11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 16, 2024)

Farewell Fr. Savio

Next weekend, June 22/23rd is Fr. Savio Bruto da Costa’s last weekend here at St. Mary’s Parish.  You are invited to come and personally offer your good wishes and thanks for his dedicated service to our parish community and bid him farewell.  The Catholic Women’s League will be serving cake and refreshments after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Timbits and refreshments after all the other Masses.

The Offertory Collection

We require people at each Sunday (Saturday evening) Mass to assist with the offertory collection. There is a simple protocol to follow which allows for a smooth process. There is no schedule, you are asked to sign in before Mass begins. If you have any questions or are able to assist with this important ministry please speak with David Murdoch or send him an email at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org.

The Procession of the Gifts of Bread and Wine

At each Sunday (Saturday evening) Mass two people carry the gifts of bread and wine to the altar. These two people represent each of us as we offer to God the gifts of bread and wine and the gift of our own lives.

The individuals carrying the gifts are to be Catholic and have celebrated their first Holy Communion. If you wish to carry the gifts of bread and wine it is important to arrive early for Mass and to speak with Catherine Ecker or David Murdoch.

Celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with Children

We will celebrate a separate Liturgy of the Word with children on Sunday, June 23^rd during the 12 noon Mass. All children between the ages of 4 and 8 are invited to participate. The children and leaders are sent after the Opening Prayer and they return during the Preparation of the Gifts. 

Looking for Leaders:  We are seeking leaders for the 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Masses starting in September.  If you are interested in becoming a leader or have questions please contact David at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org.

June is Seniors’ Month: Celebrating the Gift of Years!

All adults in the second half of life are invited to join us for lunch on Wednesday, June 19^th at 12:00 p.m. to celebrate and give thanks for the gift of years.

We will provide soup, buns, and beverages. You are invited to bring either a salad, main course, finger food or dessert to feed four. Join us for fellowship, good food, and door prizes as we celebrate the gift of years!   To assist with planning please sign up this weekend after Mass and next weekend, June 15 /16 or contact Catherine Ecker at cecker@archtoronto.org or call 705 728 2985 ext. 115.  All are welcome!

All Adults 55+ - Ministry with Maturing Adults

VON SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) Exercise Program is held on Tuesday mornings. Please note: there will be no class on July 2^nd. For details regarding registration please call: VON at 705 737 5044 ext. 221.

Christian Meditation is an ancient form of contemplative prayer rooted in the Christian tradition. We will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 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)

Join us for Classic Movies at St. Mary’s Parish.

Our next movie is this week on Thursday, June 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the parish hall.

We will be showing Agatha Christie’s mystery classic Witness for the Prosecution (1959) directed by Billy Wilder. Suspense and comedy are neatly woven into the murderous plot with Charles Laughton giving one of his greatest performances as a barrister who matches wits with the key witness and wife (Marlene Dietrich) of the defendant (Tyrone Power).  Snacks are included and all are welcome! Any questions please contact David at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org.

Are You Interested in Becoming a Catholic?

The journey towards becoming a full member of the Catholic Church includes time for prayer, catechesis (teaching) and conversation. The initiation process is for those who are not baptized and for those baptized in another Christian tradition and seek to be full members of the Catholic Church.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of the Catholic Church please contact Catherine Ecker at 705 728 2985 ext. 115 or email: cecker@archtoronto.org.

Baptism for Children Over the Age of 7

The preparation for baptism of children over the age of seven is distinctly different than the process for infants and young children.  If you are seeking baptism for your child who is seven years of age or older, please contact Catherine Ecker (cecker@archtoronto.org) for details on the preparation process.

Our Labyrinth

As part of the 2010 renovation project a labyrinth was laid in 2011. The labyrinth is located directly in front of the main doors of the church.  It is 43 feet in diameter with 8 circuits. Four benches are placed on the perimeter of the labyrinth. A labyrinth combines the imagery of a circle and a spiral. A circle is infinite that God’s love and a spiral draws us deeper into our relationship with God. A labyrinth is often called a walking meditation.  A labyrinth is not a maze, you cannot ‘get lost’ in the labyrinth, when you reach the centre you then walk out and the entrance becomes the exit. If you would like to learn more about walking the labyrinth please contact Catherine Ecker at 705 728 2985 ext. 115 or Email:cecker@archtoronto.org.

Parish Library

We invite you to stop by and visit our parish library.  Spend some time browsing and select titles of inspiration, faith, and hope to read over the summer holidays.  We are open weekday afternoons and Sundays.  Our collection has adult and children books, DVD’s and CD’s. 

A huge thank you to Yvonne Rattray for her time, talent and dedication maintaining our wonderful parish library!  

Yvonne has volunteered in our parish library for over 25 years and is now stepping down from this volunteer position.  We wish you all the very in your future endeavours!