SHIELD OF FAITH BLOG

TAKING A TIMEOUT Last week, in the first week of this message series I talked about the overwhelming negative momentum against us with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our lives have totally changed as we have adapted to a “new normal”.  This is in addition to the other...

THE “NEW NORMAL” It is already September.  Where has summer gone?  The last several months have been very challenging, difficult and busy in so many different ways.  The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives and has made us look at what we do and why we do it. We...

WHAT HAVE WE SEEN? During this latest message series we have all been invited in different ways to look beyond the obvious and the surface level realities of things. We have been called to pause, observe and see the deeper understanding of what God has to offer us....

LATE NIGHT SURPRISE Last weekend, after the Sunday morning live-streamed Mass at 11 AM, Jeff Regan (our computer/tech guru) and I chatted about the different ways we need to continue to reach out and cast the net using our technology and equipment trying to bring...

By Deacon Mark Castanier We are approaching three months of lockdown due to the pandemic. Did we all think it would be this long? I remember at the start of the lockdown hoping we would be celebrating Mass together on Pentecost Sunday. I am truly sad we won’t be...

Dear Brothers and Sisters, The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The...

CONTINUING MESSAGE SERIES As we continue in our new Easter message series—HE IS RISEN: SEEING JESUS TODAY, we are exploring the many different ways we can see Jesus in our lives here and now. Jesus is not only risen in our beliefs, but with the eyes of faith and our...

By: Fr. John Jasica A NEW MESSAGE SERIES This weekend we begin a new message series during the Easter season. Despite the challenging time we face with the COVID-19 pandemic, we still need to seek and deepen our faith. In fact, we need to fervently seek out God’s...

By Fr. John Jasica As we journey through this most difficult time dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all making changes, adapting to various circumstances and realizing hopefully what are the most important people and things in our lives. With stores, schools,...

By Fr. John Jasica The latest message series being presented by Deacon Dennis, Fr. Pedro and Deacon Mark remind us of one of the most challenging struggles in our world today. It is quite evident especially in North America, and yes, even in our very city—loneliness...

By Nico Tessel On Saturday, December 7th, 2019, Fr. John lead a Men’s Retreat organized at St. George Parish from 9 am until 2 pm. This retreat was open to all the Knights of Columbus members and all other men of St George Parish. The subject of the retreat was Pope...

By Fr. John Jasica CONCLUDING THE SERIES This weekend we conclude our message series (preaching series) called INSOMNIA—THE FEARS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Over the series we have looked at the fear of abandonment, money fears, death and instability in our structures...

By Deacon Mark Castanier We continue our preaching series called INSOMNIA – THE LIES THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Fr. John kicked off the series when he talked about the fear of abandonment and rejection. In the second week Deacon Dennis discussed money fears. In our...

By Pope Francis #2 Forgiveness is the most visible sign of the Father’s love, which Jesus sought to reveal by his entire life. Every page of the Gospel is marked by this imperative of a love that loves to the point of forgiveness. Even at the last moment of his...

By Fr. John Jasica A WAY OUT OF DARKNESS As we journey through the latest message series called BAGGAGE: The Importance of Forgiveness, we have been reflecting on the power, grace and light of actually forgiving those who have hurt us—of letting go of that baggage...

By Mary Catherine Bishop As Christians we celebrate the Advent Season in hopeful anticipation of the birth of our Saviour. We put up lights and decorations; assemble our nativity scenes; shop for gifts; prepare food to share at our tables and gather as a community to...

By Fr. John Jasica We continue our new message series (preaching series) called INSOMNIA - THE LIES THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Last weekend we looked at the fear of abandonment and rejection. This weekend we look at the fear of death. WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH? One of the...

By Fr. John Jasica We continue our message series (preaching series) called INSOMNIA - THE LIES THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Last weekend we looked at the fear of abandonment and rejection. This weekend we look at money fears. “SHOW ME THE MONEY” When I think about this...

By Fr. John Jasica This weekend we begin our new message series (preaching series) called INSOMNIA - THE LIES THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. This is on the heels of our first series which I think went very well — at least for us preachers!! We are excited about this...

GRIEVING WITH GREAT HOPE By: Joan Kruse I recently attended this DVD based workshop at St. George and I did so with some reluctance. I must admit, that before I began this six-week series, I had convinced myself that this study would be but a learning tool for me to...

By John Craven Finance Committee Member One important way that parishioners can invest in St George’s is to provide their financial support. These investments are used to meet the parish’s short and long-term needs. In the short term the parish uses these resources to...

