Exciting Arrival - Celebrating Accomplishments

Wednesday afternoon a number of us from Bolton made our way down Hwy 50 to the Airport to greet our Iraqi Refugee family.  While the plane they were travelling on arrived in Toronto at 3:25, it was after 5:00 before they made their way through the landing process with Immigration officials and came through the customs clearance area.  There was anticipation as we waited with flowers, candies, and refreshments in the arrivals area at terminal 3.  With the 7 of us from Bolton, there was Evelyn`s Sister Eileen (and husband and 3 children) who live in Hamilton. It was quite an emotional and tearful welcome  for this family whose journey began years ago when they experienced persecution in Iraq, and so, after some time fled to the refugee camp in Syria.


Madeline (Sister), Sant (13), Mirna (10), Maryana (4), Evelyn (Mom)



Welcome To Canada!

After some words of greeting and a few pictures, the family was hustled on to transportation to the COSTI Refugee welcome centre in Downtown Toronto. Thursday afternoon we will meet with the Resettlement Officer and the Family, discussing the plan for the next few weeks, and having the first of many orientation sessions. Our hope is that the family will spend some time in Bolton during Canada Day weekend, looking at possible housing alternatives!

 

Congratulations Class of 2011!

From the Airport I made my way - through crazy traffic - to the Powerade Centre in Brampton - not for a hockey game - but for the Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School Graduation ceremonies.  With over 500 students to graduate - there are not many facilities where you can host at minimum 2000 people! I figure there were over 3,000 in attendance, with proud parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters and staff.  It was a grand evening celebrating accomplishements and at the same time looking forward to the future.

I guess in many ways Wednesday was all about looking to the future - whether a future in the workplace or academics - or a future in a new country, free from persecution!

Peace

Caledon Community Services

In the last year I have become more and more involved in Caledon Community Services (CCS) and the work that they do.  While I was aware of the immediate support / Santa Fund / food / crisis / and employment work with Jobs Ontario - I was not aware of all the other work that CCS does - including Transportation, Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada, etc.  I was asked to be part of the Caledon Homelessness Partnership Strategy Committee and look at ways of raising awareness of this issue in our community. One of the products of this Committee's work was the Homelessness Forum in February 2011, and recently a report on the picture of Homelessness was released.  We have a link - on the Quick links tab on the Parish Website "Homelessness in Caledon" - check it out!
As part of this monthly involvement - I was asked to consider being on the Board for CCS.  After some thoughts on this matter - I agreed and tonight I will be "elected as a member of the Board of CCS at the Annual General Meeting (which I will miss most of - due to graduation for Pope John Paul II Catholic Elementary School!)
Peace

LifeTeen - End of Semester

With Exams over and High School Teens looking forward to summer - we had our end of Semester LifeTeen social Saturday evening with a relaxed time of food - Sports and time for good fellowship among the teens.  As is our custom - we had a special prayer of blessing upon the grade 12's who are moving out of LifeTeen and going to College or University. This Saturday was also a time for Grade 8's to come and check out LifeTeen and see how it is different from Edge...  In the picture below can you see some of the Edgers who are looking forward to being part of LifeTeen??? 

The best part is that the teens realize that this is not an end - Mass continues through the summer - and many of the teens also come out for Monday night Ultimate Frisbee. I think we will have some more gatherings - including the Ultimate Frisbee Tournament - with other LifeTeen parishes on August 7th in Orangeville.


Yesterday afternoon I also had the opportunity to spend some time with "SoJust" the Social Justice Committee from St. Michael's Secondary School.  They are a wonderful bunch of students - who are joyful and hope-filled, meeting under the leadership of Urszula Cybulko - their High School Chaplain.  It was neat to hear how they have come together in this first year of St. Michael's and have a strong desire to make real change in our world - for the better!


Peace.

