The parish community of Saint-Léon de Westmount marked its 125th anniversary with a Eucharistic celebration led by Archbishop Christian Lépine, who invited the faithful to reflect on a theme at the heart of Christian life: faithfulness.

Preaching on the Gospel call to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” Archbishop Lépine emphasized that discipleship is not first about what we do or what we accomplish, but about identity and who we are. Christ, he noted, does not primarily ask us to do, but to be. To be his disciple is to live from an interior authenticity—an abiding presence rooted in commitment and faith.

In a culture often marked by noise and urgency, the Archbishop suggested that the world stands in greater need of authentic presence than of multiplied words or gestures, even amid illness or personal trial. Doubt, he observed, can paralyze more deeply than uncertainty. Yet the assurance of Christ’s living presence restores hope and renews the desire to rise, to walk forward, and to live with purpose. “There is a presence,” he reflected, “which by the very fact of being present tells us that life is worth living.”

Archbishop Lépine also spoke about love freely given. To love, he said, is to offer oneself generously and to become a source of joy for others—not in pursuit of recognition, but as a natural outpouring of faithfulness. The world, he added, needs men and women who believe that love is worth giving, and whose faithfulness is rooted in Christ.

As St. Léon Parish celebrates a century and a quarter of Christian life in Westmount, the Archbishop encouraged parishioners to continue fostering a community marked by solidarity, faithfulness, and a living witness that nourishes all who belong—a place where Christ’s teaching is lived, proclaimed, and shared.

“There is no greater gift in life than to be a disciple of Jesus,” he concluded, “for whatever may come, it renders life worthy of being lived, loved, and given.”

Maribel Mayorga
Press Officer, Archbishop's Office and
Director, Communications and Media relations
Archdiocese of Montreal