Women Walking with Christ Prayer Breakfast is rescheduled to Saturday, June 8^th in the St Agnes Parish Msgr Leo Day Auditorium.  Our guest speaker will be Sharon Blanchard who has spent time this past winter as a missionary in Jamaica.  Tickets are available for $10 in the parish office or SJB Faith Formation office

Will be held on  Tuesday June 11th @ 7pm. This is an open meeting and all parishioners are invited to attend and enjoy the evening.  ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS;  all chairs of committees and Groups are asked to have their reports into Marlene (preferably in email form) in the office no later than June 5th for inclusion into the meeting booklet. Any received after this date will be manually handed out at the meeting.

A spiritual ministry to Catholic women.  A breakfast will be held May 25, 2013 in the Msg. Leo Day Auditorium St. Agnes Church (Mumford/Chebucto Rds).  Guest speaker is Patricia Cosgrove. Tickets are available from Marlene Smuck 443-6665. Cost is $12.00

Come Holy Spirit:  a joint parish based day of study and reflection on the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit works in our lives.  Join us in preparation for the coming Feast of Pentecost.  This day is open to everyone.

• When?  Saturday, May 11^th.
• Where? St John the Baptist Hall.
• What time? There will be a special Mass at SJB in the hall at 9am to kick off the day ending at 3pm.

Mothers Day Lobster Dinner—Sunday May 12, 2013 from 11:30—100pm in the Leo Day Auditorium.  Cooked Lobster, Potato Salad, cole slaw, roll and Apple pie  $20.00.  tickets will be available Next weekend.  Take out will be Available.  (alternate dinner 1/2 chicken.

A  card social  to be sponsored by St. John The  Baptist CWL will be held on April 20th, 2013 in the parish hall .  Time 11.45 am for luncheon at 12 noon. Lucky prizes . Tickets will be presold. For tickets  please call Theresa Driscoll at 477-3318

The regular monthly meeting of the St. John The Baptist CWL will hold their regular monthly meeting on  April 8th, 2013 in the parish hall at 7 p m.  Looking forward to seeing you there

For St. Agnes Junior High Only* Grade 6, 7, 8 & 9 – NO Classes Sunday April 7^th

Summer Bible Camp – July 15^th – 19^th is being offered again this year as a fundraising event for our Steubenville Youth. Our camp runs from 9:00am – 4:00pm, we ask for a minimum donation of $50.00 per child, $125.00 for a family of 3 or more. Snacks, Lunch and Camp materials are included in the registration fee. We are now accepting registrations, space is limited and we are already half way to our full compliment. If you have elementary age children and would like to register them for our week long camp please contact Tanya Thomson or visit our parish website and register on line.

Sunday Suppers for the Homeless – St. John the Baptist/St. Agnes is scheduled to provide dinner on Sunday May 5^th. We need 16 Cottage Cheese Beef Bake Casseroles donated. If you are able to participate in this important ministry to the poor and homeless by providing a casserole please contact Tanya Thomson at stagnesdre@eastlink.ca . The recipe can be found at http://www.arkoutreach.com/recipes/ or by contacting Tanya Thomson.

SA—First Holy Communion Retreat – Sunday April 21^st 11:30-1:30, Parents and Candidates for First Holy Communion will gather together for rehearsal and preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. There will not be 9:30am morning class for the First Communion candidates.

SA—Sacrament of First Holy Communion – Sunday April 28^th AT THE 10:30am MASS will be celebrated by our 30 candidates and their families. This is a very special time for these children and they will have family and friends invited to share in this celebration with them. Sitting will be reserved for our 30 families, if you generally attend the 10:30am Mass please be considerate of the celebration of the Sacrament, showing our children and families kind-heartedness and hospitality.

5 Spots Added – Steubenville Youth Conference – Friday Aug.2^nd – Sunday Aug.4^th – We have added an additional 5 spots for St. John the Baptist and St. Agnes youth wishing to attend this summer’s conference at St. FX University. To date we have 25 participants and are hoping for 5 more. We would like to have our Registration complete by April 30^th, if you are interested in attending this summer’s youth conference please advise Tanya Thomson.