Edge Semester End BBQ

Each Friday night throughout the School year (and a few times during the Summer months) our Edge Youth Ministry meets in the Church.  This ministry - directed at the grade 6, 7, and 8 youth of our parish aims to provide catechesis, support formation in a Catholic way of life, and allow for good healthy fellowship with like minded Catholic young people.  

BBQ Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns 

Yesterday we celebrated the end of another EDGE semester with a BBQ and the "Cross Signing" by the grade 8's who are moving on to LifeTeen.  This past semester has looked at Church History - from the time of Jesus and the apostles, and moved through time looking at important people like the Emperor Constantine, St. Augustine, and events like the Schism of East and West, the Crusades, and the Reformation, and the Second Vatican Council.  Interspersed in these nights are Issue nights that looked at Poverty, the Golden Rule, Modesty in language and an outing to see the one man Play "Vianney" in May.  
We have also welcomed grade 5's for the last few weeks for a "preview" of Edge.  The Grade 8's who signed the cross each spoke for a short time and remembered how important it was to be able to come on Friday nights to a place where they were accepted, and cared for. Where they could be with friends and be real about the ways God was present in their lives...

HOLY FAMILY EDGE - June 2011 BBQ

We are looking for more Core Team Leaders - particularly Adults who can support this ministry with their time and presence.  Training and formation are provided (EDGE has great resources we use to operate the weekly sessions!) and the satisfaction of the respect and appreciation of young people who choose to be here is compelling.  Call Stephanie - our Youth Minister - if you see yourself being part of this picture in the future.

Refugee Family Coming SOON!

Well folks - We are in for a quick ride!
We received word on Monday that our Refugee Family will be arriving in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon - June 29!  After months of planning, having one family "Taken" out from under us so to speak, we now have received word that our Refugee Family is on their way - so to speak.  Because this is a JAS (Joint Assisted Sponsorship) case - it is believed that the case has moved so quickly. Before next week - our Refugee committee will be meeting again - and making ready for this family:
   Mom - in her late 30's with work experience as a Nurse
   Son - will turn 13 1 week after arriving in Canada!
   Daughter - 10 years old
   Daughter - will turn 4 1 day after her brother turns 13
Accompanying them is the Mom's Sister - who is 3 years younger than the Mom.  We have spoken with Caledon Community Services about supportive services, and I know we have a number of volunteers - who are ready to help - now is the time to respond! 


Our biggest need - is to find rental accommodations that would be suitable.  We will need a 2 or 3  bedroom house / apartment. We only have $1,000 or so for rent !!!  Contact me by email/phone or comment in the blog to offer your assistance...


I am really looking forward to the family being here for Canada Day!!! 
Peace

Father's Day Blessings

As we celebrate Father's Day, I include the Blessing prayer from The CCCB Publication "Blessings and Prayers for home and family".
We keep all the Fathers of our parish in our prayers at this time. We remember those who are near, and those who are far away.  Those who are healthy and those who are ill, or failing health.


God our Father,
we praise you and bless you
for the life you have given us
through your saving love,
revealed in Jesus your Son.
Through Christ you have revealed yourself
as a loving father who provides for us all.


Look with love upon our father
and bless him with your love.
Deepen his love for his wife and family
and make us one in love 
with all your holy people 
as we proclaim your mighty deeds 
and sing your praises.
We offer praise and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Amen.


Peace

New Roman Missal coming...

On November 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, our Mass will sound a little different. We will be using a newly revised Roman Missal during the Mass. The Roman Missal contains the Order of the Mass, or the way we celebrate Holy Eucharist, with all its accompanying prayers and responses. During the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope John Paul II promulgated a third edition of the Roman Missal.

Anyone who owns a house knows that any building needs to be repaired and renovated after a decade or two, so that the beauty of the original structure can be maintained or even enhanced. We give the walls a new coat of paint, strip and refinish the hardwood floors, put in more insulation, and perhaps include an addition or two to meet the needs of a growing family. Something similar is happening with our Roman Missal.

