St. Michael Graduation

Wednesday we athe 3rd St. Michael Graduation Ceremony since the School started in 2010. There is no event location that is big enough to handle this in Bolton - so it is held at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton.  It was a wonderful afternoon - and there were many bright award winners and St. Michael's Spirit and Catholic leadership Awards handed out. 
Jennifer Sansalone won the Catholic Student of the year Award, and Katie Moretta won the Knights of Columbus - Fr. Hank Van den Berg Scholarship.  Nicholas Chroback was the Valedictorian and winner of the Governor General's Award for the Highest Academic Average! 
To all the Graduates and Award Winners: Congrats and God Bless!!!

Very Early on Friday Morning our Youth are headed to Steubenville, Ohio, for a youth conference - "Limitless". Keep them in your prayers.

At the same time (after seeing them off) I will be headed to the Airport to fly to Fort Lauderdale, for the 2015 NHL Draft. My Godson (Thomas Schemitsch #91) and our Parishioner (Andrew Mangiapanne #85) are both eligable to be drafted this year, and they both were part of the NHL Combine at the beginning of June in Buffalo. You may remember me talking a lot about Geoffery who is Thomas' older brother and was drafted in 2010 by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He currently attends Acadia University and plays on their varsity team! I'll report back to the parish when there are updates!

Peace!

Important Week

This has been an important week in the archdiocese of Toronto! Wednesday we learned that the Cathedral - originally scheduled to be closed next spring / summer has been closed this week - because of saftey concerns during the current renovations.

St. Michael’s Cathedral, mother church of the Archdiocese of Toronto, is temporarily closing its doors as part of its extensive restoration efforts. Since the mid-1800s, local and global pilgrims have visited St. Michael’s Cathedral and work has been underway for the past three years to restore the historic church, one of Toronto’s greatest landmarks and home parish of Cardinal Thomas Collins. Until this point in the restoration, the cathedral has remained open for Mass each weekend and special celebrations. However, the next phase of restoration will require its closure full-time to allow for work that will preserve the cathedral for years to come.  A timeline has been forecast as follows:

• June 17, 2015 – mid-December 2015 - full closure of St. Michael’s Cathedral.
• Mid-December 2015 – January 2016 - cathedral will open around Christmas.
• January 2016 – March 2016 - full closure of St. Michael’s Cathedral again.
• March 2016 – September 2016 - cathedral will open prior to Holy Week and Easter, remaining open while work continues through September 2016.
• September 29, 2016 - goal to complete this phase of restoration. This date is also the Feast of St. Michael, patron saint of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

The other big news this week is the much anticipated release of an Encyclical by Pope Francis on the environment: 

Laudato Si’ - "Praised Be"

Here is a power video on our call to care for creation - It was published by Salt and Light before Pope Francis was elected. (In a sense this shows how much Pope Francis' Encyclical is the fruit of comments by both John Paul II and Benedict XVI)

James Axford - Rest in Peace

I have no recollection that I ever had a class mate die when I was in Secondary School. Yet I felt like I was back in High School this week as our community - St. Michael's Secondary School Graduates and staff, and friends in the parish mourned the loss of James Axford. Here is the obituary published in the Toronto Star this week:

JAMES THOMAS AXFORD Grade 12 student at St. Michael CSS Peacefully in his sleep, at his home, Bolton, on Saturday, June 6, 2015, James Thomas Axford, at the age of 18 years, adored son of Darryl and Delia. Magnificent brother of Cameron. Cherished grandson of Floyd and Sharon Axford, Roy and Rose McCormick. Survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Special friend of Carly. Fondly remembered by his many friends.

James was remembered as a Kind, good hearted, generous young man. Bright - not just academically - but also one to brighten up a room.  He once remarked to his Dad - while cutting sandwiches for lunches - that he felt Triangular food tastes better. I agree, said his dad - Doritos are better than pringles!

Sandwich on James - Sandwich On!

Peace

Answers to Questions

Since I asked the Questions last Sunday:

3 Essential Questions that we as Church need to help people answer:

Why do you believe in God?  

• VS Atheism – where people say that there are "No absolute truths!" and yet that itself is offered as an absolute!

Why do you Believe in Jesus Christ?

• VS a different religion – Muslim / Jewish / Hindu etc.

Why do you believe in the Catholic Church?

• VS another Christian Denomination - or a non denominational church.

Some answers I have received are:
#1 stars, northern lights dancing, oceans even on cold rainy days, a deep peace during times of pain;

# 2 the incarnation of God with us, the resurrection;

#3 I believe in the one holy catholic apostolic church because it is our roots,  I choose to be RC because it is home - not perfect but definitely home.
"The only possible answer to this question is that I believe in its golden ribbon of truth weaving through ages of my life and spanning back throughout the ages  to the time of the Apostles.  I am rooted in this faith and I will abide in the teaching of God and as a sinner I am still a proud Catholic and I believe in our faith and I believe in our Pope and I wake up every morning and try to live in closeness to Christ."

Feel free to send me your answers! 
Peace

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