St. John the Baptist book club will meet again on Monday, April 18th at 7:00 PM in the parish hall room 203

It’s been quite an interesting Lent!  Little did we realize when we started our preparation for Easter on Ash Wednesday, with the traditional threefold discipline of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, could we have imagined how the Church itself would be challenged to undergo transformative change as well.

The  retirement of Benedict XV1, and the election of Pope Francis has focused the eyes of the entire world on the Church in a way that could not have been imagined as we set out on our Lenten journey. It’s as if the Holy Spirit was calling us to renewal -from top to bottom! Benedict’s Papal ministry was marked by his focus on the New Evangelization in continuation of the initiative first evoked by John Paul 11, and now echoed by Pope Francis at the beginning of his Papacy. In gratitude we thank Benedict for his ministry and leadership, as his journey takes on a new dimension; and as with joy, hope and anticipation as we journey together into the future under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, into the lived experience of the Gospel in the challenge of the New Evangelization.

As we move into the twenty-first century and the third millennium, since that first Easter morning, the message is the same,  “God Raised Jesus From The Dead; and we have been raised with him to live a new life!

The mystery of what we celebrate today is summed up beautifully in the first two sentences of the Epistle to the Romans, read at the Easter Vigil.  “Brothers and sisters: are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were indeed buried with him through baptism unto death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”

The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is at the very heart of our Christian belief; our God is a God of life, and that is exactly what we are offered through baptism.

Jesus Resurrection and his Easter morning appearance to Mary of Magdala invites us to become instruments of evangelization as was Mary herself, as she runs to share with Peter and John what she had seen and heard in her personal encounter with the Risen Lord.

As we celebrate Easter in this “Year of Faith” especially, we are invited to become instruments of the New Evangelization  through our own ENCOUNTER with the Risen Lord, by our WITNESS, our Strong Sense of Personal Testimony, a renewed sense of belonging to, and active participation in the lived experience of the Church COMMUNITY and it’s sacramental life, and responding to the Lord’s invitation to be(come) my DISCIPLES.

The Easter proclamation from the Vigil service, that great hymn of rejoicing is our collective response of Easter joy, “Exult all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ our King is Risen!…Rejoice, O Earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes forever!…The Risen Saviour shines upon you.

He is Risen Alleluia, Alleluia!  Happy Easter

Fr. John Williams

Pastor

April 2-7. Divine Mercy Retreat: St. Anthony’s Parish & St. Faustina’s Polish Mission, 26 Courtney Rd, Dartmouth. Divine Mercy Retreat will be held from Tuesday, April 2-Sunday, April 7. The Divine Mercy Novena will be said daily at 3:00pm starting on Good Friday and ending on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. Father Krzysztof Bugno, SDS, a special guest priest from Florida will be the Homilist for the retreat. Email Nancy at stanthonys@eastlink.ca for information.

There will be Marriage Preparation available through Blessed Mother Teresa Church on  Friday May 10^th 7 – 9pm and Saturday May 11^th 9 – 5pm…. for more information or to register please call Sister Teresa MacDonald 454-5835 or go to their web-site

http://www.motherteresaparish.com/

• Easter Sunday March 31
• St. Agnes  8:30am & 10:30am
• St. John the Baptist 9:00am  & 11:00am
• Easter Monday April 1
• St. Agnes    12:00 noon
• S t. John the Baptist  9:00am

No Religion Classes March 10^th and 17^th due to March Break for both parishes. Classes resume on March 24th.

Thank You to Children, Parents and Mary Fitzgerald for participating in this year’s Lenten Lunches. Children & Parents your company at lunch on Friday’s was lovely!!  Mary you did a great job of ensuring we had wonderful meals and special treats. Sharing this Lenten activity together in friendship and fellowship was very much appreciated.

Pennies for Steubenville – Our parishes have given $600.00 in pennies to the Steubenville Youth so far!! Please keep’em coming!!!  Your pennies are making a wonderful difference!! We are so grateful for the generosity of our St. John the Baptist and St. Agnes Parish Family.

