St. Peter Celestine Church is known for its fine building and its superb original interior décor
intact from 1892 – one of three churches in Canada known to retain Classic Italianate decoration.
Adoration, Confession and Rosary
1st Sunday of the Month, Adoration & Confession 8:15am – 8:45am.
The Rosary (all other Sundays) 8:30am – 8:50am. Mass 9am.
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St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) – Sep 23rd
Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, in the small farming town of Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887 in the Southern Italian region of Campania. Though the Forgiones were poor in material goods, they were certainly rich in their faith life and in the love of God.
From a young age, Francesco showed signs of extraordinary gifts of grace. At the age of 5, he dedicated his life to God. He showed a remarkable recollection of spirit and a love for the religious life. At 15, he was admitted to the novitiate of the Capuchin Order of the Friars Minor in Morcone, Italy. He was admired for his exemplary behavior and his deep spirituality. Padre Pio was ordained to the priesthood on August 10, 1910 (age 23). The celebration of the Holy Mass was for Padre Pio, the center of his spirituality. The mass lasted several hours due to the long pauses of contemplative silence into which he entered at various parts of the Holy Sacrifice.
His parishioners were impressed by his piety and sought his counsel. As the years passed, pilgrims began to come by the thousands, from every corner of the world, drawn by the spiritual riches which flowed so freely from his extraordinary ministry.
Padre Pio suffered from poor health his entire life, once saying that his health had been declining from the age of 9. After his ordination, he remained in his hometown (Pietrelcina). Although the cause of his prolonged and debilitating illnesses remained a mystery to his doctors, he did not become discouraged. He offered all of his bodily sufferings to God as a sacrifice – for the conversion of souls.
After his ordination, he wrote a letter to his spiritual director, Fr Nardella, in which he asked permission to offer his life as a victim for sinners. He wrote, “For a long time I have felt in myself a need to offer myself to the Lord as a victim for poor sinners and for the souls in Purgatory. “This desire has been growing continually in my heart so that it has now become what I would call a strong passion … It seems to me that Jesus wants this.” The marks of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appeared on Padre Pio’s body, on Friday, September 20, 1918, while he was praying before a crucifix and making his thanksgiving after Mass. He was thirty-one years old and became the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. With resignation and serenity, he bore the painful wounds in his hands, feet, and side for 50 years.
His day began at 2:30 a.m. when he would rise to begin his prayers and preparations for Mass. He carried on a busy apostolate with only a few hours of sleep each night and an amount of food that was so small not even to keep a small child alive. Between Mass and confessions, his workday lasted 19 hours. He very rarely left the monastery and never took a vacation in 51 years.
He passed away on Sept 23, 1968 at the age of 81, serene and well prepared. He died as he lived, with his Rosary in his hands. His last words were “Gesú, Maria” (Jesus, Mary) – which he repeated over and over until he breathed his last. He often declared, “After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death.”
Feast-Archangels Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael-Sep 29
There are only three angels whose names are mentioned in Scripture. The word “archangel” (Greek, archangelos) means “high-ranking angel”. St. Michael is described as an archangel in Scripture (Jude 9), but it is common to honour Sts. Gabriel and Raphael as archangels as well.
St. Michaels’ name means “Who is like God?” (No one is like God!). In Daniel, he is described as “one of the chief princes” in the heavenly hierarchy (Dan. 10:13). He is also described to Daniel as “your prince” (Dan. 10:12). The meaning of this phrase is later clarified, and Michael is described as “the great prince who has charge of your people” (Dan. 12:1). He is thus depicted as the guardian angel of Israel. These same passages also refer to Michael doing battle against the spiritual forces at work against Israel. Michael (Jude 9) is said to have contended with the devil over the body of Moses. On this occasion, we are told, “he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” In Revelation, Michael and his angels are depicted fighting the devil and casting them out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-8). He is also commonly identified as the angel who binds the devil and seals him in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3).
St. Gabriels’ name means “God is my warrior” (my defender). St. Gabriel is mentioned in Daniel, he is assigned to help Daniel understand the meaning of a vision he has seen (Dan. 8:16). Later, while Daniel is in a prolonged period of prayer, Gabriel comes to him (Dan. 9:21) and gives him the prophecy of “seventy weeks of years” concerning Israel’s future (Dan. 9:24-27). In Luke, he appears to Zechariah the priest and announces the conception and birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-19). Later, he appears to the Virgin Mary and announces the conception and birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-33).
St. Raphaels’ name means “God heals.” St. Raphael is mentioned in a single book of Scripture: Tobit. In Tobit, the blind Tobit and the maid Sarah, whose seven husbands have been killed by the demon Asmodeus, pray to God. The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: Raphael thus becomes a travelling companion of Tobias, posing as a relative named Azarias son of Ananias (Tob. 5:12). He eventually binds the demon, enabling Tobias to safely marry Sarah, and provides the means for Tobit to be healed of his blindness. Afterward, he reveals his true identity, saying: I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One (Tob. 12:15).
September – month dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows
The seven sorrows were foretold by Simeon in the Temple when he encountered the Holy Family at the Presentation of Jesus. The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:25-35)
The Seven Sorrows (Seven Dolors of Mary):
- The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
- The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
- Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
- Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
- Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
- The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
- The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)
Stabat mater dolorosa
iuxta crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat filius.
At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
-Jacopone, da Todi (1230-1306)
We pray today to Our Blessed Mother, that through our joining with her sorrows,
we may find the joy of eternal salvation with Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
We look to Mary as a model of forbearance and endurance,
obedience and meekness, love, patience, and joyful suffering.