1) Alpha Day Away 2nd 34 guests and 25 team members. It was a day of great blessing for the persons present and our parish of CC
2) Father Salvino travelled with the Senior Youth Core team to Westminster Abbey Saturday 2nd of March
March 16th
3) Here at CC Alpha continues to be blessed by the Lord
We are coming close the end of Alpha #4 and it is almost disappointing!
This is the main Evangelization pump for our 10 Year Vision and it is seeing the identifying and raising up of leaders in the parish.
Today - Saturday - 41 Parishes and 168 people from the Archdiocese of Vancouver gathered here in the Corpus Christi Gym (because we have the space) to work with His Grace in furthering the “next steps” for a Vision for our Archdiocese
It was a very good day. I was sitting with a great bunch of people from various parishes and we had some excellent, open and fruitful sharing.
We need to pray for the fruitfulness of this bold adventure that His Grace is willing to engage in and take us on.
March 16th
This evening the Junior Youth of CC gathered - there was about 35-40 youth (I didn’t count exact number). Keep in mind - most of these youth are on Spring Break and YET they came out to Junior Youth Night. Shout out to Julia K who gave well prepared, thoughtful and engaging talk on God is Greater than …. our highs and lows! Shout out to all JY CYCC leaders who organize and oversee the event.
1) This evening (Feb 20th) Faith Studies concluded. Our 10 Year Vision is working.
Everyone has gone through Alpha and now Faith Studies - Discovery!
Some will be going into RCIA when the time is right.
We have ended what I call the “treadmill” of enter RCIA in September and your Baptized at the Easter Vigil
Here at Corpus Christi we begin the journey with you in Alpha and then Faith Studies and then RCIA
What happens? Community is formed! Knowledge at an appropriate level is imparted and this deepens over time.
I am so grateful to Thomas and the facilitators here for being Engaged Disciples and journeying with people to meet Christ and grow in the Catholic Faith
2) The Lord continues to bless this parish and the 10 Year Vision we have — through Alpha
Last night’s topic: Why and How Do I Pray?
When I returned at the end of the evening’s session no one was moving away from their tables.
Everyone was still in discussion; people are hungry for God and we want to serve up and open the way for them to encounter the Lord!
This is what the vehicle of Alpha does.
May God - through the intercession of Bl Don Alvaro - keep blessing this 10 Year Vision through the evangelization pump of Alpha
Lord - bring us more of your people to serve so they can learn the joy of serving you and one another!
Fr Hamilton
3) This week Corpus Christi is having our Parish Mission.
Fr Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy is here.
Our theme this year: "The Most Holy Eucharist: Gift and Sacrament”
Many people braved the chilly to cold and wet/snowy weather to be with Jesus and Fr Wade.
Pray for many blessings for parishioners who attend Mass and who do not. Pray for our 10 Year Vision
Fr Hamilton
Notes:
1) 10 Year Vision Continues to work
Last we had After Mass Socials - following the 9am & 11am Masses.
We also have the AM Socials following the Mass in Cantonese - they celebrated Fr Salvino’s birthday (which was last week).
God continues to bless this Vision here @ CC. Let us pray that we continue responding to God’s graces and push forward for that “different outcome” that brings about changes in people’s hearts. Our Core Values is how we do this:
Multiplying Leaders
Engaged Disciples
Evangelical Hospitality
Rooted in Tradition
2) This past weekend our Junior Youth gathered for their monthly Youth event.
50 - yes, 50! - young people showed up Gr 7’s through 10. This is amazing.
More fruit of the 10 Year Vision
Jacob gave his first talk/testimony to the Youth. Well done Jacob!
Shout out to the whole Junior Core Team and the Coordinators Miguel and Isabelle
Youth investing in youth!
3) The 10 Year Vision continues to bear fruit.
This past weekend our RCIA candidates had a retreat here at Corpus Christi.
When I met up with them they are taking a teaching “tour” through our parish church. Fr Salvino and Nathan were explaining the stain glass window in the baptismal area.
This year - God willing - we will have 11 to 13 adults baptized … and on a separate occasion about 15 children in total.
