January 4th Pastor's Message

Read this week's message from Father Don

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Dear Parishioners,

At our family Christmas dinner my sister Joy invited us to “choose a word for 2026.” I chose the word “UNITY” which has a variety of applications, including unity in the world, unity in the Church and unity in the parish. 

Often within a parish, the various groups (school, CWL, Knights of Columbus, liturgical ministries,  formation programs etc.) find it difficult to work together as each have their own goals and agenda. My prayer for 2026 is that everyone in the parish will commit themselves to the one parish goal and work together for its accomplishment. 

The declared purpose of All Saints Parish is “to lead parishioners and non-parishioners into a close relationship with Jesus and his Church.” That is why the parish exists and the future of the parish is dependent upon making significant progress with this goal. 

In leading All Saints Parish, the function for which the archbishop  has appointed me, I often struggle. An effective leader must inspire others to work together toward a common goal and, in this regard, I do not feel very successful. With the help of the Parish Leadership Team and a small group of committed volunteers, I am able to offer in the parish a good range of interesting activities, formation opportunities and enjoyable liturgies. This is not, however, the same thing as a community working together with a shared vision and a common goal.

This February I will turn 71, which means, in four years’ time, I will have to submit my resignation as pastor. It is my fervent prayer that, before I leave the parish, All Saints will have learned how to work together to lead parishioners and non-parishioners into a close relationship with Jesus and his Church.

When considering the future of the Church we need to be realistic about our present reality. In our parish, and throughout the Archdiocese of Vancouver, 80% of baptized Catholics are not at mass on a given Sunday. That is a big problem. Certainly, the Catholic Church will survive for future centuries but will it survive as a strong church or as a weak and diminished church? The answer to this question largely depends upon us.  

For 2026, I do not offer you a pious prayer but rather a serious challenge: Let us set aside our personal agendas and begin to work together in a coordinated and focused manner for the good of the parish. To assist with building this parish unity I intend to re-establish our Parish Council.

My friends, God has gathered us together to become an effective work force for advancing the growth of His Kingdom in West Coquitlam. Let us not be afraid to “strike out into the deep” as Pope John Paul the Great asked us to do. We are God’s own people and his collaborators in the great work of salvation.

Best wishes for 2026!

Fr. Don

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