Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass at Annunciation of Our Lady Parish, TMR - Montreal - May 24th, 2025

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so please feel free to share with others these homilies and your own personal faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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6th Sunday of Easter

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass

(At beginning of the Mass) Fr. Gerry and I have known each other since 1968, when we were young trouble makers at Loyola College. He is a dear friend and a good priest. He asked me to stand in for him this weekend, and I am glad to be here with you to worship the Lord.

First reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Responsorial: Psalm 67 "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"

Second reading: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

Alleluia. Alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.

Gospel: John 14:23-29

Saturday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Sunday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Homily Note Points

We are still in the "great Easter Sunday" of the Easter Season - Christ is risen, alleluia!

Rx. "Indeed, He is truly risen, alleluia!" Jesus is hour hope.

Acts: Trouble among first Christians, all Jews, when Gentiles became Christians.

Problem: Jesus came from the Father to bring a new way of thinking and living.

Cf. Genesis: friendship between God and first human beings.

Jealousy of demon who wanted to spoil this friendship we had with God.

The temptation was to stop trusting in God.... That first friendship was all about trust in God's love. See the dialogue between the demon and the human... "No, you won't die; you will be like God and know both good and evil." I.e. there's something missing.

That is our human condition: we tend to feel that something is missing, but we look for it everywhere except in God. The Father sent his Son to become human, Jesus, and for him to accept to be mistreated and killed in order to show us that the Father's love is real and we can count on it. What more could He do for us?

Jesus: "Whoever loves me will keep my word."

How do we know that we love someone? See me as young man visiting my parents; while others didn't visit their parents. How can we love someone if we don't care for them?

Loving others requires forgiveness, because we are imperfect. I have asked for forgiveness countless times and have given forgiveness countless times. If I refuse to forgive even one person, the doors of my heart are shut. Once the doors of my heart are shut, nothing can go in, and nothing can go out. Jesus came to unlock the doors.

We cannot forget injuries because our memory remembers. Still, we need to forgive, and to forgive simply means to let it go, to drop it. Every time the memory returns, once again it is an opportunity to forgive, and to ask God to bless the one who hurt me.

This is what makes possible the joy of Easter, the joy which is a foretaste of Heaven. In Heaven our joy will be complete because everyone is forgiven, and everyone forgives everything and everyone.

The Holy Trinity is one God, a very unique Being, whose principle quality is to give themselves. The Father gives Himself to us in Jesus. Jesus gives Himself to us in his Word and in Holy Communion - much as a mother gives her substance to her baby whom she nurses at her breast - so, Jesus gives us his divine substance in Holy Communion with Him in his Body and Blood. The Holy Spirit gives Himself to us constantly, day and night.

The Holy Spirit brought us here today. We are in a church building, but the real church is not the building but the assembly. That is the meaning of the word church - assembly. We are God's assembly everywhere in the world, but our assembly is most visible when we come together in the Holy Spirit. Here Jesus feeds us with his Word and his Body and Blood.

Then, Jesus sends us back out into the world to be his missionary disciples. People ask, "Where is God? If God is good, why does He permit wars, poverty, illness, and death?" God does choose to remain invisible, but He relies on each and every one of us to be his "secret agents" in the world. When we encounter others, listen to them, and chat, we can give witness for the reason of our hope in Jesus. God becomes visible to others every time we give our testimony to his love and mercy.

Christ is risen, alleluia!

Further thoughts from another Sunday....

Good News: God does not judge us according to our circumstances, over which we often have no control, but rather, God looks to our heart, mind, and soul. - MP3 file

The meaning of the Hebrew word "HOSANNAH!" - MP3 FILE (2023 recording - prayer over the gifts, the Preface, an explanation of the word Hosannah, and the Eucharistic Prayer in Special Circumstances.)

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© 2006-2025 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2025 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

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Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and my own know me." - Sunday 17:00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica Parish, Montreal - May 11th, 2025

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3rd Sunday of Easter

Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass

First reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52

Responsorial: Psalm 100 "We are his people: the sheep of his pasture!"

Second reading: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

Alleluia. Alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and my own know me. Alleluia.

Gospel: John 10:27-30

Sunday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Homily Note Points

Christ is risen, alleluia!

Jubilee of Hope: We are all of us "Pilgrims of Hope" - Pope Francis started and Pope Leo XIV is continuing with us on this journey.

May is the month of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.

This 4th Sunday of Easter is called "Good Shepherd Sunday" because of the Gospel. It is World Day of Prayer for Vocations: to the priesthood, to religious life, and to Marriage.

Today is also Mothers' Day in Canada and in many countries of the world. At the very least, our mothers gave us birth and life. A mother is at the heart of a family. The CCCB have given us this coming week as "National Family and Life Week". This is in response to the reality that all is not well with marriages, families, or with the value and dignity of human life.

