​We will hear proclaimed this weekend the great commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might,” as recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 6, verse 5).  Long before the coming of Christ as man, taking on our human flesh, God gave this commandment to the people, through Moses.
 
Centuries later, when a scribe approached Jesus, asking him which is the first or greatest of all the commandments, Jesus answered with the very words from Deuteronomy, well known to the scribe, or any devout Jew for that matter.  Jesus would go on to add “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” which Jesus would have known well as coming from the Book of Leviticus (chapter 19, verse 18).
 
Each Sunday when we gather for Mass, either in person, or virtually, we are reminded of these two great commandments on our banners adorning our sanctuary here at St. Julia.  Love God.  Love people.   They truly are inseparable.  Each and every day we have numerous opportunities to show this love: in our homes, places of work, our schools, to the poor and marginalized  – everywhere. 
 
May we call upon the Holy Spirit to ignite that fire within each of us, that fire of love that can change our lives, our community, and our world.
 
May God bless each of you and those that you love.
Fr. Greg

Every year, something special happens on the next-to-last Sunday of October.  World Mission Sunday joins all Catholics of the world into one community of faith. At Mass that Sunday, we recommit ourselves to our common vocation, through Baptism to be missionaries, through prayer, participation in the Eucharist, and by giving generously to the collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday this year reflects on the theme: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). He reminds us that, “as Christians, we cannot keep the Lord to ourselves,” as we “recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel.”

On World Mission Sunday, we join our Holy Father in supporting his missions. As we pray and respond here at home, we share in those celebrations taking place in every parish throughout the world.  Together, through our prayers and financial support, we bring the Lord’s mercy and concrete help to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.

In a world where so much divides us, World Mission Sunday rejoices in our unity as missionaries by our Baptism, as it offers each one of us an opportunity to support the life-giving presence of the Church among the poor and marginalized in more than 1,111 mission dioceses.

Please do consider making a donation for World Mission Sunday.  It can be dropped off in the regular collection at the end of Mass.  Simply place your offering in a separate envelope, marked “World Mission Sunday,” your name and envelope number.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

May God bless each of you and those that you love.
Fr. Greg
 
Message from Pope Francis – World Mission Sunday

​This weekend we embark on a journey with the entire Church.  Pope Francis has called us to join in a journey of "Communion, Participation and Mission," where we seek to understand where God is calling the Church today.  Entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” Pope Francis solemnly opened the preparations for the journey to the synod on synodality last weekend, October 9-10, 2021 in Rome.  Now we, St. Julia Church (the particular church), and all churches in our Diocese, and in fact throughout the world, unite together in prayer, praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us. 
 
All of this will lead to the synod itself to be held in Rome in 2023.  One fundamental stage will be the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, in October 2023, which will be followed by the implementation phase that will again involve the particular churches. 

Click here to read Bishop Bergie’s Pastoral Letter on the Synod on Synodality

​Click here to read the Preparatory Document

Together, may we unite all of our prayers together, calling upon the Holy Spirit, for the success of the Synod as we once again seek to understand where God is calling the Church today, and how we can embrace and integrate the themes of “communion, participation, and mission” into our evangelization efforts here at St. Julia.
 
May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I thank God for each of you, my spiritual family, and this community of St. Julia.
 
Fr. Greg

​Another Thanksgiving is upon us.  Do we have more to be thankful for this year than in years past?  As we continue to navigate through these times together, we remember that it is only with God that all things are possible.  Indeed, Christ has been our guide, leading us and providing us with hope.  As we gather this weekend for Mass at our parish of St. Julia, either in person or virtually, we are reminded of the tremendous blessings God continues to pour out upon our community.  And as we gather with our families this weekend, again either in person or virtually, we thank God for the gift of our families, friends, and loved ones. 
 
May we be a sign of God’s goodness and hope for one another as we offer our prayers of thanks, not only on this Thanksgiving Day, but each and every day.
 
May God bless each of you and those that you love, and I thank God for each of you, my spiritual family, and this community of St. Julia.
 
Fr. Greg

​As we begin this new month, there is no shortage of people and things to pray for.  In a special way, in this month dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary and the Rosary, we have a most powerful tool at our fingertips and an intercessor we can turn to who will take our prayers and petitions to her son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
 
Sacramental wise, it has been busy at our parish.  Since reopening after the most current shutdown, Deacon Brian, Deacon George and myself have had the honour of celebrating multiple baptisms each month.  In the Rite of Baptism, I always pause when I ask the parents, “Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?” This means raising this beautiful child entrusted them in the faith.  We need to pray for the parents of these children, the first formators of the faith, and these precious little ones.
 
This weekend we welcome our Confirmation candidates and their families from our parish to our 5:00 p.m. Mass.  I met with these youth from our parish and their parents a week ago, discussing the beauty of this Sacrament and the power of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit they will receive this November.  We need to pray for these youth, as this is an important year for them in their faith journey.
 
This past week I met with the seven-year-old children from our parish family and their parents as they prepare to encounter Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation this fall and First Communion next April at Easter.  May the joy in the eyes of these children and the excitement of receiving Jesus for the first time – and we pray 1000’s of times after, set the faith of their parents on fire – or reignite the faith if that may be the case.  We need to pray for these children and their families.
 
This weekend in our Gospel the spotlight is on the Sacrament of Marriage.  I will say, we have had a steady flow of marriages at our parish this year.  I remind every couple that I have the honour of witnessing their marriage that I am here to ensure that they have a beautiful wedding day, though I am more interested in preparing them for a lifetime together.  As I am reminded, a wedding is just a day – a marriage is a lifetime.  We need to pray that more couples long to get married, in the church, and to have their union – a covenant – blessed by God.  This is what they need, a solid foundation to build their lives upon, with God at the center.
 
We need to pray for those who are sick.  May their encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of the Anointing of Sick bring them comfort, strength, help, healing, and peace.
 
And last but not least, we need to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and diaconate, and that more young men desire to encounter Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  All of the above is only possible with their “yes.”
 
Come Holy Spirit!  Blessed Mother, please intercede for us.  Loving God, hear these our prayers.
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you at Mass this weekend.
 
Fr. Greg