- Fr. Rob Arsenault, Pastor
I am from Summer Side, PEI, born into a military family so I have lived almost everywhere. My family final settled in Kingston. After high school I had been studying electrical engineering (poorly) when I began discerning the call to the priesthood. I was originally ordained for the Kingston Archdiocese in 1994, but I have been living with the Companions of the Cross Community since 2005. I made my final promises with the Companions on Sept 14th 2011. My personal interests are a bit varied; I have a sailboat and was involved in racing during my time in Halifax. I hope to get back to skiing now that I am living closer to the mountains and at one time was into white water canoeing. I do play golf, but primarily as a penance for past sins! I joined the Companions because I was interested in parish renewal and I was not so interested in the prospect of living and working alone for the remainder of my priesthood. I have served as a pastor for most of my priesthood in both the Archdiocese of Kingston and of Halifax. I was chaplain at Dalhousie and St. Mary's Universities and Director of Evangelization for Halifax prior to being appointed Vocations and Admissions Director for the Companions of the Cross. Two years ago was also elected to the Companions Executive Council and given the role of Secretary General. I look forward to getting to know you all as your priest at Annunciation and in serving you as best as I am able and as the Lord would have me.Pax, Fr. Rob
Fr. John Likozar, Associate Pastor
I am originally from Toronto, having lived there for 27 years. Before joining the Companions of the Cross I was working at a food distribution company in Ottawa. I also have experience as an auto mechanic. While I was living and working in Ottawa I joined St. Mary’s Parish and became involved with the Young Adults community. After taking a Life in the Spirit seminar I began to hear God asking me to consider the priesthood. After months of prayer and personal discernment I approached Fr. Bob Bedard who encouraged me to explore this call further and to move into the Companions household. This I did the following September 1993. I spent the next 7 years studying and discerning the call and each year seemed to confirm my vocation to priesthood and to the Companions of the Cross. I was ordained to the priesthood June 10th, 2000 and spent some time ministering at St. Timothy’s in Toronto. I recently served as the associate pastor of St. Mary's Parish and before that at St Maurice’s in the West end. I like to do wood working, and although I am trying to keep this quiet, I can cook (man style)! I am very happy to be with all of you at Annunciation and look forward to getting to know you better.God bless, Fr. John
Friday, July 20, 2018
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Catholics Need to Educate Catholics
I know Practicing Catholics who believe that there is a Constitutional Right to have an abortion in Canada .
What else are they unaware of?
Since most Catholic Parishes have a website what better way to educate one another in Pro Life and Pro Family Issues then by this means.
Below is a list of Sites that I am going to send to the Leadership Team of my Parish which hopefully they will add to our Parish website with a link from the Home Page for easy accessibility. I am hoping that our priests will periodically encourage parishioners to have a look at this PRO LIfe Page to check out the different excellent websites and articles.
Many Catholic Parishes it seems have very little information in this regard and I think it is time for all of us to step up to the plate and be more pro active in educating one another before it is too late:
The way Catholics and all People of Faith have been discriminated against in Canada over the past few years is atrocious. We have been stripped of our rights right under our noses and I believe it is only going to get worse .
The 1988 Morgentaler Decision
Contrary to what many Canadians think, the Supreme Court of Canada, in its landmark 1988 Morgentaler decision striking down Canada’s abortion law, did not recognize a constitutional right to abortion. Nor did the Court “settle” the abortion issue as is often claimed.
A ‘RIGHT’ TO ABORTION? - ABORTION IN CANADIAN COURTS–Office of David Anderson, MP (July 2018)
Physicians for Life
The Bridgehead - Jonathan Van Maren
Priests for Life Canada
Emerging Assault of Freedom of Conscience
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Protecting People from Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
http://www.epcc.ca/wp-content/
Very Important
Below are links for Women in Distress / You are not alone
Action Life
Rachel's Vineyard Ottawa - Healing the pain of abortion - one weekend at a time.
Very Important
Below are links for Women in Distress / You are not alone
Action Life
https://www.actionlife.org/
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you've taken the abortion pill it may not be too late
Call 877-558-0333
Birthright Ottawa - Pregnant and Distressed? We are here to help you
http://www.birthright-ottawa.oIf you've taken the abortion pill it may not be too late
Call 877-558-0333
Birthright Ottawa - Pregnant and Distressed? We are here to help you
Miriam Centre - Miriam Centre Pregnant? Need Help? Pregnancy loss? Help with your baby?
Friday, July 13, 2018
Pro-Choice or Anti-Difference: Why Is Offering Another Choice Seen as an Act of War?
