Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

This Sunday we once again hear the love letters of St. Paul as he writes to the Romans.  As always, he opens with “brothers and sisters,” his beloved.  Then he makes the bold statement “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  As I always say, all Scripture is the living word of God, and Paul writes as if he is speaking to us in 2024.  So, what does this mean for us today?
 
This is the beauty of Paul’s writings and this is what I believe we need to hear today.  No matter what we face, whether that be financial difficulties, health challenges, family concerns, or whatever may be weighing on our heart, God takes each situation and somehow, beyond our understanding and comprehension, uses it for our benefit, in the here and now, and ultimately for our eternal benefit.  This is indeed something to wrap our minds around.
 
God is with us always, in all our times of need, on this our earthly journey.  God pours out His love and mercy upon us.  Many times, in the present moment, this is not clear to us.  It is only when we look to the past, to see how God brought something good out of a past challenge, that we can say to ourselves that we are not alone, and we trust that God will see us through this moment in time as well.  This requires faith and trust in God.
 
We are God’s chosen ones.  God is with us.  It is no wonder Paul proclaims, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" The answer quite simply is NO ONE!
 
As we continue our Lenten journey together as a community of believers here at St. Julia, may we hold and keep one another in prayer.  God is with us – and we, as His daughters and sons are loved.  We must never forget that.  May we unite any cross that we are carrying at this time with that of His son, Jesus Christ.
 
Please know of my continued prayers and may God bless each of you and those that you love.
 
God bless,
Fr. Greg 

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
 
In our Gospel this Sunday from Mark 1:12-15, the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert.  This past year, we too have found ourselves in a desert, in what feels like at times forty times forty days.  Yet in other respects, it is hard to believe that it has been almost a year.  Mark writes, “He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.”  Angels. 
 
The ministry of angels can be found throughout the life of Christ.  It was an angel who announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Baby Jesus.  Angels were present at Jesus’ birth.  They warned Joseph.  An angel was with Jesus when he was praying at the Garden of Gethsemane.  Angels were ready to help when Jesus was betrayed.  An angel rolled back the stone from the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.  An angel announced the resurrection of Christ.  Christ ascended into heaven with angels present.  The list goes on of how angels played an important role in the ministry of Christ. 
 
Just as angels surround the throne of God the Father and serve Him, they also were around Jesus - attending to God the Son.  The angels observed Jesus dying a humiliating death between two robbers.  They observed the great love that Jesus showed toward humanity.
 
As a parish family, the angels have been with us and our community here at St. Julia, watching over us.
 
May we embrace this season of Lent with an open heart, and allow the Holy Spirit, and the angels too, to minister to us as we seek a renewal of mind, body, and spirit.
 
Please know of my prayers for all of your intentions, and may God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg

On this the eve of Ash Wednesday, we once again, as a parish family, prepare to begin our Lenten journey.  Lent is truly about renewal.  Renewing our relationship with God, and his son Jesus Christ.  It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to daily prayer and the opening up of our hearts to God.  A renewal in breaking open the Word of God and to see where God is speaking to us through Sacred Scripture. 

What animates us is the spirit, the soul within us.  When we are fed with the Body and Blood of Christ and the Word of God, our spirit is fed.  While many of us hunger for that spiritual food at the celebration of Mass, I consider the season of Lent to be a great gift to us, the body of Christ.  These 40 days allow us to take a look deep within at our relationship with God and our neighbour.  It is an opportunity for us to offer penance for the sins we have committed.  And best of all, it presents us with the opportunity to not just change our lives, but to transform them as we rededicate our lives to God. 
 
This is my prayer for each of us.  May this season of Lent be an opportunity to reignite our relationship with God, confident that Christ continues to navigate us through these times together.  I pray that it be a time of refreshment for our souls as we draw closer to God.  May it truly be a time of spiritual renewal. 
 
May we emerge from this time, and this season of Lent, renewed in mind, body, and spirit.
 
I wish all of you a truly blessed and grace-filled season of Lent.
 
Fr. Greg

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

In this Sunday’s Gospel from Mark 1:40-45, we read about this leper coming forward to Jesus and miracle of the healing of this man.  The miracles of Jesus can be grouped into seven categories.​

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It is interesting to note that more than 30 miracles of Jesus are recorded in the Bible, yet we know that there are far more, and counting.  The miracles of Jesus continue to this day.  So, what is required on our part?  This is where the leper teaches us.  This man whose name is unknown to us recognized that in Jesus all things are possible.  He believed this in the very depths of his heart and soul.
 
Are you in need of healing at this very moment?  Perhaps it is physical healing.  Maybe the pandemic has left you with the need for mental healing.  Or maybe you are spiritually weak and are crying out for healing.  Healing of body, mind, and spirit.  Whether it is yourself or someone that you know or love, there is someone in need who is hurting in some way that needs some relief, compassion, comfort, strength, and yes, healing.
 
Jesus is here to assist, and we, as God’s instruments here on earth, allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to provide comfort to those around us.  With God, all things are possible.
 
If you wish, you can make me clean.
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg

 
 

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
 
Lord Jesus, send us your healing touch.
 
 “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he (Jesus) got up and went out
to a deserted place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). 
 
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we once again see the importance of daily prayer in Jesus’ life. Just like Simon’s mother-in-law, we too cry out, Lord Jesus, send us your healing touch.

As a Church, as a family here at St. Julia, we pray for all those suffering.  Not just those that are sick, but everyone.  We are all suffering.  We pray for spiritual and physical healing, for comfort for all those isolated in their homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.  For those mourning the loss of a loved one.  For all those separated from their families. For those facing job loss, financial difficulties.  For parents and single parents trying to juggle work and family lives.  The list goes on, and it is different for each one of us

And so, we too, need to find the strength to pray, mirroring Jesus, in that quiet place.  The prayer can be this simple…
 
Lord Jesus, send us your healing touch

Please know of my continued prayers for all of your needs and intentions, both personally, and during the greatest prayer that we offer, the celebration of the Mass.
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.

Fr. Greg