Celebrating Sacraments

This year has had many twists and turns, including a delay in the celebration of Sacraments of Initiation. Families who were involved in the preparation of their children for Confirmation and Sharing in the Eucharist have been on "hold" as it were for the past 5 months.  Thankfully we now have a process for children to come to the Table and Share in the Eucharist for the first time. 

After a family has returned to worship in the newly configured space - with Physical Distancing markings - they can speak to us about the final steps in the preparation process. This includes tasting the unconsecrated host, and being able to ask questions about the church and the process for coming forward to receive communion. Beginning this coming Sunday we will be welcoming families and children to the Eucharistic Table during Sunday Masses. 

Peace

Changes coming to St. Mary's

As many of you now know - there will be some changes that will be happening at St. Mary's Parish at the end of August.

After 3 years as associate Pastor - Fr. Jeremias Inoc will be moving to St. Michael's Cathedral effective August 27th. We will have a "Good Bye" for Fr. Jeremias at all the Masses on August 22/23. Lets pray for good weather...!

In his place we will be welcoming Fr. Neyomal Liyanage Silva, who is coming to us from Guardian Angels in Orillia, on August 27th.

And now this Sunday you have heard that Deacon Ron MacLellan will be retiring from active ministry at the end of August. Deacon Ron will be preaching for the last time on August 29/30. As a thank you, Deacon Ron has asked for gifts of Diaconal Service from Parishioners. Diaconal Service is any service to those on the margins of society. For all of those in need.

God Bless each of these men for their service to St. Mary's Parish Community!

Reopening of Churches

St. Mary’s Parish will be open for Personal Prayer:
Sunday June 14: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday June 15: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday June 16: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

On Wednesday, June 17, 2020 the Church will be open at 8:30 am. Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 am and also at 7:00 pm.

Thursday, June 18 & Friday, June 19, Church will be open at 9:00 am, and Mass will be celebrated at 12:10 pm.

4th Sunday of Easter - 2020

Each year,  on the 4th Sunday of Easter  we become re-acquainted as it were with the image of the GOOD Shepherd. 
While many of us have never even seen sheep, except perhaps at a petting zoo, as Christians we feel very strongly about the image of Jesus as Shepherd. This Sunday - Good Shepherd Sunday is also
the World day of prayer for Vocations.

The word vocation comes from the Latin  -  vocare - to hear the voice.  Vocation.  We often think of Priest's and Religious as having Vocations. Sometimes we might acknowledge teaching  and  medical careers as being a vocation, because these "jobs" demand so much out of a person, but I think that each of us has a vocation as a Christian.

All of us - We hear the call of the shepherd - and we follow because the sound of the voice is familiar to us, because it resonates within us.

Often times it is a sound that can trigger a memory ... because it resonates with us.

A few years ago - in a parish a long, long, way away (no its May 3rd, not May the 4th be with you...) there was at the Easter Vigil someone in the assembly who was telling me afterwards,  
that the most Vivid memory - vivid  -  from life - 
was not a sight,   nor a smell,  not something touched  nor  tasted,   
But something heard - the water.
The most VIVID memory was the sound of the water
pouring over the newly Baptized: In the name of the Father, the Son the Holy Spirit ,    again and again the water poured.

The sound of the water cascading over these people filled the church. Neither the sight of the pool,   nor  the touch of the water sprinkled had as much of an effect as the sound of that water.
carried over the microphone, and at the same time as we knew  -deep down - that this sound of water was right   - because it resonated with us, The newly Baptized knew that this water was going to be vivid...  life giving for them, because it resonated within them.

The call of the Good shepherd is strong today in our world.
I was talking with my Dad on Friday about Authority & Relationship. My Dad – My Father … over time friend and confidant, advisor whose voice I recognize. Authority comes from our relationship. 
The Authority of Christ in our lives will stem from our relationship with Christ, the Risen Word of God.
Peace

Prayer for and with the People of Nova Scotia

We have wanted to add a time of prayer regularly during this Pandemic - and so we will have our first time of prayer on Friday April 24, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. 
We will remember the 22 victims of this horrible tragedy in Nova Scotia. This live stream will include music, Proclamation of the Word of God, a Litany, and Prayers of Petition.
Live-Stream on Facebook - then Uploaded to YouTube.

Peace

Living out of Love

First Reading: Acts 5: 27-33, Gospel: John 3: 31-36

Today's Gospel is one of those rare passages where we do not hear from the mouth of Jesus.  It is John the  Baptist talking with his disciples. And John is echoing the conversation of Jesus & Nicodemus that we have been hearing in the readings at Mass over the last few days about the one from above. Born from above - by water and Holy Spirit. The one who testifies. The one who witnesses. 