These candidates have gone through Alpha and then Faith Studies. They are much better prepared for RCIA.
Continue praying for them as they prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation
1) Alpha #4.2
Who is Jesus?
It was another great evening with a full hall and guest talking about Who is Jesus?
It might seem obvious to someone reading this but it is NOT obvious to a lot of people.
We have a lot of work to do - to listen and fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus to “go forth and proclaim the Good New”
This is what Alpha does - welcomes (the person), opens (the heart) and hopefully the person can meet Jesus Christ (the mind - you cannot love what you do not know)!
Pray for the supernatural fruitfulness of this Alpha
2) Our Mass socials are continuing with much fruitfulness - after the 9am Mass and then after the 11am Mass
Today, after the 11am Mass we had a celebration of Fr Salvino’s birthday - his 33rd!
It was great to see so many people present, the Youth of our parish and many young families with their children
So many blessings with this 10 Year Vision: Evangelical Hospitality and Engaged Disciples
3) This week – from Tuesday through Friday – we have 40 Hours of Adoration in the Parish.
1) Connie and David Robinson coordinate Marriage Mentorship in this Parish. This program is a supplement to the Marriage Preparation Course that every couple is required to take from the Archdiocese.
MM – allows couples to select a mentor couple and then they go through a series of lessons that are very much “on the ground and in the home” as they meet their mentor couple in the home.
David and Connie are also present for each couple’s marriage – it is a witness to their investment in marriage in the couple and frankly in helping the priests. It is truly appreciated. EH, ML
2) Last Saturday evening (Corpus Christi’s) Youth Junior/Senior teams were “visioning”
It was amazing to see; they have taken the parish’s 10 Year Vision and made their own vision which is aligned with the 10 Year.
They were in small groups discussing how the Youth Ministry could live the Vision. It was … amazing and so heartening.
The Vision works when you pray and when you are faithful. God WANTS this to be fruitful; God doesn’t want to stop blessing us here @ CC so we need to keep opening our hearts, our minds and our very bodies to doing what he wants us to do
There is no end, there is no depth and there is no height - there is only God and all the good things that he desires for us
Shout out to Fr Salvino, Lois, Neil, Miguel, Isabel and every young person that was there!!!!
3) Hey everyone
CC was able to launch Alpha #4 and it is off to a good to great start
A lot of prayer
A lot of prayer
A lot of prayer
A great bunch of people leading/serving
Good preparation
A lot of prayer
58 guests tonight
Keep praying for the supernatural fruits of this Alpha
The team is excited and many people mentioned to me (upon leaving) that they really enjoyed the time
Keep praying
Do you get the sense that prayer is just a little important
1) Youth gathered this Saturday evening. The event was called:
Dream Big
Its purpose was to build up fellowship amongst youth and with youth leaders so that they will be less intimidating to them!
2) God’s snow delayed Alpha from beginning – so there is a reason for this happening! Alpha will begin this Wednesday. We have 53 guests and some new Table Hosts that the Alpha Team is very excited about.
3)1) After Mass Social – these continue to not only be sustained but grow. Why? Because they in a sense “flow form the Vision we have in the parish.”
1) Fr Salvino and I are now both in the confessional on Saturday’s at 345. The reason is simple – the lineups were long and not every one was getting the opportunity to go to confession before the 5pm Mass.
I have been here for 13 years and this is the 1st time that this has had to happen AND it is s GOOD to GREAT thing. It is very much Rooted in Tradition as reception of the Sacrament of Penance or Confession is on the great signs of parish renewal!
Yes – I’ll say that again: Confession is one of THE signs of a parish renewal. Why – Confession is a desire for personal renewal, for conversion for a desire (even if not understood 100%) for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit and the Father!
2) Vision Casting! This past Saturday the Senior Leadership Team had a Vision Casting. What you may ask is a Vision Casting?
A VC is a gathering of all Ministry Leaders (and in our case) accompanied by 1 other member of each ministry – in order to explain the 10 Year Vision that we have here @ CC.
