Message for Christmas 2008

The birth of Christ took place so long ago, and yet it changed everything. It is in the humble surroundings of Bethlehem that God became a man so that we may become children of God. What a precious gift.
I wish to take the time to wish all of our parishioners a very blessed Season of Advent and a beautiful Christmas. May the Lord Jesus bless you and your entire family with His love and peace!

~ Fr. Kuzma

December 21, 2008

In a few days we will be celebrating the Feast of Christ’s birth, one of the most important moments in the history of humanity.  This is a time that is usually associated with family and friends coming together to share their faith and love for Christ and each other (not to mention the food).  This is my first opportunity to share this time of year with my new family, all of you at St. Aloysius Parish.  May this time of year bring us closer together as we gather around our Lord and Savior.  God bless you!            

~ Fr. Kuzma

December 14, 2008

The third Sunday of Advent focuses on the gift of joyful anticipation of the coming of the Lord. Joy is at the heart of this Sunday’s readings, and we are reminded that joy is a great fruit given to those who follow Christ. All people search for joy in their lives, though few know where to find it. The things of this world can never give us lasting joy. True and lasting joy can only come from Christ. One of the most certain ways of receiving joy is by preparing ourselves for Christ’s coming, and receiving Him with pure hearts. Let us then take the time to prepare our heart for the coming of Christ so that we may be filled with the gift of true joy.

~ Fr. Kuzma

December 7, 2008

The Second Sunday of Advent focuses on the theme of repentance. As we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ we are invited to let go of our sins. As Catholics we do this through sacramental confession. We have included in this week’s bulletin our Christmas Schedule. In it you will find many opportunities to celebrate the great gift of repentance through sacramental confession. You may want to come to our Reconciliation Service on December 18th, when we will welcome a number of visiting priests as confessors. Even if you have not been to confession for a while I invite you to rediscover this beautiful gift of God’s forgiveness. It will change your life!

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 30, 2008

Happy New Liturgical Year! Today we begin our New Liturgical Year with the Season of Advent. Advent is the season in which we prepare for the great Feast of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. During these four weeks leading up to Christmas, we are invited to renew our love for Christ, who became a man to save us. If you have been feeling that your faith life is not all it should be, this is a great time to come back to the Lord. As we celebrate Advent we are invited to learn how to do 3 things well: wait for the coming of Christ at the end of times; convert by examining our life and turning back to the Lord; and hope in the promise of eternal life that Jesus promised to His followers. May this season of Advent help us prepare for the coming of Christ.

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 23, 2008

Today’s feast of Christ the King affirms our belief that Jesus is the supreme ruler over all things, and that some day “every knee will bend, and every tongue proclaim that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” With this feast of Christ the King we end our liturgical year. What a beautiful image for us to hold on to, especially when we feel weak and discouraged in our life. The Church invites us today to remember that the Lord whom we serve is the only supreme ruler, the only true God. We may not always feel God’s power and supremacy in this world, but we can be assured that there will come a time when those who have been faithful to Him will be rewarded. May we be counted among their numbers!

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 16, 2008

As we come to the end of our liturgical year, the Church moves us towards reflecting on the great questions of life and death. As we hear today’s readings, the Holy Spirit may prod us to ponder what might be said about us after we are gone. The readings for this Sunday help us to reflect on how well we use the time that has been given to us by God. We have all been entrusted with great gifts in our lives, the greatest of which is God’s love for us and our ability to love God back. There are opportunities in our everyday life to express our love for God by living our faith. The time to use these gifts - to love, to pray, to fast - in short to practice our faith is NOW. St. Augustine reminds us in his “Confessions” that NOW is the only time that exists, since the past is no more and the future has not yet come. And if tomorrow never comes, will I be ready to stand before God? Or will I rather be asking for an extension? May our reflecting on mortality during this month of November help us to live our faith NOW! God bless you,

