Daily readings:
08/02 Monday: [1] Genesis 1.1-19 [Gospel] Mark 6.53-56
09/02 Tuesday: [1] Genesis 1.20-2.4a [Gospel] Mark 7.1-13
10/02 Wednesday: ST. SCHOLASTICA [1] Genesis 2.4b-9, 15-17 [Gospel] Mark 7.14-23
11/02 Thursday: [1] Genesis 2.18-25 [Gospel] Mark 7.24-30
12/02 Friday: [1] Genesis 3.1-8 [Gospel] Mark 7.31-37
13/02 Saturday: [1] Genesis 3.9-24 [Gospel] Mark 8.1-10
14/02 Sunday: [1] Leviticus 13.1-2, 45-46 [2] 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1 [Gospel] Mark 1.40-45
Reflections on the Readings
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
1.First Reading Job 7.1-4, 6-7
How do I describe my life to my friends? Does my heart echo the lament of Job? What are the greatest trials and challenges in my life? Of what do I most long to be free? What keeps me going from day to day? What sustains my hope? Is my attitude marked by despair, complaint or joy and gratitude to God?
Psalm 147: “Sing praises to the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.”
- Second Reading 9.16-19, 22-23
How do I approach my day to day work at home or in my employment? Am I doing it of my own will? Do I have expectations of reward for my service? How do I see my obligation to do the work of God entrusted me through my baptism? What have I been doing? Have I freely taken on this work, or am I waiting for someone to push me? Do I expect some reward or honour? Do I fear that I am too weak to be an instrument of salvation? Is St. Paul’s letter helpful to me?
“Alleluia! Christ took our infirmities, and bore our diseases! Alleluia.”
- Gospel Reading Mark 1.29
What was Jesus’ work? Did it ever stop? How did people see Jesus? Why did he prevent the demons talking about him? How did Jesus maintain his efforts? How do I maintain my efforts to fully live a Christian life? Do I ever feel like Simon’s mother-in-law: called immediately from sickness to service with no break? Do I feel like I need a rest? How might I get re-energized? Do I search out the Lord when I feel lost or alone? Am I ready to go out and proclaim the message, with his help?
PRAY FOR THE SICK: May Chu, Caroline Bayle, Camilo Romero, Adela Lim, Mary Martin, Ky Truong, Gina Tabul, Olivera Lambeta, Ngan Thi Trinh, Thuong Van Tran, Francesca Cabrales, Maria Garcia, Pho Ho, Danita Chow, Hong Van Le, Tuyen Thi Nguyen, Phu Thi Truong, Bernard Boos, Hanh Huynh, Mary Magdalene H, Thanh Thi Dao, Sa Thi Dang, Phuong Van Nguyen, Hoa Xuan Thi Le, Estrella Rodriguez, Felipe Sobredo, Long Van Nguyen, Tuyen Van Nguyen, Patricia Rudolph, Shirley De La Cruz, Dinh Thi Luyen, Fr. Vincent Thao Dinh, Fr. Joseph Thuy Le.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH (February) Violence Against Women: We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.
Sunday Mass 07/02 at 11:30 AM Intentions
- For the soul of Steven Bertotia just passed away and Patricia Reyes death anniversary.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This week, there is a second collection for “The Catholic Press Apostolate”. Funds collected will go towards helping the publication and circulation of the BC Catholic Newspaper. Copies are always available in the Church Foyer.
Sadly, in adherence to the current Public Health Office recommendations, in-person Masses are still suspended until further notice. Live-Streaming of the 11:30am English Mass will continue. “Drive-in” Outdoor Masses may become an option here in our Parish. We ask for your patience while the plans are being made and finalized. Please visit the parish website for any updates.
During this time, our Parish continues to invite you to come and receive the Holy Eucharist in person on Sundays, from 1pm to 2pm, in front of the Church. Before receiving the Holy Eucharist, please observe Eucharistic fasting for at least one hour and come spiritually prepared.
In-person confession is also being offered here at our Parish on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 7pm – 8pm; on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm – 6:45pm.
St. Joseph Elementary School is currently accepting registration forms for all grades, for the 2021 school year. Applications are available at the school and at the church.
Our Parish is currently preparing to offer “Pre-School Services” in the old rectory beside the school. Preparations include renovations to the old rectory starting this February and consultations with Early Childhood Education Professionals. If you have any experience in these areas and are able to help with this project, please contact the parish office.
Masses for Ash Wednesday on February 17, will be “Live-Streamed” at 8am in English and at 7pm in Vietnamese. Ashes and Holy Communion will be distributed in front of the Church at 9am and 8pm - 9pm. Please follow social distancing protocols.
Please be sure to check our parish website for more information and other news in our Parish and in the Archdiocese. Thank you.
PARISH NEWS
Second Collection: for the Catholic Press Apostolate.
COVID-19 Restriction Updates: In adherence to the current Public Health Office recommendations, in-person Masses are still suspended until further notice. Live-Streaming of the 11:30am English Mass will continue. “Drive-in” Outdoor Masses may become an option here in our Parish. We ask for your patience while the plans are being made and finalized. Please visit the parish website for any updates.
Tax Receipts: Please pick up your tax receipts for 2020 donations to the parish, school and Project Advance at the parish office. They are in numerical order by your envelope number or alphabetical order by family name for donors who do not have envelope numbers.
Parish Pre-school Service: Our Parish is currently preparing to offer “Pre-School Services” in the old rectory beside the school. Preparations include renovations to the old rectory and consultations with Early Childhood Education Professionals. The renovation will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays this February. If you have any experience in these areas and are able to help with this project, please contact the parish office.
