Catholic Home Missions
As we continue the celebration of the joyous Easter season, we are reminded once again about the essential missionary nature of the Church. In today’s Gospel, we hear the risen Lord call Peter to “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep.” This is the essential work of the Church – to care for the flock Jesus has entrusted to us. We are all aware of the need for continuing this work even today, which includes constant missionary outreach. But ordinarily, when we think of the Mission Church, we think of […]
WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH
Easter is the time when we celebrate the new life that our Lord has offered us through his Resurrection. As a Church, we rejoice in this promise of new life and are eager to share this Good News with everyone. So, we are especially joyful when others join us. At our Easter Vigil Mass last Saturday, we were privileged to welcome Grace Zwaan (wife of Matthew Zwaan) into the Church as she received all three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Additionally, we welcomed James Bryan (husband of Jessie […]
EASTER GREETINGS
Alleluia! Our Lord is risen and offers us new life! Jesus, the son of Mary, had truly died on the cross and overcame death as he rose on Easter. The resurrection of the body, the central mystery of Easter, is an essential Christian doctrine. As the apostle Paul declares so clearly: “[I]f the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” […]
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and Holy Week
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” (Lk 19:37). On Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, we are called to join with our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and then suffers derision and mockery, scourging and finally crucifixion because he comes to offer a new way of life and claims to be who he truly is – the Son of God. This week is, indeed, what we Christians call it: Holy […]
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
“God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
A few weeks ago, 74 of our parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Two weeks ago, many of our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) students took advantage of the opportunity to go to confession during their class time. And, on Tuesday of Holy Week, the students in our school will be given time to go to confession. This Wednesday, everyone in the parish is encouraged to attend our Lenten […]