Pro-Choice or Anti-Difference: Why Is Offering Another Choice Seen as an Act of War?: Across the world, peaceful pro-life prayer vigils that offer support to women seeking abortion have been legislated out in the argument that it is distressing women. The reality is that these vigils are there to support the women and offer her an alternative to ending her pregnancy.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Overcome evil with good
Overcome evil with good
Milena Kindziuk, Andrzej Tarwid‘He was a persevering and tireless witness of Christ: he overcame evil with good and he shed his blood for that’ – people gathered in Pilsudski Square in Warsaw rejoiced hearing these words of Pope Benedict XVI.
Once they had his phone number and now they participated in the beatification of his friend, colleague and acquaintance. This was an exceptional situation. That’s why those who had known Fr Popieluszko personally were deeply moved that day. And when Archbishop Angelo Amato began recollecting his own visit to the Museum dedicated to Fr Jerzy and shared how much he was impressed by the photos of ‘the deformed face of this mild Priest, resembling the flogged and humiliated face of the crucified Christ, the face that lost its beauty and dignity’ many people began crying. But the most moving picture was the figure of Marianna Popieluszko, a woman who was slightly bent, with a walking stick, standing in her Sunday best dark cherry costume close to the altar, staring at the portrait of Fr Jerzy, which was just in front of her. And then she walked slowly after the reliquary with the relics of her son. Humanly speaking, it was hard to experience. From the perspective of faith one can experience it with joy. And one can experience it like her, the saint’s mother. Since as Archbishop Amato said ‘the sacrifice of the young priest was not a defeat. The blood of martyrs is indeed the seed of Christians.’
In the history of the Church it must have been the first situation when a mother participated in her son’s beatification. And the first situation that she heard her being quoted in the beatification homily. It happened when Archbishop Amato said, ‘The testimony of the Mother of our Blessed is very moving. Marianna Popieluszko said, «My son, Fr Jerzy, was a strong believer all his life… When he served in the army he prayed the rosary despite his superior’s command. I never heard him complaining about God. He tried to accept every unpleasantness in the spirit of faith and love for Lord God.»’
Standing close to one another in the square The sun was shining on the Sunday morning of 6 June in Warsaw. The Polish people who gathered in Pilsudski Square felt that they were a community. United in prayer, reflection and joy they came to pay tribute to the Martyr; pay the debt, express their gratitude and they came to honour him.
The first pilgrims arrived on Saturday. Some of them gathered at the grave of Fr Jerzy Popieluszko in Warsaw-Zoliborz and others gathered in Wilanow, at the Divine Providence Church, which is being contracted. But the majority gathered in Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Square. 31 years ago John Paul II celebrated Mass at this very place. A crucifix was put there to commemorate that event. And just next to the papal cross a white-red altar, crowned with the symbol of the Holy Spirit and the inscription ‘Overcome evil with good’ was constructed. Around this motto several dozen thousand people gathered in Masses celebrated by Fr Jerzy for the Homeland in the 1980s. About 150,000 people gathered around the altar with the motto, ‘Overcome evil with good’ on 6 June 2010.
‘I like this altar very much. White refers to chastity. The most important thing is that the words proclaimed by Fr Jerzy were quoted. If all people followed these words the world would be better’, Marianna Popieluszko told ‘Niedziela’ just before the beginning of the beatification ceremony.
Parishes from all over Poland organised special pilgrimages but there were numerous individual pilgrims, too. An old man with a walking stick came from Grodno and going around the altar he asked the passers-by whether they had an extra invitation for the beatification Mass. Some woman took such an invitation out of her handbag and gave it to him.
Among the crowds there was also a group of 11 people from the region of Silesia. They ran from the monument to the Killed Miners of the Wujek Coal Mine. They were members of the Catholic Action from Knurow, marathon runners, miners and charges of Caritas. Within two days they covered over 320 km to take part in the beatification ceremony.
Just before the Sunday Mass many people said that they recollected the 1980s. ‘Then we also felt we were one. First. When ‘Solidarity’ was founded and then after marshal law had been imposed we felt unity during the Masses celebrated by Fr Jerzy. That’s why we felt we must be here.’
Like in the 1980s there were artists and workers, the young and the old. They spoke about their encounters with Fr Jerzy; how they listened to the fragments of his sermons broadcasted on international radios. The phenomenon of those homilies continues to fascinate us today. Even those people, like the solicitor Maciej Bendarkiewicz, who participated in the Masses Fr Jerzy celebrated.
