St. Leonard Catholic Parish

Manotick, Ont

"Lent: A time to renew faith, hope and love."

This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. Once again, we are open for socially distanced public Masses at our regular times. Just like before the most recent lockdown, we are limited to 30% of our maximum seating capacity and we would ask that you register at stleonardsparish.ca/ma... to reserve your seat(s).

All Weekend and Weekday Masses from St. Leonard's will be Livestreamed to our YouTube Channel. To visit this site click here. 

Mass Readings: 1st Sunday of Lent

1st Reading    Genesis 9:8-15

Responsorial Psalm    Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

2nd Reading    1 Peter 3:18-22

Gospel    Mark 1:12-15

The focus of our readings not only for today, but for all the Sundays of Lent this year, is the relationship that GOD establishes with us through covenants. The word Lent comes from the Old English lencten and refers to the lengthening of days as springtime approaches. We begin Lent in the cold depths of winter and celebrate Easter, hopefully, in the warm spring sunshine. In the same way the season of Lent links the renewal of the earth and Christian life with New Covenant found in Jesus Christ. It is also the time set aside for us to renew our relationship with God.

Covenants are the binding agreements between GOD and those whom GOD has chosen. The covenant in our first reading is the one between GOD and Noah after the Flood. God promises that, “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh” (Gen 9:11) and that he will leave the rainbow as a sign of his commitment to that covenant. In the second reading, Peter speaks of the covenant with Noah as a type of foreshadowing of the relationship which comes about through the waters of Baptism.  In the Gospel today, Jesus is tempted by Satan.  That is followed by Jesus beginning His public ministry by proclaiming that the kingdom of God has arrived.

How can Jesus be tempted you might ask? We need to remember that Jesus is fully human in all things except sin. He was tempted just like the rest of us. He is both fully human and fully divine, both animal and angelic. Holding off the temptations of Satan, Jesus finds the right balance. He disciplines the body and grounds the spirit. It is this reconciliation that is summed up by Jesus being among “the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” (Mark 1:13) Jesus himself is the knitting together of creation, both the physical and the spiritual.

Jesus emerges from the desert experience with feelings of being renewed, committed, and ready to obey God’s plan of announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God by His very life, words, and actions, and ultimately death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus proclaims that “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:15) A New Covenant is being established. God binds divinity again to humanity in and through the person of Jesus, true God, and true human.

Today’s Gospel also reminds us that, as Christ was tested, so shall we all be tested. Every day of our lives, the devil tempts us, and he will continue doing so. However, this should not frighten us, because the Holy Spirit that helped Christ is always available to help us. It is also a reminder, that temptation is inevitable in our Christian journey.

Last summer, the City of Ottawa painted signs on the pavement of several streets in Manotick reminding people to slow down. The signs said SLOW and then 10 ft later the French translation, LENT.  This Lent as we prepare to renew our covenant with God let’s all slow down for 40 days. Let us  persist in prayer, fasting and abstinence and ask God to grant us the strength to endure till the end of our own test as Christ did.

Finally, let us sincerely make use of this period of Lent to ask God for forgiveness for all the moments we have not been faithful to our covenant with him. So, with the psalmist, let us praise him for his faithfulness: “Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.” (Psalm 25:10)

God bless you folks, Father Gerard

Worship

Mass Times

Registration is required for all Weekend Masses. Please note that no reservations are required for Weekday Masses. You can make reservations by visiting stleonardsparish.ca/ma... or by calling the parish office at  (613) 692-4254 .    

Confession times

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons will air every ‪Sunday morning at 8:15 AM Eastern Time. Click on Bishop Barron’s YouTube channel and then chose the Sunday you wish to view.

Virtual Children's Liturgy

The St. Leonard Children’s Liturgy Team offers virtual Children’s Liturgy of the Word videos to keep our children connected to their faith! The videos include prayers, the week’s Gospel reading, lessons, all geared for our younger parishioners. Click here to view.

Message from Pope Francis for Lent 2021

In our Lenten journey towards Easter, let us remember the One who “humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). During this season of conversion, let us renew our faith, draw from the “living water” of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God, who makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. At the Easter vigil, we will renew our baptismal promises and experience rebirth as new men and women by the working of the Holy Spirit. This Lenten journey, like the entire pilgrimage of the Christian life, is even now illumined by the light of the resurrection, which inspires the thoughts, attitudes and decisions of the followers of Christ. Read More...

Stewardship

Youth

Faith Formation

Let's Learn About Lent: For Kids

Join Brother Francis in this compact presentation of what Lent is all about and how we observe it as Catholics. Great for the whole family! Click Here to Watch.

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