Last week, I was in Kelowna for Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. Once again, our loving Father showed us that He is a faithful God. For those who attended the retreat, their burdens were lifted; new life, love and hope were found. God’s grace is truly amazing. Thank you for your prayers for me and for all who attended.
Upon my return from the retreat, I realized that I needed time to process all that happened during the retreat and also to get some rest. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take some time off. Hope you all had a good week. I missed you.
There are new, exciting and important things happening in our parishes. I’d like to invite you to join us on October 30 for ‘An Evening of Favourite Marian Hymns.’ October is the month of our Lady and Holy Rosary. We want to wrap up the month with this spiritual exercise to honour our Lady, to pray for our families and to enrich our souls. Join us for an evening that you will truly enjoy.
November 1 is a special day for us as Catholics. This year, we plan to make it more special and memorable. The celebration kicks off with supper at 5pm. Bring something to share: main dish, dessert or salad. Mass is at 7pm. If you can, wear something that reflects the colour of the dress of your favourite Saints. For instance, St. Francis and St. Therese of Lisieux is brown, our Lady is blue and white etc. Our Catechism students will make a presentation in the hall after supper.
Today as we reflect on what a true prayer is, I was drawn to what St. Therese said: “Prayer is a surge of the heart; a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”
The Catechism of the Church speaks beautifully of prayer as a thing of the heart and a ‘thirst’ of the soul – our thirst for God and His thirst for us. “It is the heart that prays…. it is the dwelling place where I am, where I live, the place to which I withdraw, it is the place of encounter (with the living God)”
“The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is He who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; His asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us…. prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for Him” (CCC 2560)
Lord, teach us to pray like the tax collector – to pray from the depths of our heart with humility and love.
– Fr. Obi