In three evening sessions, we will explore the key principles of the theology of the body and discover together how God’s mysterious plan for our lives is revealed through our bodies and the call to love. These dynamic sessions will be led by graduates of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Katerine Perrault, MTS and Ellen Roderick, PhD. They will be offered in French and English. These three sessions will take place on: • October 23 • October 30 • November 6, 2018

Challenge is a Catholic retreat movement for youth, coordinated by youth. Challenge begins with a three day retreat weekend, during which young people have a chance to meet Christ on a personal level with the help of their peers. The emphasis in the Challenge Weekend is a youth-to-youth approach, a live-in weekend environment, a group discussion format, and a team approach. The Weekend’s goal is to “Challenge” participants to learn more about their relationship with God and more about themselves. This exploration is guided through a series of talks given by other youth on various themes that relate our faith to everyday life. There is also lots of time for group discussion, music, prayer, games, personal reflection, socializing, and much more.The Weekend is progressive in nature, each part building on the theme of the last. As you travel through the Weekend, you’ll learn about these themes through the voices of other young adults. You’ll hear about your peers’ experiences growing up, their struggles with faith, the reasons they believe in God and the active role He has played in their lives. You’ll hear how your peers cope with the struggle of living a Christian life in our secular society.The experience of the Challenge Weekend is difficult to summarize because it is much more than just the sum of its parts. But if nothing else, the Weekend is a great place to meet other young adults who share the same faith, and is an opportunity to take time off your busy schedules to address spiritual concerns.

REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Where is your parish headed in these changing times? What might it look like in the next few years? What CAN it look like? Join us on Nov. 16-17 as we explore creative and inspiring ways to respond together as a life-giving faith community to our changing world. Headlining the conference is Fr. James Mallon, author and speaker on Parish Renewal and Leadership Support, from the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. In addition to delivering the keynote address, the author of Divine Renovation: From A Maintenance To A Missional Parish will also offer a free talk to priests on Friday morning at Villa Saint Martin. and don't miss ... The Catholic Community Rally November 16, 5 p.m. Featuring more than 30 groups and organizations that contribute to the vitality of the diocesan community. Organized by the English Speaking Catholic Council.

THE PILLARS TRUST FUND 2018 campaign theme is "Catholic Strong". We chose it because we are proud of - and want to highlight - the strength within our local Catholic community and the actions supported by Pillars that are underway in our parishes, among our youth, and across our faith networks, including the upcoming Parish Vitality Conference 2018. As faithful followers of Christ and His Gospel message, we invite you to read more about what it means to be ‘Catholic Strong’ in our September newsletter ‘The Column’ at www.pillarstrust.org or in the Pillars Trust campaign letter entitled Are you Catholic Strong? You can also make your tax-deductible donation online. Thank you for your financial support!

40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil to end abortion for the protection of the unborn child. The mission of the campaign is to bring together the Body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40-day campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful activism, with a purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to culture of life, thus bringing about an end to abortion. All are welcome to join us throughout the month of October until Sunday, November 4, to pray for the end of abortion. Daily we will be at the corner of Berri and St. Catherine Streets (500 Berri Street), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more and/or to become a prayer volunteer, call: (514) 344-2686 or (438) 930-8643 or email info@cqv.qc.ca

Join us on a four-session journey exploring pilgrim people in the Old and New Testaments. We too, as followers of Jesus, are called to be pilgrims. During our exploration we shall see how the pilgrims in scripture provide a blueprint for our own pilgrimage. We will meet on the following Mondays: October 15, 29, November 5, 19. You can choose to attend in the afternoon 1:30 – 3:00 or in the evening 7:30 – 9:00 at St. Veronica Parish (1300 Carson Ave., Dorval, H9S 1M6). Cost $30.00 per person for materials. Please register by calling Deacon Gerry Turpin at (514) 631-1616 or by Email at turpin@cooptel.qc.ca.

Back in May 2017, the Scalabrinian Missionaries arranged to have the statue of St. Rita (from the former parish of St. Rita on Sauriol Street) be moved to Madonna di Pompei Church and continue devotions there for all her devotees. Every first Friday of the month, devotions to St. Rita take place at 2 p.m. including the recitation of St. Rita's rosary with prayers both to her and to Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, founder of the Scalabrinian Missionaries and father to migrants. As of June this year, the parish has taken up an initiative at Pompei church, a new parish program to come to the aid of migrants, under the name SERVIZIO SCALABRINIANO MIGRANTI, open to all. Office hours are every Friday from 12 to 3 p.m. where a welcome as well as a listening ear is offered and where referral and help for integration also takes place. The church is located at 2875 Sauvé Street, Montreal H2B 1C6.