Sts.
Peter & Paul Parish
Welland, Ontario, Canada
A Roman Catholic Church within the Diocese of St. Catharines
"A Parish Family Since 1913"
Rev. Stan Bijak, OMI - Pastor / Proboszcz
300 Chaffey Street, Welland, Ontario, L3B 2Y8
Tel.: (905) 734-4824 Fax: (905) 734-9546
Rev. Deacon Gerard Demers (905) 735-5267
OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO CHRIST !
OTWORZCIE SZEROKO DRZWI CHRYSTUSOWI !
Jericho House:
Sister Jacquie Keefe, cssf, or Brother Bill Carrothers, cfc
10845 Rathfon Road, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada L3K 5V4
Note: The postal address is "Port Colborne," but Jericho House is in nearby Wainfleet.
Phone: (905) 834-0553. Email: leadership@jerichohouse.org. Fax: (905) 834-5230
2012
Blessed John Paul II - Karol Jozef Wojtyla (1920.V.18 - 2005.IV.02)
"Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcom Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ's power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. DO NOT BE AFRAID. OPEN WIDE THE DOORS FOR CHRIST. To his saving power open the boundries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows 'what is in man.' He alone knows it."
(Homily of His Holiness John Paul II for the Inauguration of his Pontificate, St. Peter's Square, Sunday, 22 October, 1978)
2011
Our Lady of Czestochowa, Poland
"Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto You, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To You I come, before You I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen"
2010
Year of Priests
Saint John Mary Vianney (1786 - 1859) Holy Cure D'Ars, Patron of Priests |
PRAYER FOR THE PRIESTS Heavenly Father, grant that |
Pope John Paul II Great - Ars, Oct.6,1986: Christ has truly stopped here at Ars, at the time when you had bothered Jean-Marie Vianney. Yes, he stopped. He saw "crowds" of men and women of the last century "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Mt 9, 36). Christ stopped here as the Good Shepherd. A good pastor, a shepherd after God's heart is the greatest treasure that God may grant to a parish and one of the most precious gifts of God's mercy. And in this place, Christ said to His disciples, as once in Palestine, told the whole Church in France, the Church throughout the earth: "The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest"(Mt 9, 37-38).
Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican, June 16th 2009: I have decided to inaugurate a "Year for Priests" in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide.
2009
Year of Saint Paul
Paul was born A.D. 8, in what is now Turkey. Paul was a Pharisee. Saul was his Jewish name; Paul was his Roman name. Paul was a tent maker by profession. In jeruselem he studied the roots of Mosaic Law. It was decisive for him to know the community of those who called themselves deciples of Jesus. Through them he came to know a new faith - a new "way", as it was called - that places not so much the Law of God at the centre but rather the person of Jesus, Crucified and Risen, to whom was now linked the remission of sins. Paul was called by the Lord himself, by the Risen One, to be a true Apostle. It was precisely on the road to Damascus at the beginning of the 30s A.D. that, according to his words, "Christ made me his own."
The letters, orepistles, of St. Paul make up one-third of the New Testament. Paul was beheaded outside the walls of Rome during the reign of Nero, probably between A.D. 65 and 67. Tradition has always maintained that Paul was buried where the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls now stands. Current archaelogical evidence confirms this tradition; the chapel of relics in the basilica contains a set of chains said to be those which bound Paul in the last days before his execution.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer to the Apostle Paul
Glorious St Paul, |
Most zealous Apostle, |
Martyr for the love of Christ |
Give us a deep faith, |
A steadfast hope, |
A burning love for our Lord; |
So that we can proclaim with you, |
"It is no longer I who live, |
but Christ who lives in me." |
Help us to become apostles |
Serving the Church with a pure heart, |
Witnesses to her truth and beauty |
amidst the darkness of our days. |
With you we priase God our Father: |
"To Him be the glory, |
in the Church and in Christ, |
now and forever." |
Amen. |
2008
150th Anniversary
of the Lourdes Apparitions
1858 -
2008
In 1858, asking that a chapel be built and identifying herself as The Imaculate Conception, Our Lady appears to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France on 18 different occasions.
The first of the 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous (1844 - 1879) took place on February 11, 1858 (now World Day of the Sick) in a cave on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes.
The woman didn't identify herself initially (this happened later on March 25, Feast of the Annunciation), but asked Bernadette to faithfully come to the grotto as it was called and pray the Rosary for the conversion of sinners so that they might turn away from their evil ways ad come back to God.