The total # in attendance was 53 parishioners. It was very encouraging to have leaders present to hear the Vision – that picture of a preferred future that is possible – and the 4 Core Values (how we are going to attain to the Vision).
There was a lot of excitement in the parish hall; good questions were asked; we have received some good feedback.
We have received so many blessings here @ CC and I know – I know it in my heart of hearts – that God is FAR FROM DONE with us.
If we stay the course, keep the faith, resolve and strive to be faithful, struggle everyday and do not stop going forward and placing our trust in Him then the blessing Will continue. This is not from me – its all there in the Sacred Scripture. So get a biblical world view by reading the Bible every day a little bit at a time. It is so amazing how faithful God is!
So much has been done these past two year and there is so, so much more to do for Christ and his people (YOU).
Let us pray for each other as we continue to the journey – there is no greater one that this. You Master – YOU and only YOU have the words of eternal life!
Here we are on the 1st Friday of January – 1st month of the New Year 2024!
I want to take time on this Podcast to review some – and I emphasize SOME of the blessings that we have received in 2023.
St Paul says: 1 Thess 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Here are some of the blessings that this parish has received through the 10 Year Vision:
-All the people who said Yes to Alpha and all who were touched by the Holy Spirit and changed their lives moving forward.
- The Youth specifically the Blessings of going to Portugal WYD and seeing the fruitfulness of it when they came back (bigger youth groups) and how they made their faith stronger.
- The silent warriors of CC...the people who quietly pray for our priests, staff, leaders and volunteers.
The renewed sense of community fostered by the AMS.
Liturgies enhanced by beautiful music! Choirs are investing a lot of time to sing beautiful hymns and parts of the Mass. We are so blessed to have the 3 English Choirs and our Cantonese Choir headed by Vincent.
A strong Youth ministry: Our CCYM was so blessed that it needed to divide into Junior YM and Senior YM. There is now a Junior Youth Core Team and a Senior Youth Core Team. Each oversees the activates of their respective groups.
New leaders like Michelle, Mellysa and Mary
Winnie and Irene – joined our Corpus Christi Staff; they are living out the 10 Year Vision and 4 Core Values.
We are so blessed to have been able to acquire the services of Alex – who is our part time: Maintenance Facility Coordinator. He is truly on top of all aspects of these facilities we have.
It is all about people – you the parishioners of CC. We have these buildings (a beautiful school, parish centre and daycare) but without people – with you – they buildings are (to be blunt) useless and without meaning. With people using them God is truly glorified through our 10 Year Vision
It is possible but only with a lot of prayer, sacrifice and a Vision that give people a picture of a desired future – that is possible. It needs to be bold but not unattainable!
Here we are on St John the Apostle’s Day
Be with God in prayer, be with family and friends! Enjoy this day as one of rest and re-creation. Perhaps read a book or watch a really good movie!
1) After Midnight Mass and after Christmas morning Masses there was hot chocolate served. A shout out to Annie and all of her helpers for this Evangelical Hospitality.
2) Fr and I spent many hours hearing confessions – doing our best to “be there” as Christ’s representatives and bestow his merciful love that not only forgives sins but also heals and helps us, encourages us to “begin again.” God’s grace in the sacrament is a continuous reminder that God loves us, that his love is greater than any sin, it is greater than any shame we might feel. God says “up, forward and begin again – I will help you.”
3) The Church as our mother has many feasts during this Octave of Christmas: today, St Stephen, tomorrow St John the apostles, Thursday The Holy Innocents, Friday St Thomas Becket. Really try to attend a weekday Mass.
As you have heard - the 10 Year Vision is driving a lot of initiatives in this parish of ours. Whether it is the younger or older members of the parish there are people striving to implement the 10 Year Vision by way of the 4 Core Values of EH, ED, ML and RT. I
Well – that is it for this week. A lot is happening. We have a Vision and God is blessing it. This Vision is for you!
1) The Youth Ministry had an Advent Jr & Sr night. It involved four parts: 1) eating (yes, always!); 2) Lectio on Luke ch 16; 3) Praise and Worship; 4) Wrapping a member of their table up in some figure or person – crazy … yes, but they had fun!; 5) making Christmas Cards for the Seniors.
