Bulletin: Third Sunday of Advent

Posted 2024-12-13 by @saintmichaelyyc

 

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

 

Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday

December 15, 2024

This Laetare Sunday, we light the pink candle of the Advent wreath. The pink motif represents this joyful expectation of Christ’s coming.  
 
We rejoice at the nearness of our celebration of the event that has made God present in our humanity.  We rejoice at the fast approaching celebration of Christ’s birth that has made God present among us, in the sacraments and in prayer, in our daily life and in the signs of the times, in other people and in occasions of serving one another.  We rejoice at the promised gift of God’s only begotten Son’s taking on human form through the Blessed Virgin Mary that renewed our world from within, bringing about an abiding source of supernatural life and liberation from sin.
 
Our reason for great rejoicing is Christ’s presence in our midst which began on the first Christmas Day.  We see and feel Christ’s presence in people whose lives reflect His love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Although harder to see and understand, God is also with us in pain and suffering.  
 
Our readings today urge us to move forward as we rejoice in the signs of God’s presence in our midst.  And we are called upon to live as a sign of Christ’s presence in our daily life, in the midst of our difficulties and the challenges that we face in our journey of faith.
 
As Christmas approaches, let us re-learn to welcome Christ not only in our hearts, but also in the lives of others, especially those who are struggling to gain their human dignity in the midst of poverty, sickness, and need for love and comfort.  The joy of Christmas is rooted in sharing Christ’s love and presence with others in community.  Let us offer the gift of Christ’s presence to our loved ones as well as to those who need most our love.  Let us be more generous with our gift-giving, knowing that we give on behalf of Him who gave up His life for our sake.  The birth of the Emmanuel, which means God is with us, highlights the continuing presence of God in our world through the life we live as followers of Christ.  May this season strengthen us in our witness to Christ’s presence in our midst.

fredmund@saintmichael.ca

 
 
Healing Lines
 
The same joy of togetherness during this Christmas season is parallel to the sadness of indifference and separation brought about by conflict and violence.  In the midst of all the violence in our midst, we have to remind ourselves that making peace must start with ourselves, in our families, and in our communities.  May we welcome the Prince of Peace who offers us the peace which this world cannot give for our taking.  
 
 
 
Mass Schedule for this Weekend
 
Saturday, December 14 at 5:00 pm:  Fr. Kelvin Chukwurah
Sunday, December 15 at 8:30 am Morning Prayer:  Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, December 15 at 9:00 am:  Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, December 15 at 11:00 am:  Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 pm:  Fr. Kelvin Chukwurah
 
 
Christmas Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24: 4pm, 7pm (live-streamed), 10pm
Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25: Mass: 9am, 11am (with incense and live-streamed)
Boxing Day, Thursday, Dec. 26: Daily Mass: 9am
Friday, Dec. 27: Daily Mass: 9am
Saturday, Dec. 28: Regular Mass: 5pm
Sunday, Dec. 29: Regular Masses:  9am, 11am (with incense and live-streamed), 5pm
New Years Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31: Mass: 5 pm
New Years Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1: Mass: 9am, 11am (with incense and live-streamed)
 

 

Announcements:

 

Please see this weekend’s bulletins for all announcements:

Download St. Michael bulletin

Download Diocesan bulletin (Condensed)

Download Diocesan bulletin (Full Length)

 

Hamper Delivery Day | Monday, December 16, 2024

A big thank you to all parishioners for their wonderful response to our hamper campaign. Busy hands wrapped all the gifts last Wednesday, the wholesale food was delivered, and this weekend you will see members of our Committee and parish volunteers setting up for our main event, Hamper Assembly and Delivery. Our gratitude goes out to those who are volunteering their time on Hamper Day. You should have received your confirmation email. If you are unable to make your commitment, please visit our on-line schedule and update your volunteer slot. If you missed the sign up, check the volunteer sign-up page, as last-minute cancellations always find us with space to accommodate willing hands!  We are supporting 170 families through the Hamper Program, and SSVP is receiving more requests each day. If you have not yet made your donation, there is still time to offer support. Donations may be dropped in the collection, or check out the various ways to support us on the Donate tab on the parish website, www.saintmichael.ca. Donation receipts will be issued in January 2025.

