“But Moses implored the Lord his God, … And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. “ Ex 32

Dear parishioners,

There is a precious lesson for us in today’s first reading. We see God utterly fed up with the infidelity of his people. In his rage, he tells Moses that he is going to give up on them, and focus on just Moses and his descendants. Then Moses intervenes before God for his people, and we see God actually changing his mind!

Of course, God is God. He doesn’t change his mind. But what this beautiful story reveals to us is that God has chosen that our prayer of intercession for one another be an integral part of the process of redemption that he has in store for us. He doesn’t need our prayer for one another, but he has decided to use it. Let us remember this always. Let us remember that God wills that our mutual prayer be a part of the Providence with which he guides each one of us to redemption. And let us accordingly pray abundantly for one another.

In this context, I’m so bold as to ask a little prayer for me, as I am being installed as prior and presented as the future pastor in Ottawa this weekend.

And I have wonderful announcement to make: the new pastor will be Fr. Joseph Dsouza, whom you’re all familiar with by now, and the date at which his appointment becomes effective is Saturday October 1st. My last weekend with you will be October 1st and 2nd, and my definitive departure will be on October 5th.

This gives me time to ease Fr. Joseph into his function as pastor as best I can. I ask all of you as well, to embrace him as your new pastor, and to do whatever you can to help him ease into his new role.

Therefore, after my return from Ottawa on September 19, I will be with you for two final weeks. Let’s take this month to transition all together as seamlessly as possible from my mandate as pastor to that of Fr. Joseph.

And going forward, let us place all our hope, as always, in the Providence of God.

Have a nice week and God bless,

Fr. Guy