The St. Mary's Parish Podcast

When Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, he doesn’t hesitate: it is to love. We need to love God and love others. We are made by God, who is love, so we shouldn’t be surprised to hear that we were made for love! Fr. Mark reminds us that love is at the core of our identity and our mission.

In a world that is so chaotic, so full of evil and death, Deacon Charles reminds us that true peace can only be found in Jesus Christ.

One of the most common metaphors for heaven is “the feast”. There are numerous times throughout Scripture when Jesus refers to heaven as a feast, or a banquet, or as him dining with us. In the final homily of our preaching series, “At Your Service”, Fr. Mark reminds us that we are called to invite everyone to this amazing feast!

When we invest our money in stocks, we expect a return on investment. In the same way, when we go on mission, we expect to see results. Holiness is not just about being self-focused, it is about being focused on others. In this third homily in our preaching series, “At Your Service”, Fr. Ken asks, will you take the next step in holiness?

As we continue our current series called “At Your Service”, Fr. Mark shares an image he saw, the image of Jesus the suffering servant. He is at the door of our hearts asking us to serve. He sets aside his majesty, taking the form of a slave. Could you serve coffee after Mass? Could you play in the choir? Could you give a teaching? These simple tasks are not simple to him, they are very meaningful.

At the Night of Worship and Ministry, Sr. Melinda Schenher, SC, Associate Director of Encounter School of Ministry – Ottawa Campus, speaks on the theme of “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”. Find out more at stmarysottawa.ca/nowm.

To kick off our new preaching series, Fr. Ken explains the power of a serving culture. We all need to accept our call to serve within our parish community and use the gifts that God has given us!

God loves to forgive us! Just like the prodigal son, God is always waiting for us to turn back and repent from our past. Yet we have such a hard time forgiving each other. For some people, forgiving a person for a past hurt can be the hardest moment in their life. Fr. Mark teaches us to make forgiveness a part of each day. At the end of the day, ask yourself “who do I need to forgive today?”

Jesus never said that following him would lead to an easy life without struggles, but he did promise that he would be with us every step of the way. Fr. Ken reminds us that when the storms of life come, Jesus is always there.

What is the most important and precious thing in our earthly lives? It is certainly relationships. God made us for relationship; we know this because we are made in the image of God and God is relationship. Fr. Roger reminds us that Jesus is inviting us to join in the ultimate relationship of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.