The readings that we hear this Sunday, on the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, touch on some of the most difficult questions that we as Christians might find ourselves struggling with before God. These questions are: How is it possible that God allows evil to exist and grow alongside the good? Why are so many crimes left unpunished by God or treated so leniently? Why, in sum, is there this sort of permissive attitude on God’s part, as if He did not have the means to punish evil and check its spread?

I remember being asked questions like these a few years ago by the candidates to the parish’s confirmation class. It seemed at the time that the best way to answer this question was based in the answer that is always right when it comes to God, so I said “because God is love.” Continue reading →

In the Eastern Rites, before the Gospel is proclaimed, the announcement is made to the assembly: “Wisdom: Let us be attentive.” This seems to be a good summary of what Jesus is asking us to understand as He tells the Parable of the Seed and the Sower in this Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew.  His message is that God’s Word has been sent for us to hear, we are responsible for whether our hearts are open to receive it.

A few years ago, I was flying down to visit my parents. As I sat on the plane, I was reading a copy of the Youth Catechism (YouCat). Although the lady seated next to me had a large book of her own, she was clearly more interested in the book that I was reading. I noticed that she kept gazing over at my book and trying to make eye contact. After a while I looked up and smiled at her. As soon as our eyes connected, she asked me if I was a Catholic. The second that I replied that I was a Catholic priest, she could not wait to tell me that she used to be a Catholic but was now a member of the Church of Scientology. With great joy and excitement, she showed me a huge book written by L. Ron Hubbard and told me that she had read almost all of his books. Continue reading →

On the first weekend in March that we were told that we could not celebrate Mass publicly in our churches, I had what I can only describe as a panic attack. During the first few weeks of the closure of the churches, I struggled with a great deal of anxiety. I was terribly worried about how our parish, which struggles financially under normal circumstances, was going to pay its bills through this crisis. I was fearful that it would be necessary to lay off our parish staff and I did not know how I was going to look after the parishioners during this time of closure or how our huge property could be maintained without our staff. The anxiety and stress that was causing me to panic was based in the fact that I thought I had to solve these problems on my own and the illusion that I could be in control in these difficult circumstances. Continue reading →

We celebrate this weekend our parish’s titular feast day, the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This feast takes place on June 29th, but over the last few years we have switched its celebration to the nearest Sunday so that it may be celebrated more solemnly at our Sunday Masses. It is obvious why we call Saint Peter our titular saint— the parish being named St. Peter’s; but perhaps the connection to St. Paul is not so clear. It is because of the many years of faithful service that the Paulist Fathers rendered to this parish that we also honour Saint Paul as our parish’s other titular saint. Continue reading →

Ever since COVID 19 became a reality in our lives a few months ago, everyone that I have spoken with has shared with me how uneasy this situation has made them feel. For all of us, the uncertainty of illness, fear of suffering and death make us uneasy. This reality of our human condition is expressed by the Catechism of the Catholic Church at number 1500, as it states: “Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, [we] experience powerlessness, limitations, and finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death.” It is this fact, that illness can give us a glimpse of death, that I think makes many of us so uneasy in the face of the current situation and the uncertainty that comes with sickness. It seems to me that this uneasiness that we all feel in the face of uncertainty and sickness, or the fear of death, can best be described by the word “dis-ease.” Continue reading →

These days, during the COVID 19 pandemic, and the state of emergency that is now in existence in our province, many of us have gotten used to doing things “virtually.” We meet with people from work virtually, attend Bible studies and have virtual family celebrations. There is a certain ease to doing things virtually. There is no need to really show up for a virtual encounter. These kinds of meetings are convenient and don’t call for the same kind of commitment and sacrifice that really showing up for an event can require. Continue reading →

Churches across the Archdiocese will begin gradually re-opening this Sunday, June 14^th, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. 

On Wednesday, June 17^th we will resume the celebration of public Mass and Mass will be celebrated at 8:00 am. Mass will be celebrated Monday to Friday at 8:00 am following our first celebration on Wednesday, June 17^th. 

On the weekend of Saturday June 20^th and Sunday, June 21^st we will resume the regular Sunday celebration of Masses at 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 20^th and at 9:00 am and 11:15 am on Sunday, June 21^st. 

At the present time, we are only allowed to admit 30% of our capacity. For this reason, only the first 200 people will be admitted to each celebration in our church which has a capacity of 750. 

All who attend our Masses are encouraged to bring their own PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). We will be observing strict social distancing and seating in the church is designated for social distancing. Entrance to the Church will only be available at the entrance at 840 Bathurst Street. 

You are asked not to attend Mass if you have been in contact with anyone exposed to COVID 19 in the past two weeks. Please take your temperature before coming to Mass and remain at home if you have a fever or any symptoms related to COVID 19. 

During this pandemic, our downtown parish is not able to keep the washrooms open and safe. Please be advised our washrooms will remain closed at all times until further notice. 

Please remember that during this time of pandemic, the Archbishop of Toronto has dispensed the Sunday obligation. If you have any concerns about attending Mass, or are unable to do so, please consider watching the live streamed Mass from the cathedral (www.archtoronto.org) or one of the many televised Mass until you feel safe attending Mass. You might also consider attending a weekday Mass instead. 

If you are able to help with ushering or cleaning the church between Masses, there will be a training meeting on Saturday, June 13^th at 10:00 am in the church. At the present time, it is asked that only those who are active parishioners of the parish attend this session as these duties require familiarity with our parish and parishioners. 

Let us pray that this re-opening will be safe and healthy.

This past Pentecost weekend, as I was working in the parish office at Bathurst and Bloor, just before celebrating the Vigil Mass for Pentecost, I could not help wandering about the humming sound of helicopters that were hovering over the area. It struck me as strange that these helicopters seemed so close and seemed for such a long period of time to remain in one spot. As they remained in one place, I also noticed the approach of what seemed like a huge roaring crowd. As I went outside to investigate what was taking place, I was astonished to see thousands of men and women of every race, colour and nationality passing by on Bloor Street to protest against racism. The helicopters were following the crowds that had gathered at Christie Park and were following them as they marched along Bloor Street. I couldn’t help but think, what a beautiful sight on Pentecost—people of all nations marching to speak of the value of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God. I have often felt that Pentecost was a solemnity  of special value for us here in Toronto as it marks that solemnity on which the Holy Spirit was sent to the disciples so that they could go out to bring the Good News of salvation to people of every colour and nationality. Here in Toronto, we see the Church, as all of God’s people, from every land and nation, of every colour and nationality. In fact, the very word “catholic” means “universal” and refers to the love that God has for all His people. As one bumper sticker I recently saw expressed so beautifully, “Racism is about sin, not the colour of skin.” Continue reading →

The 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 that we have heard throughout 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 heard 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 →