​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

​God knows each one of us –– our joys, strengths and weaknesses, our successes and failures, our faith, our needs, hopes and dreams.  Not only does God know us; He loves us. 
 
But how much do we know God?  How much do we love God?  We know and love God through prayer, through our ministries, and in our relationships with other people.  We know and love God through our participation in the sacraments, through Scripture and meditation, and through our gathering together as a parish family here at St. Julia.  We know God through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
 
But how about knowing and loving God with the help of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, whose feast we celebrate this upcoming Wednesday, September 29?  Well, they all point us to God, through Jesus Christ, who is our protector, our strength, our hero and our healer.  But we, too, have these responsibilities –– of protecting each other, of strengthening each other, of healing each other. Loving and supporting one another –– this is our vocation; this is our commitment to each other.
 
We can ask for St. Michael’s prayers for spiritual protection and to help us to protect each other.  We can ask for St. Gabriel’s prayers for strength, for courage and to help us to strengthen one other and announce one others goodness and gifts.  We can also ask for the prayers of St. Raphael to help us to heal each other and comfort each other in times of difficulty and distress.  These are some of the ways in which we can truly know and love God.  Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, please continue to pray for us.
 
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

​A very human trait is to compare ourselves to others.  The disciples in the Gospel passage from Mark 9:30-37 did exactly this, arguing amongst themselves as they walked along.  Jesus would eventually ask them what they were discussing:  who among us is the greatest.
 
The answer is quite simple.  Jesus.  As we continue to strive to put Christ at the center of our lives, the very core of our being will, little my little, mirror that of Christ.  This imitation of Christ, to serve, will inspire others, and over time we will bring the good out of others, so that they too will imitate our saviour.  This is what the saints did, and we are all saints in the making.
 
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

​Well, just like that, it is full steam ahead!  The summer break is behind us, and the youth from our parish and community are back in school.  Amen!  This is where they need to be for their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.  We pray for their ongoing safety in the midst of the pandemic.  I’ve already been in Denis Morris Catholic High School and very soon will be being celebrating weekly Mass for each class at St. Peter Catholic Elementary School on a rotation.  There is no substitute for in person visits and being in the classrooms.  I pray that these be very special and memorable times for both the students, the youth of our parish, and myself.
 
In our Gospel from Mark this weekend we will hear Jesus ask the question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  Jesus goes on to tell his friends that He must suffer.  Then we have this scene where Peter takes Jesus aside rebuking him for speaking like that.  His closest followers found it difficult to accept that Jesus would suffer – and die.
 
Jesus makes it clear that we must follow Him in suffering and death, and that we must deny ourselves.  Here is yet another one of those opportunities and challenges that I always speak of.  We are in when it comes to the happy stuff, praying to Jesus and gathering to worship Him.  But to suffer and die…
 
Everyday God puts remarkable people in our lives.  We all know them, and I have had the honour and privilege of visiting them and bringing the sacraments to them.  These people, these members of our parish family and friends, are suffering.  What so many times amazes me is how grounded they are in their faith, some so inspiring that I leave my visit in absolute awe.  “Who do you say that I am?”  For these women and men of faith, they would say “My Lord and My Saviour,” and that they place their complete trust in their Lord and God.
 
May we pray for all those who suffer as they unite their suffering with that of Christ, and may we as disciples, be instruments of hope and of Christ’s love.
 
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

​This weekend we will hear proclaimed in our First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (35:4-7a), “Thus says the Lord:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened:  Be strong, fear not!  Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.”  Perhaps you or a child, grandchild, niece or nephew, are getting ready to return to school and are a bit scared.  Perhaps you are preparing to return to work after working from home.  Perhaps you are still uneasy leaving you home, going out, or returning to Mass.  Perhaps what you see going on around you in our world troubles you.  The list goes on.  So where do we place our trust?  That is in God, and for that reason we have nothing to fear.  That being said, we must use common sense, make use of sound information to guide us in making decisions, and remember that we are not in this alone.  We are part of a bigger community, and are called to love God and our neighbour.  And to be there for our neighbour, to be Christ for our neighbour.  So, when we are scared, worried, or frightened, we can be assured that we are united in prayer.  When we are perhaps too weak to pray, well that is when we lift up one another in prayer, our sister or brother in Christ.
 
Being part of a faith community like this of St. Julia is a beautiful thing.  Many generations gather each and every week, whether that be in person or virtually, to listen to the Word of God, to be fed by the Eucharist, and to be recharged and refueled.  And when our hearts are perhaps frightened, we are reminded to “Be strong, fear not.  Here is your God!”
 
As we begin this new month, we pray in a special way for the youth and young adults of our parish family.  We pray for those who long to be one in person with us at Mass and may still feel uncomfortable gathering together.  And we pray for an end to this pandemic, that we may all do our part, because we are in this together, united as one Body of Christ.
 
