On July 14, 1904, a young 14 year-old girl, by the name of Anna Warde, drowned near Juddhaven Muskoka attempting to save a younger child who was drowning. Anna was a member of this parish’s choir and was away on her summer holiday when she drowned. Anna would have sung in the choir in the first of the three churches that have served our community. The plaque which is at the doors of our church today to commemorate Anna’s life, would have been in all three of our parish churches: the one first constructed after the parish was established in 1896, the second church that was built in 1906, and this present building that has stood here since 1925. The plaque was placed there by Anna’s parents who must have been devastated by the death of their daughter. After her death, they came to worship in this church so that as the Psalmist says in today’s readings, the Lord might uphold their lives. Continue reading
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Bulletin for week of September 19, 2021
“Who do you say that I am?” A Question to be Answered by Discipleship!
“Who do you say that I am?”
As Jesus puts this question to Peter in this Sunday’s Gospel, there is a possibility that we might hear it as a question that He is putting only to Peter as a way of inviting Peter alone to make a profession of faith regarding Jesus’ identity. It is, however, clear from the way that Jesus responds to Peter’s answer that Jesus has far more in mind then simply asking Peter whom He thinks Jesus to be. Jesus responds to Peter’s answer by telling him exactly what His mission is about and by explaining to Peter that those who truly believe that He is the Christ must live their lives in a way that reflects what they profess Him to be. Continue reading
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Bulletin for week of September 12, 2021
Invite a Friend to Become Catholic!!!!!
As Christians, we are invited to share the Good News with others. Today this can be done by inviting someone to consider joining the R.C.I.A. in the parish where they would like to attend Sunday Mass. The “R.C.I.A.” is the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults. Through the celebration of these rites in their local parish community, individuals become members of the Catholic Church through their local parish community. These rites are accompanied by a catechetical process which educates those who are becoming Catholic in the teachings of Christ and the traditions of the Church that He established to continue His mission and spread the Good News.
Here at St. Peter’s those who wish to become Catholic are invited to begin attending Mass in our parish community each Sunday. As they do this, they are accompanied by the R.C.I.A team and meet on Tuesday evenings to learn about our faith, deepen in a prayer relationship with Jesus, and discover how they can find their place in our Christian community through Sunday worship, service of neighbour and prayer. The R.C.I.A. at St. Peter’s will begin in September. The group will meet throughout the length of the school year. The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) will be celebrated at Easter (April 16, 2022) and the group will continue to meet until the end of the Pentecost season (June 2022).
For those already Baptized in another Christian denomination a shorter path towards joining the Catholic Church may be possible, depending on their previous faith formation.
Starting Tuesday evening, September 14, 2021 from 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The R.C.I.A. program here at St. Peter’s invites all non-Catholics who are interested in learning about our Catholic faith. The program will meet weekly on Tuesday evening at 7:15 p.m. The participants in the R.C.I.A. program are called Catechumens, or Candidates. A Catechumen is one who has never been baptized and is considering becoming a Catholic. A Candidate is someone who has been previously baptized in a Christian denomination other than Catholic. Please pray for the success of this year’s R.C.I.A. program. Please call to register with Fr. Michael at 416-534-4219 ext. 211
Please Get Involved
The parish invites parishioners to consider getting involved in different ministries. The parish needs Children’s Liturgy Ministry, Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Ministers for sick and shut-ins and Altar Servers.
Please consider attending workshops:
- Children’s Liturgy Ministry – Saturday, September 25 from 10 am to 2 pm in the Auditorium
- Eucharistic Ministers for sick and shut-ins – Thursday, October 14 from 2 pm – 4 pm in the Church
- Lectors – Saturday, October 16, from 1:30 pm – 3 pm in the Church
- Eucharistic Ministers -Saturday, October 30 from 1:30 pm – 3 pm in the Church
- Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality – Saturday, November 6 from 1:30 pm – 3 pm in the Church
Please call the parish office at 416-534-4219 to register
Happy Rosh Hashanah to our Jewish Brothers and Sisters!
The parishioners of St. Peter’s Parish joyfully wish our Jewish brothers and sisters a blessed and good beginning to the New Year 5782. In particular, we extend these wishes to Rabbi Aaron Levy, his family, and the entire community of Makom Centre for Creative Downtown Judaism. Thank you for celebrating these High Holidays with us and for the privilege of your trust and friendship. May the one God who created us all bless all of you and keep you throughout the coming year.
“The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father, Amen (The Ephphetha Prayer from the rite of Baptism of Infants)
There is a beautiful prayer that is used in the rite of Baptism for an infant. It is based on today’s Gospel that tells of Jesus healing the deaf and the mute man. As he does so, he touches the deaf man’s ears and mouth and says “ephphetha,” the Aramaic word for “be open.” Although most people who are baptized can hear and speak, this prayer asks that the ears of the individual will be opened to hear God’s Word in faith and that hearing it they may also speak it in faith. This is an important prayer in the world we live in today. Throughout our lifetimes, each one of us hears so many words and are invited to speak in different ways. As Christians, we are called upon to discern what we listen to and ask if it corresponds to our Gospel values and to speak and act according to these values. Continue reading