From the Vineyard

Newsletter No. 60 - March 15, 2019

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF PLANNING, THE CITY & AREA LENTEN MISSION IS ON! Bishop Gary Gordon of Victoria will do a whirlwind tour of five of our six city parishes this weekend, preaching one Mass in each place. He then settles in for three days, Monday to Wednesday, at the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains. The full Mission schedule can be found here. For those living at a distance from Peterborough – no worries! The Mission will be livestreamed on our Diocesan Facebook page, allowing people across the Diocese to hear Bishop Gordon’s inspiring message.

FATHER JOHN MASKEY, OUR OLDEST PRIEST, PASSED AWAY ON TUESDAY. Father Maskey was ordained in 1948 and taught for many years at St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough. He also served as a pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kearney and St. Paul Parish in Gravenhurst. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Peterborough. Full details of the arrangements can be found here. We pray that he may be welcomed into the company of the saints.

ST. JOHN PAUL II HOUSE OF DISCERNMENT is now accepting applications for Fall 2019. Located here in Peterborough, St. John Paul II House of Discernment provides a place for university-aged men to consider whether God is call them to the vocation of priesthood. Several of our young priests benefitted from some time at St. John Paul II House and every young man who stays there is blessed with an exposure to a deeper spiritual life. For more information, check the Peterborough Vocations website, which has great video about life at the House of Discernment.

OUR PERMANENT DEACON ASPIRANTS met this past Saturday at Sacred Heart College for their monthly gathering. I enjoyed sitting in with them to hear lectures on the life and ministry of a Deacon and aspects of discernment. Please pray for our five permanent deacon aspirants and their wives as they engage in this course of discernment and preparation.

I ENJOYED MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF PROJECT RACHEL, who provide an invaluable ministry of hope and healing after abortion. I was familiar with the good work of this organization from the Hamilton area, so it was helpful to learn how Project Rachel works in this Diocese and neighbouring ones. Good information about the vision for their ministry and the retreats they offer can be found here.

MONSIGNOR ROBERT NUSCA WILL SPEAK ON THE CHRIST OF THE APOCALYPSE, a seminar sponsored by Sacred Heart College. This fascinating presentation on the image of Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation takes place at St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough on Saturday, March 23, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no fee, but you are asked to register to attend here, where you can also find more information. I plan to be there! I have known Monsignor Nusca since our student days at St. Augustine’s Seminary. Thirty years later, he is one of the most renowned experts in the Book of Revelation…anywhere.

Pax et Bonum, † Daniel

His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop Miehm