Our Priorities
This Sunday’s Gospel brings us to a moment where Jesus is asked a tricky question about paying taxes to Caesar. His response: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God” is more than just a clever answer. It’s a profound teaching about the balance between our earthly responsibilities and our spiritual calling.
We live in a world filled with obligations: work deadlines, family commitments, civic duties, and countless daily tasks. These are important and necessary, yet Jesus reminds us that they are not the whole story. Beneath all these responsibilities lies a deeper truth: we belong to God. Just as coins bear the image of Caesar, our souls bear the image of our Creator. This means our ultimate loyalty, love, and devotion must be directed toward Him.
Giving to “Caesar” means fulfilling our duties in society—acting with integrity, respecting laws, contributing to the common good. But giving to “God” means offering Him our hearts, our time, our talents, and our choices. It means living in a way that reflects His love, mercy, and justice in every interaction.
This Gospel invites us to examine our priorities. Are we giving God what is truly His? Are we allowing our faith to shape how we work, how we treat others, and how we make decisions? When God is placed first, everything else falls into its rightful place. Our earthly duties become acts of service, and our spiritual life becomes the foundation that sustains us.
Therefore, this Sunday, let us remember that we are made in God’s image. Our lives are not just about what we owe to the world, but about what we owe to the One who gave us life. By living with this awareness, we can honour both our responsibilities here on earth and our eternal calling to love and serve God above all.
Fr. Aegidius Warsito, SCJ
Refugee Centre of the Faithful Companions of Jesus
The Faithful Companions of Jesus Refugee Centre provides free services for undocumented persons and precarious migrants. The Centre is open each Monday for walk-in clients and from Tuesday to Friday for appointments. The Centre is located at 208 Oakwood Avenue. Their website is: https://www.fcjrefugeecentre.org/
Bundle Up Collection
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is holding their Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of Nov. 28/29 for their program Neighbours in Need. Collection of textiles, shoes, clothing, new toys, bedding, draperies and small household goods are requested. They would prefer not to receive baby items (car seats, strollers and cribs), dishes, furniture, books and cassettes. Please bring your items to the parish office.
Horizons of Hope
St. Rose of Lima Parish is hosting Horizons of Hope: Palliative Care Program weekly from Sat., Nov. 14 to Sat. Dec. 5 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The program has been developed by the CCCB as a toolkit for Catholic parishes on palliative care; it is for caregivers and family members supporting a loved one with terminal illness, those seeking to learn about palliative care and persons recently diagnosed. To register for this free program, please call 416-438-6729 or breakingopentheword@gmail.com.
Prayers for the Sick
We are praying for those who are sick in our parish: Jason Salmon, Estefanio Gacad, Nolita Marin, Amanda Appiah, Amrita Baburam, Sylvie Tilley, Tina Lopes, Mary McKay, Aparanam Emanual Mary Joseph, Victoria Joseph, Kathleen Hutchinson and Ryan Soares. May they be supported by our prayers, pastoral ministry and the grace of God.
Silent Weekend Retreat for Men
Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st
Life’s pressures, uncertainties and responsibilities can often leave us feeling anxious and restless. This retreat invites men to open their hearts to God’s presence, trust His guidance and see beyond daily challenges to the bigger picture of His purpose and plan. Discover renewed peace, hope and confidence in the God who walks with us through every season of life. Please register online at: manresa-canada.ca for this Silent Weekend Retreat for Men at Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre (2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering from Fri., Oct. 30th to Sun., Nov. 1st for a suggested offering of $280.00. Fr. Dexter F. Gray is directing this retreat entitled, Living with an Open Door: Seeing Life Through God’s Bigger Picture”.
For more information, contact manresaregistration@outloook.com.
Registration for CONFIRMATION and FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Registrations for the sacraments of First Holy Communion for children in grade 2 (or higher) and Confirmation for children in grade 7 (or higher) are open at the parish office. Please bring your child’s baptism certificate and the $35.00 fee. For information, call 416-439-1545.
Mass Intentions for October 17 – 24, 2026
Saturday 5:00 p.m.
Intentions of Dante and Rosalinda Gozun
Sunday 8:00 a.m.
Intentions of Paul Myers
Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Intentions of Melissa D’Souza
Sunday 12:00 noon
Intentions of the Parish Community
Sunday 8:00 p.m.
+Theresa Itabor
Monday 7:15 a.m.
+Daniel Domantay, requested by D. Uncad
Tuesday 7:15 a.m.
In thanksgiving, Walter Sebastian and family
Tuesday 7:00 p.m.
+Souls in Purgatory, requested by members of FOSS
+Souls in Purgatory, Cyprian Achehe, Hayden Panethere, Carla Jeffery and Liam Payne
+Liliana & Estilitte De Souza and Wolfgang & Berta Da Costa, requested by the Da Costa family
+Eugene & Paul Fernandes, requested by John and Elizabeth
+Deceased members of the Fernandes and Lobo families, requested by John and Elizabeth
In thanksgiving, A. Balakumar
Intentions of Calista and Arasa
Intentions of Lawrence
Wednesday 7:15 a.m.
In thanksgiving, Tian and Jocelyn Bastianpillai
Wednesday 7: 00 p.m.
+Linda Tuling Paez, requested by the family
Thursday 7:15 a.m.
Intentions of Adam Befetel
Thursday 7:00 p.m.
+Thsin Shang, requested by the family
+Avelina Manadero, requested by C. Peters
+Stanislaus and Ravee Arasaratnam, requested by R. Arasaratnam
+Jose Rabano, requested by the family
+Deceased members of the Lobo family, requested by the Fernandes family
Intentions of Mark and Gaya Arasaratnam
Intentions of Perrin Silva
Intentions of Anthony Ricafort
Intentions of Fr. Martin Kadamattu Antony
Friday 7:15 a.m.
Intentions of Domingo Gonzales
Friday 7:00 p.m.
Intentions of Yanah Marie D’Mello
Saturday 9:00 a.m.
+Adelaida Hernandez, requested by the family
