Dear Parishioners, 

Christ has risen, and Ascended into Heaven, Alleluia! 

As we enter this final week of the Easter Season, it is hard to believe, that we have not been able to gather, to celebrate this very special Liturgical Season.  I wish to, once again, thank you for your prayers and continued support of our parish community.  We are very blessed to continue to maintain a strong parish family – a family of faith and mutual support. 

This week, in the Parish Bulletin, you will find a section dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. May, is traditionally a month dedicated to honouring her. I encourage you to read the article and make use of the suggestions, in a special way, during this month. Usually, this is also a time when the School Children gather for a May Crowning. This, unfortunately, will not happen this year, but I have included an activity in this week’s bulletin for the children. I hope that they will respond to my request, so that we may have a large “bouquet” of creations to display in front of the statue of Our Lady, in the church, on May 30^th.  Please see the bulletin for more details. Pope Francis, is also encouraging us to pray the Rosary, during the month of May and so I invite you to join us for our Marian Devotions, following the Eucharist, Tuesday to Saturday. 

This Sunday is World Day for Social Communications. Please refer to the bulletin for the Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis, to mark this occasion. 

Today marks the beginning of the Novena for Pentecost. I invite you and encourage you, to join me during the Marian Devotions, as we pray together, to prepare for Pentecost. For those who are unable, please take advantage of the attached PDF, to pray at home, for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

For those, who wish, you may also want to access a Novena Retreat for Pentecost, prepared by St. Augustine Seminary, in Toronto. The talks are approximately 30 minutes and will be available each day, after 7 a.m., on YouTube and Facebook. Here is the link to St. Augustine Seminary:https://staugustines.on.ca/about/events/novena_retreat_for_pentecost  You can click on the format you wish to use.

I continue to celebrate Mass and the Divine Mercy Devotion, according to the schedule below, so I hope you will join us, on Zoom. It is encouraging to see that more and more people are following us every day. Please contact st.teresa@stteresakit.ca for our Zoom information.

Schedule of upcoming online events:

Mass is celebrated on Tuesday to Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Saturday Vigil in anticipation of Sunday at 7 p.m., and on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and streamlined on Zoom, as is the Divine Mercy Chaplet, at 3 p.m. (Tuesday – Friday).

Marian Devotion will take place during the month of May, following the Eucharist, from Tuesday to Saturday.

Novena for Pentecost will take place during the Marian Devotion. The Novena starts today, May 22, 2020.

Please take note of the following documents:

·       Bulletin for The Ascension of the Lord.

·       Novena to the Holy Spirit

• Handouts for children
  • May Crowning Colouring Page
  • Mary With Jesus Colouring Page
  • Mary Queen of Heaven Colouring Page

Wishing you all a blessed Easter Season,

Fr. Marian Gil OMI

Dear Parishioners, 

Christ has risen, Alleluia! 

As we enter the Sixth Week of Easter, I wish to, once again, thank you for your prayers and continued support of our parish community.  It has been quite some time, since we have been able to gather together, here in the church, and yet, we are very blessed to continue to maintain a strong parish family – a family of faith and mutual support. 

This coming week, marks the 100^th Anniversary of the Birth of St. John Paul II. Please take some time to read the article in the bulletin. A live-streamed Mass will be celebrated from Rome, on May 18^th at 7:00 a.m. Also, in the bulletin this week, I give you the opportunity to learn more about the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the founder of the order, Saint Eugene de Mazenod, whose liturgical commemoration falls on May 21^st.

In these days, many of us are probably spending more time on our media devices. This is especially good, if you are joining us for Mass, the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Marian Devotion, or reading our bulletin and my messages. 😊  Unfortunately, given the times we are in, there is also the possibility for unwanted and unsolicited material coming through. Please be aware of this SCAM: if you received a message, supposedly from me, asking you to purchase anything or any other message, that is not related to pastoral ministry, please contact me by phone. 

During the month of May, Pope Francis is encouraging us to pray the Rosary.  Please join us for our Marian Devotions, following the Eucharist, Tuesday to Saturday.

I continue to celebrate Mass and the Divine Mercy Devotion, according to the schedule below, so I hope you will join us, on Zoom. It is encouraging to see that more and more people are following us every day. 

Email st.teresa@sttteresakit.ca to obtain the link and password for Masses.

Schedule of upcoming online events:

Mass is celebrated on Tuesday to Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Saturday Vigil in anticipation of Sunday at 7 p.m., and on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and streamlined on Zoom, as is the Divine Mercy Chaplet, at 3 p.m. (Tuesday – Friday).

Marian Devotion will take place during the month of May, following the Eucharist, from Tuesday to Saturday.