I had a very pleasant time away from the parish in Montreal and have returned refreshed and ready to serve you, my parish family.  I thank the priests who assisted in my absence, and pray that God will continue to bless them in their ministry and good works.
 
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

​On one of my recent visits to a parishioner in a long-term care facility, I smile in thinking that I learned more from this faith-filled lady in our time together than any words I may have offered to comfort her.  She said, “Fr. Greg, remember that the doors of the church open outward, not inward.” 
 
In our second reading from James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 we will hear the words, “Welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”  James does not mince words, for this is a loud and clear summary how we are to live, by being doers of the word and not hearers only.  Here is the gift that we have been given – we are blessed to be able to gather together as a community to listen to the Word of God and to see how God speaks to us through His living Word.  We must listen to Scripture, always taking in the Word of God in the light of all Scripture, in the light of the early church teachers of the Christian faith, and in the light of the teachings of the Church, the Church magisterium.  We are not simply called to hear this Word and to simply be on our way, or that it does not apply to us.  This can be a challenge, I must admit. 
 
As with every challenge, I believe that there is an opportunity.  We are called to take the Word, meditate with the Word, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, allow it to guide us in our actions.  That is when we are living out our faith.  This is where we put our faith into action.  When the priest or deacon proclaims at the end of Mass, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your lives,” these are our marching orders, by Christ himself.  To care for the basic needs of those in our community.  To restore dignity to those in need.  To bring hope to those who are suffering.  To lend a helping hand.  To help guide and educate the young around us, and the young at heart.  To care for the sick, and to be a friend to the homebound.  This is who we are as a Church, as disciples of Christ.
 
When we push the doors of the church open and outward, we exit, refueled and recharged to do exactly that, having been fed by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ.
 
This weekend I thank you for warmly welcoming Msgr. Leo Clutterbuck back to celebrate Mass with you.  May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to seeing you next weekend upon my return from some summer holidays.
 
Fr. Greg

Yesterday I had the blessed opportunity to visit a number of our parishioners in Hotel Dieu Shaver.  We are blessed to have this fine rehabilitation center in our own backyard.  It was a reminder to me that, even with good intentions, days, weeks, and months pass by, and I fail to reach out to members of our community who are so very grateful for a visit and for me to bring the sacraments to them, namely the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist.  These are two powerful sacraments where those in need encounter Christ as we pray for comfort, strength, and healing.
 
One of the most important works of mercy we can do is to visit the sick.  Whether they be family members, friends, parishioners, or even strangers, those who are sick need to know that their lives have value because they are loved by God.  As Catholics, we can witness to God’s love and show people who are sick that we love them too.
 
In his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, St. John Paul II explains that the sick need to know people care about them: “The request which arises from the human heart in the supreme confrontation with suffering and death, especially when faced with the temptation to give up in utter desperation, is above all a request for companionship, sympathy and support in the time of trial.  It is a plea for help to keep on hoping when all human hopes fail.”  It is our role as Catholics to encourage people who are sick or dying and give them hope. 
 
I am most grateful when a family member or fellow parishioner alerts me of someone who is sick and in need of a visit.  These are some of the most precious and memorable moments of my ministry. 

​Perhaps there is someone who you have been meaning to call or perhaps due to the pandemic you have been putting off a visit.  Please do not put it off as there are ways to visit safely.  That visit, and perhaps the prayers that you offer together, could very well be the very thing that brightens that person’s day and aids in their healing.  May that person look into your eyes and see the eyes of Christ.  When you speak may they hear the voice of Christ.  And when you hold their hand may they feel the comforting touch of Christ.  Just remember to sanitize first.
 
I look forward to us gathering for Mass this weekend, either in person or virtually.  May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Julia Parish,
 
This weekend in the life of the Church we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This solemnity always falls on August 15, and because it falls on a Sunday this year of 2021, it supersedes the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time.  As with every solemnity, we proclaim the Gloria / Glory to God in the Highest, and recite the Nicene or Apostles Creed.  So, what is it that we celebrate today?  That the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed both body and soul into heaven, and that she was spared the corruption of death.  This was defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950 and is considered official Church teaching.  It is only the second time that “Papal infallibility” (that the Pope was teaching something that was free from error and something that was official Church teaching) was ever invoked in the Church.  I’ve included a number of “questions and answers” below regarding the Assumption of Mary for your information and enrichment.
 
While the Assumption of Mary has spurred debate among Catholics and Christians alike, one thing is certain.  We need Mary in our lives.
 
In a 2002 homily, Pope John Paul II said:
 
“If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life.
If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope.
If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace, Mother of the Prince of Peace.”
 
May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother, our Mother of life, our Mother of Hope, our Mother of Peace.
 
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
 
May God continue to bless each of you and those that you love, and I look forward to you joining me for the celebration of Mass this weekend.
 
Fr. Greg