Montreal has a new priest! Many congratulations to Father Jason Piper, ordained January 20, 2012. He has been appointed as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick parish in downtown Montreal, where he was doing his stage. A fact I just realised: he will be our first priest to be ordained since the new translation of the [...]
Montreal has a new priest! Many congratulations to Father Jason Piper, ordained January 20, 2012. He has been appointed as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick parish in downtown Montreal, where he was doing his stage. A fact I just realised: he will be our first priest to be ordained since the new translation of the liturgy was introduced last December. May he always do so with joy, conviction and reverence.
The following is the text of the homily preached by Cardinal Turcotte:
My dear brothers and sisters,
It is with great joy that we gather together this evening to give thanks to God for the gift we are about to witness this evening. This gift is, first of all, the gift our brother Jason Piper makes of himself to God and to the Church, the gift of his very life. Jason is already a deacon, a man of service, but through this next step in the sacrament of Holy Orders his life of service will receive a new and permanent dimension. In becoming a priest of God, Jason will be conformed in a special way to the triple ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our high priest, our prophet, and our king in heaven. Jason, through this sacrament this evening, you are accepting to let this triple ministry be the pattern for the whole of your life, a pattern we see in the three readings we heard proclaimed this evening.
In the gospel passage we heard, from the gospel of John, Jesus shares with his apostles his own power to forgive sins. He does this after wishing them peace. This is not a coincidence. Sin is the enemy of peace. As every sin is a form of selfishness, the choice of sin is always contrary to justice and friendship with God and our neighbour. As well, when we choose to go against our conscience it also harms our own inner peace. Jason, when Jesus offered his peace to his disciples, he was not just blessing them. That peace was part of the mission he gave to the apostles when he sent them forth. You, as a priest, must carry on this mission of peace. You will be entrusted with the celebration of the sacraments, which are the most powerful instruments of peace and unity that the world has ever known. That being said, the power of the sacraments extends far beyond the moment of celebration. As much as you must celebrate the sacraments with dignity, your role, as a priest, will also to be to help people take the grace of the sacraments and apply it in their daily lives. In this way, every Christian will himself become a sacrament and instrument of peace in our society and culture. You will help them live this calling.
In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks about his preaching ministry. In his day, preachers often presented their subjects using complex arguments and fancy speaking styles. Saint Paul chose instead to focus on his message, keeping it simple, to the point, and centred on Christ. As a deacon, Jason, you have already had the chance to preach regularly, and I am told that this is somewhat of your own style too. DO NOT CHANGE! At the same time, though, Saint Paul definitely tried throughout his life to deepen his understanding of the Gospel, and to discover its richness. You must do the same, for your own sake, and for the sake of the people you will serve. This journey is at the heart of the prophetic dimension of priestly ministry. It is what turns you from being a mere public speaker to being a preacher of the word. The point is not to appear clever, but to come to an understanding of the Gospel which will allow you to share it with the simple strength that comes from the Holy Spirit. Do your part to grow in the Gospel always, and the Spirit will supply the rest. You will then be preaching with the power that comes from God.
Finally, my dear Jason, there is the part you will share in the ministry of Christ our king, the pastor of God’s flock. The simple fact of celebrating the sacraments and sharing the Gospel means that people will automatically look to you for leadership. This final responsibility can sometimes seem to be the most overwhelming. It is the duty that calls us priests most frequently out of our comfort zone. But the first reading, from the book of Sirach, helps us to understand why this is so important. This reading speaks of the sending of the Word of God into the world, to become Jesus, the Word made flesh. Jesus was sent for all human beings, of course, but he was sent TO a particular people: as the reading says, his Father commanded him “among my chosen, put down your roots”. Jason, as a priest, your ministry will have a universal dimension to be sure. You must be a priest for all. Within that, however, you will also be a priest TO a particular people: this diocese, and the parish communities you will be asked to serve. It is too easy to want to serve humanity, but then forget the actual human beings before us. Pastoral charity means that we must accept to grow out of our usual comfort zone. I think, though, Jason, you will also discover that this love of a priest for his people goes both ways. In my experience, the people of God WANT to love their priests. This is a great consolation. Always serve the people with kindness, and they will return that love with great generosity.
