"BETWEEN ME AND THE WELL"
A LENTEN RETREAT
             
"Are you thirsty? There is a well.
What keeps you from drinking?"

During this Lenten Retreat, we will ask for the grace to discern the voices that keep us from drinking from the One Well of Living Water. Jesus needed the desert experience to achieve this discernment, and so do we.  Come join Pastor Brent Walker on Saturday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in St. Monica's parish hall (6405 de Terrebonne, Montreal, H4B 1A8) and dare to set yourself apart for a day to let the Holy Spirit clear some of the clutter between you and the Unconditional and Infinite Love of God.  Bring your own lunch.  Beverages and snacks will be provided. Suggested donation of $20 will be gratefully accepted! 
 

About Pastor Brent Walker
Since leaving Montreal, Brent has served as a Prison Chaplain for five years, and is now ministering to a United Church Parish as a baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic. Brent’s work in our Federal Institutions among the most broken, and his willingness to minister across denominational lines, have nurtured a very ecumenical view of God’s love in Brent’s heart.
 

Samia Boghdady, of Theologia Book Ministry, will be at St. Monica’s with a selection of books and other media for you to purchase during the retreat as well as before and after the 4 p.m. Mass. 


For information and to register by March 10, contact Anna at (514) 481-0267 ext. 222 or anna.diodati@stmonica.ca.

MONTREAL MEN'S CONFERENCE

Join other Catholic men in Montreal for a faith-filled day of fellowship on Saturday, March 14 from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolata Parish.(1700 Jean -Talon St. East, Montreal, H2E 1T2).
It's a spiritual battle out there and men need God...men need men. Speakers Keith Doucette and Deacon Mike Sequin are men of great faith who will share their struggles, experiences, faith, hope and the message of his Divine Mercy.
Mass will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Alain Faubert, V.G.
Cost is $25; lunch included. For info contact jp2centreottawa@gmail.com 

ST. PATRICK'S DAY
DINNER AND DANCE FUNDRAISER
AT ST. KEVIN PARISH

Join us for a St.Patrick's Day Dinner and Dance Party on Saturday, March 14 from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. in the parish hall (5600 Côte-des-Neiges Rd., Montreal, H3T 1Z1).
Organized by the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women's League, Family Life Apostolate and the Philippine Benevolent and Scholarship Society of Quebec to raise funds for the installation of a handicapped access ramp for the St. Kevin's Parish hall. Tickets are $20 each. Contact the parish office at 514-733-5600 or stkevinqc@gmail.com.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY LUNCH
AT HOLY CROSS PARISH

Holy Cross Parish will be holding a St.Patrick's Day Fundraiser on Sunday, March 15, at 12:30 p.m. in the parish hall (1960 Jolicoeur St., Ville-Émard, H4E 1X5) 
All are welcome to join us in the celebration. Tickets are $20 each and must be purchased in advance, no later than March 8 by calling the parish office at 514-769-2717.

H.O.P.E. WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP TEA
AT ST. JOHN FISHER PARISH
 

All women are welcome for an afternoon of fellowship, sharing and a special talk by Peggy Ducette, co-director of the John Paul II Centre for Divine Mercy in Ontario. Join us on Sunday, March 15 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. (120 Summerhill Ave., Pointe-Claire, H9R 2L7). Cost is $10; proceeds will go toward St. John Fisher Parish. 

Contact the office at 514-695-0205 or sjfpsecretary@videotron.ca.

JESUITS AND FIRST NATIONS:
TOWARDS A SPIRITUALITY
OF RECONCILIATION

 

Join us for a free, bilingual evening mini-retreat, as part of our Discover Soirée series, featuring Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, former provincial superior of the Jesuits in English Canada and long time advocate for justice and reconciliation committed to indigenous peoples.  All are welcome on Thursday, March 19, 7 p.m.-9:30 pm. at the Villa Saint-Martin (9451 Gouin Blvd. West, Pierrefonds, H8Y 1T1). A time for quiet reflection following the talk will give participants space to reflect and prepare themselves for spiritual conversation at the end of the evening. Your donations to support our mission are welcome!

