I celebrate the Holy Mas today for Maurice Foster, a friend of mine and old-time parishioner of Saint Dominic’s church in Barbados who was buried last week. I want to thank God for giving us Maurice who was an exceptional husband, father, and parishioner and who loved his Catholic faith, his Island and sport. A few words from a Facebook post below tell more about Maurice. I was privileged to be Maurice's pastor and spiritual director. I always admired his simple faith that he nourished regularly through the Sacraments. Rest in Peace Maurice! May God grant concolation to his wife Linda and the whole family. "Maurice Foster was a true star. Not however of the Hollywood variety. In looking for a leader and role model we need only look at the way Maurice lived his life. Devoted loyal husband to Linda and his children and their offspring. A man who lived his Catholic faith fully and demonstrated his values in what he did and said and how he spent his time. [....] Cheerful. Modest. Reliable, competent. Dapper, handsome and trim.
A man you want on your team. A role model. Gifted sportsman. Thank you Maurice. You have left us all a beautiful and memorable legacy." [From FB note by Peter John Boos]
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“Marguerite is often referred to as the “Mother of the Colony’ for her Contributions to the establishment of Ville-Marie, the place we know today as Montreal. Born in France in 1620, Marguerite crossed the Atlantic in 1653 to join in the colonizing efforts begun by Monsieur de Maisonneuve. Her mandate was to develop educational opportunities for aboriginal children and for the families of the French settlers in Ville-Marie. Marguerite received’ the help of Jeanne Mance, founder of the Hotel-Dieu Hospital. Other women joined her and the group formed an institute of uncloistered sisters, the Congrégation of Notre-Dame. Marguerite and her companions took on many roles, including teaching, introducing vocational courses for youth and assisting couples preparing for marriage. She resisted Church pressure to change her community to a cloistered one and lived to see her order’s rule confirmed in 1698. Marguerite was well loved. She died in 1700 at the age of 80 and was declared a saint on October 31, 1982. In 1997, archaeologists uncovered the foundation of the chapel Marguerite built in Ville-Marie 325 years earlier. Marguerite is a patron saint of poor people.” (Living with Christ, January 2021) Little smile for the beginning of the new season in the Church calendar. Today is the Monday of the Frist Week of the Ordinary Time but the same Lord's Prayer and request for the daily bread ...
The Baptism of the Lord is referred often to as another Epiphany. Jesus is identified by His Father as the beloved Son of God. It is a sign for Jesus to begin his journey to the Cross. After Jesus will die the waters of baptism will not only wash our sins but will also give us the new life in the Holy Spirit. Do you know where you were baptised? Who were your godparents? Perhaps you still have your baptismal candle, or the original certificate?
In this opening prayer for the morning Holy Mass today we are reminded once again that Jesus inherited our human nature and became fully God and man to restore our lost dignity as children of God, that we may be found in the likeness of him. The likeness of Jesus Christ is already in you …. Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who through your Only Begotten Son have made us a new creation for yourself, grant, we pray, that by your grace we may be found in the likeness of him, in whom our nature is united to you. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. As we are slowly approaching the end of Christmas season the liturgy, its readings unveil to us the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. It is a huge jump from the manger to Jesus’ baptism, thirty years in only a couple of days. No worry, we will be analyzing every step of Jesus’ ministry and teaching when we will enter Ordinary Season in the liturgy, the Green Sundays. These days now are preparing us for the Feast of Jesus’ Baptism.
Jesus is confronted today by a lepper, an untouchable person. Very soon, Jesus will commit most of his time to touch those outcasts, and to heal something worse than leprosy, the sin. Jesus’s baptism is only a sign of the baptism to come that can wash sin away and restore our lost dignity of God’s children. I had the privilege to pay a few days visit to Brother Andre’s place of rest in August 2016. Taking the opportunity of my vacation, I decided to explore a little bit of Quebec. While staying in Montreal I liked to stop at Saint Joseph Oratory for Holy Mass or prayer almost every day. While sitting in the upper Basilica, usually almost alone, I could feel Br. Andre’s spirit still in there. Only a man with such a strong belief could accomplish this work. Cast in a solid rock the Basilica is like a sleeping giant, listening to the prayers of so many pilgrims arriving to ask Saint Joseph’s and his servant Saint intercession. What would Br. Andre do if he were alive now, with us? He was obedient to his superiors so he would probably close the church door, but at the same time keep praying, even more, even harder. Br Andre was known as a man of miracles. Let's ask his intercession as we wait for our church door to open again. Let's wake this faith, this spiritual giant that sleeps in Canadians’ hearts, and wait for the miracle … Some of my photos from the Oratory. No one can walk on water or walk through a storm unless it is Jesus who leads ...
It is better not to ... listen to the raging storm or one own's fears or to look down … but to listen to his voice and walk. Faith is the key ... Little smile, please. |
Fr. LukeThe closed door is not a barrier for prayer and love! Archives
June 2021
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