This weekend’s reflection is offered by parishioner Mike Britton, both as a video and in-person at our weekend Masses. Mike shares: “You are a child of God and a face of Christ. Whoever you are, you are worth loving. You don’t have to earn God’s love…God gives without condition or price. You can be as much a channel of God’s peace as anyone. Watch. Be alert. God’s tender and infinite love is coming.”
Reflection for Children by parishioner Alex Ng:
Liturgical Resources
First Sunday of Advent – November 29 2020 – Liturgy of the Word for use at home
READINGS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
READINGS FOR CHILDREN – First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent – Prayers of the Faithful
Parish Update
Christmas Schedule and Online Registration — We are asking all parishioners and visitors who plan to attend Christmas Masses (December 24-25, 2020) to register in advance online. This will help us to ensure that we do not exceed the reduced capacity limits. To see the Christmas liturgical schedule and to access the registration links, please click here.
25th Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Eugene de Mazenod — Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Eugene de Mazenod was born in France, in Aix-en-Provence, in 1782. As the son of a noble family, at the age of 8, when the French Revolution broke out, he had to flee to Italy. Upon his return to France, when he was 20 years old, he began to lead a frivolous life until he began a process of conversion that culminated in a deep experience of encounter of Christ before the image of the Cross. Moved by the disasters that the Revolution had caused in the Church and in the people, who had not received religious formation for decades, he entered the seminary and became a priest in 1811. After realizing that working alone would not give good results in his ardent pastoral work, he founded the Missionaries of Provence in 1816 which, 10 years later, in 1826, will be approved by the Pope with the new name of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was appointed Bishop of Marseille in 1837 and sought to renew the diocesan life of that important city, while leading the Oblate Congregation and sending missionaries throughout the world. He died in holiness on May 21, 1861. His process of beatification and canonization began in 1926. He was beatified in Rome by Pope Saint Paul VI on World Mission Sunday, October 19, 1975.
“What do we want to know of a saint? … We prefer to know his human side rather than his mystical or ascetical traits. We want to discover in saints whatever brings them closer to us rather than what sets them apart. We want to put them at our level as human beings, plunged like us into circumstances that can at times be far from edifying, sharing our toil and perhaps, too, our misery. That way, we stand the chance of having confidence in them – we can share with them the common and burdensome state of earthly experience.” Pope Paul VI
He was canonized by Saint John Paul II, also in Rome, on December 3, 1995.
“Let us give thank to God for the great transformation that took place through this bishop. His influence is not limited simply to the era in which he lived – it continues even in our day.” Pope John Paul II
If you want to learn more about St. Eugene de Mazenod, I recommend “Living in the Spirit’s Fire” by Fr. Alfred A. Hubenig, OMI. You will find a copy in St. Joe’s Parish Library (BV8300.0249 1993). If the copy is out on loan, I have an extra one in my office available for parishioners. — Fr. Jim
A note of gratitude to the Parish: “Dear Fr. Jim and the entire St. Joe’s community — Thank you for your spiritual accompaniment and prayers during our daughter, Mary Angéline’s surgery and recovery in the NICU at CHEO during the month of August and beyond. Your support helped us through this difficult time and we are so, so grateful. God Bless you all!” — Sienna & Charles
Announced Noon Masses:
- Wed., December 2, 2020: Jeannine Gagnon and Paulette Chénard, who are ill, requested by Louise Lalonde.
- Thurs., December 3, 2020: Thanksgiving for the successful ending of a project, requested by Louise Lalonde
- Fri., December 4, 2020: For Grace Cross and Cross Family requested by M. Lamont
Bishop Doug Crosby OMI is presenting a series of Advent reflections this year. The series is available on YouTube and is entitled Journey Through Lent. lHere’s the link to info on the CCCB website.
Marsha Wilson and the Women’s Centre in the Ottawa Citizen: Marsha Wilson, the Director of the St. Joe’s Women’s Centre was recently featured in the Ottawa Citizen. See here.
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 [email protected]. Thanking you in advance. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate – on behalf of our Associate brothers and sisters in Kenya.
Sunday Offering for November 22, 2020: $6,652. 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.
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: [email protected]
Advent Community Learning Series: Many of our parishioners and some from the broader community registered for our Advent Community Learning Series. Those registered for the first session, ‘Exploring Faith and Doubt in Literature,’ have been sent readings and resources by email. If you would like to still register for this session, please contact Christopher Adam directly ([email protected]) to ensure that you receive the readings in time. Zoom registration for sessions 2, 3 and 4 is still open. More information here.
Mass of Thanksgiving for Archbishop Terrence Prendergast’s 25 Years of Episcopal Office is scheduled on the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., at the Cathedral. Attendance is by invitation only. Please see the Archdiocese’s website for upcoming information on livestreaming.
Mass of Inauguration of Archbishop Marcel Damphousse’s Ministry as Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall: On the titular feast of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, December 8. Attendance is by invitation only. Please see the Archdiocese’s website for upcoming information on livestreaming.
Oblate Vocations Reflection by Fr. Vijay Deivanayagam OMI: “The word ‘wait’ comes from the Hebrew ‘qavah’ which means enduring patiently in the confident hope that God will act decisively for the salvation of his people… Those who wait in true faith are renewed with strength so that they can continue to serve the Lord while looking for his saving work.” Read the full reflection here: https://omilacombe.ca/become-an-oblate/
To share your ministry news with the Parish in an upcoming Parish Update, please contact Christopher Adam: [email protected].