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 9, 2008

November is a great month for reflecting and for cleaning up. As the cold air breathes through our country and we can smell winter coming our way, let us not be grumpy about it, but rejoice at the beauty of God’s creation. November is a time of change, but also a time of remembering. The church invites us to remember those who have died, to pray for them, and to reflect on our own mortality. May this poem from last Sunday’s homily help in our reflecting:

I dreamed death came the other night,
and Heaven’s gates swung open wide.
With kindly glance an angel
then ushered me inside.
And there to my astonishment
stood folks I’d known on earth.
Some I’d judged and labeled 'unfit'
or of 'little worth.'
Indignant words rose to my lips,
but never were set free,
For every face showed stunned surprise,
NO ONE EXPECTED ME!

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 2, 2008

Most parishioners are aware of the damage that was done to the side entrance of our church when a stolen car ran into the retaining wall. With the help of our Parish Community Environmental Committee, we have been working hard to try to find the best way to fix the damage. After speaking with the insurance company we have received a number of quotes for the job. Following long discussions with members of the Environmental Committee, we have decided to take a cash settlement from the insurance company in order to incorporate some of the changes which need to be done to this entrance. In order to do the job properly, and not be rushed by the fast approaching winter weather, we will clean up the area now and wait until the spring to make the repairs and changes. We will keep you informed of our plans and you will be given an opportunity to review them and make your comments. Thank you for your patience.

~ Fr. Kuzma

November 2008

The month of November is a time when we are invited to look forward to eternal life. As the liturgical calendar comes to its end, the readings remind us about the life of eternity. As we begin the month of November we look to our brothers and sisters who are already experiencing eternity by celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Both feast days remind us of the reality that the Church of Christ reaches far beyond this earth. The Church is divided into three parts: the Church militant (all of us here on earth, still striving to achieve Heaven), the Church suffering (all those who are purified of their sins in purgatory in preparation for Heaven), and the Church triumphant (all those who enjoy the glory of Heaven). We are all part of a beautiful family of God, members of His Holy Church. This is why it is important to remember each other in our daily lives. We remember those who are in Heaven, the saints of God, by learning more about them and inviting them to pray for us. We remember those in purgatory by praying for them. And we remember each other here on earth by sharing in the life of the Church. We belong to a beautiful and a very large family by belonging to God’s Holy Church. We are all connected by the faith in which we share, and the goal of Heaven which we have before us. Let’s not forget one another.

~ Fr. Kuzma

October 19, 2008

The month of October is traditionally known as the month of the rosary. This beautiful prayer of the Church continues to have a profound effect on those who use it with reverence. The Church has continued to promote praying the rosary as a way of coming to know and love Jesus in the “school of Mary”. Among many documents of the Church which have promoted and continue to promote the devotion of praying the rosary, the late pope John Paul II, in his encyclical Rosarium Viriginis Mariae encouraged the faithful of our present era to continue to pray to Jesus through Mary by means of the rosary. During this month I will try to shed a little light on the prayer of the rosary in the column entitled: “The month of the rosary”. God bless,

~ Fr. Kuzma

October 12, 2008

Thanksgiving weekend has always been a very special time for families to come together in gratitude for the many blessings in their lives. Thanksgiving weekend gives us an opportunity to count our many blessings as Canadians, and as Catholics. This year we are also gearing up for a federal election, an opportunity to exercise our right as a democratic society. I pray that we will all be thankful for this opportunity to voice our opinion about what direction we want our country to take. I hope that we will all show our gratitude as Canadians by voting in this year’s election. In order to help us the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has prepared a special letter entitled: “Federal Election 2008 Guide”. A copy of this letter is included in this week’s bulletin. I hope that it will help us to make a good decision when voting. Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Fr. Kuzma

October 5, 2008

In two weeks, the weekend of Oct. 18-19, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at all Sunday Masses. This Sacrament of the Church brings healing and comfort to those who are impaired by serious sickness or by old age. Because this Sacrament is focused specifically on strengthening those who are in danger of death, the Church reminds us that it is not to be received universally by all Catholics. This sacrament may be received by those who have a chronic/serious illness, by anyone preparing for a major surgery, or by anyone in danger of death. If you have a family member that would benefit from receiving this Sacrament, plan to bring them to one of the Sunday Masses in two weeks.

