Our Spiritan Congregation was founded on Pentecost Sunday 1703 and throughout our history we have tried to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our ministry. Join the Spiritans in prayer as we prepare for Pentecost. Here is our 2026 Pentecost NOVENA prepared by our Generalate team in Rome. 

PENTECOST REFLECTION by Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick

When I was in high school there were two founts of knowledge — the teacher and the textbook. What they taught we learned. I recall a reflection entitled Teaching — Old and New: “How long ago, it seems, the days / When to profess was to possess — / When a teacher’s might was in her being right.” That was then. Today when I glance into high school classrooms I see most of the students in small groups working together, with the teacher as overseer. Individual research has greatly increased due to the prevalence of the computer and its encyclopedic possibilities. The teacher and the textbook are no longer the only founts of knowledge. That is now. Do people see the teaching church stuck in “then”? Life moves on and it remains self-assured, giving the impression it already has the answer to whatever issue may arise, a never changing anchor in an ever-changing world. The Pentecost story tells us: “each one heard the disciples speaking in the native language of each.” The message spoke directly to them. Is that true now? It would appear not. In our Food for Thought section we’re told that one reason why people don’t go to church is: “It (church) isn’t relevant to our lives. It’s too remote and emotionally disconnected.” Oblate Fr Ron Rolheiser, a widely read Catholic writer, is convinced that the greatest need of today’s church is a vocabulary of faith, a vocabulary for today’s people and their experiences, “We don’t have the words” he says. The result? We bore. Good teachers are good communicators: they speak the language of their hearers. Bad teachers have one thing in common — they don’t connect, they don’t communicate— they are b-o-r-i-n-g. They may know it all, but they fail to get it across. Jesus recommended that we bring out from the storeroom what is new as well as what is old. The Church has a past to preserve, but also a present to influence and a future to create. It was interesting to hear Pope Benedict XVI’s successor as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Levada, say recently “the living tradition is much larger than the simple and strict passing on of existing answers, insights and convictions from one generation to another.” And he added, “If we would give more attention to social issues during our liturgies more people might show up because they would feel that these celebrations would concern their lives, would offer them something more.” Like Oliver Twist they request, “Please, may I have some more.” In another Food for Thought, Marist Fr Sean Fagan writes: “In today’s world the Church needs to teach, which means explaining and convincing, rather than simply declaring what we are obliged to think and to hold. Aristotle’s dictum is still valid, that no teaching takes place until someone has actually been taught.” We have all experienced the classroom way of learning: texts, lectures, discussions and exams. Others among us have learned by becoming apprentices — today’s co-op learning. There is a third way of learning — the way of discipleship, the way Jesus chose to educate. He invited men and women to follow him, spend time with him, hang around with him, pick up his way of doing things, see how he related to others, pick up his values. They became his “disciples” through ongoing contact with him. A disciple never graduates, but remains a lifelong learner, getting the hang of things as time goes by. In this Pentecost/May issue of Spiritan we meet such disciples. Like Mary, they are lifelong learners. They try to meet people where they are — the only possible place they can encounter them. They face the challenge of becoming missionaries to themselves in their international groupings. They invite others to interpret the presence of God in their own situations and through their own cultures. They themselves begin to find the Christ of other cultures, the Risen Christ, in other cultures. Teaching — Old and New continued: “In our time / To profess is no longer to possess / To teach now is to learn, going from attempt to attempt / Trying to remember the old hard truth / And to dig it up, good as new, with dirty hands.” Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick, CSSp - “Spiritan,” Vol. 31, # 2 - May 2007

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May Jesus and Mary be in your souls.

I am writing to you in anticipation of the month particularly dedicated to the Blessed Mother, the month of May. The origin of this dedication dates back many centuries. Historians point to the hymns of 13th-century Alfonso X “the Wise,” King of Castile and León, followed by the writings of 14th-century Dominican, Blessed Henry Suso, as being the seeds of the devotion to Our Lady in this month. 

In the 16th century, the Benedictine Wolfgang Seidl published a volume on the devotions and teachings connected to May. At roughly the same time in Rome, St. Philip Neri was teaching the youth to honor Our Lady with songs, flowers, praises, and acts of virtue and mortification. However, it wasn’t until the Baroque period—the end of the 17th century in Italy and Germany—when we see this month develop significantly with the establishment of confraternities and devotions, including the singing of litanies and crowning statues with roses.

In the modern sense, the recognized initiator of the Marian Month per se, in terms of its formalization with daily prayers and practices, is the 18th-century Jesuit Fr. Annibale Dionisi in Rome. He was followed by other inspired pastors of souls, such as Archbishop G. M. Saporiti of Genoa and the Jesuit Fr. A. Muzzarelli. The holy Rosary, originally linked specifically to the month of October, is now introduced in May as well. By the beginning of the 19th century, this devotion had spread rapidly throughout Europe, the Americas, and the missions. It became a beautiful expression of the Church’s devotion to the Mother of Jesus and continues to inspire our faith, keep the fire of prayer alive, and challenge us to live lives of virtue and justice after the example of the Mother of God.

