Our Lady of Mercy Church St. Anthony of Padua Mission
196 Bridge Street West, P.O. Box 879 27 Victoria Street, P.O. Box 1200
Bancroft, ON, K0L 1C0 Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
613-332-2954 Reverend Casmir Muobike SMMM, Parish Priest 705-457-3695
Email: olmbancroft@gmail.com Email: stanthonyhal@bellnet.ca https://olmbancroft.wixsite.com/ourladyofmercy https://stanthonyhal.wixsite.com/stanthonyofpadua
“LIKE” us on FACEBOOK!
Office Hours: Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Secretary: Mrs. Kathy Tripp Secretary: Mrs. Catherine Wheeler
Our Lady of Mercy School: 613-332-3300
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME
July 18 and 19, 2026
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm Special Intentions of Miles and Marina Maughan on their 45th Wedding Anniversary
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
-----------------------------------------------------------
ROSARY WILL BE PRAYED BEFORE THE 9:00 AM MASS
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT @ OLM - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
2:30 pm - 3:30pm
Monday - Bancroft 9:00 am Leona Martell – Rita Irwin
Tuesday - Bancroft 9:00 am Andrew Mitrowski – Ursula, Kris and Elizabeth
Wednesday - Haliburton Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
8:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9:00 am Rosary
9:30 am Beno Luna – His Estate
Thursday - Bancroft 8:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9:00 am Rosary
9:30 am Ben D’Costa – Sherry, Ian and Shawn D’Costa
Friday - Bancroft 9:00 am Special Intentions of Janet O’Shaughnessy
- Haliburton 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial of Scotty Morrison
-----------------------------------------------------------
~ SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ~
July 25 and 26, 2026
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Clare Kavanagh – Jim and Toni Kavanagh
PRAYER CORNER
Maximillian Sullivan,
the Sullivan Family,
Evan and Gary Wheeler, Judy,
Katherine Flowers, Matt and Kate Flowers,
Alverna Ross, Paul Lee, Lori Best,
Samantha Spencer, Bill O’Shaughnessy,
Anne Carr, Silas Agina, Rita Stock,
Julian Joseph Forget, Helen Curran,
niece of Pauline Burcher,
Thomas Smallwood, Mary Hall,
Gladys Roberts, A.S. Crean,
Shirley Grimshaw, Gerald Diamond,
Brian Dunn, Barb Perog, Sandra Wheeler,
Stacie Burnett, Gina Mazara, Anthony,
Reuben Maughan, Dennis Purcell,
Joan Colligan, Eddie & Daphne Faria,
Marie Giamblanco, Mike Flanagan,
Annette Giamblanco,
Carolyne Morais, Frank Young,
Roger Musclow, Joanna Kastner,
Barry Malloy, Tommy and Tammy White,
Baby Jacob, Cathy Cormier
Thomas Anderson, Ryan Sheehan,
Kelly Hutchings, John Muobike, Kristina Hicks,
Margie Stasiuk, Jerome Leveque,
Steve O’Shaughnessy
---------------------------
SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
SILENT AUCTION
The Knights of Columbus will be running their Silent Auction this summer,
until September 6, 2026.
This is their major fundraiser for the year.
Please browse the Silent Auction in the Church Hall, and place your bids.
For any questions, please contact
Miles Maughan at 705-754-0869.
Thank you for all your support.
---------------------------
THE FUN’ RAISING COMMITTEE
will be hosting a Bake Sale Fundraiser over the Civic Holiday weekend of August 1st and 2nd.
If you are able to volunteer your time, we are in need of delicious baked goods to fill our tables. If you are not a baker, we invite you all to visit the Hall after either Mass and purchase some of those delicious treats to bring home to your families.
Thank you to all for your wonderful help, generosity and support! God Bless.
ST. ANTHONY’S MISSION
Sunday Mass Attendance: 88
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
SANCTUARY LAMP:For the week commencing
Sunday, July 19th – July 25th:
All souls in Purgatory.
------------------------------------------------
OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH
Sunday Mass Attendance: 81
OUR LADY OF MERCY
SANCTUARY LAMP
For the week commencing
Sunday, July 19th – July 25th:
Special Intentions of
Janet O’Shaughnessy
------------------------------------------------
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
‘Cooks Night Off’ Italian Dinner Raffle
Purchase your tickets for a chance to win an Italian Dinner for Six.
Tickets are $5 each or three for $10
and will be available every weekend following Mass until September 6th. Information can be found on our website or on the poster in the foyer. Ask for a flyer!
Don’t miss your chance...buy your tickets.
Good luck!
---------------------------
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
FUN’RAISING COMMITTEE
Please join us in the Hall after Mass for our annual Ice Cream Social.
Everyone is invited for an Ice Cream cone or bowl!
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Today’s Gospel is Part 2 of a three-part focus on Matthew chapter 13 – the central teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God by way of parables. The Jesuit Scripture scholar Father Daniel Harrington described a parable as “a narrative taken from nature or everyday life that is somehow unusual or surprising and points to another (higher) level.” Through these vivid stories, Jesus invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of God’s Kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. . .
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed . . . the smallest of seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. . .
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened. . .
Last Sunday, the Gospel focused on planting the seeds of the Kingdom. This Sunday, the focus is on growth. The parables remind us that doing God’s work is not without challenges. As Jesus explains, there will always be those who try to sabotage what God is doing. The Church itself is a mixed body that includes both saints and sinners: the wheat and the weeds growing side by side.
Yet the presence of weeds does not prevent the wheat from growing. No matter how small our efforts may seem, God’s Kingdom continues to flourish. That is where the yeast comes in.
The First Reading from the Book of Wisdom helps us understand this more clearly. Addressing God, the sacred author writes: There is no god besides you who have care of all. . . For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. . . And you taught your people by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope.
God’s patient and loving presence is the leaven that allows the Kingdom to grow. The Second Reading expands on this teaching. Saint Paul writes:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. . . because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.
It is the Holy Spirit who leavens our efforts at building the Kingdom of God. The Spirit works within us even when our faith feels small, our prayers seem inadequate, or our efforts appear insignificant. And the Spirit remains with us even when we encounter opposition or discouragement along the way. The growth of God's Kingdom pertains not only to its growth in numbers, but also to the growth of that tiny seed planted within each of our hearts. Our capacity to grow in God's love has no limits if we allow the Holy Spirit to shape and transform us.
Like yeast hidden within the dough and a seed buried deep within the earth, the Spirit is at work even when we cannot see it. God's Kingdom grows quietly, heart by heart and act by act, until in God's time the harvest reveals what the Spirit has been nurturing all along. Now that's Good News!
-------------------------------------------------------
OUR LADY SEAT OF WISDOM COLLEGE
JOB OPENINGS
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College has a number of paid positions open,
including positions in our Admissions, Facilities, and Development offices.
To learn more about these positions, see
https://www.seatofwisdom.ca/about/ employment-opportunities
