NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 8 and 9, 2026
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Murray and Michael Doney – Edith Doney
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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 All souls in Purgatory
Tuesday - Bancroft 9:00 am Memorial of St. Clare
Special Intentions of Ashley O’Brien – Andrew and Marzenna
Wednesday - Haliburton 8:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9:00 am Rosary
9:30 am Jeanette Wagenaar – St. Anthony of Padua Church
- Extendicare 11:00 am Beno Luna – His Estate
Thursday - Bancroft 10:30 am MANOR MASS
Deceased Members of the Tomasini Family – Mary Schutt
Friday - Bancroft Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe
8:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
9:00 am Rosary
9:30 am For the Poor
~ TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ~
August 15 and 16, 2026
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm John and Violet Maughan – Maughan Family
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
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NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“It’s me,” he said. “Don’t be afraid,” he declared. And maybe that’s when Peter became a bit certain of how this was going to go. Maybe Peter saw an opportunity to show off.
Maybe Peter was like us—quick to want to display what we feel is our special relationship with Christ compared to the others we are with. Perhaps overly invested in being seen as the Lord’s favorite in a moment of complication. Maybe Peter felt entitled to the miraculous in the same way we sometimes feel.
There’s nothing like being blessed in front of everyone, right? I don’t know.
But what we are told is that it got really windy, and Peter became increasingly insecure. He wasn’t so sure anymore about the safety of his request. So, he cried out, and just when he thought it was over, his palms felt the strong tug of Jesus’ wrists as the man from Galilee lifted him up and said: O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Why did you doubt? It’s an interesting question. Perhaps an indisputably misunderstood question.
But let me ask you: When did Peter start doubting? What if his lack of faith was more connected to distrusting the boat he was in than it was about getting out of it? And what if the question, why did you doubt? is posed without judgment or disappointment but asked in good faith by someone who wants us to interrogate when it is we begin to feel various disruptive inner sensations.
What if Jesus is holding Peter up because he wants him to interrogate himself? Why did you doubt? Tell me. And most importantly tell yourself.
Were you scared? Did you desperately need some one-on-one time? Were you frightened and needed a second to breathe? Why did you doubt?
Maybe the issue isn’t the doubt, but the lack of awareness of the other feelings that exist alongside it. Were you lost? Despondent? Depressed? Frightened? Anxious? What else is in your faith that drags you down? That weighs on you? That pulls you into the water? What else exists in you that is unhelpful for you? What are you so unnecessarily certain of that all it takes is a little push to knock you off your spiritual equilibrium? And maybe the answer to those things, to those questions, are areas Jesus wants us to tackle and not the simple and all too human feeling of doubt itself?
Friends: It’s windy, and some days, some nights, some mornings are windier than others. And while we bid Jesus come to us, let us be open to him bidding us to come to ourselves as well. And then maybe all of us, human and wind, human and nature, can have a little more peace.
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OUR LADY OF MERCY PARISH SUPPER
~ SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 ~
SILENT AUCTION: New or gently used items accepted anytime!
CURIOSITY SHOPPE: Donations of baking, jewellery, crafts accepted anytime!
ALL ITEMS WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN THE PARISH HALL
We need WORKERS and PIES!
If you would like the same job as last year, please let us know!
If you would like a different job, please let us know!
If you HAVE NOT been asked and WOULD LIKE to volunteer
– PLEASE LET US KNOW! –
OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH
196 Bridge St. PO Box 879
Bancroft, ON K0L 1C0
ST ANTHONY OF PADUA MISSION
27 Victoria St. PO Box 1200
Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
SANCTUARY LAMP:
For the week commencing
Sunday, Aug. 9th – Aug. 15th:
In loving memory of
Joyce Cirello.
OUR LADY OF MERCY
SANCTUARY LAMP:
For the week commencing
Sunday, Aug. 9th – Aug. 15th:
For all souls in Purgatory.
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ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
ANNUAL PIE BEE
SAVE THE DATE
It’s time to brush up on your pie making skills.
We are looking for volunteers to fill the many positions for our two day pie making extravaganza!
The Pie Bee will take place on Monday September 14th and Tuesday September 15th.
We are in need of Apple Peelers and cutters, Dough makers, Rollers, Spice Mixers, Pie Assemblers, Baggers, Set up crew and Telephone order takers.
There will be a volunteer sign up sheet in the foyer or you can contact Marianne Fenninger at marianne.fenninger@gmail.com for more information.
‘Many hands make light work!’
We hope that many of you will join us for this fun filled fundraising event!
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,
John Muobike, Kristina Hicks,
Margie Stasiuk, Jerome Leveque,
Steve O’Shaughnessy, Marina Maughan
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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.
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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!