For $20, you can join Fr. Peter Bisson and other participants for supper at 5:30 p.m. Register for the dinner at 514-684-2311 ext. 0.

COME AND SEE EVENING
for the Call to the Priesthood
 

The next "Come and See" evening will be taking place on Friday, March 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Annunciation Parish (71 Roosevelt Ave., Mount Royal, H3R 2G9). These gatherings are intended for men who are discerning a vocation to follow Jesus as a priest. These evenings are an excellent opportunity for those who are discerning a call to the priesthood, to share in fellowship, and to explore their call together. For information or to reserve a spot, please contact Fr. Robert Clark at 514-903-6200 or mtlvocations@hotmail.com.

VIDEO DIVINA AT ST. MONICA PARISH

This year, Fr. Lloyd Baugh, SJ, presents the ten films of Kieslowski’s Decalogue. Loosely inspired by the Ten Commandments, the films are consistent in their sharp focus on the absolute primacy New Testament commandment to “love your neighbour as yourself". Join him on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the parish rectory (6405 de Terrebonne, Montreal, H4B 1A8) to view the film "Decalogue Eight: Do Not Lie”.  Free admission and popcorn, with discussion to follow!  For information, contact Fr. Lloyd at 514-481-0267 ext. 232 or lloyd.baugh@stmonica.ca. 

WEEKEND LENTEN RETREAT
AT THE VILLA SAINT-MARTIN

The Nature of Lent: God and Creation
Facilitated by Sylvester Tan, S.J. and Marc-André Veselovsky, S.J.
Friday, March 20, 5 p.m. to Sunday, March 22, 1 p.m.
(9451 Gouin Blvd. West, Pierrefonds, H8Y 1T2)

“Eternal life will be a shared experience of awe, in which each creature, resplendently transfigured, will take its rightful place and have something to give those poor men and women who will have been liberated once and for all.” - Pope Francis, Laudato sì, 243

God reveals the life God offers us through all of God’s works in creation, and our salvation in Christ is to be lived out by taking our rightful place among all of God’s creatures! Join us for this weekend retreat in which we seek to become ever more open to the new life that Christ offers us not merely for ourselves, but for the sake of the whole of creation, groaning for its redemption (cf. Romans 8:22).

Register now! Space is limited! The retreat price is $214, including meals, materials, and accommodation. Rooms with private bath are available for an additional fee.

To register, please contact Julie Lafontaine at the Villa Saint Martin at (514) 684-2311 extension 0 or e-mailing contact@villasaintmartin.org.

MINISTERING TO MINISTERS
WEEKEND RETREAT
AT THE VILLA SAINT-MARTIN

Facilitated by Julie Lafontaine and the Villa Saint-Martin Team
Friday, March 20, 5 p.m. to Sunday, March 22, 1 p.m.
(9451 Gouin Blvd. West, Pierrefonds, H8Y 1T2)

“...delight to rest in his shadow” - Song of Songs 2:3

A retreat is a time to break out of the daily routine and connect with the One who loves us most… the source of our desire to serve. This retreat is specially designed for those who are in ministry, volunteer, and pastoral service but all who wish to deepen their relationship with God are welcome.

Cost: $234 or $246, depending on accommodation choice
Please bring a personal Bible and a journal if you are able.

To register, please contact Julie Lafontaine at (514) 684-2311 extension 0 or contact@villasaintmartin.org.

THE 2020 MARGUERITE D'YOUVILLE LECTURE
AT THE NEWMAN CENTRE

Euthanasia and Vulnerability: A Catholic Response to MAiD
We welcome this year's speaker, Bishop Noël Simard of the Diocese of Valleyfield. Join us on Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m.-12 noon (3484 Peel St., Montreal, H3A 3T6). Spaces are limited. RSVP by March 19 at director@newmancentre.org

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION FOR EVERYONE
In Honour of the 75^th Anniversary of Annunciation Parish
 

As befits such a special milestone in the life of the parish, there will be a Festive Sacred Music Concert on Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m. (1020 Laird Blvd., Town of Mount Royal, H3R 2G9). The concert will feature "What a Choir!", directed and accompanied by Manuel Blais, well known by music lovers in the Town of Mount Royal for his concerts over the years while serving as music director at Annunciation Parish and later with the TMR Singers and other groups.
 
