Upcoming Events

April 26, 27, 28, 2024
Formation/Induction/Renewal Promises

Please register by
Friday, April 12th, 2024.

Spiritual Motherhood of Priests (SMOP): An invitation to any Catholic woman
interested in becoming a Spiritual Mother of Priests. Formation Weekend and
Induction/Renewal Promises Mass—April 26, 27, 28 2024 at St. Maurice Parish, 4 Perry St. Nepean, Ont.

It is obligatory that new women interested in becoming Spiritual Mothers of Priests complete registration form.

More info: 613-254-7220

  • Friday, April 26, 2024 — 4-8 p.m. (coffee/tea is served with snacks during break)
  • Saturday, April 27, 2024 — 9-4 p.m. (bring your own lunch—coffee/tea is served with snacks during break)
  • Sunday, April 28, 2024 Induction/Renewal Promises Mass at 2 p.m. (we will take a few pictures afterwards; light refreshments in the atrium)

We recommend that current spiritual mothers attend the Formation Talks as a refresher.

Induction/Renewal Promises Mass is obligatory to attend unless sick or homebound. Thank you!

Spiritual Motherhood of Priests Apostolate
has a few events during the year!

Spring
Obligation

All new women wishing to become spiritual mothers are to go through a
1 ½  days of Formation; a few weeks later, they profess their life-offering promises
to God before the Archbishop of the diocese during the Holy Mass and Induction
Ceremony.  Please cursor up on this page to find out the details of the Induction event.

Fall
Obligation

The SMOP Apostolate holds an annual conference on the last Saturday of every
September. This is a time for spiritual development for all spiritual mothers to
come together in solidarity for our mission. (obligation for spiritual mothers only)
This annual conference is also offered to all laity, priests, seminarians and
religious.   Please cursor up on this page to find out the details of the annual Conference.

Winter

Throughout the winter months there may be one or two “in-person” or “zoom”
meetings (duration: at the most 2 hours) with the spiritual mothers to come
together as “One” for spiritual reflection with a “question and answer period”. We
may have a guest speaker at these meetings. Below are some excerpts written by
“Steven John Lichtman, a student of theology from 2005, though just as important
and relevant today.

The importance of RETREATS: “A retreat refreshes and revitalizes, gives the opportunity for
more time spent in prayer and contemplation, and rekindles and deepens one’s relationship with
God. One may take this opportunity to more clearly hear God’s call and to seek God’s healing
grace and thereby attain a degree of spiritual renewal.”

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert praying and fasting as a way to prepare for the important
work ahead…. including our spiritual mothers where we can be “little Mary’s). “Very early in
the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place,
where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him,
they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You!” (Mark 1: 35–37; see also Luke 4:42) He
undertook His solitary respite not when there were no other important matters to tend to, but
because of the essential need to make time for prayer despite all the things to be done.
Sometimes Jesus would spend an entire night in retreat: “In those days He departed to the
mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12). And, this is also
relayed: “The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.

Past Events

September 30th, 2023
12th Anniversary Conference

12th Anniversary Conference (8-4 p.m. with closing Mass at 5 p.m. celebrated by Bishop Yvan Mathieu, S.M., Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa-Cornwall)

Spiritual Mothers – Our yearly obligation!
Please note that the conference is also opened to all Priests, Religious and the Laity!

Conference begins at 9 a.m. sharp.  We kindly ask you to please arrive early!  Thank you!

Registration Required as indicated on the left of this page.

Honorary Speaker: Professor Daniel O’Connor
Daniel O’Connor is a professor of philosophy and religion for State University of New York (SUNY) Community College. Originally an engineer, Daniel changed careers and went on to receive his Master’s degree in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT. Daniel lives in New York with his wife and five children. His personal website can be found at www.DSDOConnor.com. He is the author of THE CROWN OF SANCTITY: On the Revelations of Jesus to Luisa Piccarreta;  THE CROWN OF HISTORY: The Imminent Glorious Era of Universal Peace and THY WILL BE DONE: The Greatest Prayer, The Christian’s Mission, And the World’s Penultimate Destiny.