~ Fr. Kuzma

September 28, 2008

Our reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist is a great sign of our faith in the real presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine.  After last week’s workshops with Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion I wish to offer a few points around reception of Holy Communion.  I hope that they will help us to express our faith in the real presence of Jesus by how we receive Him at Mass.

1. When coming up to receive the Consecrated Host we have a choice to receive on the tongue or on the hand. 
2. When receiving on the hand we should have our hands together, left hand on top of right hand, having the Consecrated Host placed on our left hand and picking Him up with the right hand and placing Him in our mouth.  We should place the Consecrated Host in our mouth in front of the Minister of Communion.  No one should be walking away with the Consecrated Host in their hand. 
3. When we are carrying a baby in our arms our hands are occupied, at which time we should receive Communion on the tongue (Directive from our Bishop, 2007)
4. When we are receiving the Consecrated Wine we take the chalice with both hands, take a small sip, and return it to the Minister of Communion. 
5. I have noticed that some people are dipping the Consecrated Host in the Consecrated Wine.  This practice has never been allowed by the Church, and in the year 2004 we have been reminded by the Congregation for Divine Worship to stop this practice (Redemptionis Sacramentum).  The only way to receive the Consecrated Wine is by drinking from the chalice.
6. I understand that some have chosen not to receive the Consecrated Wine for a variety of reasons.  Remember that we do not have to receive from the cup in order to receive the fullness of Christ.  Jesus is truly present in both the Consecrated Host and the Consecrated Wine.  I encourage you to receive both the Consecrated Bread and the Consecrated Wine, but if you are uncomfortable to receive both, it is perfectly fine to receive just one.

It is important for us to remember that our gestures at Mass help us to express our faith.  They are not meaningless and should never be seen us such.  I hope that these few points will help us to be more mindful of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.

~ Fr. Kuzma

September 21, 2008

The Eucharist is at the heart of the Catholic faith, which is why it is referred to as the source and summit of our faith (II Vatican Council). As faithful Catholics we are called to do all that we can to celebrate the Eucharist in a faithful and prayerful manner. On Tuesday and Saturday of this week we will take the time to meet with all who are involved in different ministries at our Masses. This will be an opportunity for us to renew our love for and dedication to the Eucharist, and see how we can assist each other through these ministries. I hope that all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Mass Coordinators and Ministers of the Word will be able to attend.

~ Fr. Kuzma

September 14, 2008

Today’s feast of the Exaltation of the Cross calls us to rejoice in the Cross of Christ. We are to rejoice in the Cross, for upon it Christ Jesus triumphed over sin and evil. He reconciled humankind to the Father and won forgiveness of our sins. The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross ransomed us from death, while transforming an instrument of death into the instrument of our salvation. Christ invites us to take up our own crosses in life, embracing them with love. Doing this results in bringing us the blessings of peace, joy and fulfillment in this life. It does this while offering us the hope and promise of perfect happiness in heaven.

~ Fr. Kuzma

September 7, 2008

Every year, at the start of September, priests of our diocese come together to participate in the Priests’ Seminar. This is an opportunity for priests to learn, pray, and share together in order to serve the people of our diocese better. I will be away at the Priests’ Seminar from Tuesday morning until Thursday afternoon. This means that Mass will not be offered in our parish (or in most parishes of our diocese) on Tuesday evening, Wednesday and Thursday morning. There will be no confessions on Tuesday evening. Morning Prayer will be celebrated on Wednesday and Thursday mornings for parishioners who wish to come together in prayer. Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings of this week. I ask that you pray for priests and bishops who will be gathering together so that we may use this time well and return renewed in the Holy Spirit.

