Fr Jim’s Reflection & A Parish Update for the 3rd Week of Advent

As we move through Advent, Fr. Jim Bleackley  offers the reflection for the 3rd Sunday, ”It is important to have a critical eye, but if it not balanced with a sense of wonder, it could easily become a destruction force that would do more harm than good. It is this sense of wonder that helps us experience God in our midst, the one who rejoice over us with gladness and who is shaping and renewing us with divine love. It is the sense of wonder that fills our minds with new possibilities, and allows each one of us, like the people in today’s gospel, to ask the question, “what should we do?” Also, it is the sense of wonder that opens our hearts to hear God’s answers to our question. ”

Liturgical Resources

Third Sunday of Advent – December 12 2021 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home

READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – 2021

READINGS FOR CHILDREN – Third Sunday of Advent – 2021

Third Sunday of Advent 2021 Prayers of the Faithful

Mission Prayer

Vocation Reflection (Dec 12)
By Susai Jesu, OMI – Vocation Team
“Joy is also a natural byproduct of a life full of purpose and meaning flowing from having discerned God’s will and vocation for us that utilizes our gifts and talents, and offers us the opportunity to be creative. To make way for joy in the Lord also calls us to surrender ourselves to God in prayer, especially the prayer of gratitude.  By making “way” for joy we are making straight the path of the Lord in our lives.  Therefore, let us cheer up and share a smile with others. One smile in public is worth ten before a mirror – for it keeps joy in circulation.”
Read the reflection here (published on Wednesday December 8): https://omilacombe.ca/become-an-oblate/

Parish Updates

Advent Reconciliation Services

Advent Reconciliation Services will be held Monday, December 13, 2021, at 12:00pm & 7:00pm.  In the Spirit of Reconciliation, this year’s service will focus on Indigenous Reconciliation. There will be an opportunity for personal confession.

Service of Lessons & Carols for Christmas: St. Joe’s Supper Table Fundraiser

St. Joseph’s Parish Music Ministry is holding a Service of Lessons & Carols on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in our church. Admission is free, but freewill donations to support the outreach programs of the St. Joe’s Supper Table will be accepted with gratitude. The Service tells the story of the Fall of Adam, the faithful wait for the arrival of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus through music and readings. The Service will include arrangements of carols performed by the choir as well as congregational singing.  Face masks and COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place. This is the Supper Table’s only significant fundraising opportunity this year. With an expanded meal service (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and higher costs, any donations raised at this service will be greatly appreciated. Please share information on this service with your contacts and if you can, please consider attending.

A St. Joe’s Fundraiser for Kateri Native Ministry

In support of Kateri Native Ministry’s work in Reconciliation and healing, St. Joseph’s Parish has launched a special fundraising campaign that will run through Advent. We invite parishioners and friends in the broader community to contribute to this special collection – all proceeds will be given to Kateri Native Ministry at the end of our parish campaign. Additionally, St. Joseph’s Parish will match parishioner contributions to Kateri by up to a total of $10,000. You will be able to track the progress of this fundraising campaign on our parish website each week.

Total raised to date: $5,705.00 For more information, please click here.

Indigenous Peoples and the Church: Walking Together Toward Healing and Reconciliation

Each week, beginning on Sunday, 21 November 2021, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the CCCB will release a video recording of a Bishop in Canada reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday of Advent. This year’s reflections were developed in view of the Indigenous Delegationtravelling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis has been postponed due to COVID-19. Each reflection is based one of the five essential stages of reconciliation: examen, confession, repentance, reparation (making amends), and reconciliation. Likewise, it is hoped these reflections will assist the faithful, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, in preparing for Pope Francis’ eventual apostolic journey to Canada. The topic for the Third week of Advent is about Intergenerational Effects.

LINK: https://www.cccb.ca/evangelization-catechesis-catholic-education/video-resources/journey-through-advent/

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Link: Advent and Christmas Schedule

Christmas Mass Registration

Currently, the capacity limit is set a 200. Please register every individual of your family attending this Mass in advance. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact the Front Office: 613 233 4095 ext 251 or frontdesk@st-josephs.ca.

Christmas Eve Mass 5pm registration form

Christmas Eve Mass 7pm registration form

Christmas Eve Mass 9pm registration form

Christmas Day Mass 11am registration form

Christmas Poinsettia Donations

Parishioners are invited to donate a poinsettia in memory of a loved one to help decorate our church this Christmas. The suggested donation is $20, or you may purchase your own. If you purchase a poinsettia, please bring it to our Front Office on weekdays or to church on weekends after December 15th, to ensure that the flowers remain healthy during Christmas season. If you prefer to offer a donation towards the purchase of a poinsettia, please visit the Front Office in person (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call in your credit card information: 613-233-4095, ext. 251). We will include the names of loved ones both on our website, as well as on cards displayed with the flowers in the church.

St Joe’s Parish Oral History Series with Terry Byrne

Kathleen Allan & Klaus Ruhland – Memories of St. Joseph’s Parish Long-time parishioners Kathleen Allan and Klaus Ruhland share their memories of this Oblate parish community.

St Joe’s Young Adult Ministry

Pizza Party after University Mass on December 12th

Join us for a pizza party to celebrate the end of the fall semester after University Mass on December 12th, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! Please register with Chris and indicate any dietary restrictions. Email: cadam@st-josephs.ca

Front Office News

2021-2022 Missals are available for purchase, $5 cash or cheque. Please contact the Front office if you would like to purchase one: 613-233-4095 or frontdesk@st-josephs.ca.

2021-2022 Donation Envelops will soon arrive. However, if you no longer use envelops but have in the past, please inform David Trepanier in the Front Office: 613-233-4095 or frontdesk@st-josephs.ca.  To pick up your envelops, please contact the Front Office.

Other News

Sunday offerings for December 5th, 2021: $5,094

Mass Intentions

December 15, 2021:  Rosalinda Ramos Raymundo

December 16, 2021:  Ronald Wellwood

December 117, 2021: Kevin Campbell

Prayers for those who are sick: Francis Anne Smeaton, Jane McGarry

Prayers for those who have died: Daniel Robin, Dr. Stefan Lukan

Please contact Kathleen in the Front office (kstrader@st-josephs.ca) to add a name to the prayers for the sick & deceased.

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