– by Jean Allen
This is one Gospel I’d be extremely leery of taking literally as written without taking into consideration the context plus Jesus’s overarching mission. Jesus told his followers how to deal with someone who sins against them: speak to them and if that doesn’t work, take witnesses to speak to them and if that doesn’t work, take it to the Church. If that doesn’t work, “let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” A bit brutal, what?
However, immediately preceding this week’s text is the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to go seek out one lost sheep. Jesus does not advocate ostracizing the wayward person; he pulled the Gentiles and tax collectors into his fold and they were as loved and accepted and sought after as anyone else. Matthew, who wrote this text, had been a tax collector himself. Jesus’s idea is that if someone is acting out of line, you seek them out – with love, concern and acceptance. They are as important as the ninety-nine who don’t stray. Banishing or shutting anyone out of the Kingdom is absolutely not the way of the Lord.
The other point of this text may be that Jesus was giving his followers a way to deal with disputes after he was gone. The Jews had the ‘Bait Din’ (house of justice) that met to resolve disputes according to Jewish law, not Roman law. This was supposed to be an impartial body of educated Jews but it was really an old boys’ club, rife with corruption where positions could be bought or given as favors. Also, judgements were made according to the Old Testament laws and Jesus was establishing a new order based on mercy and forgiveness. The Bait Din was definitely not a place where his infant Christians would receive fair hearings or could resolve disputes in the way Jesus intended.
Even before he died, Jesus knew there would be conflict and disputes in the young Christian community. What a surprise, huh?
Christians aren’t perfect.
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Dear friends,
We have seven items to share with you today:
- St. Peter’s Parish Celebrates 150th Anniversary
This weekend St. Peter’s Parish in Nanaimo celebrates its 150th Anniversary! To commemorate, they are having celebrations including:
-Friday: A soccer match at Beban Artificial Turf 2, which is open to everyone.
-Saturday: Anniversary Mass and celebration, which is now at full capacity
-Sunday: 10:30 a.m. Mass followed by a community lunch and fellowship that the wider Diocesan community is invited to join in and share in this joyful milestone. - Development and Peace – Caritas Canada
Nepal Flooding Relief Efforts – Caritas Canada
A catastrophic flash flood triggered by a glacial collapse has devastated the Nepal-Tibet border, taking the lives of over 1,000 people, and leaving thousands more missing. We are encouraging our community to pray and support relief efforts through Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, which has launched an emergency collection. To learn more about they are doing on the ground visit: https://devp.org/en/nepal-floods-necessitate-a-deluge-of-solidarity/
To donate click here: or call 1-888-234-8533 toll-free
Fall Workshops in our Diocese
The local Development and Peace animator, Raphael Freston, will be hosting two Fall workshops for anyone interested in the work of Development & Peace – Caritas Canada. All are welcome to attend either workshop, please invite friends and new people. More info about the organization at: www.devp.org
Mid-Island area
St. Mary’s Church Hall
1135 4th Ave., Ladysmith
Friday, September 18th
09:30-12:30pm with lunch to follow
For info: Karen Sax 250-616-7170
Victoria area
Queen of Peace Church Hall
849 Old Esquimalt Rd.
Saturday, September 19th
9:30-1:30, please bring a brown bag lunch
For info: Nancy Stuart 250-580-4444 - Fall 2026 Prayer in the Style of Taizé
This fall, the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (10030 Third Street, Sidney BC) will host ecumenical prayer sessions in The Way of Taizé.
Hosted the 3rd Friday of the month – September 18, October 16, November 20, 2026 – at 6:00 pm. All are invited to join in this evening of prayer and song. See poster here - Inaugural GLORIA Christmas Market – Seeking Vendors
St. Joseph the Worker Parish is hosting the inaugural GLORIA Christmas Market on Saturday, December 5, 2026. They are seeking local artisans, makers, and small businesses offering thoughtful Christmas gifts including pottery, handmade soaps and candles, artwork, jewelry, baked goods, or other beautiful artisanal products. Vendor tables are $50. See poster here and for more information email: awalkercollins@gmail.com - Season of Creation 2026
September 1 marks the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, a special season of ecumenical solidarity where Christian’s come together in prayer and action to protect our common home. Learn more about this season, read the Holy Father’s message, and see how you can get involved at:
https://www.rcdvictoria.org/diocesanblog/season-of-creation-2026-living-water - World Youth Day 2027
Official registration for the World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Seoul in 2027 will open on September 14. For more information visit: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/wyd-2027 - New Zoom Marriage Preparation Course Schedule
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria Marriage Office is pleased to announce dates in 2026-2027 for the Zoom Synchronous Marriage Preparation Courses:
(Couples must attend both Friday and Saturday sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion.)