By Trish Parnham How does one describe the experience of being called away to the mountain top for an entire weekend? When I first saw the date of this Faithcation in Oxley I immediately thought that I could not possibly go. I had family coming from Victoria the...

PRAYER LINE By Connie Cote Jesus said, “When 2 or more are gathered in my Name, know that I am with you.” Matthew 18:20. How powerful it is to have over 400 faithful people gathered together online praying for us! This is how I feel about our Prayer Line, whether I am...

CHALLENGED TO SERVE By Joanne Sequeira Over the past few years we have been hearing Fr John talk about growing as faithful disciples. This inspired me to make inquires about how I could be more involved in the parish. I was offered the opportunity to serve as a...

FORMED.ORG By Wanda Crossman I started coming to St George Parish just 3 short years ago. I was part of the RCIA program that started in the fall of 2016. This is where I was first introduced to Formed.org! The Symbolon Program that was used for formation was easy to...

BACK TO SCHOOL I can’t believe that this weekend marks the end of summer. School starts on Tuesday which officially ends the summer holidays. The times of relaxation, rest and travel are now behind us. It brings some sadness but also some excitement and anticipation!!...

NEW CATHOLICS—NEW LIFE SETTING US ALL ON FIRE!! We are so blessed to welcome into our parish family 17 new Catholics. What a wonderful blessing it has been to watch them grow in faith and experience God’s love through the Sacraments. It is such a privilege for our...

ST. GEORGE OUR PATRON This weekend we celebrate the feast of our patron—St. George, who with complete trust in Christ placed his faith above everything else, even his own life!! As the patron of our parish, he beckons us to do the same—to always place Jesus above...

My name is Debbie Hurley.  This is a brief look at my very long journey of faith to becoming a Catholic.  You may or may not know me but I have sat amongst all of you for over 30 years celebrating Mass.  I have experienced pride and great joy as my two children have...

By Mary Catherine Bishop One of the greatest joys of my work in ministry is helping people discern their call to join the Catholic Church. This year we are blessed to have 16 men and women who have indicated their desire to join the faith, who are on a journey of...

By: Fr. John Jasica The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a true place of love, peace, strength and joy!! Lent is the season of healing and grace. There is no other place where Jesus meets us right where we are at — right in the midst of our mess, pain, sorry and...

By: Fr. John Jasica LACE UP YOUR SHOES TIGHT FOR LENT Several days ago, after a long day in the office, I looked forward to watching a very anticipated men’s college basketball game. It was Duke versus North Carolina. This is a very significant rivalry since the...

By: Fr. John Jasica IT’S ROLL UP SEASON!!! First, I just want to make it clear, this is not an endorsement for Tim Hortons. I do not have an advertising deal of any kind but am open to Tim Horton gift cards if you have any around!!! I have to say, I do love my large...

By: Fr. John Jasica Back in October of 2018, I introduced the new pastoral year of SOWING GOOD SEED which comes from the Gospel of Mark. We have a wonderful banner hanging to the right of our large crucifix above the choir area in our sanctuary. We need to check in...

By Deacon Mark Castanier Retrouvialle and our story In 2001 I was dealing with a large amount of stress in my job and it was affecting our marriage. As a couple, we had become distant and were not communicating very well with each other. Our parish priest heard we...

MERRY CHRISTMAS & THANK YOU!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!! Yes—it is still the Christmas season, all the way to next weekend, when we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. First and foremost, on behalf of the entire parish staff, I want to thank all...

Mary Catherine Bishop, Pastoral Minister, shares her experience of the Christmas spirit here at St. George Parish. The Christmas spirit of giving has certainly been alive in our parish family with our Christmas Outreach Programs. Each year we provide opportunities for...

And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I...

By: Mary Catherine Bishop Pastoral Minister On January 6, 2019 Abdul, Hamida and their 6 children will take time to pause and reflect upon the past year and look at all they have accomplished, but more importantly on how much they have been blessed by their God,...

Julian Paparella was one of a small group of young people throughout the world who had a chance to speak at the recent Synod of Bishops.Each bishop and auditor had four minutes to offer their insights, suggestions and wisdom for the Holy Father and all gathered. Below...

We are only just beginning the Easter season -- so to keep the flame from Easter Vigil glowing, we would like to share this story with you from one of our new Catholics! Welcome the family Brandy. Growing up we always had the Lords words and spiritual faith in our...