The 150th Anniversary Jubilee Year is being celebrated December 8, 2007 to December 8, 2008, between two Solemnities of the Immaculate Conception.
2007
90th Anniversary
of the Fatima Apparitions
1917 -
2007
On May 13, 1917 three children (Lucia de Jesus, aged 10, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, aged 9 and 7) were pasturing their little flock in the Cova da Iria, parish of Fatima, Portugal. About midday, after praying the rosary, as was their custom, they were amusing themselves building a little house of stones scattered around the place where the Basilica now stands. Sunddenly they saw a brilliant light, and thinking it to be lightening, they decided to go home. But as they went down slope another flash lit up the place, and they saw on the top of a tree (where the chapel of Apparations now stands) a lady more brilliant then the sun, from whose hands hung a white rosary. The Lady told the three little shepherds that it was necessary to pray much, and she invited them to return to the Cova da Iria during five consecutive months on the 13th day at that hour. However on the 19th of August, the apparition took place at Valinhos, because on the 13th the children had been carried off by the local administrator to Vila Nova de Ourem.
At the last apparition, on October 13th, with about 70,000 present, the Lady said to them that she was the "Lady of the Rosary" and that a chapel was to be built there in her honour. After the apparition all present witnessed the miracle promised to the three children in July and September: the sun, resembling a silver disc, could be gazed at without difficulty and, whirling on itself like a wheel of fire, it seemed about to fall upon the earth.
Afterwards, when Lucia was a Religious Sister of Saint Dorothy, Our Lady appeared to her again in Spain three time (1925, 1926, 1929), requesting the devotion of the five first Saturdays (to pray the rosary, meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, confess and receive Holy Communion, in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary), and the Consecration of Russia to the same Immaculate Heart. This request had been announced by the Apparition of the 13th of July 1917, in what is called the "Secret of Fatima".
April 28, 1919 - Beginning of the construction of the Chapel of Apparitions.
October, 31, 1942 - Pius XII, speaking by radio. consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
May 13, 1946 - Crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Chapel of Apparitions.
May 13, 1956 - Cardinal Roncalli, future blessed Pope John Paul XXIII presided at the ceremonies.
May 13, 1967 - Paul VI came to Fatima for the 50th anniversary of Our Lady's 1st Apparition.
May 13, 1982 - John Paul II came on a pilgrimage to Fatima in thanksgiving for saving his life.
March 25, 1984 - In St. Peter's Square, before the Statue from the Chapel of Apparitions, John Paul II made once more the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the Bishops of the world.
May 13, 1991 - John Paul II the Great, now a servant of God, came a second time to Fatima, as a pilgrim, on the 10th anniversary of the attempt on his life.
How to Pray the Rosary
1. Make the sign of the cross and say the "Apostles Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
6. Say ten "Hail Mary's while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
8. After each decade say the following prayer requested by
the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: "O my Jesus, forgive
us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to
Heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.
9. Announce the Second Mystery: then say the "Our Father."
Repeat 6, 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth
Mysteries in the same manner.
10. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after the five decades are completed.
2006
Saint
Eugene De Mazenod
(1782 - 1861)
Bishop and Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Canonized December 3, 1995.
Pope John Paul II said of St. Eugene that "his life was distinquished by an uncommonzeal - something
that arose from his great faith, hope and apostolic love. He was one of those apostles who readied the
coming of our time." The love of Christ was what drove St. Eugene's life and his works."Jesus, make me love You. I ask nothing else of You, since I know well that love of You is everything."
Blessed Joseph Gerard
Blessed Jozef Cebula
(1831 - 1914)
(1902 - 1941)
Priest and Missionary
Priest and Martyr.
of South
Africa.
Beatified Sept. 15, 1988
Beatified June 13, 1999
1826
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) approved by Pope Leo XII.
1841
Bishop de Mazenod sent his first six missionaries to Canada.
1920
OMI province established in poland thanks to the Oblates of Polish origin
from Canada and other countries.
