Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

We are about to enter into the most beautiful and sacred weeks in the liturgical life of our church.  We begin this weekend with Palm Sunday.  We will encounter Jesus when we wave our palms as He descends from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem and we cry out “Hosanna.”  On Holy Thursday, we will gather around the table as He celebrates the Last Supper with his apostles and we listen to Jesus’ command to each of us to “take this all of you and eat of it” and to love one another.  On Good Friday we will stand at the foot of the cross as Jesus takes his last breath.  Then at our Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, we will encounter the resurrected Jesus, having conquered sin and death.
 
This week, I invite you to listen to the words of Sacred Scripture as if you are hearing them for the very first time.  Be still.  Be in the moment.  Just be.  Immerse yourself in these liturgies and make the very most of this week as we journey with Jesus through His passion, death, and resurrection.
 
NEW THIS YEAR ON PALM SUNDAY

Join us this Palm Sunday, April 2 at 3:00 p.m. as we reflect on the "Seven Last Words of Jesus."  Sacred Scripture and music from our choir will make for what I pray will be a rich and meaningful experience for all present.  This will also be livestreamed.  I wish to sincerely thank our parishioner Alf McGrath for sharing this gift with our parish.

I look forward to us being united together this week as a parish family, and I wish you a truly blessed and grace-filled Holy Week.
Fr. Greg

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

Glimpses of the season spring are all around us.  Recently in the morning it has been so nice to wake up to hear the birds chirping.  The days are getting longer, with more daylight in the evening.  It is nice to be able to walk outside and to smell spring in the air with each deep breath taken.  The daffodils in the upper gardens are getting ready to bloom.  This truly is a blessed time of the year because right before our eyes the world seems to come to life once again.  With the trees budding and grass turning green comes spring cleaning, all adding a freshness to our surroundings.

The same can be said about our spiritual lives.  The season of Lent presents us with the opportunity to freshen and awaken our lives and our relationship with Christ.  Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving directs our hearts and minds to God.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation during this season is spring cleaning for our souls, preparing ourselves for the great celebration of Easter.  Take the opportunity over this weekend and the coming weeks to encounter Christ in this beautiful sacrament.  No matter how long it has been, now is the time to take a deep breath, turn to or return to the sacrament, and experience the mercy and forgiveness that God wants to pour out upon you in abundance.  Leave with a sense of peace in your heart, washed and cleansed of sin, ready to embrace the season of Easter and Resurrection of our Lord.

Below you will find multiple opportunities to make this a reality in your life.

This weekend we celebrate the Third Scrutiny with our RCIA catechumens and candidates at our 9:00 am Sunday Mass, and we also welcome Mr. Royer's Grade 4/5 class from St. Peter Catholic Elementary School to our 9:00 a.m. as they lead us in the many ministries at mass.
May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.  

Fr. Greg

Fourth Sunday of Lent
 
Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

This Sunday at Mass we celebrate Laetare Sunday.  The Latin word Laetare means ‘rejoice’ and its origin is rooted in the Introit (opening chant) for the Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Jerusalem: “Rejoice, O Jerusalem and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.” 
 
Laetare Sunday marks the midpoint of Lent and the rose-coloured vestments that I will be wearing at Mass give us a glimpse at the light of the end of the 40-day tunnel of penance.  Yes, Lent is a penitential season.  It is a time that we allow the spot light to shine in on our hearts, looking at the nooks and crannies to see what needs to be pushed out, that is sin, in order to fully allow Christ to enter our hearts at Easter, with the new Easter light, the true light of Christ.  This is what this Sunday is all about.  Lent is not all about being somber.  This Sunday we are called to rejoice in the reality of Easter – the promise of Easter – the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
At this midpoint I ask myself the question, “How has my season of Lent been going?”  I ask you the same question.  If you can say it has been a good season and that you have experienced God’s graces and blessings, that you feel closer to Christ, that you have experienced spiritual renewal, then thanks be to God!  If you say it has been a little rough, that your Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving have fallen short of what you set out to embrace at the beginning of the journey, fear not.  We are at the midpoint.  Consider this a reboot, a new start.  Rejoice in the fact that our God is a God of second chances and fresh starts.  That is what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all about.  Make the most of these next three weeks by striving to realign your heart with the heart of Christ, returning to Christ through prayer, and take the time for your spiritual renewal.  Remember that Christ fell three times carrying the cross.  Now we too get back up, as people of hope.
 
