“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ….What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it..”(John 1 1-5)
The Church begins a new liturgical year, with the season of Advent. Please note: the season of Advent, not the season of pre-Christmas sales! In fact, with the post-American Thanksgiving phenomenon of “Black Friday”, the ultimate shop-till-you-drop experience, gradually spreading its way ac
When you think of kings or queens, who comes to mind? (Elizabeth II … Charles and Camilla … Will and Kate?) What about historical ones – or even fictional ones? (Jadis, the White Witch – or the children in LWW who replace her as kings and queens of Narnia? The Tudors?) When you think of a king or queen, what qualities do you associate with them? (Rich, well-born, stylish, powerful, etc.)
This weekend, the Church celebrates the twin feasts of “All Saints” and “All Souls”. Both are of ancient origin: as early as the 4th century, the Eastern Church celebrated a solemn memorial of all martyrs, and by the 9th century, it was extended to the whole Church as a way
Today and tomorrow, the Church celebrates the twin feasts of “All Saints” and “All Souls”. These are among the most ancient feasts in the Church calendar. As early as the 4th century, the Eastern Churches celebrated a solemn memorial of all martyrs, and by the 9th century,
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, our readings speak to us of banquets and feasts. In the first reading, we hear Isaiah’s promise of “a feast of rich food and well-aged wines” for all peoples. The Psalmist describes God as a Good Shepherd who leads us to abundant pastures, who prepares for us a table of plenty, cups overflowing. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable of guests invited to a royal wedding-feast where the prime rib is ready for carving! Very fitting readings for Thanksgiving, a weekend in which many of us will go home to turkey or ham, to pumpkin pie or apple crisp, to whatever special food and drink we happen to enjoy for a feast with family and friends.
Our community is dedicating this parish year to the sacramental life-to living sacramentally. This is why we have the banner you see with the symbols of all seven sacraments in our Catholic tradition.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes two kinds of people: those who initially say “no”, but then follow through on what they were asked; and those who say “yes” immediately, but fail to follow through.
Thirteen years ago this week, the world looked on in horror and dismay as four hijacked airliners were deliberately crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and an unknown target within striking distance of a Pennsylvania farmer’s field.
I read an interesting article in La Presse last week by a young philosophy teacher at a CEGEP and it is directly relevant to today’s liturgy. I’m sure you have all noticed how everyone today seems to live in virtual space; you walk down the street and you think someone is talking to you but they’re really on their cell phone speaking or texting someone else. Everyone is in love with the images on their smart phone. The philosophy teacher explained this using the ancient Greek mythological story about Narcissus.
St. Monica's Parish