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Serving the NDG community since 1916

110th Anniversary

Holy week Masses will be as follows:-

Holy Thursday April 2nd 5:30PM
Good Friday April 3rd 1:00 PM
Holy Saturday April 4th 5:30 PM
Easter Sunday April 5th 9:30 AM

Pope Leo XIV’s message for Lent this year

In his message for Lent this year, published on Friday, February 13, from Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV recommends to all the faithful two things: First of all, “Listening”, and secondly, “Fasting”. These two attitudes, says the Holy Father, will help us to place God at the centre of our lives.

First of all, “Listening”. This is something obvious, because God speaks, and therefore we must listen. God gives us a gift: His word. When somebody gives you a present what do you do? You receive it. “There is a link between the gift of the Word, and the reception you offer it, and the transformation that it brings about in you”, says the Pope.

In the Bible, God reveals Himself as a God who listens. God said to Moses, “I have seen the misery of my people, and I have heard their cry”, (Exodus 3:7). God’s listening to the cry of the oppressed was the beginning of the story of liberation that we call the history of salvation. “Like God, we must also listen especially to the cries which rise from suffering and injustice, so that they do not go unanswered,” says the Pope. We must listen to the Word of God, we must also listen to our brothers and sisters, and the manner in which we listen will surely bring about some transformation somewhere: that is the first attitude that the Pope wants from us.

The second fundamental thing needed for our inner conversion, according to the Pope, is “Fasting”. The Pope reminds us that fasting is “a very ancient and irreplaceable ascetic practice.” Jesus fasted. The desert Fathers fasted. Saints fasted. Why can’t we fast? “Fasting turns us towards God and broadens our heart to do good”, says the Pope.

We have to fast from food, but we can also fast from “words that offend and wound our neighbour”, says the Pope. The Pope invites us to “disarm our language,” that is, no more “cutting words, hasty judgments, slander, and calumny.” For this the Pope encourages us to cultivate kindness: “We must learn to measure our words”, says Pope Leo. Also, some things are better left unsaid. To do this, the Pope says, “Cultivate kindness: in your family, among your friends, in the workplace, among colleagues, in the media, including social media, in political debates, and in Christian communities, cultivate kindness”

The Pope continues, “Fasting purifies our desires, frees us of our attachments…”. Fr. Grimm explains this to us, “During Lent we give up various things: kids give up sweets, adults give up alcohol, others give up social media, and so on. When I fast, I realize certain truths. First of all, that my life has depended on things that are not actually essential. After all, I am not dying of my Lenten practice. I can live without. Secondly, by voluntarily experiencing a need, I understand a bit of what my poor brothers and sisters must experience every day. I feel communion with the rest of the world. Third, I turn a profit: I’ve some money to spare, and especially, I turn a profit of time. Time spent on what I’ve given up is now available to explore new things. That liberty fortifies my faith. And I can pray in gratitude, in awe, in hope.” (1)

The Pope concludes by saying: Let us contribute to the building of the “civilization of love”. This can very well be our own Lenten resolution this year: a civilization of love. Amen.

(1) Gospel reflection with Father William Grimm, UCAN (Union of Catholic Asian News), Ash Wednesday.

110th Anniversary

Please support St. Augustine this year on its 110th anniversary. Events are planned for the fall. More info to come in the coming months.

Welcome to St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish

A Roman Catholic community situated in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace (NDG) neighborhood of Montreal, Canada.

Mass, Holy Week, Rosary and Services Schedule

Mass Schedule including Lent

Sunday: 9:30 am.

Thursday: 9:00 am.

Friday: 9:00 am.

Holy week Masses will be as follows:-Holy Thursday April 2nd 5:30 PM, Good Friday April 3rd 1:00 PM, Holy Saturday April 4th 5:30 PM, Easter Sunday April 5th 9:30 AM.

Rosary on Wednesdays at 6pm

Every Wednesday at 6pm outside the church

Rain or shine, we pray for our neighborhood, our city, our country, and for any intentions you may have.

Other Worship

Confession: Before Mass

Every Tuesday evening at 6.00 pm adoration and novena to St. Antony of Padua.

Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office.

Catechism

On Sundays after Mass, from October to May. More Details

Registration for catechism - Classes for the children start in October.

Please contact the Parish Office to inquire about registering your child.

Altar Server Schedule

Who Was St. Augustine of Canterbury

In the year 596, on the Isle of Thanet, just off the coast of Kent in southern England, a strange procession made its way from the small church on the island to where the King of Kent sat under an oak tree, afraid that these strange messengers might be magicians to do him harm. The priest who approached him – dressed in the ceremonial vestments of a priest, with acolytes carrying a silver cross and a deacon holding high an icon of Christ the Lord – was St. Augustine of Canterbury, a monk of St. Andrews on the Coelian Hill in Rome.

Accompanied by thirty monks, Augustine had come at the express command of Pope Gregory the Great to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Britain and to restore the ancient Roman discipline to the island, based on the provincial structure of Roman Britain.