‘Fr Jerzy uttered beautiful short sentences. His thoughts were ordered. Participating in the first Masses he celebrated I was absolutely convinced that he read his sermons. My conviction was based on the fact that he visited my family and then he spoke differently.’ Fr Jerzy was cautious not to introduce any shadow of hatred during his Masses. Every Mass celebrated in the intention of our Homeland ended with an appeal to remain peaceful. It ended with prayers for the government. The participants left the church in the mood of reflection and need to do good in order to overcome evil.
‘People followed him from parish to parish since he had such a gift that they saw themselves better in his eyes’, said Maja Komorowska, an outstanding Polish actress.
In Pilsudski Square there was another person without whom the beatification would not have happened. It was Cardinal Jozef Glemp who made the decision to let Fr Popieluszko stay in Poland. He did not force him to go to Rome, to escape. If he had done so he would have saved his life. But then we would not have had a saint today…
The Primate spoke about his dilemma in public in the year 2000 when he apologised for not having saved the life of Fr Jerzy Popieluszko in spite of all attempts to do that. ‘May God forgive me but perhaps it was his holy will’, the cardinal said in his famous sermon at the Theatre Square in Warsaw.
It was Cardinal Glemp that took the decision and supported the process of beatification of Fr Jerzy, about which Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz mentioned thanking the Senior Primate.
The Mass held in Pilsudski Square was co-celebrated in Latin by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Polish Bishops’ Conference and foreign hierarchs, including Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. The following cardinals were present: Stanislaw Dziwisz, Jozef Glemp, Henryk Gulbinowicz, Franciszek Macharski as well as Adam Maida from Detroit (USA) and Kazimierz Swiatek from Belarus. There were also people from the sphere of politics, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, former president Lech Walesa, MPs and senators and the presidential candidates: Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Bronislaw Komorowski.
During the beatification of Fr Jerzy the prayers also embraced the perpetrators of his death. The celebrants asked God ‘to show his mercy for the dead and a grace of conversion to the living.’
Timeless message
The beatification ceremony of Fr Jerzy resembled the joyful days of the papal pilgrimages to Poland. When Archbishop Nycz, presenting the life of the Candidate for the altars, said that in 1987 the Servant of God John Paul II prayed at Fr Jerzy’s grave and the Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, prayed there in 2005, silence fell over the square. The gathered felt that history was happening before their eyes. Their reactions were similar when they heard the words of Archbishop Amato who also reminded them that the Polish Pope John Paul II prayed at the Martyr’s grave in 1987.
The words of the homily about the motto of Fr Jerzy’s life were also meaningful, ‘He realised that the evil of the dictatorship had its source in Satan and that’s why he encouraged people to overcome evil with good and God’s grace.’ Archbishop Amato mentioned the Marxist ideology as evil and a system based on lies, rejecting the evangelistic values that Fr Jerzy defended. ‘Religion, the Gospel, dignity of human person and freedom were not consistent with the Marxist ideology. That’s why the destructive wrath of the big liar, God’s enemy and torturer of mankind, the one that hates the truth and spreads lies, broke out against him. In those years, as it happened in history, in the big area of Europe, the light of reason was overcome by darkness and good was replaced by evil’, he said.
Archbishop Amato paid attention to the universalism of the Blessed’s message, ‘Facing another wave of persecutions against the Gospel and the Church the timeless message, which must rule in our hearts today, is the one expressed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, presenting a synthesis of the martyr’s testimony of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko. The Pope says that he new Blessed was a priest and martyr, an enduring and tireless witness of Christ; he overcame evil with good and shed his blood for that.’
The beatification ceremony ended with a procession during which the reliquary of the Blessed Martyr was carried to the Divine Providence Sanctuary in the district of Wilanow in Warsaw.
"Niedziela" 24/2010
Truth Never Changes
The following quotations are taken from the excellent documentary
Messenger of the Truth
"It seems tom me that in the history of the Church, the history of Christianity,
there are many examples showing how you have to defend the truth. You have to defend it to the end."
'Justice and the right to know the truth require us from this pulpit to repeatedly demand a limit on the tyranny of censorship."
" That we may be free of dread and fear but also of desire for revenge , we pray to the Lord."
" The workers of Huta Warsaw asked the Bishop to appoint a church for them so that they could consider it "their " church .
I work and live in this parish so the bishop suggested that the church of St. Stanislaws Kostka become such a church for Huta, Warsaw."
