Saint Patrick's Basilica has a long history in the City of Ottawa, being its first English-speaking Roman Catholic Parish. Your Church was completed in 1875 and was declared a Basilica on Saint Patrick's Day, March 1995.

Beautiful as it is, Saint Patrick's Basilica is primarily a place of worship and repentance - Catholics citywide make use of the confessional at Saint Patrick's. It also serves the downtown core and offers Masses before work (7:00a.m., 8:00a.m.), during lunch (12:15p.m.), and after the workday (4:30p.m.), with confessions before each service.. For directions click here.

Click 21st Sunday OT for the readings.


Will only a few be saved?
Strive to enter through the narrow door.

• Today's 1st reading is from the 3rd part of the Book of Isaiah. It was written when the Israelites had returned from captivity in Babylon.
• In this 1st reading, God promised the emergence of a magnificent Jerusalem, beyond words to describe, to which all the peoples of the world would flock - an obvious prophesy of the Church.
• There are three dimensions to the Church: militant (on earth), suffering (in purgatory), and triumphant (in heaven) - where God's glory is most powerfully seen.
• Will most people in the world (including baptized Christians) enter into the Church triumphant (i.e. be saved)?
• In today's Gospel, Christ provides us with a sobering answer: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough..."
• The "narrow gate" requires us always to choose fidelity to God above all else, and to persevere in this choice. Choosing to live this way does not mean we will not have trials, persecutions, or severe temptations. On the contrary, God allows us to undergo difficulties in order to train us in righteousness, and to help us to mature spiritually. In this way we are forged into the image of His Son (the 2nd reading).
• Am I persevering in my daily life as a faithful and trusting disciple of Jesus Christ? Do I accept sufferings and trials in my life as works of God's grace to mould me into the image of our Saviour?

Processional: SING A NEW SONG ,   lyrics
Offertory:   O GOD ALMIGHTY FATHER ,   lyrics
Communion 1:   HERE I AM LORD ,   lyrics
Communion 2:   JESU JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING ,   lyrics
Communion 3:   PANIS ANGELICUS ,   lyrics
Recessional:   ALL CREAURES OF OUR GOD AND KING ,   lyrics

On September 6th, Labour Day, the Basilica will hold two Masses preceded by confessions. The first Mass is at 7:00 a.m. and then at 8:00 a.m. On Labour Day, the Holy Hour with the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary will be held at 8:30 a.m. (There will be no 12:15 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. Masses.) The Basilica will then be closed at 10:00 a.m. for the remainder of the day. This will include the Giftshop.

Reflections on prayer

"There is nothing more profitable in which any human being can engage than to pray."
To read more click on The Meaning of Prayer by Fr. John A Hardon, S. J.

"Life is about learning how to pray. If the very purpose of human life is to know God and love God in eternity, then the purpose of life is prayer."
Click on The Importance of Prayer by Deacon Doug McManaman

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Fr. Richard Siok reflects on the importance of prayer and spiritual communion in our daily lives. Click HERE (Extracted from homily on 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 18th 2010)

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New books on Prayer at the Basilica Gift Shop

"Speak Lord, your servant is listening" Samuel 3 vs.10

The bookstore presents the writings on prayer of three catholic masters; Thomas Dubay, Timothy Gallagher, and Thomas Green. Let them be your guide as you deepen your relationship with our most gracious and loving God.

Fr. Thomas Dubay is a renowned teacher and writer on prayer and spiritual life with books on getting started in prayer to growing in depth: Prayer Primer, Deep Conversion Deep Prayer, Seeking Spiritual Direction and the Fire Within.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher is a popular Ignatian retreat leader with: An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer, The Examen Prayer (Wisdom for our lives), Meditation and Contemplation and the Discernment of Spirits.

Fr. Thomas Green explains what, why and how to pray in "Opening to God", how to continue when the feelings are gone in "When the Well runs Dry", and how to mature in prayer "Drinking from a Dry Well".

The Battle For Education

The current (July/ August) issue of Catholic Insight is a veritable gold mine of information for anyone concerned with the education of our children. It deals almost exclusively with this vital topic…click on the lead editorial by Fr. Alfonse de Valk entitled: Parents: alarm bells are ringing for your children. Not only is the current movement of many school boards (including Catholic Boards) surrendering to the bullying of the GLBT agitators clearly documented, advice is also provided on what parents can do to stop this trend.