My dear Jason, the Church of Montreal, and indeed throughout the world, now faces the challenge of the New Evangelization. Our world needs Christ, and as a priest you will be able to literally place him in the palms of people’s hands. I therefore encourage you to put this New Evangelization, which comes from the Holy Spirit, at the heart of your priestly ministry and life. Help people to see how faith makes a difference. Share the enthusiasm you have for the Gospel with others. And always remember to live your own faith in joy and in hope, staying close to Christ no matter what comes. You will truly be a shepherd after the Father’s heart.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
This past week much of the Christian world has been celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This evening here in Montreal we had the annual major gathering at Saint Joseph’s Oratory, organized by a local association of Christians from the Middle East (particularly Catholic and Orthodox). Yours truly was present, helping to represent [...]
This past week much of the Christian world has been celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This evening here in Montreal we had the annual major gathering at Saint Joseph’s Oratory, organized by a local association of Christians from the Middle East (particularly Catholic and Orthodox). Yours truly was present, helping to represent the Roman Catholic Archdiocese (Latin Rite). When the ceremony was over, there were several photos taken in the sacristy. This is me with a group of Coptic Orthodox clerics and faithful:
This past week I’ve been undertaking a pastoral visit to Saint Edmund of Canterbury parish. I’ve already lived this experience once, at Corpus Christi parish (which you can read about here, here and here). I am presently preparing my follow-up report from that first visitation, but as Corpus Christi and Saint Edmund of Canterbury are [...]
This past week I’ve been undertaking a pastoral visit to Saint Edmund of Canterbury parish. I’ve already lived this experience once, at Corpus Christi parish (which you can read about here, here and here). I am presently preparing my follow-up report from that first visitation, but as Corpus Christi and Saint Edmund of Canterbury are neighbouring parishes with the same pastor, I thought it would make sense to accept the pastor’s invitation to also visit this second place.
I first arrived at the parish last weekend (January 14-15), and presided and preached at all the masses. There was also a parish gathering after the Sunday masses, and a ball hockey tournament organized by some of the youth. And yes, it was cold out there… see this photo of a deacon, a priest, and a bishop chillin’ outside (quite literally).
I spent most of the week meeting with parishioners as well as parish groups, trying to get a sense of the life of the place. This is clearly a very active parish, for I did not have enough time to see everyone I hoped. Still, I think I was able to get an overall perspective. I was also able to take some time to chat with each member of the pastoral team, to see their point of view. Finally, there was a parish social event (a pasta supper) the final Saturday. It gave me a chance to mingle with some of the families and hear their stories, as well as get to know some of the youth group.
The final step of this week of visitation was the chance to preside and preach the Sunday masses once again. Here is the homily I preached:
After some prayer and reflection, I will return to the parish at some point to present my observations — my contribution, as a bishop, to the life of that community. I’m looking forward to it.
This coming February 9, at 7:00 pm at the Newman Centre of McGill University, I will be speaking as part of the panel on the topic “The Politics of the Eucharist” (the other panellists will be Garth Green and Douglas Farrow). When we say ‘politics’ we don’t mean this or that issue of current politics, [...]
This coming February 9, at 7:00 pm at the Newman Centre of McGill University, I will be speaking as part of the panel on the topic “The Politics of the Eucharist” (the other panellists will be Garth Green and Douglas Farrow). When we say ‘politics’ we don’t mean this or that issue of current politics, but the entire interaction between Church and State through the lens of the Eucharist. Each time we declare Jesus to be our supreme Lord, we also declare that the government necessarily has limits on what it can control and mandate. That relationship is rocky at times, and seems to be drifting to a rockier phase at the moment. Hence, this panel discussion.
I am writing this from the retreat house in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, where I am on retreat with the francophone bishops of Canada. The retreat master is Father Robert Mercier, p.s.s., a specialist in Saint John who was also one of my professors, many moons ago. Please pray for us bishops as we seek to deepen our [...]
I am writing this from the retreat house in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, where I am on retreat with the francophone bishops of Canada. The retreat master is Father Robert Mercier, p.s.s., a specialist in Saint John who was also one of my professors, many moons ago.
Please pray for us bishops as we seek to deepen our relationship with the Lord at the beginning of this new year.
This evening was my first lecture for THEO 201: Introduction to Theological Studies, which I will be teaching at Concordia University this term. I know, I know: I probably need my head examined for having accepted to teach this course, given my schedule. That being said, I had signed the contract back in July (prior [...]
