Church of The Holy Spirit 3526 Sheppard Ave. E., Toronto, Ont., M1T 3K7 Phone (416) 293-7974 Roman Catholic - Archdiocese of Toronto, Ont., Canada |
Church of The Holy Spirit 3526 Sheppard Ave. E., Toronto, Ont., M1T 3K7 Phone (416) 293-7974 Roman Catholic - Archdiocese of Toronto, Ont., Canada |
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Parish Bulletin for Feb. 1, 2004For many of us, the word Ordinary, used to describe the six Sundays between the Christmas Season and the beginning of Lent, means dull, mundane, unexciting, plain, or just plain something that we must get through. Nothing could be further from the truth! Following the Lord always has an element of surprise – we never know ahead of time just what the Spirit will call us to do. There is an element of drama, as we follow the Lord every Sunday and truly hear what He has to say to us. Life in the Lord is never dull or ordinary, not if we are really listening and open to the Word. Not if we are his disciples, living out the Christian message. The Sundays of Ordinary Time are numbered so that we can order the prayers in the sacramentary and the readings in the lectionary as we work our way through them, careful to leave nothing out. The powerful images used in these six weeks evoke the baptismal call to discipleship as we move into stronger and stronger images of light growing stronger in the darkness. Today's gospel and the first reading from Jeremiah tell us that resistance to the good news is inevitable. Jeremiah, who resisted the call to prophet himself, comes to understand firsthand that God's plan of salvation encounters resistance, not only in his time, but right through the whole Christian history right to this very day. A message of radical peace and justice is a call to a life of other centeredness that does not fit in with our ways. It highlights the difference between our ways and God's ways that can only be overcome by a faith strong enough to convert hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. Jeremiah is strengthened by the promise – "I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you." This promise belongs to all messengers in every time. All those who spread the Word and live the message are assured of this gift of the Lord. Prophets of old and to us today! This is the promise of Emmanuel – God is with us – and to believe this message is a part of our faith tradition. In today's gospel, Jesus also encounters the resistance of his own hometown. He encounters life-threatening resistance and yet escapes unharmed. Just as Jeremiah was a voice to all nations, so too Jesus has come to bring salvation to everyone. His offer is universal and the barriers of race, color, or religious beliefs are broken for all time in his offer of God's great love. So just what precipitates the rage directed toward Jesus? Perhaps we can look to ourselves for an answer to that question. When we are moved from a sense of complacency and comfort into an arena that calls us into accountability for all people and love shown towards all, even our enemies, we are threatened and frightened of the discovery of what lies beneath our own hearts. Comfort zones are protected at all costs and any fear of having to move from them creates that fear that can cause us to reject the very things that will fulfill us. The complacent tend also to be smug in their complacency and this, combined with the paralysis of fear, causes us to miss those very moments of grace that can lead us into Spirit-filled activity. Those who rejected Jesus in his hometown resisted vehemently the message and the challenge of the Good News. Jesus ' response will be to offer salvation to the world. He simply moves his centre of operations from Nazareth to the town of Capernaum and continues to preach and teach the message of salvation. For us today, we are meant to be open to all the possibilities of faith. This makes us vulnerable. It also means we are continually challenged to move out of our comfort zones and remain ready to listen to the Lord, even when it means we live our lives ready for surprises and risks. We are called to realize that we cannot put boundaries or limits on our God and we cannot predict just how His love will surround us. The message is surrender and the bounty is Love. The God of Moses, Jacob, Abraham and Jeremiah offers the promise to us – God is with us in all that we do in the name of his Son. Let us pray today for the grace to be open to Jesus' message and to have the wisdom to listen to his voice as he calls us into relationship with the God who knows no limits on his love for us. Amen! Parish Bulletin for Feb. 1, 2004
These are designed for persons who need help in working through the stages of anger, grief and depression, which accompany the loss of a partner through separation or death. Pre-registration is required at Morrow Park, 3377 Bayview Ave. Toronto. Phone – 416-222-1101 ext 107/258 Come for an informative evening. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 8-10 p.m. FIRST FRIDAY and every SATURDAY after Mass special Prayers are said.  A beautiful gift idea for Easter, the statue is available now for $45. After Feb. 8, the price will be $50.00. Sign up sheets are available at the back of the Church for those interested. Parish Bulletin for Feb. 1, 2004WHEN THE HEART WAITSA 10-week course for women who want to grapple with the Sacred question of life, with the journey and the mystery of the human soul as it grows spiritually. A course grounded in the Bible, and in centuries of Christian spiritual writing, based on the book: WHEN THE HEART WAITS, by Susan Monk Kidd, which offers a profound glimpse of God at work in our lives.
