Bulletin: Fourth Sunday in Advent

Posted 2021-12-16 by @saintmichaelyyc

What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:

Advent According to Mary

December 19, 2021

As we celebrate the last Sunday before Christmas, let us focus on Mary, especially on her difficult decision to become the mother of God’s son. The serene and peaceful face of Mary as depicted in the nativity scene or other Marian portraits may sometimes hide Mary’s struggling efforts to reconcile God’s invitation to become the Mother of God. La Pieta by Michelangelo somehow captures Mary in her most trying moment as a mother as she holds in her loving arms the dead body of her son after being taken down from the cross. It is a portrait of difficulty and challenge, as she tries to find the meaning of suffering and death of her Son in her own life. It is a portrait of personal anxiety and confusion as she tries to comprehend the eternal implications of her Son’s excruciating execution.

In our gospel reading today, Mary sounded perplexed, pondering what sort of great visitation this might be. Her response to the angel betrayed her confusion, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Her parting words to the angel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” were words of submission and obedience to God’s plan in her life. It was a difficult decision for her to make, but somehow, she made the difficult decision under much stress and pressure. Becoming the first disciple of Christ, following him from the event of the conception to his crucifixion, was definitively a difficult journey of faith, hope and love.

Conceived without sin, Mary was born with free will like the rest of us. Our Blessed Mother could have responded “no” to God’s plans for her to give birth to His son. It was a difficult decision, especially considering that her dream in life would be to remain a virgin all her life. Mary chose to honor God with her life, sacrificing her own personal dream of life-time virginity to allow God’s plan of salvation to realization in her self-giving.

In Mary, we see what wonderful things God can do with us, in us and through us when we are open, listening to God’s word and trusting in His goodness. During this closing period of Advent, we reflect more intensely on God’s invitation to welcome Christ into our hearts in the spirit of Mary’s love and generosity.

FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca

Announcements:

Stocking Tree

Fill a pair of socks with essentials for daily living such as: underwear, mitts, gloves, toques, Kleenex packets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, bandages, shampoo, razors, shaving cream and, if you have room, candy bars. Hang the stockings onto the Stocking Tree in the Sanctuary. These stockings will be delivered to the Drop-In Centre on Monday, December 20. Thanks for your generosity!

Text to Donate New Number

Our text to donate number has been updated to (833) 768-0514. Please save this number if you donate using this method.

Christmas Hamper Outreach 2021

Thank you from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul!

Over the past week, we prepared and delivered 120 hampers. Many thanks were received from our recipients. A sincere message of thanks to all who contributed to our 2021 Hamper Campaign: to the Christmas Hamper Committee, the Angel Tree organizers, the Knights of Columbus, parish schools for their support and the dozens of volunteers! We are grateful to Father Edmund, Father Raul, and our parish staff who supported our endeavor. May you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas season!

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Special thanks to all St. Michael parishioners for supporting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul! During the month of November we helped 18 families (25 adults and 9 children). We continue preparing for this year’s Christmas Hamper distribution.

We are looking for new members. If you are interested, contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the SSVP food chest in the gathering area. Currently we are looking for: cereal, pasta sauce, canned vegetables and canned fish/meat.

Monetary donations can be deposited in the drop-box in the food chest or by online donations through the St. Michaels Parish website https://saintmichael.ca/giving/. Please indicate funds are for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the drop-down menu.

If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please contact us at SSVP@saintmichael.ca or 403-249-0423 ext 122.

2022 Contribution Envelopes

Next year’s 2022 contribution envelopes are now available for pickup in the Gathering Area. Please look for your name alphabetically-organized, and note that your number may have changed from last year. If you have any questions, call the parish office at 403-249-0423.

Lectio Divina Books

Lectio Divina Books for Year C (2021-2022) are now available at the stand next to the gift shop or at the parish office. Free will offering.

Indoor Social Gatherings

Due to provincial temporary measures, indoor social gathering after Mass or in the parish halls is not permitted. Please refrain from socializing in the Church after Mass.

Mass Schedule for this Weekend

Saturday, December 18, 5 p.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

Sunday, December 19, 9 a.m. – Fr. Raul Hernandez

Sunday, December 19, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Fr. Edmund Vargas

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Fourth Sunday in Advent, 19/12/2021, 713.23 KB