A Weekend Retreat with Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel February 27–29Join Fr. Jack Costello, president of Regis College at the UofT, as he leads the annual Development and Peace retreat: “The Joy of the Gospel - from Pope Francis to our Lives Lived.” This is your chance to reflect on the words of our Holy Father and to deepen your spiritual life through them. Takes place at Marylake Shrine in King City. Cost: $200 (subsidy available). RSVP to Elizabeth Stocking at 416-459-3474 or elizabeth.stocking@gmail.com Workshop & Retreat on the Art of Discernment – March 7, 11amThis event, facilitated by a team of men & women religious and a married couple, aims to help you live according to God’s will on a daily basis & to make important decisions in your life. Sug-gested donation: $25 (lunch included). Loretto College, 70 St. Mary St. For more info, email Sr. Lynn Cira at ibvm.lynn@sympatico.ca or call 416-925-2833. Registration deadline is Feb. 25. Teopoli Celebration Dinner – March 8, noon, Rizzo Banquet Hall, 1941 Albion Rd.

The United Society cordially invites you to the annual Teopoli Celebration Din-ner. Admittance by donation made to Società Unita. Funds raised from this evening will be used for the development of the Teopoli Catholic Spiritual Centre in Muskoka. To attend, call 416-243-7319 or email info@teopoli.com

The Embracing Christ of the San Damiano Cross Feb. 28, 9:30amThose who have experienced loss are invited to attend a Lenten retreat led by Capuchin Franciscan - Brother Ignatius Feaver at St. Clare’s Church (1118 St. Clair Ave. W.) in the parish hall. A light lunch will be provided. All are welcome. Please pre-register for this event by calling Mary at 416-921-1163, ext. 2235 or by emailing mbenincasa@cfstoronto

Lenten Retreat Day at SAS – March 7, 9:30am–2:30pmJoin Rev. Charles Anang, Asst. Professor, Systematic Theology & Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Augustine’s Seminary, on this day of “Ascent to the Pure Love of God”. Cost: $40, includes lunch. To register or for more info, email ioftsas@rogers.com or call 416-261-7207, ext. 235.

2015 Conference – March 14, 8:30am–5:00pmA Catholic Women’s conference with speakers including Cardinal Collins, Dr. Josie Lombardi, EWTN personality Gary Zimak, Ellen Hrkach, presi-dent of Catholic Writers Guild & authors Moira Noonan & Dorothy Pilarski. ALSO March 13, 7–10pm An evening for Catholic mothers and their daughters featuring Canadian Catholic song writer and singer Maggie Wang, radio producer Laura Cirami, Gary Zimak, a EWTN personality, Catholic authors, Moira Noonan and Dorothy Pilarski. Visit www.dynamicwomenfaith.com or call 905-279-7702 for more info. The Annunciation and Lent: Road to New Life – Wed., March 25, 7:30–9:30pmPrepare for the resurrection and new birth in your life by entering into the Paschal Mystery of the Risen Lord. Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 480 Rathburn Rd., in the parish hall. To register, contact Brenda Voisin at 416-934-3400, ext. 523 or visit www.archtoronto.org/discipleship Pilgrimage to the (U.S.) National Shrine Of The Divine Mercy – Apr. 11–13Join Fr. Martin Pereira on a memorable journey! Given a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 by reviewers on Google, the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA is a “stunning and very moving...oasis of peace”; most worthy of your time. Cost is $475 pp. Call 416-251-9944 for info.

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YW hen undertaking an important journey we must be well prepared. As we set out on our journey to Easter, we must be clear about the destination that gives meaning to this journey.

Today’s gospel reading invites us to prepare ourselves in the company of Jesus. As he set out on the journey that was to lead to Easter, he prepared himself by withdrawing to some desert place, and confronting the temptation to avoid the great task that lay ahead of him. This is an astounding moment in the life of Jesus. Have we taken seriously the fact that, in sharing our human experience, Jesus knew the weight of human decisions and the temptations involved – though, of course, he was without sin in the response he made? This testing brought Jesus new strength, and he began to proclaim the Good News of the coming reign of God. In his company, during the coming days, let us recognise the nature of our temptations, and the bonds of selfishness from which we want to be freed as we make our journey to Easter.

Jesus found strength in the certainty with which he looked to the end of his journey. Though what lay ahead would not be easy, he knew that God’s goodness and mercy would be victorious in the end – through his generous response to the call of his Father.

