New Leadership at Holy Spirit Academy

We are pleased to share the news that Holy Spirit Academy begins this new school year under the leadership of a new Principal and a new Vice Principal. We warmly welcome them into our parish and school community:

Principal: Mrs. Lacey Dubeau
Vice Principal: Mrs. Sarah Doirone

More information about their background and vision for the school can be found on the Holy Spirit Academy website.

At the same time, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the former administration: Mr. Peter Schreiber (Principal) and Mrs. Jennifer Rorke (Vice Principal) for their years of outstanding service, leadership, and dedication. Their commitment to academic excellence, faith formation, and the well-being of students and families has left a lasting impact on our Parish.

We wish both the outgoing and incoming leadership every success and God’s blessing in their important mission of guiding and forming our youngest generation.

A Word of Gratitude

We would like to sincerely thank Fr. Larry Bagnal for his kindness and generosity in substituting for me during the summer holidays. As always, we are deeply grateful for his invaluable help, his joyful spirit, and everything he shared with our parish throughout this past month.

Fr. Larry will be with us until Sunday, August 31st. Beginning September 1st, our regular schedule of Masses will be resumed, including the Monday morning Mass.

Once again, we thank Fr. Larry for his ministry among us and we wish him many blessings and graces from God.

Church Painting Project

As many of you surely remember, it has been over 10 years since our church and parish hall were last painted. If you look around carefully, you will notice that the time has come once again to refresh our sacred space.

Originally, the painting project was scheduled to take place during the summer holidays. However, due to the busy schedule of the group undertaking this work, the project will now begin on September 2 and is expected to be completed by September 17.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your kind patience.

• Sunday Masses will continue in the main church (no work will be carried out on weekends).
• Weekday Masses from September 2–10 will be celebrated in the parish hall foyer.
• During this time, there will be no Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and other parish activities will be suspended.

Thank you very much for your understanding and support as we take this step to care for and beautify our parish home.

Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS
Parish Priest

New Sunday Mass at Our Parish – Bishop’s Decision

Dear Parishioners,

In recent months, together with the Parish Pastoral Council, Liturgical Ministry, and representatives of various parish groups, we have been discerning the need for an additional Sunday Mass in our community. Many of you have noticed that during the 11:00 a.m. Mass, our church is overcrowded. As a result, many parishioners attending Mass sit in the hall. Parking is also a challenge on Sundays.

After parish-wide consultation and a survey showing the support of the faithful, I wrote to Bishop McGrattan requesting permission to add a 5 p.m. Sunday Mass.

I am pleased that the Bishop has granted permission on a trial basis (ad experimentum). The new Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m., beginning on September 7, and continuing until December 28, 2025.

In early December, I will report to the Bishop on how parishioners have received this Mass. Based on that, the Bishop will decide whether to make this Mass permanent (with the exception of July and August due to reduced availability of ministers).

I invite new lectors, ushers, and parishioners who would like to take an active part in this liturgy to contact me directly for details. Your involvement will help to serve the needs of our growing parish.

I sincerely thank all of you who took part in the consultations by expressing yourself. The introduction of this new Mass is the fruit of our shared concern that everyone can participate in the Eucharist in a prayerful and welcoming environment.

Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS
Parish Priest

Pope Leo XIV Announces World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul

In a heartfelt message at the closing Mass of the Jubilee of Youth on August 3, 2025, Pope Leo XIV officially announced that World Youth Day 2027 will be held in Seoul, South Korea, from August 3 to August 8, 2027 EWTN VaticanWikipedia.

This will be a truly historic gathering:

• It marks the first World Youth Day held in South Korea, and notably the first in a country where Christians are a minority WikipediaUSCCB.
• It's only the second time the global Catholic youth festival is hosted in Asia, after Manila in 1995 Wikipediacnewsliveenglish.com.
• The theme for the event will be “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) WikipediaCatholic News.

Let us pray for all preparations and for the young pilgrims who will gather to renew their faith in this remarkable celebration of hope and unity.

On August 15, the Catholic Church celebrates one of the greatest Marian feasts of the year — the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holy day commemorates the belief, held since the earliest centuries of the Church, that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up — body and soul — into heavenly glory.

While the dogma of the Assumption was formally defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the Church has always held this truth in her heart. Mary, being free from sin by the grace of God, did not experience the corruption of the grave. Instead, she was glorified in heaven as the first and perfect disciple of Christ, a sign of hope for all the faithful who long to share in the resurrection.

This solemnity reminds us of two beautiful truths: first, the dignity to which every human person is called; and second, the tender love of God, who desires our eternal union with Him. Mary’s Assumption is not only about her, but also about us — it is a promise that, if we live in faith and grace, we too will be brought to the fullness of life with God.

In many Catholic countries, August 15 is also a day of blessing for the harvest, flowers, and herbs — a sign of thanksgiving to God for His creation and providence.

Reflection & Invitation:
Mary’s journey to heaven reminds us that our own lives are a pilgrimage toward God. She shows us the way — through trust, humility, and obedience to His will. On this feast, let us not only honor her with our prayers but also ask her to guide us closer to her Son, Jesus.

We warmly invite all parishioners to join us for Mass on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15 am, as we celebrate this feast together. Let us gather as a family of faith to give thanks for Mary’s witness and to renew our own hope in the promise of eternal life.