The upcoming third edition of the Roman Missal contains the same Order of the Mass that was promulgated after the Second Vatican Council. This Order of the Mass follows the Council Father’s mandate for liturgical renewal and reform. But many things have happened since the new Order of the Mass was promulgated in 1969, and even since the second edition was implemented for use in Canada in 1983. For example: we have received from the Holy See additional Eucharistic Prayers; many saints were canonised and their feast days were added to the liturgical calendar of the Church; and the rules for the way we translate the Church’s ritual texts from the original Latin into the vernacular have changed. All of these factors have required a new edition of the Roman Missal. Roman Catholic episcopal conferences, international committees, and the Holy See are working on implementation throughout the world.

One of the most noticeable adjustments that will affect all of us is the way the original Latin texts have been translated into the English language. In the earlier editions of the Roman Missal, the method of translation laid heavy emphasis on the way the receiving community would hear and understand the text. As a result, many of the prayers were substantially simplified to reflect contemporary English usage. Some texts were added which were not found in the original Latin editions. In 2001, the Holy See changed the manner in which liturgical texts are to be translated. Now, translators have to give particular attention to maintaining biblical references, employ inclusive language where possible, avoid simplifying the words and phrases into contemporary terms, and ensure as much continuity as possible between the original text promulgated in Latin and the translated text in English. In other words, the Holy See has a great desire to guarantee that translated texts in the English language mirror, as much as possible, the original texts found in the newest edition of the Missal promulgated in Latin.

This Sunday I am preaching the first of a series of Homilies which Fr. Sherwin and I will use to unpack this process as it unfolds in the coming months and to help our parish know what is "coming down the pipe" so to speak!

Peace 

Refugee Committee and a nice reflection...

Last night our Refugee Committee met again. Last month - on May 25, 2011 - we received word from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada office in Toronto that we have been approved as a Joint Assistance Sponsorship group, and that we will be offering the Moral Support and resettlement assistance for a Christian family fleeing from persecution in Iraq. The Mother and her 3 children (Son 13, and 2 daughters 7 and 4) and her sister are now living in a Refugee camp in Damascus Syria. These 2 adult sisters also have another adult sister in the Hamilton area. We are even wondering if the unrest in Syria right now will delay or speed up the process!?!
 They have to complete security checks, and medical checks as well... I think that this is the hardest part of offering to sponsor a refugee family - we had to rush our paperwork in and get everything lined up in a row - forms, documents, guarantees, police checks (even of me as the pastor!) and now having hurried up - we now wait!
In the coming Months I will be speaking about the need to offer help and assistance when the family does arrive in Canada. Right now if you are, (or if you know of) a landlord in the Bolton area - who would have apartments (2 or 3 bedroom units) or even a small house that might be suitable for this "family" - please get in touch with the committee at our central email - refugee@holyfamilybolton.ca
 We are hoping for a Month to Month rental - which would last around 4 - 8 months, or even more - as a transition to a permanent - affordable home.

On another note - a parishioner sent the following in an email this morning - and I thought I would share it...


     When I say that 'I am a Christian'  

     I am not shouting that 'I am clean living.
     'I'm whispering 'I was lost,
     but now I'm found and forgiven.'

 
     When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I don't speak of this with pride.

     I'm confessing that I stumble 

     and need Christ to be my guide.
 
     When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I'm not trying to be strong.

     I'm professing that I'm weak 

     and need His strength to carry on.
 
       When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I'm not bragging of success.

     I'm admitting I have failed 

     and need God to clean my mess.
 
     When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I'm not claiming to be perfect.

     My flaws are far too visible, 

     but God believes I am worth it.
 
     When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I still feel the sting of pain.

     I have my share of heartaches, 

     so I call upon His name.
 
     When I say 'I am a Christian'

     I'm not holier than thou, 

     I'm just a simple sinner

     who received God's good grace, somehow!

