Friday, October 29, 2021

Soul Health LIII (53)

October 30th, 2021

Men’s Retreat

If you are a Catholic man seeking to enrich your faith, join Patrick Sullivan, a renowned speaker from Ontario, Corey Jolly, and your brothers in Christ on a journey through the Bible on a day that includes Adoration, the Rosary, and 3 talks on Mary. For more information, check out https://bit.ly/3E7kNJn You can also contact host and organizer Corey Jolly by email (cjolly@diocesemontreal.org) or by phone (514-559-1833).

One more volunteer is needed between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, October 30th for the Men’s Retreat. If interested, please contact the parish office or Father Robert.

During the retreat, three priests will be available to hear Confessions between 12:00pm and 1:00pm. Even if you are not attending the Men’s Retreat, consider coming for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and a few quiet moments with Our Lord!


October 31st, 2021

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord at Mass! Congregational singing is now permitted by Archdiocese pandemic guidelines, and encouraged at our parish! Hymn books will be in the pews for you to follow along.


November 1st, 2021

Feast of All Saints

Celebrate the lives of our wonderful friends in Heaven, the Saints! Bishop Barron, as always, has some great insights into the Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6qCBNHCZkc

A Chanted Mass will be celebrated at Saint Willibrord's at 7:00pm for the Feast of All Saints, and all parishioners are welcome to attend. Sheets to write down the names of your deceased loved ones will be available for you fill out at the church, or you can download and print a copy of your own and bring it with you. If you have photos of your loved ones, you are also encouraged to bring them with you for a special blessing from Father Robert at the end of Mass. https://www.stwillibrordparish.org/news


November 2nd, 2021

Feast of All Souls

This Tuesday, Father Robert will be celebrating two Masses for the Feast of All Souls: 11:00am at Saint Thomas More, and 6:00pm at the Birks Heritage Chapel on the McGill Campus (3520 University Street, Birks Building).

We will have a Book of Remembrance during the month of November for us to remember our deceased loved ones as a community. If you would like to have the names of your deceased family members and friends included in it, sheets will be provided at the back of the church for you to fill out after Mass over the next two weekends. You can also contact the parish office.


November 3rd, 2021

The Blanket Exercise – An Exercise of Healing and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, 7:30pm-9:00pm

Saint Thomas More on behalf of the Diocese will be hosting the Blanket Exercise, an education event that explores the complex history and dynamics between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in Canada/ You are invited to revisit Canadian colonial history and learn more about effective allyship and pathways of healing and reconciliation. The session will be led by Ms. Rose-Anne Gosselin, a member of the Timiskaming Algonquin First Nation, who works as advisor for the First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec, focusing on the First Nations population living with a disability.


November 11th, 2021

Remembrance Day Mass, 11:00am

A special joint Mass will be celebrated for Remembrance Day at Saint Willibrord's. Parishioners from both Saint Willibrord and Saint Thomas More are invited to attend. We will commemorate our faithful departed whose love for our country helped them make, undaunted, the greatest sacrifice of their lives for the freedom we live in today.


November 14th, 2021

Annual Meeting of Parishioners

The Annual Meeting of Parishioners will be held following the 9:30 Mass on Sunday November 14th. We would like most of you to come. We will be discussing the future of our parish which will be shaped by your input. This year we need to elect 3 new Wardens. Please seriously consider letting your name stand for election if you live in Verdun west of Desmarchais.


November 20th, 2021

Teen Fest with Montreal Youth Mission/Mission Jeunesse Montréal, 12:00pm-5:00pm

Join the Montreal Youth Mission in person or virtually in a lively and joyful experience for teens, aged 13-17, on November 20th from 12:00pm-5:00pm at Sacred Heart School. Connect with other teens who have a desire to grow in faith, and come together in fellowship to experience this abridged celebration that fully embodies World Youth Day MontrĂ©al through a half-day of engaging talks, authentic testimonies, creative presentations, and dynamic activities. For more information visit https://microsites.diocesemontreal.org/microsites/missionjeunesse-mtl/en/teens-festival/ 

 

Family Faith Formation

Our Family Faith Formation program has started! If you are seeking to prepare your child for First Communion or Confirmation and would like more information about Family Faith Formation, please contact our Pastoral Associate, Angela (pa.englishparishes.verdun@gmail.com) for more information. 

 

Catechist Wanted – Could it be you?