The first reading from the Book of Genesis invites us to share in this hope and expectation as we set out on our journey. It is the conclusion of the story of Noah and the ark which saved him from The Flood – one of the old stories in the introductory pages of the Bible, describing a wayward humanity, in need of the salvation God was to give. The story ends on a note of hope and promise – the rainbow will be a sign of the covenant God makes with humanity, promising that he will always be merciful.

What a magnificent symbol – reminding us of the trust we can place in God, whatever our difficulties and failings! Whenever we see the rainbow and know its promise of fine, clear weather after a storm, we should remember God’s promise, and renew our trust in God’s mercy, and the final triumph of God’s goodness.

The second reading interprets the story of the flood and Noah’s being saved as a kind of foretelling of the wonder of baptism – the destination of our journey to Easter, because it is through our baptism that we share in the risen life of Christ.

The beginning of our journey is a time for personal reflection for each of us. Perhaps, however, we need to ponder more deeply the astonishing fact that Jesus knew temptation, though he was without sin in his response to its challenge.

Lent: the springtime of the soul...is a time to make a new covenant with God, develop new signs of our relationship with our Creator. Go into your own desert and discover what God is asking of you.

If you think God could be calling you to a Church vocation, contact Fr. Chris Lemieux 416-968-0997 vocations@vocations.ca www.vocationstoronto.ca

Mass Intentions This Week – February 23–March 1Please join us as we pray for the following announced intentions…

Intention(s): Offered by:Monday, 9am J ... of Joe McBride & family Tom BrennanTuesday, 9am J Art Fraser Anna Bayley & Larry Milosevic

Wednesday, 9am J Michael Flood Coba ClancyThursday, 9am J Jerzy Starosciak Marzena & John Downarowicz

Friday, 9am J Muriel Samborsky Saturday, 9am J Patricia Cronin The family

5:15pm J Isilda Gonsalves The familySunday, 8am J Joan Brady Ursula & John Matthews

9:30am J ... of Daniella & John Farrugia11am J John Piunno The family

12:30pm • For the needs of our parish and faithful parishioners •

Rosary Group – Stay and Pray Daily, After 9am Mass + Fridays, 2pmFive decades daily, fifteen decades on Fridays followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.“The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and

knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this

world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description.” —Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Stations of the Cross – Celebrated each Friday of Lent at 7:30pm in the Church “Grant that I may love Thee... then do with me what Thou wilt.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – November 9–17, 2015This voyage under the spiritual leadership of Fr. Matthew Furgiuele marks the 75th Anniversary of OLS Parish. Cost is $2,490 pp. Contact Halina at 905-886-0232, ext. 315 or 647-294-4116. Reflection Session – 1st Reconciliation & 1st Communion – Feb. 24, 7pm r Mar. 1, 2pm At these one-hour sessions for candidates & their parents Fr. Nino will lead a reflection and provide more info regarding the preparation for & celebration of these sacraments.

An Invitation to Serve – Help Lead the Whole People of God Into His Presence!Do you feel God is calling you to serve? Are you nervous or unsure? Please, have no fear! Take the first step in your amazing learning & faith journey as an OLS altar server by emailing Kristen, altar server coordinator, at kristen@sorrows.ca today! Keep your heart right with God, be a disciple, join this important youth ministry.

Capital Campaign Every Donation Still Being Matched! Every Donation Counts!Thank you to everyone who has participated in this effort, and to the generous family from our parish who will match your donation through the end of this weekend. We encourage every family to make a gift/pledge. Let’s all be a part of this worthy project. 75th Anniversary Planning Committee – Call for VolunteersWe’re looking for ‘a few good people’ to assist with the planning and organization of some special events for this celebratory year in our parish. Please contact the parish office if you can help!

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Together we are continuing to work wonders…“Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches. This is what I do. And I do it with my heart...I love doing it because this is what the Lord has taught me. But you too must help us and help each other always. And thus in helping each other we will do good for each other.” —Pope Francis

This reminder from our Holy Father demonstrates the importance of caring for one another and our commitment to Catholic charity in a meaningful way. Through ShareLife agencies, we reach out to some of the most vulnerable and needy people in our community, helping our neighbours, friends and fellow parishioners as they work through difficult times. Please consider supporting ShareLife, our annual archdiocesan appeal, during this Lenten season. —Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto ShareLife Sunday is March 1 – Please give generously. You can work wonders!s fe

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