Today we rejoice in the glad tidings our Savior has brought to all the world.

CONFESSION AND THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION – Father Boyd will be available every Saturday between 3:30 – 4:30 to hear confessions in the reconciliation room.

PENITENTIAL LITURGY – In preparation for Christmas, there will be a Penitential Liturgy on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 pm. Priests will be available for individual confessions.

ENVIRONMENT. - We would welcome any donations of Poinsettia's to decorate the church for Christmas. If you wish to do so please bring the Poinsettia's into the church no later than the weekend of December. 20th .Thank you for your continued support.

SINGERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES - Anyone interested in singing in a choir at the 7:00 or midnight mass on Christmas Eve should contact Corey Arnold at Corey.Singer.Arnold@gmail.com before Wednesday December 17th.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY THE ST. CECILIA SINGERS – Good Shepherd Parish Monday, December 15th at 8:00 pm. A choral concert of a cappella Christmas music old and new, including Gregorian Chant and music by Howells, Britten, Poulensc and Lauridsen. Tickets are $15.00 and are available at the church and at the door.
Advent Evening Prayer and Exposition on Wednesday,
December 17
As daylight begins to fade, the Christian community is invited to come together to praise and thank God for the gifts of the day. Joining with the Church throughout the world, our parish offers evening praise on Wednesdays during Advent. Beginning at 7:00 p.m. the half-hour service of music and prayer will be followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
GOURMET FRUITCAKES – Delicious Gourmet Fruitcakes produced by The Cistercian Monks of Oka, Quebec will be on sale this weekend. The costs of the cakes are $14.00 for the small and $22.00 for the large cake. Proceeds of the sale of the cakes go to Campaign Life Coalition
CHRISTMAS EVE GOSPEL DRAMA - All children of the parish and visiting children are invited to participate in a Gospel dialogue at the 4:30 Mass on Christmas Eve.  Children are invited to come to Mass dressed as either Mary, Joseph, a shepherd or an angel.  As the Gospel Acclamation begins, the children will be invited to come forward and participate in a gospel dialogue in which they will repeat words and actions lead by adult leaders.  All children may participate whether they are in costume or not.  There are a limited number of simple costumes available should you need one.  Please call Donna Dunham to borrow a costume.
REMEMBERING MOTHER TERESA – A book of 58 heartwarming stories compiled and written by Joanne Christie and John Jerome. The cost of the book is $20.00 will all the proceeds from the sale of this book going to build a school for marginalized students in India. John and Joanne will be available to sell and sign the book after Mass the weekends of Dec 13-14 and Dec 20-21. For details, please contact John at 613-824-4967 or johnjerome33@hotmail.com
LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN – ADVENT CHARITY - The children of the parish may bring these special food items to Liturgy of the Word for Children on three Sundays in Advent to add to Christmas dinner for needy families in our area:
December 7, Second Sunday of Advent - a box of stuffing
December 14, Third Sunday of Advent - canned vegetables for Christmas dinner
December 21, Fourth Sunday of Advent - canned cranberry sauce
The children may do a small job around the house each week to earn the money for these items.  They may then bring them to Liturgy of the Word for Children on Sunday and place them in the basket.

JUBILEE YEAR IN HONOUR OF SAINT PAUL – AT SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY: To honour its patron saint, Saint Paul’s University intends to organize a number of activities during this jubilee year.  Info: (http://www.ustpaul.ca/index_e.asp).

THE SHEPHERDS OF GOOD HOPE has requested volunteers from our parish to prepare and serve the noon meal on Sunday, February 15th. 25 people, over the age of 16 are needed from 8:30 am to 12:45 pm. Sign up next weekend and you will be called in February to remind you. An early commitment is needed for planning purposes. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me”.

STEUBENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AGED CONFERENCE: The Youth Office will be taking high school aged youth to Franciscan University (Steubenville, Ohio), July 10 - 12, 2009 for their 'Above All Conference'.  Total cost including registration, transportation, food and accommodation is $250. Deadline for registration: Jan. 1, 2009. Info: Ted (thurley@ecclesia-ottawa.org); (613-738-5025 ext 231).

