"Then, speaking to all, he said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me." ( Luke 9:23)
This message from Today's Gospel reading is one of the most helpful to me during my times of struggle within my faith journey. It is through this that I am humbled and also directed back to the sufferings of Jesus and the Cross He carried. Through this reflection I am able to recognize the smallness of my own trials, while at the same time being made aware of the love that Jesus had for each of us. With this realization one can work fervently to mortify those things within that may take them far from God and their faith. We must recognize the importance of sacrifice and gladly take up our "Cross". In our times of difficulty, pain, toil, and confusion about "why" certain things are occurring may we look toward the Cross and trust that Jesus journeys with us and made the ultimate sacrifice for us. (C.C.)

A Symbol Of Our Faith. By: C.C.

Tomorrow we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. A time in which we pause and begin a reflective journey in our faith. It is a time for us as Catholics to focus on our relationship with God and note the times that we have fallen short. It is a journey toward becoming a better Catholic; a time to repent and become new in many senses. For each person this Lenten journey will be very different. Many will hold themselves accountable to more prayer time, attending Mass more often, or perhaps finally making a return to the Sacrament of confession. This day is symbolized by the marking of ashes upon our foreheads....serving as an outward sign of an inward surrender and repentance. Tonight I pray for all of you as you begin your Lenten journeys, I pray that you may grow in your relationship with Jesus and your faith. Proudly wear your ashes and let the world know "whose" you are. (C.C.)

"Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for all those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all who believe." (Bl. Pope John Paul II)

Congratulations Cardinal Collins!

Here in Toronto everyone is very proud and in prayer for Cardinal Collins. One of Canada`s most recently appointed Cardinals.

Family Day Reflection. By: C.C.

"To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others" (Bl. Pope John Paul II)

Today is Family Day, a holiday recognized by three provinces in Canada. Beyond receiving an extra day of Sabbath, today is a day for us to acknowledge the importance and role of family in our lives. Exceeding beyond our very own homes and families I feel called today to pause, reflect, and pray for families everywhere. I have read many things written by our Blessed Pope John Paul II and am always deeply moved by his writings on the role of family. He defintiely stressed the importance of the family being a healthy place of faith, love, and joy. Unfortunately today's society seems to have lost much of this focus. There is little emphasis on family and unity and much more attention paid to the building up of individuals, leading to the destruction of family . Maintaining a sense of unity and love within a family is crucial. The way this can be made possible is by having a strong focus on God and faith. Some of the most loving and unified families around me are those who attend Mass together and share in family prayer times. As schedules differ and commitments build there may be a loss of much quality time amongst family members. Often it seems that even sharing family meals is difficult. We must recognize the need for us to prioritize our lives and not lose sight of what/who is truly important. Bl. PJP II reminds us that to maintain a joyful family requires us to become a servant to one another, proving that the family setting is a perfect opportunity for us to live out our Catholic faith. We must respond to the way we are called to live by God, and carry that with us into our dealings with our family members. This idea of being a "servant"of the other can carry multiple meanings. At times we may simply have to fulfill household chores, and other moments we may be called to sacrifice comforts, time, and space in order to better accomodate our family members. In some of lifes more intense moments we are called to wipe tears, hold hands at hospital bedsides, and be of great comfort when it is needed. When families resemble the design that God intended for our lives there is nothing else like it in the world. There is nothing more important than time spent together, than the selfless exhange of love, than the making of memories that live on long after the Lord calls us home. No matter what our family life may look like we must hold tightly to our Lord and pray for His guidance to help us create the joy within our families that He wills us to have. Lord, Today I pray for families everywhere. May every person be able to experience love, joy, and peace within their family atmosphere. Lord provide a feeling of family for those who feel alone and unloved, may Your warmth and care surround them each and everyday. I pray tonight that families everywhere recognize the need for Jesus within their lives. Holy Family interceed for us within our own homes, may we strive to serve one another each day with sacrifice. Bless those who are far away from their families and missing them each day. Lord care for our Priests and those in religious order may they constantly feel a part of each family that they serve. May every family be open to life, understanding the importance of serving the Lord through the gift of children. Provide us with the strength to love selflessly, the will to forgive, and a heart that longs to be like the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen. (C.C)

Happy Family Day to all!

"The greatest fault we commit in our prayers, in our occupations and in our setbacks is the lack of confidence in God. This is the reason why we fail to receive from the Divine Goodness the help we deserve and ask for. " (St. Francis DeSales)

Faith and Works. By: C.C

"You see now that it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that someone is justified. As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds." (James 2:24-26)

The Book of James is one that I can read over and over again without ever tiring. I can not tell you how over joyed I have been at each evening Mass this week....given that the readings have been from The Book of James. As I sat in Church tonight and reflected upon the first reading, I could not help but feel a deep connection to my own life. I sat in quiet thought and tried to think of the ways in which I extend my faith beyond words, thoughts, and feelings. Do deeds accompany my faith? How can I be more like Abraham, putting faith toward the Lord into my actions and deeds? I am sure that this Scripture passage can be interpreted many ways. Each person will draw their own conclusions and sentiments as to what deeds and actions the Lord is calling them towards to be "justified". Personally I feel that our deeds from faith exceed those of service towards others that are publicly displayed. We are called to commit good deeds even when others are not watching. We must examine our hearts to make sure that the deeds we perform are for His glory and not our own. Are we working through and with faith? These are questions that we must often ask ourselves. As we come to reflect upon these few words I have shared from today's reading, one may also begin to realize that faith without works is meaningless. What good is believing in the Lord if there is little action and reflection of His light through our lives? Do we show by our deeds that we believe? Our faith and our actions must be intertwined so that those looking in at our lives can see that we are believers in Christ...responding to our call to become Saints. Lord provide us with the clarity and understanding of our faith so that we are able to recognize the need for "works". Let us humble ourselves and serve You by serving others in any way that we may be called to. Lord thank You for Your unchanging love and for all of the blessings that You give. Guide us each day to deepen our relationship with You and respond to the daily call. May all of our deeds and actions be those that reflect our faith and Your light, love, peace, joy, and sacrifice. May the Holy Spirit fill us with a fire for our faith that will fuel everything we do in our days. Keep us protected Lord and enable us to do good deeds even in times that seem difficult. Lord..help us to see that "it is by deeds, and not only by believing, that someone is justified." Amen. (C.C.)

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