Around St. Mary's This Week (1 May 2022)

Catholic Education Week — May 1-May 6, 2022

“Rebuild, Renew, Restore Together”

During Catholic Education Week (May 1-May 6, 2022), we give thanks for the gift of publicly funded Catholic Education in our province. Catholic schools foster supportive communities where young people can experience the joy of God’s love and understand the Christian mission in the world. Together, our parishes, educators and families sow the seeds of faith with the next generation of Catholics, challenging them to live as joyful and faithful disciples. To affirm your support of Catholic education and sign-up for email updates, visit: www.togetherinfaith.ca

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SUMMER CAMPS

After two years of shut-down, SSVP is preparing to re-open camps.

Marygrove Camp for girls - ages 5 – 13.

Ozanam Camp for boys - ages 7 - 12.

Registration Date – Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the parish hall.

You must provide at time of registration: Proof of your child's double covid vaccination and a photocopy of the front of your child's Ontario Health Card.

Spaces and dates are reduced this year. Masks must be worn by everyone entering the hall.

We look forward to serving the children of our community with this opportunity.

CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

For 50 days we celebrate the great feast of Easter! In our parish and homes, we continue to praise our God and celebrate Jesus’ victory over death. Alleluia!

Family Prayer during Eastertime

As your family gathers for meals throughout the season of Easter you are invited to begin by lighting a candle and then praying together.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Alleluia!

God of all joy, We are at this table of plenty celebrating Easter joy.

We thank you for the food we have before us and for those who prepared it.

We remember those who do not have enough to eat.

Bless this food and our time together for you are the God who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!

ST. MARY’S BIBLE CAMP 2022 REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Bible Camp will run from July 4th to July 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily. Please fill out one registration per child attending camp.

Please complete the fillable form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvNzlR5K8VBMrdyI3rKKv6AOMyGsJmCT4JFS_0VsBwWjMShA/viewform

Camp is first come, first serve - so please fill out these forms as soon as possible!

"ShareLife is the way the rubber hits the road. This is how we validate the legitimacy and integrity of our Christian life: not by the words we speak, but by the love we share, in practical ways. That’s what we do with ShareLife.” – Cardinal Thomas Collins

We have raised $48,449 toward our parish goal is $110,000.00.

Today is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously.

MINISTRY WITH MATURING ADULTS

The Ministry with Maturing Adults seeks to support the lifelong faith development of women and men throughout all phases of the pre-retirement and retirement years.  Programs are open to everyone.

VON SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) Exercise Program is held on Tuesday mornings.  For details regarding the program and registration please call: 705 737 5044 ext. 221.

Christian Meditation is an ancient form of contemplative prayer rooted in the Christian tradition. This group meets weekly. Our next session will be online on Tuesday, May 3rd. If you are interested in learning more about this form of prayer or have questions please contact Catherine Ecker. (cecker@archtoronto.org or 705 728 2985 ext. 115)

FINAL MEETING FOR CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES

Reminder to All Candidates Preparing for Confirmation

The final catechetical meeting with candidates and sponsors will be held on May 3rd and May 9th. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. You are to attend one meeting. It is understood that the candidate and sponsor will attend the meeting together. IF, the sponsor cannot attend the parent is to attend.

SHARING IN HOLY COMMUNION:

A Sign of our Communion with God and Union with Others

Beginning on the third Sunday of Easter a number of our young people will begin to share in Holy Communion. They and their parents have been preparing for months. It is valuable for us to review the directives on sharing in Holy Communion.

Our sharing in Holy Communion is a profoundly public personal act. We process forward to share in Holy Communion. It is most definitely a holy union with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is nothing private about the Communion procession.

In 2011, the Canadian Bishops instructed that our common sign of reverence before sharing in Holy Communion be a bow of the head. The ritual does not expect anyone to genuflect, kneel or make the sign of the cross before or after receiving Holy Communion.

At the time of Holy Communion when the person in front of you has received Holy Communion and you are in the front of the procession, you bow your head, the Minister of the Body of Christ will say, “The Body of Christ”, you reply, “Amen”.

It is important to note that the only appropriate response is Amen. The Church expects that Amen is said in a voice that can be heard by the Minister of Holy Communion.

After saying Amen the Minister of Communion places the host in your hand. You step to the side, put the host in your mouth and return to your place.

The Communion procession is a time of communal prayer. We sing the Communion hymn as an outward sign of our unity. We sit or kneel for silent prayer when the priest sits down after Communion.

ALTAR SERVERS

For previous and new young people interested in serving. Important meeting on Monday, May 2nd at 6:30 p.m.

Please contact David Murdoch at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org or call 705 728 2985 ext. 101 and leave a message.