WELCOMING THE CALLYoung men ages 21-35: Have you considered becoming a priest missioner? Interested? Join us at the Scarboro Missions to learn and discern more during a special retreat with Scarboro priest missioners on Priesthood at Scarboro Missions Centre To register: call Rev. Mike Traher at 416-261-7135 ext. 250 or email him at mtraher@scarboromissions.ca COME AND SEE
SUNDAY: DAY OF THE LORD WORKSHOPAs a member of the congregation, a minister of hospitality, music minister, leader of the children's Liturgy of the Word, extraordinary minister of communion or some other lay Liturgical minister, you are invited and encouraged to attend the Sunday: Day of The Lord Workshop! The workshop is sponsored by the Catholic Office of Religious Education and offered on two dates: Saturday, March 6 at Transfiguration Parish and Saturday March 27 at St. Bonaventure Parish from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call C.O.R.E. at 416-934-3400 ext 507 for a Registration Form. COFFEE TIME Please join us every Wednesday morning after Mass and rosary. Parish Bulletin for Feb. 1, 2004WHEN THE HEART WAITSA 10-week course for women who want to grapple with the Sacred question of life, with the journey and the mystery of the human soul as it grows spiritually. A course grounded in the Bible, and in centuries of Christian spiritual writing, based on the book: WHEN THE HEART WAITS, by Susan Monk Kidd, which offers a profound glimpse of God at work in our lives.
WELCOMING THE CALLYoung men ages 21-35: Have you considered becoming a priest missioner? Interested? Join us at the Scarboro Missions to learn and discern more during a special retreat with Scarboro priest missioners on Priesthood at Scarboro Missions Centre To register: call Rev. Mike Traher at 416-261-7135 ext. 250 or email him at mtraher@scarboromissions.ca COME AND SEE
SUNDAY: DAY OF THE LORD WORKSHOPAs a member of the congregation, a minister of hospitality, music minister, leader of the children's Liturgy of the Word, extraordinary minister of communion or some other lay Liturgical minister, you are invited and encouraged to attend the Sunday: Day of The Lord Workshop! The workshop is sponsored by the Catholic Office of Religious Education and offered on two dates: Saturday, March 6 at Transfiguration Parish and Saturday March 27 at St. Bonaventure Parish from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call C.O.R.E. at 416-934-3400 ext 507 for a Registration Form. COFFEE TIMEPlease join us every Wednesday morning after Mass and rosary. Parish Bulletin for Feb. 8, 2004Fifth Sunday of Ordinary TimeLUKE 5:1-11Today's gospel story resounds with images that are peppered throughout all four gospel accounts of Jesus' public ministry: God's Word, water, filling up until there is no room left, and a call that is extended to all who are open to listen and answer. This call to discipleship is not only extended to the disciples who are astounded at the bountiful catch of fish, but to each and every person who chooses to answer the call to action that is so much a part of this reading. In this account, we are meeting a Jesus who has gathered quite the following. He is so pressed that the only way to reach all of those gathered to listen to him speak is to gain a little space for himself by moving out into the water. Following his sharing of the good news, Jesus commands Simon to take the fishing boats out into the deep and drop the nets. This is no mere fishing expedition undertaken for relaxation and release from a hard day at the office. Jesus is quite aware that these men have been hard at it for a full day already and that full day has yielded nothing to support their families. These men are used to slugging and fishing is their livelihood. Most will not venture too far from shore and definitely find the deep water a bit of a challenge. However, they are filled with what they have heard and are willing to do as Jesus commands. Let us think for a moment on this command to put out into the deep. How many of us are willing to take a risk? Do we even think that our faith calls us into a life of challenges and uncertainty? Do we not prefer to think of our following of Christ as a safe harbour with no deep water and comfort and security as the natural results of being good Christians? Some of us see our journey of faith as a Linus' blanket protecting us from anything that would move us out of comfort and security into the waters of vulnerability. For