SJB & SA Youth – Steubenville Atlantic Youth Conference – Aug. 2^nd-4^th – We have 23 attending so far!! If you are interested in experiencing this year’s great summer conference please advise Tanya Thomson as soon as possible. There is a $50.00 deposit required by April 1^st. Our next Steubenville meeting is Friday March 22^nd 8:45pm, St. Agnes Auditorium.

Next Mancini Cup Soccer Practice – Sunday March 17^th – 7:00pm – 8:30pm. Thank you to the youth who have signed up to participate in the 5^th Annual Mancini Cup. Our Archbishop is really looking forward to the day and is ready to literally “kick-off” the tournament on April 27^th

SJB & SA Youth – Steubenville Atlantic Youth Conference – Aug. 2^nd-4^th – We have 25 spots reserved; please advise Tanya Thomson if you are interested in attending this summer’s Youth Conference. There is a $50.00 deposit required by April 1^st. Our next Steubenville meeting is Friday March 22^nd 8:45pm, St. Agnes Auditorium.

Thursday, March 14^th at 6:30pm in the St John the Baptist Parish Hall. we welcome all women who have attended one of our Women Walking with Christ weekends.   Bring your favorite thing to share with others for dinner. If attending, please give us a call at 454-8200 or 477-8798 Also give us a call if you will need a ride.  There will be shuttle service from St Agnes to St John the Baptist and return trips.

Just before noon in Rome on Monday, February 11, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI told his gathered Consistory that he had made an important decision. The decision: to announce his resignation. There has been immediate reaction from all parts of the globe.  In a letter to the clergy Monday morning, Archbishop Mancini stated: “It has taken us all by surprise since there have been no resignations from the Papacy in 600 years.”

Archbishop Mancini invites all Catholics to keep the Pope in their prayers. There is no doubt that this was a difficult decision for the Holy Father. As Pope Benedict expressed in his official announcement, “to govern the barque of St. Peter and proclaim the gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”

This unprecedented move has left many in shock and stunned silence. However, it has also given rise to the question: what does this mean for the Church? No simple answers can be given. Archbishop Mancini has said that the legacy left by Pope Benedict XVI can be seen in his theological writings, his acknowledgement and efforts towards reconciliation regarding the sexual abuse crisis, and most recently his call to the New Evangelization.

Another question being asked by many is: what happens next? The Pope’s resignation takes effect on February 28, 2013 at 8:00pm (Central European Time). At that time the standard procedures for the election of a Pope will come into effect. What makes this election different is that the departing pope has not actually departed. Further questions include: What title does one use for a retired pope? Where will he live? What role, if any, will he play in the life of the Church when his successor is elected? Archbishop Mancini has said that new procedures and guidelines will have to be explored to deal with this new situation. The Church has not been in this situation in the modern culture and context of our present world.

 It seems rather appropriate that in this Year of Faith, the faithful are being called to rely on the gift of faith to see them through this experience that is so new and different.  On behalf of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, Archbishop Mancini expressed gratitude for the service of Pope Benedict XVI and wished him well in his retirement—a statement which we are not yet accustomed to making. The archbishop ended his letter to the clergy with this simple but important prayer: “We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us and may the Spirit inspire the Cardinals who will soon be electing Pope Benedict’s successor.”

   For the full text and coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement of resignation, please visit www.news.va.

St. John the Baptist Fourth Family Session – On Sunday, Feb 24th the children and youth of St. John the Baptist faith formation program would like to invite parishioners to a Children's Way of the Cross in the church between the two Sunday Masses. This devotion will begin at 10:15 AM and end at 10:45 AM. The procession will include children dressed in costumes of first century Jerusalem and the narration will be done by students in our program.

 Great Adventure Matthew Bible Study.  This course will cost $25 for course materials and will be held at St John the Baptist Parish.  The first session is Tue, Feb 26, 2013, at 2pm in the Campbell Center at St Agnes or 7pm at St John the Baptist Parish Hall.    Child care will be available to those who wish to attend the evening sessions.  Please call Annie 454-8200 or Debbie 477-8798.

