The Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 23, 2007

 Mary the Mother of God, and Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” are both blessed by the coming of the Lord.

  
Pastor’s Christmas Message

'And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’ – St. John1
These words from the Gospel of St. John reveal to us the mystery of Jesus saving presence in our world reminding us that he took on our human nature in every way but sin.  The human family looks to him as the source of all life, all holiness. Pope Benedict reminds us that the human family is a community of peace.  In his message for the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2008, he speaks of the natural family as an intimate communion of life and love, based on marriage between man and a woman.  The family constitutes “the primary place of ‘humanization’ for the person and society and a ‘cradle of life and love’.” Jesus’ own family of Mary and Joseph experience a unity of love and devotion to one another and form where he learned compassion and tenderness for the poor and the lowly ones.  Christmas draws near when this Son of God unites us in the human family and enables us to rejoice in his sacred gift of life.  Let us share the joy of his presence with those we encounter along the path of life as we sing his song of thanksgiving and our Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Rev. Joseph Muldoon, Pastor
CHRISTMAS SEASON RECEPTION: Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. and the members of the Episcopal Council, wish to invite all members of the clergy, the religious and the faithful of the archdiocese, to a Christmas Season Reception on Sunday, January 6, 2008, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Cathedral Hall. Access through the Archbishop's Residence (off the parking lot behind the church). All are invited! Children are invited to wear appropriate costumes: Magi, Kings and Queens, Princesses and Princes.
Why do we celebrate the Sunday Eucharist? A formation session for all the baptized, and an excellent way to prepare for the Eucharistic Congress. With Fr. Roy Roberts and Fr. Bill Burke. Sat., Jan. 12, 2008, 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Diocesan Centre, 1247 Kilborn. Cost: $15 (bring your own lunch). Registration deadline: Mon., Jan. 7 (613-738-5025, ext. 217, abrown@ecclesia-ottawa.org).

Subject: APPOINTMENT OF EPISCOPAL VICARS
From: Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
After consultation, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Episcopal Vicars for the two sectors of Pastoral Services:
Father Joseph Muldoon for the English Sector.  Father Muldoon is presently Pastor at Good Shepherd Parish, Blackburn Hamlet.  Born in 1950, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1976.
Father Michel Pommainville for the French Sector.  Father Pommainville is presently Pastor at Ste-Geneviève on Canterbury Street in Ottawa.  Born in 1953, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1984.
These two new Episcopal Vicars will gradually assume their responsibilities as of January 1st, 2008 while maintaining responsibilities for their parishes until the clergy changes next summer.  It is my hope to arrange for pastoral assistance during this interim period.
In closing, I wish to thank Msgr. Len Lunney, who has served as Episcopal Vicar, ably and generously since 2001.  We wish him a leisurely retirement and count on his continuing interest in the pastoral life of our archdiocese especially in sustaining strong ties with our Catholic Schools, which are a long-time passion of his. 

