April 9, 2023
Dear Beloved Parishioners & Friends,
Alleluia! The Lord is Risen,Alleluia!! Alleluia!!!
The way to the resurrection of Christ was the way of the Cross. The Lamb of God sacrificed is now, and forever, Christ our LIGHT, the eternal High Priest of the covenant. His mother Mary, the Stabat Mater, (the sorrowful mother) of Good Friday, is now the jubilant Regina Caeli, (Queen of Heaven). As we celebrate the joy of Easter and the gift of new life in Christ, may we now continue to re-enact and reinvigorate the fullness of God’s love for us, by the way and manner we live and respond to the call of being disciples of Christ.
Let us continue to replicate God’s love and grace in our relationships with others. This is asure way to authentically witnessing to the POWER of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Profound thanks to various individuals, groups, committees and ministries that worked tirelessly for us to experience fruitful Lenten and Easter activities and celebrations here at our parish, Christ the King. May the Risen
Lord bless you all superabundantly. Let the radiant light of Christ illumine our lives, so that we may in turn be a light in the world, spreading God’s message of salvation, faith, hope, compassion, mercy and love.
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE, ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!!
God is Good, all the time ! Alleluia ! Alleluia !
Love, Fr. Chrys .
April 2, 2023
Dear Beloved Parishioners & Friends,
You are cordially invited to participate fully and actively in the celebrations of the Sacred Triduum, this Holy Week, here at the Christ the King Parish:
Holy Thursday - April 6 at 7pm
Good Friday - April 7 at 3 pm
Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil - April 8th at 8pm
Kindly invite family members and friends to join us in these wonderful sacred celebrations, with which we re-enact the Paschal Mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ – His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. It is a three-day liturgical celebration, and
Easter Sunday, and each of you is encouraged to make every effort possible to participate in all three days, to experience and celebrate the complete ritual ! They offer each of us opportunities to renew our relationship with God, give us hope and strength, as we journey ahead in life. Please come one ! Come All !
Looking forward to the beautiful Sacred Triduum celebrations and experiences.
God is Good, all the time !
Love, Fr. Chrys
February 12, 2023
Dear Beloved Parishioners and friends,
The month of February, 2023, is rich in liturgical activities and spiritual memorials. Through these spiritual and liturgical activities we are called to re-dedicate ourselves to God, presenting our dreams, hopes and fears to Him and making sacrificial offerings of our lives in service of the Gospel, community and humanity. Thus, we, placing communion at the Centre, may increasingly becoming a community of faith, fraternity, hospitality and welcome, towards one another and especially those most in need.
February 22nd, 2023 is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of the special season of LENT. A season wherein we are called to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. With the Ash Wednesday, the Church ushers all into the solemn season of lent to experience the profound CALL to repentance and renewal.
Kindly find below a few thoughts on Lent and Penitential Discipline:
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Lent has a penitential character. Penance is an important requirement of Christian life. Fulfillment of this duty involves, prayer, works of charity, piety, and self-denial.
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Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in the Roman Rite, including Canada are days of fasting and of abstinence from meat. All the faithful who have reached 14 years of age and above are required to abstain totally from meat or favorite dishes or drinks on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.
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Fasting: All Christ faithful between ages of 18 and 59 years are obliged to fast. It involves limiting oneself to a single full meal a day, or two smaller meals a day. Pregnant, nursing, sick and those whose health would adversely be affected by fasting are not bound by this norm.
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In order to benefit profoundly from the graces of the season of lent, may we observe the following; and even more:
Avoid sin, practice self-control, pursue and achieve reconciliation with everyone and God, read the scriptures, pray the Rosary, go to Mass often. For instance, if you are not frequenting Sunday Masses; try not to miss any of the Sunday Masses during the Lenten season and beyond. And if you are usually present at Sunday Masses , try to attend weekday Masses. Pray before the Blessed Sacrament, be regular at Stations of the Cross. Be generously committed to the corporal and spiritual Works of mercy. And many more spiritual and corporal activities as you may wish to observe and practice during the season of lent.
It’s very important to note that all external forms of penance are practiced in order to deepen and encourage the internal virtues. The penitential discipline is intended to OPEN our hearts to God, and others. It is a means of purification and spiritual liberation, a witness of the depth of our Christian faith and love.
Let’s continue to pray for one another, as we look forward to having a wonderful Lenten season this year.
God is Good, all the time! Grace and blessings!!
LOVE, Fr. Chrys.
December 25, 2022
Dear Beloved Parishioners and Friends,
"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
(Luke 2:10)
There is a Christmas; for in the silence of the night in a lowly manger, God shared our humanity, and made human cries, frailties and vulnerabilities His very own. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14); to reclaim human dignity and fullness of life. It's in this humble obedience Mary listened to the will of God amidst the canvas of a world in bleak uncertainty, and longing for redemption. For you are born for us, Little Child, God eternal. Christmas reassures us of God's merciful love for humanity.
As we celebrate this year 2022, and bring to memory the birth of Jesus, may our lives be deeply touched by God's love. As we reflect and contemplate on the child Jesus who is born, my our hearts be filled with joy, peace and happiness. Through Jesus, we come to know and appreciate who God really is--He is LOVE. God's love is extended to everyone, including the marginalized, and especially the poor and needy.
Therefore, may we at this Christmas be mindful of those who are in need of welcome, such as a family member, a friend, a fellow parishioner, the poor and needy, the downtrodden and rejected, etc. Let us make room in our hearts for love, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, generosity and happiness, and reach out to those who are in need of our attention and assistance.
May I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all parishioners for your continual support and commitment to our parish, Christ the King. To the friends of our parish, here to worship with us at this Christmas, I say a warm welcome. Profound thanks to everyone who has put in so much attention toward amking our Christmas celebration a worthwhile experience.
May God almighty who has gifted us with His Son bless and keep us, now and always. May He be superabundently gracious to us.
God is Good, all the time!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love,
Fr. Chrys