We are looking for people from St Agnes /St John the Baptist to participate in home visits to those of our parish who are incapacitated due to illness (short or long) or recuperating from being in the hospital . This ministry keeps those members of our Parish connected to the parish while at home or at a care facility.  This is a wonderful opportunity for someone that wants to share of their time but it is limited.  Please contact Annie Cortellacci-Kulczycki email : stagnespa@eastlink.ca

SA. Lenten Lunch offered this Friday Feb.22^nd – All children and teens are invited to this annual Lenten event. We celebrate Mass together at 12:10 and then have a nice warm lunch in the auditorium. Westmount Children meet at the school’s front doorway and are escorted to and from the church by volunteer parents. Children from schools further away will depend on their parents for transportation. Lenten Lunches will be offered Friday March 1^st and Friday March 8^th also.

SA. Youth Mass – Sunday Feb. 24^th 10:30am Mass. Children will attend Mass directly from Religion Classes with their Catechist and Classmates. Junior High Youth please sit with your classmates in the designated pews.

SA. Rite of Enrollment for First Holy Communion Candidates – Reschedule to Sunday Feb.24^th 10:30am Mass.

Steubenville Information Meeting – Sunday Feb.17^th 11:40am in the St. Agnes Auditorium – for parents, youth participants, leaders, chaperones and anyone interested in learning more about the Conference.  Please consider joining us this summer and give yourself the gift of encountering Christ. The Steubenville Atlantic Youth Conference is August 2-4, St. Francis Xavier University.

SA. Rite of Enrollment of Candidates for Confirmation – Sunday Feb.17^th 10:30 Mass – Please pray for these young people as they prepare to be blessed with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Alex Burke, David Burke, Emma Caissie, Justin Cuison, Jenna Curwin, Christine Domingo, Claire Doucette, Laura Gates, Caroline Horne, Mary McGuire, Andrea Miller, Brendan Murphy, Claire Noel, Michael O’Leary, Sarah Polley, Jacob Sajko, Brock Behner, Michael Warner, Lauren Willett, Allison Reno, Sandra Reyes, Sarah Reyes, Niamh Fraser and Isabel Sarty

Lenten Friday Fun Night – Feb.22^nd 6:30-8:30 – Children will experience The Stations of the Cross in an age appropriate manner, learn about Lenten origins and practices through games and light hearted actives.  Children are always encouraged to invite their friends to Friday Fun Night, this is an evening to building faith, fellowship and friendship among all.

R.O.C.K Meeting – Friday Feb.22^nd 8:45pm in the gym. Youth Leaders and Steubenville 2013 participants will meet to select t-shirts, logos and build our fund-raising schedule. Please note we have voted and selected the Youth Group name R.O.C.K which stands for Reaching Out to Christ’s Kid which is exactly what our St. Agnes Youth Leaders are prepared and determined to do. We are tremendously blessed to have dedicated young adults willing to guide, mentor and support our parish youth in their faith journey, social justice involvement and fellowship experience. These young leaders are our ROCK!!

Lenten Project. For the next four weeks, SJB's social justice committee seeks donations for the Home of the Guardian Angel's Chebucto Family Centre in Spryfield. New items needed for moms-to-be entering hospital include Size Large pajamas with buttoned fronts, toiletry bags and travel-size toiletries including toothpaste, OR gift cards for Walmart or Superstore, to purchase supplies for newborns. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please leave donations in church porch before or after weekend Masses. For more information, call Carol Bruneau, 477-6764, or visit  http://homeoftheguardianangel.ca/chebucto-family-centre-home-of-the-guardian-angel/

Introducing a New Ministry for our Parishes – Prayer Shawls or Lap Robes:  What is a Prayer Shawl Ministry? People who knit or crochet pray as they make shawls/lap robes for people who need comfort during illness, recuperation, time of loneliness or mourning etc. Purpose: To share with our parishioners and community who are in need of prayers, comfort and outward signs of our support as a parish family. The shawls/lap robes offer tangible evidence of support, hope, love and comfort to those who we are praying for. How it works: a prayer for the future recipient is said before, during and after the project is made. Then before they are freely given out, they will be blessed by a Priest. They then become a true Sacramental. If you can knit, crochet or would like to learn how to make these very easy patterns or if you are interested in helping out by donating yarn etc., contact Anita MacDonald at 454-5131 or e-mail

