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 16th – 9:00 am           In Thanksgiving

Tuesday, March 17th – 9:00 am                       Francois & Louise Cordeau                                                           

Wednesday, March 18th – 9:00 am                Souls in Purgatory                                       

Thursday, March 19th – 9:00 am                     Mary Lou Joyce

Thursday, March 19th – 10:30 am                  Barb Weir (Carleton Kirk)                                                                 

Friday, March 20th – 9:00 am                           John Wright                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Saturday, March 21st – 5:00 pm                      Wilfrid/Olive Bowlin & DMF                                                           

Sunday, March 22nd – 11:00 am                     Evelyn Amero (Anniv)

Weekly Reflections (Homily) from Msgr. Sheehan (March 13, 2026)

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT  

My dear friends;

            For all the centrality of the episode of “the man born blind” in the gospel to-day… and his movement from being physically blind to his spiritual seeing and faith – “Lord, I believe” and he worshipped him – it is in the first reading – from the first book of Samuel that the real background to the whole message of to-day is found.

            Samuel is sent out by God to find the new leader of his people… and he is to be found among the sons of Jesse –

            “Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem – for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

            So when the sons of Jesse came – Samuel looked on Eliab and thought…

            “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.”

            But the Lord said to Samuel – and this is the message which I want to dwell on to-day my dear friends – listen to what Samuel is told:

                        “Do not look on his appearance

                        or on the height of his stature,

                        because I have rejected him;

                        for the Lord does not see as mortals see

                        they look on the outward appearance,

                        but the lord looks on the heart.”    (7-9)

            “The Lord does not see as mortals see”…  When Jeremiah would be vilified in the face of accusers – he too would appeal to God’s total knowledge of him… thus allowing him to see differently than what might appear -:

            “But you, Yahweh Saboath, who pronounce a just sentence – who probe the loins and heart…  You know me, Yahweh, you see me, you probe my heart, it is in your hands…”

            The Gospel to-day tells us of an account of someone born blind…  Who goes from physical blindness to – spiritual seeing – faith.  Like the words in the beautiful hymn “Amazing Grace” – “I was dead – but now I live – I was blind but now I see…” –

            To see things differently, to see them in a new light, to remove the darkness, the stumbling… the blind spot… to walk in the light…

            To be led out of the darkness… to see again… to live again… to hope again…

            One of the things for all of us to be freed of the darkness… is to allow others to lead us… to help us… to entrust ourselves to people who know more than the appearances… who don’t judge only on appearances…

            People who do something of what Jeremiah says – God does… “You see me – you probe my heart”…

            Parents do that with their children, spouses do that with each other… even the most simple invitation – “Honey, tell me, what is really bothering you…”

            That is really, probing the heart…  That is at least trying to see differently…  That kind of seeing takes patience, takes trust, takes time – takes gentleness… takes love…

            But that is the kind of “seeing” that leads people out of the darkness…  that is applying the healing “mud” – the stuff of the earth… and the washing… the rubbing and cleansing…

            Jesus touched the blind man… he molded mud into his eyes… Can you imagine the gentleness of the Lord’s hands…?  He talked to him… and he probably even held him…  He certainly had quite an effect on him because he not only did what Jesus asked – he took on single-handedly the Pharisees…  He went from a blind beggar – a considered sinner – an outcast… to someone who stands up to be driven out by the Pharisees – who can’t handle the light of the message which he proclaims…

            Paul’s message to the Ephesians… to us my dear friends, is for to-day… “once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light…” – allow yourselves to see things differently… become more and more… see things more like God… be people who know how to probe the heart… you will see differently –

            Amen.