My message is simple this week, and yet there is nothing simple about it:  Prayers for the people of Ukraine.  We unite our prayers with those throughout the world for the situation in Ukraine.  One life lost is too many.  We seek divine intervention for peace and justice, and an end to conflict and suffering.
 
May our Lord be with the people of Ukraine at this most difficult time.
 
May we come before the Lord and our Most Blessed Mother, uniting our prayers together as we pray for peace and for the people of Ukraine, Europe, and the rest of the world.
 
May God bless and keep safe each of you and those that you love.
Fr. Greg

​Forgiveness.  Loving one another.  It sounds wonderful.  Here we have yet again, as I see it, another opportunity and challenge, as is the case with so many things in life.  The challenge is evident.  How can I possibly forgive someone who has hurt me?  Perhaps it was recently, or perhaps it was many years ago.  And to take it one step further, I am called to love them.  Challenges, challenges, and more challenges.  So why does our Lord ask us to forgive – and to love?

Here is the opportunity - something I came across a number of years ago.  Pastor Rick Warren writes:
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If you don’t forgive, you’re not going to enjoy God’s vision for the rest of your life, because unforgiveness will keep you stuck in the past.

Forgive—and then get on with your life.  This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences for what somebody did to you.  It just means that you let go of your anger and hurt and give it to God so that you can move on with God’s purpose for your life.

What an opportunity this is.  Allowing God to reveal the purpose of your life.

The season of Lent is quickly approaching, as we prepare to celebrate Ash Wednesday on March 2.  I invite you to begin thinking about your Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – with the underlying theme of forgiveness, and how much God loves each one of us.

This weekend, please join me once again in welcoming Fr. Stephen Innamorati who will be presiding at our Saturday evening Mass as I complete my tenth day of isolation.  I am most grateful for his ministry and assistance.  I look forward to my return on Sunday at our 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses.

May God bless and keep safe each of you and those that you love.  Rest assured of my prayers.
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Fr. Greg

This weekend’s gospel reading is the beginning of what is often called the “Sermon on the Plain”.  We find a parallel to this passage in Matthew 5:1-7,11 that is often called the “Sermon on the Mount”.  As these titles suggest, there are differences and similarities between these gospel readings.
                  
When spoken from the mountaintop in Matthew’s Gospel, we can’t miss the impression that Jesus is speaking with the authority and voice of God. The mountaintop is a symbol of closeness to God.  Those who ascend the mountain see God and speak for God; recall the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  As Luke introduces the location of Jesus’ teaching, Jesus teaches on level ground, alongside the disciples and the crowd.  Luke presents Jesus’ authority in a different light.  He is God among us.

As we listen attentively to the Word of God this weekend, may we place ourselves at the feet of Jesus, listening to his every word.

I had a very pleasant vacation in South Carolina and am rejuvenated and recharged, for which I am most grateful.  Unfortunately, I did face a snag.  As required for re-entry into Canada, I completed a COVID test on Monday.  Much to my surprise, it came back positive.  Other than some congestion, I have no symptoms and no fever.  In disbelief, I completed another test on Tuesday with the same result.  My Mom who joined me – negative.  As a result, at this moment I am required to isolate for 10 days.  This will make my return date to the parish Sunday, February 20th.  In the meantime, I will be working from the rectory, though I will be absent for the most important part of my ministry – celebrating the Mass with each of you.
This weekend, please join me in welcoming Fr. Stephen Collins who will be presiding at our Masses.  I am most grateful for his ministry and assistance.

May God bless and keep safe each of you and those that you love.  Rest assured of my prayers.
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Fr. Greg

This weekend while I am away from the parish please join me in welcoming back to St. Julia Msgr. Leo Clutterbuck, pastor emeritus of our community and currently serving in residence at St. Alfred Church here in St. Catharines.
 
I thank him for his ministry and for presiding at our masses this weekend.
 
May God bless and keep safe each of you and those that you love.  Please know of my prayers.
Fr. Greg