Once upon a time, a small, oppressed people gathered together to share a meal. Called together by Moses and Aaron, they heard of God's plan to set them free from their slavery in the land of Egypt. Invited to leave behind the pain of their past, they re-embraced their true identity as God's Cho
Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ
Fr. Raymond Lafontaine, E.V.February 21, 2016
Have you ever had an experience in your life that was so wonderful, you didn’t want it to ever end? Often, they are very short-lived experiences – a beautiful sunset, the feeling of connection with a friend, the ecstasy of falling in love, an exceptionally fine glass of wine, a beautiful dream f
Lent begins – as it does each year – with the familiar story of the temptations of Jesus. Because we have heard it so often, we can easily dismiss it as “same old, same old.” We hear the words, but miss the meaning; we don’t allow them to really challenge us … and thereby, heal us.
Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Often referred to as “Little Christmas,” Epiphany is in fact just as important as Christmas, as our brothers and sisters in the Eastern Christian churches know only too well.
That's What Christmas Is All about, Charlie Brown!
Fr. Raymond Lafontaine, E.V.December 25, 2015
We have just listened to the story of the birth of Jesus: “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, sheep and oxen, a miraculous birth: we know the story so well. Throughout history, in virtually every culture that the Gospel message has penetrated, people have been so moved by this story, that they can never only “tell” the story: they act it out, they paint it, they carve it, and most of all … they sing it, in a thousand different songs. Though the story is old, in every generation, we find new ways of singing the ancient mystery, new stories to give expression to “the greatest story ever told”.
Waiting. Trusting. Hoping. On this second Sunday of Advent, our liturgy invites us to cultivate hope. Hope, described by French poet Charles Peguy as the “little sister” of faith and charity, is a tremendously important virtue to name and claim.
Stay awake! Be alert! Get ready! Repent! The readings of these first weeks of Advent press upon us with an urgency which frankly, I find disturbing. As I read these texts, I found myself thinking: Enough already! There’s already enough bad stuff happening in the world – te
November is the month in which the Church commemorates our loved ones who have died. Secular culture, drawing on Celtic pagan rituals, has given us Hallowe’en: the night that the spirits run wild, that ghosts and goblins are on the loose.
This weekend and Monday, the Church celebrates the twin feasts of “All Saints” and “All Souls”. As early as the 4th century, the Church celebrated a solemn memorial of all martyrs. By the 9th century, this was extended to the whole Church as a way of honouringall the saints. Martyrs and confessors, monks and mystics, clergy and laity, men and women, famous or obscure, named or anonymous – all those whose lives and deeds inspire us, whose fidelity and holiness shine forth as examples of Christian life: all these are saints.
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