If you are searching for joy and fulfilment, please consider joining our team of Catechists. No experience teaching Catechism required – all we need is for you to have love for Christ and for families! Contact Father Robert (vicarofverdun@gmail.com) or Angela (pa.englishparishes.verdun@gmail.com)

 

 Blessings in Christ, 

 Father Robert+

Friday, October 22, 2021

Soul Health LII (52)

Men’s Retreat, October 30th 2021

We are blessed to host a Men’s Retreat at Saint Thomas More on Saturday, October 30th!

If you are a Catholic man seeking to enrich your faith, join Patrick Sullivan, a renowned speaker from Ontario, Corey Jolly, and your brothers in Christ on a journey through the Bible on a day that includes Adoration, the Rosary, and 3 talks on Mary. For more information, check out https://bit.ly/3E7kNJn

You can also contact host and organizer Corey Jolly by email (cjolly@diocesemontreal.org) or by phone (514-559-1833).

Two volunteers are needed between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, October 30th for the Men’s Retreat!

If interested, please contact the parish office or Father Robert.


Family Faith Formation

Our Family Faith Formation program has started! If you are seeking to prepare your child for First Communion or Confirmation and would like more information about Family Faith Formation, please contact our Pastoral Associate, Angela (pa.englishparishes.verdun@gmail.com) for more information.


Catechist Wanted – Could it be you?

If you are searching for joy and fulfilment, please consider joining our team of Catechists. No experience teaching Catechism required – all we need is for you to have love for Christ and for families! Contact Father Robert or Angela.



The Blanket Exercise – An Exercise of Healing and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

On Wednesday, November 3rd from 7:00pm-9:30pm, Saint Thomas More on behalf of the Dioceses will be hosting the Blanket Exercise, an education event that explores the complex history and dynamics between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in Canada/ You are invited to revisit Canadian colonial history and learn more about effective allyship and pathways of healing and reconciliation. The session will be led by Ms. Rose-Anne Gosselin, a member of the Timiskaming Algonquin First Nation, who works as advisor for the First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec, focusing on the First Nations population living with a disability.

Registration is required for this event and is limited – please contact the parish office.


Congregational Singing

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord and join our cantors, Paul and Angela, in singing at Mass! Our greeters will provide you with hymnals when you arrive – please be sure to take one as well as a copy of the bulletin, which will have hymn numbers and Responsorial Psalm printed in them.


Month of Remembrance

We will have a Book of Remembrance during the month of November for us to remember our deceased loved ones as a community. If you would like to have the names of your deceased family members and friends included in it, sheets will be provided at the back of the church for you to fill out after Mass over the next two weekends. You can also contact the parish office.

Launch of the Synod, 2021-2023 – The focus of this weekend’s homily and the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit

“By deepening our communion, through the active and prayerful participation of all God’s faithful people, we will be able to more fully embrace our mission: to make God’s love in Jesus Christ known in the world through our teaching, our witness, and our example.”

Pope Francis has declared 2021-2023 to be a Synod of the Universal Church, with a focus on themes of Communion, Participation, and Mission to help the Church on Earth transform into a global community “that responds with Jesus to the challenge of today: the hopes and dreams, the joys and sorrows carried by the world around us.” Read more at https://bit.ly/3C9jgBZ and https://bit.ly/3vJl02v

Blessings in Christ,

Father Robert+


Monday, October 4, 2021

Soul Health LI (51)

Feast of St. Francis today, our Pope's chosen name; 
Opportunities this month for Couples, Youth, Men...

Starting tomorrow evening, monthly, for couples: Couch Talks


The Center for Marriage, Life and Family of our Diocese is hosting a marriage enrichment series.


Looking to rekindle your love?


Join us for 6 fun and interactive virtual meetings this year (8-9:30pm) where we will share our ideas on happiness, communication, parenting, intimacy, work life balance and holiness in marriage.

For more information and to register, please click here.
These sessions are free, but pre-registration is required.
 
Join us for the first session on Tuesday October 5!

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For Young adults -- in our parish!!




For more details, contact me. As a former Challenge chaplain, I highly recommend this day. Often great friendships are made. Did I say highly?

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A day for Men, also hosted by our parish October 30:


Catholic author and speaker Patrick Sullivan guides men through the Bible

 


I hope to see you there!

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Great article on today's Saint, Francis. It becomes clearer why our Pope chose to be the first Pope Francis.

St. Francis, pray for us.


Sung weeknight mass! That's right -- Wednesday 7pm at St. Willibrord's rectory chapel, with our impressive cantor Professor Brian.


Blessings in Christ,

Father Robert+