In the Acts of the Apostles - the Apostles are arrested. For the second time! Yesterday heard how they were freed by angel of the Lord. And what did they do? The went back to preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. Now they have been arrested again.
Brought before the Religious authorities - who are Afraid!
First - afraid of people following apostles, of losing them to this group. Second - afraid of the people who are getting roiled up - and the reaction of the Roman authorities. 
Do not preach in this name - The Jewish leaders don’t want to even speak the name of Jesus. All the apostles are there - not just Peter & John, and Peter is the spokesman. We must obey God - not human authorities. 

Yesterday afternoon - there was a Conference call of sorts for all the priests in the Archdiocese of Toronto. A "Webinar" with Cardinal Collins. Why are the churches closed? 
Is it because of a Government order. Or not being an Essential service? No - we are closed out of Love. Love of God - love of our neighbour - that’s what it’s all about. 
Protection of life. Care for the good - the common good is not always easy - but it is life giving!

Peter proclaims the heart of the good news. The Kerygma
Thru the death and resurrection of Jesus (St. Peter says) - whom you condemned - and whom God raised up - and has exulted - we have salvation and forgiveness.

We are in the great 90 days - Lent 40 days plus Easter 50 days.  We began the journey of Lent on Ash Wednesday marked with the words: Repent and believe in the Gospel - turn away from sin and believe in the good news. Repentance is seen as a gift from God

God's wrath is not an emotion like anger is for us. 
Gods wrath is not directed at people - but at evil. Because God is Love! 
God is not sending this virus against us. God is with us, against this evil. Jesus never sent sickness - on the contrary - he worked miracles of healing! And so we call upon Jesus. That name above every other name. In our fight. In the fight that Doctors, Nurses & all Health care workers fight. Out of Love. God who is Love - is very near to us. For the Lord hears the cry of the poor!

Peace!

Going back to Fishing

(Editor's Note: This reflection is from Thursday in Easter Week, 
but is published now, due to some computer problems last week!)

Thank you Lord – I am Grateful – Yes for the Resurrection

Really grateful - that Fish never became a Eucharistic Food!

How hard it is keeping things organized with bread & wine

Salmon/Tilapia - Imagine first communion with FISH!

Sometimes we live life on Auto pilot (Gloria spoken difficult)

The disciples seemed to have done gone on Auto Pilot

Today we hear how they have gone back to Galilee

     Back to fishing…fishing for fish

When they should have been è fishing for people

Today I am grateful – for many things – but in the sacred Scripture - I am grateful for the continuation of this story. how this passage concludes (which we do not hear today).

Grateful that Jesus allowed Peter to say “I Love You” so many times.

 

I can’t help but think of 2 places in the Holy Land:

St. Peter Gallicantu – where St. Peter denied the Lord 3 times

& Mensa Christi – where the Lord prepares Breakfast - bread and fish.

In the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu – there are 2 Icons – one on either side of the Altar. On the left - the image of Peter`s Denial  of the Lord 3 times  & on the right - the image on the shore of Galilee - where Jesus asks Peter Do you love me?   3 times

Here at this table of the Word is where God will greet us, 

Tell us he loves us – and allow us to say again and again how we love him.

Peace

Tuesday - 2nd Week of Easter

"The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet."                Acts 4:32-37

 We hear an image of a communal life in the early Church in today's first reading. Each gave as they had the ability - each received as they had a need. Together they lived for the common good.  I am reminded of how I was informed early in my time at St. Mary's that the Motto or Slogan for Simcoe County is "for the greater Good".

One might be forgiven for thinking that this is an image of Communism - which we have seen fail in our lifetime. But I think its not so much about the Totalitarian regime type of Communism  which did indeed fail, but rather the image of Solidarity - which is what helped to bring down the Communist Eastern Block and the Berlin Wall.  

Right now we are acting on this principle of caring for the common good - the greater good - in our efforts at Physical Distancing. Caring for the health of each other - for our common good.

There is a Famous Quote from G. K. Chesterton: 

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”

It is not always easy to live for the common good - the Greater Good - but we know from sacred Scripture, and deep within, that doing so brings life!

Peace

Divine Mercy

How to approach this Sunday in light of the current Pandemic and the restrictions on Parish church closures. 
Do these three things on Divine Mercy Sunday 
with the intention to turn away from sin in your life:
1. Make an Act of Contrition
Since you are unable to get to Confession, make an Act of Contrition, instead. 
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is 'sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again'" (1451).
You thereby will be completely forgiven of all sins, even “mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism, 1452).  

