Around St. Mary's This Week (29 May 2022)

June is Senior’s Month in Ontario

CELEBRATING CONFIRMATION

At 7:00 p.m. on May 31st we will celebrate Confirmation with our young people.

Candidates and sponsors are reminded to arrive for 6:40 p.m.

You are asked to pray for the young people, their sponsors and families.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Bake Sale on Saturday, June 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Donations of baked good can be dropped off after 1pm on Friday June 3rd in the church hall. All donations are appreciated!

ALTAR SERVERS

If you are interested in serving at Sunday (Saturday evening) Mass we invite you to attend and information/training meeting on Monday, May 30th at 6:15 p.m. If you have questions, please contact David Murdoch at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org or call 705 728 2985 ext. 101 and leave a message.

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST: JUNE 4/5, 2022: WEAR RED!

Pentecost Sunday marks the end of the Easter season. We celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the beginning of the Church. This day is often described as the ‘birthday of the Church’. All parishioners are invited to add to our celebration of Pentecost by wearing red to church. There are many different shades of red – the vibrant colour and the different shades will be a visual reminder to us of the diversity of our God given gifts and talent.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost you are invited to pray this prayer throughout the week.

WHY NO BELLS?

The Roman Missal (2011) indicates that bells are rung during the Gloria during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and again during the Gloria at the Easter Vigil.

The Roman Missal does not make provision for the ringing of bells during the Gloria at Mass during the Day on Easter Sunday. Likewise, there is no provision for bells to be rung at the Masses of Christmas (Vigil/ During the Night/Dawn/Morning).

Now that the Mass is celebrated in such a way that people can see, hear and understand what is happening at the altar, the need to attract their attention by ringing a bell no longer exists. In fact, to ring bells may give the wrong impression of the Eucharistic Prayer. The institution narrative (the story of Christ’s words and actions at the Last Supper) is one part of the whole prayer of thanksgiving and belongs with the praise of God’s wonderful saving deeds, the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the memorial of Jesus’ death and resurrection and our joining in Christ’s offering.

Theologians no longer talk about a ‘moment’ of consecration; rather the whole of this great prayer is consecratory. To highlight just one section by the ringing of bells affects the unity and continuity of the Eucharistic Prayer. Bell ringing during the Liturgy of the Eucharist could also appear to deny that the Liturgy of the Word itself is sacramental. It is not merely a warm-up or an introduction to what follows. Like all other sacramental actions, the Liturgy of the Word in all its parts, including the homily, is an encounter with God through which God enacts the work of salvation. “Christ is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for he promised: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). (SC 7). God, Word made flesh, is really and substantively present in the Word equally to the presence of Christ made present in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and this presence is also in the ‘people gathered’ and in the ‘minister’.

SHARELIFE

Our third ShareLife Sunday collection is next weekend, June 5. Our parish goal for this year’s campaign is $110,000. Thus far we have received $67,243. Please give generously during the special collection or at sharelife.org.

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF YEARS!

It has been three years since we have been able to hold a meeting during the month of June which is considered Seniors’ Month. All adults in the second half of life are invited to join us on Wednesday, June 15th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. There will be refreshments, time to renew friendships, meet new people, music, door prizes and an opportunity to share ideas for programs and events.

MINISTRY WITH MATURING ADULTS

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 on Zoom on Tuesday May 31st 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) All are welcome.

The Next Chapter Network is a faith-based support network for women who are widowed. The network encourages and empowers widows to move forward into a positive future. This group is not a bereavement support group and is not intended to replace the Bereavement Support Group at St. Mary’s Church. The next meeting will be on Monday, June 13th at 7:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Room. If you have any questions please contact Catherine Ecker (705 728 2985 ext. 115 or email cecker@archtoronto.org)

CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICES

Men’s Sheds Information Session

What are Men’s Sheds? Men get together for activities like woodworking projects, cooking, bike repairs, and watching the playoffs. Men’s Sheds provide a gathering place for men of purpose, usually involving a workspace for those who don’t have one, a place to change the world, a helping hand.

20 Anne Street S., Saturday, June 4

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. all welcome

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. interested men only Information or to register, email jwickens@cfssc.ca or call (705) 726-2503 ext. 104.

Please contact the parish office if you had a Garmin GPS stolen from your car with 65 Amelia Street as the home address