A theme of repentance and homecoming was at the heart of Archbishop Richard Smith’s homily, preached during his pastoral visit to the parish community of St. John Bosco Catholic Church, in northeast Edmonton March 9-10.
“If we acknowledge our sins and call upon God. . [he] will hear our pleas and respond,” Archbishop Smith shared in his homily for the fourth Sunday of Lent.
“By the gift of His mercy, we are returned to His loving embrace, which is our true ‘homeland,’ the place we belong.”
During his visit, Archbishop Smith met with the parish RCIC (Rite for Christian Initiation for Children) candidates. He joined the children for their formation class and spent time answering their questions. Archbishop Smith also spoke about his own faith testimony.
Archbishop Smith celebrated Saturday evening Mass March 9 followed by dinner with members of parish council and the finance committee. On Sunday, March 10 he celebrated the 9:30 and 11:30 am Masses and then met with parishioners and volunteers over coffee and donuts.
As part of his parish visit, Archbishop Smith will be visiting area schools – St. Maria Goretti, Anne Fitzgerald, St. Elizabeth Seton, and Cardinal Collins Catholic Academic Centre (Clareview) – on March 22.
Archbishop Smith also joined Father Adaikala Raja John, pastor of St. John Bosco, for a visit to AgeCare Miller Crossing Care Centre, a local senior care home. There, Archbishop Smith visited with residents and celebrated Mass.
Speaking of the miraculous reality of the Mass during his Sunday homily, the Archbishop invited the parishioners of St. John Bosco – and all the Catholic faithful – to remember that the “self-offering of the Lord is rendered present among us, here and now, in the wondrous sacrament of the Eucharist.”
“Let us pray, then, that the grace of communion with our Lord will heal [us] by renewing us in faith and restoring our complete trust in the never-failing love of God.”
Read Archbishop Smith’s full homily from the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
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Jenny Connelly – Archdiocese of Edmonton