1947
OMI pastors (*)
and other priests in our parish for over 58 years: Stanley Puchniak *,
Stanley Misiag,
Mieczyslaw Wecki, Bernard Kopec, George J. Lavoie, Peter J. Klita *,
Edward Jankowski, Ben Vanco,
Kazimierz Krystkowiak, Vicent Ferdynus *,
Wojciech Wojtkowiak *,
Antoni Hylla, Jan Bednarz,
Michael Kucharski, Wilhelm Jan Rozmyslowski, Roman Majek *,
Zygmunt Musielski *,
John Szkodzinski,
Jan Wadolowski *,
Stan Bijak *.
1956
Assumption Province of the Oblates in Canada established.
2005
YEAR
OF THE EUCHARIST
Proposed and Proclaimed by His
Holiness Pope John Paul II
O GOD, WHO IN THIS WONDROUS SACRAMENT
HAVE LEFT US
A MEMORIAL OF YOUR PASSION,
GRANT US, WE BESEECH YOU,
SO VENERATE THE SACRED MYSTERIES
OF YOUR BODY AND BLOOD
THAT WE MAY PERCEIVE WITHIN
US THE EFFECT OF YOUR REDEMPTION.
WHO LIVE AND REIGN WORLD WITHOUT
END. AMEN
THE DIVINE PRAISES:
Blessed be God
Blessed be his holy name
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true
God and true Man
Blessed be the name of Jesus
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart
Blessed be his most precious
blood
Blessed be Jesus in the most
holy sacrament of the altar
Blessed be the Holy Spirit,
the Paraclete
Blessed be the great Mother
of God, Mary most holy
Blessed be her holy Immaculate
Conception
Blessed be her glorious Assumption
Blessed be the name of Mary,
Virgin and Mother
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most
chaste spouse
Blessed be God in his angels
and in his saints
2003
WE CELEBRATED OUR
90th PARISH ANNIVERSARY
1913
- 2003
St. Peter St. Paul
Novena to Sts. Peter & Paul
O holy apostles, Peter and Paul,
I choose you this day forever to be my special patrons and advocates.
I choose you St. Peter, prince
of the apostles, because you are the rock upon which Jesus built his Church.
I choose you St. Paul, because
you are a vessel of election and preacher of truth to the whole world.
Obtain for me, I pray, a lively
faith, firm hope and burning love.
I ask you for patience in adversity
and humility in prosperity.
Make me attentive in prayer,
pure of heart and motives,
diligent in fulfilling the duties
of my state of life and content in my resolutions.
Help me to be docile to the
will of God and to persevere in the grace of God until death.
Through your intercession and
glorious merits, holy apostles, may I be able to overcome the temptations
of the devil.
Make me worthy to appear before
the chief and eternal shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, who with the Father
and
the Holy spirit lives and reigns
for endless ages, so that I may enjoy his presence and love forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory to the Father.
V.You
shall make them princes over all the earth.
R. They
shall be mindful of your name, O Lord.
Let us pray. O
God, you raised up blessed Peter, when he began to sink after walking on
the water,
and three times delivered the
apostle Paul from the depths of the sea when he shipwrecked.
By the merits of St. Peter and
St. Paul, graciously hear us and grant that we also may attain to everlasting
glory.
You who live and reign, world
without end. Amen.
Prayer for A Welcoming Heart
Lord,
We thank you for this parish
home,
for sisters and brothers ~
who warm and comfort us,
who nurture and challenge our
faith,
who love and support us in our
journey of life.
We pray for people who are alone
and in need,
may they find here ~
a loving smile, an outstretched
hand, an open heart.
May we be a community of people
who can ~
welcome with our smiles, help
with our hands,
understand with our hearts.
Amen.
LA MADONNA DELLA STRADA
"POD TWOJA OBRONE..."
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee; blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
V. The angel spoke
God's message to Mary
R. and
she conceived of the Holy Spirit
Hail Mary ...
V. "I am
the lowly servant of the Lord:
R. Let
it be done to me according to your word."
Hail Mary ...
V. And the
Word became flesh
R. and
lived among us.
Hail Mary ...
V. Pray
for us, holy Mother of God,
R. that
we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Lord, fill our hearts with your grace:
once, through the message of an angel
you revealed to us the incarnation of your
Son;
now, through his suffering and death
lead us to the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
Remember, most loving Virgin Mary,
never was it heard
that anyone who turned to you for help
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
though burdened by my sins,
I run to your protection
for you are my mother.
Mother of the Word God,
do not despise my words of pleading
but be merciful and hear my prayer.
Amen.
(St. Bernard's Prayer)
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