Sunday Liturgy
Saturday: 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am
Mission Statement
We are a welcoming Christian community called to embrace and respect the uniqueness of each individual as we join together in our faith and worship. Our ongoing mission is to engage our youth, promote renewal, out reach, evangelization and ecumenical cooperation.MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Monday, April 27th – 9:00 am Margaret Robichaud
Tuesday, April 28th – 9:00 am Laurie Maillet
Wednesday, April 29th – 9:00 am Andrew Arseneau
Thursday, April 30th – 9:00 am Audrey Leahey (Anniv)
Friday, May 1st – 9:00 am First Friday – Patrick LeBlanc
Saturday, May 2nd – 5:00 pm Roy Lord
Sunday, May 3rd – 11:00 am Richard McLean
Weekly Reflections (Homily) from Msgr. Sheehan (April 24, 2026)
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Dear friends:
“He’s a good boy, Father! But he’s easily led… not always in the right direction!”
A mother sighs as she tries to defend her son’s actions – or behaviour… she knows that he’s easily influenced… follows too easily…
Apprehensive parents often have to hand over you people to teachers, coaches, mentors of one kind or another…
Sometimes they know that the official person has too many to be attentive to… so they ask another person on the team… or in school to help out… to “keep an eye on him, for me… wouldn’t you!!?”
My father when he and my mother dropped me off at St. Joseph’s College… my father being a former Holy Cross seminarian – and knowing some of the priests who would be teaching me – asked one or two of them after meeting with them and renewing old friendships – said… “My boy will be studying here… keep an eye on him…”
He wasn’t asking for any special favours… other than and intimation that I could use “close observation”… I needed to be shepherded! Shepherded through early days of new surroundings… new situations… new circumstances…
It is part of learning, of growing up… discovering… and if we’re not taught well from the beginning it’s something that influences us for the rest of our life…
“Keep an eye on him…” “Look out… watch over… intervene if you have to…”
That happens when we’re young… young in reality… or new with, young at something…
When I was a young priest… besides all the study or training that I had to go through, I needed “mentors”… somebody whom, when I finally started to minister… whom would observe me… and I – them. I’ve always said… the first appointment is the most important of all for a priest’s ministry…
I was very fortunate… my first appointments were with wise, generous… and zealous priests…
They “shepherded” me through ministry… what they said, how they acted… how they dealt with people served me to this day… because when I started I was like a sheep… a lost sheep… rather helpless… hesitant… reluctant… unconfident…
I needed to be encouraged, affirmed… and other sometimes challenged… even corrected…
I came to know whom to listen to… who had my best interests are heart… whom I could trust… whom I was reluctant to trust…
I know now… how wonderfully I was shepherded… gently, firmly… with wisdom and patience… and that these good priests like old Fr. Joe Daly, Fr. Gilbert and Msgr. Gallagher… my first three pastors… became something like shepherds to me… something like the good shepherd that Jesus is.
They came to know me… I came to know them… know their voice… their manner… their hopes… their expectations…
A trust was developed between us… The Bishop had entrusted me to their care… their shepherding…! “Who knows… he probably even told them… with major apprehension… “Keep an eye on him!! So that he doesn’t stray… and get lost!!”
God is the shepherd… we are his flock… He shepherds us… He is close to us… He leads us… in right paths… through dark valleys to green pastures… He is with us… and we need not fear… He is with us with his rod and staff… the shepherd’s instruments to lead us and protect us…
He feeds us… and make us dwell with him… forever…
He sends us other shepherds… none like his Son… who is the good shepherd… the voice of that Shepherd can always be trusted… known… recognized… followed… with assurance, with confidence…
It is not the voice of a stranger… not the voice of one who would ever harm… or take advantage of… or take away from… stealing and hurting has nothing to do with that shepherd…
He has not come to destroy… to crush… crush hopes, and expectations… and fragile youth…lambs of innocence… That would be the way of a thief and a killer of hopes and dreams…
He comes to build… to lead gently… to “train”… and affirm… to protect… to watch over… to bring in… to lead out… to be with… never to abandon…
But above all – he come to give life… and abundant life… and if we follow him… and listen to him… and take home to ourselves all that he says, and does, and calls us to… we will have life…
This is eternal life… “to behold” him… Jesus Christ… Look to the Shepherd… the Good Shepherd… for he… “keeps his eye on us… always.”
Amen.