RECEIVE WITH JOY By: Elizabeth Chesley-Jewell As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ this weekend, I am reminded of being seven years old and being so excited to receive my First Holy Communion. I wore a beautiful white dress. I had a
BAPTIZED IN THE TRINITY By Emily VanBerkum Lately, I have been reflecting on my participation in our parish’s baptismal preparation program and what a great joy it is for me to meet parents that desire baptism for their children. Our program has changed a little in the
UNITING DIVERSITY by Lucinda M. Vardey What do we receive when we receive the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is often described as the Paraclete, which in the original Greek and Latin means comforter, consoler and advocate. St. Paul enhances our understanding by listing the diverse gifts and fruits
THE SWEETEST BLOOM John Dalla Costa If you left St. Basil last week by the western exit you were no doubt as stunned as I was by the trees in full blossom at the gate to Scollard Park. Pausing to wonder at the colour I was struck
IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ULTIMATE LOVER By Leanna Cappiello There is no doubt that the word “love” is over-used in our society today. We liberally toss the word around, “I love that decor,” “I love a good cigar,” “I am in love with this country!” If
SPRING GARDENING By Fr. Chris Valka, CSB The Gospel this week speaks of Jesus as the vine and ourselves as the branches. Those branches that do not bear fruit, we are told, will be cut off. But even those that do, will still be pruned so that
A Reversal of Expectations By Emily VanBerkum Today’s readings are very much in keeping with the spirit of the Easter season, by inviting us to continue to reverse our expectations. Eastertide is all about letting go of what we thought we knew and embracing possibilities of what
PERFECTING PEACE by Lucinda M. Vardey Fr. Tim was pastor of my parish in England before I came to Canada. A Catholic convert, he held rather unorthodox ideas regarding sin and penance. He argued that most wrongdoing among his parishioners was because we did not know any better: we
THE BENEFIT OF A DOUBT by John Dalla Costa Only one week after the exuberance of Easter the Church presents us with the gospel story of Thomas and his doubts. Why this juxtaposition between the glory of Resurrection and the hesitation from suspicion? And why now? The obvious
A SEASON OF NEWNESS By Fr. Chris Valka, CSB We are told that for everything and for everyone, there is a season. Today, we mark the changing from one season into another. Lent to Easter. Winter to Spring. Death to Life. Barrenness to Glory. However, we can