I would like to warmly welcome Fr. Larry Bagnal, who will be covering for me throughout the month of August. Fr. Larry is always happy to come and serve in our parish, and I am truly grateful for his willingness to help.

As you may know, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find priests to assist with summer replacements, so I am especially thankful to Fr. Larry for his generosity.

All Masses will continue as usual, with just one exception—there will be no Masses on Mondays during August.

Let us keep Fr. Larry in our prayers and welcome him with kindness.

With blessings,
Fr. Mariusz Sztuk, SDS

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who joined and contributed to our Parish Potluck Dinner last Sunday after Mass.

A special word of gratitude goes to our Filipino community, who organized the event with great care and generosity. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was warm and joyful.

Thank you to all who brought dishes, helped with setup and cleanup, and simply came to share in the fellowship. Events like this remind us how important it is to come together as a parish family, to share our time, our talents, and our cultures.

Let’s continue to create more moments like this—it’s good for our hearts and for the life of our parish!

Thank You for a Wonderful Parish Picnic!

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Parish Picnic! It was a beautiful day filled with laughter, community spirit, and the joy of being together as a parish family.

A very special thanks goes out to the Knights of Columbus, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes — from grilling to organizing — to make sure we had plenty of delicious food for all. Your dedication and service are deeply appreciated.

The atmosphere was filled with joy, and the music was absolutely awesome, bringing extra energy and smiles to the gathering. Thank you to our musicians for sharing your talent and helping create such a festive environment!

We also want to sincerely thank everyone who brought salads and desserts — your generosity added such a wonderful variety to our meal and made the picnic even more special.

To all the volunteers, families, and friends who helped in big and small ways — setting up, cleaning up, or simply showing up — thank you! Your presence made the day complete.

We are truly blessed to be part of such a vibrant, faith-filled community. May the spirit of unity and fellowship we experienced continue to grow throughout the year.

God bless you all!

Fr. Marius

Pope Leo engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with children taking part in the Vatican's summer camp, who gathered with him yesterday in the Paul VI Hall. Joining them was a group of approximately 300 young students from Ukraine, hosted in Italy by Caritas for the summer.

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St. Benedict, Abbot – July 11
“Ora et labora – Pray and work”

This Friday, July 11, we celebrate the memorial of St. Benedict of Nursia, one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church and Western monasticism. Born around the year 480 in Italy, Benedict is best known for founding the Benedictine Order and for writing The Rule of St. Benedict, a spiritual guide that continues to inspire countless communities around the world.

At a time when the Roman Empire was crumbling and society was in chaos, Benedict offered a new way of life — one that combined prayer, work, and community living in the service of God. His motto, “Ora et labora” (“Pray and work”), remains a powerful reminder that holiness is found not only in church or solitude, but also in the daily rhythm of life.

Benedict’s Rule emphasized balance, moderation, and obedience, inviting monks to live a life centered on Christ, rooted in Scripture, and committed to service. His model became the foundation for Western monastic life and helped preserve faith, learning, and culture throughout the Middle Ages.

Although most of us are not called to monastic life, St. Benedict’s wisdom speaks to all Christians today. His focus on community, stability, and daily prayer is a beautiful invitation to bring God into every moment of our lives — whether we are working, resting, or praying.

As we celebrate his memorial, may we ask St. Benedict to intercede for us — that we too may seek God in all things and find peace in the rhythm of prayer and work.

St. Benedict, pray for us!

Dear Parishioners,

I would like to personally invite you to a wonderful upcoming event here at St. Francis de Sales Parish.

On Sunday, July 20th, following the 11:00 am Mass, our Filipino Community is hosting a Multicultural Potluck Lunch in the parish hall — and everyone is warmly invited to take part!

This is a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of our parish family. I encourage each of you to bring a favourite dish from your cultural background so that together we can enjoy a taste of many traditions from around the world.

Let’s come together in fellowship, food, and joy. I look forward to seeing many of you there!

Blessings,
Fr. Mariusz