A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR APRIL 30, 2023

My dear brothers and sisters,

“Blessed are those who mourn; for they will be comforted” Mat 5:4. In my mother’s passing and in my great loss, God’s word proved true. The outpouring of love and sympathy from all of you has comforted me. Thank you everyone. There will be a memorial Mass for my mother on Thursday May 11, 2023 at 7.00 pm, here at St. Francis Xavier Parish. Please join me in that Mass.

During the most hectic liturgical season, while I was away, Fr. Eduardo, proved his pastoral strength and liturgical expertise efficiently. Thanks to Fr. Ed and our liturgical team for your dedication and love for the Lord. A big thank you and congratulations.

Our Sanctuary renovation crew has not rested since we started it. On May 3rd, we will conclude the second phase.  That day, Bishop Ivan Camilleri, our regional bishop, will consecrate the new altar and in the evening, our new Archbishop, His Grace, Francis Leo will celebrate Mass on the new altar. The third and final phase of the sanctuary renovation might take a bit longer to complete since it involves more detailed and time-consuming work. Once again, my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to all our dedicated volunteers starting with our carpentry team led by the very talented Mr. Marco Escobar.

We have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the new sanctuary. Your enthusiasm is so evident in the way that you have responded to the invitation to support our ‘Tile Project.’ Students to seniors have lined up to help. Some of you have spread the word around and therefore, even people from far have joined in this joyful journey of faith and renewal. Allow me to share with you an amazing story of a student priest from Ottawa, who joined in our Tile Project. Fr. Ray Arockia Das is a student at Concordia University doing his higher studies and he relies on his scholarship. Fr. Ray heard about our ‘Tile Project’ from Ms. Diana Gamboa, one of our founding members. Fr. Ray felt inspired and decided to forgo taking the bus and decided to walk to the university during lent and saved $100.00 and sponsored one Tile for our sanctuary! What an inspiring gesture of faith and fellowship! I wish all the best and God’s blessings on Fr. Ray for the successful completion of his studies. I am grateful to parishioners like Ms. Gamboa who have shared the good news of our parish initiatives. We need more funds to complete all our renovations. If you haven’t taken part in our ‘Tile Project’, I kindly invite you to consider it prayerfully.

Once again, we are privileged to have our new Archbishop, His Grace Francis Leo celebrating Holy Mass in our church on Wednesday May 3rd at 7.00 pm. All are welcome. The admission will be on a first come, first serve basis; therefore, come early. If the church gets packed, the overflow crowd will be accommodated in the Fr. D’Souza Hall. After the Mass, you will have the opportunity to greet the archbishop in person and take pictures with him.

Wishing you all a blessed weekend and week ahead,

In Christ,

Fr. James Cherickal.