Message from the Rector

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November 10, 2019

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Monday is Remembrance Day. The commemorative tableaux that are installed on the walls in the central entrance of our church remind us that families were deeply affected by the loss of members of their families. The loss of Canadian military lives in Afghanistan reminds us that armed conflict still results in the death of family members – fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.  Our prayers certainly are directed so that the reign of peace made possible in Christ Jesus may extend to all peoples and nations. Our prayer, particularly in this month when we remember the deceased, necessarily should extend to the men and women in military service who made the supreme sacrifice in defending the liberties and life that we enjoy as Canadians. We must never forget!

Reflection on the readings of recent Sundays has reinforced, for me, that mercy is a primary quality of God revealed to us by Jesus Christ. Our salvation is not one that we win for ourselves but is God’s gift made possible through the person and mission of our Lord. It brings me back to one of the regular themes of my pastoral ministry: penitents need to be careful in the frequency with which they go to confession. On the one hand, the life of virtue requires that we make our personal efforts to create that spiritual ground where God’s grace finds its most fruitful outcome. On the other hand, the Sacrament of Confession needs to be primarily an experience of God’s grace and not what I do when confronted with my own sin. I have written more extensively on this matter in previous bulletins. My text from March is still available on our website – basilica.ca.

Next Sunday, November 17 is the World Day of the Poor instituted by Pope Francis in 2017 so that “throughout the world Christian communities can become an even greater sign of Christ’s charity for the least and those most in need.” In our country, with the approach of winter, we are particularly attentive to the needs of our brothers and sisters requiring warm clothing and shelter. The recent collection of the Knights of Columbus for their “Coats for Kids” program reminded us of this particular need. Our parishioners, once again, have been generous in responding to this practical need of those less fortunate.

Father Kevin