Jesus has gone back home. His work is done and he has left us, although not abandoned us. He has left us to work at our Christianity, to work out the consequences of our faith, to take on the terrible freedom of forming our own lives and being responsible for them. The disciples were invited to take a lot of people to heart. We know from experience that it is not enough to take Christ to heart. When Christ comes to dwell in our heart, he never comes alone. He arrives complete with a baggage, he brings his loves and his values and his hopes; he brings his dreams and expectations. He also brings disciples and strange friends; he brings the poor and the blind and the crippled; he brings the outcast and the stranger and the legion of the overlooked. Christ never comes alone. And when he comes we realize that the visiting team may look more like a circus parade than a divine procession. Like the innkeepers of the world,we might be tempted up to put up a “no vacancy “ sign, to tell Jesus that we have no room in our heart for his busload of supporters and for his theological baggage. But one thing is certain: we cannot take him in and leave the rest outside. Long before his ascension, Jesus took a lot people to heart. The challenge of Jesus is to open our hearts to his kind of people. When we let them in, he slips in among them. Who will take to heart the poor and the elderly, the sick of this world? We know many people do this. The quiet people who nurse and wash and dress the decay of old age, those who do the daily rounds in mental clinics and hospitals, those who choose to work in slums. And with those affected with coronavirus. Their large heartedness makes the rest of us humble, and our own troubles and preoccupations seem so little compared with the huge demands they face with commitment and humour. We can only make more room in our heart for Jesus’s people, and we can do that in the Gospel truth that he will be at the heart of that enterprise.
SUNDAY MASS:
Mass will be live-streamed every Sunday at 10 am in our website and YouTube page. You can also watch the mass later in the day. If you a. , please consider dropping off your church donations in the mailbox, newly installed at Atwater Ave Church entrance door .
MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY:
The month of May is traditionally observed as a time of special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We are encouraged to pray the Rosary and seek her powerful intercession for ourselves and for the whole world!
POPE FRANCIS’S PRAYER TO MARY :
(For protection from the Coronavirus)
O Mary, you shine continuously in our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the sick. At the foot of the cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to confirm ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us , through the cross, to the joy of the Ressurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas-we who are put to the test-and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and Blessed Virgin.
YOUR PARISH NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT:
Dear people of God .
At a time like this I feel uncomfortable to talk about giving. Our primary concern is health and well being of our parishioners. However, No doubt you are aware that our Parish relies on the support of our parishioners to operate parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (Heating, Water,Electricity etc) are funded through the generosity of our parish community. It will be a challenge for our parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collections.
Here are the ways you can continue to support our parish at this time.
- Drop off or mail your regular offertory contribution to the parish mail box fixed at Atwater Church entrance door
-Contribute to your parish offertory by credit card.
- Contribute through ore-authorized giving.
For more ways to give go to
https://www.archtoronto.org/covid19/Pages/support.aspxThank you for your many contributions to our parish community. God bless you all 
REST IN PEACE :
+ Janet Lisboa
+ Helmtrud Krampert
+ Dominic Baah
+Nicola Cicoria
+ Ann Marie Cameron
+ Genoveva Martins
+ James Roy Hollohan
THANK YOU!
Thanks for all your support and cooperation. Our Parish Council Members Lisa Hyginus and Branca Noronha may contact you at this difficult time just to make sure you are ok. We are here to serve you and will address any issues to the best of our ability. Stay safe !