Peace

Ordinary Time & Picnic Wrap up

Yesterday we gathered for our annual Parish Picnic.  There was a great spirit despite the cooler temperatures, and the cloudy sky.  Perhaps it was a way to make sure that we really did not have to worry about sun screen!  As people gathered - they enjoyed Hot dogs (included in the Family Admission!) and there were Hamburgers and drinks available for purchase.  The games for the younger children were lots of fun! I am always rejuvenated by the joy children have - even in receiving a "participant" ribbon!

The Baseball game was also lots of fun- with 15+ people on each team!  I particularly liked how the youngest and the oldest each were able to contribute as part of each team... I think that the children particularly liked spraying me with water balloons - Stay tuned for a pictorial update! 
The teens and some older folks - then played Ultimate Frisbee for a short time.  Each Monday night, after the evening Mass, the teens in the parish play Ultimate Frisbee - a combination of Soccer Frisbee and Football.  
Thanks to the Knights of Columbus and the CWL who make sure all of the logistics for the day are looked after.


With night fall we slipped back into Ordinary time - hence the Green background on the Blog!

The Latin Tempus Per Annum ("time throughout the year") is rendered into English as "Ordinary Time." Many sources, online and in print, suggest that Ordinary Time gets its name from the word ordinal, meaning "numbered," since the Sundays of Ordinary Time, as in other seasons, are expressed numerically. However, others suggest the etymology of "Ordinary Time" is related to our word "ordinary" (which itself has a connotation of time and order, derived from the Latin word ordo). Ordinary Time occurs outside of other liturgical time periods, periods in which specific aspects of the mystery of Christ are celebrated. According to The General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, the days of Ordinary Time, especially the Sundays, "are devoted to the mystery of Christ in all its aspects."

Ordinary Time allows us to celebrate the mystery of Christ's birth, life, ministry, passion, death, resurrection and ascension into spirit filled glory each Sunday. Even though Green is the colour of Ordinary Time - the next 2 Sundays - the church wears white - for Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi.


Peace

Confirmation - By the Numbers?

Confirmation by the numbers 

at Holy Family Parish:

• 276 - The number of Candidates for Confirmation this year;
• 322 - Cue cards used by the candidates to write their names upon (at least 46 ruined/crumpled)
• 8 - The number of celebrations of Confirmation with between 28 and 34 candidates at each celebration;
• 418 - The number of times the phrases "Are there any candidates for confirmation here?" or "Are you a sponsor?" were asked as people were entering the church.
• 1 - Power failures before the opening procession!;
• 2 - Candidates on Crutches (1 each week - 1 girl, 1 boy);
• 112 - the number of times "Alleluia" was  sung;
• 16.2 - The volume in litres of holy water used in the Sprinkling Rite at the beginning of Mass;
• 321 - "Peace be with you" said in the 8 celebrations;
• 80 - Holding arms our and saying "This way" to the candidates as they lined up at the front of the Church to be Confirmed;
• 1.2 - litres of Chrism Oil used to anoint the candidates;
• 1 - Candidate slapped instead of embraced for the "Peace of Christ" (Marco had a separated collar bone!);
• 21 - Lemons used to clean the hands of the deacon and myself;
• 51 - Collection Baskets passed around for the collection;
• 8962 - The number of knees supported by our kneelers during the Confirmation Celebrations;
• 4,260 - The number of times a priest or minister of communion said "The Body of Christ"
• 36 - The verses & Refrains of the Communion Song:              One Bread One Body;
• 16 - Retreat leaders (high School and university age) who helped prepare these young men and women for the sacrament of Confirmation;
• 1291 - Flashes of Cameras for photos (hello CNN!);
• 54 - Loads of laundry done in the 8 nights (using 6.1 litres of detergent and 2.1 litres of bleach!);
• 1 - Dinner of gratitude after the Confirmation on June 9:
• 16 Batches of Wings (3 boneless!)
• 5 batches of Onion Rings
• 4 Fries (1 regular - 3 Sweet Potato)
• 1 Nachos Grande
• 13 Pepsi / 7-up / Root beer / Ice Tea

And as Mastercard would say... 