~ Fr. Kuzma

August 31, 2008

With the beginning of September, I invite you to pay attention to some of the changes in the liturgical schedule at our church. Starting this September we will be celebrating Mass on Monday mornings This will give those who wish to participate in the Eucharist on the daily basis an opportunity to do so. The usual time will be at 8:15. However, on holiday Mondays, like this one(!) it will be at 9:00. We will also offer more scheduled times for the Sacrament of Confession. Seeing how Tuesday evening confessions are so well attended I wish to give everyone an opportunity to take advantage of this beautiful sacrament of God’s mercy. Starting this month confession times will be Tuesday before evening Mass (6:00pm-6:50pm), Friday before morning Mass (7:30am-8:00am), and Saturday before our first weekend Mass (4:00pm-4:45pm). This should give everyone an opportunity to find the time that works for them. I pray that as we begin this new school year together we may continue to grow in our love for God and one another. God bless you,

~ Fr. Kuzma

August 24, 2008

As the summer draws to a close I like to take some time to reflect on the past few months. Before we get very busy with the start of the new school year it is good to take a step back and reflect. For many years now I try to take a few days and make a mini retreat at the end of each summer. This helps me to see how I used this wonderful time of rest. Was I generous with God during this time, or was I also on holidays from Him? Was I able to fulfill my obligation and worship God at Sunday Mass? Did I find time for God in prayer every day? Those are some of the questions I like to ask myself at the end of the summer. They help me to examine what changes I need to make in the future. As always, I will be taking a few days this coming week at the Trappist Abbey of St. Joseph in Spencer, Massachusetts. I pray that you too will find the time for God and yourselves before September comes. God bless you,

~ Fr. Kuzma

August 17, 2008

I am always amazed how God provides for our needs. One of my challenges in moving to St. Aloysius Parish was the reality of having to living alone. Since my time of entering the seminary I have always had the benefit of living in community with others priests and seminarians. Living alone would be a new experience for me. Two days after moving into St. Aloysius Rectory I received a phone call from Bishop Gerard Bergie asking if I would accept to have another priest live with me. I accepted with joy, and now I am happy to formally introduce to you Fr. James MacSharry. Fr. James is a full time chaplain to the Sisters of our Lady Immaculate in Cambridge, and is living as a resident at St. Aloysius Parish Rectory. No doubt you will see Fr. James from time to time, and I am sure that you will be as welcoming to him as you have been to me. Once again we are reminded that God is never tired of providing for us.

~ Fr. Kuzma

July 13, 2008

On Tuesday, July 15th, Pope Benedict XVI will meet with thousands of young people from all around the world for “World Youth Days” in Sydney, Australia. This is a great opportunity for our young people to be strengthened in their faith through witness, prayer, and inspiration. I was blessed to attend two “World Youth Days” events in my life, and I know from personal experience what a positive impact such an event can have in a young person’s life. We can join in the celebrations by watching the coverage of “World Youth Days” on Catholic channels: “Salt and Light” and “EWTN”. Let us also support our Holy Father and all the young people attending this wonderful event through prayer.

~ Fr. Kuzma

July 6, 2008

It is with great pleasure that I return to this wonderful community after four years. My time at St. Aloysius Parish as a seminarian and a deacon was one that I remember with great affection. Your kindness and support in my formation to the priesthood has not been forgotten. I am humbled and honoured to be named the new Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish. I wish to take the time and thank Fr. Con for his beautiful service and dedication to all of you and for the support that he has shown me throughout the years. He remains in my prayers. As I begin my pastoral appointment I ask for your prayerful support and patience. It will take me a few months to get to know all of you and to learn my way around the parish. I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ whom we all serve will bless us, and our Blessed Mother will lead us. You are all in my prayers.

~ Fr. Kuzma