"What a Choir!" is a unique ensemble of over 30 choristers, including members of Annunciation Parish, Our Lady Gate of Dawn Lithuanian Parish, St. Malachy Parish, St. Patrick’s Basilica, and St. Basil Ukranian Catholic Parish.

The program will include a wide and interesting variety of well-loved and brand new inspirational music sung in English, French, Hebrew and Latin, such as Ave Maris Stella, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, I Believe, Ose Shalom and Let There be Peace on Earth, all sung in four-part harmony. The music chosen is designed to appeal to anyone interested in choral music.
 
All funds raised will be designated for the benefit of the parish.
Tickets are $15 for adults, free for children, and can be purchased after weekend masses and at the door on the day of the concert. Contact this office at (514) 738-1080 or info@annunciationparish.ca

SOCIAL ISOLATION & THE CROWDED CITY
A Public Lecture hosted by
the English Speaking Catholic Council (ESCC)
 

Despite being more technologically connected than ever before, Canadians are reporting higher levels of disconnectedness and loneliness. 

Join us on Thursday, March 26, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Atwater Library Auditorium (1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount, H3Z 1X4) as Milton Friesen guides us through the data of this troubling trend and explores the possibilities of an authentic response by faith communities. The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion between community leaders.
 
Milton Friesen is the Program Director of Social Cities at Cardus. He has served a three-year term as an elected municipal councillor and is completing a Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo School of Planning that is focused on new ways to measure the social fabric of neighbourhoods.
 
Please RSVP to the ESCC by March 23^rd at escc@bellnet.ca or 514-937-2301 x252.

MONTREAL DIRECTED RETREATS
Be refreshed in mind, body and spirit
 

Silent, directed weekend retreat at La Maison de Prière Notre-Dame in Longueuil (180 rue De Normandie, Longueuil, J4H 3N9).
Begins Friday evening, April 3 and ends Sunday afternoon.
Contact Paul Empsall at 514-626-9462 or paul.empsall@sympatico.ca or visit montrealretreats.org

LIVING  WITH  HOPE

A weekend retreat led by
Fr. Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV
 

May 1-3, 2020
Manoir d'Youville
498 D'Youville Blvd., Châteauguay, J6J 5T9
on Île Saint-Bernard

"It is very important that we understand deeply how good God is, and not measure him by our own limitations or think that he tires of our wavering, weakness and negligence. Let us think of him as He truly is, filled with goodness, mercy, and compassion, and let us know Him as the loving Father He is, who raises us when we have fallen, and who never tires of forgiving us." - Venerable Bruno Lanteri

You are invited to enjoy this retreat in the serenity of Manoir dYouville, located on an island 20 km outside of Montreal. Join us! This weekend will be helpful whether you have been on a spiritual journey for many years or are newly exploring your faith.

Some of the topics that will be covered during the weekend:

• That place in our hearts that is afraid - and allowing the Lord to love us there.
• What to do in a time of spiritual discouragement, and how to pray in these times.
• God's faithful love, even in the midst of our weaknesses and failures.
• It is never too late!  Beginning again today.  Beginning now. 
• When a loved one dies, and how to live in such times of grief.
• Deepening our experience of the Eucharist.

A PILGRIMAGE CELEBRATING
THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH
OF POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II

Accompanied by Fr. Peter Sabbath
September 20-30, 2020
 

We are privileged that Pope St. John Paul II lived and was canonized in our times. As the Church celebrates the centenary of his birth this year, it is an opportune time to visit his beloved Poland and to understand him more deeply by visiting his homeland and the places that influenced his formation. Join us for this unique pilgrimage to Europe's most Catholic country. Contact 1-866-331-7965, ext. 207 or click below for full details.