On May 1, we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Pope Francis writes,
“Working persons, whatever their job may be, are cooperating with God himself, and in some way become creators of the world around us. The crisis of our time, which is economic, social, cultural and spiritual, can serve as a summons for all of us to rediscover the value, the importance and necessity of work for bringing about a new “normal” from which no one is excluded. Saint Joseph’s work reminds us that God himself, in becoming man, did not disdain work. The loss of employment that affects so many of our brothers and sisters, and has increased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, should serve as a summons to review our priorities. Let us implore Saint Joseph the Worker to help us find ways to express our firm conviction that no young person, no person at all, no family should be without work!” (Patris Corde)
Pentecost
On May 19, we celebrate Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, Mary and the first disciples of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room. As we celebrate this “birthday” of the Church, let us open ourselves to an outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which we received in Confirmation, so we might use them to bring others closer to Jesus.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rescue Live!
Rescue Live! is a one-day renewal event on May 4. Fr. John Riccardo of Acts XXIX ministry will offer a compelling proclamation of the Gospel.
We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that everyone who attends may be transformed by the power of the Gospel and truly encounter and recognize Jesus' real presence in their own lives.
Momentum Retreat
All Catholic single mothers are invited to a two-night retreat hosted by the Archdiocese of Vancouver in collaboration with Momentum, an organization founded by a Catholic single mother, with the aim of building a vibrant, faith-based community for single mothers. This is Momentum’s first in-person retreat in Vancouver. It takes place from Friday evening, May 24, to Sunday afternoon, May 26. Mothers are welcome to attend this retreat with or without their children.
We pray for the work of Momentum as they bring hope and healing to many single mothers, helping them to grow in their relationship with God and to find support and community in the Church.
Mission Equipped: Retreat for Apostolic Leaders
Mission Equipped: Retreat for Apostolic Leaders is a workshop retreat for parish leadership teams happening on May 10-11. The Ministries & Outreach Lay Formation team and Acts XXIX would like to bless pastors and parish leadership teams with an opportunity to reflect and renew their zeal with Fr. John Riccardo and the ACTS XXIX team. The theme of the retreat is: “Jesus isn’t anxious, why should we be?” This retreat hopes to equip parish leaders to better meet the challenges of parish leadership in today’s world.
We pray that many parish leadership teams will take advantage of this opportunity. We also pray that those who register will be open to hear how the Holy Spirit is guiding the leadership at their parish.
Indigenous Relations
Please pray for the ongoing work of healing and reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Pray especially for the committee of Indigenous and Church leaders who decide where local funds are invested to best promote healing and reconciliation.
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