Liturgical Ministries
Deacon's Corner

Reflection on the Scripture Readings
2022
August 18 - Deacon Diego - The Church Needs Eucharistic Revival to Change the World
June 12 - Deacon Peter - God’s Boundless Love
June 5 - Deacon Peter - For the Common Good
May 29 - Deacon Peter - We Live in Christian Hope
May 22 - Deacon Peter - What Am I Doing to Spread God’s Love?
May 22 - Deacon Diego - How the Primitive Church Transformed the Pagan World
May 15 - Deacon Peter - Divine Love
May 8 - Deacon Peter - Do We Hear Jesus’ Voice?
May 8 - Deacon Diego - To Love and Serve God Alone
May 1 - Deacon Peter - God Gives Us Second Chances
April 24 - Deacon Peter - My God Be Merciful to Me
April 17 - Deacon Peter - HE IS RISEN!
April 10 - Deacon Peter - The Powers of Darkness Will Not Prevail
April 3 - Deacon Diego - God Reveals a Path to Life
April 3 - Deacon Peter - God’s Infinite Mercy
March 27 - Deacon Peter - God Awaits Our Return
March 27 - Deacon Diego - Silence and Reverence Help You Recognize The Divine Presence
March 20 - Deacon Peter - God's Love is Infinite
March 13 - Deacon Diego - Personal Conversion For Peace
March 13 - Deacon Peter - Listen Only to Jesus
March 6 - Deacon Peter - Beginning Our Lenten Journey
February 27 - Deacon Peter - Forming Our Hearts and Minds
February 20 - Deacon Peter - Love Thine Enemy
February 13 - Deacon Peter - Detachment from Material Things
February 6 - Deacon Peter - Do Not Fear Because of Your Unworthiness
January 30 - Deacon Peter - I Am With You, to Deliver You
January 23 - Deacon Peter - Fulfilled In Your Hearing
January 16 - Deacon Peter - Do Whatever He Tells You
January 9 - Deacon Peter - Baptism of the Lord
January 2 - Deacon Peter - Epiphany of the Lord
2021
December 26 - Deacon Peter - Healing Our Families and Growing in Holiness
December 19 - Deacon Peter - Jesus is Near at Hand
December 12 - Deacon Peter - What Should We Do?
December 12 - Deacon Diego - The Greatest Miracle
December 5 - Deacon Peter - Prepare the Way of the Lord
December 5 - Deacon Diego - Eucharistic Prayer: Heaven and Earth Unite in Prayer
November 28 - Deacon Peter - Jesus is Coming!
November 28 - Deacon Diego - Mass Offertory: What Are You Bringing to the Altar?
November 21 - Deacon Peter - Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 21 - Deacon Diego - We Profess What We Believe
November 14 - Deacon Peter - No One Knows the Day or the Hour
November 14 - Deacon Diego - Receive From the Table of the Word
November 7 - Deacon Peter - Trust in God Absolutely
November 7 - Deacon Diego - Did Moses Celebrate Mass in the Desert?
October 31 - Deacon Peter - The Lord is Our God, The Lord Alone
October 31 - Deacon Diego - Collect- Gathering Our Prayers
October 24 - Deacon Peter - What Do You Want Me To Do For You?
October 24 - Deacon Diego - Giving Glory To God at Mass
October 17 - Deacon Peter - To Be Great, Be A Servant
October 17 - Deacon Diego - Mass' Penitential Rite and Healing
October 10 - Deacon Peter - Wisdom Cuts Through Everything
October 10 - Deacon Diego - Holy Mass - A Father's Love That Heals
October 3 - Deacon Peter - Two Shall Become One
October 3 - Deacon Diego - Healing Mass vs Normal Mass?
September 26 - Deacon Peter - No One is Entitled
September 26 - Deacon Diego - More on Experiencing Mass as Heaven on Earth
September 19 - Deacon Peter - All of Us Are Stewards
September 19 - Deacon Diego - How To Experience Holy Mass As An Encounter With Jesus
September 12 - Deacon Peter - Who Do You Say That I Am?
September 12 - Deacon Diego - Holy Mass: A Show or Sacrifice?
September 5 - Deacon Peter - Be Opened
September 5 - Deacon Diego - At Mass Catholics See Jesus
August 29 - Deacon Peter - Keep Your Religion Pure and Undefiled Before God
August 29 - Deacon Diego - Truly Present By The Power Of His Word and The Holy Spirit
August 22 - Deacon Peter - Where Else Can We Go?