 Celebrating the gifts 

of the Holy Spirit - Priceless!!! 

 

We might talk about the numbers - but really Confirmation is about the amazing action of God - the power of God's Spirit present and active in our midst.  Confirmation is about the joy on the candidate's face - the excitement of a grandmother who has been nurturing and handing on faith - the gratitude in a parent's heart for the gift of their child, the witness of parish lectors and ministers of Communion who gather to celebrate God present in our midst.

Confirmation is a time for each of us to remember that we are baptised and Confirmed for mission and that we cannot fulfill nor live out our mission unless we gather with our family, God's family at the Sunday Eucharistic table.  
Confirmation like all sacraments, is an encounter with our God, who cannot be out done in generosity and who loves us beyond measure and wants us to live in freedom - united with his Son.  

Peace

Moms and Tots

Each Wednesday morning between 9:30 and 12 noon our parish hosts a Moms and Tots program in the parish hall.  This has been happening for over a year now, and it all started from a dream that Deacon Robert and his wife Gabrielle had almost 3 years ago.  The spark was a Baptism interview that Robert had one evening with a young couple.  The baby was fussing in his car seat, and the first time mother seemed to be looking around - not sure what to do.  Deacon Robert - an experienced father and grandfather - picked the child up and held him, and the baby was comforted.  After talking about it at our staff meetings, and doing some investigation, and a few attempts at recruiting some volunteers - Moms and Tots started in the spring of 2010.  Going strong for over a year now - it has been a home for new and experienced mothers, grandmothers, and even some fathers on occasion. While the parents have time to gather with others who are going through some similar situations,  the  children get a chance to play and enjoy some socialization.  There is always coffee, juice, and snacks including fruits, veggies, and cookies.  Special mention goes to Fiorella Sunseri who along with Deacon Robert and Gabrielle Suthers are the backbone of this newest parish Organization. 


I am changing the background today in anticipation of the impending feast of Pentecost.  Red - the fire of the Holy Spirit - is the colour the church wears on Pentecost.  I encourage you to wear red this Saturday or Sunday when you come to church!

Share Life

Parishioners across the GTA still have a chance to exercise charity through a truly meaningful way by contributing to the 2011 ShareLife campaign - June 5 marked the 3rd ShareLife Sunday collection for all parishes in the Archdiocese.  Our own parish total is down somewhat from last year.  I am not sure if this is because I have not mentioned it as often - or if other parish activities have impacted our collection.

The tradition of Catholic charity runs deep in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Catholic agencies have been serving the poor and the needy among us for over 150 years. In 1927, the first organized diocese-wide charitable appeal was conducted to support the Catholic Charities family of agencies in Toronto. On March 19, 1976, Archbishop Philip Pocock officially established ShareLife, the Archdiocesan response to assuming the responsibility of sustaining social services to the Catholic charities' community.

Now in its 35th year of helping the whole community, the number of agencies funded by ShareLife’s annual appeal has increased significantly. The services of ShareLife agencies are critical to those who rely on them – they are lifesaving and life-restoring. Sometimes the results are obvious and sometimes they’re invisible but, always, they’re tangible. 


When I give to share life - I give on line - at www.sharelife.org and use the donate now box.  You are still able to "credit" our Holy Family Parish campaign, and in my own case I get the points from my credit card... Please help support the work our agencies do for the most vulnerable in our communities. Please give generously.


Peace

NBC News at the Vatican

I am not sure why - but from my teenage years whenever I would watch a morning show on TV - I would watch NBC’s national morning program, “The Today Show”.  While I am not a frequenter of morning TV usually, "Today" is still the show I will watch when I am in a hotel room and wake up in the morning. This past week NBC spent several days at the Vatican, with Thursday's edition including a number of profiles about the life and activity of the "home base" of the global Catholic Church. They’ve been privileged to have clearance not normally provided to media outlets. No doubt the openness can also be attributed to New York Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, accompanying the crew as they explore the epicentre of our faith community.