The Word of God

We live our lives between the joy which God gives and many tears. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see Jesus' disciples filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John, in his Book of Revelation, the Lord shows him "those who have come out of the great ordeal (persecution and the troubles of this life) and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb... the Lamb... will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD. We are safe in his hands.

When we try to carry the world on our shoulders, we suffer loneliness; as if we were sheep without a shepherd. Jesus loves us and as the Good Shepherd, offers to lead us out of danger or through our troubles into green pastures where we can rest; IF ONLY we will trust Him completely and follow Him.

Jesus fills us with the Holy Spirit... who brings peace and joy in the truth of God's love in us. How are we to remain filled with the Holy Spirit, who brings peace and joy in the truth of God's love in us?

1. We must try to give the first place in our lives to God's presence and his love for us.

2. We are to love our neighbour and stop worrying about ourselves, which leaves us free to notice others, go to them, welcome them and care for them.

3. So, we are to trust in God, stop worrying about ourselves, and be free to notice others, go to others, and welcome and care for them.

This is what Pope Francis called "The Joy of the Gospel", which is the joy of encountering others; only to discover in the encounter that God is already present in the other and is pleased to meet with human beings.

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Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "My son, my daughter, do you love me?" Yes, Lord Jesus, I love You." "Care for my sheep." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass at Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal - May 3rd-4th, 2025

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3rd Sunday of Easter

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

First reading: Acts 5:28-32, 40b-41

Responsorial: Psalm 30 "I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up!"

Second reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen, the Lord of all creation; he has shown pity on all people. Alleluia.

Gospel: John 21:1-19

Saturday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Sunday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

After Communion Reflection: It is only human to feel we are not good enough: too short, too tall, too fat, too thin, not pretty enough, not handsome enough, not smart enough, too shy, too awkward... and so on, and so on.... Such dark thoughts may come from within our own weak, wounded humanity, but they can also come from the "enemy of humanity", the rebellious angels, the demons, who don't want us to serve as God's instruments in the world; they are jealous and don't want us to enjoy God's mercy and forgiveness, God's peace and love, or the joy of eternal life with God in Heaven. Jesus invites us to turn our attention away from such dark thoughts and instead to give all our attention to Him and trust in God's love for us. Jesus then sends us out into the world - to our families, at school, at work, and in the world, to notice other people and, whatever is happening with them, to pray for them and ask God to bless them; as Jesus does for each of us. - MP3 file

Exhortation to pray for vocations to the priesthood and final blessing - MP3 file

Homily Note Points

We all face the same challenge as all the people we meet in the Bible, in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament. Every day and in every situation we have a decision to make. Will I give my attention mostly to the things of this world, be impressed by this world, feel afraid and insecure, or will I instead give my attention primarily to God and his Kingdom?

The problem is that this world is tangible: we see and hear it, we feel it, taste it, and smell it; it's pretty hard not to be impressed by everything in this world. God and his Kingdom, on the other hand, are invisible, but that doesn't make them less real. The love of the people who have loved us is real, but we cannot see the actual love; we can only see signs of love.

The religious leaders who had Jesus killed simply could not, or would not, believe that Jesus could be the Messiah, or that He could be the Son of God. That is why they had Him killed. We face the same challenge. So, how can we learn to give our attention to God and his Kingdom? We don't have to go looking for it, because God connects with us from within our own life: in the depths of our thoughts, in the middle of our heart, and at the center of our soul.

As we come and assemble together every Sunday, we practive giving all our attention to God, and we do that every day when we take a moment to pray. We can learn to make room for God in the very midst of our living all day long and all night in all of our experiences of life. The Holy Spirit helps us to learn how to do that, and the more we try, the more familiar we become.

We remember and pray for Pope Francis

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Lord, I love my sin.... Grant me the desire to give it up and prefer to please You. - Friday 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica, Montreal - March 14th, 2025

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WEEKDAY IN LENT

Friday, March 14th at St. Patrick Basilica

The Homily - PDF file

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The universe shouts "God is great!" Yet humanity lives in denial or contempt of God. - Monday 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica, Montreal - February 24th, 2025

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WEEKDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Monday, February 24th at St. Patrick Basilica

The Homily - PDF file

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Funeral Mass for Luisa Laurienzo Cirino - Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. - Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal (Cartierville) QC

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Funeral Mass – 250211

Luisa Laurienzo Cirino

Words of Thanksgiving for Luisa's life - by Savanah Provias, Grand-Daughter

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 by Nicholas Cirino, Grand-Son

Responsorial Psalm 27 by Nicholas Colern, Great Nephew

Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians 4:13–5:1 by Nicolas Provias, Grand-Son

Gospel According to Matthew 25:31-40 (46) and Homily by Fr. Gilles Surprenant - MP3 file

"We Give Them Back to You, O Lord." PDF

Poem-Prayer used by Fr. Bede Jarrett (1881-1934)

Written by William Penn (1644-1718)

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5/5 - Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "Come follow me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of people." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass at Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal - February 8th-9th, 2025

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5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

February 8th-9th, 2025
World Day of Marriage
World Day for the Sick (February 11th)

First reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

Responsorial: Psalm 138 "Before the Angels I sing your praise, O Lord!"