" We are bowing our heads today due to the tragic deaths of our brothers, the miners who perished at the hands of traitors. They perished because they defended a worthy place for God in human work. They defended Justice, Truth, Freedom and Dignity. They defended Love and the ideals of Solidarity."
"Of course, the help of well-meaning people who send us donations from abroad plays a great role too.
In fact I would like to use this opportunity to thank the organization " Medical Aid for Poland."
" Today I would like to talk or rather address the Holy Father in the form of a letter. I hope the penal code does not contain any penalties for writing a letter to the Holy Father.
'During the enslavement of our Nation, you were and continue to be the one who strengthens in us the hope for the victory of good over evil, love over violence, truth over falsehood '"
"Month after month the turnout of people coming to the mass kept increasing. Nowadays thousands of people come. People arrive from different cities. What do they get from the mass. Here people pour out their grief, their pain. They pour it out in prayer, in spontaneous singing, and in silence which is also a great prayer. That experience of community, silence and discipline: and this is probably our main objective, that the suffering that people experience everyday, at work, in prisons, on the streets, that their suffering is not wasted. The role of the priest is to direct, through a Holy Mass, the suffering of the people towards God.`
`Be with them Holy Mother. Be with them, to those condemned to forced isolation without a trial, with all those who suffer from the imprisonment of their loved ones. When it was suggested to our Polish brothers to leave the country, you were saying with pain in your voice, It is impossible that there is no place for Poles in Poland. Everyone has the right to live in their homeland. No one should be condemned to exile.``
`I thank all our guests who come from other cities to get together in prayer, to build solidarity of hearts.
I thank the representatives of the working class from Glowow, from the mines, `Jurjan`and Àndalusia` from Piekary in Silesia, from the plants in Turbet.
`To live in Truth is the basic minimum of human dignity, even if the price to defend the Truth could be costly. `
You need to always remain faithful to the Truth. Truth can never be betrayed.
`I am addressing all those who recently have been threatening me in their letters with - I quote_ `a bullet in the head, a cut throat, or being hanged on the cross.`
Since they are capable of such threats, I urge them also to have the courage to sign their letters instead of cowardly sending them anonymously, or providing fake addresses.`
`To triumph evil with good and maintain human dignity we cannot fight with force. The country can`t be strong if it feels any force. He who is unable to succeed by using the heart and mind has to win by force. Let us pray that we may be free from the fear of intimidation but most of all against the desire for revenge and violence.`
`To triumph evil with good and maintain human dignity we cannot fight with force. The country can`t be strong if it feels any force. He who is unable to succeed by using the heart and mind has to win by force. Let us pray that we may be free from the fear of intimidation but most of all against the desire for revenge and violence.`
God instilled in man the desire for truth. This is why man thirsts for the Truth and despises falsehoods . Truth, like Justice is connected to Love and Love has a Price. Truth always unites people, it moves them. The weight of Truth frightens and unmasks lies; lies of little people, people who are scared. The continuous battle against Truth had gone on for ages, but Truth is immortal, and lies die a quick death. Hence comes the saying as told by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski: one needs only a few people to tell the Truth. Christ has chosen but a few to declare the Truth.`
`It seems to me that in the history of the Church, in the history of Christianity, there are many examples showing to what extent you have to defend the Truth. You have to defend it to the end. Jesus Christ sacrificed His life in order to announce his Divine Truth. Likewise, the apostles sacrificed their lives. Therefore the role of the priest is to proclaim the Truth and suffer for the Truth...... If necessary, even to die for the truth. Such examples are plenty in Christianity, and from these examples we should draw conclusions for ourselves.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Amen I Believe
Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Ottawa, Ontario has always been blessed with wonderful priests.
Last week we bid farewell to Father Yves Marchildon C.C. and Father Dennis Hayes C.C.
This past weekend we welcomed our two new priests Father Rob Arsenault C.C. and Father John Likozar C.C. and I know in my soul they will be awesome too. First impressions and all that.
Father Arsenault says the Amen sometimes when he mentions an Article of our Catholic Faith . I like that. And he invites the congregation to do so too. I REALLY like that. Amen says "so be it" and Creed means "I believe" right?
Whoever says "I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe." taken from the Vatican website at this link on the THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2.htm
I know Catholics who actually voted for Justin Trudeau who as we all know is the most pro abortion Prime Minister in Canadian History. How can this be then? How can someone say they believe in the teachings of the Church and promote the killing of innocent children at the same time. And why would you say Amen to something that you don't believe in? I cannot comprehend this.
