23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul Annual Collection

Next weekend, September 16/ 17, 2023 it is the annual collection for The St. Vincent de Paul Society here in St. Mary’s Parish. We are able to support our clients only through the generosity of our parishioners.

We continue to provide gift cards from Giant Tiger on Cundles. Each client receives a $25.00 card for food, toiletries and/or cleaning items. For example, if there are 4 family members in the home, they will receive $100.00 every OTHER month. We wish we could do more, however we have limited resources. Our conference issues $10,000.00 of cards each month.

Thank you to everyone who supports us on a regular basis.  We accept cash, cheques, payable to Society of St Vincent de Paul, St Mary’s, and e-transfers. Please use the poor boxes at both the front of the church and the side door, or drop off your donation to the parish office. For e-transfer -ssvpoffice@gmail.com.On behalf of our Ministry and our clients, thank you for continued support for the less fortunate in our community.

Praying for the Sick and Faithful Departed

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 including Rita Stephenson.

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.

Altar Server Training

We invite all children in grade 4 and up who have received First Holy Communion to become an altar server in the parish.

Training is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12, 2023 from 6:00-7:00pm in the church.  No need to register.  For any questions, please email David Murdoch at dmurdoch@archtoronto.org or call the parish office.

Parish Building Maintenance

Beginning next week, we will have the cracked concrete tiles by the front entrance of the church repaired.   This will be done in phases to allow for access throughout construction.  Please be careful entering and exiting the church.  The side doors will be accessible. Beginning Wednesday through to Friday this week, we will have specialized duct cleaning for all of the vents in the building. Last week repairs were done to our roofing membrane which should provide us with another 2-3 years of leak proofing.  The above building maintenance items are costing the parish $40,000.  Thank you for your generosity.

Vitamin F: Come Learn and  Explore Our Place of Worship

Tuesday September 12 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Each Sunday (Saturday evening) we gather to celebrate Mass together. Being at home and comfortable in our place of worship is important. Join us for a conversation and tour of our worship space. Use this opportunity to ask questions and see the church from a different space.   We will have some simple refreshments available and conclude by 9:00 p.m. All are welcome.

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.

Christian Meditation is an ancient form of contemplative prayer rooted in the Christian tradition. We will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12 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).

Alumni Writing Group:  this is a gathering for those who have already completed the Life Story Writing program. The monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Room.

Wednesday, September 27 at 12:30 p.m. Join us for lunch with food provided by the Mandarin. The cost is $20.00.  You must get your ticket in advance.  Tickets will be available beginning September 9, 2023.   Join us for conversation, fellowship and good food. There will be a 50 /50 draw.  Proceeds will go to St. Vincent de Paul Society. Questions: contact Catherine Ecker at 705 728 2985 ext. 115.

Hold the Dates: October 25, November 22 , December 5 and December 13.

Stay tuned for more details!

Barrie - Days for Girls

Our Team is back creating components and packing up kits to be sent to menstrators in developing countries.  Workshop is Wednesday, September 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the church hall.  We welcome new volunteers.  There are non-sewing, sewing and serging jobs.  Please pre-register with Ann at 705-305-4875 or Evelyne at 705-722-6675.

Youth Ministry

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, families and campers for making this year's Edge camp at Camp White Pine such a success! We are looking forward to continuing to foster the friendships made at camp throughout the school year.  Please save the following dates!

M.E.R.C.Y. (Ministry to Educate Roman Catholic Youth) is for youth grades J.K.-4 and 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 Kick-Off night is Friday, Sept. 15! 

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 Kick-Off night is Friday, September 29.

LIFE TEEN – for high school teens to explore their faith through talks, prayer and friendship meeting monthly on Sunday nights. Our Kick-off Night is Sunday, September 17 at 4:00 p.m.  

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

Preparing for Confirmation in Eastertime 2024

An Information Meeting for Parents and Young People

There will be an information meeting for parents and young people who were born in 2011 or earlier, 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 at the church beginning at 7:30 p.m. You may attend on either Tuesday, September 26^th or Thursday, October 5^th. 

Preparing Young People for First Holy Communion

An Information Meeting for Parents

There will be an information meeting for parents of children who were born in 2016 or earlier, baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and would like to prepare to begin to share in Holy Communion.  The parent meeting will in the church and begins at 7:30 p.m. You are asked to arrange for childcare so you may participate fully. You may attend on either Thursday, September 28^th or Tuesday, October 3^rd. 

Please note: You only attend one of the meetings for First Holy Communion or Confirmation. You do not need to register for the meeting.

Questions?: please contact Catherine Ecker at 705 728 2985 ext.115 or email: cecker@archtoronto.org.