A Word from the Pastor . . .

This is one of those weeks with odds and ends. First, I’d look to draw your attention to the coming Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, on February 11^th. In recent years the Holy Father has called this day also the World Day of the Sick. Like Christ Himself, the Church does not abandon those who are sick. Instead we walk with the sick. Illness is a big a enough burden. We should not feel alone. We are blessed in Peel Region that St. Elizabeth Healthcare provides the nursing at home in our area. The agency is a long-standing Catholic institution. Years ago I was involved with securing a chaplaincy position within the organization. A fine man, Jan Podaluk, works every day visiting patients and also working with staff who need spiritual support in working with the sick.

The parish now has Ministers of Communion and visitors ready to visit the sick and bring them Holy Communion in hospitals, nursing homes and at home. Sometimes, as well, I have helped family members to be able to bring Holy Communion home to their loved ones on a regular basis. It is great to be surrounded with the prayer of the Church.

In this coming week, as well, we will finish our celebrations of First Reconciliation with the schools. It is a wonderful time. Sometimes we forget that this is a sacrament of healing as well as forgiveness. Young people also carry with them all the ups and downs of family and school life. It is great to hear out loud how much Jesus loves us, how joyful God is over all our efforts even when we don’t fully succeed, and how He draws us closer to Him when we might feel that we are drifting a little away. This is a sacrament that grows with us. That’s one reason we introduce it at a relatively young age and then let it grow along with us. As the prayer says, God has sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins and to bring us pardon and peace. May Jesus, who loves you very much speak to you in quiet whispers in your heart over and over and over again about the depth and joy of His love. I am so very proud of you all. This is a wonderful and an important step.

In Christ, Fr. Bob

End of High School Exams! Yeah!

A new semester begins in our high schools next week. Exams have just ended. You may be feeling relieved, elated or nervous about the results. You know whether you worked hard or not. They are important, but it is also important that they are now over! A new chapter begins.

Why is education so important to us as Catholics? And why have we, as a Church, always valued the need to be educated within the context of our faith? The reasons are pretty simple really. When Jesus heals in so many of the accounts in the gospels He tells those who are healed that they are forgiven and made whole. Then He tells them to go and sin no more. A genuine encounter with Christ changes the whole person, and we want to continue to grow as a whole person in Christ.

It is not just to become ethical or have certain values. Ethics and values are a reflection of what is internalized in us, what’s inside. As students, you can have this hunger for a life animated by Christ at the very heart of you: His words, His example, the lived example of those who have sought Him and known Him throughout the centuries.

And while the roots must be found in Jesus Himself, it is also important to have consistent ethics and values that can dialogue with people who either have different faith beliefs or who don’t have the privilege of a conscious faith.

There is a very old spiritual practice that is used at the end of each day called, The Examination of Conscience. You might find it helpful in facing the challenges of the new semester. The title might sound a bit scary, because we know that we are not perfect, but the aim is simple. As we are preparing to finish the day, we take a few moments in prayer to become aware of God’s presence and activity in our daily life, giving Him thanks; to make ourselves aware of our need for forgiveness and healing asking God’s help, and; to place ourselves and the events of our day in God’s hands, letting go and inviting His care and protection while we sleep. And then, when we awake we start fresh. All good things have a beginning, a middle and end. So as things end, . . . well or poorly, we should take note, so that we are ready to say, “Yes”, to a new beginning.

May God bless you and support you through the next semester!

In Christ, Fr. Bob

Our New Youth Ministry Facilitator

Thank you to all who prepared and facilitated Monsignor Terence D’Souza’s, Mass of Thanksgiving for the 50^th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood at Noon last Sunday. It was wonderful to be able to mark this milestone with Monsignor as a parish community.

Last weekend, as well, we heard from our new youth ministry facilitator, Wajnaa Jajou. This weekend Wajnaa is away in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, at the National Catholic Youth Ministry Network Conference. She will be meeting with youth ministry leaders from all across Canada and bringing new ideas home.

Wajnaa mentioned in her short talk last weekend that she is a graduate of the Christianity and Culture Program at the University of St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto, http://www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/christianity/. The program immerses undergraduate students in the varied facets of Christian life and those areas that have been strongly affected by Christian culture. In the kind of modern melting pot we find ourselves, the program helps us reconnect with the social expressions of our faith that shape us.

Wajnaa is also a Catholic of the Chaldean Rite. Chaldean Christians are among the earliest communities of Christians and, given the political situation in Iraq, among the most threatened. She brings with her the rich tradition of her Catholic faith and the value that is even more deeply appreciated because of the vulnerability of the Chaldean Church in the present situation. I thought you might appreciate this little bit of background.

In Christ,

Fr. Bob

Preparation for Confirmation - Hand Out

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What is…? Children’s Liturgy of the Word?

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Haiti Earthquake Relief

Late night on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, its strongest in more than 200 years, causing massive damage and loss of lives. An estimated three million people may have been affected by the quake and aftershocks are still being felt. Tens of thousands of people appear to have lost their homes and many perished in several collapsed buildings. As rescue efforts continue and emergency response teams work with the victims of this disaster, relief efforts are underway around the world.

The ShareLife Office is accepting monetary donations to support disaster relief efforts in Haiti assisting in the provision of food, shelter, clean water, and medical supplies for those affected by the earthquake. Working through the Catholic Church’s official relief body, Caritas Internationalis, funds will be channelled through our partners to Caritas Haiti.

Those wishing to help through a financial contribution may do so in the following ways:

· Online through ShareLife’s website: www.sharelife.org

· By phone through the ShareLife office :1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411

· Through the parish, making cheques payable to:
ShareLife – Parish Name – Haiti Earthquake Relief

We offer our prayers for the thousands of families affected by the earthquake. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to serve those in need, both here at home and around the world.

A Word from the Pastor . . .

As you can see, activities at the parish are picking up again. Monsignor D’Souza will be here next weekend to celebrate the Noon Mass for his 50^th anniversary of priestly ordination. The Alpha Course and the Christopher Leadership Course are also being offered again.

This weekend and last, I have put a note in the bulletin requesting your family photos in digital form. This will help me and the other priests to be better at putting faces to names. We have a very large community; it is important that we as your clergy strengthen our ability to forge deeper connections.

First Reconciliation is coming up for students from our schools. A note below makes it clear that we are closing off applications for First Holy Communion by January 17^th – next Sunday. For those who are enrolled in public or private schools or who are in grades above grade 2, please just make sure that your grade and school are indicated on the application form. We will make sure that you are properly accommodated and supported.

I have been working on plans and agendas for our new committees. I will try to erect four committees in the coming months: the Finance Council, the Pastoral Council, the Building Committee (sub-committee of the Finance Council), and the Development Committee (sub-committee of the Finance Council). There are some medium and long-term maintenance issues that need to be addressed (HVAC and roofs especially), and in the short-term I would like to initiate a religious goods store accepting electronic payment with an ability to offer parishioners the opportunity to donate to the parish by debit.

It will be June before we know it!

In Christ. Fr. Bob