That is what we must remember at this moment.  Last year on this Sunday I wrote "We may think how can I even utter the words rejoice at this moment in time with all that is taking place in Ukraine?"  Now, over a year later, this war continues.    Once again I write that it is our faith that we turn to for strength.  We unite ourselves in prayer with our sisters and brothers of Ukraine.  We place our trust in God, for it was Christ who conquered sin and death by rising from the dead.  For that and so many more reasons, we remain people of hope.

​May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Fr. Greg

​Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
This weekend at our 5:00 p.m. mass we will begin to celebrate the scrutinies.  The scrutinies are a series of rites for adults who wish to be baptized, called catechumens.  They are celebrated in the third, fourth, and fifth weeks of the Lenten season.  Here at St. Julia we have two catechumens who will be baptized at our Easter Vigil.
Maggie Cimprich & Jennifer Koren
We also pray for Susan Ogieriakhi, and her sons, Garry, Barry, Wayne, and Terry Eweka, who have joined our RCIA journey more recently, and will be baptized and received at a later date in the near future.
Candidates, on the other hand, are those who are already Christians by baptism and are seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.  They usually have a basic understanding of the Christian faith and only need to learn the particulars of the Catholic Church.  Here at St. Julia we have six candidates.
Akua Yirenkyi, Andrew Kallmuk, William Gault, Kasandra Belanger, Tyler Adair & Justin Challis
This time during Lent is considered a period of purification and enlightenment for the elect.  There are prayers of exorcism which are intended to help purify the elect from sin and sinful desires.  The overall prayers and laying on of hands are to help the elect be enlightened by the Word and grace of God.

I ask you to keep in your prayers all of our candidates and catechumens, as they prepare, with great joy, for our Easter Vigil, to be one with us around the altar and to be welcomed into the faith we hold so dear to our hearts.

May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend on the Third Sunday of Lent.

Fr. Greg

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,
We will hear proclaimed in our Gospel from Matthew 17 this weekend Peter uttering the words to Jesus: "Lord, it is good for us to be here."  

Amen!  How very true this is.  How very good it is that we can once again gather, worship, and pray together.  How very good it is that we can worship freely without any fear.  How very good it is that we can help our sisters and brothers in need in our community through our St. Vincent de Paul donations, food bins, and homeless outreach.  How very good it is that we have St. Peter Catholic Elementary School and Denis Morris Catholic High School in our community.  How very good it is that we have our students joining us for mass from Brock University and Niagara College.  How very good that we have a vibrant Catholic Women's League.  How very good it is that we have our beautiful and gifted choir.  How very good that we have active volunteers and ministers who share of their time and talents.  How very good that we have a beautiful number of candidates and catechumens that will be welcomed into the church this Easter.  How very good that we have been able to undertake project after project in our community to beautiful our grounds and this church, and ensure it will care for generations to come.  How every good it is that we have a generous community that makes all this possible.  How very good it is that we see our community growing in attendance at mass.  How very good it is that we can grow in our faith together at mass and in faith studies (returning soon).  How very good it is that we have the sacraments, where we can encounter Christ.  How very good it is that this parish has been gifted with each one of you.  The list goes on and on and on.

How very good is to know that our Lord is present in all that we do here at St. Julia.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, we look forward to the future as missionary people and disciples of Christ.

At this moment, how very good it is that we are in the season of Lent.  Through our lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and giving alms, may we too seek out those quiet moments to look within and also to give thanks.  Amen for the gift of our faith, this season of purification, and for this community.

Indeed Lord, it is good for us to be here.

May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at mass this weekend on the Second Sunday of Lent.

Fr. Greg