Anyways I'm thinking and hoping that maybe eventually in our parish the Amen will take hold: that is "we will pledge ourselves to what we believe"
Last week we bid farewell to Father Yves Marchildon C.C. and Father Dennis Hayes C.C.
This past weekend we welcomed our two new priests Father Rob Arsenault C.C. and Father John Likozar C.C. and I know in my soul they will be awesome too. First impressions and all that.
Below, Father Rob Arsenault with Pat Maloney
Whoever says "I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe." taken from the Vatican website at this link on the THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2.htm
I know Catholics who actually voted for Justin Trudeau who as we all know is the most pro abortion Prime Minister in Canadian History. How can this be then? How can someone say they believe in the teachings of the Church and promote the killing of innocent children at the same time. And why would you say Amen to something that you don't believe in? I cannot comprehend this.
Anyways I'm thinking and hoping that maybe eventually in our parish the Amen will take hold: that is "we will pledge ourselves to what we believe"
From EWTN
The Apostles Creed |
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. "The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from this fact: it is 'the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith." - from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 194. "This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul." - Saint Ambrose. |
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Thinking out loud as we celebrate Canada Day
I don't like the direction our leaders are taking us. We all know that abortion is legal in Canada for the full nine months of pregnancy for any reason or no reason. We care more for unhatched bird eggs than pre born babies. What the heck is wrong with us anyways???
When I saw the Irish people gleefully jumping up and down with tears of joy streaming down their faces celebrating their new found right to abortion in Ireland a few weeks ago, it literally made me feel sick. They are turning into us.
What can we do? Well we just have to keep on doing what we have always done: peacefully tell the truth. We will continue to be vilified by our mainstream media and our politicians as being intolerant and hateful. It's depressing actually because it's just the opposite. It's slanderous really.
The Peaceful March for Life on Parliament Hill attended by about 20, 000 is just one example of the goodness and stamina of the second most persecuted person in Canada. The Pro lifer. The most persecute person in Canada is the child in the mother's womb. A handful of shrieking crude abusive protesters that don't even know what it means to be Pro Life, blocked our route for the third year in a row while the police did nothing. I can't imagine any other group of people that would have to change their route in the manner that we were forced to.
I could go on and on but there's no point. We all know of the numerous negative ways that that the pro life person has been treated in our country during the past year. There is no question about it; this is persecution. I heard a lawyer say not long ago say that Christianity is the most persecuted Religion in the entire world and that includes Canada. I believe this to be true
What else can we do? Pray Pray and Pray some more! This is a spiritual battle.
As A Catholic I pray the rosary each day for a change in the hearts of our political leaders.
A holy priest once told me that the Rosary is the weapon against Satan
click here for the Joyful Mysteries for Life from USCCB
At one time the Knights of Columbus of our Parish of the Annunciation of the Lord in Ottawa, ON led us in this rosary at least a couple of times during the year. I think we should start praying these prayers again
O Canada We Stand on Guard for Thee
Friday, June 29, 2018
This July let us pray to make Canada Great Again
What can we do?
Please join in Praying with the Canadian Bible Society
in 31 Days of Prayer for our Nation
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Is there too much apathy among Canadian Catholics?
From what I have seen, I really do think there is too much apathy among Canadian Catholics. There could be a few reasons for this. Perhaps some Catholics are really not aware of how badly we are persecuted . For others, they see the negative portrayal of us but feel helpless in the face of it. It is pretty daunting
Because I am a Catholic I am speaking from the point of view of a Catholic but all Christians in Canada are treated this way
Over the past few years we have been bullied over and over again for our beliefs. Remember when our so called Catholic Prime Minister wouldn't allow anyone who was Pro Life to be a member of the Liberal Party? How can we forget.
Well, all practicing Catholics ARE Pro Life. When we pray during mass and pray that "we believe in the Holy Catholic Church", this means that we believe in the Teachings of the Church. We believe that abortion and Euthanasia are mortal sins. And because the Church is Apostolic therefore Catholics are not meant to keep these teachings to themselves.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Abortion
2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.(71)Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. (72)
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth .(73) You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish .(74)
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.(75)
2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
'The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.'(79)
'The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights.' (80) 2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, 'if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human foetus and is directed toward its safeguarding or healing as an individual... It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.' (81)
2275 'One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing, the improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival.' (82)
'It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material.' (83)
'Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human being and his integrity and identity' (84) which are unique and unrepeatable.
