Mother Teresa's spirituality: the focus of Lenten Formation at Holy Rosary Parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto. *New* Live Record features Fr. Peter Turrone w/ invitation to prayer for GTA visitors.

Dr. Peter Kahn extends a St. Pio tweet for the Rosary Hour Podcast to encourage prayer of the Rosary. Reminder to Canadians from Dr. Blythe Kaufman: Children's Rosary Informational Meeting is 03/16.

ETERNAL WISDOM


“The Church, then, is not a human society, a mere grouping of men in a collective life; it is the most august of realities. It is a body animated by a living soul — the Spirit of God.”

~ ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN


THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST NEWSLETTER [2nd edition]1


13 MARCH 2023: PARISH SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

  • HOLY ROSARY CHURCH


Today’s Parish Spotlight returns to the Archdiocese of Toronto, shepherded since Jan. 30, 2007 by Cardinal Thomas Collins until March 25, 2023.

  • The above microvideo [CLICK HERE] features Holy Rosary Parish (at the heart of midtown, west of Yonge near Spadina Ave.)

  • We invite readers to peruse the map below to find Holy Rosary’s coordinates @ “St. Clair West Station” (accessible via the University Line, the St. Clair street car, and/or the Yonge Line).


QUICK NOTES ABOUT HOLY ROSARY CHURCH: from 1882-2023


  • Founded in the late Victorian era by Fr. Lawrence Brennan, C.S.B. who purchased the property & fifty acres of land “with 320 feet frontage on St. Clair Ave. West”

  • Holy Rosary Church was erected on farmland in 1882.

  • The Church is located a pleasant walking distance from the historical Casa Loma & district, due North of the Baldwin steps.

  • This area boasts of a famous lookout point above Davenport where many Torontonians walk the steps toward Casa Loma as part of their morning exercise routine. Tourists pitstop to photograph the castle & CN Tower2 at the lookout (about a 10-minute brisk hike to Holy Rosary Parish).

  • On 9.4.2001, The Holy Father, St. John Paul II, paternally imparted his “Apostolic Blessing to the Parishioners of Holy Rosary Church”.

  • In August 2021, Holy Rosary Parish received a new pastor, Reverend Father Peter Turrone, formerly the esteemed Director & Pastor of the Newman Center, spiritual home to students in the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus.

    • Upcoming ChildrensRosary.org Q & A features Fr. Peter who Amelia interviews about his ministry in the Gobi Desert, his past life as a scientist, and his favorite food.


FORMATION SPOTLIGHT - HOLY ROSARY PARISH (MARCH 2023)


  • Father Peter’s Formation Team chose for its 2023 Lenten focus the spirituality of Mother Teresa of Calcutta with corresponding events starting March 15.

  • Those participating in this programme read I Thirst: 40 days with Mother Teresa — a book of meditations, adapted from Fr. Langford’s retreats.

  • The devotional is described as “a unique and faithful window into the soul of this great saint, and into the secret which made her the saint she became”.

  • It explores God’s thirst for us and for our love and is published by the Augustine Institute and divided into seven main sections:

  1. The Dynamics of Thirst

  2. Prayer as Thirst

  3. Our Lady's Example in Meeting God's Thirst

  4. Thirst in the Service of God

  5. Sharing in the Thirst of Christ

  6. Jesus as the Incarnation of God's Thirst

  7. Satiated Thirst

“I Thirst provides an opportunity to spend a few minutes every day with Mother Teresa and the thirst of our Lord. It provides an opportunity to grow in intimacy, and to meet the thirst of God with our own thirst for him.”


JOIN HOLY ROSARY PARISH COMMUNITY WHEN VISITING the CITY:


It is not always obvious where one might locate a place for daily worship in the heart of Toronto’s metropolis of 10 million+ inhabitants.

As a newcomer visiting Toronto from out-of-town, or travelling through midtown from another neighbourhood — there are many ways to be part of this vibrant Catholic community located at the heart of this cosmopolitan Canadian pitstop. Whether you are flying/driving/biking into the GTA for a Spring Holiday / Easter weekend, you are very welcome to unite in prayer.

