If we persevere, we shall also reign with him.

 Letter From Our Pastor

Welcome to Holy Spirit Parish’s webpage! You are most welcome to join us anytime.

The Holy Spirit is the patron of our Roman Catholic parish here in Stittsville – what a wonderful friend we have in the Spirit!

The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, poured out upon the early Christians at Pentecost, helped the Apostles and other disciples grow from scared people hiding behind locked doors, afraid of the authorities, into bold proclaimers of the Gospel message in the public square. That is quite a transformation. Not only, though, were they emboldened to become evangelizers to the local community in Jerusalem, God equipped them to be able to share the message with the whole world. Jesus Christ is not meant for a select few, but for the whole world.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone; it has universal significance. Parishioners range in age, background, culture and language in our parish, reflecting the universality of the Church here in our own community of Stittsville. Truly the embrace of Mother Church encompasses everyone in her loving arms.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to catch fire in our hearts and to blaze in our life like a roaring fire, throwing off sparks to start new fires! Two years ago, the late Pope Francis in his Pentecost homily said: “Without (the Spirit), the Church is lifeless, faith is mere doctrine, morality mere duty, pastoral work mere toil. With him, on the other hand, faith is life, the love of the Lord convinces us, and hope is reborn. Let us put the Holy Spirit back at the centre of the Church.

The Holy Spirit, is a powerful companion who equips us to live our Catholic Christian belief with faith, hope and charity. May God bless you and may the Holy Spirit be your Guide and Advocate!

Father Geoffrey Kerslake

Pastor

Sunday Reflection:  28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, October 12, 2025

If we persevere, we shall also reign with him.

Gospel Reflection

The secular thanksgiving holiday we celebrate this weekend only makes sense if we think for a moment to whom are we offering thanksgiving? How can you celebrate thanksgiving without thanking God? The word Eucharist is a Greek word which means “thanksgiving.” Every celebration of the Mass is an act of thanksgiving to God for his goodness and many blessings. Sometimes people explain they don’t go to church because they don’t get anything out of it but that is getting things backward. We don’t go to church to get something, we go to give something – our gratitude to God which we express in the practice of our faith. Then, God who has already given us so much, when we return to thank him for his generosity, gives us in the holy Eucharist the supreme gift of Jesus Christ, truly present in holy communion – body, blood, soul and divinity.

Fr. Geoff

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To all the Parish’s generous faithful

Thank you to all who donate to the ongoing operation of the parish.  For e-Transfer please send it to admin@holyspiritparish.ca and use the password, Holyspirit (all one word with a capital H).  We currently have a significant number of parishioners who contribute via bank auto debit.  If you would like more information about the program or wish to participate, please contact the parish office at 613-836-8881 or email admin@holyspiritparish.ca