His Word Today: Burdened

Good morning everyone,

How often has it happened that you and I find that we have taken on too many responsibilities, that we seem to feel overloaded with the cares of the world, or struggling beneath the weight of multiple tasks, each of which carries its own deadline and demands?

If we can answer yes to any of the above situations, perhaps we can identify with Martha.  The gospel passage for today (Lk 10:38-42) speaks of the occasion when Jesus came to visit - as was his custom - and Martha found herself struggling to prepare the food for the meal that was to be served.  To her surprise, when she turned to Jesus for help, thinking that he would ask her sister Mary to help with the preparations, Jesus told her to relax.

We can all get overwhelmed at times by the demands we place on ourselves, and yet all we need to do is stop for a moment, take a breath, listen to the words that Jesus offers, and then get up and keep going.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Our Lady of the Rosary

Good morning everyone,

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast day that was also formerly known as Our Lady of Victory.  It has been observed since 1571.  During that period, there was serious worry about the possibility that the Turkish Ottoman empire would advance and engulf the Christians in Western Europe.

In that year (1571), Pope Pius V organized a coalition of forces from Spain and smaller Christian kingdoms, republics and military orders, to rescue Christian outposts in Cyprus, particularly the Venetian outpost at Famagusta which, however, surrendered after a long siege on August 1 before the Christian forces set sail. On October 7, 1571, the Holy League, a coalition of southern European Catholic maritime states, sailed from Messina, Sicily, and met a powerful Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Lepanto (Southern Greece). Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, Pope Pius V, called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory, and led a rosary procession in Rome.

After about five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Corinth, off western Greece, the combined navies of the Papal States, Venice and Spain managed to stop the Ottoman navy, slowing the Ottoman advance to the west and denying them access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Americas.  If the Ottomans had won then there was a real possibility that an invasion of Italy could have followed so that the Ottoman sultan, who was already claiming to be emperor of the Romans, would have been in possession of both New and Old Rome. Combined with the unfolding events in Morocco where the Sa'adids successfully spurned the Ottoman advances, it confined Turkish naval power to the eastern Mediterranean. Although the Ottoman Empire was able to build more ships, it never fully recovered from the loss of trained sailors and marines, and was never again the Mediterranean naval power it had become the century before when Constantinople fell.
(Source: Wikkipedia)

The gospel passage provided for today's Mass is the account of the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38).  When the angel Gabriel revealed God's plan to Mary, she was filled with questions, thinking that the plan was not rational, but the angel reassured her that all things are possible for God.  Similarly, what must have seemed a daunting task to the naval forces at the time came to pass, with the help of faith and prayer.

Today, we turn to Mary.  Let us present the situations in our own lives, especially those that seem to have no answers.  Let us entrust them to her and trust that she will never turn us away.  Instead, our heavenly mother will always help us to find the answers we seek.

Have a great day.

Faith the size of a mustard seed

Our Holy Father has asked the entire Church to pay particular attention to missionary activity during this month of October.  In fact, he has designated it as an Extra-ordinary Missionary Month.  On Tuesday evening of this past week, there was a special celebration of Vespers (Evening Prayer) inside the Vatican Basilica.  In his homily, Pope Francis explained: This extraordinary missionary month seeks to be a shock to provoke us to become active in doing good deeds (Homily at Vespers, 1 October 2019).  Throughout this month, we need to focus our attention on the call that Jesus addresses to all of us.

The gospel passage we have heard today puts it this way: The apostles came to Jesus and said, 'Increase our faith'.  The Lord replied: 'If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea', and it would obey you' (Lk 17:5-6).  One mustard seed is almost invisible to the naked eye, and yet Jesus says that even with that much faith - the smallest amount of faith - we can do amazing things.

When we think about missionaries, the first people we might think of are those throughout the history of the Church who have travelled to foreign lands to proclaim the gospel and to introduce others to the person of Jesus Christ.  Here in Canada, we might think of Saint Jean de Brebeuf and his Jesuit companions who lived among the Huron tribe on the shores of Lake Huron, not far from here.  Even today, the seven Jesuit Martyrs still provide us with an inspiring example that waters the faith of all Canadians.  When we think of their dedication and their faith, some of us may think that our own faith is weak, or we might wonder what we could possibly do to provide so heroic a witness.

Travel to foreign lands is one way in which we can be missionaries, but it is not always necessary for us to travel in order to share our faith.  We can begin doing this right here, at home, in the place where we live.  This parish of Saint Bernadette is still in its infancy here in Elliot Lake.  Over the past few months, we have begun to familiarize ourselves with new surroundings, with new faces of brothers and sisters who gather with us to celebrate the Eucharist and to strengthen our faith.  As pastor of this parish community, my hope and dream is that we can create a space here in this parish where everyone will feel safe, at home and welcome.  In order to create this space, we will first need to establish a new Parish Pastoral Council who I will invite to help me put in place all the building blocks that we need to create this special environment of hospitality.