Please review the Schedule of Events below to discover a unique community & quiet place to pray the Rosary every day.


INVITATION FROM THE HOLY ROSARY PARISH FORMATION TEAM:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS — MARCH 2023


We would like to invite you to the following Holy Rosary Parish events for March:

Every Friday in Lent

  • 6:20 p.m. - Stations of the Cross   

  • 7:00 p.m. - Mass + Weekly spiritual reflection on the Eucharist will follow after the Mass 

March 15 (Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Holy Rosary Church (in-person only)

  • Lenten Talk on Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s life and spirituality Spiritual reflection with the Missionaries of Charity (MC) Sisters, followed by Benediction. 

March 21 (Tuesday) 7:00 p.m. Evening for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

  • We begin with a scriptural reading and examination of conscience, followed by an opportunity for individual confessions.

  • This is in addition to our regular daily confessions offered before each Mass.

  • Please note, all Catholics are required to go to confession at least once per year. 

March 22 (Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Holy Rosary Parish Hall  (in-person only)

  • ”I Thirst” Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Lenten Devotional (Group Discussion) 

March 25  (Saturday) Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord 

  • 8:30 a.m. – Holy Rosary 

  • 9:00 a.m. – Solemn Mass, followed by Holy Hour 

    • During this time, we will be praying in a special way for our new Archbishop, His Grace, Frank Leo, who begins his new ministry on that day. 

March 29  (Wednesday) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Holy Rosary Parish Gym

Movie screening of “No Greater Love”  a film about the life of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

** Please mark your calendar & join Holy Rosary Parish for these Lenten events.

  • MEET THE PASTOR: FR. PETER TURRONE visited the Digital Café with a special invitation to all GTA & visitors:


LINK TO PARISH BULLETIN:


RHP SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES FROM THE PARISH SPOTLIGHT VIDEO:


MONDAY-FRIDAY:

  • 11:30 AM - Rosary

  • 12:10 PM - Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Confession 30 minutes prior)

  • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (following the Holy Mass)

  • Special Talks on Friday Evenings at Holy Rosary Parish: all are welcome:

    • If you live in Southern Ontario, and are making the trip via Go Train / Go Bus to Toronto join in prayer.

      • Come for Mass + Formation Talks w/ Spiritual Conference led by Fr. Peter Turrone (until March 31):

        • 6:30 PM - Rosary & Confession

        • 7 PM - Holy Sacrifice of the Mass w/ Benediction

        • Spiritual Conference Talk

          • MARCH TOPIC: The Holy Eucharist

SATURDAY: Rosary & Mass for the Intention of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in reparation for all sins committed against her Immaculate Heart3

  • Rosary at 8:30 AM4

  • Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 9 AM in honour of Our Lady

    • On First Saturdays, since Feb. 2022, Fr. Peter Turrone continues to encourage visitors to partake in all of the requirements of First Saturday Devotion with added 9:30 AM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & invitation to all in attendance to reflect for 15 minutes on the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary as requested by Our Lady of Fátima.

  • 4 PM - Holy Hour of Adoration

  • 4:30 PM - Confession

  • 5 PM - Vigil Mass

SUNDAY (SOLEMNITY)

  • 6AM - Doors Open to Holy Rosary Church

    • Fr. Peter exposes the Blessed Sacrament until 7:45 AM

  • 7:30 AM - Confession + 9:30 / 11:30 confession before Mass

  • 8 AM (NO MUSIC), 10 AM, 12 NOON - HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

    • Fellowship: First Sunday of the Month

      • Coffee, Treats, Activities, Presentation in the Parish Hall

        • All are welcome after the 12 PM mass


SUMMARY: Holy Rosary Church offers a meaningful spiritual retreat for souls juxtaposed against the backdrop of world-class city:

  • publicly-led prayers of the Holy Rosary, Confession prior to every Holy Mass, Benediction 7-days-a-week, Reparative Prayer to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart every single Saturday morning starting at 8:30 AM


COMING SOON: THE DECADE ROSARY


At midnight on March 25th, 2023, the Rosary: A Mini Series releases a *NEW* step-by-step video modelling “How to Pray the Holy Rosary”.