UPCOMING SESSIONS - FAITH FORMATION: What does it mean for me to be a Catholic in the World., January 17: "St. Paul" - Professor Normand Bonneau February 14: "Liturgy and Suffering" - Frs. Bill Burke & Mark Slatter A corroboration between AFD and The Diocesan Liturgical Commission. March 14: "Spirituality and Stages of Life" Fr. John Affleck (Jungian Analyst)

URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR IRAQ'S CHRISTIANS: Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA Canada) has launched an emergency appeal to aid the several thousand Iraqi Christian family refuges currently in Syria and in Jordan and to support 1,770 families (about 7,000 Christians) recently expelled from their homes in the northern Iraqi following violent attacks. To make a gift, visit (www.helpiraqichristians.ca) or send your cheque, payable to CNEWA and marked "Iraqi Christian Relief," to CNEWA Canada, 1247 Kilborn Place, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 6K9, or call toll free (1-866-322-4441).
 
Announced Masses
Saturday, December 13 – 3rd Sunday of Advent
5:00 pm       †Douglas Rozario req by the Peirera Family
        †Oswald Mamo req by the Carrera Family          

Sunday, December 14 – 3rd Sunday of Advent
9:00 am †Victor Zapotoczny req by Bernadette Zapotoczny
 †Oswald Mamo req by the Carrera Family
11:15 am For our Parishioners
Tuesday, December 16
9:00 am †Betty Ann and Emmet O’Connell req by the O’Connell Family
Wednesday, December 17
9:00 am †Christina Price req by Bob Dunn
Thursday, December 18
9:00 am Private Intention
Friday, December 19 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
9:00 am        Private Intention
Saturday, December 20 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
5:00 pm †Kelvin Ramsaran req by Jennifer
 †Victor Miguel Avalos req by Margarita DaCosta
 †Sharon Flower req by the Good Shepherd CWL
 †Harold Schill req by Sherry Seivenpiper
Sunday, December 21 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:00 am For our Parishioners
11:15 am †Victor Zapotoczny req by Bernadette Zapotoczny
 †John MacPhee and Caroline MacPhee req by John and Lorraine MacPhee
 †Dan Yuen req by his wife

Please pray for our sick: John MacDonald, Monica Groulx, Judy Glover, Robert Lamont Pittson, Suzanne Charbonneau, Agatha Constance. Ellen Sharf, Leina Mollo, Nancy Mian, Lauren D’Acunto, Barry Lenney, John Ferguson and Phillip and Mathieu Bedard.

Please pray for our deceased, including Arnelda Gingrich that she may be received into God’s love.

SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY - EVENING COURSES WINTER 2009: (5:30 – 8:30 p.m.) Jan. 12, Religious Imagination and History.  Jan. 7, The Church in Crisis and Transition: Anglicanism in the Nineteenth Century & History of the Ukrainian Church.  Jan. 8, Homiletics & Seeking the Sacred - The Spiritual Dimensions of Popular Music. Online course: Seven Ecumenical Councils in Eastern Christian Tradition.  (613-236-1393, x 2247); (fquesnel@ustpaul.ca)

F.A.C.E.S. FOR SINGLE CATHOLICS: An evening of "Singing for Seniors" at Laurier Manor, 1715 Montreal Road, Thurs., Dec. 18, 7:00 p.m. Christmas carols in English & French.  Social follows at Lunergans Irish Pub, 1661 Montreal Road.  Confirm participation: (bobdiotte@rogers.com); (613-747-6576).

HELP FOR MOTHERS & FAMILIES:  You have a low income? You do not have a job? If you are pregnant or if you have children 4 and under and you need clothes, call Miriam Centre. You need someone to talk to? We are there for you. Free and confidential.  You can reach Miriam Centre at (613-830-8623).