August 22 - Deacon Diego - Jesus Explosive Statement
August 15 - Deacon Peter - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15 - Deacon Diego - Eucharist: Supernatural Life Giving Bread, Satisfying Hungry Hearts
August 8 - Deacon Peter - God Sustains Us Always
August 1 - Deacon Peter - What Must We Do to Perform the Works of God?
August 1 - Deacon Diego - Holy Mass: Foretaste of Heaven
July 25 - Deacon Peter - World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly
July 25 - Deacon Diego - Holy Mass: No Greater Gift of Love
July 18 - Deacon Peter - We Must Become Shepherds
July 18 - Deacon Diego - Hebrew Passover and Catholic Mass
July 11 - Deacon Peter - St Benedict
July 11 - Deacon Diego - Is Going to Mass Essential?
July 4 - Deacon Peter - Familiarity Breeds Contempt
July 4 - Deacon Diego - Is the Pope Infallible?
June 27 - Deacon Diego - The Bible and Tradition
June 20 - Deacon Peter - Peace! Be Still! Have Faith!
June 20 - Deacon Diego - Public Revelation vs Private Revelation
June 13 - Deacon Peter - God Works in Mysterious Ways
June 13 - Deacon Diego - How Are You Saved? What is Salvation?
June 6 - Deacon Peter - Body and Blood of Christ
June 6 - Deacon Diego - Have You Been Saved?
May 30 - Deacon Peter - Trinity Sunday - God is Good, All the Time
May 30 - Deacon Diego - Jesus, The Image of the Invisible God
May 23 - Deacon Peter - Pentecost Sunday
May 23 - Deacon Diego - Have You Experienced Your Pentecost?
May 16 - Deacon Peter - The Ascension of the Lord
May 16 - Deacon Diego - Christianity is the Person of Jesus
May 9 - Deacon Peter - God Doesn't Play Favourites
May 9 - Deacon Diego - Superstition and the First Commandment
May 2 - Deacon Peter - Abide in Me and I Will Abide in You
May 2 - Deacon Diego - Who is Jesus for you?
April 25 - Deacon Peter - I Lay Down My Life for My Sheep
April 25 - Deacon Diego - Come to me ... and I will give you rest
April 18 - Deacon Peter - Peace Be With You
April 18 - Deacon Diego - Repent and Turn to God
April 11 - Deacon Peter - Have Mercy on Us and On the Whole World
April 11 - Deacon Diego - Good News That Spreads Like Fire
April 4 - Deacon Peter - He Is Risen!
April 4 - Deacon Diego - He Is Risen Indeed!
March 28 - Deacon Peter - The Passion of Christ
March 28 - Deacon Diego - Palm Sunday: Jesus Is the King of the Universe
March 21 - Deacon Peter - God's Limitless Mercy
March 21 - Deacon Diego - Do You Wish to See Jesus, Too?
March 14 - Deacon Peter - Out of the Darkness and Into the Light
March 14 - Deacon Diego - Whoever Believes in Him, Will Have Eternal Life
March 7 - Deacon Peter - My Body is a Temple
March 7 - Deacon Diego - Zeal for the House of God
February 28 - Deacon Peter - Jesus, I Trust in You
February 28 - Deacon Diego - An Unforgettable Experience
February 21 - Deacon Peter - Fighting the Wild Beasts
February 21 - Deacon Diego - Time to Clean Up!
February 14 - Deacon Peter - I Do Choose, Be Made Clean!
February 14 - Deacon Diego - Jesus Touched Him
February 7 - Deacon Peter - Hope and Faith
January 31 - Deacon Peter - Where's Jesus?
January 31 - Deacon Diego - Feast Day of St John Bosco
January 24 - Deacon Peter - The World is Changing
January 24 - Deacon Diego - Repent and Believe the Good News
January 17 - Deacon Peter - Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening
January 17 - Deacon Diego - Lord, Where Are You Staying?
January 10 - Deacon Peter - Baptism of the Lord
January 10 - Deacon Diego - Baptized in the Power of the Spirit
January 3 - Deacon Peter - Epiphany of the Lord
January 3 - Deacon Diego - Epiphany of Our Lord
January 1 - Deacon Peter - Mary, The Holy Mother of God
2020
December 27 - Deacon Peter - Feast of the Holy Family
December 25 - Deacon Peter - The Waiting is Over
December 20 - Deacon Peter - The Wait is Almost Over
December 20 - Deacon Diego - Mary of Nazareth:The New Ark of the Covenant
December 13 - Deacon Peter - Do We Recognize Jesus?
