Responding to the pastoral need, Most Rev. Claude Hamelin, Bishop of St. Jean – Longueuil, assigned Fr. Michael Nguyen Dinh VINH, CSSp, a Vietnamese and religious priest of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) as full time pastor of our parish. His appointment is effective Oct 1, 2023 and will remain until July 31, 2029.

Blessing of Rivers and Boats

According to the tradition of our parish on the occasion of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24), we have a blessing of rivers and boats. For pastoral reasons, we cannot celebrate on the exact day, so after today's Mass, we will celebrate this rite together on the riverbank behind our church. We hope everyone will attend. 

Message from Fr. Vinh Michael Nguyen

June 29, 2025

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

On June 29, the Church's liturgy invites us to honor the two Apostles Peter and Paul. They are the two pillars of the universal Church of Christ, and according to tradition, the Church has never celebrated one without the other but has always celebrated and expressed gratitude for these two great witnesses of Christ, while also making a solemn confession of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Peter was originally Simon, a Galilean fisherman who lived in Capharnaum, on the shore of Lake Tiberias. Paul was called Saul, an exiled Jew, born in Tarsus in Asia Minor, to parents of high status and Roman citizenship. Their lives were turned upside down when they met Christ, leaving everything behind to follow Him. Peter was arrested and miraculously saved, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” (Acts 12:11).

There was a time when they hated the name of Jesus (Saul) or were afraid to speak (Peter) and testify about that Name, but since they confirmed their faith, both only sacrificed and served for the absolute benefit of knowing Jesus Christ, their Lord. For the rest of their lives, whether convenient or not, they were always ready to proclaim Jesus and the salvation that He brought to humanity through His death on the Cross and glorious resurrection. Although they were two people - two personalities, two different ways of preaching - they both had the same purpose, to preach about Christ and His love and salvation.

On the feast of the two Apostles, Peter and Paul, we recognize the miraculous providence that God has bestowed upon them. At the same time, from their lives, vocations and missions, we learn from them valuable lessons in our journey of discipleship and mission: That is, to recognize our place in the heart of the Church, the universal mission of salvation that God wants to bestow upon humanity through us so that we are always ready to carry out specific duties that Jesus wants so that His name may shine.

Lord Jesus, we thank You for giving the Church two wonderful examples, Saints Peter and Paul. Through their lives, please help us to build unity in the Church, together, through sympathy and respect, while carrying out our mission, so that the Gospel may be spread everywhere, in many ways, while still maintaining the purity of faith. Amen.