Euthanasia
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of 'over-zealous' treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
And we believe that marriage is a holy union between one man and one woman
ARTICLE 7
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
# 1601 "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." [CIC, can. 1055 # 1; GS 48 # 1]"
I. MARRIAGE IN GOD'S PLAN
# 1602 "Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of "the wedding-feast of the Lamb." [Rev 19:7, 9; Gen 1:26-27] Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its "mystery," its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal "in the Lord" in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church. [1 Cor 7:39; cf. Eph 5:31-32]"
But in regards to what Catholics ( and all Christians) believe in regards to marriage: that marriage is designed by God and that it is a Sacred Union between one man and one woman; and even though Freedom of Religion is part of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms it doesn't seem to matter in this supposedly free country anymore because
On Friday, June 15, the Supreme Court of Canada threw out a quarter-century of legal precedent on religious liberty by deciding, by a margin of 7-2, that it was “proportionate and reasonable” for the law societies of British Columbia and Ontario to refuse accreditation to any law students coming from Trinity Western University due to TWU’s much-maligned “community covenant.” The covenant, which students who choose to attend Trinity agree to, is a lifestyle policy that asks students to adhere to biblical codes of conduct, including the restriction of sexual activity to heterosexual marriage.It was this covenant—again, a code of conduct for a small, privately-funded evangelical university that nobody has to attend if they don’t want to—that led law societies to claim that students coming from a TWU law school would not be able to escape their particular bias, and thus should not be accredited. Their presumption, apparently, is that people who have a specific set of religious beliefs are incapable of also reading the law as it is written, and that only those who heartily endorse every jot and tittle of what is legally permitted can function as lawyers. Ironically, the Court even managed to claim that their decision was being made as a nod to diversity, when their decision actually struck a devastating blow to diversity in the public square.
And below is another brilliant article by Jonathan
Jordan Peterson: Canadian Christians must ‘stand up’ for religious rights after top court ruling here
and from this article
Better stand up for yourselves, because your religious rights are very low on the rights totem pole at the moment,” Peterson warned, his voice deadly serious, “and that’s going to get worse, a lot worse, before it gets better. So if you think your religious freedom is worth having, you better be ready to defend it, and you better be ready to do that in an articulated way, because you’re not a priority—put it that way.”
Because I am a Catholic I am speaking from the point of view of a Catholic but all Christians in Canada are treated this way
Over the past few years we have been bullied over and over again for our beliefs. Remember when our so called Catholic Prime Minister wouldn't allow anyone who was Pro Life to be a member of the Liberal Party? How can we forget.
Well, all practicing Catholics ARE Pro Life. When we pray during mass and pray that "we believe in the Holy Catholic Church", this means that we believe in the Teachings of the Church. We believe that abortion and Euthanasia are mortal sins. And because the Church is Apostolic therefore Catholics are not meant to keep these teachings to themselves.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Abortion
2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.(71)
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth .(73)
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.(75)
2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
'The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights.' (80)
2275 'One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing, the improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival.' (82)
'It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material.' (83)
'Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human being and his integrity and identity' (84) which are unique and unrepeatable.
Euthanasia
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgement into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of 'over-zealous' treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
And we believe that marriage is a holy union between one man and one woman
ARTICLE 7
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
# 1601 "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." [CIC, can. 1055 # 1; GS 48 # 1]"
I. MARRIAGE IN GOD'S PLAN
# 1602 "Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of "the wedding-feast of the Lamb." [Rev 19:7, 9; Gen 1:26-27] Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its "mystery," its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal "in the Lord" in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church. [1 Cor 7:39; cf. Eph 5:31-32]"
But in regards to what Catholics ( and all Christians) believe in regards to marriage: that marriage is designed by God and that it is a Sacred Union between one man and one woman; and even though Freedom of Religion is part of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms it doesn't seem to matter in this supposedly free country anymore because
On Friday, June 15, the Supreme Court of Canada threw out a quarter-century of legal precedent on religious liberty by deciding, by a margin of 7-2, that it was “proportionate and reasonable” for the law societies of British Columbia and Ontario to refuse accreditation to any law students coming from Trinity Western University due to TWU’s much-maligned “community covenant.” The covenant, which students who choose to attend Trinity agree to, is a lifestyle policy that asks students to adhere to biblical codes of conduct, including the restriction of sexual activity to heterosexual marriage.It was this covenant—again, a code of conduct for a small, privately-funded evangelical university that nobody has to attend if they don’t want to—that led law societies to claim that students coming from a TWU law school would not be able to escape their particular bias, and thus should not be accredited. Their presumption, apparently, is that people who have a specific set of religious beliefs are incapable of also reading the law as it is written, and that only those who heartily endorse every jot and tittle of what is legally permitted can function as lawyers. Ironically, the Court even managed to claim that their decision was being made as a nod to diversity, when their decision actually struck a devastating blow to diversity in the public square.
