Posts Tagged 'christmas'

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Homily – January 5th, 2025 – The Feast of the Epiphany

Homily – January 5th, 2025 – The Feast of the Epiphany

For the longest time I would get confused between the terms “astronomy” and “astrology.” I knew they both had to do with the stars, but after that the confusion set in. Astronomy is the scientific study of space, the universe, the cosmos. It’s based on math and science, and it’s goal is to help explain phenomena. Astrology, on the other hand, is not a science, but a pseudoscience that tries to explain human behavior based on the position of celestial ...

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Fr Phil

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Reflection – January 5th, 2025 – Feast of the Epiphany

Reflection – January 5th, 2025 – Feast of the Epiphany

Is It All About the Gifts?

On a social media post, I once read that if it had been three wise women instead of three wise men, the gifts offered at the birth of Jesus would have been far more practical.  Every year when we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, I think of that, and chuckle.  This year, however, I have been reflecting a lot on gifts in general: what they represent, how they are given, how they are received ...

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Ellen Bennett

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The Im/Perfect Family

The Im/Perfect Family

This weekend marks the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Like most lifelong Catholics, I am well familiar with the images of the Holy Family depicted in the nativity creche, the icons and other artistic works, or a diverse array of statues, big and small. At this time of year a visitor to my house will find a simple nativity creche set up (a gift from either my sister or Aunt Susan), usually illuminated by a ...

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Trevor Droesbeck

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Homily – December 24th, 2024 – Christmas Eve

Homily – December 24th, 2024 – Christmas Eve

I don’t know if you picked up on it or not, but all three readings–Isaiah, Paul’s letter to Titus, and Luke’s gospel—all spoke of rejoicing and good news. Isaiah says, “The darkness that once covered you is gone, for a light is shining upon you now, so rejoice like farmers rejoice at harvest time. Rejoice like one who once had a heavy burden, a bar across their shoulder, but now that weight is gone.” St. Paul says to Titus, “The ...

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Fr Phil

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Homily – December 8th, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

Homily – December 8th, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

Between 1962 and 1965, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Pope John XXIII, the Church underwent its greatest reform. We call it the Second Vatican Council. Even though it was the Roman Catholic bishops of the world who voted on final outcomes, it nonetheless sought out the opinion of other scholars and various experts, thereby making it an “ecumenical” council. Because it is 60 years in the rearview mirror, we tend to forget what a big deal Vatican ...

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Fr Phil

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Reflection – December 8th, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

Reflection – December 8th, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

Hope vs Expectation

In two different meetings I was in recently the conversation came up regarding the difference between hope and expectation.  In preparing for the First Sunday of Advent, where the theme is “hope”, it seemed like a natural topic to discuss.  I took the time to look up the definition of each word and this is what I found.  Expectation: a strong belief that something will happen or a belief that someone will or should achieve something.  Hope: to ...

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Mark Mahoney

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Homily – January 7th, 2024 – Epiphany of the Lord

Homily – January 7th, 2024 – Epiphany of the Lord

While away in Ottawa last week, and staying with my youngest brother, Todd, he introduced me to a wonderful show called Fake or Fortune. It’s been airing in Britain for about 12 years and has to do with art. (Europeans, in general, have much more of an appreciation for art than we, North Americans, do). I’ve just seen a couple of episodes, but I’m already hooked. The show deals with ordinary people, like ourselves, who have a piece of art ...

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Fr Phil

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Reflection – January 7th, 2024 – Epiphany of the Lord

Reflection – January 7th, 2024 – Epiphany of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. We celebrate the revelation that Jesus was born as the Son of God. Today’s Gospel illustrates this revelation through the story of the three Magi ( Wise Men) who travelled to visit Jesus following His birth.  

“There ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ...

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Cathy Keirstead

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Reflection – December 31st – Feast of the Holy Family

Reflection – December 31st – Feast of the Holy Family

Mary, A Model of Faith

Talk about a jampacked weekend. Sunday we are celebrating Epiphany, and then right back to church on Monday to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. I would like to use this reflection to focus on Mary, and what a model of faith she is for all of us. The Solemnity of Mary, from the church in Canada’s pointof view, carries a great deal of importance as it is one of only twoholy ...

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Mark Mahoney

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Homily ~ Christmas Eve – December 24th, 2023

Homily ~ Christmas Eve – December 24th, 2023

While baby showers have been around for a long time, gender reveal parties have only existed for less than 20 years. If you don’t already know, a gender reveal party is a party held during pregnancy to reveal the baby’s sex to the expectant parents’ family and friend, and sometimes to the parents themselves. To me, the real excitement is looking into the face of the newborn child…that’s the real reveal. There’s nothing more beautiful and nothing more  mesmerizing than ...

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Fr Phil

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