those who walk in the footsteps of the Lord, launching into the deep becomes a way of life. Over and over we heed the command to risk all in the name of the Lord. Just as Jesus is calling to the fishermen and just as they answer that call by pushing into the deep, so too are we called to see just how our world has changed because we have allowed God to take over in our own lives. We, too, are apostles who have taken on the name of Christians. Action takes on a whole new meaning and all that we do and all that we say reflects the love of Christ and brings that love into a world that is not always ready to receive it. There are no limits to the love of Christ and no place that love cannot reach if there are those who will take it there. Yes, there are roadblocks; we can get overwhelmed by the very call itself and resort to hiding in the shallow waters of unworthiness, guilt, or fear; we can get bound up in the desire for comfort and security and miss those very opportunities to spread the good news. Yet if we can listen once more to those simple words of Christ, calling the fishermen to put out into the deep, and if we can see those same men filling their nets to overflowing, then we can also understand their answer to the call when they left everything to follow Jesus. Discipleship is a path that holds challenge and a sense of adventure. We never know where the Lord will lead us and where our next encounter with him will be. We only know that the good news is for all of us and that it remains good news only if it is shared. Let us pray today, then, for the ability to recognize God's call in our lives and celebrate with joy our chance to cast out into the deep. We are in good company. Parish Bulletin for Feb. 8, 2004
Good Work for 2003!The Church Improvement Fund has proved to be a successful venture for our community in 2003. In only the final four months, the fund added an additional $23,000. All of this money has been spent on numerous repairs throughout the Church – including our new carpet and the pedestal base for the sculpture. You have been most generous and have recognized the need to spend our hard-earned dollars to improve the space where we worship and to maintain the building by continuing our renewal process. However, to complete more much-needed work, it is necessary for us to plan on this once-a-month collection for all of 2004. Therefore on third Sunday of each month, there will be a second collection for Church Improvement. But, any time in the month it is acceptable to make your donation in the marked envelopes for this cause. Simply put your donation in the regular offertory collection along with your regular donation envelope. We expect work to begin on the foyer of the Church shortly. A new storage area for the supplies used to keep our Church clean is being designed. It will include an alcove for one of the new sculptures expected in February. At the same time, repainting of that area will also be considered, dependent upon what funds are available. We are still planning repair of the Church roof during a February/March time frame, weather permitting. In addition, there is an area in the basement requiring repair due to noxious fumes from the sewer gases trapped in the wall – this has moved to a priority one level. This problem must be addressed before it gets any worse to assure that your health and safety are not impacted. The finance committee has been busy organizing and listing projects on your behalf. Rest assured that all areas needing attention have been identified and prioritized according to our budget. In the next couple of weeks, the financial statement for Holy Spirit will be published and further details will be reported on our on-going projects. Once again, thank you for the care and responsibility you are showing to the place we gather in praise and glory to our God. Parish Bulletin for Feb. 8, 2004 ShareLife has introduced a new way to give with the recently launched ShareLife Legacy for Life Endowment Fund. This fund will help build for future generations a solid base for the many worthy causes that ShareLife supports. An Endowment Fund consists of legacy gifts that last. For more information: contact Deacon Peter Doyle at (416) 934-3400, ext. 561. We encourage new parishioners amd any others who have not done so, to register in the Parish. This will give us an opportunity to get to know you. Parishioners are reminded that tax receipts for 2003 are