A NEW ORGANIST AT ST. LEO!
Beginning this weekend we are blessed to welcome a new organist for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning Mass. Her name is Trudy Olford and she is a most accomplished musician. She is a Doctor of music having degrees in Organ Performance: B. Mus. (John McIntosh, UWO), M. Mus. (Larry Cortner, UWO), D. Mus. (Marnie Giesbrecht, U of AB). Recently, as a project, Trudy decided to learn 10 of the most beautiful organ works over 1000 days and keeps track of her progress on a special internet blog. We welcome her musical expertise, her accomplished musical career experience, but most of all her “Yes” to her involvement and the great musical contribution she will make at St. Leo the Great Parish.
Mr. Dave Fernihough, who has been serving as organist and Music Director at the 11:00 a.m. Mass for many years at St. Leo, along with his wife Janice, who has served as cantor, will continue their involvement and participation at the 11:00 Mass as Dave will lead the choir and his wife will continue to serve as one of the cantors at that Mass.
The choir that leads the congregation in song each Sunday has been called the “Senior Choir”, but this does not mean that only seniors are able to join. Anyone who loves music and loves to sing the praises of the Lord and desires to grow in their appreciation of music and is open to expanding their abilities with music and song is most welcome to join the choir. Simply speak to either Trudy Olford (Organist/Pianist) or Dave Fernihough after any Mass if you are interested, or call the parish office and leave your name with Pat, our parish secretary at 905-655-3286.
Of course, anyone who wishes to get involved in any of the music programs at the Saturday 5:00 p.m. , Sunday 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Masses is most welcome to join.
Music is anything but background sound to the liturgy of the Church. It assists and enhances personal and congregational prayer; it moves us to greater and deeper contemplation of the mysteries of God; it can be a conduit through which our God speaks to and moves our hearts; it reflects God’s power, love, mercy, tenderness and presence and can inspire joy, praise, conviction, thanksgiving and self-examination.
As pastor I look forward to working with and being inspired by Trudy Olford and the gift of herself she will share with us. Welcome Trudy! (Fr. Charles)
HERE WE GO AGAIN
While parish life goes on from season to season, day to day, month to month, year to year, we are still shaped by the school year which runs from September to June. This reality affects our Mass attendance and the number of people who attend Sunday Mass during the summer months when school is out. Families plan their holidays around the school calendar either for the March Break or in July and August each year when children are out of school for the summer months.
Let us pray for the children, teachers, staff and parents as well as volunteers in our schools who begin again the venture of “higher education” under God. (Fr. C.)
SACRAMENTAL DATE CHANGE
FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION/ FIRST COMMUNION
Please note that a change has been made to the Sacramental Information sheet that was distributed to parents both through the schools and in our parish bulletin this past June. The change concerns one of the dates for the Parent Information Meeting, a mandatory meeting for all parents who wish to have their children prepare for and celebrate the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion here at St. Leo the Great Parish.
OLD DATES:
Originally we had booked two dates for these meetings with the understanding that parents would choose to attend one of them which best suited their schedules. The dates were either Thursday September 30th at 7:00 p.m. or Sunday October 3rd at 2:00 p.m.
NEW DATES:
The new dates for the Parent Information Meetings for First Reconciliation and First Communion are
X Sunday September 26th at 2:00 p.m. OR
X Thursday September 30th at 7:00 p.m. (as before).
The reason for the change is that the former scheduled Sunday October 3rd, 2:p.m. Parent Meeting would have coincided and conflicted with the annual LifeChain which is held each year to bring to the public’s mind the issue of abortion and to pray for an end to this taking of innocent human life. To me as a human being, a Christian, a Catholic and a Priest it is vitally important to participate in LifeChain each year and to encourage the people of God to do the same. it is one thing to say we stand for life under God but it is another thing to actually do something about it as a witness to the truth that all life under God is sacred and is to be treated as such.
We will bump the Parent Meeting that would have been held on Sunday October 3rd to be held one week earlier on Sunday September 26th at 2:00 p.m.
The issue of life is and should always be regarded as primary over other things in our lives including dates for information meetings that can easily be changed to accommodate our need to be living witnesses to the truth that all life is sacred and the sacramental life of the Church honours fully this reality. (Fr. Charles)
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE,
COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN LIFECHAIN 2010.
Think about this: We are a people who follow Jesus Christ, who is definitely, unequivocally prolife and is the founder and author of life itself! The Church he founded has always stood for life as witnessed by the saints and martyrs throughout the ages who were willing to lay down their own lives for the life of others and the Church. In our time we have experienced the powerful witness of Pope John Paul II, our present pope, Benedict XVI, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Fr. John Powell, S.J., and so many countless others who have stood for and spoken constantly about the sanctity of human life and the protection of the unborn. Our own archbishop, Thomas Collins annually participates in the LifeChain and also regularly goes to pray at abortion clinics for the healing of our nation and an end to abortion. We are part of the Church which clearly stands for life and has been one of the few champions on life issues, working on behalf of those who have no voice – the unborn children. No amount of quotes from sacred scripture or documents and statements put forth by the Church will make some people listen, but are we as Church listening?
If we say that we are “against abortion”, or, are “prolife”, what have we actually done in the cause of the defenseless? What will our defense be when we meet the Lord? Talk doesn’t cost us much. Prayer is essential but can be a cop out for those who are mediocre when it comes to the issue of life itself. What are you willing to do to show that you stand for life?
Personally, I am not a demonstrator and I have a natural aversion to even the idea of showy protests. However, to stand in silence with many others while praying and simply holding a prolife sign is doing something, perhaps the only thing that most of us can do, and it is a solidarity with not only Christ himself, but also with all those innocent souls deprived of life through human ignorance, selfishness, and so-called “choice”, depriving those children of God from any choice at all. If we are Catholics, members of the Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus, school teachers, principals, students, or belong to any ministry in the parish, or if we are parishioners who are young, elderly or somewhere in between; to say that we are prolife is not enough. Please join me, Father Charles, in standing together for one hour in prayer, in unity, in silence and in solidarity with Jesus Christ and the Church he founded, and make a powerful, non-threatening statement for human life. . To one and all, help me and all those who will gather on Sunday to stand with the Father and Author of Life and show Whitby and Brooklin in Canada, and all the world that we believe in the sanctity of life as a creation and gift from God and that abortion is the taking of that innocent, God-given life.
WHAT? LIFE CHAIN.
WHEN? SUNDAY OCTOBER 3 FROM 2:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. (Please arrive by 1:50 p.m.)
WHERE? Dundas Street East & Thickson Road in the Whitby Mall parking lot.
HOW? STANDING WITH OTHER PARISHIONERS AND ANY AND ALL WHO BELIEVE IN LIFE AS CREATED BY GOD, IN SILENCE AND PRAYER.
WHY? BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE A STAND AND GOD WILL BE WITH US.
If you still don’t feel you want to take part in this available opportunity to do something for life, (which means far more than just buying and wearing a little rose on your lapel), please make sure that in good conscience and before God you will do something else to show your support of human life from the womb to the tomb. (Fr. Charles)