Welcome to www.praypraypray.ca
Trout Creek and South River
DAILY MASS Sacred Heart of Jesus Church,
Trout Creek, located at: 165 Main Street West, Trout Creek, Ontario
Monday 8 am Adoration, 9 am Mass
Tuesday 8 am Adoration, 9 am Mass
Wednesday 8 am Adoration, 9 am Mass
Thursday 8 am Adoration, 9 am Mass
Friday 8 am Adoration, 9 am Mass
Saturday 5 pm Mass
(20 mins before mass - confession)
Sunday 11:00 am Mass
(20 mins before mass - confession)
St. Augustine's Church
South River located: 23 Isabella St, South River.
Mass Time:
Sunday at 9:00 am
(20 mins before mass - confession)
Office Hours
Wednesday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Administrative Assistant: Erin O'Rourke
Bookkeeper: Laurie Dobbs
Parish office email contact:
office@sacredhearttroutcreek.caParish office -
Pastor: Fr. Isaac Ogwu -
Cell: 705-928-0167 - Email: ogwuisaac4@gmail.com - Rectory: 165 Main Street West, PO Box 25 - Trout Creek, Ontario, P0H2L0 - Phone: 705-723-5352
Organizations:
Catholic Women's League in
Trout Creek
Knights of Columbus in
Trout Creek/Powassan
Council - # 7308
Father Isaac's Reflection for Sunday July 25th, 2026
Thank you Father Isaac, our Shepherd
REFLECTION ON 17TH SUNDAY OF YEAR A 2026.
The first reading presents us with the figure of king Solomon, the son and successor of David. It presents him at the beginning of his reign, when he was still very young - inexperienced. Solomon inherited a very demanding task and the responsibility that lay heavily on his shoulders.
He first offered solemn sacrifice, a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon - approximately six miles northeast of Jerusalem, where the Mosaic Tabernacle was located. The instance of a thousand burnt offerings is a hyperbole, meant to heighten the reader’s appreciation for Solomon and his commitment to worship God.
That very night the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said to him, ask whatever you want. And here we see the greatness of Solomon’s heart. He did not ask for longevity, wealth or elimination of his enemies, that were typical of kings of the Bible. Instead, he said Lord give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. And the Lord is so pleased with him: gave wisdom, riches and honor too. Solomon became famous throughout the World for his wisdom and right judgement.
Solomon gives the impression that he is-humble and little before God and pleads for understanding. Biblically, the heart is the center of a person, a place of decision making. Understanding heart therefore means a conscience that knows how to listen, that is sensitive to the voice of the truth, and for this reason can discern right from wrong.
In our society today, truth has been compromised. The philosopher Tom Morris wrote that many words used to name what he calls ancient goods have been twisted and degraded to modern counterfeits: wisdom is confused with cleverness, character with personality, reputation with fame, pro -life with anti pro choice.
Cultural relativism maintains that every society has the right to determine its own standards of right and wrong, of honour and shame, of virtue and vice. The labels in circulation are misleading, and they mislead our thinking by concealing the true nature of the things they name. We live in an age which tells us that euthanasia is mercy, and abortion is free choice. We live in an age that says opposition to same sex is bigoted intolerant.
Anyone who is so progressive as not to remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God, whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son-(2Jn.9).
At the heart of all sin is pride, the pride that makes itself the arbiter of right and wrong.
St. Pope John Paul II said man’s history of sin begins when he no longer acknowledges the Lord as his Creator and himself wishes to be the one who determines with complete independence, what is good and evil.
Solomon’s request was motivated by the responsibility to lead Israel, God’s chosen nation, to show the world his saving plan. The kingdom of Israel had to try always to be in tune with God, listening to his Word, to guide the people on the paths of Lord, the path of justice and peace.
However, Solomon’s example is valid for everyone. Each one of us by the virtue of our baptism is a king. And we are to exercise great human dignity by acting in accordance with upright conscience, doing good and avoiding evil. Solomon teaches us to always put God first. In Matt.6:33 seek you first the kingdom of God, and every other thing will be added unto it.
We live in a culture that puts work, success and relationships before God. But the quality of our life and social life depends on the upright conscience of each of us, on the capacity to recognize wrong from right.
The moral conscience is the ability to hear the voice of the truth and be docile to it. An erroneous mentality suggests that we ask for favourable things and conditions, but the quality of our life and social life depends on the upright conscience of each of us, on the capacity to recognize wrong from right.