2. Make a Spiritual Communion
Since churches are closed and you cannot receive Holy Communion, make a Spiritual Communion instead, asking God to come into your heart as if you received Him sacramentally. For instance, you can say this: Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You. Amen. 

Again, do this act of trust with the intent to return to the sacrament of Holy Communion as soon as possible.  

3.    Finally – Say a Prayer like this:
Lord Jesus Christ, You promised St. Faustina that the soul 
that has been to Confession 
[I’m unable, but I made an Act of Contrition] 
and the soul that receives Holy Communion 
[I’m unable, but I made a Spiritual Communion] 
will receive the complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. 
Please, Lord Jesus Christ, give me this grace.

Second Sunday of Easter

This is the Text of my Homily this past Sunday
(I had some technical issues with my Computer...)

Today we were supposed to have our ShareLife Speaker.
Someone to speak on the good work that Catholic Family Services does throughout our Archdiocese through our donations to ShareLife. I want to thank the many people who have Mailed in or
dropped off donations through the mail slot at the Parish Office over the past weeks.
Thank you!  ShareLife Thanks You!
Over 30 Agencies in all of the 5 regions of the Archdiocese serve 10,000’s each year. Helping each of us to live and proclaim the Gospel!

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter - Also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, and so we will be Live-Streaming Sunday afternoon 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

I love the Easter Season (for many reasons) because we get to hear daily from the Acts of the Apostles. It runs like a diary of the early Church, detailing all of the things that were going on.
And today we have a very Famous passage - Acts 2:42:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

This is such an important image of the early Church - our Office of Catholic Youth in the Archdiocese calls their meetings with Youth Ministers "2:42 Meetings"!

As I reflect on this Gospel - Sometimes it feels like everyone is a cynic. Everyone is a sceptic. Thomas who doubted until he could see what the other apostles had seen.
Who of us hasn’t said something like: “I’ll believe it when I see it”? I know about that!  I am sometimes – I am often times – like Thomas!
As I think of this Gospel – I wonder – Where was Thomas?
Why didn’t he stay with the community! And so he missed out.

While we often call him Doubting Thomas, I think he wasn't so bad after all. You and I - we are his twin…
Perhaps we can only pray that someday – Like  Thomas – we can profess Jesus Christ: “My  Lord and my God!”

We should not refer to him as Doubting Thomas, but rather – Believing Thomas – or Proclaiming Thomas!
Our Seeing – Our Believing – that is right here, right now, were we encounter the living Word of God and can proclaim – “My  Lord and my God!”

Peace

Road to Emmaus

Road to Emmaus

They must have been dawdling. I don’t walk that distance normally.

3 years ago we did walk from Holy Family parish in Caledon, to St. Patrick’s, Wildfield, which is in north east Brampton.

It was 9 km and took us just over 2 hrs.
So Israel - with its hilly terrain, bit more of a distance - lets say it should have taken 4 hrs.

But these guys still they took better part of the day. They must have been dawdling!

Like Mary Magdelan  - they didn’t recognize Jesus along the journey. Yet at the table: In the act of blessing bread,

The recognize him. Then they Run back to Jerusalem. There's no dawdling now! And its almost a competition - who saw the Lord 1^st

Daily in this Easter week we listen to stories of the first appearances of Jesus in the Gospel, and the first works of the Church in Acts of Apostles.

The acts of apostles presents us different crew than the Gospels.

They are now Confident. Unafraid. Powerful preachers.

        Preachers who invite people into relationship.

Peter and John invite the lame beggar to look at them. 
Look vs staring. The man would have been stared at many times.
Staring pushes out, but looking invites in. And Peter and John wanted to share their relationship with the risen Lord with this man.

What has happened from Good Friday’s denying / Fleeing / get out of dodge crew? The Resurrection. That's what happened.

We might ask ourselves Will this ever end? When will this ever end? Yet In times of doubt - Our strength is from the Risen Lord

Our encounter with the Word of God - Jesus Christ.

Peace

Resurrection

RESURRECTION HOMILY 

by St. John Chrysostom

Come all lovers of God, rejoice in the splendor of this feast: 

enter into the joy of your Lord. 

You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; 

you rich and you poor, dance together; 

you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; 

you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet… 

let no one go away hungry. 

All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; 

all of you receive the riches of his goodness.

Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. 

Christ is risen and life is freed. 

Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: 

for Christ, being risen from the dead, 

has become the Leader and Reviver 

of those who had fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. 

Amen

Reflection from Fr. Cantalamesa - The Preacher to the Pope.

