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, March 31st – 9:00 am James McGillivray
Tuesday, April 1st – 9:00 am Florence/Michaelena McLaughlin
& Kay McGraw
Wednesday, April 2nd – 9:00 am Jennifer Calhoun (Anniv)
Thursday, April 3rd – 9:00 am Pieter Kalverboer
Friday, April 4th – 9:00 am Carmie Scaplen
Saturday, April 5th – 5:00 pm Margaret Dionne (Anniv)
Sunday, April 6th – 11:00 am Deceased Members of Duffy
& Lenihan Families
Weekly Reflections (Homily) from Msgr. Sheehan (Updated March 28, 2025)
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Dear friends;
We have just heard, what some have called – “the greatest of all Jesus’ parables.” It is certainly the most popular – and the best known.
One author comments about it: “as the story unfolds – it combines into a succinct pattern such themes as freedom and responsibility, estrangement, the personalities of life, longing and return, grace anguish and reconciliation… which are all universal characteristics of life – and basic human needs…” Thus, no doubt, its great popularity.
It is about so many things… it is told because the Pharisees and scribes were complaining about Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them… he accepted them…
It is about acceptance – but it is also about sinfulness… about coming to one’s senses… about asking forgiveness… it is about needing forgiveness… it’s about envy… if not jealousy… it’s about reminding one of who truly is… a brother of one who strays… it’s about asking the brother not only to be a real brother… but reminding him that he is a son also of a loving Father.
I want to reflect on two elements in the parable… relating to forgiveness and reconciliation… and perhaps give a reason that sometimes the theme might not mean enough to us as it should.
Firstly – the need to express our sorrow… and secondly, the attending joy of being forgiven – which so many of us miss out on.
Firstly, the need to express our sorrow and ask for forgiveness – Most of us, dear friends – fail or sin privately… we all sin… we are all sinners… but most of us sin in manners or matters which only relate to our selves.
We may hurt or wrong our parents, or our family, we may betray our spouse, we may slight a friend, we may be dishonest, we may be abusive… lazy, unkind – but very few people know about it… and thus our need for forgiveness is slight… we know that it can be repaired privately, by a gesture, by a conversation, by an attempt to change behaviour.
But there is a whole other need for forgiveness when one “sins” publicly – one’s transgression is public… it is known – it is public – it is known in the family – it is known amongst the friends… it’s known amongst associates.
There is shame, -- there is embarrassment, and guilt – there are feelings of revulsion at one’s behaviour – there is an awareness that people are talking… there is certainty that one is rejected…
The need for forgiveness in such circumstances can’t be compared to earlier examples… one is conscious of what one has done… “one has come to his senses” as the parable tells… and the need for forgiveness and acceptance – is acute – one believes that one’s standing is jeopardized and lost.
“I don’t deserve any longer to be called your son.”
A person in that situation – wants desperately to be forgiven… and needs to say I’m sorry”…
We all need to be able to say “I’m sorry.” Not like in the movie “Love Story” – “Love means never having to say I’m sorry…” Love means – being able – courageously enough to say – “I’m sorry” and saying it many times.
The prodigal son – said – “I’m sorry” I’m so sorry that I don’t deserve any longer to be called a son… I don’t deserve to be called your son.
We have to be able to say – “I’m sorry.” And to say “I’m sorry” we have to come to our senses… or to ourselves our best selves.
And to say “I’m sorry” – we have to need forgiveness – none of this would take place if the son didn’t say – “I’m sorry!”
Now to the second part… the forgiveness of the Father and the resultant joy of the son…
Forgiveness brings joy, reconciliation, brings peace… and acceptance… and return to standing… thanksgiving and gratitude… but it cannot be experienced unless one goes through the journey to forgiveness… then one can praise – then one can celebrate.
Integral to the joy and praise for reconciliation – is believing that one is forgiven for what one acknowledges.
When that happens – the Father is so ready… and he wants every member of his family to be of the same mind…
When the older son is slighted by his Father’s behaviour – he reminds him of who he is… this is not just my son – who has come home, who was lost and is found… who was dead and come back to life… he is your brother…
Paul must have heard this parable… because he talks about the community forgiving – we are a reconciling Church or we are nothing!
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself – and has given us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Cor. 5, 19)
Let us be forgiving dear people… let us learn to say “I’m sorry”… let us forgive ourselves… let us forgive one another… let us welcome back… let us praise God – that in revealing Him – Jesus accepts sinners and welcomes them.
Amen.