Registration is now open for the October 2/3, 2026 course. For details on all the dates or to register please check our website: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/marriage-prepMany thanks,
Communications Office
Diocese of Victoria - St. Peter’s Parish Celebrates 150th Anniversary
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Dear friends,
We have six items to share with you today:
- Season of Creation 2026
September 1 marks the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, a special season of ecumenical solidarity where Christian’s come together in prayer and action to protect our common home. Learn more about this season, read the Holy Father’s message, and see how you can get involved at:
https://www.rcdvictoria.org/diocesanblog/season-of-creation-2026-living-water - World Youth Day Zoom Info Session
The team organizing the Diocesan pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea is hosting another informational session on Friday, August 28, at 7:00pm on ZOOM. Anyone interested in hearing more about this amazing opportunity, including the activities planned and what to expect, should join this meeting. Click here for the zoom link or find info on the webpage: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/wyd-2027 - Diocese of Victoria Catechists Complete Level 1 Training of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
We have had 13 catechists from our Diocese complete Level 1 Training of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Read more about it on our blog: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/news/diocese-of-victoria-celebrates-13-catechists-completing-cgs-level-1-training - Our Lady of Fatima Parish: Senhor Bom Jesus da Pedra Festival (Jesus of the Rock Festival)
The Our Lady of Fatima Parish community invites everyone to join in for their Festival of Senhor Bom Jesus da Pedra, from September 4th to 6th. Mass times are: 6:30 pm on Friday, September 4th; 5:30 pm on Saturday, September 5th; and 12:00 pm on Sunday, September 6th. Following Sunday’s Holy Mass, there will be a procession around the parking lot then a social gathering in the hall with traditional Portuguese food and Portuguese and Columbian folklore dancers. See the poster here - New Zoom Marriage Preparation Course Schedule
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria Marriage Office is pleased to announce the following dates in 2026-2027 for the Zoom Synchronous Marriage Preparation Courses:
(Couples must attend both Friday and Saturday sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion.)
Registration is now open for the October 2/3, 2026 course. For details or to register please check our website: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/marriage-prep- Columbia Earthquake Relief Efforts – Caritas Canada
A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake has impacted countless families displaced across western Colombia. Many in our community have loved ones directly affected by this tragedy. In response, we are encouraging our community to support relief efforts through Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, which has launched an emergency collection to assist those affected by the earthquake. To learn more about they are doing on the ground and to donate visit: https://devp.org/en/colombia-earthquake-how-to-help/
Many thanks,
Communications Office
Diocese of Victoria - Season of Creation 2026
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– by Jean Allen
“Get behind me, Satan!” Who among us has not thought, “Whoa! That’s a pretty harsh thing to say to a concerned friend!” Perhaps it would be less of an over-the-top insult and more accurate if the translation had been, “Get behind me, Peter. Don’t tempt me with your worldly perception of power and success!” That’s what Peter was doing. He was tempting Jesus and setting up his visions as the ones Jesus should emulate. Could Jesus have been tempted by Peter’s perceptions? Absolutely.
Jesus was human and he was not wildly enthusiastic about what lay in store for him. This is why he said to Peter, “You are a stumbling block to me;” The word translated as stumbling block is ‘skandalon’ (from which we get ‘scandal’) and Jesus actually spoke often about not being a skandalon to others: not setting up a way of believing or perceiving and inviting others to emulate this way, which engenders competition and always ends in a struggle for power and control. This is the way of all humanity and why Jesus said, “For you are thinking not as God does, but as humans do.”
The only person Jesus was determined to emulate was the Father. What we have to ponder on is that Jesus imitated God throughout his life. His suffering and death were imitations of God. I think that too often we envision God as someone ‘out there’, detached and watching as Jesus navigated life and suffered horrendously on the Cross. No. God had invited his Son to imitate his whole way of being and Jesus was determined to the end to imitate his Father, not the strategies of the world (Satan’s domain) as Peter’s words tempted him to do.