With three parables in the Gospel, we complete the chapter we began two Sundays ago. The fundamental element in a parable is the element of a metaphor. The kingdom of God, which is unknown, is compared to something that is known. Thus, the kingdom of God is like. There is in every parable a literal point-what it means itself and a metaphorical point-what it refers to. The purpose of the parable is pedagogical. The parables challenge us to look at the future and present.
The first two parables: the Hidden Treasure and the pearl of great value, underscore the same point. Both stress that the kingdom value is inestimable, and surrendering earthly attachments is required to obtain it. It may entail literal poverty of religious or spiritual poverty of those whose state in life involves ownership of property.
St. Ireaneous said Christ Himself is the greatest treasure hidden within the field of the Old Testament Scriptures. Only in the light of his cross and resurrection can the mysteries of the Old be fully understood to announce the advent of God’s Son.
The kingdom of God is God himself, immanent-transcendent. God hides his kingdom, presence and activities in the world. God hid his Son in the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary,on the cross, the treasure is hidden in the here and now in the appearances of Bread and wine, in the Church, in creation and in us.
This self-concealment of God is a case of hide and seek. It is seeking someone who longs to be found. In a moment the hidden God shows up and triggers a moment of astonishment and joy. Boom one is ready to strike off everything to acquire this treasure.
Like St. Francis of Assisi who stripped himself in front of his father and followed the poor Christ. Doctors and Engineers leaving their work to join religious orders. In Ph 3:8-9 St. Paul said I regard everything as loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have let everything fall away and I now consider all as garbage, in order that I may gain Christ.
In the parables, both gave up everything to get the treasure. What is one good thing in my life that might be keeping me away from the best - from Jesus? Time on TV, time on phone, relationship?
The kingdom of God is both demanding and rewarding. It is not something that comes easily without a price. To accept it may be to give up certain habits and ways of life. But it is the only way to peace of mind in this life and in life to come eternal life.
The parables emphasize the importance of prioritising eternal treasures over temporary ones. They challenge us to evaluate our priorities and invest our time and energy and resources in things that have eternal value. Wealth,power and success are not evil, we should enjoy them, but not too attached to them. We must detach ourselves from them and attach ourselves to God.
Remember the harvest: the net will be sorted, live now as good fish-putting God first. Using His commandments as a standard in making your choice.
May we not be like the proprietor who did not realise that his field was a treasure and sold it cheaply to the first bidder or the woman who had a precious pearl and did not realise its value and gave it to the first merchant passing for a collect of false pearls.
The Golden Arrow
Holy Face of Jesus
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Adorable Face of Thy Beloved Son, for the honour and glory of Thy Holy Name, for the conversion of sinners and for the salvation of the dying.
www.praypraypray.ca
Almaguin Highlands in the Region of Parry Sound
W E L C O M E
Thank you for visiting us at www.praypraypray.ca
We are a Catholic family striving to ~ pray, pray, pray ~ every day. Our prayer group is open to all who want to make it a joy to pray to our Lord God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We pray for Peace ~ For the intentions of God, who has a plan for us. We need to be a part of His plan. When we show Him that we are here, then we can present Him with our "YES".
* Click on the Blog page for more information such as dates and time we meet.
* Click on the My Area page for a map you can zoom in to find us.
Our Lady has instructed us to "Pray until it becomes a joy for you" She continues to call upon her children because she is Our mother who loves us. In many messages to the world, Mary the Mother of Jesus has requested us to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.
For more information take a peek at this website and feel free to email, call or text anytime.
Parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Trout Creek,
St. Augustine's Church in South River,
Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Burks Falls,
St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Kearney.
Please join us in regular prayer of the rosary!
Powerful Prayer
Psalm 91 & Psalm 51
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offence.
Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my offence; my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned;
I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.
Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow.
Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt.
A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power.
Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise.
For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept.
My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart.
Make Zion prosper in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifice, burnt offerings and holocausts;
then bullocks will be offered on your altar.
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offence.
Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my offence; my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned;
I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.
Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow.
Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt.
A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power.
Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise.
For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept.
My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart.
Make Zion prosper in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifice, burnt offerings and holocausts;
then bullocks will be offered on your altar.
The first Cenacle Prayer Group
The Last Supper by Stefanie Krajinovic
Contact Me
Prayer Group Times Contact us for more information.