From the Pastor's Desk: This Third Week of Lent we continue our preaching series on healing.
Jesus desires to heal the deepest wounds of the heart by exposing and replacing the lies that keep people trapped in pain. In the encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus meets someone who has arranged her life around her wounds, avoiding relationships and managing pain rather than seeking healing. With compassion and truth, Jesus gently but directly enters the place of her deepest hurt. He names the wound without condemnation and reveals himself as the source of living water that alone can satisfy the thirst of the soul. Healing begins when pain is no longer avoided or denied but brought into the light of God’s love. When Jesus enters a wound, shame loses its power, truth replaces lies, and freedom becomes possible.
Know? Wounds often lead to lies that shape behavior, relationships, and identity. Avoiding pain or managing it without addressing its source prevents real healing. Jesus knows every wound completely and approaches them with truth, love, and mercy. True healing comes from encountering Jesus personally and allowing him to enter the most painful places of the heart, where he replaces lies with truth and restores dignity and wholeness.
Feel? Safe, accepted, and hopeful. There is reassurance in knowing that wounds can be named without fear of rejection and that Jesus sees everything and still offers love. There is freedom in realizing that pain does not have to control life and that healing, though sometimes uncomfortable, leads to peace and restoration.
Next steps? Stop running from or managing pain and instead face it with honesty. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden wounds and the lies connected to them. Bring those wounds directly to Jesus in prayer, allowing him to speak truth, love, and mercy into those places. Take concrete steps toward healing through prayer, sacramental grace, and openness to God’s work, trusting that freedom lies on the other side of the pain.
Sacrament of Confirmation. Congratulations! On March 3, at St. Francis de Sales Parish, for all our candidates. Please continue to pray for them, as this is a big step in the growth and development of every Catholic! At Confirmation, we affirm our commitment to God and the Church and receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This sacrament deepens our faith, brings us into a deeper friendship with Jesus, and strengthens us to share his love with others.
Thanks again to our Sacramental Preparation Team!
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).
Update on Monthly Finances, Collections Update. Next week, we will share information for February on our parish collections and finances monthly rather than weekly. Each month, we will show:
Sunday collections – what we received during Weekend Masses
Other income – money coming in from other sources
Total expenses – what the parish spent
This will give everyone a complete picture of how our parishes are doing financially. Also coming soon will be our Annual Report 2025 - sharing with all parishioners, at all Masses, the Financial Statements and upcoming Pastoral priorities. For any questions, please contact our parish office.
St. Vincent de Paul's Lenten Food Drive. Please donate canned tomatoes on February 28th and March 01st, and donate evaporated milk on March 7th and 8th. Please contact our parish office for more information.
If you wish to donate, simply put your donation in an envelope, address it to St. Vincent de Paul, and deposit it in the weekly collection basket; it will get to us. You can be assured that 100% of the funds raised will go to the less fortunate, and if you provide your address, a tax receipt will be mailed to you for any donation of $10.00 or more. Thank you for all your past efforts and thank you in advance for your contribution this year.
Women's Morning of Reflection. Please join us Saturday, March 7th, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Agora Catholic Centre, located on McConnell Ave. in Cornwall, for Mass, confession, breakfast, a talk, and the rosary. Our speaker is Fr. Hasina of Precious Blood parish. The title of the talk is “The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Lent.” A free will offering of $5 is appreciated. For any inquiries, please contact Heidi Krol at 613-362-5292 or Marilynn Light at 613-537-2021.
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 freewill 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:
Thursday, March 12th, 2026, will be from 4:30 to 6:00 PM in the St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall. With a cost of $17.00 for adults and $5.00 for 12 & under
General Meeting for all Members will be on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, in St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall. Rosary at 6:30 pm, and the meeting begins at 7:00 pm. All members are invited and encouraged to attend.
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:
St. Patrick Tea & Bake Sale, March 14, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall. Admission is $12. Please come and join us. An elevator is available. Bake sale table, and a gift basket raffle. All are Welcome. Tickets for the baskets will be sold after the weekend Masses of March 7/8, and at our tea on March 14. The price for the tickets is 3 for $5, or 1 for $2.
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
Please note: Daylight Savings Time begins, and clocks are moved forward one hour.
Mass Intentions for the Week
Saturday, Mar 07th ST. PERPETUA and ST. FELICITY (OM), IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY - FIRST SATURDAY
8:00 a.m. (SC) For an Outpouring of the Flame of Love & Precious Blood on Nigeria & the Whole World
4:00 p.m. (SC) Beverley Van Diepen by Teresa MacInnis
5:00 p.m. (SF)
Special Intention for Diane Beauregard by Pauline Pelletier
Noella Paquin by the Lepage Family
Sunday, Mar 08th THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
7:30 a.m. (SC) Intentions of Parishioners
9:30 a.m. (SF)
Mary Leblanc by Muriel Flaro
Ross Frechette by Aline Viau
10:30 a.m. (SC) Jackie Sheney by MaryAnn, Robert & Danny
11:00 a.m. (SF) Intentions of Parishioners
Monday, Mar 09th ST. FRANCES OF ROME (OM)
8:00 a.m. (SF) Intentions of John & Ruth Crowley
Tuesday, Mar 10th
8:00 a.m. (SC) A Personal Intention by a Parishioner
Wednesday, Mar 11th
8:00 a.m. (SF) Christine Bergeron by Sean & Sally
Thursday, Mar 12th
8:00 a.m. (SC) Jim Wilson by Peggy Wilson
Friday, Mar 13th
8:00 a.m. (SF) John Nugent by the Girard Family
Saturday, Mar 14th
4:00 p.m. (SC) Gerald DiCola by Wife Lise & Son Brian
5:00 p.m. (SF)
Katherine Crites by Diane & Family
Leo Gregory by Muriel Gregory & Family
Sunday, Mar 15th FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
7:30 a.m. (SC) Intentions of Parishioners
9:30 a.m. (SF)
Joy Thompson by Lori McDermid & Elaine McDermid
Garry McDougall by David & Lisa Herjavec
10:30 a.m. (SC)
Sylvia Etwell by Daughter Kelly Poitras & Family
Bernadette Kingston (2nd Anniversary) by the Kingston Family
11:00 a.m. (SF) Intentions of Parishioners
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.
