How are you kicking off your Lenten season????

This Wednesday is our “season opener” as Catholic Christians. That’s right.

Ash Wednesday is when we kick off our season of Lent, and just like the first game can set the tone for the entire sports season, so our approach to this special day will determine how seriously we enter into this season of conversion and renewal. Consider the next couple of days as our “pre-season”.

What will I do differently this Lent? How is Jesus calling me to a deeper relationship? How will I recognize and invite Christ into situations that I’ve taken for granted in the past?

The time and prayer and reflection I dedicate to these questions will make all the difference. What will my Lenten “practices” of fasting be? How will I get into my spiritual training? What kind of almsgiving drills will I commit to? God is calling us to a championship season of Lent, to spring us into our Holy Week playoffs, and to celebrate Easter as the Superbowl of our faith. Don’t spend this one on the sidelines—get in the game!

Couplehood evening

Last Friday evening, 14 couples gathered in the parish hall.

We had couples that were still in their first years of marriage and others who had been married for many more years. Nevertheless, the evening was appreciated by all. Animated by Tony and Cathie Rettino, they led us through prayer, reflecfion and laughter as a couple. Thanks to the Youth Group, parents with children were able to relax given that their children were being well taken care off right at the parish.

It is my hope that this will lead to other couplehood evenings.... in fact I hope we can repeat this evening and call it Intro to couplehood and then have follow up evenings on different topics. Topics such as time management for catholics could be a possiblity. If anyone has any ideas as to what topics they might be interested in looking into as a couple, don't hesitate to contact me or leave a message on the blog.

If you missed this evening and would be interested to take part in another one, call me at the parish and I'll start making a list and when we have 12 couples, we'll start planning. (514-683-4941)

So, don't miss this opportunity for a tete a tete with your spouse....Give your couplehood the gift of time.....

It's been along time!

Someone was asking recently! I don't think I have access to your blog anymore, because I'm still reading stuff from last Easter!!!!
Blogging is great! It takes time and energy and apparently I ran out of steam!

I also probably was not sure how helpful it actually was to anyone!
But it's a new year, and even though I know I cant' keep it up daily, (I was never good at keeping dairies) I will try to update it at the end of the month. Reflecting on the events that we shared at the parish. Already January is promising! A great evening was held with the Confirmation classes and their parents - then we had Deacon Gerry Turpin - challenge us parents and offer us hope in our most demanding JOB - which is raising our children - then coming up this Friday we have our very first couplehood evening.

It's all very exciting and keeps me going!

Have a Blessed New Year! And remember it's never too late to start your New Year's resolution!!!!
(P.S. I finally got back on the treadmill this morning January 18th - better late then never)

Palm Sunday at Saint-Luke's

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. As I have not been working on Sunday's this year, it was nice to see and welcome everyone - As the church filled up and the blessed palms were distributed, the children were gathered around the altar. With the help of the altar servers and the children's liturgy animators - the "parade" marched down the aisles waiving their palms and signing HOSANNA. It's a great way for the children to grasp the reality of HOLY WEEK. Something different was in the air. There's lots more to come until all together we can shout again "ALLELUIA He is Risen - Indeed He is risen"

I hope that we all have a very meaningful Holy Week - filled with the graces that come from seeking the One who gave his Life for US.

Visit to the Cathedral

WOW! WOW! and WOW!!! On a bright and sunny day, over 50 families from Saint-Luke's Confirmation group joined many other families from the Montreal area at the Cathedral today, Sunday March 25th - 2007. In fact, I estimate that we were over 800 people gathered today at the Cathedral. By the time I got there at 1:08 pm - I could see families waiting outside - looking forward to the visit. Each family received a tour package with instructions and a quizz (worksheet) to guide them along and help them discover the many riches at the Cathedral. It was wonderful to see the families working together and learning about our Cathedral. During the whole visit, Bishop Mancini met the parents and the many grandparents who also attended the event. Around 2:45pm the Bishop had a chat with the group - he spoke about his call to be a bishop - he put on his own style of "fashion sow" in order to demonstrate the different vestment that the Bishop wears and then he answered several questions from the youth.

Mrs. Aitken took many pictures that we will be part of the retreat presentation and I might be able to post a few to this site. Comments from the families will be sollicitated and I will post them as well.

For me it was just so great to see the church full of life - full of the young people who just by being there make a difference in our church but who one day will take on leadership roles in our faith communities. God is Good! God has planted in our hearts the seed of faith - sometimes we just have to tend our gardens daily to see the garden grow.

LA Religious Education Congress

Spring Break in LA.

What's in LA - well, in fact it's Anaheim, California. Every year the Diocese of Los Angeles hosts the largest Catechetical Conference in the US and most probably the world. You can see photos of this year's conference at www.recongress.org.

Attending events such as this, allows catechists to gather not only for formation but also for a sense of Church that is alive and well! Imagine 10,000 adults in an arena celebrating mass - signing in 3 languages (english,spanish & vietnamese) - WOW! Who could of imagined!!! it's my third visit to this event and I don't tire of it. In 3 days, one can choose 8 workshops from a total of 166 - other events such as keynote speakers , evening concerts , lunch time entertainment, and eucharistic celebrations that touch the soul....

I come back refreshed and ready to face the next part of our programs - Now if Spring would only show up - I would be ever grateful.

Video | MediaWise.org

In one of my recent newsletter, I referred parents to a web site that deals with media and families. If you click on the link you can listen to interviews that were done with Dr. Walsh in the media talking about the difficulties in raising our children in today's culture. Take the time to have a look - it's worth it.

Video MediaWise.org