From the Pastor's Desk: This Fifth Week of Lent we conclude our preaching series on healing, in preparation for Holy Week.

Healing unfolds over time and often in ways that challenge expectations. The story of Lazarus shows that God never wastes pain, even when healing feels delayed or absent. Jesus enters fully into human grief, meeting sorrow with compassion and tears, while also revealing that suffering and death do not have the final word. Through faith, prayer, and cooperation with God’s grace, wounds can become places where God’s glory is revealed. Healing may involve perseverance, honest prayer, and trust in God’s timing, but it ultimately leads to freedom, restoration, and deeper life. Those who are healed are also invited to share what God has done, becoming instruments of hope and healing for others.

• Know? Healing is real, but it does not always happen on a preferred timeline. Delay does not mean indifference, and unanswered prayers are not signs of abandonment. God works for deeper and more lasting restoration, even through grief, loss, and frustration. Jesus understands sorrow intimately, enters into it fully, and reveals that resurrection and new life are stronger than wounds and even death. Healing is meant not only for personal restoration but also for revealing God’s love to others.

• Feel? Reassured, comforted, and strengthened. There is permission to grieve honestly, to feel disappointment, and even to express anger in prayer. There is hope in knowing that pain is seen and shared by God, that suffering is not meaningless, and that perseverance in faith matters. There is encouragement to trust that healing, in some form, is still unfolding.

• Next steps? Persevere in prayer and trust God’s timing, especially when healing feels delayed. Bring grief, anger, and disappointment honestly to God rather than withdrawing or giving up. Take part in the healing process by cooperating with grace through prayer, community, and acts of faith. If healing has been experienced, share that story so others may find hope and courage. Become a source of healing for others, remembering that healed people help heal people.

​Holy Week 2026. Please click to see more details on our Lenten Confessions Days, and the full schedule of Masses for Holy Week.

Annual Report 2025. Your generous donations help support the vital ministries, programs, and outreach efforts of our parish. ​With your contributions, we are able to nurture spiritual growth, provide community services, and maintain a welcoming space for all. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact in fulfilling our mission to serve and grow in faith together. Thank you for your support and for helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. (Download Report)

Development and Peace is based on five values: dignity, participation, solidarity, the preferential option for the poor and integrity. To put everything in perspective, our presence around the world from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025:

• $19.8 million was invested
• 34 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East
• 59 community development and humanitarian projects
• 7 million people reached by our oversees projects and programs

Your dollar makes a difference:

• 78% goes to international programs
• 14% goes to programs in Canada
• 8% goes to Governance and general activities

The Share Lent parish collection is March 21st/22nd. You can also donate online or by donating monthly to reduce administrative costs. Please give generously to help our brothers and sisters across the globe

Stations of the Cross, led by the youth of our parishes. During Lent, starting February 27th, we invite the youth of both our parishes (ages 12–17) to lead the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 6:30 PM at St. Francis de Sales Parish. Altar servers will assist with serving, and other youth will take turns reading the Stations. This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to deepen their faith, serve their parish community, and take an active role in the Church. Our youth are the future of our Church, let’s encourage them to grow as leaders, disciples, and witnesses of Christ. If your child is interested, please contact Carmel Prince: carmel.prince@hotmail.ca (647-897-5299).

The Patrons of St. Columban Foundation invite the Parish Finance Council and the parishioners to attend the Foundation's AGM & Board meeting on Wednesday, March 25, at 1:30 p.m. in the Upper Room.

• Also, the Patrons of St. Columban Foundation wish to thank everyone who attended the Foundation Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser on Sunday, March 15. The dinner raised $3,240 for the Foundation for capital repairs to St. Columban’s Church. Special thanks to the Ontario Knights of Columbus Council 755 and the Knights of Columbus St. Lawrence Council 5068, who hosted the dinner, and the dedicated 16 volunteers from St. Columban’s Parish.

