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The Seasons of Our Lives
by Marilyn Bergeron | August 29, 2025
I think Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing colours of the trees, the crunch of dried leaves underfoot. It reminds me of times watching my children gleefully jump into big piles of leaves. Their laughter was pure joy.
I really don’t like the cold of Winter. Still, waking up after a heavy downfall of sparkling white snow creating such beauty really does lift my spirits.
Spring is delightful as we watch the slow growth of buds explode almost overnight into a canopy of green trees. The weather warms up.
With summer comes the heat, the search for beaches and pools. For many, it’s a time for vacations and outdoor family gatherings.
God created all this amazing world for us. Click here to read the full article.​​​
Faith on the Rise: Hopeful News for the Church
by Marilyn Bergeron | July 25, 2025
Good news! There are many encouraging signs that fewer people are leaving Christianity than in the past. As well, there is a surprising increase in Christian faith among younger people.
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Sales of the Bible, already the best-selling book worldwide, increased by 22% in the USA last year.
INCREASED INTEREST
Friends in Vancouver have told me about the rapid increase of young people joining the Alpha program to learn more about Jesus. People are being drawn to enter a Church without knowing why.
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A group of small parishes in the London area report over 60 people asking to join their RCIA program to learn more about the Catholic faith. Another 40 are already signed up for this fall. That’s people dropping by and asking!
Locally, one parish grew in 2 years from one new person initiated into the Catholic Church, to14 people this year. That’s wonderful news. People are searching for the truth, for Jesus. Click here to read the full article.
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If you would like to learn more about the increase in interest in Catholicism as well as becoming a more welcoming parish check out the links below.
Young adults defying secularism trend in Canadian Church (The BC Catholic)
Welcoming the Stranger: Tips for Parishes by Dr. Richard J. McCorry | Franciscan Media
What Is a “Welcoming” Church? | The Catholic World Report
Divine Renovation: Feel your parish come alive. Coaching and tools to help your church escape maintenance mode, reclaim its purpose, and get back on track for mission.
Pope Leo XIV: The World's Shepherd
by Marilyn Bergeron | June 13, 2025
The world watched as Pope Leo XIV was elected the new leader of the Catholic Church.
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We’ve heard about his American up-bringing, his missionary work in Peru, his connection to Pope Francis, and much more. Why is there a Pope? What are his responsibilities?
The structure of Catholicism comes from the Bible.
Keys to the Kingdom
Jesus gave the Apostle Peter, the “keys to the Kingdom” saying “upon this rock I will build my Church”. Peter was the first Pope. Jesus portrays the Church as a spiritual temple. We are the body of Christ and He is the permanent head, working through the Pope.
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​The Church has approximately 1.4 billion baptized Catholics representing over 17% of the global population. We come from every country, race, culture and language. Diversity is wonderful but very challenging to lead. The needs vary dramatically. In some places, faith in God is growing rapidly, in others it’s dropping quickly. In some places the faith is respected and in others, forbidden. Click here to read the full article.
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If you would like to learn more about the Papacy or Pope Leo XIV be sure to check out the links below.
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The Role of the Pope - Five Things Every Catholic Should Know about the Papacy | a 5-part video series brought to you by St. Michael's Abbey
Inside Pope Leo XIV's Life in Peru: Photos & Videos Go Viral of New Pontiff as a Bishop by Harumi Suzuki | brought to you by ChurchPop
Leo XIV at One Month: An ‘Original’ Pope by Andrea Gagliarducci
ANALYSIS: In the first month of his papacy, Leo XIV has demonstrated that he has the grounded demeanor, bridge-building aptitude and focused vision needed to set his own course. Click here.
The Vatican's Official Website
Prayer for the Pope
Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.
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