Please keep praying for the sick, infirm and hospitalized of our parish, and for those who care for them; and for all deceased members of our Parish Family.

We are all called by God to follow the Gospel in unique ways— whether in married life, single life, or through a deeper commitment as priests or in consecrated life. Our parish is dedicated to supporting these journeys by establishing a Vocations Ministry. In the coming months, we’ll share initiatives to raise awareness and encourage discernment.

Journey Through Lent

Jesus’ temptations reveal that none of us is insulated from being tempted by the devil. This reality should prepare us to be watchful so that we are not deceived by the evil one. Satan is a liar, a master of deceit and ambiguity (1 Peter 5:8). We often see the devil depicted in portraits and images as a terrifying and ugly creature. Obviously, that in itself is a deception. The word lucifer (lux = light and fere = bearer; light bearer) is the Latin translation of the Hebrew phrase “helel ben shachar,” which literally means “shining one, son of the dawn.” (Isaiah 14:12.). Hence, the devil could not be a terrifying creature to attract anyone. The devil comes in the deceptive form of something beautiful, a friend, and a comfortable environment. In the temptation of Jesus, we identify the primary areas of the devil’s temptations: 1) turn stone to bread satisfying bodily passion and selfishness, 2) to bow to the devilthe worshiping of false gods, 3) fall from the pinnacle – taking a shortcut to glory. The devil still tempts us in those areas of pride, power, and pleasure today. The devil can only offer half-truths, which is not truth. It can only provide fake comfort, which is not comfort. The devil gives with a spoon and collects with a shovel. The gift of the evil one only leads to shame, disgrace, and misery. The good news is that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:31-39). The battle against the devil begins from our interior selves, where we discern the empty promises of the deceiver and the clear instructions of Jesus, our commander. As we begin this Lenten journey, we pray that God will grant us the grace to embrace the wilderness, a place of quietude where we listen to ourselves and God. Even when we have fallen short, we are encouraged by the words of St. Paul: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). – Fr. Theo

Announcement from the Archdiocese

On May 15th, 2025, our Archdiocese will gather to hear what God has done, what God is doing, and where God is leading us. Will you be there? Mingle with others from Ottawa-Cornwall, hear live testimonies from people who encountered God, and be present for the official launch of our new Archdiocesan vision, presented by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse. Whether you are new to the Catholic Church or have been here your whole life, we want you with us. Come be empowered with the mission. Hosted at the Infinity Convention Centre, doors open at 6:00 PM for a cocktail hour, followed by the main programming from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Appetizers will be served. Tickets are $65 and on sale now. Visit ottawacornwall.ca to purchase your tickets today.

Knights of Columbus Irish Stew

Knights of Columbus 755-St. Paddy’s Day Irish Stew. Monday, March 17, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Downstairs Hall-205 Amelia St.) $13/person. Take outs available.

Call 613-932-7600 for tickets.

Daughters of Isabella’s Chinese Supper

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA’S CHINESE SUPPER – March 29th at 5 PM

The Daughters of Isabella, circle #1359 Notre-Dame-des-Saints-Martyrs, invite you to their Chinese supper in the parish hall of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Lisieux. $20.00 per person. Doors open at 4:00 PM.

Take-out meals will be available and can be picked up after 6:00 PM.

Please reserve your meal before March 21st by calling Dianne Johnson at (613) 360-0824

Envision: Theology of the Body

Are your children asking tough questions about love and life? Are they internalizing the voices and opinions that the world offers them about who they are and what they are made for?

Envision: Theology of the Body for Middle School seeks to respond to the questions that young people have in an authentic and relevant way. Rooted in the concepts of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, Envision cuts through the noise of the culture and offers young people a new way to look at their lives and the unique plan that God has for them. Our evening sessions are for parents, grandparents or anyone interested in knowing the words and the attitudes to inspire your middle schooler and teens to discover their identity, dignity, and purpose as a man or woman made in the image and likeness of God.

Join us for Envision: Theology of the Body for Middle School, at our parish, St. Peter’s, Thursday evening at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:15 PM, continuing for eight sessions total. For 8 weeks, skipping over March Break and Holy Week. For more information or to register for the study, call Debbie Primeau at 613-662-4770 or email debprimeau31@gmail.com You can also learn more about the program at AscensionPress.com/Envision.

Dates of Thursday evening parish sessions: March 20, March 27, April 3, April 10, April 24.

Eight sessions of 75 minutes duration for parents and grandparents or anyone interested in Theology of the Body.