Around St. Mary's This Week (21 November 2021)....

A New Liturgical Year: Year C

The Church follows a three-year cycle and on the first Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021 we embark on a new liturgical year. On Sundays during Year C the Gospel reading will most often be from the gospel of St. Luke.  The new Sunday Missal includes a brief introduction to St. Luke’s gospel.

Advent: A Season of Joyful Expectation!

This new season is marked by a change in liturgical colour from green to violet.  The Church reminds us that “Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the first coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.” Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar, par. 39.  During Advent, we are reminded that we are to be ready to welcome Christ in our brothers and sisters and to prepare to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation: God with us.

Celebrating Advent: Join us for Advent Lessons and Carols on Wednesday, December 1st at 2:00 p.m.  You are invited to join us for a time of reflection and prayer as we embrace the season of Advent.

Consecration to the Holy Family – Presented by the Knights of Columbus Council 1626

As we prepare for the Advent and the Christmas Season in these challenging times of COVID-19 to help families live out the joy of Christ, the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Archbishop William Lori has composed a prayer through which families will come together to consecrate themselves under the protection of the Holy Family.

In this prayer, we ask for the aid or intercession of the perfect son Jesus Christ, Mary the perfect mother, and Joseph who is a model for every father.  Information on how to prepare for the Consecration is available as you exit the church. Please join us for this special celebration and Mass on Wednesday, November 24^th at 7:00 p.m. in the church. For more information contact Bill French 416-587-7030.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

École Secondaire Catholique Nouvelle-Alliance, 249 Anne Street North, Barrie.  Tuesday, November 30^th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Book your visit at www.YourFrenchSchool.ca.

Browse the school website at https://esna.cscmonavenir.ca/

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Together, let’s act for the planet and its defenders!  Development and Peace’s annual People and Planet First campaign is inspired by the words of Pope Francis, who says that “a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Laudato Si’, 49). These cries are too often silenced by powerful companies that plunder resources in countries of the Global South, without regard for people’s fundamental human and environmental rights. Many such companies are Canadian. Act to end their impunity now!  On the Campaign day, please sign the petition asking the federal government to enact laws that will compel Canadian companies to conduct due diligence across their overseas operations and that will give the victims of their abuses access to justice in Canadian courts. Visit https://devp.org/en.  For further information contact Becky Johnson at 705-327-9609.

Wedding Anniversaries:  Living and Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage

The expression a wedding lasts a day a marriage lasts a lifetime highlights the importance of celebrating and living marriage vows day after day. The married couples in our parish are a sign to us of God’s faithfulness and through their witness we are strengthened. If you celebrated a wedding anniversary in November we shall pray with you and share in your joy at all Sunday (Saturday evening) Masses on November 28^th. Please join us in thanking God for the gift of the married couples in our midst.

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, November 23^rd on Zoom.

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)

Registration for Confirmation or First Sharing in Holy Communion

Families who participated in the October parent information meeting for Confirmation or first sharing in Holy Communion received a package of material. 

The completed registration form including a legible photocopy of the young person’s baptismal certificate, the Parish Registration Form and the Sacramental Preparation envelope will be accepted AFTER Mass has ended on Nov. 20 /21.

Please note: Registration forms are only accepted after Sunday (Saturday) Mass.

If you have questions about the form or the preparation process please email Catherine Ecker, parish catechist at cecker@archtoronto.org or call 705 728 2985 ext. 115.