About 50 kids were present ranging from Gr 7 though to University. It was amazing! Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun!
2) Sunday After Mass Social – going the extra mile and doing some new thing during Advent. They are very well attended and yet still more parishioners can benefit from dropping by and being with family and meeting others. Shout out to Mary, Melisa and their team
These past 3 Sunday – as an Advent feature - they have had a special areas for crafts for the children. It has been a big hit.
Saturday the CWL of this parish sponsored an Advent ½ day of recollection.
1) Seniors Ministry is rising! We had a wonderful lunch on Thursday. Seniors gathered to give thanks for the many blessings that God has given to us. They also heard that all future actives will be guided by and must be aligned to the 10 Year Vision of the Parish.
The luncheon was a real example of Evangelical Hospitality with the hope of making Engaged Disciples and Multiplying Leaders.
We are here in the world not to be served to but serve - just like Jesus himself.
Looking forward to the many great things the Seniors of Corpus Christi will do
2) Jr and Sr Core Team Advent Dinner
The Core teams for both Jr and Sr Youth Minsitry gathered for an Advent Dinner
It was simple - very good and very nice
Eating (always) and then Fr Raff read Ch 10 of St Luke’s Gospel and everyone gave a “lectio” of something they heard in that chapter
It was really amazing how they are growing - much more so that I and their age.
Fruit of the 10 Year Vision: Multiplying Leaders and becoming Engaged Disciples.
A great Advent
3) We (Corpus Christi) just finished an Advent Mission with Dr John Bergsma. To get us ready for the coming of the Messiah and Christmas day he taught us:
#1"Advent and the Dead Sea Scrolls”
#2 "The Genesis of Jesus”
#3 "John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls”
#4 "The Blessed Mother and the Dead Sea Scrolls”
We are so grateful that Dr Bergsma made the time to be here. Everyone who attended has been filled with a lot of excellent material to launch further into Advent to prepared for Jesus.
When you hear the Genealogy again — will it ever be the same?
This Mission was a living out of these Core Values
Evangelical Hospitality - in the team that prepared refreshment, sold Dr Bergsma’s books, took up the collection
Rooted in Tradition - diving into Scripture and the Jewish roots of the Messiah
A truly uplifting time!
Yes – youth of our parish are praying the Rosary every Wednesday night. This has been going on for a good while but I wanted to highlight this as a wonderful thing.
2) Emergency Preparedness in this Parish. Annie, Serafina, Arthur, Aldo.
Very soon - the Emergency Management Plan (EMP) will be implemented in our parish.
Parishioners and visitors should NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR HELP when feeling sick, injured or having a medical emergency - even if it distracts from the Mass.
Starting on December 16/17, you will start to notice the location of Medical Responders identified by pew markers in the center aisle during Mass.
So please if you are feeling unwell, it is okay to ask for help. Corpus Christi Parishioners do care and we want to help when the need arises!
3) Promotion of Alpha and Faith Studies – Alpha Thanksgiving Dinner (not the title): Invite a guest, sign up for Faith Studies Level 1
We had 24 pp signup for Faith Studies at the wrap up, 7 for Alpha
People are receiving grace from the Holy Spirit through Alpha. It is a wonderful instrument!
1) This past week I attended the newly formed Senior Youth Ministry Night. I have mentioned before that the Youth Ministry has seen amazing growth. The fruits of the 10 Year Vision is such that Youth Ministry had to be split between Junior Youth Ministry (Grades 7-10) and the now newly formed Senior Youth Ministry (Grades 11,12 and University students).
There was about 30 Senior Youth present. It was a great evening of community. We watched a Fr Mike Schmitz video and then had a discussion.
2) Members of the Chinese community offered to cook and serve Dim Sum for the After Mass Socials. They wanted to direct all proceeds to relief of our debt.
This was a great example of being engaged disciples and also of evangelical hospitality. The lunch was very good (yes, I had some!). A should out to Tina and her team for doing this great work of charity for the parish community.
