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United with the Saints - All Saints Day
One of my first memories of going to Catholic liturgy is attending the Vigil for All Saints at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. What stands out so vividly is the procession they made while chanting the...
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Thanksgiving: A Call to Stewardship
The following text is taken from Fr. Michael McGourty and his Thanksgiving-themed homily at St. Peter's Parish in Toronto.
Thanksgiving is a North American holiday. If I remember my school lessons correctly, it derives from the experience of...
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The Archangels: Messengers of God's Love for All People
On September 29, the Archdiocese of Toronto will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Michael the Archangel, our diocesan Patron Saint. In this post, Fr. Michael McGourty of St. Peter's Parish shares with us his prepared remarks for his...
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"Being Called to Serve" – A Missionary's Perspective
The Totus Tuus program in the Archdiocese of Toronto has concluded for another summer, but the memories and experiences are still alive and fresh for many – missionary leaders included.
Each year, 20 young Catholic leaders act as missionaries...
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Entering the Digital Era: Video Conferencing
Caring for the gathered and reaching the scattered.
That wasn't just a vision statement for the Archdiocese of Toronto's Family of Faith Campaign, but an actual reality and objective.
Following a nearly month long installation at St...
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Welcoming the Stranger: World Refugee Day
On June 20, many people throughout the world celebrate World Refugee Day. It's on this day when many dedicate their lives to raising awareness of the plight of refugees and migrants around the world.
Since 2009, the Archdiocese of...
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Renewing the Earth with Spirit: Pentecost Sunday
At Pentecost we remember the descent of the Holy Spirit. I don't know about you, but often times I think of that in a personal way: What gifts has the Holy Spirit given me? What can I do with...
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On Earth as it is in Heaven: Ascension Sunday
"Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God" the Collect for the Ascension of the Lord begins "and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and where the head has gone before...
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Words and Actions Speak: Sixth Sunday of Easter
Actions, as the old saying goes, speak louder than words. While that isn't to say that what we as Catholics say doesn't matter, it does help us to understand that our actions have consequences, positive and negative...
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A New Heaven & Earth: Fifth Sunday of Easter
The second reading for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is one of my favorites. We hear from John that there is a new heaven and a new earth because the former ones have passed away. God, we hear, dwells with...
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Hearing the Shepherd's Voice: Fourth Sunday of Easter
Jesus, and the first audiences for the Gospels knew their animals. The Gospels are full of references to animals, and it seems that many times it is sheep.
I'm from the suburbs, the amount of things I know about...
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"United in Prayer" - Ordination Vigil
Before this year's candidates for priesthood walk down the aisle of St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, they will have been supported by parishioners and friends in prayer the night before.
Once again, the Office of Vocations, together with the...
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Renewed with Easter Joy: Third Sunday of Easter
In the Archdiocese of Toronto this year the Third Sunday of Easter is also the archdiocesan Neophyte Mass. The final period of the Christian Initiation of Adults is known as the Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy. It is...
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A Mercy So Rich: Divine Mercy Sunday
"….the Church must consider it one of her principal duties-at every stage of history and especially in our modern age-to proclaim and to introduce into life the mystery of mercy, supremely revealed in Jesus Christ." (Dives in...
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Celebrating A Love That Cannot Wait: Easter Sunday
The following homily was provided to us by Fr. Michael McGourty, Pastor of St. Peter's Parish in Toronto.
The celebration of Easter is for all Christians the highpoint of our year of faith. At Easter we celebrate the fact...
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Christ Our Light: The Great Vigil
The Easter Vigil is the final liturgy of the Triduum. It is the night that we "keep the memorial of the Lord's paschal solemnity…listening to his words and celebrating his mysteries…" (from the Greeting of the...
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Behold the Cross: Good Friday
Good Friday and Holy Saturday are the only two times when the Eucharist is not celebrated. It is a time where the Church sits in the reality that Christ is in the tomb. We sit in the reality of what...
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The Eucharist: Anything but Ordinary
"On the day before he was to suffer for our salvation and the salvation of all, that is today, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty...
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