Dear parishioners,
A heartfelt thank you for coming in such great numbers – we were almost 200 people – to our annual Christmas dinner! To our gracious hostess Nadine, who organized, shopped, planned but most importantly, made us all feel welcome at the event! Her enthusiasm and patience set the tone for the evening and reminded us that we belong!
I am also grateful to be part of this parish family. Throughout all our difficulties, both personal and communal, your tremendous faith has strengthened mine and left me humbled.
I cannot help but feel an even greater sense of belonging seeing to what extent you went to make the evening special for me! Last Tuesday December 11, I celebrated 20 years of priesthood and boy, did you surprise me! I don’t know how 200 plus people managed to keep the secret from me but I had absolutely no idea we would be celebrating my milestone that night! The little touches of love that were added were very meaningful to me: the pelican design on the cake was the one I had on my ordination card, the Annunciation you chose as my gift is the one I have on as wallpaper on my phone…
I must also admit that incorporating the nativity play into the Christmas Dinner was a wonderful idea and set the tone for the evening. The beautifully decorated tree on the stage is now the backdrop in many family photos. The evening left me feeling very humble and loved.
Thank you I needed it!
How fitting that this third Sunday of Advent God commands us “Rejoice!”
We have much to be joyful for! Thank you for the reminder,
Father Robert Clark
Pastor
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 2018
CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24
7 pm & 9 pm
CHRISTMAS DAY
December 25
10 am
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
December 31, 5 pm
January 1, 10 am.
OFFICE SCHEDULE: the office will be closed from
Monday December 24 to Monday January 7 inclusive
Thank you: our ADVENT Angel tree is bare! Please bring your gift in this weekend! Please do not wrap the gifts but put them in a gift bag and attach the gift card to the bag. This will make it easier for the staff at the Father Dowd Residence to distribute the gifts. DRIVERS WANTED: to bring the items to the Father Dowd home, preferably this Tuesday December 18th (Wednesday is a possibility). Please call or email the office to set up a day and time convenient for you.
FUNDSCRIP ORDERS are in! Please see Father Robert after Mass if you had placed an order.
HELP WANTED: TAKE ST JOSEPH HOME!!! As of next weekend, he is homeless! Please consider taking him home for one week, along with a prayer card, to pray for vocations within our parish family. A sign-up sheet is available at the main doors of the church. Thanks to Saint Brother André, Montrealers have enjoyed a special relationship with St. Joseph. How about you? Why not bring the statue home one week? The parish will be the richer for it!THANK YOU: our ADVENT Angel tree is bare! Please do not wrap the gifts but put them in a gift bag and attach the gift card to the bag. This will make it easier for the staff at the Father Dowd Residence to distribute the gifts. Please place gifts under the tree by Sunday December 16th. DRIVERS WANTED: to bring the items to the Father Dowd home on Tuesday December 18th. Please call or email the office to set up a time convenient for you.
2019 Weekly donation Envelopes: If you used our donation envelopes in 2018, your 2019 box is ready! Boxes can be found in the main entrance of the church, in alphabetical order. Please note that your number may be different from last years. Need more information about envelope usage. Please feel free to contact the office or speak directly with Father Robert.
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 2018
CHRISTMAS EVE, December 24, 7 pm & 9 pm
CHRISTMAS DAY, December 25, 10 am
HOLY FAMILY, December 31, 5 pm
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, January 1, 10 am.
OFFICE SCHEDULE
the office will be closed from
Monday December 24 to Monday January 7
inclusive.
DECORATE THE SANCTUARY by making a donation towards our Christmas flowers in memory of a loved one or for a personal intention. Include your donation in an envelope marked “Christmas flower donations” along with your intention and your name for tax receipt purposes. Drop your envelope in the collection basket along with your regular donation. Names of loved ones and other intentions will be included in upcoming holiday bulletins.
Thank you for your response to the CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD on Sundays. One parent remarked that it was nice to see people without young children volunteer for the task; it gave her a chance to sit through the first part of the Mass undisturbed. Last week, Lori-Ann sat in on the class; will you volunteer this week? Or next? A signup sheet is available near the classroom, which is at the top of the stairs at the parking lot entrance.
Our Children’s MASS BOOKS are a hit!!! Thank you for making use of our latest endeavor to bring the Mass to life for our kids. A few of our copies have gone missing! Please check if your little one has not brought one home accidentally. Copies to borrow and return are available at the pews near the main doors of the church.
WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE
PLEASE ENTER BY 71 ROOSEVELT ONLY.
The main doors will be shut until the spring.
Monday – no Mass
Tuesday – 7 pm
Wednesday to Friday – 8:30 am
Something revisited! CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Does your youngster like to sing? Have them join the children’s choir! For children ages 6 to 12. We are looking for parents and/or teenagers who play the guitar or piano to accompany them. A sign-up sheet is available at the main doors of the church or email the office.
Over $300 worth of empties in 2018! Thank you for making this parish project a success. Thank you Wayne for your initiative and dedication to our parish family!