Daily readings:
15/02 Monday: [1] Genesis 4.1-15, 25 [Gospel] Mark 8.11-13
16/02 Tuesday: [1] Genesis 6.5-8; 7.1-5, 10 [Gospel] Mark 8.14-21
17/02 Wednesday: ASH WEDNESDAY [1] Joel 2.12-18 [Gospel] Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18
18/02 Thursday: [1] Deuteronomy 30.15- 20 [Gospel] Luke 9.22-25
19/02 Friday: [1] Isaiah 58.1-9a [Gospel] Matthew 9.14-15
20/02 Saturday: [1] Isaiah 58.9b-14 [Gospel] Luke 5.27-32
21/02 Sunday: FRIST SUNDAY OF LENT [1] Genesis 9.8-15 [2] 1 Peter 3.18-22 [Gospel] Mark 1.12-15
Reflections on the Readings
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- First Reading Leviticus 13.1-2, 45-46
Do I shy away from people with unfamiliar skin or physical conditions? Are people in our society ever branded as “unclean”? What is the significance for them, and those who associate with them? Are there other reasons we isolate people from the community? What are the benefits and harms of such isolation? Who is isolated from our parish or from the Church? Am I willing to reach out to them and to welcome them?
Psalm 32: “You are my refuge, Lord; with deliverance you surround me.”
- Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1
“Give no offence…” “Try to please everyone in everything…” What are the challenges in following St. Paul’s advice? How will I decide what to do when my obligations as a Christian conflict with a mandate to please everyone, or to give no offence? Will imitating the life of Jesus or St. Paul, doing everything for the salvation of others and the glory of God, help me live this instruction?
“Alleluia! A great Prophet has risen among us; God has looked favourably on his people! Alleluia.”
- Gospel Reading Mark 1.40-45
What was it like for the man with leprosy to approach Jesus? Do I ever approach Jesus that way: “If you choose, you can make me clean”? Do the words express humility, despair, frustration, confrontation…? How did Jesus respond when I went to him? How does our Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the role of the priest, compare with what was required of lepers in Jesus’ time? Should Catholics be more enthusiastic in spreading the word?
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.
Second Collection: for building fund.
Ash Wednesday February 17:
Masses will be live-streaming at 8:00 am in English and at 7:00 pm in Vietnamese. After the Masses, the priest will distribute the Eucharist and the ashes from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and from 8 pm to 9 pm. Please keep your silence and please follow the guidance of the Parish Safety Patrol.
PARISH NEWS
Lenten confession times:
Tuesday-Thursday: 7pm to 8pm
Friday-Saturday: 6pm to 6:45pm.
For special cases, please contact the parish office to make an appointment.
Fasting during Lent:
Fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Adults: from 18 to 59 years old: fasting and abstinence
Children from 14 to 17 years: abstain from eating meat
Elderly from 60 and older: abstain from eating meat
All Fridays during Lent: abstain from eating meat or can be replaced by acts of charity.
• Exempt: Those who cannot keep fasting and abstinence due to health reasons, can do a self-sacrificing or some kind of sacrifice or charity.
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.
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.
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
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
Into the Deep: The Laity and the Call to Conversion: Join Dr. Michael Higgins, author, scholar, and educator, as we journey through this Lenten season and open ourselves to the call of continued conversion on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Register online for free at
https://beholdvancouver.org/events/the -laity-and-the-call-to-conversion-a-lenten-reflection
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
And Jesus Looked at Him: Look of Love Lenten Retreat: Join us on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8:45 am - 12:00 pm for a Lenten Retreat which includes short inspiring talks, guided prayer materials, quiet time for individual prayer, and small group faith-sharing in breakout rooms. Suggested donation $35-60+ (students $20) plus GST. Register online at https://beholdvancouver.org/events/and -jesus-looked-at-him-look-of-love-lenten-retreat
A Heart Open to the Whole World Retreat: Join SFU Chaplaincy retreat to discover and share the gifts of each person, and to grow in mutual respect as part of the larger human family on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. All are welcome. Please register at https://sfu.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5wqdeqhqDMjE9EAx2KtOLvnuUubvsj9Lko
BEHOLD: Be sure to sign up and check this new archdiocesan portal for spiritual writing, workshops, events and other links! https://beholdvancouver.org/
