Author Archives: stpeters

You Belong to God – You Are Not Your Own! The Core Values of Stewardship

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The readings that we hear proclaimed this weekend present us with a reminder of something that is very true and yet very contrary to the way most of us think today. These readings remind us that we belong to God and do not belong to ourselves. This, I think, is exactly the opposite to the way most of us think. It is certainly the opposite of the way the world today would like us to think about ourselves. My own sense is that most of the anger and difficulties that people have towards God and the world are based on the fact that we refuse to recognize that we truly do belong to God and that He is in charge of the world and of our lives. We all like to live under the impression that we belong to ourselves, that we are in charge of everything, and that God is supposed to listen to what we tell him to do and follow our instructions. I remember very clearly one of the great spiritual lessons that Bishop Mikloshazy, one of my favorite instructors in the seminary, used to always say to us was at the heart of the spiritual life: “Remember that God is God and you are not.” This truth is also at the heart of the Stewardship Campaign that Cardinal Collins has asked the parishes of the Archdiocese to focus on in the coming years. For that reason, this weekend, I would like to focus upon four core values that are at the heart of Stewardship and that follow from this Sunday’s readings. I take these values from a book that has been shared with our parish’s Stewardship Committee by the Archdiocesan Office of Faith Formation. The book is called Making Stewardship a Way of Life, by Fr. Andrew Kemberling and Mila Glodava. They identify as the Core Values of Stewardship: 1) Identity; 2) Trust; 3) Gratitude; and 4) Love. All of the readings this Sunday calls us to embrace these values. Continue reading →

We pray for our Deceased 

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Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services – Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families within the Archdiocese of Toronto to participate in the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed on Wednesday August 14, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Cemetery locations and Celebrants for this year’s Annual Mass are as follows:

Cemetery Celebrant
Assumption, Mississauga Most Rev. John A. Boissonneau
Christ the King, Markham Most Rev. Vincent Nguyen
Holy Cross, Thornhill His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins
Mount Hope, Toronto Rev. Monsignor Robert Nusca
Queen of Heaven, Woodbridge Most Reverend Robert Kasun
Resurrection, Whitby Reverend Msgr. Vid Vlasic
St. Mary’s, Barrie Most Rev. Wayne Kirkpatrick

All are Welcome!

In the event of rain:
Mass will be held in the mausoleum at Assumption, Holy Cross, Resurrection and Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemeteries.  Christ the King Cemetery will celebrate Mass on site in the Reception Centre.  Mount Hope Cemetery to St. Monica’s Parish, 44 Broadway Avenue, Toronto.  St. Mary’s Cemetery to St. John Vianney Parish, 13 Baldwin Lane, Barrie.

Invite a Friend to Become Catholic!

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As Christians, we are invited to share the Good News with others. Today this can be done by inviting someone to consider joining the R.C.I.A. in the parish where they would like to attend Sunday Mass. The “R.C.I.A.” is the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults. Through the celebration of these rites in their local parish community, individuals become members of the Catholic Church through their local parish community. These rites are accompanied by a catechetical process which educates those who are becoming Catholic in the teachings of Christ and the traditions of the Church that He established to continue His mission and spread the Good News.

Here at St. Peter’s those who wish to become Catholic are invited to begin attending Mass in our parish community each Sunday. As they do this, they are accompanied by the R.C.I.A team and meet on Tuesday evenings to learn about our faith, deepen in a prayer relationship with Jesus, and discover how they can find their place in our Christian community through Sunday worship, service of neighbour and prayer. The R.C.I.A. at St. Peter’s will begin in September. The group will meet throughout the length of the school year. The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) will be celebrated at Easter (April 21, 2019) and the group will continue to meet until the end of the Pentecost season (June 2019).

For those already Baptized in another Christian denomination a shorter path towards joining the Catholic Church may be possible, depending on their previous faith formation.

If you know anyone who might be interested in becoming Catholic, please invite them to consider joining the R.C.I .A. at the parish where they wish to attend Sunday Mass. If they wish to do so here at St. Peter’s, please have them give Fr. Michael a call for more information (416-534-4291, ext. 211).

Daily Mass in Church beginning September

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Beginning on Monday, September 2, 2019 the weekday Masses will be celebrated in the Church. This is due to the Centre closing for renovations. It will be re-purposed to house the office of Catholic youth, the Archives and the Office of Refugees for the Archdiocese of Toronto. We are very grateful to the Archdiocese for allowing the parish free use of the Centre during these past three years since they have purchased it. Mass times will continue to as scheduled for the rest of the year.