During these four weeks we are invited to contemplate the mystery of Our Lady’s life and to rediscover how her witness continues to illuminate the path of the Church. As our mother and model, Mary offers timely wisdom and guidance on what it means to be disciples of Christ whose lives are marked by spiritual discernment and apostolic action (cf. Lumen Gentium 63-65).

One of the defining characteristics of Mary’s life is her profound openness to the action of God. At the Annunciation, she received a mission that exceeded human understanding, yet she responded with a heart ready to cooperate with His divine plan (Lk 1:38; CCC 494). The Church recognizes in this moment a pattern of authentic discernment: attentiveness to God’s initiative, trust in His promises, and the courage to respond generously. These same attitudes are essential for us as we listen to the Holy Spirit in our own time (cf. Dei Verbum 5).

Mary’s fiat—her free and courageous “yes”—reveals the interior disposition at the heart of Christian discipleship. God initiates, grace is offered, and we respond in freedom. We are reminded that freedom is not the ability to do anything whatsoever, but the ability to choose what is good (Veritatis Splendor 35; CCC 1731-1733). The sacred dialogue between grace and freedom is central to the Christian life. As St. Augustine reminds us: “God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without us” (Sermo 169, 11, 13). Each day, in countless places, the Lord continues to speak to human hearts, inviting them into His saving work.

Mary also manifests a deep capacity for contemplation. St. Luke tells us that she “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; CCC 2717). Her quiet attentiveness to the mystery unfolding before her reminds the Church that true discernment is never rushed. Like Mary of Nazareth, we are invited to cultivate spaces of prayer and reflection in our homes, schools, and communities so that the Word of God can take root and illuminate our way forward (Verbum Domini 86-88). Attentiveness to God’s voice requires humility, openness, and trust in the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s contemplative heart never withdraws from the needs of the world. Her life is marked by a readiness to respond when God calls her into service. From visiting Elizabeth after the Annunciation (Lk 1:39-45), to welcoming the shepherds in Bethlehem (Lk 2:16-19), to presenting the Child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:22-25), and standing faithfully beneath the Cross (Jn 19:25), Mary remains steadfast in Christ’s saving work (cf. Lumen Gentium 58). Authentic discernment always leads to witness and action (Evangelii Gaudium 120), even when we are unsure of God’s will or hesitant to respond.

The month of May invites us to put aside our doubts, insecurities, and fears; to renew our own response to God’s call. Standing spiritually beside Mary, we learn the courage of her surrender and the confidence of her faith (Redemptoris Mater 14-15). The same Holy Spirit who overshadowed her (Lk 1:35) desires to form Christ anew in us (cf. Gal 4:19). In her faith, we learn to welcome God’s action in our lives. In her humility, we discover the freedom that allows the Spirit to work in us. In her fidelity, we see the perseverance needed to remain close to Christ in times of uncertainty.

My prayer for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto is that, especially this month, we reflect on how to honor Mother Mary, allowing her witness to illuminate our daily lives and vocations. May we journey under her maternal care with renewed openness to the Holy Spirit.

LENT is time given to us by the Church for spiritual renewal, as we recall the 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert in prayer and fasting. It is a time of inner conversion. There are 4 essential elements emphasized during Lent:

1. Prayer
2. Fasting
3. Charity
4. Reconciliation
   

Prayer

Jesus goes into the wilderness to get away from it all. During Lent we are called to spend some more time in prayer. We are challenged “to unplug” for a little while. We need to get away sometimes from distractions and reflect on our lives and listen to what God is trying to say to us. Nearly all times, cultures, and peoples practice meditation and prayer when making important decisions about life.

Fasting

We might “give up” something for Lent. Jesus in the desert went without food. When we are too full of things, there is no room for God, no room for others, no room for self. Appreciation becomes dulled. What if we are never hungry, never short of anything, never without? 

Charity

From Latin "caritas" - the heart, love. Lent challenges us to put our faith into practice by works of charity, doing something heartfelt. We can volunteer for some charity or we can make a sacrifice of money “alms giving.” It could even be that we resolve to visit somebody who is lonely and spend time with them.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is about fixing a broken relationship. Is there somebody with whom we have had a fight and no longer talk to? Lent could be a time to reach out and mend that relationship. In the context of our Faith, our sins damage our relationship with God and the Church, the Body of Christ. The Church asks us to examine our conscience during Lent and to ask forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).

How the Roman Catholic  Church arrives at  40 Days of Lent

Even though the calendar span from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday is 46 days, the Church still calls Lent “40 days.” Here’s why.

1. The Biblical Model: Jesus’ 40 Days

The foundational reason is symbolic: Lent imitates the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. This number also echoes other biblical “40s”:

• 40 days of the Flood

• 40 years in the desert

• 40 days Moses spent on Sinai

So the Church wanted a penitential season shaped around that number.