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Alleluia. Alleluia. Come follow me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of people. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

Good News from the these five Sundays: Jesus calls each and every one of us to be "God's secret agents" in the world... manifesting his power to extend his love, mercy, peace, and concord through us into dark places and other people's lives....

Saturday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Sunday audio recording of the Gospel and Homily - MP3 File

Good News: God does not judge us according to our circumstances, over which we often have no control, but rather, God looks to our heart, mind, and soul. - MP3 file

Homily Note Points

Past few weeks - We are God's "Secret Agents"

This Sunday (1) World Marriage Day

(2) World Day of the Sick (February 11th)

Word of God Today:

1. Isaiah - awareness of his sins held Isaiah back from hearing God's call and responding - he needed God's action / grace (God's life force) mediated through the live coal

2. Paul, when he was still Saul, was proud of his accomplishments, his religious discipline and devotion, but his pride made him blind and deaf to what God was doing in Jesus.

To get his attention, Jesus had to knock him down and blind him - he confessed and repented, and the Lord sent Ananias to lay hands on him and restore his sight. Now, Paul was able and eager to respond to Jesus and follow Him.

3. People loved to listen to Jesus but were not ready to commit to following Him - Jesus had to get their attention, beginning with the fishermen, in a way that fishermen would understand. Seeing the miraculous catch of fish, they were now ready to leave their work and follow Jesus.

So also with us.... God calls us all to be his secret agents in the world so He can use our strengths and talents but also our weaknesses to shine the power of his love, mercy, and pece through us to others. Jesus wants to set everyone free to hear and to reply to God's call.

Marriages living 50 / 50 = 25% couples

Jesus calls couples to be 100 / 100 = 100% couples

The sick and wounded may also be held back unless them embrace their suffering with Jesus and make it their personal spiritual sacrifice to God; as Jesus did.

Alternatively, Jesus wants to heal those who He calls to be his witnesses.

The divine life of the Most Holy Trinity is poured into us beginning at Baptism.

All human beings are children of God, but most do not realize or understand this.

In Baptism, God the Father adopts us and brings us into communion with the Most Holy Trinity, and as we accept to grow in faith, we enter more fully into this communion.

Confession / the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a 2nd Baptism, renewing us in this spiritual adoption and restoring our lost innocence again. Each time we confess to Jesus before the priest, we take responsibility for our life and for our sins, opening the gate of our heart to receive God's forgiveness, mercy, and love; freeing us to hear and respond to Jesus.

At Confirmation, we were filled with the Holy Spirit, the personal life force of God. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus' words, helps us to understand, and strengthens us to follow Him.

When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we receive a transfusion of the divine life force of love of the Most Holy Trinity. Following Jesus, we become more like Him.

Jubilee 2025 - This special year is an invitation and an opportunity for RENEWAL in intimacy and communion with God, with the Most Holy Trinity, renewing our enthusiasm and courage to live with God, for God, and as children of the Father.

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Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass at Annunciation of Our Lady Parish, TMR - Montreal - May 24th, 2025

6th Sunday of Easter

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass

Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and my own know me." - Sunday 17:00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica Parish, Montreal - May 11th, 2025

3rd Sunday of Easter

Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "My son, my daughter, do you love me?" Yes, Lord Jesus, I love You." "Care for my sheep." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass at Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal - May 3rd-4th, 2025

3rd Sunday of Easter

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

Lord, I love my sin.... Grant me the desire to give it up and prefer to please You. - Friday 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica, Montreal - March 14th, 2025

The universe shouts "God is great!" Yet humanity lives in denial or contempt of God. - Monday 12:10 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Basilica, Montreal - February 24th, 2025

Funeral Mass for Luisa Laurienzo Cirino - Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. - Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal (Cartierville) QC

5/5 - Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "Come follow me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of people." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass at Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish, Montreal - February 8th-9th, 2025

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

February 8th-9th, 2025
World Day of Marriage
World Day for the Sick (February 11th)

Jubilee 2025 - We are God's "secret agents". - "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him." - Saturday 17:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass at Annunciation of Our Lady Parish, TMR - Montreal - May 24th, 2025

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Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass

Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

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Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass

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