Merchandise Tables Opened During Breaks and Lunch Hour – Cash or cheques to “Spiritual Motherhood of Priests”

smop-2023-conf-poster-FINAL_page-0001

June 2-4, 2023
Formation/Induction/Renewal Promises Mass Weekend

Spiritual Motherhood of Priests (SMOP): An invitation to any Catholic woman 
interested in becoming a Spiritual Mother of Priests. Formation Weekend and 
Induction/Renewal Promises Mass—June 2, 3, 4, 2023 at Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr., Kanata, Ont. 

Please register by email to spiritualmotherhoodottawa@gmail.com by Wed. May 24th.
More info: 613-254-7220

 

Friday, June 2, 2023 4-8 p.m. (coffee/tea is served with snacks during break) 

Saturday, June 3, 2023 9-4 p.m. (bring your own lunch—coffee/tea is served with snacks during break) 

Sunday, June 4, 2023 Mass at 3 p.m. (we will take a few pictures afterwards)

It is obligatory that new women interested in becoming Spiritual Mothers of Priests complete registration form on this page and attend Induction Mass.

We recommend that current spiritual mothers attend the Formation Talks as a refresher. Please complete registration form on this page as well if you are attending.

Renewal Promises Mass is obligatory to attend unless sick or homebound. Thank you!

September 24th, 2022
11th Anniversary Conference

Obligatory for all spiritual mothers— the 11th Anniversary Conference (11:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.) will be held on ZOOM–registration required. After confirmation of registration, link for Zoom will be sent out the day before conference.

Please note that the conference is opened to all men, women, priests and religious. 

Honorary Speakers:

Fr. John Vandenakker was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. Since then he has belonged to a new community of priests known as the Companions of the Cross. Some of his previous assignments include:
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology / Spiritual Director, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI (2012 – present)
Pastor of Queen of Peace parish, Houston, TX (2008-12)
Assistant Professor of Theology, Dominican College, Ottawa, ON (2000-2008)
Moderator of the Companions of the Cross (1997-2000)
Pastor of St. Maurice parish, Ottawa, ON (1993-1997)
Other parish & community assignments & teaching (St. Paul University, Ottawa, ON + St. Augustine Seminary, Toronto, ON)
Fr. John lives in residence with his fellow Companions of the Cross priests and seminarians at Visitation House, Detroit (in the former P.I.M.E. Residence & Office). On Sundays he assists with Masses at various AoD parishes.

Fr. Roger Vandenakker Before joining the Companions of the Cross as a founding member in the summer of 1984 he was completing his B.A. in Religious Studies at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. Having been born and raised in Ottawa, he attended St. Pius X High School, and was a student of Fr. Bob Bedard. He was closely associated with him throughout his high school years as a member of the St. Pius X charismatic prayer group which he oversaw. He began meeting with Fr. Bob and three other young men in the summer of 1984 after having returned to Ottawa to enter the seminary, having discerned a call to the priesthood the previous summer. At that time the purpose of this group was simply to provide mutual support in their common vocation to the priesthood through weekly meetings involving common charismatic prayer and personal sharing and fellowship. By the following May, 1985 it became clear to them that the Lord wanted to establish a new community of priests, as a real brotherhood with a common life, spirituality and mission. At present, he is the General Superior of the Companions of the Cross.

smop-2022-conf-poster-rev1-1

June 25th, 2022
Obligatory for Renewal Promises from the Spiritual Mothers

You are invited to the Mass and Renewal Promises on Saturday, June 25th (Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) at 2 p.m.

Holy Redeemer Parish
44 Rothesay Drive
Kanata, Ontario

download-min

September 25th, 2021
10TH Anniversary Conference

Obligatory for all spiritual mothers—Due to Covid-19,  the 2021 Conference (11:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.) will be held on ZOOM–registration required.  After confirmation of registration, link for Zoom will be sent out the day before conference.

Please note that the conference is opened to all men, women, priests and religious. 

Honorary Speaker:

Peter Herbeck is the vice president and director of missions for Renewal Ministries. For more than thirty years, he has been actively involved in evangelization and Catholic renewal throughout the US, Canada, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Peter is a co-host for the weekly television program The Choices We Face. He also hosts the daily radio show Fire on the Earth. He is a frequent conference speaker, has authored When the Spirit Comes in Power and When the Spirit Speaks, and has produced CDs and booklets about discipleship and life in the Spirit. Peter and his wife, Debbie, have four children and seven grandchildren, and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

September 15th, 2021
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

SMOP is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting to recite Our Lady of Seven Sorrows; Litany and Consecration Prayer in honour of Our Patroness.

