Around St. Mary's This Week (2 January 2022)

With best wishes for the coming year...

As we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, we reflect with gratitude that we are able to gather in person to celebrate our Faith. We have so much to be thankful for in St. Mary’s Parish.

To our music ministry, led by Shannon Barks, who have enriched our liturgies and to our lectors and communion ministers who have served over these months, a heartfelt thank you for all you do! Thank you also to those who bring communion to our nursing homes, care facilities, and to all shut-ins! To Nadia DeAmicis and Bernice Scian who decorated the front entrance planters, to Paul Spicer and John Barks who installed the “Joy” decoration and Christmas lights, and to Yvonne Hargreaves who co-ordinated the decoration of the church at Christmas. A thank you to Jeanette Binsfeld who takes care of our votive candles. A special thank you to Susan Scarff, David Murdoch and to Catherine Ecker for ensuring the safety of our worship space and our contact tracing procedures.

We are so grateful for our Parish Schools: Principals, Teachers, Administration and Staff who continue to work on the front lines in Catholic Education. We hope you have had a great break!

And to all who shared their good cheer with kind words and actions, your thoughtfulness and gifts are greatly appreciated. Let us look to this New Year with great promise and hope.

Fr. Larry and Fr. Neyomal

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. We pray for all deceased members of our parish.

THANK YOU - WRIGHTS CLEANERS!

The parish wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff and owners of Wrights Cleaners located at 103 Bayfield Street, Barrie.  Wrights Cleaners have donated their services of dry cleaning the priest’s vestments and parish Altar cloths for many years. Please consider Wrights Cleaners for all your dry-cleaning needs.  Thank you to everyone at Wrights Cleaners for your generous donation of time and service to St. Mary’s Church.

Celebrating Christmas until January 9, 2022

The Christmas season continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord celebrated this year on Sunday, January 9 2022. Throughout the liturgical season of Christmas our Church celebrates the many ways that God is made present in our midst and world. We are invited to celebrate the full season of Christmas.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The word Epiphany means manifestation. On this feast the Church celebrates the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world. Christ is revealed as the light of the Gentiles. During the coming week as part of our family time we can talk about how our family is a sign of God’s loving presence.

YOUTH MINISTRY

M.E.R.C.Y. (Ministry to Educate Roman Catholic Youth) is for youth grades J.K. to Gr. 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, January 7^th. Registration required. 

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, January 21^st.

LIFETEEN – for high school teens to explore their faith through talks, prayer and friendship meeting monthly on Sunday nights. Our next gathering is Sunday, January 9^th after the 4:00 p.m. Mass.  Dinner provided.

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

MINISTRY WITH MATURING ADULTS

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. This group meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. The next session will be on Tuesday, January 4th on Zoom.

Neighbourhood Circle:  “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”   Mt. 18:20

Building and maintaining relationships is part of our lives at every stage. As we age we can choose to reach out and build new connections. Before the pandemic residents from St. Mary’s Residence would meet monthly for conversation and refreshments. Neighbourhood Circle is expanding to include people at St. Mary’s Residence and the larger community. As a sign of its faith base a simple form of prayer is part of these gatherings. If you would like to join others for a time of conversation please come to St. Mary’s Parish on Thursday, January 6th at 2:00 p.m. We will meet in St. Joseph’s Room for an hour. All are welcome.

Interested in learning more about the above programs? Please contact Catherine Ecker at cecker@archtoronto.org or 705 728 2985 ext. 115.

Reminder for all Confirmation candidates

Enrolment Ceremony: January 15 / 16 and January 22 / 23, 2022 - Each candidate will submit his / her letter during the enrolment ceremony at any Sunday (Saturday) Mass on January 15 / 16 and January 22 / 23, 2022. Details regarding the letter were shared at the December meeting.

Participation in the Enrolment ceremony is part of the preparation process.  Each candidate for Confirmation is to compose a one-page letter addressed to Father Larry. Details were shared at the meeting in December.  On the day of Enrolment, as a tangible sign of our membership in the Body of Christ and commitment to living as disciples each candidate is asked to bring three new unused toiletry items (tooth brush/ toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, no mouthwash or razors) or a package of new socks (sport or work socks) The items will be shared with those who experience homelessness.