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Dear Parishioners,

This past week, I traveled to Upstate NY to attend my annual IVE Formation Meeting. This year, Fr. Gustavo Lombardo, who was with us in March, presented his new book in Spanish, De espaldas a Dios: Guía de discernimiento para la Nueva Era, el Yoga y otras espiritualidades posmodernas (Turning One’s Back on God: A Guide to Discernment Regarding the New Age, Yoga, and Other Postmodern Spiritualities). The book will soon be available in English. The book explores several topics in depth, including Gnosticism, Freemasonry, the New Age, Yoga, Mindfulness, and Reiki, among others. It is particularly timely because many people, often innocently, seek ways to relieve stress through these practices that appear to promote mental and physical relaxation but also involve spirituality rooted in Eastern religions and can be dangerous. These practices deserve careful discernment in light of our Catholic faith. An example cited in the book is Fr. Joseph Marie Verlinde, who ‘became involved in Transcendental Meditation in 1969; practiced yoga intensively; and lived in Indian ashrams for three years (from the age of 24 to 27), under the guidance of a guru, where he came to experience that ‘fascination with the void’ that led him toward the dissolution of the self.’ After an initial calling from God, ‘upon returning to his country, he discovered that he had mediumistic powers and eventually realized that he was possessed by a demon during a Holy Mass celebrated by an exorcist.’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHoKWxp8Imo&t=266s ). Fr. Gustavo mentions that (besides Fr. Amorth and Ripperger) ‘several contemporary exorcists have testified to specific cases in which practices such as Yoga, Mindfulness, and Reiki have been linked to phenomena of demonic oppression or possession. Among them are Fr. Juan José Gallego and Fr. Javier Luzón (Spain), Fr. Vincent Lampert and Fr. Gary Thomas (United States), Fr. Ghislain Roy (Canada), and Fr. Luis Escobar (Chile). They agree in warning that, although these practices are often considered ‘neutral,’ they involve a spiritual openness that can become a genuine gateway to the extraordinary action of the Evil One.’ These are not ‘neutral’ disciplines! Fr. Verlinde says: ‘I remember the guru’s amused smile at Westerners’ reasons for practicing yoga: relaxation, stress relief, self-control, and so on. His response, in essence, was: ‘You are amazing! You practice these sacred techniques seeking effects that are merely peripheral to us, and you pay no attention whatsoever to the profound transformations they bring about within you… That is your choice. Your ignorance of, or lack of interest in, these deeper effects will not prevent these techniques from producing in you what they were designed to achieve.’

To help us discern about these dangers, the Pontifical Council for Culture released a Document “Jesus Christ, the bearer of the water of life. A Christian reflection on the ‘New Age’” ( https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html ) The Document mentions that the new age, which encompasses these disciplines, is ‘a modern revival of pagan religions with a mixture of influences from both eastern religions and also from modern psychology, philosophy, science, and the counterculture that developed in the 1950s and 1960s’ It will always be pantheistic because it identifies God with the world. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin contributed greatly to the development of the new age through his pantheistic ideas. This is why we have retreats on nature and man trying to discover itself as part of God through self-conscience. The Vatican condemned the writings of Fr. Teilhard on at least two occasions (1957 and 1962). Let us ask our Blessed Mother to protect us from these dangers and help us to remain faithful to Jesus and His Church.             Fr. Gaston Giacinti, IVE.

WEEKLY NEWS

Pray for our Holy Father Pope Leo

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops joins the faithful across Canada and throughout the world in praying for the swift and complete recovery of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV following his surgery on 13 October 2026. According to the medical statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the operation on Tuesday involved the removal of the lower lobe of the Holy Father’s right lung. Examination of tissue during the procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The surgery was completed successfully and without complications.

Andrew Roelands Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate. Everyone is invited to participate and pray for our seminarian the Ordination Mass will be on Friday Oct. 23, at 7pm at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains by Bishop Daniel Miehm.

Sacramental Preparation 2026–2027

Classes are at St. John parish
•First Reconciliation & First Communion:

Saturdays at 2:30pm
•Confirmation: Thursdays at 3:45pm

For more info contact Sr. Inmaculada 705 977 6479.
RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Classes are at St. John parish on Saturdays at 2:30 pm For more info contact M. Asterone 249 688 0930.

In depth Study on the Most Holy Eucharist 

Class Reminder for Thursday Oct 29^th from 7-8 pm at St John. For more details contact Daniel Rozario 647 928 6414 DanielRozario@live.com
Bible Course on the Book of Psalms

Discover the Heart of God. The psalms will strengthen your faith, encourage your heart, and help you draw closer to God in every season of life. Oct 19 to Dec 15 Classes will be on Mondays 6:30 – 8pm at Sacred Heart Parish Hall facilitated by Sr Dorothy Nzekwe, SOLI to register contact srdorothy@solisisters.ca 

705 313 6905 cost $75.00

D IOCESAN & O THER NEWS:

St Peter In Chains Bicentennial Misson

The Cathedral of St. Peter-In-Chains will be hosting a Bicentennial Mission entitled “Into the Heart of the Canadian Martyrs” presented by Fr. John O’Brien, S.J., Director of Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland.  Join us for weekend Mass on Saturday, November 7th at 5:00pm, OR Sunday, November 8th at 7:30am, 9:00am or 10:30am.  On Monday November 9th & Tuesday, November 10th, join us at either 11:00am OR 7:00pm for Mass and Talk. Everyone welcome!

Peterborough Campus Ministry exists to accompany students at Trent University and Fleming College. If you are a post-secondary student and are looking to deepen your faith, join a vibrant community of students and young adults, or are simply curious about Catholicism and the Catholic Church, then you belong in our chaplaincy! Register to join our contact list.  www.ptbocampusministry.ca

P RAYER FOR THE S ICK

Specially for baby Micah and our homebound.