sin which is compared as when we are dead: we cannot receive Communion. But even if we fail like this, we should not get discourage, this is why Jesus came to die for us. We should get up again with God’s grace, and go to the Sacrament of Confession and receive again his divine life. Let us ask our Blessed Mother, that this Lent, may be a time of proven love for Christ.

Fr. Gaston Giacinti, IVE

WEEKLY NEWS

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.

Catholic Missionary Children Oratory

All children ages 7 to 10 are invited on Saturdays to join the CMC at St. John the Baptist church at 10 am. For info text Sr. Inmaculada 705 977 6410 or stjohnandsacredheart@gmail.com

Confession schedule changes at Sacred Heart :

On February 27 There will be regular Friday adoration from 1:30pm-6:30pm, but No Confession at Sacred Heart, there will be Lenten confession at St John’s from 5:00pm – 6: 30pm on that day. There will be stations of the cross at 6:30pm after adoration at Sacred Heart Church.

Rosary Group Please join the Rosary group which meets every Thursday at 1:30 to pray the rosary for the needs of the Universal Church.

Thank You! Shrove Tuesday

Thank you for all of the help received to make the Shrove Tuesday dinner a success.  We had over 70 parishioners attend the event and made $465 in total.

It was another great Sacred Heart community event.

Parish Mass Intentions

 By giving an offering for the celebration of a specific intention at Holy Mass, the donor shares in the Church’s concern for its ministers, the works of charity and the good of the whole Body of Christ (see Can. 946). Consider offering a Mass for those you love, deceased or living. You may request Masses through the parish office.

Tax Receipts

The tax receipts are ready for pick up at the entrance of the church.

 Lenten Activities

Lenten Retreat – The Catholic Missionary Children Oratory are hosting a Lenten Retreat for Children 6-13 years old. It will include games, talks, prayer (stations of the Cross, adoration to the Blessed Sacrament, rosary) Confession, and Mass. The retreat will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Drop off at St. John Elementary School. Pick up at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

To register or for more information please text sister Inmaculada 705 -977- 6410 for registration

https://forms.gle/QXWyoW8yr2xnTpJy7

Lenten Confession

Friday February 27 : Lenten confession at St. John the Baptist from 5:00-6:30PM. ( No confession at Sacred Heart on that day)

Friday March 6 : Lenten confession at Sacred Heart from 5:00pm-6:30PM

The Way of the Cross – The way of the Cross will be guided every Friday during Lent, at Saint John the Baptist at 12:00 AM & at Sacred Heart at 6:30 PM, or if First Friday after the 6:30PM Mass.

Presentation for Lent March 21^st and March 22^nd

Fr. Gaston will present a PowerPoint on the chronology of the Gospel events, focusing on the week before the Passion, Passion Week, and the timeline of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The presentation will include maps, times, and locations. All are welcome!

Saturday, March 21^st – Sacred Heart Church, after the 5:30 PM Mass (in the basement)

Sunday, March 22^nd  – Saint John’s, after the 10:30 AM Mass (in the basement).

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

SHARE LENT 2026 On Track for Justice – Message by Bishop Daniel Miehm Click below

https://sacredheartpeterborough.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Share-Lent-2026.pdf

Lenten Retreats Villa St. Joseph

February 21, 9-4 “Life Transfigured: A Lenten Retreat”

February 27 (7:00 pm) to March 1 (1:00 pm) “Lenten Sabbath Weekend Retreat” For further information and to register: https://www.villastjoseph.ca/

World Youth Day 2027 Our diocese will be travelling to Seoul on July 27th-August 9th, 2027. Any interested pilgrims, individuals or groups, between the ages of 18-35 are invited to contact Fr. Stephen.

FrStephenDecarlo@peterboroughdiocese.org

35th Lift Jesus Higher Rally

March 14th 9:00am-5:30pm @Metro Toronto Convention Center for details, visit https://ljhr.ca/