We, too, are tempted by the worldly perceptions of power but our place of truth and power is in imitating Jesus and the Father. We should do nothing except we see them doing it first. That requires relationship of the kind that Jesus and the Father had. Jesus did nothing except he saw the Father doing it first.
That kind of relationship is power indeed. -
Dear friends,
We have five items for you today:
- New Zoom Marriage Preparation Course Schedule
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria Marriage Office is pleased to announce the following dates in 2026-2027 for the Zoom Synchronous Marriage Preparation Courses:
- October 2 & 3, 2026 Friday, 7-10pm PT and Saturday, 9am-4pm PT
- January 8 & 9, 2027 Friday, 7-10pm PT and Saturday, 9am-4pm PT
- April 9 & 10, 2027 Friday, 7-10pm PT and Saturday, 9am-4pm PT
(Couples must attend both Friday and Saturday sessions in order to receive a certificate of completion.)
Registration is now open for the October 2/3, 2026 course. For details or to register please check our website: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/marriage-prep- Italy Pilgrimage Opportunity with Fr. Dean
Fr. Dean N. Henderson, Rector of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, is organizing a pilgrimage to Italy and invites anyone in the Diocese who may be interested to join. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit many sacred and historic sites in Assisi, Siena, Rome, and beyond. Please see the full itinerary here. - Reflections from Fr. Bernard on his Victoria sabbatical
For the past six months, we have had the honour of hosting Fr. Bernard Cotter of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, Ireland in our diocese. He was hosted by Fr. Dean at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, but travelled throughout the diocese, bringing his warm heart and humour to the people of our community. Since returning home to Ireland, he has offered to share a short reflection. See his guest blog post on our website here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/diocesanblog/guest-blog-feature-reflections-of-fr.-bernard-cotter-from-ireland - Diocese of Victoria Pastoral Care Training Fall 2026
The valuable and free Pastoral Care Outreach Training series will be offered online this fall. The training is open to spouse caregivers, family members who care for their loved ones, clergy and religious, care aides and others in the health industry, and anyone who is personally drawn to learn basic tools necessary to accompany those who are in need of the healing ministry of Christ. For those interested, please register through your parish by September 17, 2026. More details at: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/pastoral-care - Columbia Earthquake Relief Efforts – Caritas Canada
A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake has impacted countless families displaced across western Colombia. Many in our community have loved ones directly affected by this tragedy. In response, we are encouraging our community to support relief efforts through Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, which has launched an emergency collection to assist those affected by the earthquake. To learn more about they are doing on the ground and to donate visit: https://devp.org/en/colombia-earthquake-how-to-help/
Many thanks,
Communications Office
Diocese of Victoria -
– by Jean Allen
The place where Jesus asked his famous questions, “Who do people say that I am?” and, “Who do you say that I am?” was Caesarea Philippi, which was the seat of Roman power. His questions were meant to contrast worldly power with the power of himself, which in most people’s eyes was no power at all. As we know, Jesus did not come to overthrow the Romans with violence and bloodshed, a typical notion of the Messiah at that time. He did not come to emulate worldly power but to expose its distorted ideas of power through his own love, forgiveness, compassion, suffering and death.
Peter had no idea what the keys of the Kingdom with the power to forgive were placing on his plate. Even though he had proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, I don’t think he really grasped that Christ’s power had nothing to do with gaining control like the Romans gained control. The gates of Hades that would not prevail were the hellish gates of grasping power and control through violence and trampling and scapegoating the poor.
We all need to realize that violence is always a gateway to hellish living. You might say, “Well, thank God, I’m not violent!” No? Have you raised your voice in anger at your spouse or your kids or a friend lately? That’s violence. Have you raked a clerk over the coals for not accomplishing something you asked them to accomplish? Violence. Have you given anyone the silent treatment? Violence. These actions are violent because they are actions of someone wanting to be in control – to have the power in a given situation.
We have not learned what Peter had to learn the hard way: that the Kingdom of God is in complete opposition to all our worldly perceptions and ways of operating. We think control is our right and once we have it, we scramble to maintain it. Someone always gets hurt. We always need to go back to Christ’s eternal question:
“Who do you say that I am?” -
CALLING ALL VINCENTIANS!