December 13 - Deacon Diego - Reasons to Rejoice
December 6 - Deacon Peter - Construct A Smooth New Highway
December 6 - Deacon Diego - Finally . . . Good News!
November 29 - Deacon Peter - What Do We Do While We Wait?
November 29 - Deacon Diego - Keep Alert With Joy in Your Heart
November 22 - Deacon Peter - We Want to Be Sheep and Not Goats
November 22 - Deacon Diego - The King Who Loves to Share His Kingdom
November 15 - Deacon Peter - Risk_It_for_the_Biscuit
November 15 - Deacon Diego - Will You Be Ready To Meet The Lord When He Comes?
November 8 - Deacon Peter - Stay Awake, Be Ready!
November 8 - Deacon Diego - Grieving with Christian Hope
November 1 - Deacon Peter - We Are Called To Be Saints
November 1 - Deacon Diego - Called To Be Saints
October 25 - Deacon Diego - Love Has Two Sides
October 18 - Deacon Diego - All That We Are and Have Belongs to God
October 18 - Deacon Peter - God Can Anoint Anyone
October 11 - Deacon Diego - The Proper Spiritual Garment At His Table
October 11 - Deacon Peter - Am I Willing to Cooperate With God?
October 4 - Deacon Peter - Are We Wild Vines?
October 4 - Deacon Diego - Bearing Fruits of Gratitude and Love
September 27 - Deacon Diego - A True Disciple Imitates Jesus in Everything
September 20 - Deacon Peter - God's_Generosity_Is_Without_Limit
September 20 - Deacon Diego - Love Waits to be Found
September 13 - Deacon Peter - To Forgive Is Divine
September 6 - Deacon Peter - Christian Love Requires Commitment
August 30 - Deacon Peter - Always Do the Right Thing
August 23 - Deacon Peter - Who Do You Say That I Am?
August 16 - Deacon Peter - God Wants to Save Us All
August 9 - Deacon Peter - Fatih in the Power of God
August 2 - Deacon Peter - The Best Things in Life Are Free
August 2 - Deacon Diego - Only Jesus Can Satisfy Human Hunger
July 26 - Deacon Diego - The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value
July 26 - Deacon Peter - What Are We Prepared To Do
July 19 - Deacon Diego - Good and Evil
July 19 - Deacon Peter - God Judges With Patience and Compassion
July 12 - Deacon Peter - Lord Open My Heart to Your Word
July 12 - Deacon Diego - God's Word Gives Life Abundantly
July 5 - Deacon Peter - A Humble King
July 5 - Deacon Diego - Jesus Reveals Himself to the Little Ones
June 28 - Deacon Peter - The Lord Loves a Generous Heart
June 28 - Deacon Diego - What it Takes to be a True Disciple
June 21 - Deacon Peter - If You Acknowledge Me On Earth
June 21 - Deacon Diego - Do Not Fear
June 14 - Deacon Peter - Food for the Journey
June 14 - Deacon Diego - The Bread of Life
June 7 - Deacon Diego - Holy Trinity : Divine Family
June 7 - Deacon Peter - God's Infinite Love
May 31 - Deacon Peter - A Gift Beyond Price
May 31 - Deacon Diego - Come Holy Spirit and Renew the Church
May 24 - Deacon Diego - In the Cenacle with Mary
May 24 - Deacon Peter - We Live In Joyful Hope
May 17 - Deacon Peter - I Will Not Leave You Orphaned
May 17 - Deacon Diego - What Made the First Christians Effective Disciples?
