The End of a Chapter

I remember the first time I entered Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. It was Pentecost 2022, and I came to Mass with my family. I was immediately greeted by Margaret Lewis as she embodied the warmth of the whole parish community. 

As I was preparing for my first Summer Academy with the parish, I was struck by Covid 19 for the very first time, so I joined my first week of Academy by video conferencing while caring for my sick household and constantly retesting in hopes of returning.

Over my three years here, I’ve worked closely with our wonderful catechists, pastoral council, and our wonderful families as we’ve sought to grow closer to Christ, and each other. 

My favorite part of my ministry here has been working with our sacrament families. It has been wonderful to help the First Reconciliation and Communion children, and their families prepare to step more deeply into their faith. 

It had also been a privilege to meet with each of the Confirmation candidates and their families for family interviews. Hopefully the families remember two things from these conversations. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are very real, and are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord (awe). Most importantly, the teens who are to be confirmed are wanted, welcomed, and needed. 

The very existence of our Catholic Church is dependent on the involvement, presence, and participation of the upcoming generations. Setting aside what may happen in relation to We are His Witnesses. Putting aside parish names, and territories, we absolutely need God, and our community to truly thrive and live life more abundantly. 

My last day at IHM Parish will be Thursday, January 15th, and my new ministry will begin shortly after. Just know that I will continue to hold this wonderful community in my heart, and in my prayers moving forward. Please pray for me and my family, as I will certainly be praying for you. 

God Bless You, and Your Families, have a wonderful week. 

Your friend in Christ Jesus, 

John Michael McGuire 

Any inquiries regarding faith formation, following January 15th should be directed to faithformation@ihmparish.net

Go and Make Disciples

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

― Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 28 verses 19-20

The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ begins with His Baptism in the Jordan River. It is in that moment that His identity, sonship, and belovedness is revealed, not just to the world, but fully to Christ Himself. In a similar way, our identity as sons and daughters of God are revealed in our own Baptism, and reexpressed through our Confirmation.

Our Lord left that place to go out into the desert to fast, and be tempted by our adversary and tormentor. However, as was promised all the way back in Genesis 3:15 the serpent would strike at His heel, and He would trample the enemies skull. 

We bring up the beginning of Jesus ministry today, because just next week we will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. However, I started this message with a passage from the Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20. This comes from the end of Christ’s earthly ministry. In this moment, our Lord passes on the work to us, as missionary disciples. 

From a baptism, to a call to baptize. We go out to the nations, or more likely to our neighbors, and we are called to be Christ to them. We are called to bring them to Christ. This week, as we prepare for the feast of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, let’s all begin to consider how we can go out and Christen our society, bringing the joy we experienced at Christmas out into a broken and dysfunctional work. 

Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that you empower us to live up to our call as missionary disciples to all those we encounter in our daily lives, the suffering, and the lonely, and the castout. 

God Bless and Have a Week Empowered to Do God’s Work, by the Gift of the Eucharist.

Honouring Christmas In Our Hearts

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

While we like;y haven’t required the jarring and intense conversion of Ebenezer Scrooge, it’s likely that throughout the Advent Season, we were able to identify ways in which we could grow closer to Christ our Lord. Perhaps we are wasteful with our time as we doomscroll, or could do more than we do to help our neighbors in need.

Perhaps as we provided food items, and Christmas gifts through various drives we found ourselves reflecting on the ways our brothers and sisters struggle. Recognizing that the need to help is ongoing, and that those in need during the holidays remain in need.

Just maybe as Scrooge was notified of the coming of the Ghosts by the tolling of a bell, we’ve been reminded that we need to make the space to listen, sit in silence, and reflect from time to time. 

Whatever we’ve learned during our travels and practices of Advent, we are called to take with us throughout the year. As Scrooge said in the famous short story, and its many short stories throughout the years, let’s heed the call to keep Christmas in our hearts, to live kindly, joyfully, and generously all year round. Not just because it is nice, but because what should be central to our life, is our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

This week, let’s continue to joyously live Christmas without fatigue, so that when Christ comes again, we will be ready to greet Him, and that He might recognize us as His own. Pray for all those who are caught up in their own greed, or misery, and that all might know Christ in their lives, and through our actions.

God Bless and Merry Christmas. 

The Day is Coming

Can you feel the anticipation as we await the coming of our Lord on the day of His birth? The people of Israel waited over 5000 years for the coming of their Messiah, and in all that time, they misunderstood.

It is hard for us to judge the perspective of a people who had been dominated and oppressed by every great empire of their time. It makes sense that they were awaiting a great general to smite the Roman Empire. Yet they had been so far separated from the original promise of redemption, given to mankind at the time of the Fall of Adam and Eve. 

As your homework, as we prepare for Christmas, take a look at Genesis 3:15. Redemption and final victory was promised to our ancestors. However, that victory more than over an evil empire of oppressors was over the greater scourge of sin and death. 

In a way similar to our forebears, we are thousands of years separated from the promise made to us, that one day Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. This isn’t a threat, we don’t need to fear like those looking toward Armageddon and Rapture. No instead, we should use what remains of Advent, and even of our lives to truly prepare for the promise we await. 

That promise is eternal union with God in Heavenly Jerusalem. Let us pray that we prepare well our hearts, homes, and families for what we ultimately await.
God Bless and have a prayerful last few days of Advent. 

Living a Season of Christmas

The Season of Advent is a time of preparation. What are we preparing for? Lavish dinners, the exchange of gifts, for some a yearly visit to Church? These are all good things, but they are so brief, and even fleeting. 

If we had a full Advent of preparation, and then Christmas was over at 11:59 pm on December 25th we would have  slept on something truly spectacular. A month of preparation for a day of celebration seems a little lopsided, doesn’t it?
The season of Christmas is 12 Days! If you’ve joined us for our Intergenerational Cookie Swap Event, you were introduced to a new family tradition. If you weren’t there, here’s the invitation for the 12 Days of Christmas. Follow along with the 12 day calendar presented here. Loosely inspired by A Christmas Carol, your family will be guided through 3 sets of 4 activities that focus on Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. These easy attainable activities will keep the season alive in your hearts and homes!
This week, I am praying that you have a fruitful rest of your Advent Season, and a truly joyful Christmas to Come. Prepare the way of the Lord, as we joyfully await His Birth, and for Him to come again.
God Bless and have a fruitful Advent.