Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
Luke’s Gospel 13:22-30 this weekend reminds us: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” There is always hope as we keep on striving. It is when we stop striving and stop seeking God that the way forward begins to block us. So we can think of the message of this Sunday as encouragement to keep on striving to be faithful to God, even when we can see and know our own failures. It is as if God Himself is telling us: Do not give up hope! Trust in the Lord forever. Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
In a 2002 homily, Pope John Paul II said: “If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life. If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope. If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace, Mother of the Prince of Peace.” Looking ahead, on Monday, August 15th, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, when Mary was assumed both body and soul into heaven, and that she was spared the corruption of death. We need Mary in our lives. That is certain. Consider joining me for mass this Monday at 8:30 a.m. as we turn to our Blessed Mother in prayer. May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother, our Mother of life, our Mother of Hope, our Mother of Peace. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us! Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
Ukraine's sunflowers are a national symbol and a major crop for the country. Ukraine is in fact one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of the pantry staple - sunflower oil. In March of this, Food & Wine wrote "Sunflowers, which are the national flower of Ukraine, have grown in the country since the mid-1700s. According to MIR Corp, a travel company that specializes in eastern European destinations, sunflower oil became increasingly popular in Ukraine because the Orthodox Church did not restrict its use during Lent. (Orthodox church members weren't supposed to cook with butter or lard between Ash Wednesday and Easter.) As a result, fields of sunflowers became more widespread, and sunflower seeds became an in-demand snack." At a recent funeral reception hosted by our C.W.L. in the Divinity Room, sunflowers adorned the tables, making for a very welcoming and powerful first impression. Sunflowers have been planted in our lower gardens, now over 7 feet tall, and will soon be in full bloom. In Ephesians 5:9 we read: ”The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, justice and truth." Just as sunflower flowers produce oil, the believer who sets her or his sights on God shows her or his characters of goodness, righteousness and truth. May we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother for peace in our world. May we, as believers and disciples of Christ set our sights on God, and like sunflowers, produce fruit and reveal the characteristics of goodness, righteousness, and truth. During these warm summer days, may your summer continue to be filled with God's blessings, and may your flower and vegetable gardens yield a bountiful harvest. Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
The rich fool’s greatest undoing is his failure to acknowledge, according to Martin Luther King Jr., that wealth always comes as a result of the commonwealth. He was a fool because he completely failed to realize his dependence on God and on others. In contrast to the rich fool, Jesus was, and still is, a man for others; He lived and died for others and hopes that His own disciples would follow in His footsteps. Like Jesus, what we own, we owe. The joy of having is in sharing! God is good … All the time! May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia, Pope Francis will make his pastoral visit to Canada beginning this weekend, from July 24 to 29, 2022. The Pope’s visit will provide a unique opportunity for him, once again, to listen and dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, to express his heartfelt closeness and to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada. We are all invited to join the Bishops of Canada as we reflect, pray and prepare to welcome the Holy Father for these days among us. May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia, Both Abraham and the two sisters, Mary and Martha, opened their homes in hospitality to others: Abraham welcomed strangers, Martha and Mary welcomed a family friend, Jesus. They were hospitable. They loved God very much. Mary, however, understood that true hospitality is receiving more than giving or doing. When we open ourselves to God’s self-giving, and allow ourselves to be loved by Him, as Mary did, it is only then that we can truly be called His disciples. When you join us for mass this weekend, and perhaps you see an unfamiliar face, I invite you to put this message of hospitality into action. Extend a greeting, a friendly hello, receiving that fellow disciple into our midst. Help that someone find a seat, or welcome them into your pew. We are blessed to welcome visitors and new faces each weekend, and as we prepare for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games this August 6-21, may St. Julia be a welcoming spiritual home to those attending from both near and far. May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
During our June retreat for the priests of our diocese led by Dr. Josephine Lombardi, we were introduced to Akiane Kramarik, an American poet and painter. She began drawing at the age of four. Kramarik's best-known painting is Prince of Peace, which she completed at the age of eight. As you enjoy these summer days, remember to count your blessings. I look forward to you joining me and our parish family this weekend for mass, and may God bless you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
Pope Francis will make a pastoral visit to Canada from July 24 to 29, 2022. The Pope’s visit will provide a unique opportunity for him, once again, to listen and dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, to express his heartfelt closeness and to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada. The papal visit will also provide an opportunity for the shepherd of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to connect with the Catholic community in Canada. The Catholic Church has a responsibility to take genuine and meaningful steps to journey with Indigenous Peoples of this land on the lengthy path to healing and reconciliation. Papalvisit.ca will provide information on the historic journey of Pope Francis to Canada, a significant step on the road to truth, understanding and healing. Catholic Bishops Welcome Announcement of Program of Papal Visit to Canada July 24-29 2022 We are all invited to join the Bishops of Canada as we reflect, pray and prepare to welcome the Holy Father for these special days among us. I wish each of you a blessed and safe long weekend, and I look forward to welcoming you to our spiritual home of St. Julia as we gather for Mass this weekend. May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia, This weekend our readings shine a spotlight on discipleship and what it means to follow someone else, to follow the Lord Jesus. This all began at our baptism. Our parents, grandparents, godparents, teachers, priests, and many others helped us, guided us, and taught us what it means to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ. This all takes place by word, deed, and example. Then there comes the day. The day we were given the freedom. I often reflect upon this when I am preparing for grade eight and high school masses and graduation. If we reflect a little deeper, the freedom goes right back to our baptism. We are free to choose, for Jesus never forces us. There are invitations along the way, gentle tugs and pulls at our hearts. Some are subtle, some can be strong and we can be taken back by them and left in awe. At all times there is that call to "Follow Me." I invite you to reflect upon your journey. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to you? Do you feel that tug, that pull? It is easy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in 2022? How can this community help you? How can I personally help you? I look forward to gathering together this weekend for Mass as a family of disciples here at St. Julia. Don't forget our Parish Family BBQ this weekend. Consider this your invitation! May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia, The Mass is the “source and summit” of our faith. It is what makes us who we are as Catholics and to receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Christ. No where else can we find this. We gather as a parish family, a community of believers, not to be seen, but to be fed by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ. This is what our sisters and brothers, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, students and teachers, neighbours, colleagues, friends – everyone needs to hear. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI remarked at Mass for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ that “the Eucharist has the power to unite people, strengthen them and remind them that only God is worthy of worship.” He would go on to say "to adore the body of Christ means to believe that there, in that piece of bread, there really is Christ who gives meaning to our lives, to the immense universe as well as to the smallest creature and to all of human history as well as to the briefest existence." The power to unite and strengthen. What is it that brings us together? That is what this Sunday is all about. The Eucharist. It is what unites us. It is the spiritual food that we need. With all that is going on around us, and what appears to be pulling us apart, what we need is that which unites and strengthens us all the more. And that is the Eucharist. To be present and still in a sacred place. To come together, and know from the very depths of our soul that we are all loved by our creator and God. I encourage you to invite someone to join us for mass this weekend at St. Julia. That personal invitation or welcome back just might be what they need to hear and what they have been waiting for. May God bless each of you and those that you love. Fr. Greg |
AuthorFrom Our Pastor Archives
July 2024
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