SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF:

+Evelyn Lindsay, Sylvan Valley Apartments

SUNDAY COLLECTION:

February 11th & 12th

$5471.50 Thank You!

Religious Education

A warm “Welcome Back” is extended to all involved in our Religious Education Program. Welcome to our catechists, monitors, confirmation facilitators, parents and especially our young people as we gather together each week to share and learn about our faith. Our classes for years one to six resumed on Wednesday evening Feb. 1st and our Confirmation program for young people in grade 10 and up began on Thursday evening Feb. 2nd

Dates to Remember: First Communion : April 29 Confirmation: May 3

The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society extend sincere appreciation to all parishioners for their continued generosity to our Society and the clients we serve, especially at the time of the Christmas Cheer Program. One hundred and eighteen families were served with approximately $13, 000 being distributed. Our sincere thanks for your on-going support and our best wishes for a 2012 that brings much happiness, comfort, and success. Receipts for all donations will be issued in the near future.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: will be held at St. Ninian Cathedral on Friday, March 2^nd at 7pm. The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical prayer service coordinated by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. The 2012 program was written by the Women of Malaysia. This years theme is “Let Justice Prevail”. We gather as Christian people with neighbouring churches to plan, participate and join in common prayer. Sponsored by St. Ninian CWL. All are welcome!

CWL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 2012 Membership drive for St. Ninian Catholic Women’s League continues to be in progress until the end of February 2012. Membership dues of $20 can be placed in an envelope and dropped in the collection basket over the next few weeks. If you would like to have your Dues picked up or, if you have any questions, please phone Betty Farrell, Organization Chair, at 863-4393. All ladies of the parish and parishes within the Antigonish/Guysborough Deanery where CWL councils don’t exist are invited to become a member of the CWL. All are Welcome!!

Looking for help on your Lenten Journey. It is not too late to join the That Man Is You (TMIY) program and meet the 23 men who have been attending the program in our parish. The entire year has been building up to this journey. If you are looking for something and wondering what you should do for Lent this year, we have a Lenten program for you, that will be amazing! Now is the time to join if you never have. And now is the time to return if you have been missing sessions. Wives, please help us in this effort. Get your husband to TMIY! The group meets each Saturday morning at 7am at the John Paul Centre for hot breakfast, video presentation and small group discussion. For information call Brian Lazzuri at 735-2443 or go to: www.thatmanisyou.org.

ST. NINIAN CATHEDRAL PARISH The Parish of St. Ninian’s is a vibrant and growing Catholic Community and is seeking candidates for the position of Secretary/Receptionist. Applications will be accepted until February 24, 2012 for this position. A job description may be obtained from the Parish Office, between the hours of 8:30am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Send Resume and Cover Letter, in a sealed envelope marked “Employment Opportunity”, to the “Personnel Committee” c/o Rev. Tom MacNeil, P.O. Box 1628, Antigonish, NS, B2G 2L8.

CENACLE - meets Wednesdays at 7:00pm in the Vestry (Rosary, Meditation, Consecration).

FAITH IN GOD PRAYER GROUP - meets each Monday at 7pm in the Vestry.

HEALING OASIS PRAYER GROUP meets each Tuesday, 7:30pm, Coady Institute, second floor.

SECULAR FRANCISCANS - meet the second Saturday of each month, 2pm, St. Ninian Place.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE - meets the second Monday of the month, September through June, St. Ninian Place, 7pm.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS - regular monthly meetings are held the first Sunday of each month, September through June, 7pm at the John Paul Center.

CATHOLIC CIVIL RIGHTS LEAGUE - meets the second Tuesday of the month,7:30pm, St.Ninian Place.

N.A. PATHWAY TO PEACE GROUP - meets Tuesdays at 6:30pm at St. Ninian Place.

BETHANY CENTER FEBRUARY EVENTS:
Centering Prayer Group: meets Friday morning, February 24th for instruction and prayer.

Gathering the Wisdom Group: meets on Tuesday evening February 21st. During this meeting we will be discussing the recent changes in the liturgy.

For information or registration for any of our programs call Bethany Center 863-4726 or email: bethanycenter@themarthas.com.

DIOCESAN RENEWAL CONGRESS: PARISH MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 27 AT 7P.M.: A letter was read from Bishop Dunn in January regarding a “Renewal Congress” to be held in October 2013. Even though this seems a long way away the planning begins now. Each parish is asked to have a session with parishioners to give input into the substance of this Renewal Congress. More information will be given in the following weeks. Our meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27 at 7pm in St. Ninian Place.

POLISH PARISH AT ST. NINIAN FEBRUARY 25th 5PM: The members of St. Mary Polish Parish in Sydney have requested to make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral Church on February 25 and to take part in the Saturday evening Mass for the First Sunday of Lent. There will be about 100 people coming. They will take part in the Liturgy. During the entrance rites they will present the “bread and salt” as a traditional Polish greeting. One of the readings will be proclaimed in Polish. Some Polish hymns will be sung. They will take part in the Procession with the Gifts of Bread and Wine. They will also have two altar servers taking part. Please come and welcome them to the Cathedral for their pilgrimage.

PARISH LENTEN SESSIONS ON “THE MASS”: On Sunday , March 4 and Sunday March 25 from 1:30 until 3:30 there will be an information/teaching session on the Mass. This will cover the “Introductory Rites and Liturgy of the Word” the first week. Then the “Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites” the second week. It is intended to give us all a deeper understanding of the celebration of the Eucharist. Plan now to have this as a Lenten activity to build toward the celebration of the Easter Season beginning Easter Sunday, April 8 and concluding on the Feast of Pentecost, May 27. This teaching session will be in room 021 of St. Ninian Place.

DEANERY PASTORAL PLANNING MEETING: To be held on Tuesday, March 20 at 7p.m. at St. Peter Parish, Tracadie in the Msgr. Donnelly Hall. This is to discuss the future of the Antigonish/ Guysborough Deanery in view of the declining number of priests and the increasing age of the priests. This meeting is open to any parishioners who wish to come. We do want to have at least TWO from each parish/church to be there. This process has been going on in various parts of our Diocese for some time now. This is an opportunity to raise the level of awareness for our own area here. Please make the effort to come to this meeting.

For sale by the Knights of Columbus 1105:

Have tapes and CD's of “Praying The Rosary”. The cost of each is $6.00. If interested call Kenny at 863-4393.

The Spring 40 Days For Life campaign is kicking off across the globe beginning Wednesday, February 22 (Ash Wednesday) in 251 cities including ten Canadian cities. For 40 straight days there will be prayer, fasting and where possible a constant witness outside abortion facilities across North America and beyond. The local Councils of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League wish to encourage parishioners to participate in this biblically-inspired campaign with your Personal/family prayer and fasting to end abortion and euthanasia. Contact: Janet and Martien Bekkers, 863-5061.

St. FX Continuing & Distance Education is offering a series of Learning Lunches in partnership with People’s Place Library, Antigonish. Talks will be presented once a month, February - May in People’s Place Library or other locations in Antigonish. Content is geared toward adults 55+ but talks are open to the general public and free of charge. Bring your lunch and enjoy an interesting and informative discussion. Presentations are on March 21, April 18, and May 16 (presenters and topics: TBA). For additional information call 867-5561 or email: mlmacinn@stfx.ca