The English language reminds us that to remember is more than an amorphous, fleeting thought. To re-member someone who has died is to affirm their continued presence in our community and to acknowledge the reality that their memory, legacy and the impact of their death form an integral part of our life. For those who… Read more »
It was around 2am on April 4, 1880, when the first of three false fire alarms occurred. The fire department was busy checking them out, not realizing that the fourth alarm was real and resulted in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Bank St. being destroyed by fire. At 4am, the Sexton at St. Joseph’s Parish… Read more »
For a child, the anticipation of Christmas is a time of excitement and joy as they count down the days for the up coming feast. All of this excitement slows down to a quiet whisper as the child experiences the ‘not yet’ moment. Getting up early on Christmas morning and tiptoeing to the front room… Read more »
On Friday evening, St. Joseph’s Parish, Paroisse Sacré-Coeur across the street from us and the Christian Reformed Chaplaincy held a bilingual and ecumenical Thanksgiving Dinner for students — many of whom were international or away from home for the holiday weekend. Some of the international students celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time. As organizers, we… Read more »
On February 1, 2022, Donna Naughton, Executive Director of Kateri Native Ministry in Ottawa, visited St. Joseph’s Parish in Sandy Hill to receive the church community’s financial contribution to the Kendaasawin Learning Program. Kendaasawin is a cross-cultural initiative that fosters reconciliation and embraces both Traditional and Christian heritages. St. Joseph’s Parish provided a $17,000 contribution… Read more »
Fr. Norm Bonneau, an Oblate Scripture scholar and liturgist, often when teaching Scripture courses would use the phrase: “What is happening, but what is really going on?” to encourage his students to go beyond the literal story in order to explore the faith meaning of a biblical narrative. It is a phase which could help… Read more »
Today in the gospel, we meet a very special person: Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the side of the road near Jericho which is the last stop on the way to Jerusalem. At first, it may seem that the story of the healing of the blind man is just another miracle narrative demonstrating the… Read more »
This Sunday, as we gather and open our hearts to the Word of God, we continue to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. A few weeks ago, we heard that to be a disciple of Jesus, one needed to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow him. An invitation… Read more »
St. Joseph’s Parish in Ottawa marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th with a display of Indigenous art and a special reflection and prayers at noon Mass, celebrated by Father Jim Bleackley OMI. In praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased children found at former residential schools,… Read more »
The Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, took the opportunity to affirm and acknowledge to the Indigenous Peoples the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich… Read more »