j-a-macd@ns.sympatico.ca

The 3^rd Annual “Weekend of Grace for Men” Retreat will take place from May 3-5^th 2013 at Bayside Camp in Sambro Head, Nova Scotia  Guest speaker will be Deacon Larry Oney from New Orleans USA.  Early bird registration cost is $150.00, until January 31. Regular admission is $175.00  Registration fee includes 2 night’s accommodation and 5 delicious meals. Come and join us for an enjoyable weekend of prayer, great teaching, music and fellowship. For further information or a registration form, please visit http://www.weekendofgrace.com/

Women Walking with Christ Weekend will be March 1 & 2 at St Agnes Parish in the Leo Day Auditorium.  All women are welcome to join us.  This is our 3^rd annual weekend and we look forward to sharing faith with you this year.  Applications will be available at the end of this month Please contact Annie 454-8200 or e-mail stagnespa@eastlink.ca  or Debbie 477-8798 e-mail debbierichard@eastlink.ca.  The Weekend is 8 hours over a two day period to sit back, relax and take an opportunity to reflect and share with other women

On Saturday, February 16 2013 @ 5:30pm We will be holding a year of Faith Parish Family Pot Luck supper.  Please accept Fr. John’ invitation to come on out— Bring along your favorite dish, the family and friends and join us in this  community activity of faith,  food and fun.  For further information you may call Tanya, Marlene or Annie.

Lent is a mere 16 days away  – mark your calendar for our Annual Pancake Supper  Hosted by the 26th Beavers  Cubs and Scouts will be held on Tuesday February 12th  in the Leo Day Auditorium from 5pm  to 7pm.  Adults $6.00 and Children (under 12) $4.00.  all are welcome to join us for a feed of pancakes, sausages, and a drink.

Pennies for Steubenville – Keep those pennies coming!!! They are really piling up and we are so grateful! The pennies collected are to help our Youth with 2013 Steubenville Conference fees. So far we have collected $200.00 from St. John the Baptist and $80.00 from St. Agnes. Thank you for your generosity and support!!

SA Youth Mass – Sunday January 27^th 10:30am – Children and youth will sit together as a class and celebrate Mass in fellowship and friendship. Ministries will be performed by our parish Youth.

SA First Reconciliation / First Communion Parent Meeting – Sunday Jan.27^th 9:30am, please meet in the church. This meeting to confirm retreat and sacraments dates and to review preparations for the Rite of Enrolment scheduled for Feb. 10^th at the 10:30am Mass.

SA Confirmation Parent & Youth Meeting – Sunday Feb.3^rd 11:30am in the Auditorium. This meeting is to review the schedule of upcoming Youth events and to prepare for the Rite of Enrolment on Feb. 17^th.

St. John the Baptist Book Club – Join us as we begin a new book! On Monday, January 28th at 7:00 PM anyone who is interested may join a lively discussion on the book Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor by Allan Hunt. This book is written by a convert to the Catholic Church who was originally the pastor of a large evangelical congregation.  The group meets on the second floor of St. John the Baptist parish hall in Room 203.

SA/SJB—Great Adventure Time Line Bible Study comes to an end on January 29^th.  Our last session will be discussion and Pot Luck at St John the Baptist Parish, which will begin at 5:30pm.  Great Adventure Matthew Bible Study is the next foundational bible study for the Great Adventure Series.  This course will cost $25 for course materials and will be held at St John the Baptist Parish.  We welcome anyone who would like to continue on the adventure.

Grade 4 Bible Presentation- St. John the Baptist grade 4 students will be presented a Bible at the 9:00 AM Mass on Sunday, Feb. 3^rd.

Grade 2 Parent Meeting – The St. John the Baptist grade 2 parents are meeting at 10:00 AM not 11:00 AM in the parish hall on Sunday, February 3^rd. This meeting is to begin preparation for First Communion on Sunday, April 21^st. Parents are reminded to bring copies of their child’s baptismal certificate.

