Homily [Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37] It is certainly a joy for me to make a pastoral visit to Sacred Heart Parish this weekend. Before all else, I want to say a heartfelt “thank you” to you all. The visit has afforded me the opportunity to see…
Monsignor John Hamilton — better known as ‘Father Jack’ — passed away Nov. 22. He was 87. Father Jack was ordained in 1962. He served as vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, and as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish for 17 years, from the year 2000 until…
Homily [Deuteronomy 10. 17-19; Psalm 27; Hebrews 13:1-3, 14-16; Matthew 25:31-40] We gather this evening on what is called “Red Wednesday”. This is a global initiative of the Papal Charity called Aid to the Church in Need. This agency exists to support Christians suffering from persecution, oppression, or are…
“The prayer of the poor rises to God.” Sirach 21:5 It has been a great tradition here at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples that the parish along with Catholic Social Services, mark the Eighth World Day of the Poor event. The theme of: “The prayer of the poor…
Homily [Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32] As our liturgical year draws to a close (the final mass of the year is next Sunday), the texts from the Book of Daniel and the Gospel of Luke direct our attention to another end time – the termination…
On November 30th, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. We read about St. Andrew in John 1: 35-41: The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The…
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, will be commemorated as Red Wednesday, an annual day of solidarity with and for persecuted Christians worldwide. This event, organized nationally and internationally by Aid to the Church in Need (a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church), invites Christians to pray and fast, learn and raise…
Homily [1Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44] On Friday, I held my first meeting of what we are calling the Archbishop’s Student Advisory Council. It is comprised of twenty grade eleven and twelve students from all ten school divisions operating in the Archdiocese. The encounter with these…
Archbishop Richard Smith has been appointed to the board of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, the papal organization that responds to the needs of the Eastern churches. “It’s really a way in which the Pope, through this organization, can express his closeness and solidarity with the Eastern churches in communion…
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its first Annual Report on Safeguarding Oct. 29. The launch of the Annual Report is both a milestone and a work-in-progress. It is the first step towards a process of data gathering and reporting within the Catholic Church, which began as…