Please take note of the following documents:

·       Bulletin for the Sixth Week of Easter

·       Handouts for children

Wishing you all a blessed Easter Season,

Fr. Marian Gil OMI

Student Senior Isolation Prevention Partnership – A group of students at McMaster and the University of Waterloo have started the Mac-Waterloo-Niagara Student Senior Isolation Prevention Partnership (SSIPP) to assist socially isolated seniors during the COVID outbreak. Our program pairs student volunteers with socially isolated older adults to check-in via weekly phone calls in order to provide social comfort and standard patient education about COVID-19. Older adults living in the Hamilton, Waterloo, or Niagara regions can be referred through a member of their healthcare team or community organizations to the program. At the moment, we have over 100 healthcare professional students signed up to help us (many of whom speak different languages).  Many older adults are looking to have someone to speak to and are interested in this type of program, however we need help identifying them.  If you would like more information about the referral process contact MacSeniorIsolationPrevention@gmail.com for more information on the simple referral process. We will call all referred patients to determine interest and explain the program, assign them to volunteers, and provide you with updates on our program!  For more information on the impacts of social isolation and our program, check out our website: https://www.ssipp.info/ Please note this program is not affiliated with McMaster University or University of Waterloo. 

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you are doing well, and during this challenging time, find hope and strength in faith, prayer and close relationship with Jesus. Our great patroness St. Teresa of Avila offers us the following words of consolation: “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

Who could have suspected that this Lenten Season would become a time of challenge, a journey “through the desert”. We can certainly say that we have not had a Lenten experience quite like this one. This pandemic caused by the Coronavirus has not only changed our daily routine, but our external world has stopped for a moment. We realize how dark our world would be without God, without the sacraments and community. At the same time, we have an opportunity to rediscover the deeper meaning of prayer, family life, and our own life journey. It is a time of challenge, but also a time of grace and many opportunities.

I would like you to know that I am doing well and that I pray every day for you, not only during my breviary prayers but also as I celebrate the Eucharist …

·    On Friday at 7:00 p.m., I will walk by myself to each Station of the Cross and pray for you and all those affected by the Coronavirus.

·    Pope Francis has invited us to pray the Rosary every day at 9:00 p.m., in union with him and with many Catholics around the world to end this pandemic disease. Let’s be united in this prayer.

·    The Mass intentions that you have requested for each particular day will be honoured as I celebrate Mass, privately. 

·    On Sunday, as is our tradition, I will celebrate Mass (albeit privately) at 10:00 a.m., for your intentions. I am also attaching the televised Mass schedule for every day, in our area.

·    In order to remain connected with you, I will be sending you a short message, at least once a week. I will also be posting more information on our website: www.stteresakit.ca

·    Please find attached some useful information and spiritual resources.

Thank you for your messages sent by email and left on our answering system. I really appreciate your words of kindness and support. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to call our parish office: 519-743-4525. 

Let us pray for each other and stay united, as we journey together through this Season of Lent and our challenging times. Please share this message with your family and friends.

Yours in Christ and Mary Immaculate,Fr. Marian Gil OMI

Our parish will have a celebration in commemoration of St. Teresa of Avila on Sunday, October 20th. I would like to invite you to our Parish Feast celebrations along with your children on Sunday, October 20th at 10 a.m. for Solemn Mass and Potluck brunch. Following the Mass we will have a group picture with our entire parish community and St. Teresa School. It would be so wonderful if we could celebrate all together our faith and Jesus’s gift of LOVE – Holy Eucharist every Sunday at our church.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, that the Church celebrate an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019. This is to prepare the Church for the 100^th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Maximum Illud, which called for a renewal of missionary zeal and activity. Pope Francis asks us to renew the joy of missions and reminds us of the Council’s teaching in Ad Gentes, which made clear that this missionary activity was the responsibility of all the baptized. The theme of this month is, therefore, Baptized and Sent. The intention is to once again call the people of God to a greater awareness for our shared mission in bringing the Gospel to a needy world.

The following link is an 8 minute video from the Vatican describing the aims and purposes of the month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=474&v=cdK8vEsNi9I

Prayer for Extraordinary Mission Month

Heavenly Father,
Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ
commissioned his followers to
“go and make disciples of all nations.”
You remind us that through our Baptism
we are made sharers in this mission of the Church.
Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit
to be courageous in bearing witness to the Gospel
so that our witness may bring life and light to the world.
We ask this is the name of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever. 
Amen

Join us Saturday June 22nd following the 5pm Mass for our BBQ Fundraiser. Details in the poster below! We are still looking for donations of raffle prizes. We hope you will join us for a great evening.

St. Teresa Catholic Women’s League is celebrating 60 years of service to God and to Canada on Saturday, June 8th. We will have Mass at 11 a.m. followed by a Vincenzo’s catered lunch in the Parish Centre. Tickets for the lunch will be sold after both Masses for the next three Sundays. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. We hope you will help to make this a great celebration. Because this is a catered, event tickets will be sold no later than June 2nd. Please join us! For more information please call Pat Crawford at 519-885-9593. All member and former members are invited to attend.