The family that prays together
stays together
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Dear Brother/Sister,
Though we had originally planned to hold our Lenten Retreat in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone our retreat from March to July 2020, hoping that, by that time, the health and safety situations in Ontario will have gone back to what we used to experience prior to the pandemic. But the present situation – only about two weeks before the “proposed” retreat in July – is not safe enough for a gathering of our normal Lenten Retreat Attendees.
Therefore, in consultation with our Archdiocese, it was decided to cancel this year's Lenten Retreat.
A special message to those who have purchased tickets for the retreat
We offer you two options:
(1) We request that, if you agree, you please consider the price of your ticket as a donation to the FPM. In that case, we will give you a tax-deductible donation receipt for that amount.
OR
(2) We are willing to refund the price of the ticket(s)
In either case: Please write on the ticket(s) either DONATION or REFUND as you like, and also your complete mailing address. Then return those tickets to the same person from whom you had bought the ticket(s). Your Donation Receipts or Refund will be given to you through the same person before the end of July. Meanwhile, please continue to pray for an end to the pandemic and a safe return to normal life for all.
God bless.
Shiju Thomas
President - Family Prayer Mission
647 284 2430
WELCOME TO FAMILY PRAYER MISSION
Our objective is to help families to achieve sanctity and stability, by following the motto: The Family That Prays Together Stays Together. In other words, families must practise family prayer and grow as God-centred families. Hence our name “Family Prayer Mission.”
Message from the President
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
During these unusual times, we face a multitude of imbalances in our lifestyle, health and finances. It is discouraging to view the state of the world, as suffering continues to increase with no end in sight. This is a period of true suffering, where our needs are highlighted. Yes, remaining healthy and financially stable are both incredibly important, but as our Church experiences have been severely modified, it proves easy to continue to neglect our faith.
At the start of our quarantining period, while watching the Sunday mass with my wife and children, my son introduced to me a young priest by the name of Fr. Michael Schmitz, one popular amongst young adults. Starting the celebration, Fr. Michael shared a message of hope and gentle reminder, that this is no time to loosen our reigns on our faith. He quoted St. Padre Pio saying, “The earth could exist more easily without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass”. This is true, as the celebration of the holy sacrifice of the altar had not ceased, although it may have felt as such. Our priests continued to celebrate the mass every day, offering us, who were unable to receive Jesus physically, at the foot of the cross daily.
“Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)
Hope has not disappointed us, as our parishes have begun to open up again. While we return to our regular way of life, we must not forget our time in the desert like the Israelites of old, but rather continue to move forward with a prayer of thanksgiving in our hearts.
Brothers and sisters, continue to keep your faith close to your hearts in hope. As for our faithful priests, as they serve us and pray for us fervently, the least we can do is to pray for them. Reach out to your parish priest and thank them for their silent fight.
Shiju Thomas
President,
Family Prayer Mission
Risen Lord Jesus, you love priests with all your priestly heart. Hear our heartfelt prayer for all our priests. We pray for faithful and fervent priests, for unfaithful and tepid priests, for priests who labour home and abroad, for tempted priests, for lonely and desolate priests, for young and old priests, for sick and dying priests, and for the souls of priests in purgatory.
Merciful Jesus, remember all your priests. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love. We ask that, in their loneliness, you comfort them; in their sorrow, you strengthen them; in their frustrations, you show them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified. Eternal high priest, keep them close to your heart, and bless them abundantly, in time and in eternity. Amen.
Daily Mass
Parish Action
ABOUT FPM
The Family Prayer Mission is a lay apostolate, founded in 1989 and registered with the Archdiocese of Toronto
Education Support
Program
The FPM education support program provides financial assistance to children from underprivileged families in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Parish Action is a new non-partisan initiative from the Archdiocese of Toronto that will empower parishioners to work with political leaders to make Canada an even better place.
Divine Retreat Center Toronto
With great thanksgiving, Family Prayer Mission is pleased to announce the establishment of a Vincentian Divine Retreat Centre, Toronto.
