Located one hour from the Nation’s Capital in Heritage Perth Ontario,
St. John’s is one of the oldest Roman Catholic parishes in Upper Canada.
The first Mass was held in this historic building on Christmas Eve in 1848,
while our Christian community actually predates the founding of Perth in 1816.
TUESDAYS – 4:30pm
WEDNESDAYS – 9:00am
THURSDAYS – 12:00pm
FRIDAYS – 9:00am
SATURDAYS –5:00pm (with additional Mass at 9:00am on the First Saturday of every month)
SUNDAYS – 9:00am & 11:00am
FRIDAYS – Following the 9am Mass.
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favourably on your servant Leo XIV,
whom you have set at the head of your
Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom
he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted
to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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This Sunday’s readings place before us something both beautiful and uncomfortable: the dignity of our freedom.
Sirach says it plainly: “If you choose, you can keep the commandments.” God sets before us fire and water, life and death. In other words, our lives are not accidents; they are decisions. We are not puppets on divine strings. God respects us too much for that.
In the Gospel, Jesus raises the bar. “You have heard… but I say to you.” It is not enough to avoid murder; we must uproot anger. Not enough to avoid infidelity; we must purify the heart. Not enough to swear great oaths; our simple “yes” and “no” should be trustworthy. Jesus moves us from external compliance to interior transformation.
If we are honest, this is where we feel the weight of it. It is easier to say, “I didn’t break the rule.” It is harder to ask, “What is happening inside my heart?” I can refrain from shouting at someone and still rehearse the argument in my head all evening! Apparently, heaven also has access to our internal monologue.
But this is not about scrupulosity; it is about holiness. St. Paul reminds us that God’s wisdom is not superficial. It is deep, hidden, revealed through the Spirit. Christianity is not behavior modification. It is participation in the very life of God. The Spirit searches “even the depths of God” and He also searches the depths of us, not to condemn, but to heal.
Jesus fulfills the law not by relaxing it, but by completing it in love. The commandment against murder becomes a call to reconciliation. The prohibition of infidelity becomes a call to integrity. The law about oaths becomes a call to transparent truthfulness. The heart is the real altar where obedience is offered.
God has placed before us fire and water. Each day we choose patience or resentment, fidelity or compromise, truth or exaggeration. The good news is this: grace always accompanies the choice. God never commands without empowering.
So today, let us choose life, not just outwardly, but inwardly, and allow Christ to make our hearts as faithful as our words.
Your Priest,
Father Charles Enyinnia
St. John the Baptist Parish accepts e-transfers. Please use the email address stjohnperthdonations@gmail.com and it will be deposited directly into the Parish account. Alternatively, we continue to accept cash, cheque, and donations through direct deposit (please visit the Parish office to register ). Thank you for your continued support!
Grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ through liturgy, Eucharistic worship and outreach, Saint John the Baptist Parish calls the faithful to an active involvement in Parish life and responsible participation in extending Christ-like values to the wider community.
Letter from Archbishop Mulhall on Sacramental Preparation in our Churches (example)
March 7, 2024
Message from His Holiness Pope Francis – World Day of the Sick (example)
Uncategorized
February 9, 2024