Lent 2018

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lent

“The Kingdom of God is at Hand. Repent, and Believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The Season of Lent begins with the beautiful practice of presenting ourselves before the Lord on Ash Wednesday for the imposition of ashes on our foreheads. As the ashes are imposed on our heads, there are two formulas that may be said as we receive the ashes. These are either: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel;” or “Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return.” These two formulas express well the meaning of this season. In Lent, we are called to turn away from all that prevents us from following the Lord. This is what is implied in the first formula that calls us to conversion. We are also to remember that it is only because of Christ’s resurrection that we have been saved from turning back to dust at the end of our earthly journeys. Because Christ has risen from the dead, we too are invited to share in His resurrection and the Kingdom that He has won for us by His life, death and resurrection. The whole purpose of Lent is that we should prepare during this season to renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. Continue reading →

Canada Summer Jobs Program – Reach Out to Your Member of Parliament

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The federal government has introduced new requirements for employers applying for the Canada Summer Jobs grant. To be eligible for funding, employers must attest that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect certain “values” as determined by the federal government including the government’s position on abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Organizations unable or unwilling to make this attestation in whole or in part will be deemed ineligible for the grant. This requirement is clearly unjust.

Many Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and many other faiths involved in charitable activity at soup kitchens, shelters, refugee welcome centres or summer camps are impacted by this decision. Please take a moment to visit www.archtoronto.org/summerjobs for more information and to find a template letter to send to your MP and the minister responsible for this portfolio.

The Liturgical Season of Lent

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lent-prayer-fasting-giving-works-of-loveAsh Wednesday, February 14, 2018, marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. The highest point of the Church’s year is the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday) during which we recount the death and resurrection of Jesus the Lord. We prepare for this three-day period by the season of Lent, and prolong it for the great 50 days of the Easter Season. The celebration of Easter, of being reborn in the Risen Lord to a new life, will only have meaning to the degree that “we die to the old self.” Thus, the Church asks us to live this period of Lent, with Christ in the desert, as a period of forty days devoted to inward renewal through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let us prayerfully consider before Lent how we might make the best use of this time to imitate the Lord in His dedication to the Father so that His resurrection may take deep root in our thoughts, words and actions throughout Lent and forever.

  • Ash Wednesday Masses: 8:00 AM, 12:10 PM, and 7:00 PM in the Church
  • Ash Wednesday Confessions: 5:30 – 6:30 PM
  • Stations of the Cross: A great Lenten Spiritual Devotion held on Friday evenings during Lent at 7:00 PM., or after 7:00 PM Mass on the First and Last Friday of the month in the Church.
  • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast (one full meal, and two lighter meals a day with no eating between meals), and abstinence (no eating of meat). The law of abstinence obliges those 14 years of age and older, and the law of fast obliges all those from ages 18 through 59 years of age.
  • Lenten Retreat:  March 5, 6 & 7, 7:00 PM.  This lent our Parish Lenten Retreat will be conducted by Father Gilles Mongeau, sj and the Jesuit Scholastics who serve in our parish community. Please mark your calendars to join in this time of Lenten Spiritual renewal.
  • Lenten Reconciliation Services: 
    • Saturday, March 17 from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. There will be several priests hearing Confessions.
    • Good Friday, March 30,  after 3:00 PM service commemorating the Passion of our Lord till 6:00 PM

The Church recommends that we observe not only Good Friday, but the other Fridays of Lent as days of abstinence, or that we perform some act of charity as an alternative – the choice is yours. Lenten penance should be external and social, as well as internal and individual.

The highest point in the Church’s year of prayer is the Easter Triduum of the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus. We prepare for this three-day period by the season of Lent, and prolong it for the great 50 days of the Easter season.

During the season of Lent, the parish will continue Eucharistic Adoration in the Centre Chapel. Please consider signing up for an hour of prayer each week to spend time with the Lord.

Young Adults Alpha Program – Winter 2018

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Invite a Generation // Alpha Invitation YouTube play

alpha2What is Alpha?
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that freely explore the basics of the Christian faith.

Who’s it for?
Alpha is for anyone who’s curious. The talks are designed to encourage conversation and explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly, open environment. No question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you want.

How does it work?
Alpha is typically 7-12 sessions with a weekend or day away in the middle. Each session includes food, a short talk and discussion where you can share your thoughts and ask questions. There’s no pressure, no follow up and no charge.

How much is it?
There’s usually no charge to attend Alpha, though some places may ask for a contribution towards food.

Course Information:
Join us – St. Peter’s Young Adults Group, Feb. 21 – May 9, 2018 at 7pm
Location – 830 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G1
Email: youngadult-youthmin@stpeterstoronto.ca

Holy Land Pilgrimage Meeting

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holylandYou are invited to join Sr. Gabriel Riddle and St. Peter’s parishioners for an inspiring 9 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land on November 21-29, 2018. Approximate price per person based on double occupancy (excluding gratuities and insurance) is $3,420.

An important meeting will be held on Tuesday Feb. 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Paul’s room.

Liz Dachuk from Connaissance Tour and Travel and Sr. Gabriel will be presenting the final itinerary details; fee schedule; checklist of essential items, documents, etc. Applications will be on a first come, first serve basis. The required number of pilgrims is 30 persons. Please see flyer for further details on our parish website. See you there