The SSVP Recommissioning Ceremony is a sacred liturgical and communal renewal rite where members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul reaffirm their vows, dedication, and spiritual commitment to serve Christ through the poor
St. Joseph the Worker Conference will be hosting a ceremony in September and is inviting all Vincentians to attend.
Date: September 16, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: St. Joseph the Worker,
753 Burnside Road West, Victoria
As detailed in The Rule, the ceremony offers:- Spiritual Renewal: Reignites the passionate fire of charity inspired by founders like Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and Saint Vincent de Paul.
- Recommitment: Allows active Vincentians to publicly restate their foundational promises and rules of service.
- Community Prayer: Invites the broader church congregation to pray for the volunteers’ energy, resilience, and faith.
Here are the details for this event:
6:00 pm – Mass
6:30 pm – Recommissioning led by Father Alfredo
6:45 pm – Appreciation/acknowledgement/blessing of SSVP members who are leaving the Society
6:50 pm – Cake and refreshments
7:30 pm – Fellowship concludes
Please join the members of St. Joseph the Worker for this blessed occasion.
Susan Nawrocki
Secretary, Vancouver Island Particular Council
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
ssvp.vipc@gmail.com
ssvpvancouverisland.caGo to the poor; you will find God.
- Spiritual Renewal: Reignites the passionate fire of charity inspired by founders like Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and Saint Vincent de Paul.
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Congratulations to the efforts of our BC/Yukon CWL Councils who raised $1,359.22 in support of the Lions Food Bank at their 79th Annual CWL Provincial Convention! Check out the RCD Victoria article.
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[apologies for the delay in posting; I blame summer break 😬]
Dear friends,
We have four items to share with you:
1. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island: Hearts for Homes Gala
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island warmly invites you to the Hearts for Homes Gala — an evening of compassion, community, and impact in support of affordable housing on Vancouver Island. Join Bishop Gary and others on October 3 at the Union Club of Victoria (805 Gordon Street, Victoria, BC) for a memorable evening of fundraising featuring a three-course dinner, musical entertainment, guest speakers, and silent and live auctions.
For tickets: https://www.hibid.ca/events/hearts-for-homes2. Rachels Vineyard Retreat
Rachel’s Vineyard on Vancouver Island is offering a safe and confidential retreat from September 11-13, 2026 for women and men seeking healing and peace after abortion. Please share with anyone who would benefit from this type of healing. To learn more or register, please email rachelsvineyardvancouverisland@gmail.com.
You can also find more information here: https://www.rachelsvineyardvanisland.org/3. Support Earthquake Victims in Venezuela
Many of you are familiar with the catastrophic earthquakes that have hit Venezuela. Following Wednesday’s devastating earthquakes, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada has launched an emergency appeal, calling on Canadians to give generously to help the Venezuelan people.
To learn about the work being done and how to donate, please see: https://devp.org/en/venezuela-earthquakes-you-can-help-now/[one item removed as it no longer is available]
Many thanks,
Communications Office
Diocese of Victoria -
by Jean Allen
The Gospel of the Canaanite woman begging Jesus to heal her daughter, arguing that even dogs eat the crumbs from the table, is a tough one to digest. However, I fully believe Jesus knew he was going to heal the daughter and his resistance to the woman was an object lesson to his disciples.
What Jesus said, that he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel and that it wasn’t fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs, was Jesus regurgitating what every good Jew, including his disciples at that point, would have presumed was the correct answer. He stated the prophetic law that he was only sent to Israel and he stated the common prejudice of the time that anyone not a Jew was a dog not fit to eat from the table. The disciples were probably watching the whole interaction thinking, “That’s right! You tell her, Jesus.”
And then Jesus shows his true nature and his true mission, catching everybody off guard. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish,” instantly healing the daughter.
What Jesus was showing his disciples was that he came to supersede traditional prophetic law and that he wasn’t a Messiah just for the Jews. He came for anyone who needed him and accepted him. I think the disciples came away from that interaction with their set in stone foundations crumbling. That day they learned that love and compassion is the highest prophetic law and that Jesus came for everyone, not just them.
We need to learn that too.
P ♰ C 