The Catholic Insight issue includes a very pertinent article by Edward Pentin on an alternative program to sex-ed (click HERE to read article online). This program is already being successfully taught in some Latin American and British schools with phenomenal results. The program is called Alive to the World, and is said to be highly effective for pupils, parents and teachers in both Catholic and non-faith schools. Some of the books used in the program are available on their Website. Click on Blondie to see how they present the dangers of pornography to grade 8 boys.

August 2010 - Overview for the Month

The month of August is dedicated to The Immaculate Heart of Mary.



My heart hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, because
He that is mighty hath done great things for me.

For the Liturgical Overview of the month including
Holy Father's prayer intentions, click HERE.

Glorify God by your life:
evangelization and the renewal of the liturgy

"Where does the Catholic liturgy fit in a culture which prizes technology, science and material proof, but has lost the vocabulary to understand humanity's oldest and deepest need: faith in an unseen God?" ...click HERE to read a potent reflection on Catholic Liturgy by Denver's Archbishop Charles Chaput.

Related to this issue, some powerful teachings are available in Understanding the Mass.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet to head Congregation for Bishops

On June 29th, Pope Benedict has named Cardinal Ouellet to the third most senior post in the Vatican. "[This} day of great pride for the oft-beleaguered Church in Quebec and the increasingly confident Church in Canada, that one of our own has been so chosen."

To read more, click on Ouellet's Fast Rise and The Implications of Cardinal Ouellet's Rome Appointment For Canada

Phase 6 of the Basilica restoration involves repairing the north and west sides of the building. One of the buttresses on that side was crumbling and had large holes in the stonework. In order to access this buttress, one of the garages on Gloucester Street had to be demolished.

Click HERE to view progress of this work.

Internationally acclaimed artist and author Michael D. O'Brien discusses our modern world and the great need for institutions that bring light and hope to this world. This address was given during the "Afternoon of the Arts" event held at Saint Patrick's Basilica on May 2, 2010. Mr. O'Brien is also Artist and Writer in Residence at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy (OLSW). He spoke of how OLSW is one of the sources of hope for the modern world, forming and educating young adults in the Truth, and rousing in them the passion to bring it to others.

Let's preserve the Organ that has sustained our musical offering for over 100 years!

St. Patrick's Basilica organ is in desperate need of renovations. The last time when major renovations to the organ were done date back to 1930.

Click HERE to find out how you can help.

New DVD available at the Basilica Gift Shop:

This documentary is about Pope John Paul II's historic nine-day pilgrimage (also referred to as a Pentecost Novena) to Poland in June of 1979 that created a revolution of conscience that transformed Poland. It also fundamentally reshaped the spiritual and political landscape of the 20th Century. Asked if the film is particularly relevant to the United States today, Newt Gingrich said: "Absolutely. If you notice, you can't pray in school; you have to tear down crosses. There are a number of parallels with what the Polish people were struggling against and what the Western elites would like to impose on our country."

To read more, click HERE

Why I Became Catholic: Swimming Against the Tide.
Dr. Tim Lau
Men's Breakfast Presentation
Given at St. Augustine Parish, Ottawa, June 9th, 2007

As G.K. Chesterton once said "only live fish can swim against the current." (or go against the flow). The world is clearly going in a different direction than the Church and God in an increasingly fast way. After going the wrong way for so long, my eyes eventually opened over the course of several years of searching and finding what the heart truly desires.

God's Precious Infants Prayer Vigil Continues
Defend Life - Save the Unborn

Come pray with us

The Helpers of God's Precious Infants, a new pro-life ministry in Ottawa is dedicated to maintaining a prayerful presence in front of abortion sites. A prayer vigil is being held in front of the abortuary at 65 Bank Street, four days a week, during the hours when the abortions take place. The prayer vigils will take place:

from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturdays.

During those periods, people will be there, praying for the unborn, their mothers and fathers, abortion workers and those who pass by - often indifferent to this great injustice. Such public witnessing has been instrumental in changing the hearts of some women seeking abortions, thereby saving babies. Also workers in the abortion industry have quit there jobs because of these actions. - What better prayer initiative?

You can register for the prayer vigil or find out more about the Helpers of God's Precious Infants at www.helpersottawa.org or by calling Campaign Life Coalition, 613-729-0379.

Over 100 books are available on our Web Portal in PDF format, including the Sermons of the Cure of Ars, the complete set of books by GK Chesterton, as well as books by some of the Church Fathers such as Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Therese of Lisieux.

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