New Arrival

Greetings in the week of Pentecost!
We have celebrated 5 of our 9 celebrations of Confirmation this week.  Four more to go - and this is the Icon that we have just received today!

Fr. Roman Galadza just returned from his recent trip to Ukraine and delivered this Icon!  Thanks be to God.

6th Sunday of Easter reflection

We come to Church - We are Catholic because of Cornelius.

Because Peter baptized this Roman Soldier.

 This non – Jew - This pagan. 

We are here because Peter was open

to the prompting some of the spirit.

 Recorded in the 10th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles

So we gather on Sundays.   At school.           School ?!?

Yes I think each Parish is a School:

We Gather at a table that is a school.

The school of discipleship

A school of how to figure out this command.

Love one another as I have loved you.

A school where there are no strikes!      

No work to rule.          (But I digress!)

A table that is a cross. A table that encompasses  "AS"

Love - As I have loved you.

This is a Love of Sacrifice – really all love is Sacrificial –

          How often the love of a Mother – a grandmother

                   Is truly Sacrificial – is so often Christ-like

And all of a sudden we realize –

we did not do the choosing to get here.

Jesus chose us.

And now schooled in the     “love as I have loved you”

We are sent from this table –

And as we exit through the service entrance

As we go forth to bear much fruit

We will need to do this choosing.

We will need to choose to love –when we do not like

Because we have been loved

We will need to Choose to be a friend

Because we have been called friends

We will need to Choose to sacrifice

Because we have been Schooled at this Altar

And have consumed this great sacrifice

Back in the Saddle Again!

I like to say that my Holiday was "Terrifically Boring!" By that I mean that I did little but hang by the pool, enjoy the water, the Sun and a few good Novels.  Sleep, Eat, sun, read. Repeat!  It was terrific! I was able to tan - without burning.  One of the highlights for me each time I go to the Island of Maui is that we stay in the same Condo - and it feels like home! 

We attend Mass at St. Theresa's Church in Kehei - and it is a vibrant, engaged community - yet 60-70 % of the people who attend are visitors!  And I think it is terrific how the stable - regular community - is able to welcome, and encourage visitors to be full, conscious, and active participants in the celebration.  Fr. Jim Orsini was the presider both Sunday's we went to Mass - and he had wonderful - inspiring - homilies... And I like to think I packed the Warm Weather we are having with me!

This week we welcomed our Summer Seminarian Intern - Neil Pereira.  He will be involved in Parish Life, Holydays Camp, and Edge Camp... 
Saturday Morning there will be 2 men Ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Toronto! Ricardo Davis and David Twaddle will be Ordained at St. Michael's Cathedral. Click here for more information.

Fr. David Has been away this week - and will be on retreat next week. So I have had a full Schedule - with a few Funerals, and Youth Ministry events.  
Peace