SEE: https://www.youtube.com/@travessadasenrahousepress

  • The “Decade Rosary” Toolkit & video will live on our Podcast “School of Our Lady” YouTube Learning Channels created for children & adults re/discovering the Rosary.

  • This Live Record was captured on the anniversary of the 8th Apparition of Our Lady of Banneaux] & led by Fr. Peter Turrone & the Holy Hour Live Broadcast Rosary Leader for Children’s Rosary on RadioMaria.US, Amelia5.

  • Learn w/ this video how to:

    • set an intention

    • contemplate a Mystery

    • recite prayers of the Holy Rosary

    • Comments: Dr. Blythe Kaufman


WHAT IS THE ROSARY?




FOOTNOTES ON PRAYING THE ROSARY


by Guest Author: Dr. Peter Kahn6

Lent is a good time for extending our prayers.

Padre Pio prayed the Rosary whenever he had spare time. Rather than take a long siesta like his brother friars, he used most of that time to pray the Rosary, often seated on a veranda in the friary. He could be seen passing a set of rosary beads through his fingers when going from one place to another. As a result, Padre Pio prayed many sets of mysteries of the Rosary each day.

Why not find further time in the day when you are regularly able to pray the Rosary, for instance, when walking, commuting or moving around the house? Why not keep a Rosary in your pocket for this purpose?

Padre Pio once said that Our Lady never refused him a grace through the recitation of the Rosary.

Now that would be something wonderful to have your prayer requests all granted for this season of Lent!

~ Dr. Peter Kahn returns as Guest Author for the Rosary Hour Podcast7.


First Children's Rosary Informational Session for Canada


An invitation from Dr. Blythe Kaufman

  • We are excited to announce we have a Children's Rosary informational meeting scheduled via Zoom for Canada at 8:00 p.m., Eastern time, March 16, 2023. We hope any existing Children's Rosary group leaders from Canada can attend and anyone interested in finding out more about the Children's Rosary prayer group movement.

  • Blythe Kaufman, founder of the Children's Rosary and Mary Ann Swain, Director of Parish and School Outreach, will be in attendance.

  • The ZOOM link for the meeting is provided below.

Topic: Children's Rosary Informational Meeting for Canada
Time: Mar 16, 2023 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89503400170?pwd=RUs5bnZaUWx0S3UrNGFQNE5xaUZwUT09

Meeting ID: 895 0340 0170
Passcode: 110005


POST FOOTNOTES

1

Reviewed by: IN / BK / KR / TB / CP / AG

2

A famous tourist pitstop in Toronto, Ontario, frequented by Hop-on / Hop-off tourism buses. Locals to this area enjoy walking the Baldwin steps toward the lush green spaces surrounding the castle & south of Holy Rosary Church — especially the grounds of the gardens at the Spadina Museum (from an Annishnaabemowin word ishpadina (“highland” or “ridge”).

3

We invite all members of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and in Southern Ontario to come out to 354 St. Clair Ave. West every Saturday & First Saturdays for the Rosary at 8:30 AM & reparative mass at 9AM. Doors open at 8:00 AM. Join in prayer to support this reparative offering to the Blessed Mother & visit to console her Immaculate Heart.

4

NOTE: On First Saturdays, Fr. Peter places the First Class relics of St. Jacinta / St. Francisco Marto from Fátima, Portugal before the altar. Rosary leader leads Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

  • These relics were gifted to Holy Rosary Parish in January 2022. We invite you to share with others the First Saturday Devotion by bookmarking the Livestream link for April 2, 2023 here:

5

Fr. Chris Alar recently posted a video about Our Lady of Banneaux here:

6

Peter is writing a Marian book. He is an author for CTS Publishers on family life, a Catholic academic, married with seven sons & a home educator.

7

Peter developed the above tweet for today’s newsletter. We'd like to thank him for his contributions to our team posts.

If you are a pastor / published writer / freelance journalist / author / scholar (or independent scholar) we welcome you to send us your submissions for future consideration to travessadasenra AT protonmail.com.

The Rosary Hour Podcast Newsletter | Porto, Portugal
The Rosary Hour Podcast Newsletter | Porto, Portugal
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The Rosary Hour Podcast