The St. Mary's Parish Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Mary's Parish
Our mission is to worship God, proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, lead others into relationship with him and grow together as his disciples.
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Growth in virtue is the work of a lifetime. In his Sunday homily, Fr. Mark reminds us that it is important for us to continuously work at weeding out the things in our lives that are not of God, and that we can do this one small step at a time.
What is the motivation behind why we do the things we do? In his Sunday homily, Fr. Ken analyzes the life and writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to emphasize the need for humility, and knowing our identity as children of God, so that we, out of love, can do great things for His glory.
God desires to enter into a dialogue with us – but are we spiritually deaf? In this week’s homily, Fr. Ken emphasizes that the Lord wants to heal us of what prevents us from hearing His voice and receiving His love, and shares some practical insight to help us along the way.
The spiritual life is all about the heart. In his Sunday homily, Fr. Mark emphasizes the importance of taking care of our hearts, and reminds us that we can ask our Guardian Angels to help us.
We are free to make our own choices, but we don’t always have control over the consequences. Fr. Ken emphasizes that this freedom to choose includes whether or not to serve God, and to accept the teaching of the Church.
You were made in God’s image and likeness. You were created for greatness. In his Sunday homily, Fr. Mark reminds us that the Lord makes all things new – including us and all that is going on in our lives.
The gift of Jesus in the Eucharist is not meant to be kept to ourselves. In the last part of his homily series on the Bread that Gives Life, Fr. Ken prompts us to consider whether or not we have the desire to share the reality of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist with others.
Do we see our need for Jesus in the Eucharist? In his homily series, the Bread that Gives Life, Fr. Ken reminds us that unless we recognize our need for Christ, our desire for Him will wane. Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest desires and longings of our hearts.
Each of us has our own way that we try and satisfy our desires. Fr. Ken emphasizes the desire of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to feed His sheep. And this, in Him, is where we will be satisfied.
Do you allow the Lord to minister to you through His creation? Fr. Mark reminds us that the more we mature and grow in the spiritual life, the more we should see God through the wonders that surround us.
One of the most important battles we will fight is the battle to do good things. In his summer homily series, Fr. Mark encourages us to enjoy leisure and rest, but to always do so in a way that glorifies God.
What does it actually look like to follow God? In this Sunday’s homily, Fr. Mark addresses this question, and reminds us of the absolute necessity of staying humble.
Within us there is something of eternity and with that, we are invited to participate in it. In his homily, Fr. Mark challenges us to cry out in faith to the Lord and to trust that God wants us to experience His blessings, His power, His Divine rewards – but we must ask and let Him move in our lives.
Following Jesus is an adventure; but adventure doesn’t mean easy. Adventure also implies doing hard things and being pushed to the limit. In this Sunday’s homily, Fr. Mark emphasizes that it’s not easy to trust God, put Him at the center of our lives, and follow Him on the adventures He calls us to. And yet, even in our struggles, we must turn to the Lord, listen for His response, and beg for the grace to do so.
As Christians, the goal of the spiritual life is to become like Christ. This requires ongoing formation. In this Sunday homily, Fr. Ken encourages all of us (including priests!) to continue to grow into ‘good trees’ and pursue personal growth, and highlights the need for good priestly formation.
We have become obsessed with comfort in our culture – and it’s killing us. In this Sunday homily, Fr. Mark reminds us that, as Christians, we are called to carry our cross, not to avoid it.
When Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, he doesn’t hesitate: it is to love. We need to love God and love others. We are made by God, who is love, so we shouldn’t be surprised to hear that we were made for love! Fr. Mark reminds us that love is at the core of our identity and our mission.
In a world that is so chaotic, so full of evil and death, Deacon Charles reminds us that true peace can only be found in Jesus Christ.
One of the most common metaphors for heaven is “the feast”. There are numerous times throughout Scripture when Jesus refers to heaven as a feast, or a banquet, or as him dining with us. In the final homily of our preaching series, “At Your Service”, Fr. Mark reminds us that we are called to invite everyone to this amazing feast!
