When I’m standing up there at the altar, I sometimes wish I could take a time-out and explain what I am doing or why I am doing it, because so much of what we do has long forgotten origins.

One example would be kissing or””reverencing” the altar. I’m kissing the “altar” which has crosses cut into its corners and a silver dollar sized circle that covers a few bone splinters taken from the catacombs of Rome, a reminder of our ancient roots and the blood of the martyrs. (Read more…)

This Thursday, May 21st, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, commemorating that day when Jesus was taken up to heaven, to the glory of his Father – 40 days after he rose from the dead and 10 days before the Feast of the Pentecost.  What is so significant or important about this feast?

Once, I was asked, “If Jesus loves us and lives forever, why did he leave?”  It’s an excellent question.  (Read more…)

Sunday, May 10th, we celebrate Mother’s Day and we honour our moms for all they do for us and for the sacrifices they make for us.  They do many ordinary things and do them extraordinarily well.  Primarily through their teaching and their example, they assist in an important way in passing down our precious faith to our children.

When we think of mothers, we only have to think of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  May is the month of Mary, and this month we honour her in a special way. (Read more…)

Today, Sunday, May 3rd, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On this day, the Church throughout the world in a special way encourages prayer for vocations.  It also asks us to do the following:

· Make a special effort to ask the Lord for more vocations to the priesthood, and religious life.

· Pray for the priests who have ministered to you throughout your life, both living and dead.

· Keep our parish priests in your prayers throughout the week. (Read more…)

“For perfected souls every place is to them an oratory, every moment a time for prayer.  Their conversation has ascended from earth to heaven–that is to say they have cut themselves off from every form of earthly affection and sensual self-love and have risen alone into the very height of Heaven.”” St. Catherine of Siena

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena.

Born in 1347, Saint Catherine was the youngest of 25 children.  (Read more…)

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  Pope Francis has urged us to embrace this day and truly reflect a spirit of mercy, repentance and reconciliation in our lives.  On this day, one week after Easter, we are reminded why Jesus rose from the dead: and one of the reasons was to shower the world with divine mercy.

This is what the Church has to say in part about this great feast: “During the Church’s millennium celebration in 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter be known as “Divine Mercy Sunday”.  (Read more…)