Let’s make Canada a climate leader!

In December, world leaders will be meeting in Paris at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) to negotiate a binding and universal agreement on the world’s climate. Countries like Canada will need to transition to renewable energies, and move away from fossil fuels. Responding to the call of our Cardinal, please take a moment to sign Development and Peace’s Action Card today which will be sent to the Prime Minister asking him to sign on to an agreement at COP21 that sets the target to keep the rise in temperature below 2°C and to be a leader in achieving that target. If you’ve missed the parish campaign you can sign the card at: https://www.devp.org/en/education/fall2015/action

St. Peter’s Parish is now accepting 2016 Mass Intentions for parish weekday Masses (Monday-Friday) and weekend Masses. Offering: For announced date $20 per Mass and for Unannounced date $10 per Mass.  An unannounced Mass intention may be sent to priests outside the parish to be celebrated in the near future.

Since he arrived in Toronto as Archbishop, Cardinal Collins has celebrated Lectio Divina once a month at the Cathedral. This year as the Cathedral is undergoing renovations he is visiting different churches in the Archdiocese for this monthly event.

St. Peter’s will be hosting Lectio Divina for the whole Archdiocese on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm.  Cardinal Collins will preside at the Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of All Saints and preach and reflect on the Gospel of Mark. The theme of his reflection will be The Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:18-40).

Lectio Divina (“divine, or sacred, reading”) is the name given to a spiritual tradition among Christians over the last two thousand years. This form of prayer involves three distinct stages: a) reading a short scripture passage b) reflecting on the passage and c) a short period of silence. We begin with Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 7 p.m., followed by Lectio Divina from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. All are welcome to join Cardinal Collins for this special evening of prayer.

This event will be recorded to be broadcast on Canada’s Catholic Salt and Light network and there will be a special choir formed for the event. It would be great to have a full church to host this event that will be watched around the country. Please consider attending the 6:00 pm Mass and staying  Lectio Divina at 7:00 pm with Cardinal Collins.

In the month of November it is our tradition to pray for our beloved. The parish will have a “Bookf of  Remembrance” for the faithful departed  and the names of  all those family members written in it will be remembered at all masses throughout November.  Parishioners may add names of deceased family members or friends for whom they wish the parish to offer prayers during this season of remembrance.  On November 2, All Souls Day the parish will have 3 Masses:

8:00 AM Mass in the Centre Chapel
12:10 PM Mass in the Centre Chapel
7:00 PM Mass in the Church

At the 7:00 PM Mass the names of all those who have died in the parish since last November 2 will be called out.

Mother’s prayer group takes place every Friday at the Centre from 10:30 am – 11:30 am.

We are women who pray for our wayward children!  Offspring who are in difficult situations such as have addictions, behavioral issues etc..  Please contact  Sue     SueDeGrandis@rogers.com.

It is critical for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you (or if your adult child) is planning to apply to teach in a Catholic school, it is highly recommended you contact the pastor before Thanksgiving. Please plan to have a conversation with your pastor early in the process and you will avoid disappointment and stress at the time when applications are to be submitted.

Our Church knows that climate change is an issue of justice! Pope Francis reminds us of our responsibility to act in his encyclical Laudato Si:

“The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes…The effects of this imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now!”

There are many ways in which you can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Even small changes in your everyday life can make a big difference! The Cardinal has asked all parishes to participate in a national weekend of Action on October 24/25 together with Development and Peace to Create a Climate of Change. Read the pamphlet and prayer card included with this weeks bulletin. Next week you will be asked to sign an Action Card to the government. On the card, you can also share with the Prime Minister your own personal action to help reduce climate change. The survival of our planet and its people is at stake