And below is another brilliant article by Jonathan
Jordan Peterson: Canadian Christians must ‘stand up’ for religious rights after top court ruling here
and from this article
Better stand up for yourselves, because your religious rights are very low on the rights totem pole at the moment,” Peterson warned, his voice deadly serious, “and that’s going to get worse, a lot worse, before it gets better. So if you think your religious freedom is worth having, you better be ready to defend it, and you better be ready to do that in an articulated way, because you’re not a priority—put it that way.”
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Run With Life: More pro-life chronicles
Run With Life: More pro-life chronicles: The series on Netflix Call the Midwife is wonderful. They actually have nuns on the show; a preacher is one of the regular cast; and dare I...
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Christopher Folz Presentation - Annunciation of the Lord Parish - May 27, 2018
Presentation / Discussion with Christopher Folz, Barrister and Solicitor
After mass this Sunday morning
on Catholicism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What can we do?
It was an interesting and enlightening presentation
As a practicing Catholic, Mr. Folz is concerned these days by what he sees in respect to recent laws He explained some ways that we as Catholics can and should advocate for our beliefs which are under attack by Governments as well as the media.
He spoke about the Constitution and our Rights under the Constitution.
Entrenched In the Constitution is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under #7 of the Charter of the Rights and Freedoms is the right to Life, Liberty and Religion and these Rights must be applied equally to each person.
From the preamble of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
" Whereas, Canada is founded on principals that recognize ' the Supremecy of God AND the rule of law '" The use of the word AND means that both are together. The separation of Church and State does not mean they they are mutually exclusive.
Mr. Folz said that the Catholic Church is a self governing organization and we MUST be able to advocate on behalf of our Faith . In regards to the Summer Jobs Program the Liberal Government is essentially picking on us and Folz says this is extremely problematic. Right now there are about 27 court challenges. The Federal Government has not deemed it necessary to create an Administrative Tribunal which would be necessary to challenge the decision of the Minister responsible. So this is basically a unilateral decision on the part of the Government so the Right to have the Law applied equally to each person is missing in the Summer Jobs Program. Is the law applied equally when you are required to sign a form that goes against your Conscience? The answer is NO. It is contrary to Section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 1700 Organizations have been turned away because of this.
Whether our Government leaders like it or not the Christian Faith is an essential part of our Constitution. Our Separate Schools are as well. The Constitution would have to be changed to get rid of them .
But in spite of all this Folz says there are things that we can do and we must not loose hope: letter writing, speaking to your MP, peaceful witnessing etc. We do a lot of peaceful witnessing and of course we will continue. It is frustrating though : Catholics are often portrayed by the media as closed minded hateful bigots and we are probably the most persecuted of Christians
But we keep going and we give Praise to God!
For the Catholic Association of Lawyers see the link below
https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/
After mass this Sunday morning
on Catholicism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
What can we do?
Christopher Folz
It was an interesting and enlightening presentation
As a practicing Catholic, Mr. Folz is concerned these days by what he sees in respect to recent laws He explained some ways that we as Catholics can and should advocate for our beliefs which are under attack by Governments as well as the media.
He spoke about the Constitution and our Rights under the Constitution.
Entrenched In the Constitution is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under #7 of the Charter of the Rights and Freedoms is the right to Life, Liberty and Religion and these Rights must be applied equally to each person.
From the preamble of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
" Whereas, Canada is founded on principals that recognize ' the Supremecy of God AND the rule of law '" The use of the word AND means that both are together. The separation of Church and State does not mean they they are mutually exclusive.
Mr. Folz said that the Catholic Church is a self governing organization and we MUST be able to advocate on behalf of our Faith . In regards to the Summer Jobs Program the Liberal Government is essentially picking on us and Folz says this is extremely problematic. Right now there are about 27 court challenges. The Federal Government has not deemed it necessary to create an Administrative Tribunal which would be necessary to challenge the decision of the Minister responsible. So this is basically a unilateral decision on the part of the Government so the Right to have the Law applied equally to each person is missing in the Summer Jobs Program. Is the law applied equally when you are required to sign a form that goes against your Conscience? The answer is NO. It is contrary to Section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 1700 Organizations have been turned away because of this.
Whether our Government leaders like it or not the Christian Faith is an essential part of our Constitution. Our Separate Schools are as well. The Constitution would have to be changed to get rid of them .
