As we continue in the radiant season of Easter, our community is invited deeper into worship, learning, and fellowship. This week offers opportunities to gather around Christ’s gift of Holy Communion through an Easter book study, share in community at a movie night, and look ahead to meals and events that nurture both body and spirit.
At the same time, the Church’s calendar draws our attention outward—to the care of creation. Following Earth Day on April 22, we are reminded of our baptismal promise to “respect, sustain, and renew the life of the earth.” This commitment finds a natural expression in the ancient observance of Rogation Days, traditionally held in the days leading up to Ascension. Once centered on prayers for crops and harvests, these days now also call us to reflect on environmental stewardship and our shared responsibility for God’s creation.
A fitting prayer for this season asks that God would “give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas,” while shaping in us hearts of gratitude and care. In a world facing ecological strain, these prayers feel especially urgent and relevant.
Alongside these seasonal themes, we remember the lives of faithful witnesses whose stories continue to inspire. This week, the Church commemorates Catherine of Siena, a remarkable spiritual teacher whose life of prayer, sacrifice, and courage left a lasting mark on the Church. We also honour Marie de l’Incarnation, an educator and missionary whose work helped shape early Christian education in Canada.
The week continues with the celebration of Feast of Saints Philip and James, reminding us of the quiet yet faithful witness of the apostles, and the commemoration of Athanasius of Alexandria, a steadfast defender of the faith whose voice helped shape the Church’s understanding of Christ.
Together, these rhythms of season and saints draw us into a fuller life of faith—one that celebrates resurrection joy, embraces responsibility for creation, and learns from those who have gone before us.
In the joy of the risen Christ, may we continue to grow in faith, care for the world entrusted to us, and follow the example of the saints with courage and hope.