St. Theresa's Parish

Father David Kowalski, Pastor

Reverend Mr. John Kunicki, Deacon

3597 Main Street, West St. Paul, Manitoba R4A 5A2

Office - 204-339-2649 | Email - stheresa@mymts.net

Parish Office is closed until further notice. The phone and emails will be monitored daily.

Pastor's Email - sttheresapastor@gmail.com

STATIONS OF THE CROSS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED

An Encouraging Word From The Pastor

Every morning we awaken to a different world that is rapidly unfolding from the effects of Covid-19. Our day to day routines dissolve as quickly as cotton candy in the midst of a rainstorm. Stock markets go up and down faster than a toilet seat. The fear of uncertainty continues to strike at the hearts of many people around the world as we watch the number of cases rise.

In the midst of all life’s turmoil, the one constant in our life is God.

God continues to be near to us in the midst of life’s storms.

Many times in Sacred Scripture, He tells His disciples not to be afraid.

Do not fear! Do not be afraid! Trust in Me!

For this to happen, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

We must not allow the distractions and fears of this world to keep us from growing in our love relationship with God. Each day that we don’t wake up dead, it’s another gift, another opportunity to try and get it right.

What do we need to get right? I guess that depends on how you’ve been living your life up till now, how faithful you’ve been to living the Ten Commandments and Teachings of Christ and His Church.

Just because Sunday Masses have ended, it doesn’t give us permission to stop honouring the Sabbath. Sunday still belongs to the Lord. And so, we should still be making time for prayer each day and continue our devotions to the Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The rosary is the greatest weapon against evil in our world. We should all be clinging to our beads, praying the mysteries with heartfelt devotion and trust in Our Lord.

But much more is needed than simply keeping the Sabbath Holy.

We need to be living out the two greatest commandments:

Loving God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, and loving our neighbour as oneself. So are we? In the midst of this terrible pandemic, are we growing in love of God and neighbour? Are we more kind, patient, understanding, compassionate, respectful, merciful and loving than we were the week before?

If not, then let’s thank the Lord that we have today to try and get it right.

One way to get it right is to RAP (reserve a pew for private devotion in the Church).

Another way is to access the Drive Thru Confessional.

But don’t stop there. Reach out to someone who has hurt you or you have hurt.

Send them a card, throw them an email, pick up the phone. Say I’m sorry or I forgive you or I love you. Do something nice for someone else today.

Give a spiritual bouquet to someone in need. Let someone know you really care.

For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

May God Bless you and protect you and keep you safe from all harm!

Fr. David

Spiritual Communion Prayer: composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori in the 18th century:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.