But in spite of all this Folz says there are things that we can do and we must not loose hope: letter writing, speaking to your MP, peaceful witnessing etc. We do a lot of peaceful witnessing and of course we will continue. It is frustrating though : Catholics are often portrayed by the media as closed minded hateful bigots and we are probably the most persecuted of Christians
But we keep going and we give Praise to God!
For the Catholic Association of Lawyers see the link below
https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/
Monday, May 21, 2018
Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost
CONGREGATIO DE CULTO DIVINO ET DISCIPLINA SACRAMENTORUM
DECREE
on the celebration
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mother of the Church
in the General Roman Calendar
The joyous veneration given to the Mother of God by the contemporary Church, in light of reflection on the mystery of Christ and on his nature, cannot ignore the figure of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4), the Virgin Mary, who is both the Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.on the celebration
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mother of the Church
in the General Roman Calendar
In some ways this was already present in the mind of the Church from the premonitory words of Saint Augustine and Saint Leo the Great. In fact the former says that Mary is the mother of the members of Christ, because with charity she cooperated in the rebirth of the faithful into the Church, while the latter says that the birth of the Head is also the birth of the body, thus indicating that Mary is at once Mother of Christ, the Son of God, and mother of the members of his Mystical Body, which is the Church. These considerations derive from the divine motherhood of Mary and from her intimate union in the work of the Redeemer, which culminated at the hour of the cross.
Indeed, the Mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25), accepted her Son’s testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender Mother of the Church which Christ begot on the cross handing on the Spirit. Christ, in turn, in the beloved disciple, chose all disciples as ministers of his love towards his Mother, entrusting her to them so that they might welcome her with filial affection.
As a caring guide to the emerging Church Mary had already begun her mission in the Upper Room, praying with the Apostles while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14). In this sense, in the course of the centuries, Christian piety has honoured Mary with various titles, in many ways equivalent, such as Mother of Disciples, of the Faithful, of Believers, of all those who are reborn in Christ; and also as “Mother of the Church” as is used in the texts of spiritual authors as well as in the Magisterium of Popes Benedict XIV and Leo XIII.
Thus the foundation is clearly established by which Blessed Paul VI, on 21 November 1964, at the conclusion of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council, declared the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Mother of the Church, that is to say of all Christian people, the faithful as well as the pastors, who call her the most loving Mother” and established that “the Mother of God should be further honoured and invoked by the entire Christian people by this tenderest of titles”.
Therefore the Apostolic See on the occasion of the Holy Year of Reconciliation (1975), proposed a votive Mass in honour of Beata Maria Ecclesiæ Matre, which was subsequently inserted into the Roman Missal. The Holy See also granted the faculty to add the invocation of this title in the Litany of Loreto (1980) and published other formularies in the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1986). Some countries, dioceses and religious families who petitioned the Holy See were allowed to add this celebration to their particular calendars.
Having attentively considered how greatly the promotion of this devotion might encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety, Pope Francis has decreed that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, should be inscribed in the Roman Calendar on the Monday after Pentecost and be now celebrated every year.
This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God.
The Memorial therefore is to appear in all Calendars and liturgical books for the celebration of Mass and of the Liturgy of the Hours. The relative liturgical texts are attached to this decree and their translations, prepared and approved by the Episcopal Conferences, will be published after confirmation by this Dicastery.
Where the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, is already celebrated on a day with a higher liturgical rank, approved according to the norm of particular law, in the future it may continue to be celebrated in the same way.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
From the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 11 February 2018, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes.
Robert Card. Sarah
Prefect
Prefect
+ Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary
Archbishop Secretary
Saturday, May 19, 2018
DnA Live from the KIOSK EP18 Sr. Philomena, Sr. Teresa & guest priest, Fr. Dennis Hayes, CC
From Left to Right:
Fr. Dennis Hayes C.C., Sr.. Philomena, Angelina Girard, Dennis Girard, Sr. Teresa Catherine
Dennis and Angelina Girard have a program every Wednesday Live from the Marian Kiosk at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Their guests on Wednesday May 16, 2018 were two Sisters from the Queenship of May Community and Father Dennis Hayes C.C.
You can Listen to their Wonderful and Inspiring testimonies below
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Run With Life: What does the Ontario NDP party REALLY stand for?
Run With Life: What does the Ontario NDP party REALLY stand for?: I sent the email below to the NDP candidate in my riding Lyra Evans , along with NDP leader Andrea Horwath. I noticed that one of the anar...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)