John 13:34

Today is May 26 and we begin this beautiful day gathered together in prayer and gratitude with Holy Mass in our chapel and the great gift of the Holy Eucharist. How blessed we are to have Good Shepherd Church walking alongside our school community with such love, faith, and generosity.

With great joy and excitement, we would also like to warmly invite our entire Saint John Paul II Academy community to attend the Consecration of Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Whistler this Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 PM.

This is a beautiful and historic moment for the Catholic community and an incredible opportunity to witness the blessing and dedication of a newly built Catholic church that will serve generations of faithful disciples for years to come. As Catholics, moments like this remind us who we are. We are people of faith, hope, beauty, sacrifice, prayer, and community. We are called to build not only churches of stone, but living churches through the love of Christ within our hearts and within our families.

As Catholics, we are called to be the light of Christ in the world. We are called to love deeply, serve joyfully, forgive generously, and bring hope wherever we go. To be Catholic is not simply something we say. It is how we live. It is how we care for one another. It is how we welcome others. It is how we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in the world around us.

Saint John Paul II often reminded us that we are not called to comfort, but to greatness. We are called to bear witness to Christ through joy, kindness, courage, beauty, and love. The world changes when ordinary people choose to live with extraordinary faith.

Nestled beautifully within the mountains of Whistler, Our Lady of the Mountains now stands as a powerful witness of faith, perseverance, hope, and the beauty of God’s presence in the world. In a time when many speak about division and uncertainty, this church stands as a living reminder that God continues to build, renew, and call His people together.

I recently watched the beautiful 4 minute video, of our Lady of the Mountains,  sharing the journey of this remarkable mission and I was deeply inspired by the faith, love, sacrifice, and determination that helped bring this dream into reality.

We especially wish to acknowledge and congratulate our beloved benefactor Mr. Andy Szocs for the incredible role he played in helping make this vision become a reality. Through his faith, leadership, generosity, and commitment to Christ and His Church, this beautiful church now stands as a place of prayer, healing, hope, welcome, and encounter with God for people from around the world.

What a gift this is not only for Whistler, but for the Catholic Church and for future generations who will enter those doors seeking peace, prayer, and the love of Christ.

We would love to rally our Saint John Paul II Academy families and supporters to attend and be part of this joyful celebration for the Church community. Let us come together proudly as Catholics to celebrate this extraordinary milestone.

Please note that there will be no morning Mass on June 5 as we will instead gather together as a school community to celebrate a special welcoming Mass with His Grace Archbishop Richard Smith. We are very excited and honoured to welcome His Grace to Saint John Paul II Academy for this special occasion.

As a friendly reminder, please save the following 2 important dates taking place on Saturday, June 13 at Saint John Paul II Academy. These are beautiful opportunities for our Catholic community to gather together in faith, formation, fellowship, and support of our children and families.

God’s Creation

Art Exhibition and Book Signing Fundraiser with John Banovich

Saturday, June 13, 2026

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Main Foyer and Atrium

Admission Free

We are honoured to welcome internationally recognized artist John Banovich for this beautiful evening celebrating faith, creation, beauty, and the wonder of God’s handiwork through art.

20% of all sales will support the Saint John Paul II Academy Bursary Program helping families and students within our school community.

This will be a truly inspiring evening filled with art, fellowship, conversation, and community. We warmly encourage all families and supporters to attend and invite friends and loved ones to join us.

Earlier that same day, we are also blessed to host a special Opus Dei Recollection for parents and families at Saint John Paul II Academy.

This meaningful morning will include meditation, adoration, confessions, spiritual reflection, and fellowship as we continue to grow together in holiness through family life, work, prayer, and community.

A special thank you to Julia Dee for her love, dedication, and support in helping organize this beautiful opportunity for spiritual growth and Catholic formation within our community.

Saint John Paul II Academy is also excited to invite parents, students, and members of our school community to participate in our Summer Groundskeeping and Campus Beautification Team.

Colossians 3:23

As our Academy continues to grow, we are seeking hardworking, positive, and community minded individuals who would like to help care for and beautify our campus throughout the summer months.

This is a wonderful opportunity to serve the school, enjoy time outdoors, build friendships, and help create a welcoming and inspiring environment for all families and visitors.

Opportunities include:

• Grass cutting and trimming

• Weed removal and landscaping

• Campus beautification projects

• Outdoor cleanup and maintenance

• Irrigation and field care assistance

• General property stewardship

• Volunteer and paid opportunities available

Participants will be reporting directly to Mr. Ben Sears, who will help coordinate summer groundskeeping schedules, responsibilities, and campus maintenance projects.

Parent Participation Program credits may apply and double participation credits may also be available for summer volunteer service.

If you are interested in participating, please sign up as soon as possible as summer scheduling and projects are now being organized.

This is more than groundskeeping. It is an opportunity to help steward the beautiful environment God has entrusted to our school community while working together in fellowship and service.

May we continue to be a people of love. May we continue to act like Christ. May we continue to bring joy, beauty, kindness, mercy, and faith into the world around us. The greatest witness we can give is to love others as Christ loves us.

John 13:35