The Third Sunday of Lent

Cleansing our Hearts

In the Gospel this Sunday, we heard that Jesus cleansed the temple. What Jesus did may make us squirm a bit. The usually gentle, compassionate, merciful Jesus has become a person who was whiplashing: driving out sheep and cattle, scattering monies, knocking over tables and not sparing the pigeon-sellers. But Jesus gives the reason for doing this: “Take these out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”
The market was just the facade. The reality was that there was wheeling-and-dealing, cheating and bribing, with injustice and extortion. All that was carried out under the pretext of religious requirements was condoned by the Temple authorities.
With that kind of corruption in the Temple, Jesus had to do something drastic. Corruption was happening right in God’s house. He had to cleanse the Temple, so that the ordinary people could come and worship God with a worthy sacrifice. Sin and corruption had to be driven out and cleansed before true worship could take place.
Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus takes a serious stand against sin and corruption. Therefore, we have to look at ourselves and acknowledge the sin and corruption that is within us and to let Jesus cleanse us of it. That is why it is necessary to do an “Examination of Conscience” at least once a day, so that we can see for ourselves what our sins and faults are. And that’s why it is also necessary to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a healing Sacrament, because Jesus forgives and cleanses us of our sins so that we can be reconciled with God. It is a healing Sacrament, because Jesus forgives and cleanses us of our sins so that we can be reconciled with God.
Our reflection is: if we know that there is rubbish in our hearts, then why are we not getting rid of it? Why are we letting that sinful rubbish corrupt our lives and corrupt our worship of God? Fr. Aegidius Warsito, SCJ

ShareLife Parish Campaign 2024

Supporting our vulnerable youth, showing your love and bringing hope to young mothers through ShareLife

In this time of Lent, we ask you to think of our brothers and sisters in need-especially our vulnerable youth who are homeless. Many young women who are unexpectedly pregnant don’t know where to turn to keep their education on track, provide their babies with a healthy start and create a bright future. Through your kindness over 40 Catholic organizations can help marginalized members of our community. ShareLife agencies are there to help those in need. Please support our ShareLife campaign!

Craving Mexican Food?

Sunday, March 10 after 11:30 a.m. Mass

The Hispanic Community are selling empanadas and pozole along with cake and coffee on Sun., Mar. 10th after the 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Masses as a fundraiser for the Parish Campaign. Please come and support their food sale!

Handicraft Holy Land Christians

March 2 – 3 weekend

handicraft holy land christiansThis coming weekend, Mar. 2 – 3, Jonelly from “Handicraft Holy Land Christians” will address concerns regarding the Christians living in the Holy Land. They ask for your support by purchasing their hand carved olive wood pieces. These proceeds generate employment for them in Bethlehem. For more information, please visit www.holylandchristians.ca

Youth Group Easter Market

Table with various cookies, donuts, cakes and coffe cups on dark backround. Top view

Sunday, April 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Youth Group will hold an Easter Market from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with many different items to buy from various vendors. This is a fundraiser for their activities and the Parish Campaign. Please contact Emily at emilyyeo123@gmail.com if you have products to sell and Rosie at rsiefina@gmail.com for any youth volunteers to assist at the sale.

Prayers Needed for the Sick

Praying Rosary

We are praying for the sick of our parish: Geeta Bridgebassie, Benjamin Zdesar, Gustavo Caceres, Andrea E. Bernabey, Anne Evola, Thatcher Willifon, Gloria Paraan, Victoria Munson, Victor Lim and Tina Lopes. May they be supported by our prayers and pastoral ministry and by the grace of God.

Prayer of Abandonment

Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands, I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart; for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself: to surrender myself into your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence: for you are my father.
Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)

A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.

Mass Intentions for March 2 – 9, 2024

STM Church inside

Saturday 5:00 p.m. +Lourdes V. Solis, requested by the Ladines family

Sunday 8:30 a.m. +Albert and Wendy Chaves, requested by the D’Mello family

Sunday 10:00 a.m. +Rene Terry Goddard, requested by the De Juan family

Sunday 11:30 a.m. Intentions of the Parish Community

Sunday 8:00 p.m. +Basil Sr. and Rita Benedict, requested by the family

Monday 7:15 a.m. Intentions of Hannah Lim

Tuesday 7:15 a.m. +Claudia Chua & Naty Vebr, requested by the family

Tuesday 7:00 p.m.

Intentions of Pearl Josiah
+Christine Long, requested by the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
+Souls in purgatory and intentions of Maria Marin, requested by N. Marin
+Christine and Bill Long, requested by the James family
+Leticia Lopez, requested by the Torres family
Intentions of Betty and Francis D’Almeida
+Paustin Sebastiampillai, requested by the family
+Vernor Drego, requested by the family

Wednesday 7:15 a.m. Intentions of Lorna D’Souza

Wednesday 7:00 p.m. +Souls in purgatory, requested by M. Palumbo

Thursday 7:15 a.m. +Bill and Christine Long, requested by F. and L. West

Thursday 7:00 p.m.

+Kesera Rupasinghe, requested by the family
+Ryan George, requested by the family
+Angela Lobo, requested by E. Fernandes
+Germaine Chow-Leong, requested by the family
+Olga and Francis Gonsalves–Teixeira, requested by the family
+Gloria Hammond, requested by the Gonsalves family
Intentions of Emmanuel Lim

Friday 7:15 a.m. Intentions of André D’Souza

Friday 7:00 p.m. Intentions of Canex, Nilanthi, their children and families

Saturday 9:00 a.m. +Pandar Shetty, requested by the D’Souza family

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