Author Archives: stpeters

Pentecost 2021 – Sunday, Baptism, and Eucharist

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Decorative ImageThe reading from the Gospel of John for this Pentecost Sunday, the last day of the Easter Season, takes us back to Easter Sunday, the day on which this Season began. It begins with the words: “It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week.” These words situate this scene, like so many of the Gospel stories that we have heard on the Sundays throughout the Easter Season on Sunday, on the day Jesus rose from the dead. Whether it was the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, or the story of Doubting Thomas, so many of the stories of Christ’s appearing to His disciples in the Easter Season, have focused our attention on the fact that Christ appeared to his disciples after His resurrection as they were gathered together on a Sunday. One of my favorite reminders of the importance of Sunday is actually that which we read in the story from the Gospel of Luke, with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Here, like today’s Gospel story, Jesus appears to His disciples on a Sunday and celebrates with them that memorial supper that He asked them to celebrate in memory of Him. This emphasis that we hear over and over again throughout the Easter Season on the importance of Sunday, is a powerful reminder to all of us that this is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. It is the day He invites us to celebrate together and be reminded of who we are as His people. Continue reading →

Humanitarian Relief – India’s COVID-19 Outbreak

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Decorative ImageThose wishing to help may do so in the following ways:

  • Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org 
  • By phone through the Development Office – 416-934-3411
  • Through the parish, making cheques payable to:
    St. Peter’s Church – India’s COVID-19 Outbreak – Disaster Relief

To learn more about Caritas’ work in India, please watch this video:

Please continue to pray for the people of India and all those who are suffering from COVID-19 worldwide. Thank you for your continued assistance. 

The Solemnity of the Ascension: Disciples Sent to Build the Church in a COVID 19 World

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Decorative ImageIn the days following Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples of Jesus locked themselves away in self-isolation for fear that the Romans and Jews might arrest them for being followers of Jesus. This self-isolation was very similar to that which many people today have had to experience on account of the COVID 19 restrictions that are in place. Throughout the entire time of the disciples’ isolation, Jesus appeared to His disciples and strengthened them with assurances of His resurrection, peace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit by which He would always be present in their lives. Continue reading →

World Communications Day – May 16, 2021

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Decorative ImageLiving the Gospel locally and around the world

“You – the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese – haven’t forgotten the needs of your neighbours.

“Thank you to our pastors and parish staff who have continued to educate the faithful about the work of ShareLife agencies.”

 – Cardinal Thomas Collins

 Thank you for supporting ShareLife!

A Mother’s Day Story and Blessing

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Every year on Mother’s Day, I love to tell the story of an episode of Sesame Street that I recall from many years ago.

The muppet puppets were featured in a story in which a little boy was separated from his mother. As the boy was crying in the town’s piazza because he could not find his mother, the king of that town came upon him and asked him why he was crying. The little boy responded that he had been separated from his mother and could not find her.

The king asked the little boy what his mother looked like and promised to send his entire army out to find her. The boy exclaimed that his mother “was the most beautiful women in the world.” The king dispatched his army to find the most beautiful women in the world so that she might be re-united with her son. The soldiers in the army brought back all of the beautiful women in the kingdom to be re-united with the child. Each time the boy was presented with another person to ask if this was his mother, he said “no, that is not her.” They continued to bring all of the women in the kingdom. Finally, the king said to the boy, we have brought you every beautiful women in the kingdom. And the boy said, but I told you “my mother is the most beautiful women in the world.

When it seemed like all of the women in the kingdom had been brought, everyone was beginning to lose hope that the boy would ever be re-united with his mother. Finally, a worn down and poorly dressed women made her way in to the king’s court and the boy shrieked in gladness at the sight of his mother.

Surprised that this was the boy’s mother, the king said, “I thought that you said that your mother was the most beautiful women in the world.” The boy exclaimed that “she is indeed the most beautiful women in the world. What took you so long to find her?”

Today we celebrate and give thanks for the gift of our mothers. I will offer Mass for the mothers of all the parishioners of St. Peter’s Parish—those living and deceased.

Thank you to all the mothers of the parish who are to their children the most beautiful women in the world.

May God bless the mothers of our parish today and always.

Fr. Michael