September 2025 at our parish is filled with meaningful events and celebrations. Weekly Sunday Luncheons resume on September 7, and the Parish Annual General Meeting will take place on September 14 following Divine Liturgy. Major feast days include the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (Sept. 11), the Nativity of the Theotokos (Sept. 20–21), the Exaltation of the Cross (Sept. 26–27), and the Patronal Feast of Blessed Saint Xenia of Petersburg (Sept. 27–28), featuring a Hierarchical Liturgy with Archbishop Gabriel and a festive luncheon. A new website section offers practical guidance on church conduct, confession, and communion preparation.

During Passion Week, we experience a journey through various lands before reaching the Holy Land. Finally, on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, we enter Jerusalem with Our Lord. During the Divine Services of Passion Week, we experience the Gospel account of our Lord's passion, death, and Resurrection at the Midnight Paschal Matins.

During Great Lent, Orthodox parishes make special efforts to conduct the Mystery of Holy Unction, also known as the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament provides both physical and spiritual healing through holy oil that has been blessed by the Holy Spirit. At the end of the service, each person's body is anointed with this oil, and the grace of God is invoked to heal both their soul and body. Please make every effort to attend this important service as part of your Lenten and Holy Week preparations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Great Lent begins on March 3rd, this coming Monday, and as a growing parish, our Council, led by Fr. Oleg, hopes to bring us all closer together by following the traditional practices of our Orthodox Faith.

St Xenia Parish has a long-standing tradition of hosting the annual Blini Fundraising Luncheon. On behalf of the Warden, the Head Sisterhood, and the Head Brotherhood, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who helped make the Blini Fundraising Luncheon at the start of Maslenitsa week a success for our community and those who attended.

On Sunday, February 23, St. Xenia Parish in Kanata will host its popular annual Blini Fundraising Luncheon. There are still some tickets available, so don’t miss out! To secure a spot for yourself, your family, and friends, please contact Michael at starosta-warden@stxenia.ca. Participating in this pre-Maslenitsa (Butter Week) tradition is a wonderful way to enter Great Lent. The event will feature a full blini menu, along with live music and entertainment. We hope to see you this Sunday after Divine Liturgy!

St. Xenia Parish Council, Sisterhood and Brotherhood are organizing a Parish Blini Fundraising Luncheon. A traditional Russian meal, featuring blini and red caviar, will be served. The proceeds from this luncheon will support the parish and those in need. We encourage all St. Xenia parishioners to attend and invite their friends. Tickets are priced at $50 for adults and $25 for children under 10. Please purchase your tickets in advance, well before February 23.