From the Pastor’s Desk October 1, 2023

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This summer, there was a visitor from New Jersey who was very excited to see so many young families attending Mass at St. Francis Xavier. She was amused to witness the young parents bringing toddlers to such busy church. She was also impacted by the numerous Altar Servers lined up in procession and the noticeable youthfulness of the lectors during Mass.

Yes, we are very blessed with a vibrant community of faith-filled families. Thanks to our grandparents and parents who have transmitted this precious faith to our young people. Good families are the base unit of any good society. St. John Paul II reminds us: “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live”. On the same note, St. Mother Teresa instructs us: “If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family”.

While accepting the above said ideals about family, we all know, the ground reality we face might be slightly different. Families go through enormous stress these days in the various stages of their lives. Immigration, job hunting, parenting skills, communication struggles, financial management etc. can cause constant stress in any family. Someone humorously once said: “Some family trees bear an enormous crop of nuts”! Managing stress, and finding joy in family life can be an art.

Keeping this in mind, I have arranged an interactive workshop for parents and couples. Fr. Kurien who holds a doctorate in Psychology will be presenting effective ways to enrich marital companionship, conflict resolution, parenting, communication skills etc. Fr. Kurien will be conducting similar workshops in Scarborough and Brampton, but he will be residing in our rectory. Therefore, if any couples would like any additional personalized guidance or counselling, please feel free to contact the parish office and/or extend this invitation to friends! Here is a summary of the important details:

REVIVE – A Couple Enrichment Program

Registration: Contact the parish office or through the parish website (starting October 5th)

Once again, I strongly encourage ALL couples and parents to participate!

In Christ,

Fr. James Cherickal