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MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY
Our lives in this modern world is busy, complicated and believe it or not—temporary. Everything around us will pass away–so why are we so invested in our smart phones, Facebook likes and opportunities of fame, fortune or power? All of this ends but we spend most of our time and money pursuing things that are only for a moment. Jesus tells us that heaven and earth will pass away but “My words will never pass away.” We should be spending most of our time using the temporary opportunities and things in our lives to help others encounter that which is eternal—Jesus! We should spend our time sharing who we are and what we have so that others may encounter Christ through us. Will we invest our lives in what lasts forever?WATCH OR LISTEN HERELIVING GOD'S WAY AND NOT MY OWN
The best way
to live our lives is to follow God’s way and not our own. Yet this is a challenge for each of us. Which path will we choose? Will we follow the path where we have control and think we know best? This message series seeks to ignite the mission of the Gospel on our lives encouraging us to choose the path of Christ in our lives and not our own. Prayer, the Sacraments and our faith communities help us to remain faithful and willing to serve out of love Jesus and all those who are in need.WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE
St. John Paul II said at an Angelus Audience on November 30, 1986 while visiting Australia, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” As we celebrate Easter what difference and meaning does it add to our lives? How do we act and live because of the empty tomb? What inspired the Apostles after the resurrection to boldly and courageously share the Good News? They encountered the Risen Lord that made everything different. How do we encounter Jesus who is alive and calls us on mission? We need to look for and be the signs of the Gospel in our world today. We truly are an Easter people that offers light, hope, peace and joy to the world!
WATCH OR LISTEN HERE
A FLASH OF NEW HOPE
Pope Francis in his 2024 Lenten Message calls all of us to embrace conversion that will lead to a flash of new hope in our lives and the world. Fr. John offers this message series as we enter into the Lenten season as a time for change, renewal, conversion and new hope!! We all need a renewed sense of hope that can fill our hearts and then lead us to give hope to those in need. Are we willing to change? Are we willing to allow Jesus to heal our hearts? Can we seek out God’s covenant of love that totally changes how we see the world around us? Join us on this adventure and encounter the Lord in a special way!!
WATCH OR LISTEN HERE
THE SEARCH FOR CHRIST
The gif
t of our faith is the most precious aspect of our lives. Our faith in Christ is the source of all our needs and wants. Whatever we are searching for in our lives for fulfillment, peace, reconciliation and hope—we can only satisfy when we find Christ. To find the Lord, we need to search for Him and run to Him. This is done by searching, asking, questioning and letting go of other things so that we can find Jesus. Faith is not a passive activity and required that we each help one another along the pilgrimage of faith.
WATCH OR LISTEN HERE
THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE A MISSION: IT IS A MISSION
After the r
esurrection, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to baptise all nations and share the Good News of the Gospel!!! The Church itself does not have a mission but is mission. The very essence and heart of the Church is to always be in motion—changing and adapting so that Christ may be visible, present and proclaimed in every age.
Sometimes we think that Church is simply going to Mass on Sunday and attending some nice events. The role of our parish communities is to be hubs for the Holy Spirit to inspire, ignite and empower all of us to be MISSION in this world. The only way this can happen is if we fall in love with Jesus and place Him at the centre of our lives.
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REPENT - WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN TO US?
During the Season of Lent we are called to repent. What does this really mean for us? Initially, I think we all simply understand that as turning away from sin—and seeking the Lord’s forgiveness. Lent calls us to REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.
Is this all that it is? If we really want to turn away from sin what do we actually need to do?
This message series reflects on the full meaning of repentance. We are called not just to turn away from sin but to totally transform our lives, turning them right side up so that Christ is at the heart of everything we do. To actually repent means embracing the path God has set out for us—our mission to be disciples in our world today!!
REPENT
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS - WHO HAS GOD MADE US TO BE?
Have you ever made New Year’s resolutions? Starting new things or starting over is so important and needed in our lives. Yet to really change and to sustain our resolutions—we need to be determined and persevere. Only 9% of people who make New Year’s resolutions make it to the end of the year. What do these resolutions really accomplish? It is good to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthy. Yet, these things don’t get to the core of who we are why we were made. This message series explores FAITH RESOLUTIONS that we can make discovering who God has made us to be—which will allow us to be the best version of ourselves!!
New Year's Resolutions
Who Has God Made Us To Be?