2. Why the Count Doesn’t Match the Calendar

From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday = 46 days. But Sundays are never counted as fast days. Why? Because every Sunday is considered a “little Easter”—a celebration of the Resurrection—so they cannot be penitential fast days.

So:

46 \text{ total days} - 6 \text{ Sundays} = 40 \text{ days of fasting}

This is how the Western Church maintains the symbolic 40-day fast even though the season spans more days on the calendar.

3. Historical Development

Early Christians fasted before Easter, but the length varied. Over time, the Western Church standardized a 40‑day fast to mirror Christ’s 40 days. By the Middle Ages, the structure was fixed:

• Lent duration: Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday.

• Fasting Ends: Holy Thursday evening (the start of the Triduum), or Holy Saturday liturgically depending on tradition. Major Fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. Sundays excluded from the fast.

The Spiritans around the world celebrate with thanksgiving the life of the venerable Fr. Francis Libermann, CSSp, (1802-1852) who is considered to be “The Second Founder of the Spiritans.” By merging his missionary Society of the Holy Heart of Mary with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, he gave new life to the Spiritans and opened the way for a new wave of missionary evangelization.

This year is special as it is the bicentennial of the baptism of Francis Libermann. The theme of our Congregational Novena this year is:

Seized by Grace: From Crying Out to God to Surrendering to Christ

Novena for Libermann Day (From Jan. 24 - Feb. 1, 2026)

On October 2 every year, the Spiritans remember a young seminarian, Claude-François Poullart des Places (1679-1709). Claude was not yet an ordained priest when he founded the Spiritans on Pentecost Sunday, 1703 but he had a deep calling to form a community of young men who would be dedicated to the Holy Spirit and who would minister to the poor and be willing go to where ever they were most needed by the Church.. Soon this little community flourished as more people were attracted to the simple lifestyle and the dedication of the Spiritans. By 1732, the first Spiritan was sent to Canada. 

The Spiritans invite you to join us in our novena of prayer from September 23 to October 1 as we prepare for Des Places Day. 

Novena to Claude Poullart des Places. 

On Sunday June 8th, 2025 (Pentecost Sunday), the Spiritans were blessed by the presence of Bishop Vincent Nguyen, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto (Eastern Region) who presided at our Mass at St. Joseph’s Parish, Highland Creek. In his homily, the Bishop reminded us of the importance of recognizing that the Holy Spirit is constantly active in our ordinary lives and any of our actions of love and compassion are guided by the Spirit and are a manifestation of Christ alive in the Church. Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, is the foundation date of the Spiritans, founded in 1703 in France by Claude-François Poullart des Places in order to minister to the forgotten of society.

From July 8th to 12th, the Spiritans of the TransCanada Province gathered at Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre in Mississauga, Ontario for a meeting known as a “Chapter.” Over 30 Spiritan confreres and Lay Spiritans attended, including our Superior General and his 1st Assistant from Rome (Fr. Alain Mayama, CSSp & Fr. Jeff Duaime, CSSp). Also in attendance, as observers, were the Provincial Superiors from both the USA & Quebec. The Chapter moderator was Fr. Michael Onwuemelie, CSSp, one of our Nigerian confreres working in California. This assembly takes place every four years and is a time of prayer, information sharing, discussion and discernment of our ministries. We try our best to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and see what changes we need to make to best respond to the needs of the people here in Canada. Are there ministries we are doing now that are no longer necessary or relevant? Are there new ministries to which we are being called? How will we best be able to carry out any new commitments? How will we make the most use of our resources, both material and personnel? These were among the questions we discussed during this important week of renewal. During the week, we also re-elected our present Provincial Superior, Fr. Oliver Iwuchukwu, CSSp and suggested appointments for our Provincial  Council. As we departed on the Friday afternoon, the mood and the spirit of the confreres and our Lay Spiritans was positive and we felt affirmed to go forward in the mission of our congregation. “Cor Unum et Anima Una” - One Heart & One Soul, the motto of our congregation. 

For the first time since COVID, the TransCanada Spiritan confreres & Lay Spiritans were able to be together for our Advent retreat held at the Jesuit Manresa Retreat Centre in Pickering, ON. Later in the evening, the confreres and Lay Spiritans gathered with some of our staff, friends, and supporters at our annual Advent appreciation dinner held at St. Joseph’s church in Highland Creek, ON.

On Friday July 28th, 2023, the Spiritans were blessed with a visit by Archbishop Francis Leo, fairly recently appointed as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The visit was warm and informal as we gathered for a social followed by dinner. During his time at the Laval House community where we gathered, he got to meet each of us personally and he spoke of the wonderful contributions the Spiritans have made to the Archdiocese over the years. He highlighted the importance of having both missionary and Religious life represented in the Archdiocese and the witness we give drawn from our mission experience. He expressed gratitude and hope for a growth of the Spiritans here and in Canada. We are very grateful to Archbishop Francis for taking time from what must be a hectic schedule to spend the evening with us. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the Archdiocese to bear witness to the Gospel. Our door is open and welcoming and we hope Archbishop Francis will visit us again and always feel at home.