On Tuesday, February 2, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

In the Archdiocese of Toronto we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 900 religious men and women of 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

In closing the Jubilee Year for Consecrated Life, there will be a special Mass next Sunday, January 31 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Basilica, Toronto in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.

The Archdiocese of Toronto will celebrate Marriage Sunday in our parishes the weekend of February 6/7, 2016. On Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 4:30 p.m., couples from across the archdiocese will gather for A Celebration of Marriage with Cardinal Thomas Collins at St. Andrew Kim Parish (849 Don Mills Road, North York). A reception will follow Mass.

All are welcome! Couples celebrating special milestone anniversaries – 25th, 40th or 50+ anytime throughout 2016 are asked to RSVP online at: www.archtoronto.org/marriage by February 1, 2016 to ensure reserved seating. Call (416) 964-8694 or visit the website above for more information.

The Parish office will now be open only on week days. The office hours are Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If you need to book a Mass, request a baptismal certificate or make a booking for the Centre or parish hall, please call during office hours to do so through the parish secretary. The centre will remain open on Saturday and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings for events. However the reception area is now staffed by a security guard of the Archdiocese. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

On Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016, the parish will begin Lenten Eucharistic Adoration in the Centre Chapel. This will take place from 9:00 a..m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In order for Adoration to take place, people are needed to adore the Lord while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. Please consider signing-up to spend an hour or more with Jesus during the week. The sign-up book is available in the Centre Chapel for those who are able to sign-up. If forty people sign-up to take an hour a week, we will be able to continue this very important time for prayer before the Lord. Please consider making time for the Lord.

In 2016, the Archdiocese of Toronto will celebrate Marriage Sunday at the parish level on the weekend of February 6/7. Cardinal Collins has also announced a special archdiocesan-wide gathering to honour married couples that will take place on Saturday, February  13, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew Kim Parish in North York.

His Eminence extends an invitation to all married couples, in particular those who will celebrate their 25th, 40th or 50+ wedding anniversary anytime throughout 2016 to join him for Mass and a reception to honour their fidelity and faithfulness. Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a local lay movement, is helping to co-ordinate the gathering.

Loved ones and family members of those honored are most welcome to attend. To ensure special reserved seating for honored couples, pre-registration is required. Visit www.archtoronto.org/marriage to register and to find more information about Marriage Sunday and our archdiocesan celebration. Questions can also be directed to Dane & Anne MacCarthy at: 416-964-8694.

The Paulist Fathers have made a very generous gift of $20,000.00 to the parish of St. Peter’s. This money has been used to paint the children’s liturgy room in the parish and to pay for the new windows that have been repaired in the parish. On behalf of the parish, I would like to thank the Paulist Fathers for their extremely generous gift to the parish and their on-going support of our community. Thank you Paulist Fathers!