Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service 2022 – Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 4 p.m.

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This year’s theme is,

“We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Mt.2:2)

Decorative ImageThe Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service for the Greater Toronto Area will be held at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, 920 Progress Avenue, Scarborough on Sunday January 23, 2022, at 4.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend in person or watch the livestream on Facebook at the link,.
For details, please see the poster at the link, .

Join His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins and a wide representation of Christian leaders to pray for the restoration of full visible unity willed by Jesus Christ for the Church. The homilist is Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian (Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of Canada and Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Toronto).

This event is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Promoting Christian Unity & Religious Relations with Judaism and the Greater Toronto Area of Council of Christian Churches.

Reduced Office Hours Due to Covid-19

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Decorative ImageIn light of the increased cases of Covid-19 in the province of Ontario, the parish staff will be working from home and our parish office hours are reduced. Until further notice, the parish office will be open to the public only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.

In the event of an emergency,  please call the parish office and leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible—416-534-4219.

Thank you for your understanding and support for the parish in these difficult times. Be assured of our prayers for your safety and well being.

“Baptized and Confirmed, We Are All Of Us Anointed as Members of the Body of Christ—Called to Discipleship”

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Decorative ImageOver the years, I have had many people ask me a very simple question when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. That question is: “Why was Jesus baptized?  If Jesus is sinless and the Son of God made flesh, why does he need to be baptized?”

The reason why Jesus chooses to be baptized is connected with who Jesus is. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus has become one of us in order to show us the way to salvation and how we are to live in order to be saved.  He is baptized, in order to show us that it is through Baptism that we are called to share in the life of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit before he begins His public ministry in order to show us that when we are anointed by the Spirit in the Sacraments of Initiation, we too share in His mission. Just as in Baptism the Father declares Jesus to be His beloved Son, so too through our Baptisms the Father claims us to be His beloved sons and daughters. As Jesus took up His ministry after His Baptism and anointing by the Spirit, so too each one of us is given a mission within the Church through our Baptism and anointing at Confirmation. Continue reading →

Celebration of Marriage Mass February 13, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.

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Decorative ImageAs part of Marriage Sunday 2022 celebrations, Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB, will preside at a special Mass to honour married couples celebrating milestone anniversaries (25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 60+) in 2022. The Mass will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 13 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica (65 Bond Street, Toronto).

Due to social distancing measures, cathedral attendance is limited to pre-registered couples celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries and a maximum of one guest per celebrant couple. Registration is now open. Given the limited attendance at the cathedral, we encourage milestone celebrants to register early. Those who are not able to register may join the celebration via livestream Mass here: www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live. The broadcast will begin at 2:15 p.m.

Please visit www.archtoronto.org/marriage to register

Mary—Model of the Blessed Life

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Decorative ImageI have often recounted at New Year that one of the things about being here at St. Peter’s Parish that I find a little funny at times, is that often I will be walking along Bathurst, in front of the Church, and as I do so someone will roll down their car window, and stop me on Bathurst Street, to demand that I give them a blessing as they are driving by on the street. My first inclination is to try to have a conversation with them to find out what they think that a blessing signifies. However, as the traffic is often heavy and they are in a hurry, they frequently get a little angry with me and demand that I stop my small talk and quickly give them the blessing that they are seeking before they drive off. These experiences have helped me to realize that many people may not even know what a “blessing” signifies or be aware of what is required for a blessing to really be of any value. Continue reading →