1John 4.7-10
John 15.9-17
The readings this Sunday are all about love. We must love one another because Jesus loves us. We must recognize that anyone who does not love, cannot be of God.!It is not as important that we love God- rather, it is more important that God loves us. God’s love includes even the Gentiles, non Jewish people. And we can say that God love includes everyone .
The First reading today is from the Acts of the Apostles and gives us the account of how saint Peter came to accept the non Jewish people as believers, without requiring them to become Jews. That fact that the Holy Spirit has come upon the non-Jewish believers convinced the Jewish believers that one could believe in Jesus Christ without being a Jew.
The second reading from the First of Saint John. Again, we see how love must include everyone. Where love is lacking, so also is God God lacking. True loves comes from being in Jesus Christ. “ God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him.” All of our life comes from Jesus and our life must be lived in Jesus.
The Gospel of Saint John today speaks of God’s love for for us. In the same way that Father loves Jesus, His Son, so also Jesus loves us! That is incredible. We often do not think of God’s love for us as in any way being the same love that the Divine Persons have among themselves. Somehow we often see ourselves as less. The whole Christian tradition tells, however, that Jesus became man, human, so that we might share in His Divinity. What an incredible life we have! Even when we sin, that life is still within us. We are created to share in the Divinity of Jesus.
Although nothing is said in today’s readings, we are all aware that to share in Christ is to follow Him by living the way that He lived. So God gives us a path of life. Not everything is good and not everything is holy. There are actions and ways of thinking and ways of speaking that take us away from this incredible gift of Divine life.
Far too often today, everything is seen as good as long as it makes me happy and feel good. This is not the way of the Lord Jesus. Love in the Gospel is not a feeling about another person, but a choice to seek the good of the other person even if I must sacrifice my own good. This is the way of the Lord Jesus. We actually have the power to live that way once we recognize God’s love for us and His choice to share His life with us. Our power, our virtue, our goodness, our capacity to love-all come from the Lord Jesus. He is risen Indeed, alleluia!
Wishing all the Mothers- Happy ‘Mother's Day’
Prayer: Good and Gentle God, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of theory who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings.
Restrictions as of Monday, April 19, 2021
Dear People of God,
On Friday, the provincial government announced further restrictions in an attempt to minimize the transmission of Covid-19, given the alarming increase in new cases over the past 10 days.
The new measures have a direct impact on places of worship as part of an extended stay-at-home order, which will be in place until at least May 20,2021
Due to these measures, public Masses are temporarily cancelled. Priests are asked to celebrate private Mass daily for the intentions of parishioners and for those suffering From Covid-19.
Church will remain open for private prayer only: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday from 11am to 4.30pm.
Weddings, funerals and baptisms are restricted to 10 persons, including those who are involved in ministry(Priest, Musician).
First Holy Communion is Postponed at this time.
Parish office working days and Hours: Tuesday and Thursday From 9.30 to 4.30 by appointment only.
Live streaming of masses will continue please view it on St. Dominic church Website, St. Dominic church YouTube Channel , Instagram- diasfatherterry. or www.archtoronto.org
We want to thank all the parishioners of St. Dominic for your ongoing support during this period of great uncertainty.
God bless you always
USHERS /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!
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!
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
