Sunday Liturgy
Saturday: 5:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am
Mission Statement
We are a welcoming Christian community called to embrace and respect the uniqueness of each individual as we join together in our faith and worship. Our ongoing mission is to engage our youth, promote renewal, out reach, evangelization and ecumenical cooperation.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Monday, March 2nd – 9:00 am Venerable Pope Pius XII
Tuesday, March 3rd – 9:00 am Don Stafford
Wednesday, March 4th – 9:00 am Abbey Duguay (Anniv)
Thursday, March 5th – 9:00 am James Orland Lyons (Anniv)
Friday, March 6th – 9:00 am Fr. Brian Hansen
Saturday, March 7th – 5:00 pm Gordon/Ada Conway
Sunday, March 8th – 11:00 am Frank Haggarty
Weekly Reflections (Homily) from Msgr. Sheehan (February 27, 2026)
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
It is very strange, dear friends, that the Church on this Sunday – the second Sunday of Lent, offers us the Gospel of the Transfiguration…
A gospel of radiance, transformation, uplift, breakthrough… not themes that we associate with Lent… and penance, and self-denial, and suffering…
But that’s what the Church does… it’s the readings of breakthrough, anticipated and glimpse of glory… brightness… another side… of unexpectation something other…
We sometimes do that with each other… parents especially… when families go through times of setback, reversal… mothers and fathers say – “We’ve got to give these children a glimpse of better days… that there is always another side, another moment”… “We must show them, let them experience there is in the end – victory… overcoming… breakthrough in glory…”
That’s what the Church is doing… early in this penitential season of Lent… and it focuses on that breakthrough in the very person of Jesus…
The disciples… his followers… and his three closest disciples had to see another side of Jesus… a breakthrough making them see who he really was… another side…
I wonder if any of you ever had a similar experience as this… to have known only “one side” of a person. I mean, to have known very well someone, perhaps even a family member, as a family member, a father, a brother, a sister, or a son or daughter… and then on another occasion for the first time to see them in their place of profession or work.
For example, my old college room-mate. I knew him for years, as my college chum – we lived together for four years – we spent a lot of time together, we used to talk a lot, did a lot of things together, we were both movie buffs, we double-dated now and then, travelled together, etc. … then went our separate ways.
Now in recent years we’ve picked up our friendship again… He is a successful lawyer, married with a wonderful wife and four beautiful children… and if I call at his office or his home… every now and then I’m taken aback by his work, by the way he deals with his calls, and his business, -- by his relationship with his wife and children – and I say to myself – “There is a whole side of him that I don’t know… and perhaps a whole side of him that they don’t know, his his associates and family.”
This is readily seen on the occasion of similar situations when for the first time a son or daughter visits their father at their place of work – or is she is a working mother, at her place of work… For example a doctor… what if the son was hidden during an operation… what would his son’s thoughts be! e.g. My father in court, etc.
It works both ways – what would be the thoughts of those who work with us if they saw us with our families… at table, relaxing with them, talking to them, etc. … hidden and private sides of our lives…
That is what our Gospel is about to-day, my dear friends. A hidden and private side of our Lord coming out. And we know that as often happens with us… that hidden and private side – is the truer picture.
In the transfiguration, the true meaning of Jesus, the Christ, was for a moment a least glimpsed by his associates. They saw Jesus in an altogether new and glorious way – they saw for a moment the true significance of his life.
They knew him publicly, with the crowds, with the other disciples – they saw him preaching, debating with the Pharisees – they saw him with some friends – but now they saw him alone except for Peter, James, and John…
Moses and Elijah are present with Jesus: in this extraordinary moment on the mountain – they speak with Jesus about his impending “departure”, his final Passover in Jerusalem. And something happens at that moment – Jesus is transfigured… or as the text says: “The appearance of his face suddenly became different…” He was transformed… as Moses on the Mount Sinai – when his face was “glorified.”
(Exodus 34, 29)
Elijah – the great prophet is present – Moses the law giver is present –
Peter – the spokesman – wants to capture the moment – the mountain experience – the peak experience.
“Let us build three dwellings” a reminder of the great days of our people – when we journeyed as Nomads and lived in tents… and recapture that golden moment.
Peter knew what he was talking about even though he was afraid… he had seen a glimpse of the glory of God… and the glory of Jesus and he didn’t want to lose it – it was a side of Jesus he never wanted to lose… He wanted to capture it forever!!!
“Let us stay here… let’s not go back down the mountain to the tiring crowds, and the other disciples, and the daily journeying… let’s stay here forever…”
Then the voice – comes from heaven – “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased – listen to Him.” And when that was spoken – Moses was gone, Elijah was gone… and they saw only Jesus… Jesus alone.
The law, the prophets – disappear – and the son remains – the chosen – the servant… who leads them silently back down the mountain to the daily life of journeying… and walking having shared an experience – and a side of Jesus they would never forget.
As Peter would later write about the experience. “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty… we heard the voice of God the Father… “This is my son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We heard ourselves this voice from heaven… while we were with Him on the holy mountain… and we confirm it…”
(2 Peter 1, 16-18)
But more importantly is what is its significance for us… to carry us… to carry us through to sustain us in our journey through Lent… through life!
Like for Peter – these moments are given to us… to carry us on… to let ourselves see in the transformation of our lives… “glimpses of glory” – little rays of God’s glory – in us… in people, in moments (peak moments)… where we see something of God…
Peter reflects on all of this… in this way… “You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1, 19)
How much the Church is like a mother… gives us… strengthen us on our journey… gives us a breakthrough of glory to sustain us… to not let us give up, or get discouraged… reminding us – letting us see the “glory” of the Lord… a lamp shining in a dark place… until the day dawns – and the morning star rises in our hearts… Beautiful!
Amen.