In the coming weeks, we will elect a new Parish Pastoral Council, so I would invite you to consider the possibility that God may be inviting you to lend your voices to this form of strengthening the faith of all our parishioners.

When a new Parish Pastoral Council is to be established, the Diocesan Norms permit the Pastor of the parish to determine the number of members who will partake in that assembly.  The pastor is also permitted to appoint up to 50% of the membership, while others are to be chosen by election from the parish at large.  Keeping this in mind, I believe that we can begin with a total of six people who are part of the Parish Pastoral Council.  In the coming weeks, I will choose three of those persons, and the remaining three will be elected.  Beginning today, I invite you to consider who you might wish to nominate for a position on the newly-formed Pastoral Council.  Nominations may be submitted in writing either at the parish office or via the collection baskets until Friday, October 18.  On the weekend of October 19 and 20, ballots will be provided and all those who are in attendance will be invited to cast their votes.  I will announce the names of the members of the Parish Pastoral Council on the weekend of October 26 and 27.

Saint Paul reminds us all today that in calling us to be his children, and in sending us out with the mission to share the good news of the gospel, God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power, love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7).  I encourage you then to take these words seriously.  In the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to help you consider carefully whether God is inviting you to share your talents as part of our new Parish Pastoral Council.  If so, I invite you to be courageous in offering your candidacy, knowing that this call to service is also a call to love.

His Word Today: Saint Francis

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, 1181/2 - 3 October 1226).  Having had a privileged youth thanks to his father who was a silk merchant, Francis chose to renounce his fortune because he recognized the need for a much simpler life.  In fact, he was radical in his choice, choosing to live the life of a mendicant (ie begging for his food and for all his physical needs, rather than availing himself of his family's fortune).

Such radical choices are also evident in the gospel passage for today.  Jesus calls warning words: Woe to you Chorazin, woe to you Bethsaida, for if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented (Lk 10:13).

Even today, Saint Francis continues to challenge us.  Increasingly, voices are calling out for the world to pay attention to climate change; millions of our brothers and sisters live day to day, not knowing whether they will have enough food to feed their families; and many families are living in precarious situations, not even aware in some circumstances that they need help.

Let us pray today for the courage to be agents of change so that we may have eyes to see the mighty deeds that are being done in our midst, so that we can do what we can to be instruments of the Lord's peace.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Pray and do

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Lord provides us with a task and a request at the same time.  The gospel passage appointed for today's Mass unveils a moment at which Jesus is sending seventy-two other disciples into the mission.  Perhaps it is fitting that this passage should be placed before us in the beginning days of the Extra-ordinary Missionary Month that has been mandated by our Holy Father.

Jesus says to us, as he said to the seventy-two before he sent them out: The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.  Go on your way ... carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one on the way (Lk 10:2-4).  Just as Jesus sent his disciples out, the Holy Father is challenging the entire church to see this extraordinary missionary month ... as a shock to provoke us to become active in doing good deeds - to be notaries of faith and guardians of grace - but missionaries (Homily at Vespers, 1 October 2019).

The Lord is calling each of us to become active in doing good deeds.  Let us join our voices with the voices of others throughout the centuries whose prayers have also risen to heaven: Lord, we know that the harvest is abundant; send us to work, and give us the courage to say yes to your invitation.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Guardian Angels

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Guardian Angels.  The Old Testament speaks of the prophet Daniel's guardian angel as having a role to play in strengthening his resolve: Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them (Dan 10:12).

The Church has continually taught that each of us - God's precious children - as a guardian angel, one who is sent by God to watch over and to protect us.  They also act as messengers between us and the throne of God.  The gospel writer reminds us of Jesus admonishing words: See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father (Mt 18:10).

Whereas the Saints intercede for us before the face of God, our Guardian angels watch over us, protecting us as we make our way along the paths that ultimately will lead us to heaven.  Along the way, it is good to know that we are not alone, but that we have these heaven-sent protectors watching over us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates and prays with Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus.  Marie Françoise Thérèse Martin was born 2 January 1873 and died 30 September 1897.  She was a French Discalced Carmelite nun (OCD) who is still very well known and loved the world over today. Thérèse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for Catholics and for others because of the simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life.

Known simply as the little flower, Theresa continues even now to teach us how to be childlike in our faith.  One might even say that she is spending her heaven helping us here on earth to become like children (Mt 18:3).  Known for her little way, Theresa was able to speak of profound truths of faith in very simple words, thereby making it possible for all people to learn more about God and to know that it is possible for all of us to be close to Him.

Today, let us ask this holy woman to intercede for us, asking the Lord to continue the work that has already been begun.  May she who promised to send roses as the sign of her continued willingness to answer our prayers and as proof of her willingness to spend her heaven doing good on earth help us to always remember that each one of us must become like children in the sight of our heavenly Father.

Have a great day.