Time: Sep 15, 2021 07:00 PM America/Toronto

Join Zoom Meeting
(Meeting Ended – Link Removed)

August 15th, 2021
Mass and Induction Ceremony

Obligatory for New Promises and Renewal Promises from Spiritual Mothers— 
Registration will be required– https://holyredeemerkanata.flocknote.com/signup/62817

Sunday, August 15th, 2021 at 3 p.m.   (Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady)

Holy Redeemer Parish
44 Rothesay Drive
Kanata, Ontario

September 26th, 2020
Zoom SMOP Conference 2020

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Ralph Martin, PHD:  President of Renewal Ministries

Theme:  “Staying Grounded in Times Such as These”

ZOOM Meeting from 1-5 p.m.

With short talks from Bishop Scott McCaig, CC, Military Ordinariate of Canada

And Fr. Roger Vandenakker, CC, General Superior of the Companions of the Cross

September 28th, 2019
SMOP Conference 2019

Guest Speaker:  Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC

Theme:  Our Triumph through Mary

 

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont. Canada

Closing Mass:  5-6:00 p.m. with Fr. Donald Calloway

 

September 29th, 2018
SMOP Conference 2018

Guest Speaker:  Matthew Arnold

Theme:  Our Lady of Good Success  …..  Prophecies for our Times

 

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont. Canada

Closing Mass:  5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Bishop Christian Riesbeck

 

September 30th, 2017
SMOP Conference 2017

Guest Speaker:  Fr. Philip Scott, Founder of Family of Jesus (Peru) 

Theme:  Inner Healing 

 

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont. Canada 

Closing Mass:  5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  

Bishop Scott McCaig, CC,  Military Ordinariate of Canada   

September 30th, 2016
SMOP Conference 2016

Guest Speaker:  Fr. Wade Menezes, Fathers of Mercy (Kentucky, U.S.A.)

Theme:  THE  FOUR  LAST  THINGS

 

Friday, September 30, 2016   1-5 p.m.  and  7-9 p.m.  AND  Saturday,  October 1st, 2016   8-4 p.m.

Closing Mass:  5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont. Canada

September 26th, 2015
SMOP Conference 2015

Guest Speaker:  Fr. Simon-Felix Michalski, OP  (Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.)

Theme:  “Called to Mission:  One Heart-One Mind”

 

Closing Mass:  5-6 p.m.

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont.  Canada

 

September 27th, 2014
SMOP Conference 2014

Guest Speaker:  Sr. Ann Shields, SGL and Renewal Ministries  

Theme:  The Love of God 

 

Closing Mass:  5-6 p.m.  with Archbishop Terrence Prendergast

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont.  Canada

 

September 27th, 2013
SMOP Conference 2013

Guest Speaker:  Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe, EWTN  

Theme:  “Standing up for our faith” 

 

Friday, September 27, 2013 –Day of Reflection for all priests, deacons and seminarians  –  1-5 p.m. 

Saturday, September 28, 2013  —  open to all men and women  —  8-4p.m. 

Closing Mass:  5-6 p.m.  Archbishop Terrence Prendergast 

Holy Redeemer Parish, 44 Rothesay Dr. Kanata, Ont. Canada 

 

March 2nd, 2013
SMOP Booth – Renewal Ministries

Please visit our booth at the Renewal Ministries “Lift Jesus Higher Rally” at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario on March 2, 2013.

 

September 29th, 2012
SMOP Conference 2012

Invites ALL  WOMEN  to  our 1st Annual Conference on  AUTHENTIC  FEMININITY  AND  SPIRITUAL MATERNITY FOR PRIESTS  entitled  “BECOMING  A  LIFE-GIVING  WOMAN”

Guest speaker:  Mary Kaufmann, Director of Incarnate Institute

Saturday, September 29, 2012     8:00  to  4:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church  (parish hall)
100 Young St. (at Bayswater)
Ottawa, Ontario