Fourth Sunday of Advent
           December 21, 2008

Today we are reminded that nothing is impossible with God. Like Mary, let us say “yes” to all that God asks of us.

 

Pope Benedict’s Monthly Prayer Intentions for December 2008
General: For a Culture of Life. That, faced with the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities.
Missionary: For a Fraternal Witness. That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of kindness that the Child born in Bethlehem is the Hope of the world.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
December 24th – 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm and midnight
December 25th – 10:30 am
December 31st -  5:00 pm
January 1st – 10:30 am

 

ARCHBISHOP'S CHRISTMAS RECEPTION: An invitation to all the faithful.  At the Archbishop's residence, 143 Saint Patrick Street, Sunday, January 4, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Children are invited to come dressed as Magi, Kings & Queens.

 

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.

 

CHRISTMAS MASSES PARKING - There will be parking control volunteers at the 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm, and 9:00 pm Masses on December 24th to assist with parking. Please follow their direction and park where assigned.

 

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.

 

FOOD DRIVES: Food centres in your parish area need food items for the long cold winter months ahead as job losses increase and investment based pensions decrease. Many basic food items have increased at twice the rate of inflation and only one in five food centres can meet increasing demand. Thank you for your continued support.

 

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.

 

MONDAY NIGHT EUCHRE – Come on out and join in an evening of Euchre on Monday nights. Please mark  the following dates on your calendar. Jan 12 & 26th, Feb 9 & 23, March 9 & 23 and April 13 & 27. at 7:00 pm.

 

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

 

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).

 

VIGIL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: St. Maurice welcomes all to come and end the year with our Lord and our Blessed Mother Mary on the Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary, Dec. 31, 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m., beginning with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Rosary & Divine Mercy. St. Maurice Church, 4 Perry St. Info: (613-224-1892).

Announced Masses
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
Tuesday, December 23
9:00 am Private Intention
Wednesday, December 24 – Nativity of the Lord
4:30 pm †Joan Lawlor req by the Scott Family
 †Esther and Samuel Turner req by George and Bobbie Timko
7:00 pm †Kevin and Ken Knightley req be Sheila Knightley
 †PJ Kennedy req by the Dumont Family
9:00 pm †Dan Yuen req by the family
 †Dick and Barb Toner req by the Yuen Family
Midnight Private Intention
Thursday, December 25 – Nativity of the Lord
10:30 am For Our Parishioners
Friday, December 26 – Feast of Saint Stephen
9:00 am        Private Intention
Saturday, December 27 – Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
5:00 pm       For our Parishioners        
Sunday, December 28 – Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
9:00 am †Victor Zapotoczny req by Bernadette Zapotoczny
 †Jonathan Dion req by Les Mader and Family
 †Alice Kapusta req by Patricia Laviolette and Family
 †Syndey Valere req by Carmen Valere
11:15 am †Marie-Ange Desloges req by Bill and Pauline Bratt
 †Maria Stella Pereira req by the Pereira Family

 

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 James Sabourin, that he 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)

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).