St. Leonard Catholic Church
Manotick, Ont
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Monthly E-Newsletter for February 2017
 
Thank you for subscribing to the St. Leonard's monthly E-Newsletter. Anchored by Valentine's Day on February 14th and Family Day on Feb 20th, February is often thought to be the month of love. As Father Richard Rohr recently commented, "The beginning and end of everything is love. Only inside of the mystery of love-mutual self-emptying and infilling-can we know God." May this be a month where we place Christ at the center of our live and let His love flow through us to our family and all we meet.

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Pastor's Message
Leading a Christ Centered Life
 
Last month I talked about putting Christ at the center of our lifes. This month I want to expand upon that theme and speak about what it should be like leading a Christ centered life.
 
Jesus says in Matthew 13: 16 " But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." When Christ resides in the center of our lives we have eyes that see and ears that hear differently than before. Everything that we take in is perceived through a new perspective, a new lens. We are open to hear, see and feel the presence and the actions of the divine in the world around us. And when our senses are open in this new way, we must be prepared for "God incidents" that will confirm and strengthen our faith.
 
Equally as important as this new way of understanding the world around us is how we should now act in a very different way. Do I lead with love? If I encounter someone who is in pain do I offer comfort? If I am in pain myself, am I still willing to offer comfort to those in pain? You may have heard the expression "what would Jesus do?" When Christ is at the center of our live this should be our constant refrain. Jesus Christ cared for the poor and the sick and lifted up the broken hearted. Are we doing the same?

When Christ is at the center of our lives we live in love and in communion with God. God is in  us and we are in God (John 17:20-26). A love flows into us and through us and from us that is beyond our human nature and is capable of bringing joy and peace to all those that we encounter in our daily lives. And amazingly, the more that we allow our love to flow out, the more love we receive!
 
This past month I travelled home to visit my family in Nigeria. I had a wonderful time and even got to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. I also visited with the children at the orphanage and they expressed their great appreciation for all of your love and support.  
God bless! Father Titus
Annual Lenten Supper with Bishop Riesbeck March 4th
 
Bishop Christian Riesbeck will be celebrating Eucharist at St. Leonard's on Saturday, March 4th at 4:30. Following the Mass, a simple Lenten Supper of soup and bread will be offered in the church hall with proceeds going to Amor Dei to assist those who have fallen on hard times. At the conclusion of the meal, Bishop Riesbeck will help us enter into the spirit of Lent with an address on renewal and discipleship - "From Maintenance to Mission." Tickets for the Lenten Supper will be available after weekend Masses the weekend of February 11th and 12th. Individual: $5.00. Family: $15.00.
Growing your Faith 
Alpha Introductory Evening Feb 8th
 
Join us in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, Feb 8th for the introductory evening of this year's Alpha program. Their is no obligation to attend future sessions so please come out and see what it is all about. This 12 week program that has been attended by over 26 million people world wide is recognized as one of the best ways to Discover the meaning of life and the core gospel message of the Risen Lord. Check out a testimonial video and take a big step in your journey of discipleship by signing up for this program today. Besides, it is a great way to meet other people on the journey to a Christ centered life and it can be a lot of fun. The program will run on Wednesday evenings from Feb 8th through April 12th, 2017 and there is no cost to attend. For further information and to register for the course please visit the St. Leonard's website. 

 
FORMED: Featured in February  
The Church teaches that the Christian family has an evangelizing and missionary task in the world. In order for families to fulfill this high calling, parents need to recognize that they have the greatest influence in the lives of their children and need to embrace the responsibility of evangelizing and catechizing their children (CCC 2205, 2206). FORMED exists to help parents fulfill this irreplaceable role and help their families thrive as a domestic church.
 Movie
 Program
 Audio



If you are new to FORMED, to get ongoing FREE ACCESS to all programs and downloadable PDF guides, movies and e-books please
visit the St. Leonard website for detailed sign-up instructions.   
Discerning Hearts: Catholic Podcasts for Those on the Discerning Journey

If you would like to form your faith through the use of audio recordings from some of the best Catholic thinkers and speakers of our time check out the Discerning Hearts website.
Daily Devotional: BEST LENT EVER 2017

We all know the things that make us happy, but we don't always do them. Lent is an opportunity to change that. This year we invite you to do something different.
Sign up for Best Lent Ever, a FREE, video-based email program featuring internationally acclaimed speaker and New York Times bestselling author Matthew Kelly. From Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Matthew will help you identify what stands between you and happiness . . . and what to do about it. Are you ready for your best Lent ever?
Cardinal Collins Visits St. Leonard

On the occasion of the funeral of Patrick Keen, son of Barbara Keen, our Parish was visited by Cardinal Tom Collins from Toronto. He is pictured here with his con-celebrator, Fr. Michael Wright, St. Leonard former pastor, and parishioner Chris Napior.




Serving Others Helps Us Grow as Disciples!

Ushers for the Sunday @9:00 and 11:00 am Mass
-Help parishioners and visitors to a seat and take up the collection, contact [email protected]
What's on in February    
Feb. 4    Confirmation Session # 4  10:00 a.m.
Feb. 7    Knights of Columbus Meeting  7 p.m.
Feb. 8    Alpha Meeting  7 p.m.
Feb. 9    Baptismal Preparation Meeting  7 p.m.
Feb. 14  Pastoral Council Meeting  7 p.m.
Feb. 15   Alpha Meeting 7 p.m.
Feb. 16   Lector Training and Commissioning Session 7 p.m.
Feb. 21   CWL Meeting  7 p.m.
Feb. 22   Alpha Meeting 7 p.m.
Feb. 28   Alpha Meeting 7 p.m.
Mar. 1      Ash Wednesday 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
 

After the 9 am and 11 am Sunday masses in February coffee will be served in the Parish Hall. Click on the Parish Calendar for a full listing of upcoming meetings and events.
 
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