Please welcome Deacon Wilfred Boudreau who is speaking at St. John the Baptist this weekend about chalice (formerly Christian Child Care International) – a Canadian Catholic sponsorship program.  He will explain how you can help a destitute child at one of 48 mission sites in 15 developing countries.  Deacon Wilfred is married to Vera and have 5 adult children and 7 grand children.  He was born in Cape Breton, N.S. and presently lives in Lantz, NS.  Deacon Wilfred was ordained in 1999 in the Archdiocese of Halifax and spent 32 years in the Education field and the last 7 as a Catholic Chaplain.  He serves as Deacon at St. Bridget’s church and St. Catherine's church in Shubenacadie N.S. 

  Like to sing: please come out and join us in praising God in Song.  With Lent/Easter quickly approaching we are starting rehearsals for the various services.  The choir will be combined as a joint choir for Holy week and would be a perfect time for  you to join us in song praising the Lord.  Contact Greg if interested

Religious Education News:   Pennies for Steubenville – Keep those pennies coming!!! They really piling up and we are so grateful! The pennies collected are to help our Youth with 2013 Steubenville Conference fees. Please consider donating your pennies to our wonderful young people dedicated and committed to continuing their faith journey through the Steubenville Conference experience.

Friday Fun Night – Jan. 25^th 6:30pm-8:00pm – Hey kids of St. Agnes and St. John the Baptist it’s Hawaiian Night !! Where your colorful shirts and grass skirts! We’ll enjoy an evening of island games, food and fun.

SA Youth Mass – Sunday January 27^th 10:30am – Children and youth will sit together as a class and celebrate Mass in fellowship and friendship. Ministries will performed by our parish Youth.

SA First Reconciliation / First Communion Parent Meeting – Sunday Jan.27^th 9:30am during class time. Parents we will gather in the church for this meeting. This meeting to confirm retreat and sacraments dates and to review preparations for the Rite of Enrolment scheduled for Feb. 10^th at the 10:30am Mass.

SA Confirmation Parent & Youth Meeting – Sunday Feb.3^rd 11:30am in the Auditorium. This meeting is to review the schedule of upcoming Youth events and to prepare for the Rite of Enrolment on Feb. 17^th.

Youth Group Meeting  – Friday Jan.25^th 8:00pm St. Agnes Church Auditorium – Calling all High School, University and Young Adults to an information meeting on Steubenville, Diocesan and Parish level Youth Events (such as Cornerstone, Mancini Cup, Thinkfast) and Fund Raising ideas/opportunities. This meeting is to get our Leadership Team started so we can begin organizing our participation and planning for the 2013 events. Come and see what we’re all about –

St. John the Baptist Book Club – Join us as we begin a new book! On Monday, January 28th at 7:00 PM anyone who is interested may join a lively discussion on the book Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor by Allan Hunt. This book is written by a convert to the Catholic Church who was originally the pastor of a large evangelical congregation.  The group meets on the second floor of St. John the Baptist parish hall in Room 203.

 Catholics Coming Home – began on Thursday, January 17th in St. John the Baptist parish hall at 7:00 PM. It is not too late to join. For more information contact Debbie at 477-8798 or debbie@eastlink.ca or Annie @ 454-8200 or stagnespa@eastlink.ca or check out the parish web site address above

SA/SJB—Great Adventure Time Line Bible Study comes to an end on January 29^th.  Our last session will be discussion and Pot Luck at St John the Baptist Parish, which will begin at 5:30pm.  Great Adventure Matthew Bible Study is the next foundational bible study for the Great Adventure Series.  This course will cost $25 for course materials and will be held at St John the Baptist Parish.  We welcome anyone who would like to continue on the adventure.

Examining the Vatican II DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION DEI VERBUM with Father Larry  – sessions are at St John the Baptist on Wednesday evenings after the 7pm Mass and will run until February 5^th.

Saturday January 19^th – St. Agnes Leo Day Auditorium – 7:00pm – 10:00pm, admission is $7.00. There is a canteen, 50/50, a Step Dance Showcase and great Cape Breton music and entertainers. This event is sponsored by the Cape Breton Charitable Association of Halifax