 

2025 Contribution Envelopes | Narthex | Pick Up December 14 and 15 

Next year’s 2025 contribution envelopes will be available for pickup in the gathering area on December 14 and 15. Please look for your name alphabetically organized. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 403-249-0423.

 

Parish-Wide Advent Reconciliation Night

There will be a parish-wide Reconciliation Night on Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 7:00-9:00pm with a number of priests available to hear confessions.

 

Pastoral Council

Pastoral Council met on November 26, 2024 – our last meeting of the year.  A few highlights of our discussions, and wonderful ways to begin the season of Advent and support SMCC include:  * The High School Choral Festival at SMCC on December 2,  * The Diocesan Advent Renewal Mission on December 3 – 5,  * The Fund Forward Fundraiser of high-quality protein-products (closes on December 1).  Watch the website, the bulletin, and Flocknote messages in your inbox for more details.  Meeting minutes from November 26 will be available on the website after our next meeting on January 28, 2025.  If you would like to attend one of our meetings as an observer, or if you have any questions or concerns, please reach us at 403-249-0423.  To read the minutes from our meeting in October, or any past meeting, please click here. We wish all parishioners and their families a happy and holy Advent, and blessings for peace and joy at Christmas!

 

 

St. Michael Event Schedule

 

Weekly Events:

Sundays: Children’s Liturgy: Guardian Angel Room, Session A: 8:30am and Session B: 10:30am | Coffee Connection: After 9am and 11am Mass 

Mondays: Bible Study: “Walking Toward Eternity”, St. Nicholas Room, 7:00-9:00pm

Tuesdays: Rosary Group: Day Chapel, 6:30pm | Grief Share Program: Rooms 143 and 144, 7:00-9:00pm | RCIA: St. Nicholas Room, 7:00-9:00pm

Wednesdays: Coffee Connection: After Daily Mass | Men’s Ministry: “Apostles of the New Springtime”, Theatre and Narthex, 6:00-7:30am | Women’s Ministry Bible Study: “Bread of Life”, St. Nicholas Room and Theatre, 9:30am-12:00pm

Thursdays: Moms and Tots: St. Nicholas Room, 9:30-11:30am | Knitting Ministry: Library, 10:00am-12:00pm 

 

December 2024:

December 15 Children’s Nativity Pageant Dress Rehearsal | Sanctuary | 12:00-2:00pm

December 29 CANCELLED: Coffee Sunday

December 16 Christmas Hamper Delivery Day | Mass 8:30am | Preparation All Day | Delivery Evening

December 19, 26 CANCELLED: Moms & Tots

December 19  Parish Wide Reconciliation Night | Sanctuary | 7:00-9:00pm

December 19 CANCELLED: Knights of Columbus Meeting

Dec. 19, 26, Jan. 2, 9 CANCELLED: Knitting Ministry

December 20 Children’s Nativity Pageant | Sanctuary | Mass 6:00pm | Pageant 6:30pm | Cookies & Juice 7:30pm

December 21 Simbang Gabi | Sanctuary | Caroling 6:30pm | Mass 7:00pm | Reception 7:30pm

Dec. 22, 29, Jan. 5 CANCELLED:  Children’s Liturgy

Dec. 24, 31  CANCELLED:  Rosary Group

Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 Office Closed

Comments

comments

Third Sunday of Advent, 15/12/2024, 693.90 KB

Stay Updated

Subscribe to our Flocknote emails to always stay up to date on community events.

Subscribe
© St. Michael Catholic Community | Built by: Infinity Reef partnered with Primal Tribe