Mom" is one of the first words we learn in our earliest childhood. The way we say it expresses various emotions, but it almost always carries a positive charge, such as care, warmth, request, and gratitude. On the occasion of Mother's Day, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all the mothers of our parish, hoping that they spend many joyful and warm moments with their children, no matter how old they are. May the Best Mother, sustain you every day. We also remember and pray for the Mothers who have left us for eternity. May God grant them eternal joy and reward their motherly care.

Fr. Marius

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord 40 days after the Resurrection, affirming the belief that Jesus, after His passion and resurrection, ascended both body and soul into heaven. The Gospel accounts agree that Jesus ascended to heaven forty days after His Resurrection, body and soul. For the Catholic Church, the Ascension of the Lord signifies not only the completion of the work of the cross but also the exaltation of human nature above all creatures.

Since ancient times, Christians have held the place on the Mount of Olives in high esteem, where Jesus is believed to have left His footprints on a stone before ascending to heaven. In the 4th century, a church was built here, followed by a monastery. In the 12th century, the crusaders erected an octagonal temple with a dome open to the sky and a fortified monastery. Later on, the Christian temple was converted into a mosque. It remains in Muslim hands to this day, but not as an active mosque, rather as a museum object that can be visited.

Originally, the Church celebrated the Ascension of Jesus together with the mystery of Pentecost. The separation of these feasts happened in 370 A.D. Today, for pastoral reasons, many countries celebrate the Ascension a few days after the actual date. The feast is moved to the penultimate Sunday of Easter instead of the Thursday 40 days after Easter.

We use the term "ascension" to describe the event we celebrate, because Christ ascended into heaven by His own power. On the other hand, Christ will take His Mother and, one day, all of us to heaven. This is why we refer to the event as the "Assumption.”

Easter Wishes

Easter is the most significant and joyous celebration in the Christian faith. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. According to St. Paul, if Christ had not risen from the dead, our faith would have been in vain, and our efforts on earth would have been meaningless. The resurrection of Jesus is the reason why everything that is good, beautiful, noble, and marked by love in our lives will last forever.

As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you, dear parishioners and guests. May the joy of Easter illuminate your daily life, and may goodness, truth, love, harmony, and kindness always resurrect in your families, workplaces, and daily relationships.

May the Risen Lord bless you and your families with good health, strength, and grace to overcome the difficulties of everyday life. May everything that is good in nature flourish in your personal, professional, married, and family life.

May the splendor of the Empty Sepulchre of Our Lord remind you that nothing ends at the tomb. Everything begins! It is a symbol of hope and new beginnings, a reminder that death has been conquered, and new life has emerged. May it restore serenity and hope that, ultimately, good will always triumph over evil, truth will always triumph over lies, and love will always triumph over hate.

I wish you a happy and healthy Easter filled with love and kindness. Alleluia!

Fr. Marius Sztuk, SDS
Deacon Larry Driver

On the first Sunday of the new year, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the members and supporters of our parishes for joining us on our journey of faith. Thank you for attending every Holy Mass, for praying for the Church and for our parish, and for your support. I appreciate the fact that our parish is a vibrant community where we can see how we walk with God through life. 
Thank you for your love for our beautiful church and for your donations for its maintenance and upkeep. The coming year holds many unknowns, but I believe that God will never forget us. 
As Psalm 9 says, "Lord, you do not abandon those who seek you.

"May the New Year be a time dedicated to God, living with His blessing! May God protect you from evil, sickness, and misfortune. I pray that God blesses our community and its members in the New Year 2024! 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to make our Christmas and New Year celebrations so beautiful. Firstly, a big thank you to Deacon Larry and his wife Therese, the Decoration Team, Music Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Nancy, Vall, Larry, and all of you who care so deeply about our church. Your time and energy are truly appreciated.

God Bless. 
Fr. Marius
Parish Priest

Christmas Greetings

During this joyful Christmas time, I would like to extend my best wishes to you, dear parishioners, your families, and all guests spending Christmas in this community. May the Good God, who comes to us as a newborn, grant us health, peace, and joy and surround us with the abundance of his graces.

In this festive season, I ask especially for graces for those who are sick, lonely, and whose hearts are filled with fear and uncertainty about tomorrow. May they experience God's goodness most intensely.

May the joyful celebration heal wounds, end disputes and quarrels, and start a new and beautiful time in our family relationships. By creating a community of friendship and love in the family, neighbourhood, and parish, we can experience every day the wisdom of the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "Whenever you allow God to love others through you, it is always Christmas".

I want you to know that I put these wishes in Christ's blessing, which you accept as a celebration in the company of family, acquaintances, friends, and guests.

Fr. Marius Sztuk, SDS
(Parish Priest)

"Whenever you smile at your brother 
And you stretch out your hands to him,

it's Christmas.

Whenever you pause to listen

it's Christmas.

Whenever you give up the rules,
which, like an iron hoop, oppress men
in their solitude,

it's Christmas.

Whenever you give a little hope to the broken,

it's Christmas.

Whenever you recognize in humility,
how insignificant are your options
And how great is your weakness,

it's Christmas.

Whenever you allow God to
He has loved others because of you,
Always then,

it's Christmas."

Blessed. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. Advent, which means "arrival" in Latin, is a joyful and hopeful time as we await the coming of the Son of God, our Savior.

The Church divides Advent into two parts. The first part runs from the First Sunday of Advent until December 16, while the second part from December 17 to 24.

During the first part of Advent, we reflect and prepare for the Lord's second coming at the end of time. The second part is a time for direct reflection on the preparation for the celebration of Christmas. To help us count down the Sundays of Advent, we use the Advent Wreath, which has four candles.

On the first Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Hope, on the second Sunday the candles of Hope and Peace on the third Sunday candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy and on the fourt Sunday the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Many families also have Advent candles in their homes and light them during prayers, meals, and family gather The Advent wreath symbolizes the community of the Church as we await and prepare to receive the Lord. One of the forms of preparation is participation in the RORATE MASSES celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In our parish we will do that every Saturday during Avent at 7:00 am in the morning.

The season of Advent is an opportunity for spiritual awakening. It is a time to reflect on our faith in God, the purpose of our existence, and the path to salvation. We can ask ourselves about our preparation for the encounter with God.

What do we need to change in our lives? What separates us from God and others? Maybe we need to break with the sin of laziness in prayer, skipping Sunday Mass, wasting time, unkindness to people, pride, drunkenness, impurity, anger...

To better prepare for the joyful celebration of Christmas, we often participate in spiritual exercises and receive the Sacrament of Penance (reconciliation). In our parish we will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on December 13 at 6:30 in the evening. The Advent season is another opportunity to open ourselves to Jesus and to see His traces in our daily life, and to spread Advent joy around us.

"Let us praise Christ and thank Him for His reception in the Eucharist, which is the announcement of the Second Coming in Glory."