Broken Marriages and Relationships

As a priest in the church, I am very sensitized to the very real brokenness in human lives and families.

Every family I meet, pastor to, and build relationships with, whether in joyful or sorrowful circumstances, I quickly discover their wounds.

Every person, every family, in one way or another, is broken and wounded. No one is excluded. Some may try to hide it, but none are excluded.

In our Canadian Society, Sunday was "Father's Day." For various reasons, including the magnitude of divorced marriages and broken relationships around us, again as a priest giving pastoral oversight and leadership to the community, I choose not to celebrate Father's Day or Mother's Day in our liturgy or mass or worship on that Sunday. I know that for many families that it is not a day to celebrate.

Not only am I sensitive to marriage issues because of my pastoral experience, but also from my personal life.

My father was an alcoholic and, in the best interest of her children,  my mother left him when I was only four years old. I grew up in a single parent family where my mother had to work overtime to feed, clothe and care for her children.

I am thankful for my mother's sacrifice. And in the context of a broken relationship, her continued love and support was the very best that she could give to me. And, believe me, I am thankful for her commitment to us.

In marriages and relationships that are going well, if couples are wise, they will learn more relational tools to make their marriage even better.

In marriages and relationships that are not going well, couples can learn more about themselves and what is necessary to help their relationship survive.

In marriages and relationships that fail, for whatever reasons, people can learn how to best move on with their lives in separate directions, If children are involved, parents can learn how to put their children first, and how to best care for and support them in their context.

There is absolutely nothing easy about sustaining healthy relationships throughout a lifetime.

What has healed me in my broken relationship with my dad, is an open and life giving relationship with my Heavenly Father fully revealed in Christ. As I know the joy and love with being in relationship with  Christ, I am better able to forgive those who hurt me, and I am better able to forgive myself when I let others down.

What I desire most is to be in right relationship - with those close to me, with the community, with the stranger....with my Maker.

Love,
Father Gerald+

Holy Communion

Holy Communion

The entire story of our salvation and the call into Life are in the sacrament of the Holy Communion.

It is a sacrament of unity

It is a sacrament of oneness

Through the power of the Cross and Resurrection, all are called to participate in oneness with the Lord.

If you accept forgiveness in Christ, you are called to the Eucharistic Table.

No one is omitted.

No one is told they are not welcome.

Facing God and one another

Eucharist is about facing God and being one with God.

Eucharist is about facing one another and being one with one another.

Our Oratory is about facing the Lord and facing one another in the power of His Love.

Our Emmaus Cafe  is about welcoming everybody/anybody in the power of His Love.

The Church, the Eucharistic Church, is an inclusive church.

It is a Church that when something is wrong in a relationship or in the community, we seek to reconcile, to work it out.

The Christian filled with the Spirit of God desires unity with all, and would never make someone unwelcome.

Our doors are open daily, and ALL ARE WELCOME at the table of the Lord: people you know,
 people you don’t know,  those you like, those you don’t like,  those who are saints, those who are sinners.

Jesus died and rose for all people.

Jesus died in order to make us one with the Father and one with one another.

Jesus said “This is my body, this is my blood” to all people.

The Lord Jesus is the host of this community, He invites us to the feast of His Body and Blood, the feast of His life and love.

There is no one who is not welcome to join us, the parish of the Resurrection, in the love and fellowship of our daily café ministry.

There is no one who is not welcome in our Oratory as we gather around the table of the Lord.

We are the Church of God, we are the Body of Christ.

We are a school of love and life.

Our mission is to lead all people into the paths of freedom,  where they can indeed be loved, where we can indeed become people who will love.

Money

Last night our parish had its 10th annual spring auction. It was an absolutely wonderful night. Music, fine dining, beautifully decorated space, and a 100 people of good cheer and good will.

A huge amount of effort and organization goes into putting off such an event. The commitment of the organizers, the charity of the donors, the generosity of the participants.

It is through events like our annual auction that I am reminded that there are people who understand and support the important work that we do as a church.

But events like the auction is not enough to support the church's ongoing and demanding mission of the transformation of hearts, minds and societies.

The church needs people to support its day to day work with:
- yes with some of their time,
- yes with some of their gifts,
- but also yes with their money. Regular and consistent contributions at that!

We've all heard the old saying that "money makes the world go round." Money is not what we live for, but money is required to support life with all of its different needs. And the absolutely necessary work of the church is among those needs that require financial support.

Wherever you are, know that the church in your community is doing very important and worthwhile work. It needs your support.