The local parish in Marystown, NL, Sacred Heart Parish, hosted a fournight Lenten parish mission centered on the theme, “Finding Hope Through the Lenten Season”. From March 15 to 18, 2026, Fr. Tony Bidgood, C.S.s.R., led the mission preaching event, offering reflections that invited participants to encounter Christ more deeply through prayer, repentance, and renewed trust in God’s mercy.

Marystown, located approximately 300 km from St. John’s, NL, is a community of about 5,000 residents.

Despite its size, it is a place marked by faith, resilience, and a deep openness to renewal. Each evening at Sacred Heart Parish, a steady number of people gathered, coming not out of obligation but with a sincere desire to listen, reflect, and be spiritually renewed. The atmosphere was one of quiet attentiveness, where the message of hope found fertile ground in receptive hearts.

Fr. Emmanuel, the pastor of the parish, warmly welcomed us and graciously hosted us in the rectory throughout the mission. His pastoral presence and attentiveness to his parishioners were evident, helping to foster a spirit of unity and openness that carried through each night of the mission.

The mission itself focused on the Lenten call to conversion—not merely as a personal effort, but as a response to God’s initiative of love. Through Scripture, preaching, and moments of communal prayer, participants were encouraged to rediscover hope not as something distant or abstract, but as something rooted in their daily lives and relationships. Many were reminded that even in times of struggle or uncertainty, God continues to walk with His people, inviting them into deeper trust.

We also experienced generous hospitality from the local community, including the sharing of traditional foods such as capelin, toutons (a traditional breakfast made by pan-frying risen bread dough until golden brown and crispy, served with molasses), fish cakes, and a turkey lunch. These moments of fellowship extended beyond simple meals—they became opportunities for connection, storytelling, and laughter, revealing the strength of community bonds.

The simple joys of these shared meals, along with the friendliness of the parishioners—some of whom invited me to play pickleball every morning at 7 a.m. in the local YMCA gym, which I gladly joined—served as reminders of God’s active presence in the ordinary rhythms of life. In these everyday encounters, the message of the mission was quietly reinforced: hope is not only proclaimed from the pulpit, but also lived out in gestures of kindness, welcome, and companionship.

This spirit of mission and renewal continued to unfold within our own Redemptorist community in St. John’s, NL, where Fr. Tony and I serve. From April 13 to 15, 2026, a parish mission was held at St. Teresa’s Parish. This time, the mission was preached by our Provincial Superior, Fr. Santo Arrigo, C.Ss.R., as part of our celebration of the 300th birth anniversary of Saint Gerard Majella.

Over the course of these three days, the parish was invited into a similar journey of prayer, healing, and renewed faith.

Experiencing these two missions—one in a smaller, more remote community, and the other within our own parish setting—served as a gentle yet powerful reminder that hope is never far from home. It is always waiting to be rediscovered—in prayer, in community, and in friendship. These mission experiences stand as an encouragement to continue offering opportunities for renewal within parish communities. Even in different contexts and settings, there remains a profound hunger for the Gospel—a hunger that, when met with sincerity and care, continues to bear fruit in the lives of the faithful.