Sept. 27, 2009

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:- If you are, let us know at (250) 762‑2587.

KELOWNA RIGHT TO LIFE:- Mayor Sharon Shepherd has once again proclaimed Sept 26^th to Oct 4^th as PROTECT HUMAN LIFE WEEK in Kelowna! Events planned include:

Pro Life 101 session Oct 1
Okanagan Pro Life Film Festival Oct 2 & 3
The annual Life Chain Oct 4

Please help make this year's Protect Human Life week a big success by attending these great events. Call the office at (250) 862‑8202 or visit www.prolifekelowna.com for more details.

IHS ALUMNI & FRIENDS GOLF TOURNAMENT:- The Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament and Banquet planned for Oct 3^rd has been postponed until spring. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you to those who registered for the tournament.

WELCOME NEWCOMERS TO ST. PIUS

We are planning a welcoming party for all new parishioners. If you have registered you will get a phone call. If we don’t have your phone number and you are new (since Sept. 2008) you are also invited. Everyone, new & old, is invited!! The party will be in our hall on Sunday, October 18^th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. There will be refreshments, activities and prizes for all ages including a piñata filled with goodies for the children. St Pius Parish welcomes you!!!

HOSPITAL MASS:- Every Wednesday at 3:30pm in the hospital chapel, there is a mass. All patients, visitors, staff and all members of the public are welcome.

EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:- The Ark of the Covenant Prayer Group will be offering this formation in contemplative prayer developed by the Intercessors of the Lamb and based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Anyone interested in deepening their prayer life is invited to join us beginning Wednesday Oct. 21st at 6:30 pm. Place to be determined. Contact Emily at 868-2395 or Margaret at 762-8274.

TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. 'Yes, sir.' the boy replied. 'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked. 'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'

THE BASICS OF THE FAITH course for Adults on The Scriptures, will take place as follows:
~ West Kootenay: Trail (OLPH) - October 2 & 3
~ South Okanagan: Summerland (Holy Child) - October 16 & 17
~ North Okanagan: Kelowna (St. Pius X) - October 30 & 31

WOMEN’S GOSPEL GROUP:- We meet Thursday afternoon at 1:00pm in the Catechetical Centre. We go over the readings for the following Sunday and pray and reflect on them. If you would like to join us, you are very welcome.

SUNDAY EVENING MASS:- Sunday Evening Mass will be held in Room 140 of the Fipke Building at UBCO at 8:00pm.

COME CLOSER TO GOD:- The Secular Carmelite community of St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes is hosting a day of reflection at Seton House on Saturday, October 10^th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with supper to follow. Fr. Mario Fernandes, OCD will present three talks relating to Carmelite spirituality. Cost is $50.00 which includes lunch and supper. To register, contact Margaret at 250-762-8274 or e-mail sonshine@shaw.ca.

NELSON DIOCESE YOUTH RALLY:- All youth in grades 7 - 12 on Oct 16^th – 18^th at St Michael’s School Trail BC. Registration forms are available from the office. The Kelowna Parishes are hoping to charter a bus.

PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH:- Our Annual Diocesan Appeal is just around the corner. (Sun Oct. 4). You can expect to receive Pilgrimage of Faith material in the mail during the coming week. We thank you in advance for your generosity.

CALLING ALL NON-CATHOLICS:- Interested in learning more about Catholicism? Do you have questions you would like answered? We are hoping to offer a monthly “drop-in” session for those who are curious to learn about the Catholic faith beginning on Thursday October 15^th at 7:00 pm. Tell your family and friends about it. Let us know if you are interested (250) 762‑2587.

HELP GIVE DIRECTION TO OUR PARISH:- Parish pastoral councils have been established as a way of communicating ideas, provide input and help give direction to our parishes. We are beginning our yearly search for new members. Are you interested? We meet on the 3^rd Wednesday of every month. For more information call the Parish Office (250) 762‑2587.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP:- For those grieving the loss of a loved one. Tuesdays, Oct 6^th to Dec 8^th at Charity Hall from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. For more information please call Kelly (250) 861‑3363 or Ann (250) 868‑1009.

BABY BOTTLE BRIGADE REMINDER:– Two weeks to go before baby bottles will be collected at church. By engaging all generations of your family in our community-wide Baby Bottle faith venture, you are caring for the virtual “widows and orphans” of our community. Suggestion of the Week: Add up the number of a favorite Bible verse. Eg. John 3:16 = $3.16. We value your support, Okanagan Valley Pregnancy Care Centre

FRIENDS IN FAITH:- invites all Catholic Singles to a series of six sessions on relationship building for Christian singles beginning on Sunday, October 4 and ending on November 15. Sessions take place at 1:00 p.m. at St. Charles Garnier Parish. There will be no session on the Thanksgiving weekend. Enhance your connections to friends, family and co-workers. Invite a friend along. To register call Donna (250) 763-7337 or Elsie (250) 862-9596.

