Stairs and boxes dominate my memories of a recent moving day. Fortunately, my old friend was just moving across town. She would be leaving behind her beloved garden and a home cramped with memories, but she won’t be losing us. For many of the nearly 50 million North Americans who move every year, though, social networks are disrupted and friendships strained. The Israelites, whom Moses is called to lead in today’s first reading, found themselves far from home, living in oppression and misery in Egypt. The story that follows tells how they wandered away from God and from the promised goal of a new life in “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Though evil befell them, they were not abandoned. The nurturing hand of God was held out to them. The gardener in the gospel pleads to save the fig tree. With care it could bloom. In whatever place we find ourselves, however cut off from family and friends, however burdened by sin, we are surrounded by the love and concern of God. We stand on holy ground.

Michael Dougherty, Whitehorse, YT

Date announced for Episcopal ordination:……….Thursday, March 25 at St. Patrick’s Parish:

On Dec. 21, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Donald Bolen the seventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Bishop-elect Bolen will be ordained and installed in Saskatoon at St. Patrick Church on Thursday, March 25, 2010. Regretfully, due to the size of St. Patrick Church, attendance at the ordination will be ‘by invitation only.’ Invitations will be mailed in early February.  We are looking forward to celebrating many large diocesan liturgies and events at our new cathedral when it opens in two years, which will allow many more people to attend such diocesan celebrations. Everyone is invited to celebrate at an ecumenical prayer service the evening before the ordination, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Our new Bishop will also be presiding at the Chrism Mass 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 29, followed by a public reception in St. Patrick Parish hall.  All are invited to the Chrism Mass liturgy and reception.

Are you curious about coming to WYD in Madrid?

Then you need to contact Colm at the Diocese right away! We have 15 new spots now available for our group Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Compostela and on to Madrid for World Youth Day in August 2011 with Pope Benedict XVI. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! Call 242-1500 ext. 225 or email youthmin@saskatoonrcdiocese.com

May we remember that wherever we walk on Earth we walk on holy ground.

We pray to the Lord.

Theology on Tap:your Faithwith Desiree Nelson - Tuesday16th,– 9 PM at Lydia’s Pub on Broadway - Looking for ways toout your Catholic Faith? Search no more by hearing the experiences of Desiree Nelson. Theology on tap isfree speaker sereis for young adults 19-35 in a casual and relaxed atmosphere where topics of faith, life, current issues and morality are presented and discussed.

Ecumenical Prayer Service with Bishop-elect Bolen:Wednesday, March 24th, 7pm at St.'s Cathedral - Come celebrate in prayer on the eve of Bishop-elect Bolen's Ordination. It will be an ecumenical prayer service to pray for him, our diocese, our city and give you a chance to meet our new Shepherd.

Chrism Mass: March 29th, 7pm at St. Patrick's Parish - Come celebrate this blessed day to start off your Holy Week with our newly ordained Bishop Bolen! This is to a gathering of people from across the Diocese in faith and unity. Be there, and bring a friend or two! This celebration is a great tradition of our church that many have not been blessed to experience!

QUEEN’S HOUSE  242 – 1916  To register call, or register online at www.queenshouse.org

Taize Prayer with Garth Horn and team,
Tuesday, 8-9pm       
 Mar. 9/10
 

Day Away: 
Contemplative Living with Lucie Leduc & Paul Fachet, OMI    
                           Mar. 10/10

Turning Pain Into Power: 
A Lenten Journey with Teresita Kambeitz, OSU      
 Mar.12-14/10

Begins Friday 7pm, ends Sunday with lunch

Drawing on St. Paul’s experience “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10) and on insights from Wm Paul Young’s novel The Shack, we will reflect on encountering God in the place of our deepest loss.
 

Nurturing Motherhood:
  Retreat Mornings for Moms    
                   Mar 15/10

With Donna Hagen & Roberta Hoiness, Mondays, 9am-1pm (includes lunch)

Come laugh, be inspired, feel rejuvenated!  These mornings are for busy mothers who give of themselves and work at home.  Take some time resting your body and spirit in our peaceful environment.  A large part of the day will be yours to spend as you wish:  walk the grounds, sit in the Stillness Chapel, relax by the fireside or rest in a private dayroom.  Bring any materials you might enjoy in your quiet time.
 

Living Fully Our Wisdom Years
with Rosalyn Miller, OSU         
               March 18/10

With prayerful reflection on God’s Word and their lived experience, participants sixty or over ponder how God has led them on their journey by way of a continuous series based on Maria Harris’ “Seven Steps to Women’s Spirituality”.  Attendance at all sessions is recommended.  The second hour of each monthly session includes lighter moments and time for sharing creativity and interests.
 

Centering Prayer,
 weekly, Mondays, 7-8pm

Join with others in deepening our relationship with Trinity through contemplative prayer.  Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a half hour video on “The Spiritual Journey” by Fr. Thomas Keating, founder of Contemplative Outreach.