Third Sunday of Advent

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 prayer those who have died recently including: Lucia Raimondi, Giuseppe Barbaro, Walter Rhodes, Marion McBride, Gary Dagle

Visiting the Hospital: if you or a family member are admitted to RVH please let them know you are Catholic and call the parish office to inform us. If you wish to receive Holy Communion please let the parish office know and one of our pastoral visitors will come to see you.

Celebrating Advent: A Season of Joyful Expectation

Prayer for the Third Week of Advent

Before your meal light three candles on your Advent wreath. If you do not have an Advent wreath you may light a taper before you pray.

As we draw near to you, Lord God, keep us aware of your presence in all we do. Come with power to enlighten us by your grace, that we may live in praise and peace all our days. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 Amen.

Eucharistic Adoration

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is as follows over the 2023 Christmas Season:

Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26 – No Adoration 

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Saturday, December 31 – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church Proper after 5:00 p.m. Mass until 12:00 a.m.

Come and thank the Lord for the blessings of 2023 and ask for continued blessings in 2024.

PARISH SUPPORT FOR 2024

Offertory envelopes are available for pick up in the parish hall.  Please remember to write your name on the envelopes for the first couple of weeks in January.  Thank you for your support.

WHAT A GREAT SUCCESS!

Thank you to all who helped and to those who came out to the Christmas Family Dance and our concert. 

St. Vincent de Paul is very thankful for the $1755 raised at the concert!

PREPARING FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND FIRST RECONDILIATION

All families who have formally registered their child in the preparation process are reminded to participate in the Enrolment ceremony at one of the Sunday (Saturday evening) Masses on December 16 /17. Please remember to bring the ‘lamb’ with you to enrolment. You only participate in enrolment once. Please continue to check your emails for updates and reminders via Flocknote. If you any questions / concerns regarding preparation for the sacraments please contact Catherine Ecker at cecker@archtoronto.org or call 705 728 2985 ext. 115

Parish Advent Confessions

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Monday, December 18^th at St. Mary’s Church

Wednesday, December 20^th at St. John Vianney Parish, 13 Baldwin Lane

Ministry with Maturing Adults: For All Adults 55+

All are welcome to attend the various session offered for those in the second half of life.

VON SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) Exercise Program is held on Tuesday mornings. For details regarding registration please call: VON at 705 737 5044 ext. 221. Please note there is no exercise program on December 26th.

Christian Meditation is an ancient form of contemplative prayer rooted in the Christian tradition. We will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday December 19th on Zoom. All are welcome! 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)

Classic Movies on Thursday, December 21 at 2:00pm. We will be showing the Christmas classic Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Holiday treats and hot drinks are included. All are welcome!

Youth Ministry

M.E.R.C.Y. (Ministry to Educate Roman Catholic Youth) Our next gathering is Friday, January 12^th!

EDGE Our next gathering is Friday, January 26^th.

LIFE TEEN –for high school teens. Our next gathering is today Sunday, December 17^th. 

For more info. on Youth Ministry, please email: stmarysyouthministrybarrie@gmail.com or call Shannon Barks at 705-229-7426.