available at the Church office. A beautiful gift idea for Easter, the statue is available now for $45. After Feb. 8, the price will be $50.00. Sign up sheets are available at the back of the Church for those interested. The National Catholic Broadcasting CouncilA special Mission – "If I were looking for God..." will be broadcast Sunday, Feb. 22 on VISION-TV at 9:00 p.m. and continues the next night, Monday, Feb. 23 at 9:00 p.m. It will also be repeated Monday, Feb. 23 and Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 12:30 p.m. Rev. Brian Massie S.J. from Winnipeg and David Wells from England. WELCOMING THE CALLYoung men ages 21-35: Have you considered becoming a priest missioner? Interested? Join us at the Scarboro Missions to learn and discern more during a special retreat with Scarboro priest missioners on Priesthood at Scarboro Missions Centre To register: call Rev. Mike Traher at 416-261-7135 ext. 250 or email him at mtraher@scarboromissions.ca SUNDAY: DAY OF THE LORD WORKSHOPAs a member of the congregation, a minister of hospitality, music minister, leader of the children's Liturgy of the Word, extraordinary minister of communion or some other lay Liturgical minister, you are invited and encouraged to attend the Sunday: Day of The Lord Workshop! The workshop is sponsored by the Catholic Office of Religious Education and offered on two dates: Saturday, March 6 at Transfiguration Parish and Saturday March 27 at St. Bonaventure Parish from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call C.O.R.E. at 416-934-3400 ext 507 for a Registration Form. COFFEE TIMEPlease join us every Wednesday morning after Mass and rosary. Parish Bulletin for Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMELUKE 6:17,20-26One of the most widely quoted gospels in the New Testament has to be the recording of the Beatitudes. For Christians, the beatitudes have become a blueprint for behaviour. It is a call to action and a teaching on what is expected from a community of believers. In Luke's gospel we find some very familiar threads that are a part of this writer's very reason for recording the life of Jesus in the first place. It is wise to remember that Luke is writing for a predominantly Gentile community, although many Jewish Christians also read his gospel. His central purpose is to proclaim that Jesus is the saviour of all the world and the beginning of this reading is just one of many examples of this theme. Jesus is not only surrounded by a great crowd, but that crowd is also made up of people from many different regions. Luke's writing is poetic in form and leads us into a series of contrasts. The very strong portrait of Jesus throughout this gospel gives a picture of a man who is compassionate, calm, forgiving and gentle and who is quite capable of delivering very definite challenges that still turn our world upside down. Jesus literally demands a change of heart and a breaking free of the power of money in this gospel. Luke's focus here is one of Jesus' concern for the poor and the marginalized. His poetic style does nothing to hide the strength of the message. Jesus is announcing that the reign of God has come to people who are poor and hungry. The promise is being fulfilled. In his contrast to this positive message, woes are pronounced on those who are rich and satisfied. The point here is to emphasize the importance Jesus places on including those who are most in need of salvation and who are not afraid to admit that need and dependence on the Lord. Luke's whole gospel is filled with stories that support this theme. Only in Luke do we find the parable of the rich fool who built bigger and bigger storehouses, only to die that very night. Only Luke records the parable of Lazarus and the rich man who lives a luxurious and self-indulgent life with nary a crust of bread for Lazarus lying at his gates – that is until their roles are reversed in death. All the writers record Jesus telling people to sell all or give up all and follow him, but it is Luke who puts the demands in the strongest possible terms. Today, as we again proclaim the good news of salvation, listen with your heart and mind open to what Jesus is calling us to do. Offer our prayers and open our hearts to the call of the gospel. Pray for the grace to recognize that call to action in the ordinariness of our lives and give thanks and praise to the Lord of all goodness and love.
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