Faith

Reconciliation

Congratulations to Emil, Henry, Josephine and Noah, who celebrated their First Reconciliation last Thursday evening. It was lovely to share this sacrament with eight children from the parish; Omaree, Jazelle, Netanya, Kaisha, James, Natalie, Ellanna and Lourraine, and their catechist teacher Maureen Marvin. Fr John Prince celebrated the sacrament and was terrific at putting the children at ease! Please continue to keep these children in your prayers as they now prepare to celebrate their First Holy Eucharist in September.

REFUGEE WEEK 19-25 June

Next week is refugee week. As Catholics, we are called to welcome all and love our neighbour. This is reinforced by Pope Francis, who states that "As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to the tragedy of old and new forms of poverty, to the bleak isolation, contempt and discrimination experienced by those who do not belong to 'our group.'" He continued, "We cannot remain insensitive, our hearts deadened, before the misery of so many innocent people. We must not fail to weep. We must not fail to respond." 

                  -Pope Francis 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 29 2019

Pope Francis sees our role to welcome and give hospitality to migrants and discarded people as such an essential part of our faith that in 2019, he installed a bronze sculpture in St. Peter’s Square. The statue depicts 140 migrants and refugees from different cultures and historical periods, including indigenous migrants, Jews fleeing from Nazi Germany, Poles fleeing from communism and Syrians and Africans fleeing war, poverty and famine. The sculpture was designed by the Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, at the request of the Vatican office for Migrants and Refugees. The statue expresses the words from the Letter to the Hebrews: “Do not neglect hospitality, for some unknowingly welcomed angels.”

Jesus, friend and brother,

You know what it is like to be hungry and thirsty. 

You know what it feels like to be a stranger who is made to feel unwelcome.

You know the suffering of all who have lost everything. 

We pray that by showing our care for refugees, 

we may show love for our neighbours and 

                                                                                            be closer to you.    

                                                                                We ask these prayers in Your name.

       Pauline Moran 

Religious Education Leader