A full funeral service at our parish: the parish has recently established a Funeral Committee to assist our parishioners in making funeral arrangements with our church, a funeral home, morgue, cremation, and cemetery. The service from our Parish Funeral Committee is free of charge, please contact the parish office for more information.
All Were Filled: Do you know anyone struggling to have enough food to eat? Maybe you lost your job due to Covid-19 and are having trouble making ends meet. The All Were Filled Project offers free frozen food packets of hearty soups and/or entrées to put over rice, pasta or potatoes. There is no qualifying requirement to receive the food, and your order is confidential. Every week, you can order your box of food by Friday at 5 pm and pick it up or have it delivered on Friday afternoon the following week. Just call 604-876-7826 or email [email protected] to order a box that has 6 different dishes (7 servings each). We are in this together. Help us get the word out or call to place your order today. No one we know should go hungry!
Weekly Collection Envelopes: for 2021 can be picked up at the church entrance.
Prayers of the Faithful: Can you be an instrument of the Holy Spirit in helping to write General Intercessions for Sunday Mass, once or twice a month? Guidance and mentoring will be provided. Please let the parish office know if you can help.
PARISH INFORMATION
Grade 8 Application now available - St. Patrick Regional Secondary Applications for the 2021-2022 school year are now available online for St. Patrick Regional. For more info, please visit our website at www.stpats.bc.ca.
Mass schedules: The suspension of Masses in person has been extended until further notice by the provincial health officer. Please check our website for further COVID updates in March.
Livestreamed Masses continue at 11:30 am Sunday in English, and Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday at 9:30 am in Vietnamese.
Receiving Holy Eucharist: Our priests are now distributing the Holy Eucharist every Sunday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM in front of the church. The requirements are to prepare well before receiving the Eucharist, such as being free from all sins, especially mortal sins, and to commit to attending Mass online.
In-person confession: is also being offered here at our Parish on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 7pm – 8pm; and on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm – 6.45pm.
The Church is open for private prayer: from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Hand sanitizer, supplies to clean the pews, and marking guides to ensure distancing are available. Please help lower the risk of spreading infection at church by trying to minimize your contacts and staying home when ill, wearing a mask in the church, hand washing/sanitizing, cleaning the pew when you leave and giving other people space to stay safe. Thank you very much!
Stay in Touch: We welcome emails or phone calls to the parish office (604-876-7826 / [email protected]) if you have suggestions or need assistance. Please keep your contact information (address, phone, email) up to date.
Donations: To donate online go to www.rcav.org/sunday-offering and select St. Joseph, Van Offering.
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
Pilgrimage to Holy Rosary Cathedral: will continue to meet outside the Cathedral each Sunday to pray for the restoration of the public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as long as restrictions on public worship persist.
Talking about Assisted Suicide with Persuasion and Grace: Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 pm for an online presentation hosted by the Catholic Physician's Guild for physicians and healthcare professionals. Our speaker Stefanie Gray Connors will review her new book, "Start with What" 10 Principles for Thinking About Assisted Suicide. Registration information at [email protected] or [email protected]
World Day of the Sick Mass (February 11): Join Archbishop Miller to offer prayers for those who suffer from illness and for their caregivers on Friday, Feb 12 at 12:10 pm from Holy Rosary Cathedral. Join the live stream at http://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/live-stream/
33 Day Consecration to St. Joseph at Corpus Christi Parish: Join Father Richard Conlin via Zoom on Mondays 7:00 - 8:30 PM from February 15 to March 15 and Consecration Mass on March 19th to start the Year of St. Joseph! Register for free at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjiNCga7fcKkTMLQdhnaM7k_T-LQUhF-pNu7fmXEQMVbufQQ/viewform
FREE Estate & Memorial Planning Webinar: Join us for a free webinar to help you plan your estate, learn the beauty of the funeral rite, and start thinking about a pre-need plan on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 11:00 am. Register for free at https://beholdvancouver.org/
Save $1,100 - Open House at Gardens of Gethsemani: Pre-register for our Open House and receive up to $1,100 off at Holy Angels Mausolea and Columbaria*. Visit us on Friday, Feb. 19 or Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Pre-registration required at rccav.org.
Fr. Jim Nisbet Catholic Bible Seminar: will be hosting an online presentation on the Second Letter to Timothy and the Gospel of Mark and holding a Lenten three-day retreat: on Friday, Feb. 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm as well as Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with breaks. Please pre-register for $75 per person. For more information visit https://beholdvancouver.org/events/fr-jim-nisbet-catholic-bible-seminar or email [email protected].
In Pursuit of Wisdom: Mass and AMA with Archbishop Miller Post-secondary students are invited to join Archbishop Miller for Mass and an AMA on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 pm to pray together at Mass celebrated by His Grace, and spend time with him in an intimate online setting to share in his experience and wisdom. Register online for free at https://beholdvancouver.org/search?search=%20In%20Pursuit%20of%20Wisdom%3A%20Mass%20and%20AMA%20with%20Archbishop%20Miller.&scope=platform
Virtual Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Would you like to transform your marriage or get your old relationship back? Join us on Feb. 26-28 (Registration deadline is Feb. 19). Register now at https://beholdvancouver.org/events/virtual-worldwide-marriage-encounter-5
BEHOLD: Be sure to sign up and check this new archdiocesan portal for spiritual writing, workshops, events and other links! https://beholdvancouver.org/