TRANSITUS OF ST. FRANCIS:- All are invited to the TRANSITUS of St. Francis of Assisi, on Oct 3^rd at 1:00pm in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kamloops. Reception to follow, with an opportunity to meet our Franciscan Sisters and Secular Franciscans. For more information call Rolf at (250) 769‑6861.

PROVINCIAL CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE:- "Bearing Fruit Among the Thorns" Speaker - Fr. Gabriel de Chadarevian OP at St. Ann Parish Church 1296 main St. Penticton Fri Oct 16^th beginning at 6 pm and Sat Oct 17^th beginning at 8:30am No Registration Fee - Love Offering will be collected. Brochures Available

ICC K OF C BREAKFAST:- ICC Knights invite all to attend their Breakfast Next Sun Nov 4^th after the Sunday masses.

LITTLE ROCK SCRIPTURE STUDY:- This Fall we are offering a six-week study entitled “Overview of the New Testament” to be held Wednesday evenings (7:00pm-9:00pm) at St. Charles Garnier Parish Hall beginning on Nov 4^th and concluding on Dec 9^th. $25 per person (includes booklets). Please register by calling Marilee at (250) 860‑6776 or emailing charlesgarnier@gmail.com before October 4^th.

MORE PRECIOUS THAN SILVER:- The Bishops of Western Canada join with Christians throughout the world asking for prayer to intercede for victims of sexual trafficking. Sep. 25-27 has been designated as the Weekend of Prayer for Victims of Sex Trafficking. Canadians are being bought and sold for sexual exploitation. During the Olympics, women and children will be trafficked into Vancouver to be used as sex slaves. Learn more, take action and pray against human sex trafficking.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH BAZAAR:- Sat, Oct 10, (8:00 am to 2:00 pm). We will have a fantastic silent auction, baked goods, plants, treasures, arts and crafts, books and music, bottle booth, farmer's market, hamburgers, coffee house and a huge white elephant room. We look forward to seeing you!

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS:- Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child? The students at St. Joseph School need reading volunteers to help out with the One To One Reading Program. You will be working one on one with young students who need extra practice with their reading. Our session for the One To One Reading Program begins on Tue, Oct 20^th with an introductory training session held on Thu, Oct 15^th at 9:00am. All that is required is 1 ½ hours one day a week. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Judy Pepperall at the school (763-3371) by Oct 8^th.

SPANISH MASS:- will be held at St Theresa’s Parish, this
Sun, Sept 27^th @ 3pm. Social to follow in parish hall.

The Parliament of Canada is soon expected to debate private member’s Bill C-384, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity), which aims at legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. Those wishing to re-open this debate are no doubt motivated by concern for the sufferings of others. An unfortunate understanding of compassion has led them to suggest euthanizing the most vulnerable instead of providing them with proper care, effective pain control, and social, emotional and spiritual support until their natural death. It is always important to be as clear as possible about intentions and possible consequences when we consider human acts, so as to assure the greatest good and limit any harm to the persons directly affected and also to the wider community. Unfortunately, some of the terms being proposed for this debate are misleading or unclear. This can only lead to discussions that are confusing and unhelpful, and also makes it difficult to find common ground from which to assess the risks and impact of proposals for new legislation.

From the Catholic perspective, it is legitimate to use medication and other means to alleviate suffering, even if a side effect can be the shortening of life expectancy. It is also legitimate for someone to refuse medical procedures that are found to be especially burdensome. But what is never acceptable is the direct and intentional killing of the depressed, handicapped, sick, elderly or dying (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2276-77).

It is hard to see how any legislation legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide would protect the most vulnerable in our society. What confidence and trust could they possibly have that their lives would continue to be protected by health-care providers, family and friends, or society at large? Euthanasia and assisted suicide, by their very nature, mean there is no longer a common duty for all to protect the lives of others. There is also the well-founded fear that euthanasia and assisted suicide can be imposed on individuals as a way to save costs and lessen demands on care-givers. Inevitably, the result would be a society even more fragmented, with its members living in greater isolation and anxiety.

As this debate resumes in our country on such an important question, the Catholic Bishops of Canada invite:

1) The members of the Parliament of Canada – elected representatives in the House of Commons as well as Senators – to use clear definitions in their upcoming debates, and also to consider the profound impact that such legislation would have on the lives of individuals and on the wider community;

2) All Canadians to become better informed about euthanasia and assisted suicide, and to promote instead palliative and home care to help those in need and their care-givers;

3) Catholics, our brothers and sisters who belong to other Christian communities or other faiths, and all who appreciate the beauty and dignity of life, to engage in this debate civilly and respectfully, so as to witness a profound reverence for the inherent dignity of each and all human life.

Most Reverend V. James Weisgerber
Archbishop of Winnipeg
President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

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Recitation of the Holy Rosary

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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Anointing of the Sick

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