You can find numerous clips on the Today Show website including a profile of the Swiss Guards, Archbishop Dolan discussing the sex abuse crisis an inside look at St. Peter’s Basilica and a most interesting Day in the Life of Pope Benedict XVI. Here are a few links to the clips (note you may have to sit through a short 30 second ad before hand...) It's well worth it to see the great coverage that's been provided. Most run anywhere from 3-5 minutes so they're bite sized morsels for you to enjoy.

Here are the links if you're interested in catching these vignettes:

Church seeks new followers through social media: here

A Day in the Life of Pope Benedict XVI: http://t.co/xcIRtEu

Matt Lauer meets the Pope, tours the Vatican: http://t.co/h5ReXLS

Meet the Swiss Guards of the Vatican: http://t.co/vPQkFg4

Peace

Gum, Gum, Cell Phones and More Gum!

Whats a priest to do?
The code of Canon Law is clear:

Can. 919 §1 "Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine."

So what is one to do when people come to Mass with gum in their mouth? What to do when at the beginning of Mass you say:  "We do not allow gum during Mass" or "please remove gum from your mouth" and people keep on looking at you and chewing away???  

That is the situation I faced last week a few times at our Confirmation celebrations.  Now let me say - it was not the Confirmation candidates or their sponsors who were chewing gum.  No, it was their guests, their aunts and uncles, and even some appeared to be old enough to be their grandparents. Let me ask you - would any of those Nona's have allowed someone to come to their Easter dinner table with gum in their mouth? I don't think so!  I know I am not a gum chewer - but my Dad is - and he tells me he is always conscious of where he is when he is chewing gum...

Then there is the issue of Cell Phones.  In the past year or so - we have had very few instances of cell phones going off in the church.  a couple of years ago - I was distraught with a cell phone situation.  It was not when the cell phone rang, that I became distressed, rather it was when the older woman answered - and talked to the caller - DURING MASS!


I was stronger on the Gum issue on Wednesday evening before Confirmation - and someone emailed me Thursday morning.  

Yesterday, June 1st, 2011, I was at Holy  Family attending the Confirmation of one of my relatives. I was appalled at the way you spoke to the congregation. At first, I thought you wanted to be humorous while sending a message to the children. As your “long” address continued, it became clear that you were, perhaps unwittingly,  patronizing and at one point almost insulting.  I am referring to your remark that “I can only say it in one language, no gum.” ...
You can disregard my comments or, maybe you can consider a more humble and respectful way to address parishioners and visiting worshipers.

In my reply I asked if she had heard the cell phone go off during the Eucharistic Prayer? (no reply yet)  I have to say that one of the most embarrassing moments was when a cell phone went off in the confessional. When I asked the penitent if she wanted to answer the phone, she looked at me and said "Father, I don't own a cell phone!"

Ever since then I live with my phone on vibrate.  It never has the ringer on... It means I miss some calls, and I do not always "feel" the buzzer, but it never rings in Mass, or at appointments, or in the confessional!

So I ask those of you who read this Blog to make comments - what would be a more humble and respectful way to deal with these issues? Am I off base here?  How do we get people to realize that they need to turn off their cell phones during Mass, and not come to church with gum in their mouth???


P.S. - It Seems I cannot get the comments section to work correctly so I will put my email address here - fr.larry@holyfamilybolton.ca
Send me an email with your comments / suggestions!

Ascension - Pentecost - Novena to the Holy Spirit

The Ascension of Jesus is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles as occurring 40 days after the Resurrection : 

"After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."(Acts 1:3)

Yesterday (Ascension Thursday) was 40 days after Easter Sunday . In Canada the feast of the Ascension is transfered to Sunday - so we can celebrate with a full community.  One of the traditions of the Church is to pray in these 9 days (hence the term "novena") between Ascension and Pentecost for a out pouring of the Holy Spirit in our own lives, and in the life of our Community. It is particularly appropriate for our parish as we continue to celebrate Confirmation next week. I invite you to pray with me these days leading up to Pentecost this prayer seeking the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven you promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work in the souls of your Apostles and Disciples. Grant that I may be open to the work of that same Spirit within me.

- Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom  
that I may not be attached to the perishable things of this world but seek the things that are eternal.

- Grant me the Spirit of Understanding  
to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth.

- Grant me the Spirit of Right Judgment  
that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God.

- Grant me the Spirit of Courage  
that I may bear my cross with you and that I may overcome all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.

- Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge  
that I may know God and know myself.

- Grant me the Spirit of Reverence  
that I may find the service of God sweet and attractive.

- Grant me the Spirit of Wonder and Awe  
that I may be filled with loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that would displease him.

Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples  and animate me in all things with your Spirit. Amen

Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest,
And in our Hearts take up your rest,

Come with your grace and Heavenly Aid,

To fill the hearts which you have made.

O Comforter, to You we cry,

The Heavenly gift of God most high,

The fount of life and fire of love

And sweet anointing from above

Peace

Long time between posts!

It has been a long time between posts - a few hours short of a week.
Stephanie Benedetti - our parish Youth Minister - was commenting on Tuesday that I was overdue for a Blog post!  Stephanie is the one who did all the hard work of investigating and designing and training the rest of the team on the updating of the parish web site. All of this is in addition to organizing our youth ministries (Edge and LifeTeen), visiting schools, and attending sports games and activities within the parish.   Yeahhhh Stephanie!

Last Thursday I went to the Tie-Breaker hockey game in the Memorial Cup round robin - between the Owen Sound Attack and the Kootenay Ice.  The Attack went up in the first period 2-0, and the Ice battled back and the second period ended 3-2 for the Ice.  In the third period the Ice score 3 goals in less than 5 minutes.  The Attack got another goal but then Kootenay added an empty net goal in the final minutes and the final score was 7-3.  Owen Sound was eliminated, and Kootenay went on to fight St. Mike's Majors in the semi final. I met one of our parishioners at the game - Jordan is being confirmed this year - and he had heard me talking about the Attack at Mass on Sunday morning!  (We wont hold it against him that he is a St. Mike's Majors fan!)  So while the Attack were not in the Memorial Cup finals - they are still OHL Champions!!!
Looking forward to next year - Go Attack Go!

Friday I drove to Sarnia - usually I drive through Sarnia on my way to the States for shopping trips to the Detroit area (one of those 2 day breaks is coming up after masses on Fathers' Day - when I will head to the US with my Dad!) This trip to Sarnia was part of a series of Talks that Catherine Ecker and I have been giving over the years to the RCIA team members in the Diocese of London.
We spent a day with the teams from across that Diocese looking at the Period of Purification and Enlightenment - which usually corresponds with the season of Lent. It was hard to do these talks - and preach - in the context of Lent, when we are in the great 50 days of the Easter Season !!!

Monday we began our Confirmation Marathon! I call it that because we are celebrating Confirmation each evening - Monday to Thursday for 2 weeks!  When you do the math: 8 celebrations - with 30-34 candidates at each celebration - you realize we celebrate the sacrament with almost 285 young people.  Each of those young people receive's a certificate signed by yours truly! That means lots of ink on certificates!  These are joyful days - yet also full - since I still have to see couples for marriage appointments, for Baptism appointments when they have an infant to Baptize, and there are people who just need to talk about things that are going on in their life.

This morning we celebrated Mass at St. Michael - our Catholic High School in Bolton. The entrance procession included representatives of each of the clubs, teams and activities in the school this inaugural year.  It was impressive to see how many different activities have been started in this first year of St. Michael's being open!  The chaplain - Urszula Cybulko - spoke at the end of Mass of how these activities represented the love of the teachers.  That the teachers had loved the students and had committed to being with the students and helping them realize how they are gifted and talented in so many ways.  God bless the work our teachers do in each of our schools!  Go Thunder!