A few weeks ago, I was out walking on my sick calls. As I walked near Christie Park, I found myself approaching a group of rough looking young men who I noticed were pointing at me and started smiling and laughing among themselves. Not recognizing any of them, I tried to look away from them and hoped that their attention would turn to another matter. Soon one of them started to yell at me “Yo man.” Because it was a pretty large group, I was sure that I was in for a bit of trouble. I started to pray that I would find the right things to say and keep my calm. I still hoped that they would find someone or something else that would catch their attention. As the group approached, the largest member of the party said to me “Yo man, are you a priest.” Not knowing what kind of trouble I was in for, I meekly said that “yes” I was. As soon as I said I was a priest, this man’s face lit up and he said to me: “Yo man, you used to visit my school. I loved it when you came into our class.” Although he had changed significantly from when I had known him years ago, as soon as he told me his name, I remembered what a kind and wonderful person he had been, and, as I discovered, still was beneath his rough and tough exterior. We had a great talk about what he was up to since I last knew him in school and he introduced me to all of his friends, some I had known from the same school, with whom he had just finished playing sports in Christie Park. Continue reading
Author Archives: stpeters
Praying with the Sunday Readings
Beginning Wednesday, October 4th, at 2.00 p.m., a small group will meet on Wednesdays for reflection and prayer on the upcoming Sunday’s Scripture readings, listening to God’s Word and pondering how these readings can inspire, challenge and encourage us into a deeper relationship with God in our daily lives. Limit: 15 people.
Sunday Coffee Hour
Everyone is welcome to join us to celebrate our Seniors after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Masses on Sunday, September 10, in the Church auditorium.
“Seniors offer the world, their wisdom – their lived spiritual and moral experience” (Pope Francis)
Latest Bulletin
Bulletin for week of August 6, 2017
During the summer months of July and August we will be issuing bulletins every other week. Our next bulletin will be published on August 20th.
Civic Holiday Schedule – Monday, August 7, 2017
Please note that the Parish Office will be closed on Monday, August 7, for the Civic Holiday. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in the Centre chapel. There will be no adoration on that day.
Children’s Liturgy Workshop – Sat., September 9, 9:30 am – 12 Noon
The parish needs catechists to help with the Children’s Liturgy at 11:15 am Sunday Mass. If you are a parent, teacher or aspiring or retired teacher who would like to help, we need you. those who help with the Children’s liturgy must be willing to submit a police background check in keeping with the Archdiocese’s vulnerable person’s policy. Please call the parish office at 416-534-4219 to register for the workshop on Saturday, September 9, from 9:30 am – 12 noon in the Church.
Please Get Involved
The parish invites parishioners to consider getting involved in different ministries. The parish needs Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.
Please consider attending workshops that will be held in the Church:
- Lectors – Saturday, September 16, at 2 PM – 3 PM
- Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality – Saturday, September 23, at 2 PM – 3 PM
- Eucharistic Ministers – Saturday, October 21, 2 PM – 3 PM
Please call the parish office at 416-534-4219 to register.
Interested in the Catholic faith?
Would like to join the Catholic Church?
Then register for this year’s R.C.I.A. program!
Starting Tuesday evening, September 12, 2017 from 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. in the Parish Centre. The R.C.I.A. program here at St. Peter’s invites all non-Catholics who are interested in learning about our Catholic faith. The program will meet weekly on Tuesday evening at 7:15 p.m. The participants in the R.C.I.A. program are called Catechumens, or Candidates. A Catechumen is one who has never been baptized and is considering becoming a Catholic. A Candidate is someone who has been previously baptized in a Christian denomination other than Catholic. Please pray for the success of this year’s R.C.I.A. program. Please call to register with Fr. Michael at 416-534-4219.
Society of Sharing: Inner-City Volunteers
A ShareLife member agency, is currently seeking volunteers for various positions, including friendly visitors, social group facilitators and medical/shopping escorts. You can make a difference in the life of a senior, or an adult with a physical disability, who is isolated and living in downtown Toronto. For more information, please contact their Recruitment & Training Specialist at 416-413-0380 or donnett@societyofsharing.org; or by visiting their website at www.societyofsharing.org.
A Saint is a Sinner who Keeps Trying
Last week after Father Seamus preached his homily on the parable of the sower and the weeds, I said to him, “you could have summarized your homily by saying: “God is determined to do everything to get us into Heaven. The Devil is determined to do everything to get us into Hell.’” When I said that, Father Seamus said that while that was correct, life was never that simple. In fact life is always much more complicated. Life is full of times and instances when we never know what is right and what is wrong. We can find ourselves having to decide between two bad choices or two things that we would never have selected on our own. There are times when we doubt that we have the strength to do what is right and other times when the cost of doing what is right can seem just far too high for us to pay in the normal events of our lives. Continue reading