Concert Series, Violin and Piano. The Parish Pastoral Council, along with the Patrons of St. Columban Foundation, are delighted to announce a violin and piano concert at St. Columban church on Saturday, March 21, featuring Anna Mariya and Mariusz Monczak. This Lenten performance will feature a selection of classical and modern works dedicated to the memory of St. John Paul II, interspersed with brief Scripture verses and reflections from his writings. The event will begin at 6:30 pm, and admission is by free will offering, with proceeds shared between the artists and the parish. We look forward to a beautiful evening of music and meditation. (see picture above).

Knights of Columbus:

• Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm in the St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall. Cost: Adults $10.00, children under 12 years old $4.00.

Catholic Women's League would like to thank everyone for their support of our annual St. Patrick’s Tea & Bake Sale. The winners of the baskets were Maureen Fardy, Pierrette Patinaude, Henriette Markell, and Shirley MacDonald. Thanks to the Catholic Women’s League members, who donated so generously to fill the baskets. Thanks to everyone who attended, donated their time, gifts, and baked goods. We appreciate you.

Monthly Prayer Intention of the Holy Father (March).

For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence

Mass Intentions for the Week

Saturday, Mar 21st

4:00 p.m. (SC)

Gerard Piche by Alan & Rita Boyce

Gino Tosatto by The Family

5:00 p.m. (SF) Intentions of Parishioners

Sunday, Mar 22nd FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

7:30 a.m. (SC) Intentions of Parishioners

9:30 a.m. (SF) Garry McDougall by Trudy Cameron

10:30 a.m. (SC) Joanne Bryan by St. Columban’s Choir

11:00 a.m. (SF)

Annette Lauzon by Her Children

Msgr. Kevin Maloney by a Parishioner

Monday, Mar 23rd ST. TURIBIUS OF MOGROVEJO (OM)

8:00 a.m. (SF) Christine Bergeron by Jeanne Lamarche

Tuesday, Mar 24th

8:00 a.m. (SC) Lea Emberg & Deceased Members of the Brabant Family by Darlene

6:30 p.m. Confessions at St. Columban Parish

Wednesday, Mar 25th THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD (S)

8:00 a.m. (SF) George Czernys by Wife Judy

1:00 p.m. Confessions at Blessed Sacrament Parish

Thursday, Mar 26th

8:00 a.m. (SC) Sharon McPhail (2 Anniversary) by Brian McPhail

7:00 p.m. Confessions at St. Finnan’s Basilica, Alexandria

Friday, Mar 27th

8:00 a.m. (SF) Arnold Grady by Lisa & David Herjavec

Saturday, Mar 28th

4:00 p.m. (SC) Special Intention for Fr. John Ogbaje by His Daisies

5:00 p.m. (SF)

Rose Lussier by Jeannine & Louise Lussier & Monique Gray

All the Victims of Tumbler Ridge BC by Francine Bouchard

Sunday, Mar 29th PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE

LORD

7:30 a.m. (SC) Intentions of Parishioners

9:30 a.m. (SF) Intentions of Parishioners

10:30 a.m. (SC)

Pauline & Angelo Rubino by The Family

Doreena Brisson by Ed & Kathy Michaud

11:00 a.m. (SF)

Elisabetta Spagnolo by Rob & Lisa McDonald

Jennifer Armstrong by Parents Terry & Jake Armstrong

Save The Date

Alpha Sessions Starting February 25, 6:30pm! Unpack the Christian faith together. Meet new people and explore the Christian faith together. Alpha is for anyone who’s curious. No judgement, no pressure. More

Holy Week 2026 Please click to see more details on our Lenten Confessions Days, and the full schedule of Masses for Holy Week. More

First Communions 2026 To help everyone prepare for this beautiful sacrament, we invite all parents and children to join us for our Sunday Masses. Each week we are hosting Children's Liturgy which is part of the formation to receive the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Register

Visio Divina April 14: Come listen to God through His Creation in art and photos. Register

Have a great week.