Each year - the Good Friday Homily is offered not by the Holy Father - rather by the preacher to the Papal household. 
Fr. Cantalamesa on Good Friday, preaching at Papal liturgy offered these thoughts:

“When, in the memory of humanity, have the people of all nations ever felt themselves so united, so equal, so less in conflict than at this moment of pain? We have forgotten about building walls.."

"(COVID-19) knows no borders. In an instant, it has broken down all the barriers and distinctions of race, nation, religion, wealth, and power..."

“We should not revert to that prior time when this moment has passed, we should not waste this opportunity."

“Let us leave to the next generation a world poorer in goods and money, if need be, but richer in its humanity."

“The pandemic has abruptly roused us from the greatest danger individuals and humanity have always been susceptible to: the delusion of omnipotence..."

“We too, after these days that we hope will be short, shall rise and come out of the tombs of our homes to a more fraternal, more human, more Christian life!”

A Homily for Palm / Passion Sunday

Palm Sunday – 2020 – COVID-19

From Triumphant Entry – to Condemnation
We enter into this week that we call HOLY

Yet a very different Holy Week.
Different from any other we have ever experienced!
With Churches shut – and Physical Distancing – very different indeed.

At the Heart of the Christian Year – is the Triduum – Three days
From Holy Thursdayevening to Good Friday evening - Day 1
Good Friday evening to Holy Saturday evening - Day 2
Holy Saturday evening to Easter Sunday evening - Day 3

Cognitive Dissonance – holding 2 competing ideas at the same time: and so Each year Palm Sunday presents us with this Cognitive Dissonance – and the 2 competing ideas are:
From Triumphant Entry – to utter Condemnation

Hate can be a deeply stimulating emotion.
The world becomes much easier to understand and much less terrifying if you divide everything and everyone into friends and enemies, we and they, good and evil.
The easiest way to unite a group isn’t through love – because love is hard. It makes demands. Hate is simple.

So the first thing that happens in a conflict is that we choose a side.
Because that is easier than trying to hold 2 thoughts in our heads at the same time.

The second thing that happens is that we seek out facts that confirm what we want to believe.  Comforting facts. Ones that permit life to go on as normal. Facts like: "He’s a revolutionary" or "He breaks the Sabbath" or "He says ..."

The third thing that happens in a conflict is that we dehumanize our enemy. There are many ways of doing that, but none is easier than taking the name away from him or her.
Crucify Him / Crucify Him

As we move through this week that we call Holy – 
I challenge you to turn to God in Prayer – 
to take time to reflect on the readings and prayers.
To join us – even if only Virtually – and know 
the Power – the compassion – the mercy of God.
The God who challenges us to hold 2 conflicting concepts together at the same time: Triumph and Condemnation 

There is a lot of noise out there. The twenty four hour news cycle.  
Social Media.  Talk radio.  Blogs.  Commentary.
Over the next week, a week like none other in the Church’s calendar, a week like none other in our world, 
we will hear words of love and accusation, 
     we will listen to stories of intrigue and betrayal,
and we will participate in veneration and prayer.
The noise out there will be in stark contrast to what we will hear, read, see and do here – in church / in Liturgy.  

This is a week of drama, of judgement, of a mother’s sorrow, of suffering and isolation.  Yet perhaps most of all, this is a week of invitation; of putting aside all the noise out there and coming to understand the love, the mercy, the forgiveness, the ultimate reason of why Jesus did what Jesus did.  

How do we attack?

In the Gospel today - Jesus is a point of division. Some recognize him as a prophet, others as the Messiah. Still other people attack Jesus - not so much for what he says (remember he spoke with such authority) yet they attack where he is from.  Can any prophet really come from Galilee??? 
The region of Galilee in the northern part of Israel was often considered (in the time of Jesus) to be a "back-water" area - like being a "hill-billy" if you will. How often do we attack people based on where they are from? Their cultural or racial background? How they dress, or the colour of their skin, or the accent they speak with? When they speak truth to us - we cannot attack the words - so we attack where they are from. That they are not from here. They are from "away" - they are not really one of us!
The more times change, the more they stay the same.

Peace

Friday in the 4th week of Lent

The best laid plans of mice and men! I planned to offer a reflection at least every other day - if not daily - here - and it has not been so.
Fr. Jeremias, Fr. Bob, and I have been alone here in the Rectory since Tuesday's orders came from the Province and the Archdiocese to close the church and the office. It has led to us cooking our meals together and praying together.

We have also continued to answer the phones and return messages, as well as care for those who are sick and isolated. I think of those who are frail and who are dying and how this difficult time is even harder for their families as there is even more isolation. 

I think of the many unsung heroes - like grocery store and delivery couriers - who are ensuring that the vital necessities of life are available to us all.