May 10 - Deacon Peter - I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
May 10 - Deacon Diego - New Evangelization for a Renewed Church
May 3 - Deacon Diego - The Month of Mary
April 19 - Deacon Peter - A Reflection for Divine Mercy
April 19 - Deacon Diego - The Lessons God Wishes Us to Learn
April 12 - Deacon Peter - A Short Reflection for Easter
March 29 - Deacon Diego - 5th Sunday of Lent
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ADMA (Devotees of Mary Help of Christians)ADMA is the acronym for Associazione di Maria Ausiliatrice, which translates to Mary Help of Christians Association. Don Bosco founded ADMA in 1869 as a means of connecting good Christians to the spirituality and the mission of the Salesian Congregation. It encourages worship of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary Help of Christians. It offers a way of sanctification and apostolate to lay people. Before joining ADMA, candidates undergo a year of preparation and are admitted officially into the Association when they make their solemn promise to be faithful members. ADMA was established at St. Benedict’s in 2000. We meet on Tuesdays closest to the 24th of each month, except during the summer. Our meetings consist of the praying of the rosary, spiritual formation and Scripture reading with faith sharing. We also have mini-retreats twice a year. ADMA’s excellent bulletins of formation and information can be read on its Turin website http://www.donbosco-torino.it in all major languages. Contacts: Coordinator: Margaret Pupulin
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Youth Ministry-Based Confirmation ProcessEvery year in September, the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto invites youth in Grade 7 to consider making their Confirmation. Here at St. Benedict, we are proud to offer a parish yout ministry-based Confirmation preparation process. Our youth ministry-based Confirmation process was developed according to the guidelines provided by our Archdiocese. It engages parents and children in various gatherings including a family interview, catechetical sessions, a commitment ceremony, a faith-sharing breakfast, and a retreat. The youth ministry-based Confirmation process is for a youth in Grade 7 who: is baptized in the Catholic Church or other Christian Church regularly receives to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion participates at Mass weekly at St. Benedict Church on Saturday evenings or Sundays has an active experience of prayer in the family and receives religious education at a Catholic school Confirmation is celebrated in the Easter season as close as possible to the feast of Pentecost. Registration forms are available at the parent meeting each September. Contact: Antoniette Pace Resources Confirmation Booklet - St. Benedict Church
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium)In a space known as "Our Atrium", children gather in small groups to be in a place of simplicity and order, prayer, work and community. Using beautiful objects and wooden materials, the children come in contact with the liturgy of the church, scripture and sacred history. The richest teachings are presented to the youngest children and a solid foundation is set. Over the years, as they grow in faith, the children are helped to know God and to enter into the mystery of Jesus Christ. Come and see if you’d like this opportunity for your children! Level I (ages 3-6), Level II (ages 6-9), Level III (grades 4-8). Contact: Contact the office by email at StBenedictsET@archtoronto.org or call 416-934-3400 ext. 511 . Resources Registration Form Archdiocese of Toronto link to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Continuing Education Certificate Programs: Catechesis of The Good Shepherd, University of St. Michael's College
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Come to the TableEvery year in September, the church invites children in Grade 2 to prepare for their First Holy Communion. Here at St. Benedict, we are proud to offer a Parish-Based Communion process called Come to the Table. This process was developed according to the guidelines provided by our Toronto Archdiocese. It offers a series of catechetical sessions of the children and engages parents and children in various gatherings including a family interview, a church tour, and a Rite of Illumination. Come to the Table is for a child in Grade 2 who: is baptized in the Catholic Church or other Christian Church participates at Mass weekly at St. Benedict Church on Saturday evenings or Sundays, prays at home regularly in the family, receives religious education at a Catholic school and will prepare for and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before celebrating First Holy Communion First Reconciliation is celebrated during Lent. First Communion is celebrated during the Easter season. Registration forms are available at the parent meeting in September. Contact: Antoniette Pace 416-743-3830 X4 Resources Communion Booklet - St. Benedict Church 1st Communion Letter to Parents
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Faith & FamilyFaith & Family is a process of faith formation and immediate preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation. The program serves children and youth, ages 6-18 who: attend mass with their family at St. Benedict Church, are baptized or not yet baptized with at least one Catholic parent, attend public school or private school, require ongoing faith formation and preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation Faith & Family sessions are scheduled for 20 weeks from October – May. Gatherings are held on Monday evenings in the parish hall: 6:45 pm - 8:30 pm. Registration takes place August and early September. A supplies fee provides the required books and materials. Contact: Antoniette Pace 416-743-3830 X4.
