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A new phase of our journey...
As Vanessa prepares to go on maternity leave, please join us in welcoming our new Interim Program Director, John-Paul. Below they both share their thoughts on the year ahead...
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Recovering respect for those in politics
Should we consider all politicians to be untrustworthy? Should we be cynical of politics as a whole? At the October 23rd Theology on Tap East at the Bear Pub in Pickering, Bishop McGrattan tackled these and other misconceptions in his address about the importance of voting preceding the October 27th municipal election.
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Serving God in Guyana
Ashley is a young adult volunteer lay missionary with Scarboro Missions. Community Health Center had the privilege to meet Ashley while she was in formation here in Paris this summer. We thought some of you may like to hear about Ashley’s experience thus far on mission. She writes:
Zebras with their black and white stripes all have a distinct unique pattern about themselves, sort of like a fingerprint that sets them apart from the others. When a baby zebra is born, it walks around the mother several times to imprint the pattern of stripes into its mind so that when the herd starts to move, the baby zebra will be able to recognize its mother. Therefore, the longer the baby spends with the mother, the easier it will be to recognize her in different circumstances.
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Sexuality is a Gift
On September 22, Community Health Center’ Theology on Tap hosted Dr. Moira McQueen from the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and Denis Costello from Catholic Family Services of Paris as they jointly explored the Church’s teaching on pornography.
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God's Time
With food and beautiful weather, young adults and religious alike enjoyed the casual backyard BBQ atmosphere of Mix and Mingle, an opportunity for young adults to chat with members of various orders about the order’s work and their charism.
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Living Joy
"I have never felt so blessed" shared one of our young adult pilgrims after he had received a departure blessing from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Paris at their home at 2 O'Connor. The second weekend in August, Community Health Center and the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada organized a pilgrimage to London, Ontario for young adults (18-39 years). Within the theme of “Living Joy”, the 22 participants experienced the history, charism, spirituality and ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Ontario.
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Authentic Freedom
Dr. Josephine Lombardi spoke eloquently about sexuality and Theology of the Body established by Saint John Paul II at Theology on Tap East on June 25. She shared with us many different ways in our lives that lead to authentic freedom which is truly knowing God. This is what Christ wants for us all. God wants us to be perfect in our wholeness as we are all created in God's image and likeness. God wants us to be the best version of ourselves.
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Celebrating Summer
I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of summer. I’m one of those crazy people who typically prefer cooler weather; humidity and I just don’t mix. I would take spring or fall over summer almost any day. However, after the intensity of the winter, I am relishing the warmth of the sun, and the simplicity of being outside without fives extra layers of clothes. I didn’t realize just how grateful I was for this until Community Health Center' "Celebrating Summer" Hike and Prayer at Edwards Gardens on July 5.
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Thoughts on our Networking Evening
One of the best parts about moving to Paris from a small town was the sheer number different things I could do on any given day. There were so many things to choose from that it was overwhelming. Young adult ministry events were no different. I was invited to volunteer at Community Health Center within weeks of arriving, but as I got settled I began learning about other groups that were also doing young adult ministry. Community Health Center' Young Adult Ministry Networking Evening, hosted on June 4, was a refreshing reminder of just how much is going on.
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Radical Gratitude
There is one line from Community Health Center’ Theology on Tap on May 26 that keeps coming back to me: “I am enough, just as I am.” Mary Jo Leddy reminded us of this, saying that we need to remember this in the face of increasingly materialistic society, which tempts us to always desire more: a bigger car, a nicer house, a better paying job. She has noticed that so often this materialism leads us to equate both our happiness and self-worth with the things we have. Therefore, unless we have the latest and greatest, we cannot be happy and we aren’t worth anything. According to Mary Jo, when we practice radical gratitude, we can begin to accept that we are enough, just as we are right now, and that our self-worth is not tied to what we have.