When we invest our money in stocks, we expect a return on investment. In the same way, when we go on mission, we expect to see results. Holiness is not just about being self-focused, it is about being focused on others. In this third homily in our preaching series, “At Your Service”, Fr. Ken asks, will you take the next step in holiness?
As we continue our current series called “At Your Service”, Fr. Mark shares an image he saw, the image of Jesus the suffering servant. He is at the door of our hearts asking us to serve. He sets aside his majesty, taking the form of a slave. Could you serve coffee after Mass? Could you play in the choir? Could you give a teaching? These simple tasks are not simple to him, they are very meaningful.
At the Night of Worship and Ministry, Sr. Melinda Schenher, SC, Associate Director of Encounter School of Ministry – Ottawa Campus, speaks on the theme of “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”.
Find out more at stmarysottawa.ca/nowm.
To kick off our new preaching series, Fr. Ken explains the power of a serving culture. We all need to accept our call to serve within our parish community and use the gifts that God has given us!
God loves to forgive us! Just like the prodigal son, God is always waiting for us to turn back and repent from our past. Yet we have such a hard time forgiving each other. For some people, forgiving a person for a past hurt can be the hardest moment in their life. Fr. Mark teaches us to make forgiveness a part of each day. At the end of the day, ask yourself “who do I need to forgive today?”
Jesus never said that following him would lead to an easy life without struggles, but he did promise that he would be with us every step of the way. Fr. Ken reminds us that when the storms of life come, Jesus is always there.
What is the most important and precious thing in our earthly lives? It is certainly relationships. God made us for relationship; we know this because we are made in the image of God and God is relationship. Fr. Roger reminds us that Jesus is inviting us to join in the ultimate relationship of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. Despite this command, many of us feel unqualified to evangelize others. Fr. Ken explains that the most important word in Jesus’ command is “Go”. We need to complete the work of the Lord outside of the church – not just inside.
We are not of this world – but we are in this world. This world cannot receive the Holy Spirit, but we can. As humans, we have an attachment to this world that we must overcome. We have a tendency for things that are bad for us. Fr. Mark reminds us that the world is not our destination – it is a ship that brings us to our destination. We need to keep that mindset during this life.
Street evangelization can be a powerful tool. Fr. Ken tells us the story of one woman who was addicted to alcohol and drugs but encountered the Lord through street evangelization. She was baptized at the Easter Vigil this past Easter. Sometimes we feel like we are not worthy or holy enough to lead others to Christ – this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Lord uses the broken to lead others to Him!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who always goes after the lost sheep. Fr. Mark reminds us that we are also called to be shepherds in this life and lead others into relationship with Him. Here at St. Mary’s, we bring people in and challenge them to the five week challenge – so that they can experience the love of God.
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus opened the Scriptures to the disciples with which he was walking. How can others encounter Jesus today? Fr. Ken reminds us that we our Christ’s body on earth – and we can allow others to encounter Jesus.
When we look into the wounds of Jesus, as St. Thomas did, we see the heart of God. Fr. Mark describes the unfathomable mercy of Jesus, our Lord and our God.
On Easter Sunday, Fr. Ken reminds us that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us!
How do we know if Jesus rose from the dead if we did not witness it ourselves? As Fr. Mark explains at the Easter Vigil, the case for Christ’s resurrection is clear – hundreds of people witnessed it with their own eyes. Christ is truly risen!
Have you ever wondered, if God is all-powerful, why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Why was it necessary for him to become human and be crucified to save us? On Good Friday, Fr. Ken explains how the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus was an act of love.
As we begin the Triduum; on Holy Thursday, we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. Fr. Roger reminds us that the theme of these three days is love.
For the full Easter schedule, visit stmarysottawa.ca/easter.
In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to live in relationship with Him. Adam and Eve broke that relationship for themselves and for all of their ancestors by choosing sin. Sin created a divide between man and God. Fr. Ken explains that we needed a Saviour to bridge the gap caused by sin, and He sent us His only Son to be our Saviour.
