Around St. Mary's This Week (17 October 2021)....

Praying for the Sick If you or a family member is sick please let us know and we shall add their name to our prayer list which is posted in the gathering space of the church.

We remember in pray those who have died recently Donald Lalsingh and Irene Echerria

Ministry to the Hospitalized If you or a family member are hospitalized please contact the parish so you or they may receive a pastoral visit.

With Burning Hearts:  4th Annual Parish Ministry Conference

A virtual event from October 26 to 30, 2021 sponsored by the Office of Formation, Archdiocese of Toronto.  Registration is now open, there is no cost for this event. Details are available at https://www.archtoronto.org/conference

Living the Gospel by supporting seminarians.  We must pray for good and holy priests. But we must also ensure they are equipped with an excellent educational and spiritual formation, which is why your gift to ShareLife supports St. Augustine's Seminary. The future of our Church, and the essential pastoral care provided by our priests, depends on our generosity. October 31 is the next ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously during the special collection or anytime at sharelife.org.

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 beginning dates and registration please call: VON at 705 737 5044 ext.221.

Christian Meditation meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. The next session on Tuesday, October 19th will be in person in St. Joseph’s Room. Please remember to wear your mask. If you are interested in learning more about this form of prayer please contact Catherine Ecker. (cecker@archtoronto.org or 705 728 2985 ext. 115).

Stories of Living with Joy!

Wednesday October 20^th

from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of stories, conversation, and humour. Our facilitator will be Jim Dunn, an author, husband, father and grandfather. Jim uses storytelling, music and poetry to engage people with humour and down to earth content while providing a message that is reflective and life-giving.

Simple refreshments will be provided. Free Will Offering. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect during Covid!

SPECIAL THANKS!  The Knights of Columbus Council 1626 are pleased to announce that the collection of cash, cheques and gift cards was $3200 which represents about 6400 pounds of food.  If you didn’t have a chance to give, you can drop off your Barrie Foodbank donation at the Parish Office. God bless you all!

EDGE is a youth ministry program for youth grades 5-8 to come together once a month on a Friday from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  EDGE is a safe, fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith and most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way.  Our next gathering is Friday, October 22^nd.YOUTH MINISTRY

LIFETEEN – for high school teens to explore their faith through talks, prayer and friendship meeting monthly on Sunday nights. Our next gathering Sunday, October 24^th after the 4:00 p.m. Mass.  Dinner provided.

M.E.R.C.Y. (Ministry to Educate Roman Catholic Youth) is for youth grades J.K. to Gr. 4and gathers once a month on Friday nights from 6:00-7:30 p.m. where we explore our faith in a dynamic way through activities, games, crafts and music.  Our next gathering is Friday, November 12^th. Registration required. 

For information on our Youth Ministry please email stmarysyouthministrybarrie@gmail.com or call Shannon Barks at 705-229-7426.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY COLLECTION

Next Sunday, October 24^th  there will be a collection for the Evangelization of the Nations, otherwise known as World Mission Sunday. This is a worldwide collection for the missionary Church and it is our opportunity to assist at-need Catholic communities around the global. Our offerings are combined with those of other Catholics around the world and distributed to missions and dioceses. We are called to share from our abundance with those who are less fortunate and lack the basic essentials to know, love and praise God.

There is an envelope in your offertory box for this effort and also preauthorized givers will have been sent an envelope.  There are additional envelopes in the foyer and side entrance.  

Thank you to all for your commitment to the church’s mission.

Important Information

Meetings for Families!

Preparing for Confirmation in Eastertime 2022:

An Information Meeting for

Parents and Young People

There will be an information meeting for parents and young people who are currently in grade 7 or older, baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and would like to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Participation in an information meeting is essential. Details regarding the preparation process, registration and the celebration of Confirmation will be shared at the meeting. The meeting will be in the church on Tuesday, October 19th at 7:30 p.m. masks are required and physical distancing will be maintained.

Preparing Young People for

first Holy Communion:

An Information Meeting for Parents

There will be an information meeting for parents of children who are currently in grade 2 or older, baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and would like to prepare their child to begin to share in Holy Communion. The meeting will be in the church on Thursday, October 21st at 7:30 p.m., masks are required and physical distancing will be maintained. You are asked to arrange for childcare so you may participate fully.  Questions regarding the preparation process for Confirmation or first sharing in Holy Communion please contact the parish catechist: Catherine at 705 728 2985 ext. 115 or Email: cecker@archtoronto.org

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE

All ladies of the parish are invited to attend on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall. Our guest speaker will be Ernestine Baldwin an Indigenous elder in the community and lector at St. Mary's, who has agreed to speak to us about “The Seven Grandfather Teachings” of Indigenous culture.

This weekend, is CWL Membership weekend. Please use the envelope provided in your offertory box for your $25 fee.  You may hand it in to a member of our executive after Mass or drop it at the parish office.  Please write your full mailing address, telephone number and email address on your envelope so that we can double check the accuracy of our records.  Thank you!