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Lighthouse Catholic Media
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MagnificatMagnificat is a ministry to Catholic women; women already active in the church or returning to the practice of the faith. Its purpose is to nurture and foster in women openness to the Holy Spirit through a deeper commitment of their lives to Jesus as Lord. As a Mother Chapter in the Toronto Archdiocese, Magnificat is based at St. Benedict. Corona Call to Prayer Rosary Blanket of Prayer Schedule & Explanation Magnificat Toronto Chapter Link to Central Service Team Website: Magnificat Internet Prayer Ministry (MIPM) Our Magnificat, Toronto, Mary, Cause of our Joy, Chapter is a participant in our Magnificat Region INTERNET PRAYER MINISTRY. This apostolic undertaking invites us to offer ourselves for prayer petitioning our God on behalf of our brothers and sisters in need. It is our hope that many will receive healing, hope, strength, consolation and blessings through the prayers of the women of Magnificat. To Request Prayer To offer a prayer of intercession or thanks, send a brief email to: torontomaginternetprayer@gmail.com. Your request will be sent to all participating Magnificat chapters for prayer. Kindly keep your prayer request brief. A sample prayer appears here: From Jane Doe – Toronto, Canada: Healing for John Jones who was admitted to the hospital for surgery.To Offer Prayer To offer prayer, simply include the Magnificat internet prayer intentions in your regular personal prayers. To receive the published MIPM intentions, send a simple message to torontomaginternetprayer@gmail.com indicating your interest. For example: I would like to include the prayer intentions of MIPM in my regular personal prayers. Kindly email me the published prayer requests. Upcoming Magnificat Events Rosary Blanket of Prayer Service Team Members History: Mary, Cause of our Joy Chapter, Toronto Contact: Antoniette Pace
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Mother's GroupCatholic Mom's Group Are you a Catholic Mother looking to share and be inspired by your faith? Mom’s today are so very busy! Often moms work full-time, drive kids to and from extracurricular activities, and help with homework, cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Trying to find just a little bit of time for themselves is sometimes difficult. How would a busy mom find the time to go to a Catholic Mothers Group? What are the benefits of joining a group? Come meet inspiring Catholic Moms and find resources and encouragement! Whether you are a mother of small children, teens, or adults, a grandmother, godmother, or spiritual mother, the St. Benedict Mother’s Group welcomes YOU to join our monthly meetings. Come and pray with us. For more information about meetings please email Rema, Rita, or Bernadette at StBenedictMG@CatholicMomsGroup.com St. Benedict’s Catholic Moms Group is part of a network of Catholic Moms Groups in partnership with the Archdiocese of Toronto. You can often find Rema blogging at www.CatholicMomsGroup.com
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RCIAThe RCIA is for any nonbaptized adult (18+) seeking life in the Church through preparation for and celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and eucharist. An adult who has been baptized in another Christian Church and seeks full communion with the Catholic Church also undergoes a time of preparation. The sessions provide suitable catechesis, time for reflection, discernment and fellowship. Their Christian background and experience is respected throughout the process. They do not celebrate the rites with the unbaptized. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults provides appropriate rites for the baptized seeking full communion. People wishing more information may contact the parish to arrange to meet with the pastor and parish representative who will assist them on their journey of faith. Contact: Antoniette Pace
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Salesian Co-operatorsA lay movement of men and women who live the Salesian spirituality in their particular state in life. The vision of Saint John Bosco to extend his ministry, to the young and poor, to the far corners of the earth could not be realized without the help of lay men and women. It is this foresight that inspired into being, in 1876, the Association of Salesian Co-operators. Salesian Co-operators are thus the essential lay component of the Salesian family and live the charism of Saint John Bosco in their own secular reality. Inspired by Don Bosco’s apostolic project to contribute to the “salvation of the young”, they work both explicitly and implicitly for the good of the Church and society, in a manner adapted to their own circumstances and personal possibilities. The Salesian Co-operators of St. Benedict’s welcome any lay Catholic, 18 years of age or older, who desires to discern a vocation to the Salesian family as a Co-operator. We welcome you to contact us for more information on this journey to personal holiness in the spirit of Saint John Bosco. Contact: Joe Conroy - rollingvalleyrestorations@gmail.com
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Salesian Family CommissionThe Salesian Family is made up of various groups that derive their origins and spiritual identity from the life, works and charism of St. John Bosco. In Toronto, the Salesian Family includes the Salesian priests and brothers (SDB), the Salesian sisters (FMA, Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice or, in English, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians), Salesian Cooperators, Devotees of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV), Salesian Lay Missioners (VIDES), Salesian Past Pupils. The goal of the Salesian Family Commission is to strenghten the network of people who belong to the Salesian Family, to encourage them to deepen their faith and to grow in their service to society in the spirit of St. John Bosco. Contact: TBA