In the entirety of Scripture, there is only one time where God directly speaks to a large crowd of people. We see this at the Transfiguration when He says: “This is my beloved Son: listen to Him.” This is a common theme in the Bible and a commandment that we must take very seriously. Fr. Mark explains how reading the Bible is key to living out this command. We live in a broken world affected by sin, and God’s Word is where we can find truth.
This is week one of our Lenten preaching series called “Return to the Father’s Heart”. We are created to be in relationship with God. A relationship with God is the best relationship we can have, because He is the only one who can perfectly love us. When we are baptized, we become an adopted child of God; He is our Father. Fr. Ken explains that God’s love is unconditional and deeper than any other love that we can experience.
Deepen your Lenten journey by visiting stmarysottawa.ca/lent.
Deciding what to do for Lent can be challenging, and sticking it can be even harder. Like a sailboat relying on the wind, we must also rely on God to strengthen our Lenten penance. Fr. Mark explains the “Daniel Fast” and how he learned to let love lead him through Lent.
For more Lenten resources, visit stmarysottawa.ca/lent
Fr. Roger speaks on the topic of a Harvest of Joy at a recent Night of Worship and Ministry.
Find out more about the Night of Worship and Ministry at stmarysottawa.ca/nowm
Who likes Lent? When we think about fasting, giving things up, and the spirit of the season, it seems easy to dislike Lent. Fr. Roger explains that when we come to understand the purpose of these forty days, we can learn to love Lent.
Make the pledge to pray 10 minutes a day for 40 days; sign up for the Lenten Prayer Challenge at stmarysottawa.ca/lent.
Do you know your identity? Many people are lost in this world searching for the truth. We are called to share the truth with the people around us – we are all children of God and made in His image. Fr. Mark explains that at St. Mary’s, we are driven by evangelization. Join the hundreds of parishioners who have decided to pray more this Lent by visiting stmarysottawa.ca/lent.
Many people see the Catholic faith as simply a set of rules. In truth, our faith is meant to be a relationship – a communion between ourselves and God. Like any relationship, there are rules that must be followed. The Church admits that the Law is not perfect – it is a set of rules to live by, but the Law itself does not give us the strength we need to follow God’s commandments. Fr. Ken explains that Jesus is the one who gives us this strength. This is why he says that he has not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
As Christians, we know that this world is only the beginning. Fr. Francis Donnelly explains how we must have an eternal perspective in this life.
We have a silent epidemic in our society; an epidemic of drug addiction, mental health, and poverty. As Christians, the Lord calls us again and again to serve the poor. St. Mother Teresa encouraged her followers to, “find their own Calcutta” – serve the impoverished members of their own communities. Fr. Mark explains how we can serve the poor in our neighbourhood and what St. Mary’s Parish is doing to respond to this call.
Sometimes we are confused as to what the true meaning of humility is. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; rather, it is thinking of yourself less. Pride is something we all struggle with. Fr. Ken explains how to identify pride in your life and how to increase in humility.
In the Guardian Angel prayer, it states that our Guardian Angels light, guard, rule, and guide. Where is our Guardian Angel meant to guide us? Maybe you’re wondering where the Lord is leading you. Often, he only reveals the next right step, illuminating the path one phase at a time. When Jesus called his Apostles, he simply told them to follow him; he didn’t tell them exactly what the next three years would look like, but gave them a simple next step. Fr. Mark announces a next step for St. Mary’s Parish, and how he believes we are called to pray more this coming Lent.
Little is known about Jesus’ childhood, as the Gospels skip from Jesus’ birth to his public ministry. We can imagine that he had an upbringing that was similar to ours, and that is because Jesus is fully man and fully God. Fr. Ken explains that the humanity of Jesus should be a source of hope for us. Jesus truly understands the human experience; he was tempted like us, felt sadness like us, and suffered like us. He had to become human like all of us, so that he would be able to help us.
