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, October 20th – 9:00 am Eugenie Babineau (Anniv)
Tuesday, October 21st – 9:00 am Anne Desmond
Wednesday, October 22nd – 9:00 am Special Intention
Thursday, October 23rd – 9:00 am Fearon Currie
Friday, October 24th – 9:00 am No Mass
Saturday, October 25th – 5:00 pm Deceased Members of Olive
& Bowlin Families
Sunday, October 26th – 11:00 am John J. Leahey (Anniv)
Weekly Reflections (Homily) from Msgr. Sheehan (Updated October 19, 2025)
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear friends:
Our texts this morning all speak to us of prayer of persevering prayer, more particularly. The first one speaks of Moses whose people had the advantage in was as long as he preserved in prayer. The second in Paul’s remarks to Timothy – He calls him to proclaim the message of the kingdom, with all patience and perseverance. Finally, we have the parable of the unjust judge and widow about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
Now prayer is something which we all do – some quite a bit of, and I suppose, others, perhaps too little of. – Let us concern ourselves today with a very common problem which is often uttered – and which perhaps we hear most often from people in hospitals, or from people experiencing difficulties of any kind.
The whole quest of prayer…
What does it mean to pray? Why pray? Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen anyway, we may say. Do we really believe that we can change the course of events? The way things are going to happen – they are going to happen!
Prayer poses a very grave problem for modern man, my dear friends. Let us not deny it – try and answer with any kind of clarity the man or woman who asks you why God has not heard their prayer for healing, why he allows some things which seem to be so terrible in our world to happen.
We have expressed here in a few words, the very reason why many people will not become believers in God or His son, Jesus Christ. How could God allow such suffering to take place? There is no God – there cannot be a being strong enough to prevent this – and yet allow it to happen! You have all heard such people, and such arguments. There is no easy answer to it, -- and if we try to answer it, let us remember that we do not know why some things happen. Yet we know enough to believe in Him, to trust Him, and to keep on asking of Him. Why? Partly, because of our own experience with each other. They say something of God. Yet, let us never forget, they say only a part.
The father-son relationship, the bridegoom-bride relationship, the shepherd-sheep relationship, -- all these have been used to describe the relationship of God to man. – What do they all involve? What do they all have in common?
Well, many things really. First, from the child to the parent, from bride to bridegroom – there must be love – they presuppose love. These relationships are rooted and founded on love. Love is their basis, their ground of being.
Secondly, then, from them, they manifest faith and trust.
Thirdly, they include in their very relationship dependence on one another.
Fourthly – we may add that this love, trust, dependence – exists because the son knows the father, the bride knows the bridegroom.
Now what does all this have to do with persevering prayer? It means, I think, that we have to allow for some transference of the virtues of those human relationships to the relationship which we have with God.
That if we love God – and truly love Him – that that is the basis and ground of our relationship with Him – that indeed we will depend on Him, we shall trust Him – because we know Him.
We know Him from a life experience, His love and mercy towards us – we have spoken to Him, we have praised Him, we have asked Him for needs – we have prayed to Him.
The message of today’s liturgy is to persevere in that prayer: --
“He told them a story about the need to pray always… and not to lose heart…”
There is enough in our world and in our lives to lose heart about.
If our prayer is based on the qualities of a long time relationship… then love, trust, knowledge of the other, dependence will be part of the prayer.
And that is what will prevent us from losing heart… we will know that things may indeed look bleak… they have looked bleak before…
Reverses, setbacks, failure, though for a time – our portion – they will not destroy us… they will not overcome us…
Trust, dependence, knowledge of the other – will not allow us to give in fully to despair… God will not abandon us…
He will not abandon us… individually, He will not abandon us as a group… His son has told us too often… “Fear not, little flock… I will not leave you orphans…”
We – in order not to lose heart must come together… in our time of need.
As the Lord heard Moses’ prayers… when others came to hold up his hands and arms as they grew weary – as he grew weary… “And Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hand, one on one side, and the other on the other side…” And so his hands were steady…
Hold firm… steady the trembling knees… continue in what you have learned and firmly believed… knowing from whom you have learned it… pray always… and do not lose heart.
Amen.
Click here for more information about the 2025 Harvest Supper
Dear Parishioners:
We will be holding a Fall Harvest Supper this year on Sunday, November 2nd from 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm in Assumption Centre.
As in previous years, we are asking for monetary donations that we can be used towards the purchase of the necessary food items to make our supper a successful event. To help with costs, you may on your envelopes give an added amount for groceries, indicating that it is for Fall Supper.
Volunteer sheets will be available at the main entrance of the church – to set up, prepare food, serving and clean up. Please consider offering to help.
Thank you for your support. Msgr. Sheehan