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Fr. John continues in his message series called "ALL IN" by reflecting on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. To be a disciple we need to embrace the cross of salvation offered to us by Christ and to share the gift of the Cross to help all those in need.

Please check out the newest “FAITH & WORKS” podcast as Fr. John interviews two new Catholics—Len & Robin Thomason.  Listen to their journey to Chatham, to our family of parishes and to Christ in the Catholic Church.  Who knew that a full parking lot at Mass can change lives? 

Fr. John begins a new message series reflecting on the Chatham Catholic IGNITE THE MISSION PASTORAL PLAN on forming disciples who reach out to all.  This first homily reminds us to place Jesus at the top of our priority list.  Listen to know how to do that better.

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.  Jesus descended from heaven to lift us up to heaven.  This happens through the gift of the cross.  May we serve as disciples lifting other people up to our Father in heaven!

The gospel invites us to be humble so that others may exalt us.  May we always realize that we are not the centre of the universe and there is a true grace when we honour, love and support others.  This weekend's gospel was so meaningful to Fr. John----he went passed the 10 minute mark---but not by much!

This weekend Jesus tells us to strive through the narrow door to enter the Kingdom of God.  What does this really mean?  Do we have to earn our way to heaven?  Not really.  We are called to live a life rooted in Christ alone, who is enough and not try to carry everything else that the world offers.  Like athletes, we are called to surrender ourselves to the life of the gospel each day.  Will we ch...

In the gospel this Sunday, Jesus says he hasn't come to bring peace but division.  What does He mean?  There is no room to sit on the fence or be lukewarm.  We need to choose to follow Christ and set aside the division in our hearts and around us.  How can we do that?  Listen to find out more.

The gospel this weekend reminds us to be on guard, living and sharing the Good News so that when Christ returns he finds us faithfully serving.  Do we invest in our heavenly future or simply seek to secure earthly comfort that eventually fades away?  May the Lord help reorganize our priorities with the call to mission first in our lives!!

What are our lives all about?  Is it about stuff?  Do you have a storage unit or is your garage/basement filled with boxes not remembering what is there?  Jesus in the gospel warns us about all kinds of greed and the call for us to be rich towards God.  How can we do this?  Listen to find out more.

Prayer is important not just for ourselves but for the sake of others.  Jesus always answers our prayers but not always the way we want----but definitely the way we need.  Prayer transforms our lives and always calls us to action.  Does our prayer help us to be a better disciple in our world today?

In the gospel this weekend we hear the story of Martha and Mary who host Jesus and the disciples at their home.  Martha is busy and distracted with tasks and Mary is at the feet of Jesus listening to Him.  This gospel reminds us that we are called to push away the many distractions that we have in our lives and be connected to Christ and one another.

The story of the Good Samaritan teaches us that to show mercy means to embrace the inconvenience of the Gospel with radical generosity.  God's love helps us see this as a true way to encounter and embrace our neighbours---that is---everyone because they are our brothers and sisters!

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.  These two great apostles teach us how to be faithful and loving disciples in our world today.  Their presence and grace lives on in the Church and should in each one of us.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we remember that at Mass we received the Risen Lord himself---so that we can share His love, hope, joy and peace with the world.  The Lord magnifies the ordinary and makes things extraordinary.  Let us trust in Him!!

This Sunday we celebrate Trinity Sunday.  The heart of God is love.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit radiates love that goes beyond themselves as a community of grace.  We are made in the image and likeness of God---we too are called to be a community of love and light.  How can that happen?  God invites us into His divine life---will we say YES?

Come Holy Spirit!!  This weekend we celebrate Pentecost Sunday in which we embrace the breath of the Holy Spirit  having the courage and grace to bring healing, hope and eternal life!!  The Church does not have a mission, it is mission!!  May we be true missionaries in our world today.

This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord---we celebrate Christ Risen and are commissioned to be true witnesses in our world today.  How can we share the Gospel in our world that can change the lives of people?  Only together as faith communities willing to serve and sacrifice for others.  COME HOLY SPIRIT!

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who guides us---the sheep.  As we celebrate the Easter season we rejoice in the gift of the resurrection and as faithful sheep, turn down the noise around us and tune into the voice of Christ.  We do this so we can be faithful disciples sharing the JOY OF THE GOSPEL!!

As we celebrate Easter and the Resurrection---Jesus appears for the third time to the disciples showing them the reality that He is alive!!  What does Easter mean for us and do we find the Risen Lord in our daily life?  We need to fall in love with Him and follow Him sharing the joy of eternal life that we can experience even now!!

Today we celebrate Christ's death on the cross for our salvation.  We come to hear the Passion according to John, adore the cross of salvation and receive Holy Communion at the Solemn Good Friday liturgy.  May this day of prayer and reflection transform us as faithful messengers of the Good News today!!

As we enter the Easter Triduum with Holy Thursday, we are embarking on a spiritual journey of grace where we encounter Christ and His eternal love for us.  Jesus washes the feet of the disciples as we hear from the Gospel of John today---may we be open and allow Christ to cleanse us with His love and may we serve others with that same compassion and hope!!

Fr. John reads the shorter version of the Passion according to Luke and offers some reflections that can help us journey through Holy Week to Easter.  This is the beginning of the most powerful time in the liturgical year---may we be attentive to the grace and strength of the season!!

This coming weekend we have the story of the woman caught in adultery from the Gospel of John.  This powerful moment in Christ's ministry beckons us to change our perspective from condemnation and judgment to compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  Lent is all about changing our ways and follow God's way.  Will we allow that to happen in our lives?

The parable that we hear this weekend reminds us of how the Gospel is unfair----in a good way.  The Story of the Prodigal Son is really a story of the wasteful Father who brings compassion, mercy and life back to his younger son.  Lent helps us be wasteful or generously unfair with compassion and love to those who need God's grace, bringing hope. joy and love to those in greatest need.

Lent is a time for us to reflect on whether we are being faithful disciples that bear good fruit for the world.  If not, then we need to change and if not enough, we need to do more.  Our God offers us many many chances to change and return to him---but there is an urgency on our part to do this quickly and without delay.  Let' also help others draw close to the love of Christ!!