This evening was my first lecture for THEO 201: Introduction to Theological Studies, which I will be teaching at Concordia University this term. I know, I know: I probably need my head examined for having accepted to teach this course, given my schedule. That being said, I had signed the contract back in July (prior to all this episcopal stuff breaking loose) and I just hate breaking contracts. Besides, I am being given a chance to teach 100 (count’em, one hundred) keen minds all about the joys of Christian theology for a whole semester — what bishop could resist an offer like that? Happily a TA has been assigned to help me in offering the course, and I am grateful for his assistance. The one thing I regret is that the class size and limited amount of lecture time means that we won’t have a lot of time for questions and in-class discussion — such is often the way with intro classes. As for myself, I came out of the class feeling even more energized than when I went in. What can I say — I love teaching, and I hope that being a bishop will give me many more opportunities (formal or informal) to do so.
Today I had the chance to visit the parish of Saint Suzanne in Pierrefonds East. This visit was part of the tour of parishes I began shortly after being ordained a bishop. Regular readers may recall that, as I was preparing for the ordination, I had felt a call to visit the parishes that had [...]
Today I had the chance to visit the parish of Saint Suzanne in Pierrefonds East. This visit was part of the tour of parishes I began shortly after being ordained a bishop. Regular readers may recall that, as I was preparing for the ordination, I had felt a call to visit the parishes that had been an important part of my faith and vocational journey. Saint Suzanne was certainly one such place: this was my parish in Montreal when I was growing up, up until I became a teenager and my family moved a bit further west. I attended the Catholic elementary school across the street; had my first communion and my confirmation in this parish; used to bike to the Bible day camp during the summer; was an altar server and lector; got to know the very first priest who I considered not just a pastor but a friend; and finally, got to know some of the universal dimension of the Church, as this was a bilingual (English-French) parish.
Thinking about it, that last point is kind of interesting, actually. My home parish used two languages, and when we would visit family in Ottawa we’d pray in German, so it just made sense to me growing up that the Catholic religion, while embracing and enhancing culture, was bigger than whatever tribe we were a part of. I don’t know that I would have ever articulated it this way, but I know I felt it, as part of one of my child-like assumptions about God and life. It was part of my lived experience, and I am very grateful that divine providence blessed me with that chance.
I had a chance to run into some old neighbours who I had not seen in decades — it was quite the trip down memory lane. It’s a funny thing: I could have sworn the parish church was bigger than it actually is. I guess I was just that much smaller. The current pastor, Father Gagné, was very generous in his welcome to me, and told me that I should feel like I was home. But I was way ahead of him. :-)
Today I had the honour of attending the wedding of Julie Mancini and Mike Robichaud at Saint Thomas à Becket parish in Pierrefonds. I only met Mike for the first time at the wedding, but I have known Julie for many years, as I was a priest at that parish from 2002-2005, and she was [...]
Today I had the honour of attending the wedding of Julie Mancini and Mike Robichaud at Saint Thomas à Becket parish in Pierrefonds. I only met Mike for the first time at the wedding, but I have known Julie for many years, as I was a priest at that parish from 2002-2005, and she was a parishioner. We got to know one another especially well through World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany, as part of the same pilgrim group. As well, Julie was a faithful member of the baptism choir that began during that time (and which has since become known as the Gracenotes). I am delighted that Julie has met her match, and was glad to have been invited. Congrats, Julie and Mike!
This evening after my usual office work I headed over to the new print shop for PGV Media, a printing company owned by my friend Alain Baron. Alain had helped me out a great deal with my souvenir and thank-you cards from my ordination, and during one of our conversations the idea of blessing his [...]
This evening after my usual office work I headed over to the new print shop for PGV Media, a printing company owned by my friend Alain Baron. Alain had helped me out a great deal with my souvenir and thank-you cards from my ordination, and during one of our conversations the idea of blessing his new place of business came up. We Catholics are big into blessings, and the official ritual book for blessings contains a great variety of possiblities, including the blessing of places of work. So why not? His wife was there as well, so we took the time to pray and then walked around the entire complex, liberally sprinkling holy water as we went. After the blessing we had a chance to drink some coffee and share on our common faith.
One thing I love about the Catholic spiritual tradition is that it includes an important component for the spirituality of work, which is not seen as mere toil to be avoided, but that chance given to us by God to participate in the perfecting of creation. A healthy attitude towards work forms part of the spirituality of stewardship as well. Many thanks to PGV Media for wanting to be part of this spiritual movement!
A number of weeks ago my friend Gene emailed me and offered me the honour of celebrating the baptism of his young son. As they live in Ottawa we decided to do it while I was in town visiting family. Welcome to the Christian family, Marc-Alex!
A number of weeks ago my friend Gene emailed me and offered me the honour of celebrating the baptism of his young son. As they live in Ottawa we decided to do it while I was in town visiting family.
