“Simon, son of John, do you love me? Yes Lord; you know that I love you. Then, feed my sheep.” Jn 21

Dear parishioners,

The words of the risen Jesus to Peter make it clear once again that our gospel, it’s all about love. Love of the Father for the Son and for us all. Love of the Son for us. Love of the disciples for the Lord who has revealed in a definitive way in his revelations after his resurrection that God is love and mercy. And that we are called to live our lives in love and mercy and mutual stewardship, all in imitation of the love of God. How nice it is to see the priorities established. To be reminded that our Christian lives, when all is said and done, are about love.

A few things to report this week.

Firstly, recent events and the numbers published this week prove that we are right in maintaining a Covid safety plan at St. Mary’s. In the period from April 14 to April 21, there were on average 570 Covid hospitalizations on any given day, 57 people in ICU with Covid, and six Covid deaths per day. Each of these numbers represents an increase over the previous 7-day period. We are clearly still in an ascending wave. So let me reiterate St. Mary’s Covid safety plan. Non-liturgical gathering are allowed but they must adhere to the following conditions: mask-wearing, distancing as much as possible, sanitizing as much as possible, and no distribution of food and drinks unless they are individually packaged. I think we can safely offer coffee and other beverages, but with a sanitizer nearby, since you will be touching surfaces that have been touched and will be touched by others.

April marks the launch at the archdiocesan level of this year’s Project Advance campaign. For this reason, we will project a video of Archbishop’s Miller’s presentation of this year’s campaign after all masses this Sunday. We can already tell you that our parish target for this year is $126,000. Our launch at the parish level will take place in September.

Please note that the construction of the new playground equipment is ongoing on the Clive Street parking lot, so it will be closed to all parking again this Sunday. Hopefully you’ll find parking on the streets.

We are in need of a projectionist for the 1:00 p.m. Sunday mass. If anyone is interested in this, please contact Lorna at the parish office at [email protected], and she will put you in touch with Iven Yap, the coordinator of our team of projectionists.

Next Sunday there will once again be Holy Land items for sale at all masses, so be sure to bring whatever method of payment it is you use to make purchases.

We are venturing into first Communion season. First communions will be scattered throughout various masses in the coming month. Please make a small space in your prayer for our children who are to begin receiving communion, and expect one or more first communions at various masses during the month of May.

That’s it for this week. God keep us all safe and well.

Fr. Guy