Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org

Saturday 29 October 2011

Test Image

 

Fr. Peter Keller

St. Michaels & Sacred Heart

(519) 344-2992

Note:  My e-mail is changed to pkeller@dol.ca

Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where there is love, there is insight

Thursday 27 October 2011

From Your Pastor

I am happy to announce three new members of Sacred Heart Building Committee. Frank Vozza, Pat Vozza and Leo McElhone join Pat Hobin and Onorio Vozza on the building Committee. Den Shannon and Charlie Oxley have stepped down from the building committee. They were originally part of the parishes building and finance committee. They kept this place going for many years; even doing many maintenance jobs themselves. I want to thank them for their years of service and I am happy to hear that they will be available to share with us their vast years of experience.

Thank you Den and Charlie!

Fr. Peter Keller

Fr. Peter Keller
St. Michaels & Sacred Heart
(519) 344-2992 ext 23

Ubi amor, ibi oculus - Where there is love, there is insight

Friday 21 October 2011

From Your Pastor

Our sacramental programs are all off and running to much success. This weekend a bus load of Confirmation students headed down to Chattham to learn more about their faith. I has given great joy to have met with all our sacramental families discussing their faith life. I am always overwhelmed how busy people are and concerned that the important but not urgent needs of faith and family life can get pushed to the side.
The same thing can happen with our parish family. We can busy doing the urgent things but forget the important things. Pastoral Planning is a way of seeing what is truly important in the midst of a busy parish. Our Parish Pastoral Council is finishing drafting some goals based on the survey we took earlier.
Our three draft goals are:
1) To form a Youth Commission which will evaluate, initiate and sustain comprehensive youth ministry in our cluster. To that end training for our Youth Commission is set for Oct 28 and 29. Joanna Giresi has been put in charge of form this Commission.
2) To initiate a faith enrichment program. Arise: Together in Christ is off and running with 25 groups. Faith enrichment for individuals is coming with Lighthouse CD's soon available at the back of the church.
3) To engage parents bringing their children to baptism and other Sacraments. We have begun Children's Liturgy at all Sunday masses so that we can continue to invite our families to celebrate with us. We hope to create environment were parents and children can learn together the grace and beauty of our faith. All the families bring their children to Eucharist and Confirmation have been engaged to evaluate their faith with Strong Catholic Families; Strong Catholic Youth.
These three Goals will continue to be formalised but in their draft form they have already helped remind us of the things that are important in the great work of God.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

From Your Pastor

Last week we distributed the financial statements for our two parishes. And yes... both parishes ran a deficit for the first six months of this year but I don't think that tells the whole story. There are various kinds of riches that are cultivated in our parishes. Arise is a wonderful gift, our sacramental programs are on a firm footing and we continue to evaluate our building and budget needs.
I look forward to the direction of the Pastoral Council, the Youth Commission and the pastoral plan which they will create for us. This input is essential to create our budget and personnel plan. I know this will help us not only bring our operations back into the black financially but reap the spiritual benefits of our community.
Fr. Peter Keller

St. Michael's & Sacred Heart Faith Community

Wednesday 5 October 2011

From Your Pastor

We are finishing up our interviews with the candidates for
confirmation and their families. We have more than 80 young people
registered but more fulfilling is that each family is responding to the
call to create a family plan for themselves. It is important to actually
take stock of where we are and go beyond our good intention and put our
faith into action. At thanksgiving we give thanks to God so that we
many deepen our relationship with God. In the end it is our
relationship and particularily our relationship with God that hold and
sustains us. Long after all the gifts fade the gift of the gift giver
remains.