Our Guardian Angels play a special role in our lives. As is outlined in the Guardian Angel prayer, they light, guard, rule, and guide. Ultimately, they reiterate God’s unique love for each of us. God provides a Guardian Angel to all of us, which speaks to the inherent dignity of each human being. As Fr. Mark explains, many Saints have had direct experiences with their Guardian Angels, and as Catholics, we are invited to do the same.
Fr. Ken shares how Mary was a bridge in his life; a bridge that delivered him from his struggles with mental health. We know that God is our Father, but sometimes we forget that Mary is our mother. As we begin this new year, let us not forget that Mary holds our hand while we cross the bridge from 2022 to 2023.
As we begin a new year, the Church honours Mary, the Holy Mother of God who, in her Magnificat, rejoices in the Lord. Mary was in touch with the reality of the spiritual realm, and one way we can be in touch with that reality is by learning about our Guardian Angel. Fr. Mark reminds us that, as followers of Christ, we will go through trials and ordeals, but ultimately through Jesus it’s going to be a good year.
God chose to bring His Son into the world with humble beginnings. He was not greeted with a 21-gun salute or with public celebration; he was born in a cold, smelly stable. God could have chosen anyone to be His Son’s parents, but he chose to have two regular people bring Jesus into this world. Like the innkeeper, God is asking us if there is room for Him in our hearts. As Fr. Ken asks, will we make room for Jesus in our lives?
Many will agree that at Christmas time, humanity is at its best. People make an effort to see family, help the poor, go to church, and give each other gifts; all this while the days are getting shorter, colder, and darker. Yet in the midst of darkness, Christmas is a shining light. Fr. Mark invites us to remember that this light is the light of our newborn King, the light of Christ.
The Lord has given each of us a spiritual GPS. God has given us clear directions to our destination – which is Heaven; just like a real GPS, God never grows impatient with us, even if we take a wrong turn. Fr. Ken explains that we need to be in-tune with God’s plan for our life and that we must always follow our GPS (God’s Positioning System).
When you find true joy in the Lord, it outlasts the ups and downs of life. Our life is meant to have an abiding, deep, and lasting peace. Fr. Mark explains that if we want peace, we need to fight for it – figuratively; we are in a spiritual battle and the Devil is attacking us personally and collectively.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the first words he speaks to his apostles are “Peace be with you”. In the Mass, we remember this moment and offer each other a sign of peace. Fr. Ken explains that this sign of peace is more than just a friendly greeting; it is Christ’s peace that we are giving to our neighbour. Christ’s peace is overwhelming – it can heal us, bring us new life, and help us overcome anxiety.
A core theme of the Advent Season is peace. Preparing for Christmas can often be a time of chaos and busyness, but God wants us to find calmness and stillness in this season. Not the peace that the world offers, but a deeper, spiritual peace that only God can provide. Fr. Mark shares five quotes that can help inspire us to calm down and find peace during this Advent Season.
On the Feast of Christ the King, Jesus encourages us to bring forth His Kingdom here on earth. On the day of our baptism, we were baptized as priest, prophet, and king; however, the kingship of Jesus is not be confused with the kingship of this world. Christ came to serve, not to be served. Fr. Ken reminds us of the good news found in Matthew’s gospel: the Kingdom of Heaven is near, go and share the good news of the Kingdom!
In the Old Testament, God commands Moses to keep the fire burning at all times in the temple. We must also keep the fire of the Lord burning in us at all times; which means experiencing the love of God in every moment of our life. Fr. Mark explains that we can find God in even the simplest moments of our life by focusing on the duty of the moment. When Christ returns, will he find the fire of God’s love burning in our hearts?
Many people are uncomfortable thinking about their own mortality. As Christians, we know the truth, that there is life after death. Fr. Ken reminds us that we are in this world, but not of this world. Do not get distracted by this life because we have an eternal destiny that God has promised us.
When we are upset with ourselves, we can often project that on God and think that He is upset with us as well. The truth is that God loves us at every stage, like a coach cheering us on, pushing us to get better each day – little by little. Fr. Mark explains how Wisdom chapters 11 and 12 have helped him to better comprehend the massive love of God.