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Sunday 22 March 2020

LENT IV -- Laetare Sunday


MARCH 22, A.D. 2020

Dear Friends,

In these very worrying times I want to thank you for your prayers, especially for all those who are called to assist the sick and their families.  We rely ever more upon prayer in this battle which is being waged at so many levels worldwide. Pray for fortitude in the weeks to come.

Special thanks to those at STM Toronto who have been faithful in their presence and in serving at Sunday Mass which has been temporarily suspended.  

This morning  I will celebrate our pro populo Laetare Mass privately at the dining room table in our apartment as we are joined in spiritual communion and in asking God's grace for our small parish and the world.

My prayer will be that as the rose (symbolized in today's liturgy) emerges from the death of winter, so we all will emerge from a Lent of spiritual and physical challenges to give thanks for the enduring grace of God and for the beauty of creation which is always a sign of the resurrection and of the eternal mercy of God.

May the sufferings of our Lord Jesus be joined with those of his people as we look for the light at the end of a long Lenten trial.

Faithfully in Christ,

JH


And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flames are in-folded 
Into the crowned knot of fire 
And the fire and the rose are one.    


 T.S. Eliot quotes Dame Julian of Norwich 
in Little Gidding, The Four Quartets



Tuesday 17 March 2020

Due to COVID19 concerns:

Sunday Mass at STM Toronto 
is cancelled 
until further notice 
as well as 
Mass at local hospitals.