Beatification of John Paul II

This coming Sunday - on the 2nd Sunday of Easter - also known as Divine Mercy Sunday - Pope John Paul II will be Beatified by Pope Benedict XVI.  This an historic day for our own Parish as we have an elementary School within our Community named after John Paul II. 

It was in 2002 as World Youth Day was coming to Toronto that the WYD Cross travelled across the country and Across the Archdiocese.  As part of that Pilgrimage the cross came to Bolton, and travelled from the Parish to Pope John Paul II school and back. Many parishioners still talk about the sight of seeing Hwy 50 closed to traffic as the cross made its way up and down the hills of Bolton - through the valley twice - with many following on foot.

To mark this occasion our Parish is publishing a Prayer card which we will be distributing this Sunday to all parishioners, and be handing a number to Student representatives from Pope John Paul II School to be distributed at a special Liturgy we will be celebrating with the School community next week.

This card will include the official text of the prayer asking for John Paul's intercession in our lives:

O Blessed Trinity, we thank you

for having graced the church with Pope John Paul II

and for allowing the tenderness of your fatherly care,

the glory of the cross of Christ,

and the splendor of the Holy Spirit,

to shine through him.

Trusting fully in your infinite mercy

and in the maternal intercession of Mary,

he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,

and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure

of ordinary Christian life

and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.

Grant us, by his intercession,

and according to your will,

the graces we implore,

hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.

Amen.

To be sure many will get up early to watch a wedding on Friday this week.  Maybe we should remember this Pope, who could be credited with changing the face of the 20th century...

Peace