A Note From Our Parochial Vicar: August 30, 2026

This year, I get to celebrate 5 weddings of friends! I always enjoy these events, it is special walking with the bride and groom in their journey towards marriage and family life. At these events, it’s fun reconnecting with old friends, making new ones and seeing all the unique ways couples celebrate their special day.

There always comes a moment though, when I take a step back from the action and become reflective. During the reception, I like to take in the joy, heartfelt sharing, the looks of love and overall cheer, because it reminds me of heaven.

It’s not accident Jesus uses this image to describe eternal life. Unfortunately, heaven is depicted with people sitting on clouds, plucking their harps and being bored out of their minds for eternity. But what through this image of a wedding feast it is something blissful, enjoyable and full of life. Here there is no pain, no sorrow, reunion with loved ones, seeing the angels, saints, our garden angels, Mamma Mary and of course, God face to face.

And it gets better! God has a special place for you and a special task. God knows each of our temperaments and personalities, provides a place that reflects our person. It surprises people to hear we will have a task in heaven, but it will be something we naturally love and enjoy. How many of us wish we could cook, tend a garden, read, write or have any other hobby as often as we wish? Something of that will be in the task God gives to you. God loves to share his authority with His children and whatever we have been given will reflect who He made us to be. All of this will be in a spirit of joy and gratitude, similar to joyful wedding receptions.

I am aware that some have attended wedding receptions which were boring or rather unfit for Jesus and Mary if they walked through the doors! But looking beyond these experiences, we see this image of a wedding feast used by Christ to describe eternal life. And is that not enough to excite you at least a little bit?

This is why we follow Christ and live our faith in this valley of tears, because there is a celebration waiting beyond our wildest imaginations. It will be worth enduring everything in this life because we will have all that I have described, and the best gift of all will be seeing the Lord face to face.

God bless,

Fr Ben