St. Paul Roman Catholic Parish Fort McMurray

480 Signal Road, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4R7

780-791-4305; ; Fax: 587-258-6898 Visit us: Website at www.stpaulparishwb.com

Email: st.paulrccfm@shaw.ca

Palm Sunday

Parish Staff

Pastor Fr. Reddy

frreddy@dioceseofstpaul.ca

Assistant Pastor Fr. Benjamin

Bro. Jestoni Porras jestoniporras0903@gmail.com

Parish Secretary: Janet Alipio

Liturgy Schedule Monday-Friday

Rosary & Mass 8:40 am Saturday 7:00 pm

Sunday 9 am & 11 am

Mass/Adoration

RCIA- Every Wednesday at 7pm at St. Paul’s Church

Spanish Rosary -Every Second Friday of each month at 7pm/canceled

THANK YOU for your donation made to St. Paul Parish. April 1st & 2nd General collections $9,986.90

2017 Confirmation/ First Communion

Weekly mass participation is encouraged. We do require that your child be present for at least one of the following mass times for each event. Fruits of the Spirit Sunday St. John: April 8 @ 5:00pm ; April 9 @ 9:30am St. Paul: April 22 @ 7:00pm; April 23 @ 9:00 am

Pentecost People Sunday St. John: June 3 @ 5:00pm; June 4 @ 9:30am St. Paul: June 10 @ 7:00pm June 11 @ 9:00 am For inquries, please call the office at 780-743-3980 look for Rebecca

Saturday April 15th Easter

Vigil Mass at 9pm at St.

Paul’s Church

Live Easter lilies can be

brought to the church for

the chapel of repose.

Church open until 12 in

the midnight after Holy

Thursday mass.

Good Friday Outdoor Way of the Cross April 14th Begins at Fr. Mercredi High School at 1:00 pm followed by Passion of the Lord at 3:00 pm at the Church.

Holy Thursday April 13th

at 7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Church.

Sunday Reflection By Dn. Raymond Palm Sunday 9 April, 2017

Being a classical music lover and faithful friend of Beethoven, I think what happens between the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is well represented by Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, Pastoral Symphony, symphony with five movements instead of the typical four. Close your eyes and listen! The symphony begins with a peaceful and cheerful movement depicting "Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside." The second movement, titled by Beethoven "By the brook" and the third movement "Merry gathering of country folk" depict joy and peace and love with country folks dancing and revelling. Aren't all these similar to the first part of this Sunday's liturgy? We have the procession with palms preceding the Mass cheerfully, embodying all the hope Jesus brought. The First Gospel reading (Matthew 21:1-11), emphasizes Jesus is kingly, making a triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road.... (They) were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:8-9)

Then Mass begins. The First Reading is a passage from Isaiah 50, called the “Third Song of the Suffering Servant,” and I am sure Jesus knew it well because that's why he came back to Jerusalem. "Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word" (50:4) Great, but then it says, " I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting." (50:6). Jesus was prepared to allow his own body to receive brutal scourging. Like the Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, Jesus did not hide his face from the humiliation that was to come. So the kingship of Jesus means suffering and humiliation, not limelight and majesty.

The Second Reading (Philippians 2:6-11) has the words of a Christian hymn quoted by Paul. Jesus had every right to be known as the greatest human being ever born. In the desert temptations, Satan had tempted him to think this way. "But (he) emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross." (2:7-8). Is this what it a true king supposed to be? The next verse of this ancient hymn says that God did exalt Jesus, but only because Jesus emptied himself out. God did not take away the passion or relieve him of the cup he has to drink. Instead, God "gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (2:9-11). If all in heaven and on earth will bend their knees when Jesus is near, sure he is king of all kings. God shows that the greatness of kingship consists of love that is willing to pour itself out for others. Kingship is not about splendour and fame. Kingship is about service to others.

Then the tune changes. The fourth movement of the symphony depicts a violent thunderstorm with painstaking realism, building from just a few drops of rain to a great climax with thunder, lightning, high winds, and sheets of rain. The Passion of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-27:11-54) depicts the story of His suffering, his crucifixion and his dying. While on the cross, "darkness came over the whole land." (27:45) and he died to a great climax "The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split." (27:51). He was then buried with the soldiers sealing the tomb. Jesus was doing the thing he had preached about, giving himself for others, showing us what God’s kingship is really about. We start full of hope and enthusiasm, same as the crowd in Jerusalem, only to be disappointed, crushed, scared, and demoralized.

But wait, sealing the tomb is not the end. The final ending is yet to come in just one week’s time. Isaiah’s prophetic words challenge us to have courage while we wait for the end of the story. Whatever we have suffered, whatever we have endured will be transformed into glory. Good news is on its way, the gospel of life, the gospel of joy. "The Lord God helps me; ...... and I know that I shall not be put to shame" (Isaiah 50:7). Ready for the Holy Week? Ready for the Easter Triduum? Ready for the Finale of the symphony, "Shepherd's song. Happy and thankful feelings after the storm"? Come to the Triduum and find out.

Christian Life Program

Every Sunday starting April 23, 2017 to be

held at St. Paul Church. Most sessions

consist of three basic ingredients: a teaching,

a group discussion, and a time for fellowship.

No fees required.

What are the goals of the CLP?

The CLP has two basic purposes: evangelism

and spiritual renewal.

Flyers is available (CFC member to bring

flyers/invites) at the back after the mass.

Marriage Preparation

Course will be

held on May

5th, 6th and

7th at St.

Johns

Church. To

register, please

drop by the parish office

at St. John’s or St.

Paul’s.

BAPTISM

Baptism Preparation on every third

Tuesday of the month. Next one will be held on April 18th at 7 pm at St. Paul Church. And The Sacrament of Baptism will be celebrated on every fourth Sunday of the month at 2 pm in St. Paul Church.

Spanish Mass Sunday April 23rd at

4pm at St. Paul ‘s Church All are welcome!

NIGHT VIGIL PRAYER MEETING (Every 3rd Friday of Each

Month)

Next on April 21, 2017

St. Paul Catholic Parish

All are Welcome!