They said, “Where did this man get all this?
Mk 6:1-6
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?
The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Our Lord teaches us around the kitchen table, coffee house, grocery aisles, on the field, and more. Of course, He is always present around the Family Table, the Altar, as well, to celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist!
It was great to see many of you Thursday morning, for our Canada Day Mass. Many families also then participated in a friendly game of Ultimate Frisbee on the field near Mill Pond! It was a great success! In fact, we had so much fun that many of us want to continue with this activity. After a year+ of COVID19, and not getting together, it was great to have everyone on the field! If you are available, drop by on Sundays, 2pm, during the summer for more competition! Bring lots of water, sunscreen, and cleats if you have them. First team to one hundred wins! 😉
Also, now that summertime has begun, we will reduce the weekly Nota Bene emails. There will be one more sent next week, and possibly two or three more during the summer with extra news. I’d like to thank our team this year who helped with Communications, and all things Nota Bene. Thanks again to James, Ann, Kayla, and Amy! Please continue sending in your announcements, however, and we’ll update the website when possible.
Finally, this summer our three priorities continue to be 1) our new Parish Office & Welcome Centre, 2) Pastoral Calendar, and 3) Sacraments. Here’s an update on all three.
1) This week the Shalom House Management Board will spend the day on Tuesday in a Vision and Strategy Meeting. The Archdiocese has invited us to brainstorm a new operating plan, thinking about new possibilities in the coming years! Of course, there is a new special connection with St. Finnan’s Basilica, and our North Glengarry Parishes, since Maison Shalom House is now our new Parish Office and Welcome Centre. However, it is still a diocesan retreat centre, and the Board will continue to brainstorm its success. We are hoping for it to become the spiritual destination that many of us have already experienced. I’m already preparing our first Open House coming in September.
Also, preparing the office for new staff, we have been upgrading the Internet service, and new phone system. Recently, new two new computers were purchased for Kayla and myself. Finally, most of the building will be networked for wireless access in the coming weeks. The painting is now over, and we’ll be moving in – furniture, desks, shelves, etc., starting next week. Very exciting indeed!
2) This week I met with the principal of our Catholic School! We have already planned the pastoral calendar into June 2022, with monthly masses at St. Finnan’s Basilica, and key dates for First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation. Our Book Study Duo continues to have success, with the last book – Searching and Maintaining Peace – completed this Monday. Thank you all to all parishioners who participated. They are taking a break this summer, but our third book is ready for the Fall. Also, during the summer months we’ll continue with the Metanoia Series on our journey of conversion. Finally, along with our main Pastoral Calendar, our ALPHA team is busy preparing for our Fall Session. Please consider participating as a member, or table leader. This year, we’ll open up one of these sessions also for our Confirmation candidates. We are finalizing the Pastoral Calendar, but again, please let me know if you have any questions – regarding ALPHA, Book Study, Advent Concert, Lenten Retreat, and Sacraments.
3) With a new Parish Office & Welcome Centre, our parishes will now be able to host families and their children as they continue to prepare for the Sacraments. In fact, our Deanery – our brother priests in neighbouring English parishes – have already spoken to me about this, offering this service for their families. Baptism Preparation, First Communion, and Confirmation classes will begin soon. Indeed, “registrations” are always open. Send me an email, or fill out the form if you are interested. Our Leadership Team is continuing to discern best practices to journey and prepare our parishioners. How do we invite them to Belong? How to we help them Believe? What are steps in order to Behave? Again these three key words will apply to all things evangelization in our ministry. We are reorganizing Sacramental Preparation in the lens and the viewpoint of evangelization, as St. John Paull II once said.
For example, as you can see by the pictures above, we had beautiful First Communions last weekend. Please continue to pray for these families, and the other few families that continue to prepare for this beautiful celebration in a few weeks.
Have a great week! Peace.
ps. again, we’ll be taking a break this summer from most online communications. however, a few will pop up here and there. let’s continue to pray for one another, and looking forward to seeing you very soon.
pss. don’t forget about our Ultimate Frisbee games as well. please invite a friend.