THE GAME PLAN MESSAGE SERIES - PART 2
This is a sequel to the GAME PLAN message series that Fr. John concluded recently as he spoke about the two main foundations of the journey ahead (forming disciples & reaching out to all) in addition to defining the 6 Qualities of a Faithful Disciple. In this series, Fr. John shares the layering of ministries and programs over the next four to five years. This will involve dedicating a year at a time to lead people through a conversion experience. The yearly themes will be – WELCOME & FAMILY, PRAYER & CONVERSION, GIFTS & CALL and WITNESS & SERVICE. We spend time getting to know one another as community, deepen our relationship with Christ, recognize the gifts and abilities God has given us and then sharing them as a sign of hope and love in the world.
THE GAME PLAN MESSAGE SERIES - PART 1
In response to a different post-pandemic world and the reality of decreased church attendance, lack of finances and a society that has drifted from the Gospel—it is up to parishes and families of parishes to find new and creative ways to engage people today. What we relied on in the past is no longer relevant or affective. We need a plan that adapts our methods, programs, ministries, schedules and language that most effectively conveys the Good News to people of today. This means change, conversion and renewal. This cannot be done without a real plan. This message series looks to offer a new way to minister so that everyone may encounter Christ the Risen Lord. This won’t happen overnight but it is now time to put the GAME PLAN into action.
The Game Plan - Part 1
This Parish Has Talent Message Series
Our parish communities only function with the time, talent and support of amazing volunteer ministers. Without wonderful volunteer ministers we could not share the Gospel in our world today. There are so many dedicated and faithful parishioners sharing who they are and what they have with others. Yet, there are so many others who are being called by God to share and serve. In this post-pandemic world, we are going to need everyone to share their God given abilities to help build the Kingdom of God. The world needs each of us who have the courage and trust in Christ to offer themselves in loving service to make this world a better place. Again, this will require all of us. This message series will explore ways for each of us to recognize our gifts and build the strength to step beyond the pews into areas of service, outreach and leadership in the Church.
Click here to watch the video or listen to the podcast.
The Ultimate Road Trip Message Series
During the summer and may other times of year, all of us embark on road trips!! Whether we are travelling to a great vacation destination or going to visit loved ones across the world–all of us need to connect. For our road trip to be a success we need to plan, book and finally decided to go!! As people of faith Jesus reminds us that we too are on a road trip to heaven. As pilgrims to the new Jerusalem, we need to set our destination for eternal life. We don’t do this alone. Jesus and others travel with us as companions on the journey. Let’s make sure that we set the goal and have the courage to help each other along the detours and traffic jams along the highway to eternal life. The destination is clear and so we must act each day with this in mind.
Click here to watch the video or listen to the podcast.
Making the Resurrection Real Today - Message Series
The Easter season is a time to celebrate and rejoice in the gift of the resurrection!! It is not just a liturgical season but a time to be renewed, empowered and sent to be the Risen Lord in our world today. The danger is that sometimes we can allow Easter to end after the Easter Triduum—thinking of it as just another holiday long weekend. We need to seek ways to make the triumph of Christ transformative in our lives here and now. How can our faith help us encounter the Risen Christ and be the light of eternal life in everything we do.
Click to watch the video or listen to the podcast.
This new message series called “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?” will begin Feburary 10 and run for 4 weeks.
The focus of this message series takes a look at the importance of listening in our world today and of course in our faith. Real listening is crucial for us to understand one another, learn new things and grow in a deeper friendship with Christ our Risen Lord. Unfortunately we are not very good listeners for many different reasons. In this series, Fr. John will explore the struggles we face in having true conversations with God and with each other. We need to listen, understand and support one another as we all journey to the kingdom. Without the ability to attentively understand, the world falls into chaos and we lose our way.Click to watch the video or listen to podcast.
The Story of Your Life Message Series
This new message series called “THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE” will hopefully help all of us understand God’s story of love for us and how we today continue to share in that story.
The series will run from January 15/16 and end February 5/6.
Click to watch the video or listen to the podcast.
Back to the Basics Message Series
As we come to the close of the Church’s liturgical year and begin a new year with the Advent season, it is good to step back and take a long view at what our lives are really about and where we are headed. Let’s go back to the fundamentals of our faith and lives to move forward with light, hope and peace.
Click to watch the video or listen to the podcast.
The COMEBACK Message Series
There are so many challenges and storms that we as a Church, country and world are facing today. From the pro-longed global pandemic, the clergy sexual abuse scandal, Indian Residential School scandal, decreased church attendance and the world attitude that is all about “ME” can be truly overwhelming and beyond anything we can do. Yet we know of the many “comebacks” that we have seen in history that can inspire us to overcome against all odds. The world today needs a “comeback” to faith, hope and love—and it is up to us.