ARCHBISHOP PRENDERGAST’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

BETHLEHEM —“HOUSE OF BREAD”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
From June 15-22, 2008 Canada and Quebec City will host the 49th Eucharistic Congress. Its theme is, “The Eucharist: Gift of God for the Life of the World”.  So this year, the mystery of Christmas brings to mind the truth that the Son of God continues to take flesh during the celebration of Mass. Hence, the importance for us of Sunday Mass, our weekly opportunity to hear God’s holy Word and to be fed with the Bread of Life! To bring our lives into contact with Christ’s for his healing, support and challenge!
The entire Bible points to God’s tender compassion for His people and God’s desire to share our life. And God did this most supremely by taking on our human condition, taking his flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary. Jesus Emmanuel—God with us—also shared every aspect of our human condition: experiencing cold, hunger and thirst, the need for shelter and a loving family. Christ was born in David’s royal city, Bethlehem a name that means “house of bread.” Wrapped in a newborn’s swaddling clothes, he was placed in a manger, the place where animals feed.
Saints and mystics have seen in Bethlehem and in the manger a foreshadowing of Christ’s future gift of himself as food for our spiritual lives and his desire for intimate communion with us. As we contemplate Jesus Christ in the manger and in the consecrated host we make ourselves vulnerable to him, so that, in our turn, we might be changed into his likeness.
In the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius Loyola invites believers to imagine the circumstances of the world—war, turmoil, disasters, sins of every kind against justice and charity and human dignity—that led God to intervene.
This wise spiritual guide invites us then to imagine a conversation within the Trinity and the decision God took that the Divine Word would enter the human condition to draw all of humanity back to God and ultimately to eternal life. The first part is theoretical: the big picture. The second part is the application: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, to save each of us, to save me.
Spiritual writers often apply this and say that God would have done all this even if I were the only one to be saved. It's a way of saying that the Christ Child came into the world and—these are Paul’s words to the Galatians—“loved me and gave himself for me” (2:20). Christ gave himself up to death on the cross so that I might live a totally new life!
So, please take time during these holy days to visit the crib at your parish and to pray silently before the Lord. Imagine Mary offering to let you take the Christ Child in your arms and speak to your Lord and Saviour the deepest longings of your being.
As well, I invite you during this year—as we contemplate the Eucharist as God’s greatest gift to humanity—to seek to comprehend Jesus’ abiding love in the gift of himself under the appearance of bread, adoring him in the reserved sacrament and letting this transforming love of his take root in your life.
May Mary, who delighted in showing her Son to everyone from shepherds to kings—the one Pope John Paul II called the Woman of the Eucharist—intercede with her Son and obtain for us the Christmas blessings of joy and peace. Merry Christmas! 
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archbishop of Ottawa

Request from our wonderful parking attendants: Motorists are asked to obey the instructions of the parking lot attendants when entering and leaving the parking lot at the Christmas Eve Masses.  A reminder that this is the season of goodwill and we ask that you stretch this goodwill attitude to our parking attendants as well. Smile while you wait!

Christmas Eve - The Birth of Christ
Monday, Dec. 24 – 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm and 12:00 midnight
 Christmas Day - The Birth of Christ 
Tuesday, Dec. 25 – 10:30 am
The Feast of the Holy Family
 Saturday, Dec. 29 – 5:00 pm 
 Sunday, Dec. 30- 9:00 am & 11:15 am

New Years Schedule - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God:
New Years Eve – Monday, Dec.31 – 5:00 pm
New Years Day - Tuesday, Jan. 1 – 10:30 am
Epiphany of the Lord
Saturday, Jan. 5 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, Jan. 6 – 9:00 am, 11:15 am
Holy Days of Obligation in Canada are Christmas Day and New
Years Day

Announced Masses
Saturday, December 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent
5:00 pm  Deceased members of the Ramsaran & Mitchell
  families, req by Jennifer Ramsaran
  Dmytro Jazz, req by bill & Maryann Keating
  Cleo Levi, req by Rosemary & Ron Carrara
Sunday, December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:00 am  For our Parishioners
11:15 am  Geraldine Olsen, req by Steve & Maureen Hughes
  Victor Miguel Avalos, req by the family
  Leo McGee, req by Willie & Betty Ouellet
Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve
4:30 pm For our Parishioners
7:00 pm Victor Zapotoczny, req by his wife
 Ken & Kevin Knightley, by Sheila Knightley
 Sophia Chow, req by the Chow family
9:00 pm Dan Yuen, req by his family
 Intentions of Dick & Barb Toner, by the Yuen family
Midnight Private Intention
Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day
10:30 am John MacPhee & Caroline MacPhee, req by
  John & Lorraine MacPhee
 PJ Kennedy, req by the Dumont family
Wednesday, December 26   
9:00 am Private Intention
Thursday, December 27  
9:00 am  Private Intention
Friday, December 28 Feast of the Holy Innocents
9:00 am   Ellen Quinn, req by Ian & Pauline Willey
   Emerson Algan, req by the Algan family
Saturday, December 29 Feast of the Holy Family
5:00 pm Cleo Levi, req by Sophia, Rosemary & Ron Carrara
 Lorna Egan, req by Sheila Knightley
 Sydney Valere, req by Carmen Valere
Sunday, December 30 Feast of the Holy Family
9:00 am For our Parishioners
11:15 am Int of Aime & Monica Groulx, req by JP & Patricia Clement