3) Alpha # 3 here @ CC is now completed. This was a time of great blessing for Corpus Christi and for the guests who attended. I know I’ve said this before but since it happens again I have to say it again: Alpha is a real blessing from God!
I went to every Alpha gathering (at least at the beginning and the end) and I saw how people kept coming back. I saw how – especially at the end – people were praying at their tables; I saw how people seemed to not want to leave.
I can only pray that many people from Alpha # 3 will feel called by God to go into Faith Studies Level # 1 and then RCIA
Alpha is our primary Leadership pipeline so it is important at we all pray for the continued fruitfulness of Alpha in our parish.
I’m already looking forward to Alpha #4 in January! :)
1) Last Thursday the Junior Youth Core Team met for its monthly dinner and planning session. This is a great opportunity to build and strengthen the team but also to prepare for the monthly open Youth Event (Grades 7-10 in the parish) that takes place the week after.
My highlight – to zero in on one thing – is that I noticed Lois was not present that evening and to this observation of mine Isabelle (on the Youth Core Team Leaders) said “I and Miguel have a little Loise in our head telling us everything we need to do.”
And I thought – after a mutual chuckle – THAT’S IT! THAT/THIS IS Multiplying Leaders. WOW!
This was just great. I conveyed this to Lois and it was a proud moment for her.
The VISION works everyone! When you – when I – follow the VISION it works and God blesses it!
2) Saturday evening (the following week) the Junior Youth gathered in the Parish Center for their monthly meeting and there was a solid number of youth present – perhaps around 35-40. Youth are inviting their friends – and they are welcome to. This is what Youth will do if they are enjoying what they are doing.
Again the Vision does work when you pray, plan and keep on track. The Vision works when you align all activates to the Core Values: ED, EH, ML, RT
3) The 3rd thing that occurred is the Seminar for Wills & Estates. Fr and I have strongly promoted this and it has paid off. The 1pm Seminar has 53 people present. This is very good!
We had 39 people at the 7pm session. Total of 92 people!
The information that people will hear today will help them be better prepared for the future and even for today.
In our 10 Year Vision it is stated that: “We see a generous faith community that supports all initiatives both spiritually and financially.”
Well – this is an initiative that is for You the parishioner: it is for your loved ones and whatever charities you desires to benefit from your financial stewardship (and yes, maybe one of those is Corpus Christi).
1) Every Thursday night the parish is running an RCIA program for individuals who have taken Alpha and then Level 1 Faith Studies CCO. They now feel called by God to take RCIA and become Catholic
We have a committed Coordinator in Neila and now her husband Andy (doing the ‘back-end’ work of tracking and connecting people) and two great teachers in Nathan and Arleen with Fr Raff helping out.
This is so important in bringing about a different outcome of people getting on the RCIA treadmill in Sept and being baptized @ the Easter Vigil. This does not happen anymore @ CC. We are now entering into a type of agreement to accompany the person to the point that they are ready - this could be 12 months, 15 or 18 months.
It is a new approach and bearing fruit. We have 10 candidates in the Discipleship Pathway now – in RCIA
2) I have just written my first “From the Pastor’s Desk” for the Corpus Christi School Newsletter. This writing is meant to share the blessings of the 10 Year Vision with the parents of our school community.
3) The third and last thing that I will mention you could argue is not a direct result or fruit of the 10 Year Vision – and you are correct BUT I want to highlight “YOU” the parishioners who have given to Project Advance. This annual appeal has raised $111,215.00 This is really astounding and I’m very grateful for everyone’s generosity.
We will contribute the Archdiocesan portion of the Campaign and the everything is returned to CC.
I am trying to organize and update to our Adoration Chapel as this is such a blessing to this parish. After the updates everything that PA raises will be directed to mortgage relief.
Thank you to those who have given and I want to encourage everyone to prayerfully consider what you can contribute to our local PA Campaign.
This podcast is also meant for anyone in church-land who desires to see growth in their church or personal life.
1) Due to a very generous donor the Archdiocese now has a limited amount of Funds available for Parish Enhancement. We applied last week for $10,000 for the purposes of funding our main Evangelization Pipeline – Alpha – and received approval for our request on the same day. The monies will be coming to us very soon.
