St. Mary's Parish, Barrie
Our Faith Alive
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Preparing for Easter: First Sunday of LentThe first Sunday of Lent is the day that is set aside in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for the Rite of Election. It marks an important milestone in the life of the catechumen (the person...Wednesday, March 06, 2019 -
Ash Wednesday: A Call to PrayerAsh Wednesday is the start of Lent. It is the start of that great period that leads up the Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil). It is marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I don't...Tuesday, March 05, 2019 -
A Pilgrim's Voice: Letting God's Will Be DoneIn January 2018, I attended a presentation on the then-upcoming 2019 World Youth Day and I decided I was not going to go. After all, it was going to be held during late January and I had a full...Thursday, January 31, 2019 -
Continuing the Journey in 2019As I return to my normal routine after a restful and fruitful Christmas break, I find myself at an interesting place in my seminary formation: exactly halfway. I entered St. Augustine's Seminary and began my formation for the diocesan...Monday, January 14, 2019 -
"Anointed and Called to Stewardship" - Baptism of our LordOver the years, I have had many people ask me a very simple question when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. That question is: "Why was Jesus baptized? If Jesus is sinless and the...Thursday, January 10, 2019 -
Mother of the Year? MaryWhile the start of the liturgical New Year is actually Advent, the Church does give us a wonderful gift at the start of a new secular year, the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Commemorated...Monday, December 31, 2018 -
Every Family is SacredThe following text is taken from Fr. Michael McGourty's homily, as delivered on the Feast of the Holy Family. Every year, on the first Sunday following Christmas, the Church celebrates the beautiful feast of the Holy Family...Thursday, December 27, 2018
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Mary: The First Missionary Disciple (4th Sunday of Advent)Christmas is a time many of us spend with family and friends. It can be a time of joy and relaxation, but it can also be a time of anxiety and stress. Traveling to see family, in the best of...Thursday, December 20, 2018
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Playing the Waiting GameI'm really bad at waiting. I can't just wait patiently, I have to be doing something. When I'm in line at a store or waiting to get into an event, I tend to fidget and...Friday, December 14, 2018
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The Gift of Family Life through the Lens of ServiceMonika and Chris Matelski, with their five children in tow, will be sharing their testimony on using their gifts to serve God and neighbour at the Family at the Heart of Service event on Saturday, November 17. Below is...Thursday, November 15, 2018
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Belief Brief - Does God Care How Well I Do My Job?How should I approach my work and what I put into it? What might the Church have to say about personal stewardship, and the use of time and effort that we give to God and the world...Friday, November 09, 2018
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Mary, Queen of OctoberOctober is traditionally held as a month dedicated to a special prayer, the Rosary. That is likely why Pope Francis has invited all the faithful to pray the Holy Rosary every day in October. In his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis...Friday, October 05, 2018
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Be Disciples. Make Disciples. Helping You Grow in Your Ministry!Our rich and vibrant parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto flourish because of thousands of dedicated clergy, staff, volunteers and lay ministers. If you are one of those people who help ensure Masses flow, children learn about the readings of...Tuesday, September 04, 2018
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Belief Brief - What's an Annulment?Is an annulment another word for a Catholic "divorce"? Where does the Church stand on issues concerning break-ups of couples and families? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church "permits the physical separation of spouses when...Monday, August 27, 2018
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Catholic Grandparenting in the 21st CenturyMarisa and Aldo D'Andrea, of St. Benedict's Parish in Etobicoke, will be at the World Meeting of Families Conference in Dublin, Ireland this week. They share their insights below on the reality of living out the Catholic faith...Monday, August 20, 2018
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Young Families Growing in FaithHow can we support families so they may be witnesses to Christ, to each other and to the community? One of the best times to begin is when they are laying the foundations of family life. If parents are equipped...Monday, August 13, 2018
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Getting Started in Parish MinistryThriving parish ministries make all the difference in creating vibrant parish communities. In order to achieve a renewed culture of engagement, the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office of Formation for Discipleship will be hosting the "Be Disciples. Make Disciples." Parish...Monday, July 30, 2018
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Belief Brief - Are Angels Real?Are angels real? Do you have a particular angel that you pray to? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we're told that Angels are spiritual creatures who glorify God without cesasing and who serve his saving plans...Thursday, July 05, 2018
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Belief Brief - Does God Have a Plan for My Life?Does God really have a plan for my life? Does he have my best interests at heart? This question tends to be on the mind of many people, more particularly, our students and young people as they enter graduation season...Friday, June 22, 2018
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Belief Brief - Is the Eucharist Really the Body/Blood?Is the Eucharist really Jesus? Is it not a symbol? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church and the world are told that, "at the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by...Thursday, May 31, 2018