Thursday's daily reading from the book of Exodus detailed the ultimate distraction that the people of Israel faced in the desert at the base of Mount Sinai.  The making of and the worshiping of the golden calf was a clear breaking of the Law that Moses received from God - the Ten Commandments. While we think we do not worship golden calf statues in our lives - what are the things we place so quickly before God?
Money. Prestige. Status. Name Brands - in fashion, vehicles, jewelry, watches, shoes, athletic gear, fragrance...

This sabbath-like time can be a true grace for us - as we push pause on our hectic lives. I pray that you will also use this time to strengthen a prayer life - now possible with fewer distractions!

Peace

Monday of the 4th week in Lent

Monday is usually my day off. I typically sleep in, and have a later "brunch". But these are not typical times!

Fr. Jeremias preached this morning about the healing of the son of the Royal official. While Jesus was in Cana and the boy was in 
Capernaum there was a physical separation - but the healing showed that there was no spiritual separation.

As we continue through this Covid-19 state of emergency, we are separated physically from the sacraments, yet we are not spiritually separated from each other.  Like Jesus and the Royal official's son - we are closer than ever to each other in prayer.

Many of you have seen this image of a priest celebrating Mass with the photos of people in the pews.

While we do not have pictures in the pews - I do think of you parishioners as I look out into the church during the daily masses we are celebrating. Since we are so often creatures of habit - sitting in the same area Sunday after Sunday - as I look out I imagine you sitting in the places you often sit in the assembly!

Be assured of our continued prayers for you and your family!

Peace

4th Sunday in Lent

The Lenten Gospels in Year A are considered the standard for Lent in so many ways. Whenever there are Elect in a Parish, these readings are used - not only in Year A, but in the other years in the Lectionary Cycle. It just so happens that this year is Year A.
These passages from the Gospel of John are so Important because they show Jesus as the Living Water (Woman at Well) The Light of the World (Man born blind) and the Resurrection and the Life (Raising of Lazarus).

In today's gospel - the story runs like a drama, almost like a play with scenes: 
Between Jesus and the man born blind,
   Between that healed man, and those from the old neighbourhood
Between the man and the authorities, 
     The authorities and the healed man's parents,
and finally between the healed man and Jesus.

As the scenes unfold we become increasingly aware that it is those with sight who are blind (spiritually)  and the one who is born blind is the one who is in the light.  He is able to see physically & at the end is able to see spiritually.

Jesus saw the man.  Jesus doesn't walk by.   (Jesus can't walk by!)
The man does not cry out.  Never asks.  
Jesus sees him and goes after him. Like the good Shepherd.

The Physical Healing is described quickly – he went/ he washed/ he can see. The Spiritual seeing – that takes up the rest of the Gospel.
And for all those others – the Neighbours / the Parents / the Pharisees - the question remains - will they ever see?

Jesus says to wash in the pool of Siloam  -  which means sent.
Having encountered the healing love of God in Christ - that means that the man is sent.  He is to be a missionary. Just as the Samaritan Woman was sent as a missionary to her town!

For each of us who are Baptised - and for our elect, who will eventually be Baptised, sharing in the waters of Baptism is not a private thing!
It is deeply personal, but not individualistic! Never private. You are (or will be) sharing in the very mission of Christ - you are sent!
Sent to be a witness of Christ’s Love – Which is light for our world!

The Christ who has pursued each of us - and called each of us – wherever we are right now - to encounter the Father’s Mercy – 
To have the mind of Christ so that we are able – even in the midst of adversity – to rejoice and look forward to the day when we will once again be able to feast at this banquet.

Peace

Each of us is on a Pilgrimage

The Gospel today relates a parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. The Pharisee's prayer is very self centered, grandiose, and prideful - whereas the Tax Collector's prayer is simple and humble. 
There is an element of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in each of us. Each of us is on a pilgrimage from Pride to Humility.
We ask the Lord, even in difficult times, to be our shield, our strength, and accompany us on this pilgrimage - as the Lord's own people.

Peace

Love God, Love Neighbour

Today's Gospel passage has Jesus and the young scribe discussing  what are considered the two greatest commandments: Love God and Love your neighbour. This is the Basics. Everything comes down to these two commandments.

When we are preparing children for first reconciliation, we talk about this passage of scripture with their parents.  At Baptism this passage is referred to as parents are questioned about their readiness to pass on the faith:

You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?

I added the emphasis. From our first days as a Christian, it has been the desire of the church to have our Parents and Godparents form us in these 2 great commandments of Jesus.

In times like these we are reminded of what are the Basics.  In our Faith this Passage calls us back to the simplicity of the Good News in which we have been formed from the beginning.

Peace