I want to first of all thank His Grace for approving this request. I want to give a huge shout-out to The Alpha Team of Michelle, Deborah, Margie and Peter (and the big team that they have assembled with the help of the Holy Spirit) to help bring our Alpha’s to EH, ED and ML.
2) The Alpha Day Away was a blessing from the Holy Spriit . There were 44 guests and 30 team members present. This is the heart of our evangelization efforts so it important to pray for the fruitfulness of Alpha! Thank you everyone in the Alpha Team for making this day one filled with God’s blessings!
3) The Senior’s Ministry is getting off to a great beginning! They had 24 members at their first meeting and have since had a membership drive. The numbers are climbing to around 50 members. This is a great sign for the seniors and the parish as a whole. Become Engaged Disciples, work towards Evangelical Hospitality; be consciously about Multiplying Leaders and be Rooted in Tradition. Let us pray for this newly constituted Seniors Ministry!
The Ushers’ ministry falls under Evangelical Hospitality – “Corpus Christi parishioners aim to be generous and evangelical in service and hospitality, providing everyone with opportunities to belong to the parish family”.
Ushers have an important role in this – we went over the fact that Ushers should project a positive and welcoming image for the parish.
To achieve this goal, ushers should:
Arrive 20 minutes before each mass
Greet the parishioners and visitors warmly as they come inside the church (greeters will be greeting them at the entrance)
Dress code is Sunday best.
One point not specifically addressed in the guidelines but was discussed at the meeting was people standing at the back (or anywhere in the church). Ushers should seat the parishioners as best we can. No one should be standing during mass, especially standing at the back and near the exits as they present safety hazards.
2) A brief recap of the “ask” from this past Sunday’s sermon were I dealt with Multiplying Leaders: We can all be thankful that Jesus multiplied leaders, St Paul multiplied leaders and we must now multiply leaders: Identify, raise up and invest in leaders.
So, I ask you to do the following:
1) Prayerfully consider what your gifts and talents are
2) Offer your gifts and talents to the Lord and this parish
How?
Write an email to me or Fr Salvino and we will forward it to our SLT, so that we can try to prayerfully discern how your gifts can be aligned with the Vision.
Thank you for listening
If you see the 10 Year Vision being lived out then let me know so I can put it into the podcast.
If you see where could be lived out and is not then let me know so I can speak to the Leadership Team and we can discern how to include that in our Vision.
Try to attend Mass on November 1st - the Solemnity of All Saints (to consider these brothers and sisters of ours should encourage us to persevere in our discipleship.
And then attend Mass on November 2nd – All Souls. We need to pray for these holy souls as they are being purified of the dross of sin. By reflecting on them we should be encouraged to do penance, go to confession often and not waste time! Remember purgatory is a waste of time!
Remember Martin Luther King? Why was his famous speech near the Washington Memorial so captivating, so compelling? It was not because he had a Committee or Plan BUT a DREAM, a Vision of a better America.
We have a Vision of a God the Father-blessed, Jesus Centred, Holy Spirit inspired that is going to take us to real growth in our personal life and our life as a community.
1) Last Thursday our Senior Youth Ministry had its first event. 40 Young Adults were present from Grades 11, 12 and University .Remember that Youth Ministry has branched to Junior Youth and Senior Youth Ministry- and some of the Senior Youth have committed themselves to overseeing Junior Youth Ministry!
2) Saturday night the Junior Youth Ministry Core Team gathered for its monthly ‘get-together’, dinner and team building. This is so important for these young people (and their leaders too!). It helps the leaders grow together as a team of brothers and sisters in the Lord (by their sharing), it helps them grow as disciples and leaders.
Keep praying for the supernatural growth of our CCYM
4) We had the Rite of Investiture ceremony for the grade 7 students of our parish who are preparing for Confirmation --- and their parents were present. They made promises to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation and I exhorted and strongly encourage the parents to follow through and their commitment to bring them to church and to help them practice their faith to prepare for this great sacrament.