He had been ordered to set up his see in London, but the headquarters of the King of Kent was Canterbury, and so Canterbury became the primatial see of England and remains so to this day. Within the year, Augustine had converted the King of Kent, whose wife was a Christian princess from Gaul, and very painfully and slowly began the work of restoring Christianity to Britain. There were bishops present already, successors to the Celtic bishops of Roman Britain, but the Anglo-Saxons were their hated enemies who had conquered their country and driven them from their homes and cities. Augustine's task was beset with discouragement and almost insurmountable obstacles and he lasted less than ten years in his difficult mission.

Soon after his arrival, Augustine went to Arles in France, the prefectural headquarters to be consecrated bishop and came back and consecrated bishops for London and Rochester, capitals of two kingdoms closely allied with Kent. He died in 605 and was buried in the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury.

Donations

Tuesday Evening Program

6 pm - Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

7 pm - Bilingual mass with anointing of the sick every first Tuesday of the month.

Location:-Notre Dame de Grace Church, 5333 Avenue Notre Dame de Grace, Montreal, QC, H4A 1K2, Canada

St. Antony of Padua

There is a devotion to Saint Antony of Padua each Tuesday evening at 6:00 at Saint Augustine of Canterbury Parish. The picture of Saint Antony is used for our St. Antony of Padua devotion on Tuesdays.

A statue of Saint Antony has a prominent place in the choir in the Notre Dame de Grace Church.

Who was St. Antony of Padua?

Antony was born 15 August 1195 and raised by a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in Padua, Italy 13 June 1231. Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history, being canonized less than a year after his death.

He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII on 16 January 1946.

The feast of Saint Antony of Padua is celebrated on June 13 th , and he is honored as a powerful exorcist, as one who drives away evil spirits in Jesus’ name. He is also considered the patron saint of lost articles. Because of that he is known as St. Antony of inner peace. Tradition has it that for thirteen Tuesdays leading to his feast, along with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, his ‘novena’ prayer is recited by the faithful.

Saint Antony is often depicted holding the Child Jesus, a portrayal inspired by an account of a friar who reportedly saw Antony in deep prayer, conversing with the Christ Child. Sacred Scripture is also frequently featured in art as a symbol of his profound knowledge of Scripture. Lilies, signifying his poverty and chastity, are present in many depictions.

Although Saint Antony lived just thirty-five years, God used him in powerful ways. His life bears testament to the idea that the quality of life supersedes its length. Let us strive to imbue our lives with a quality that will far surpass mere longevity.

Prayer to St. Antony of Padua

Blessed Antony, gentle and powerful saint, your love for God and your charity toward his creatures, have made you worthy, while on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Comforted in my faith, I implore you to obtain for me the favors I now ask of you (…pause…) (…mention your intentions…).

Saint Antony, perfect imitator of Christ, you who have received from God special powers, to come to the aid of those who implore you, restore to us the peace and the tranquility of mind, which we are deprived of, and which afflicts us even more, than any other material loss. May we always remain in possession of the greatest good, which is God. May we never suffer, the loss of the greatest treasure we possess: God’s presence in our lives.

We make this prayer, turning to Christ the Lord, whom you bore in your hands, and who lives and reigns with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. – Amen.

- Our Father.

- Hail Mary.

- Glory be to the Father

About

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish is a Roman Catholic community situated in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace (NDG) neighbourhood of Montreal, Canada. We currently worship in the church of Notre-Dame-de-Grace, home to an active French-speaking community.

We are only two blocks south down Decarie Boulevard from the Villa Maria Metro. Please join us for Mass on Sunday, Thursday and Friday mornings to pray and sing (with our wonderful choir on Sundays).

All are welcome.

For sacramental preparation and for Mass intentions, please contact the Parish Office.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless you!

Catholic Life

Christian life

SACRAMENTS

For special stages in a human being's life, there is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ himself, to help us.

Baptism - takes away original sin and makes us children of God

Confirmation - gives an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens us

Eucharist - is the very sacrifice of Jesus' body and blood. In this sacrament we receive, not bread, but Jesus Christ himself

Confession – reconciles us with God after we have sinned, and strengthens us

Marriage – establishes the union of a man and a woman for life, for the spouses' sanctification, and for the generation and education of children

Holy Orders – enables a man to act in the name of Christ, to preach, to celebrate the sacraments, and to be a shepherd (performed by the bishop)

Anointing of the Sick – gives comfort, peace, courage, and the forgiveness of sins

Parish Committees and Ministries

PASTOR

Father Tibu Fernandez

PARISH WARDENS

Michael Long
Patrick Beirouti
John Donovan
John Mac Dougall
Mary Barrett
Edgar Guntermann

PARISH GROUPS

Julie Arsenault (Pastoral Council)
Fr Tibu Fernandez (Liturgy and Baptismal Committee)
Patrick Beirouti (Children's Catechism)
Suzanne Kunicki (Lectors and Family Life Development)
Nicole-Ann Menezes (Altar Servers and Website Admin)
Olivier Hebert-Bouchard (Choir Master)
Gail Goodfellow (Social Justice)
James Bouchard (Responsible Pastoral Ministry)

PARISH MUSIC MINISTRY

Choir master - Olivier Hebert-Bouchard

The choir supports Sunday Masses as well as feast days and special occasions. It is often cited as a feature of St. Augustine that draws people to the Parish.