31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 prayer those who have died recently including Margaret “Rita” McNaughton, June Bouchard and all those mentioned in Our Book of Remembrance.

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.

Veterans Appreciation Mass

This Saturday, November 11^th at 9:00 a.m. we will honour our veterans.  The veterans who are present will be invited to stand for a blessing.  Veterans are encouraged to wear their blazers and medals. 

Regular and Reserve Force personnel and Cadets are invited to attend in uniform. 

Book of Remembrance

The parish Book of Remembrance is in the church proper during the month of November so that you may inscribe the names of those who have gone before you marked with the sign of faith.  Please remember to use your own pen. 

Patron Saint of Widows and Widowers: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

It is customary to celebrate wedding anniversaries.  The witness of a married couple is life giving and a sign of God’s presence. In our parish, many widows and widowers continue to serve God, our parish and the community at large through their witness and living faith. The years of their married life continues to bear great fruit in our midst.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the patron saint or an example for widows and widowers. The universal Church marks her feast day on the day of her death, November 17^th.  On Sunday November 19 (Saturday November 18^th) at all Masses we will thank God for the witness of these many widow and widowers and ask God to bless them.

Preparing for first Holy Communion: Parent Catechetical Meeting # 1

All families who have registered in the preparation process for first Holy Communion are reminded to attend the parent catechetical meeting in November.  Parents will receive a family book and catechesis focused on preparing to celebrate reconciliation (confession). We ask that only parents attend. It is fine for one parent to attend. The parent meeting will be held from 7:30p.m. – 8:45 p.m. This meeting is offered twice, you attend one meeting. You may attend on Thursday November 16^th or Tuesday November 28^th.  You must attend one of the meetings.

All Adults 55+ - Ministry with Maturing Adults

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 November 7^th 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 at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday November 9^th in St. Joseph’s Room.

Youth Ministry

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 next gathering is Friday, November 10^th.

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 next gathering is Friday, November 24.

LIFE TEEN –for high school teens to explore their faith through talks, prayer and friendship meeting monthly on Sunday nights at 4:00 p.m. Our next gathering is Sunday, November 12^th. 

Young Adult Ministry - Theology on Tap

At the Flying Monkeys Brewery (in the Attic Lounge upstairs) on the following Sundays from 6-9:00 p.m.: November 19, 2023 and January 21, March 17, May 5 and June 23, 2024.

Save the Date!  Sunday, December 10^th at 6:00 p.m. here at St. Mary’s Church when we will have a Holy Hour of Adoration in conjunction with a talk from His Excellency Bishop Boissonneau. Auxillary Bishop of the Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Toronto.  Everyone is welcome!

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