Running the Race of Life
St. Vincent de Paul Luncheon Every First Sunday of the month, St. Vincent de Paul prepares lunch after 11am Mass for all parishioners. This is to raise money for the ministry to the poor in our community. Please come and enjoy lunch prepared with great love 🙂 Any donation received goes to St. Vincent de Paul. Since it is the day we have our family/Catechism Mass, our young families are welcome to the hall after Mass for luncheon. The Parish…
Ordination, Gratitude, & Parish Mission
My dear Sisters and Brothers, Episcopal Ordination: On December 12, history will be made in our Diocese. Our own Fr. Bart Van Roijen will be ordained the Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador. Fr. Bart grew up in Penticton and attended Mass with his family here. I’m happy for the opportunity I received to go to Newfoundland for his ordination. As you know, Fr. Bart’s parents have both passed on. Our parish is his family. He was one of us.…
Jesus Wants to Draw Near to Us Personally
I remember watching the World Youth Day in Poland in 2016. Today’s gospel was the gospel that was read at the closing Mass. Pope Francis, in his homily, spoke from his heart to over 3 million young people gathered there. I found his words very powerful, moving and uplifting for all of us who are God’s beloved children. These are the points that stood out for me: “Jesus does not simply preach or greet people. He passed through the city.…
Prayer
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…
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
This weekend, I’m off to Kelowna for Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat, of which I’m the Spiritual Director. This is a ministry of healing for those suffering from the trauma of abortion. Abortion hurts women in so many ways. Factors like coercion, fear, hurt, desire for success (to move on with life and not to be tied down by a baby), confusion and betrayal etc can lead to abortion. Abortion brings an immense sense of guilt that never goes away until a…
Is the Message of Fatima Still Relevant Today?
Our Lady started appearing to the three little children (Lucia, Francesco and Jacinta) on May 13 through October 13, 1917. Before Our Lady’s apparition, an Angel had first appeared to them and taught them this prayer: “O my God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love thee. I beg pardon of thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not believe and do not love thee.” Franceso was 9. As with most 9 year olds,…
World Mission Sunday
They came and died… Next week, as we celebrate World Mission Sunday, I think of the amazing missionaries that brought the Good news to Africa and in Nigeria in particular. My great grandfather was not a Christian. He believed in a Supreme Being but did not know God the way we do today. The missionaries taught our people about God the Father who created us out of love, about Jesus our brother and our Saviour who died for us, about…
Healing, Blessing, Anniversary
Healing Mass: October healing Mass is on Friday, October 4 at St. Ann’s at 7pm. Come and receive God’s healing! Come and pray for loved ones, for our families, for those who suffer, for those whose hearts are broken, for those who are hurting. Jesus says: ‘Come to me all who are weary and are overburdened and I will give rest.’ Blessing of Animals: October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis. He loved animals. So, we will be blessing…
Funeral Preparation
Since we know that one day, we shall all die, preparing for our death and funeral, as difficult as it may be, is a good thing. Every day as we say the rosary, we are already preparing for death as we ask our blessed Mother to intercede for us: ‘Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.’ I once shared the story of a parishioner whose family only wanted a celebration of life. We know that…
Gratitude, Welcome Home, & Stuff
Healing Mass: We received testimonies of healing, grace and peace from those who attended. Praise God! Next healing Mass will be on October 4 (Feast of St. Francis) at St. Ann at 7pm. Blessing of Animals: October 4 at 9am. No morning Mass. Gratitude: I would like to express our gratitude to: Prayer Group: for organizing the time of fellowship after healing Mass Anonymous Parishioner: who donated fruits that were sold to raise money for Youth Ministry Choir: for continuing…