Rev. Ian Boyd – a pioneering scholar, world traveller and compassionate spiritual director – has died. He was 88. Father Boyd celebrated his 60th Anniversary of Ordination on December 15, 2023. He was honoured as a Jubilarian at the November priests’ assembly. In a 2019 interview with the Archdiocese, Father…
Solemnity of the Epiphany Homily [Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12] Over the last few weeks, traffic in the city has been rather light. Tomorrow, I expect that will change. Our streets will become more congested and traffic will slow considerably. The reason for this is a…
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Homily [Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21] Over the last few days, I have had occasion to watch a hockey game of the World Junior Championship. What caught my attention at the outset were some introductory remarks by…
Christmas Midnight Mass Homily [Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-16] As the feast of Christmas is celebrated this year, much of the world’s attention is directed to that place where the birth of Jesus occurred – the city of Bethlehem. The Holy Land finds itself in a…
Let\’s think less about ourselves and more about what God has done for us through his son Jesus. Read Archbishop Smith\’s homilies
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Year B Homily [2Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38] Our mass this morning falls on Christmas Eve. I’ll go out on a limb and say that most people are now ready for Christmas. I know, the full parking lots at…
Father Benoj Makkollil was born in India, but his heart remains in Ghana, West Africa. “They have faith. Faith is strong, but poverty is there,” said Father Ben, who spent 25 years in Ghana. He is now the associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Sherwood Park.…
Third Sunday of Advent – Year B Homily [Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1; 1Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28] During a recent parish visit, I had occasion to sit down with a group of grade-four children. Their teachers asked me to speak with them about prayer. We discussed what prayer is,…
Father Matt Zugaj is helping Croatian Catholics maintain connection to their faith and culture. And it’s welcomed, as Father Matt celebrates his first Christmas in Canada and helps Nativity of Mary parishioners strengthen their link to their homeland. “This is my parish. I can’t imagine not having a Croatian pastor.…
Merry Christmas! The Christmas season is such a busy time that tends to be filled with many commitments and expectations of things that need to be done and people to visit. You may enter Christmas feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, and tired from all the preparations and the whirlwind that started the…