Avon-Thames Catholic Family of Parishes
96 Huron Street N5A5S6 Stratford, ON, Canada

Please join us around 11:30 for our Live-Stream mass (Prelude begins at 11:25). May God bless you with spiritual rest this Sunday.

Today we look at the Deadly Sin of Sloth. Remember, these are spiritual sins, so our physical understanding of laziness may not apply here. Sometimes rest is actually a good thing, and difficult to enter into. Failing to rest when God asks us to is sloth. Lets dive in to explore how to avoid this sad sin.

Worship Wednesdays - The Mass is the source and summit of our Christian life. We come together to Praise and Worship our Lord and Saviour. Let’s look closer at the Parts of the Mass and why we do what we do. The purpose of the entrance music is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical season or festivity, and accompany the procession of the priest and ministers. (General Instruc...tion of the Roman Missal, 47). The Priest represents Christ for us. In many of our parishes, a well-known hymn will accomplish this effectively. (Liturgy.Life) We miss seeing each other and celebrating Mass together! (soon and very soon please!) Share a video or picture of your kids singing to brighten each other’s day! Post it in the comments or tag us on your page. #worshipwednesdays #avonthames #mass See more

Tomorrow is the final Sunday of the liturgical year and the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King! The Church turns its attention to that time when our earthly life ends and eternal life begins. We are reminded that as Shepherd-King of the entire universe, Jesus' flock includes everyone. Absolutely everyone. He expects all of his creatures (that's us) to respond to the most basic human needs of the flock. Jesus identifies intimately with the poor and vulnerable - He s...uffers with them and is served IN them. If we want a share in the Kingdom of our Lord, we need to seek and serve Him by serving the needy. Keep watch - there are many opportunities for us to serve each other quietly and without fanfare. The fanfare is reserved for the King Himself - as is all power, and glory, and dominion as He reigns forever and ever! Amen! See more

Worship Wednesdays Singing and praising our Lord is oftentimes grown out of sheer joy. It is good to celebrate the joy and wonder of our relationship with the Lord. If you struggle for joySING! If you are joyfulSING! Glory to God in the Highest!

Theology Thursday! Today I speak to Fr. Graham Keep about the "charisms" of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are able to pass the faith on and help faciliate an encounter with Christ. Have you ever woundered what gift God has given to you to generate faith? What happens if we don't use our gifts?

Theology Thursday! Today we look at the reality of Sin, and the need to be healed of it through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We also examine the difference between shame and guilt, and where love is found.

Heart of Mary - new program! Do you struggle with broken places in your heart and in your life that feel like much more than you can handle? Discover a new lens with which to see your journey. Hope casts light on the darkness of our struggles; it births a new attitude toward suffering. Visit www.mountcarmelplaceofprayer.com to gain new insight about the spiritual power of suffering when we turn our eyes to Jesus.

Worship Wednesdays What does it mean to Worship God? By definition, worship means the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity, for example, the worship of God. The English word worship is derived from the Old English word weorþscipe, which combines worth (weorþ) and see (scipe). From its origin then, the word worship literally meant to see worth, and now means the condition of being worthy, dignity, glory, distinction, honor, renown. W...hen we worship our Lord, we are expressing honour through extravagant respect, reverence, and devotion. Here are 3 practical ways we can worship God: 1. Sing Praise! James says that when things are going well, we should sing praises to God. Challenge: Look for worship, praise, and Christian music on any streaming services you use. It’s worth investing some time to explore. 2. Thank Him in Prayer! When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, he told them to start like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name. It’s fine to ask God for things, but real relationship includes both take and give. But what do we have to offer God? Our honor, respect, and gratitude. Challenge: At least once a day for the next week, go to God in prayer, and thank Him for something He’s done for you, without asking Him for anything. 3. Share Your Story! The writer of Hebrews encourages us to honor God by proclaiming our allegiance to his name. God is always working for good for the people who love Him. Isn’t it thrilling to know that God chose you for a specific purpose in His kingdom? Are you actively spreading the word about God’s goodness? Challenge: This week, anytime you’re talking with friends, watch for natural opportunities to share some of what God is doing in your life. (YouVersion 2019) #WorshipWednesday #singpraise #worship

Coming next week Fr. Chris is taking questions and will hope to answer them in the parishes Theology 101 Series. If you’d like to submit a question about faith or morals, the Church, and our God, please write them below or email Fr. Chris at [email protected]