Dominican School Mission This summer I will be going again to the Dominican Republic in late July to help start a NEW Project for a Church / School building in a different town called — Bani. As participants we are again asked to seek help with the cost of construction, etc. ... Continue

A special service of Confirmation and Reception will be held on Sunday, June 3 at 4:30 p.m. with Bishop George Elliott presiding. We have 11 candidates. We invite you to join as a parish in celebrating this day along with their family and friends. Please keep the candidates in your prayers in ... Continue

On Saturday May 12, 2012 Richmond Hill is hosting Doors Open. St. Mary’s is pleased to participate once again in welcoming the community to our parish, a fixture in Richmond Hill since 1872. Please join us to tour St. Mary’s historic Chapel, designed after St. James’ Cathedral and recently restored faithful to the ... Continue

Resurrection faith amongst a resurrection community Not really a surprise, but as I was reflecting on our experience of Easter I realized how much our resurrection faith is evident at all the various spiritual milestones in our lives. And in particular I remembered that we refer to this essence of who ... Continue

Christians are often referred to as “resurrection people”. We live in the aftermath of the resurrection. Very true. However, our day to day reality, I think, makes us much more the “day-in-between” people. It goes back to the “now and not yet” of the gospel. Yes, Jesus has been raised from ... Continue

To begin with, I will look at the word Maundy itself and what it means and why it is connected to the Thursday in Holy Week, the day before Good Friday. The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word “mandatum” which means rule or commandment. The closest equivalent English word ... Continue

Let Us See Jesus John 12:20-33 More than a few times I have heard someone say, “If only I could meet Jesus face to face!” Sometimes this is said because the person is struggling with faith and feels a personal encounter would help them to believe. Other times, people just long for ... Continue

The Old Testament reading from the prophet Isaiah follows a passage about the mission of God’s servant. That mission was to be a light to all the nations that God’s salvation would reach to the ends of the earth. The passage for this week (Isaiah 49:8-15) talks about how, as ... Continue

Glory to God from generation to generation . . . I appreciate that doxology prayer we say together at the end of the Eucharist. I wonder sometimes, what would happen to our faith if we didn't pass it along from generation to generation. The story of our faith is one that we ... Continue

Great Lent: Journey to Pascha I stumbled upon a book on a friend's bookshelf. It is entitled “Great Lent: Journey to Pascha” and is by a rather well known Orthodox priest and professor, Alexander Schmemann. I'm not sure why the book caught my eye, but I am ever so grateful it ... Continue