Dear St. Joe’s parishioners,
This Sunday’s reflection is offered by parishioner and Oblate Associate Eleanor Rabnett. The reflection is available as a video below, as a pdf document (Christ the King, November 21, 22 2020 ) and in person at weekend Masses. Eleanor shares: “We are invited by Jesus to turn and walk with him as a shepherd, herding the sheep who are lost, who are hungry, who are cold, and who are unable to find a light at the end of their tunnels of life. This in a time where it is frightening to go outside of our own homes and risk finding that virus invading our own bodies; or worse – the fear of spreading an invisible virus with others…I think again of Francis’s dream and invitation to join together with all of God’s children to build a world renewed. He writes: ‘A journey of peace is not impossible… Its point of departure must be God’s way of seeing things. God does not see with his eyes, God sees with his heart. And God’s love is the same for everyone…’”
Eleanor Rabnett’s Reflection:
Allison Warren’s Reflection for Children:
Liturgical Resources
Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe – November 22 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home
READINGS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE
READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Christ the King
Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe – Prayers of the Faithful
Parish Update
Kionyo Tea from Kenya:
Once again we are selling tea from Kenya – tea that is grown in the plantation in the Oblate Parish of Kionyo. Once the tea leaves are picked they are sent to a processing plant where many of the parishioners work, including some of the Oblate Associates.
The tea is harvested and packaged and then sent to us by the Kionyo Oblate Associates to help raise money not only for their parish but also to raise money for the Oblates, the Oblate Youth and the Oblate Associates as they work together to help as many as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to COVID-19 we are not able to repackage the tea into smaller amounts; however these bags can be frozen and then once opened kept in a dark place until you are ready to use it.
We will be selling these bags of tea at St. Joe’s following all of the Masses on the weekend of December 5, 6. Supplies are limited and the cost is $25 for 240 g. of loose tea. You can pay by cash, cheque or money transfer. If you have any questions please email me at rabnete@gmail.com. Thanking you in advance. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate – on behalf of our Associate brothers and sisters in Kenya.
Order Baked Goods and Gifts from the St. Joe’s Supper Table Christmas Catalogue
From homemade spice mixes and rubs, to cakes, loaves, barks, brittles and squares, and even customized ornaments, the St. Joe’s Supper Table Christmas Catalogue has an array of gift options for the holidays. Please consider buying your baked goods or gifts this Christmas from the St. Joe’s Supper Table. All items will be prepared on-site in our kitchen and will be available for pick-up or delivery before Christmas. All proceeds support our community meal service! Download the Christmas Catalogue and order form here: St-Joes-Christmas-Catalogue.
Orders can be placed between November 16, 2020 until December 13,2020. Order Pickup begins December 14, 2020.
For more information, please contact the St. Joe’s Supper Table Manager, Ryan Mitchell: rmitchell@st-josephs.ca
Advent Community Learning Series:
All are welcome to participate in the St. Joseph’s Parish Advent Community Learning Series entitled “From Darkness Into Light.” The four Zoom sessions include an exploration of sacred music, the biblical narratives of finding refuge, an evening of peace and prayer, and reflections on the portrayal of faith and doubt in literature. Info: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/advent-community-learning-series/. Info: Christopher Adam cadam@st-josephs.ca.
Upcoming Announced Noon Masses
- Wed., November 25: Anne Jones — requested by Helen Zettel
- Thurs., November 26: Fr Gerry Morris — requested Roslyn Brown
- Fri., November 27: Xun Chueh — requested Haachen Kuo
Be mindful of any personal requests via email purporting to be from Fr. Jim
Some in our parish may have received an email from a Gmail account purporting to be from Fr. Jim. Please know that Fr. Jim would never reach out to you by email with personal requests, nor does he use a Gmail account. If you receive such an email, it is not from our Pastor and please do not respond to it.
Sunday Offering for November 15, 2020: $6,130. Thank you for your continued generosity! If you are attending Mass this weekend and would like to make a donation, you will find a Sunday offering basket near the main entrance of the church. You can leave your donation here at either the beginning or the end of Mass. If you are not yet returning to St. Joe’s for Mass this weekend or will be away, please consider using Canada Helps. You may choose the Parish fund of your choice through this form: http://www.st-josephs.ca/about/donations/. You can also read more about the donation of securities here.
St. Paul’s Eastern United Church becomes a Respite Centre: Over the years, our parish has often worked together with St. Paul Eastern United Church — our neighbour at the corner of Cumberland and Daly. Some of our parishioners will recall a period when we held joint healing services with St. Paul’s. The St. Paul’s congregation will no longer be worshiping in this building and the church hall is being transformed into a City of Ottawa Respite Centre for the winter. The Centre, staffed by the City, will offer a safe space for homeless populations, and will serve light meals (sandwiches) throughout the day. They will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our Parish, through its own social outreach programs, has offered to partner with the Respite Centre’s work as needed, and we have been invited to discussions and the opening next week. At this time, we also hold the faithful of St. Paul’s Eastern United Church in our prayers as they seek new ways and places to continue living their faith.
An Oblate Vocations Reflection from Fr. Richard Beaudette OMI: “We are invited to know Christ more deeply in relationship with his beloved poor. Falling in love with Christ in the poor and with the poor in Christ will draw us into a deeper desire to serve him in and with the poor…Jesus tells this parable just before his own suffering and death on the cross – the ultimate expression of vulnerability, poverty and marginalization. Our Oblate cross is a powerful reminder to us of Christ’s solidarity with the most vulnerable and our call to be in relationship with them…”You can read the complete Oblate vocations reflection here, starting Friday evening.
A Message from OMRA on Gift Cards:
It’s time to order your December grocery cards and to think about the New Year. Cards ordered by Nov 30th should be available on Dec 10th or 11th. December Christmas gift cards will be available in smaller denominations. Many of you have asked if we could get smaller denominations for you to give as gifts to friends, family and to those in need. For December $10.00 and $25.00 cards will be available from all of our stores – Metro/Food Basics; Loblaws/No Frills/Independent; Shoppers Drug Mart and Farm Boy. Please think about this and let me know if you would like some cards in smaller denominations. We continue to offer the $50 and $100 cards from Metro and Loblaws and $50 cards from Farm Boy and Shopper’s Drug Mart. For more information on the cards or how to donate to OMRA, please contact Donna Rietschlin: dbrietschlin@hotmail.com.
There is an on-going daily protest at the corner of Laurier and Nicholas, leading to the closure of parts of Laurier Ave. East since Thursday. This may effect access to the Parish for some parishioners this weekend. If necessary, please consider alternative routes and allowing a little more time to get here.
To share your ministry news with parishioners, please contact us using the email address below.
Peace,
Chris
..
Christopher Adam
email: cadam@st-josephs.ca
