St. Dominics Church

 4th SUNDAY OF LENT

 Readings: 2Chronicles 36.14-17a, 19-23

Ephesians 2,4-10

John 3.16

Every human being searches for Hod.people of every era and culture have sought to know and understand God and somehow rise up to meet and encounter Him. Even the atheist who says he doesn’t believe in God has reached that sad conclusion only after deep questioning and after unsuccessfully trying to find Him.

You have probably often observed a tired or frightened child trying to climb up into the arms of Mum or Dad. Try as he might, he can’t do it. Mum’s just too tall! He needs Mum or Dad to bend down and pick him up. Our search for God and our desire to encounter Him is similar. Our human attempts to understand God and to rise up to meet Him are destined to failure; We need God our Father to reach down to us and pick us up.

And God has reached down to us: he has told us what he’s like; he has shown us who he is. God has revealed himself to us. He has told us and he has shown us how much he loves us: “For God so loved the word that he gave his only Son.” These few words summarize so well the entire Gospel and the whole life to Jesus Christ the Son of God.

God has always loved us. Our first reading from Chronicles reminds us that in the Old Testament times God’s people were continually unfaithful to Him. But God never abandoned them; he was not impatient or spiteful as we sometimes might be when people continually offend us. Instead, God sent them messengers and prophets to call them back to him. And when they did not listen and would not change their ways God allowed a punishment to befall them which came in the form of being exiled from their homeland.

This punishment was not so that God could vent his anger. No! It was so that his people might see the error of their ways and turn back to him. God never abandoned them. And when the time was right, when the people had had enough time to reflect on what they had done and realize their mistakes, he sent king Cyrus to deliver them.

It’s hard to find a better way to express God’s love for us than the words of Saint John today:” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” Some atheists say they find it hard to believe in a God who would be so cruel as to let this happen to his own Son. But neither our Gospel today, nor any part of the Gospels, give any hint of the least bit of anger or vengeance or desire for retribution on the part of God when it comes to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The cross of Jesus firmly is planted firmly in the ground, but has its head reaching up into the heavens. The cross of Jesus where heaven and earth meet, where God and humanity embrace. In the cross of Christ, God bends down to us, and we, looking upon the cross, reach up to Him, not only with our eyes and our arms, but above all with our hearts.

CHURCH IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC MASSES WITH 15% CAPACITY.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS:

March 25th From 5-8 pm

March 26th From 5-8 pm

     March 27th From 1-4.30pm

Dear People of God god, we thank the Lord for listening to our prayers. We will be starting our Public Masses from March 16th. Please, those who are sick, feel uncomfortable, elderly people of our community stay home. I encourage you to view online/livestream/televised Masses. A full list is available at st. Dominic church Website, St. Dominmic church Youtube Channel , Instagram- diasfatherterry. or www.archtoronto.org

We want to thank all the parishioners of ST. DOMINIC for their ongoing support during this period of great uncertainty.

VOLUNTEERS HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED

I am so incredibly grateful for the efforts of our heroic volunteers who have been faithfully welcoming parishioners and cleaning the church between services, ensuring that we can operate safely and responsibly. Your selflessness and generosity is inspiring! USHERS, ONCE AGAIN LET'S COME TOGETHER AS WE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC MASSES FROM THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 20,22. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE.

So many of the faithful rely on the reception of the sacraments and our churches to find solace, peace and support during this period of pandemic. Despite these new restrictions, we will make every effort to continue our outreach to you. We also ask that you find opportunities to assist those who are vulnerable or alone among us.

We will continue to update you as the situation evolves. (refer to parish website or social media channels if appropriate) We pray that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. May God continue to bless you now and always!

2020 TAX RECEIPTS

DEAR PEOPLE OF GOD, YOUR 2020 TAX RECEIPTS ARE READY AND WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU ON YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE IN THE PARISH REGISTER. IN CASE YOU HAVE CHANGED IT, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AND UPDATE IT. THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ONE, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO COLLECT IT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND COOPERATION. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL UPKEEP OF THE CHURCH. PRAYING FOR YOU ALL. GOD BLESS YOU!

2021 ENVELOPES ARE READY FOR PICK UP!

Please Collect your Envelope Boxes from the main entrance of the church

 OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am —12 noon. 1pm — 4.30pm .Please call the parish office before you arrive.

THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH PRAYER

To you, O blessed Joseph (Ad te, beate Ioseph)

To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen

We want to thank all the parishioners of  ST. DOMINIC for their ongoing support during this period of great uncertainty. It has been wonderful to see so many of you at Mass since we re-opened in June. We are especially grateful to the volunteers who have helped ensure our church is a safe place to gather – they have done incredible work!

We are still in a GREY (lockdown) ZONE 

We want to thank all the parishioners of  ST. DOMINIC for their ongoing support during this period of great uncertainty. It has been wonderful to see so many of you at Mass since we re-opened in June. We are especially grateful to the volunteers who have helped ensure our church is a safe place to gather – they have done incredible work!

As you know, the number of new COVID-19 cases in the Greater Toronto Area have increased significantly in recent days and, at present, the entire province is in the “Lockdown Stage” as identified by the Province of Ontario. In addition, Premier Ford announced on December  26 2020 special emergency measures that need to be taken in our area.

For this reason  Sadly, due to these measures, public Masses are temporarily cancelled. Priests will continue to celebrate private Mass daily for the intentions of parishioners and for those suffering from Covid-19.

Sadly, it is not possible for our parish to remain open at this time in a way that is safe and able to control the restricted number of people permitted in the building.

While I recognize it is not a substitute for attending Mass in person, I encourage you to view online/livestream/televised Masses. A full list is available at St. Dominic church Website, St. Dominic church YouTube Channel , Instagram- diasfatherterry. or www.archtoronto.org

Also, all non-essential meetings in the parish will move to virtual meetings or they may be postponed. Our staff will also be working remotely in large part wherever possible

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 Parish members for the upkeep of the Church. Kindly support us with the donations (weekly offerings) . Thank you for your great help during this challenging time! God bless you all!

We recognize these measures are extremely challenging. I am also so incredibly grateful for the efforts of our heroic volunteers who have been faithfully welcoming parishioners and cleaning the church between services, ensuring that we can operate safely and responsibly. Your selflessness and generosity is inspiring!

So many of the faithful rely on the reception of the sacraments and our churches to find solace, peace and support during this period of pandemic. Despite these new restrictions, we will make every effort to continue our outreach to you. We also ask that you find opportunities to assist those who are vulnerable or alone among us.

We will continue to update you as the situation evolves. (refer to parish website or social media channels if appropriate) We pray that you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. May God continue to bless you now and always!

SUNDAY MASS:

As public masses are cancelled  weekend Mass will be still live-streamed every Sunday at 10 am in our Parish Website and YouTube page. You can also watch the mass later in the day. If you can, please consider dropping off your church donations in the mailbox, newly installed at Atwater Ave Church entrance door .

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 Parish members for the upkeep of the Church. Kindly support us with the donations (weekly offerings) . Thank you for your great help during this challenging time! God bless you all!

  2021 ENVELOPES ARE READY FOR PICK UP

       Please call the office to pick up your Envelope Boxes.

 OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am —12 noon. 1pm — 4.30pm . Please call the parish office before you arrive.

THANK YOU!

Thanks for all your support and cooperation. I sincerely thank our YouTube mass Team. Sean for providing music and technical support. Joshua, Larissa Freddy And Farrell Gonsalves for their assistance with the liturgy. 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! God bless!