Letter From Our Pastor

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Easter Message

Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!  Easter Sunday is the most important day of the year for Christians where we celebrate that Jesus truly rose from the dead after the brutal events of Good Friday and the silent waiting of Holy Saturday.  The truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ astounded the first witnesses of this miracle two thousand years ago and its meaning continues to amaze us.  Despite all our technological advancements, our progress in science and medicine, our manufacturing and agricultural accomplishments, there are two things humanity has not solved:  sin and death.  When Jesus rose from the dead, God broke the reign of sin and death on humanity allowing us a future beyond this time and place.  Perhaps now more than ever, we see the effects of sin in our world played out on the world stage but also within our communities – bigotry, resentment, greed, anger, and other damaging attitudes.  Despite our scientific achievements that are prolonging life and helping people enjoy greater capacities well into their nineties (and beyond), we haven’t found a solution for our mortality.  Here is where the resurrection of Jesus Christ finds its meaning:  Jesus proves God’s love triumphs over the worst of our actions and God’s love even breaks death’s hold on us.  Our natural death is not something to be feared anymore but to embrace as a part of our ultimate journey home to God.  May the celebration of the days of Easter Season bring you and your family an increase in peace, hope, faith, joy and love of God and neighbour!  Happy Easter!  Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!

Father Geoffrey Kerslake

Pastor

Sunday Reflection:  Pentecost Sunday, Sunday, May 24, 2026

The Holy Spirit empowers us to answer God’s call.

Reflection

We celebrate today our parish Feast and patron.  In the Gospel, Jesus breathes his Spirit onto his disciples.  He empowers them to forgive sins – the foundation of our sacrament of reconciliation.  Jesus sends his disciples out to spread the Gospel:  as he was sent by the Father, so he sends us to be his witnesses to the world.  The Church taught at the Second Vatican Council in “The Church as the Light of the World” (Lumen gentium):  “the Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple.  He prays in them and bears witness in them to their adoption as [children of God].  He leads the Church into all truth and gives it unity in communion and in service.  He endows it with different hierarchical and charismatic gifts, directs it by their means, and enriches it with his fruits”.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to blaze in our life like a roaring fire, throwing off sparks to start new fires!  This is the Holy Fire of the Spirit of God who sets other hearts on fire for the Lord.  The Spirit that emboldened and equipped the Apostles and early Christians to preach the Gospel to every land and nation is the same one given to us.

Father Geoff

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To all the Parish’s generous faithful

Thank you to all who donate to the ongoing operation of the parish.  For e-Transfer please send it to admin@holyspiritparish.ca and use the password, Holyspirit (all one word with a capital H).  We currently have a significant number of parishioners who contribute via bank auto debit.  If you would like more information about the program or wish to participate, please contact the parish office at 613-836-8881 or email admin@holyspiritparish.ca