The wandering figure of the good
Shepherd, anxiously tending his sheep to the point where he is willing to
surrender his life for them, is the image Jesus uses about himself in today’s
Gospel. That mixture of tenderness and toughness, care and self sacrifice, is
one that summarizes his own practice of leadership. It is not a leadership of
detachment and defensiveness rather, it is a leadership of physical involvement
and self-sacrificial love. The shepherd guides and protect the sheep if one is
lost he searches for the lost sheep until he finds it, and then taking it on
his shoulders he returns to share his joy with all his neighbors. That is
Jesus’ image of pastoral care, a search that continues until a find can be
made. We know of course that a search is not automatic after a loss. Many
losses are not even registered. Where there’s no love, there is no loss. Some
people are regarded as “no great loss “ Other people are encouraged to “get
lost”. But all of us hope that when we are lost someone, somewhere, will be
looking for us. Like the good shepherd. The good shepherd challenges our own
way of leaving people for lost: “I have come to seek out and save the lost.”
Probably all of us know two or three people who have wandered away from the
Church, who have lost their sense of longing, who feel they have no community
to belong to. How will they know they are welcome back if no one tells
them? How will they be helped back if no one offers to make the journey with
them? Shall we become good shepherds for them? May Jesus the good shepherd help
us and our Blessed Mother Mamma Mary intercede for us. Amen!
SUNDAY MASS:
Mass will be live-streamed every Sunday at 10 am in our St.
Dominic’s website and YouTube page. You can also watch the Mass later in the
day. If you a parishioner, 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
Thank you for your many contributions to our parish
community.
God bless you all 
REST IN PEACE :
+ Helmtrud Krampert
+ Dominic Baah
+Nicola Cicoria
+ Ann Marie Cameron
THANK YOU!
Thanks for all your support and cooperation. Last Sunday we
offered Mass for the soul of our beloved former Pastor Fr. Phil Jones Thanks
for joining us on online mass and praying for his soul. Thanks to Séan for
beautiful selection of Fr Phil’s favourite hymns. Our Parish Council Members
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 and healthy. Missing you all and Praying for you ! God bless!
Fr. Terry
