What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
A Blessed Christmas!
December 25, 2024
Today, we are celebrating an event which continues to have more impact on the history of humanity than any scientific discovery or technical invention or artistic achievement. The event we are celebrating tonight is something of a completely different order. Here we are speaking of God— not the gods— but the only true God, the Infinite, the Timeless, the all-powerful and all- merciful, love without limits— embracing our fragile and mortal nature in the form of a powerless baby. Truly the birth of Son of God is by far the most decisive and awe-inspiring event of all human history. U2 singer Bono describes his faith in the birth of Jesus in these words: “I see, as an artist, the poetic appropriateness of that unspeakable power manifesting itself as a baby born in straw poverty.”
So, Christmas is a glorious aspect of God’s manifestation in human history. But the glory is wrapped up with the mysterious decision of the Son to strip Himself of His divine identity to become like one of us. It is a decision of self-giving, of taking on Himself the weakness and frailty of humanity, of emptying Himself to become like us in all things, except sin. Christmas is the culmination of Christ’s radical decision to partake of our human nature in order to share with us His divine nature. It is the realization of an infinite movement from the divine to the human so that humanity reaches divinity.
The spirit of Christmas expresses itself beyond the human threshold, in giving without counting the cost or in forgiving without conditions. The spirit of Christmas manifests itself above the human limit, in loving the unlovable, or in giving oneself in selfless service.
In a published interview, Bishop Frederick Henry says that “Christmas is a feast that not only notices the interdependency of people and the earth but celebrates it, revealing that the connectedness of all things is part of the incredibly beautiful divine design. The recurring theme of Christmas is love and reconciliation. Indeed, Christmas is about coming together. It is coming home to God to whom we all belong as children…”
May that “unspeakable power manifesting itself in a baby born in straw poverty” continue to inspire us to love and to forgive, not only today, but every day of our lives.
fredmund@saintmichael.ca
Healing Lines
The same joy and peace of this season is parallel to the sadness of indifference and separation brought about by conflict and violence. We have to remind ourselves that making peace must start with ourselves, in our families, and in our communities. We have to challenge violence in all its forms whenever we encounter it, whether at home, at work, in the congregation, or in the community and to stand with others who are treated unfairly. Peace is what we want for Christmas. The peace which this world cannot give is handed to us by the Prince of Peace for our taking.
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)
Christmas Hampers 2024 Update
On December 16, in the spirit of our mission to warm hearts and heal wounds, our community provided 167 hampers for 664 people, gifts for 260 children, and diapers for 45 children. God bless our contributors and collaborators, the Knights of Columbus, That Man Is You, Lynda’s Coffee Ministry team, staff of John Costello school, our parish schools for their support, Co-op, Safeway, the parish staff, and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul for the referrals. Total expenses include $64,000 on food, $10,500 through the Angel Tree. May God continue to bless the love and generosity of our parishioners. Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful Christmas! The Christmas Hamper Committee.
2025 Contribution Envelopes | Narthex | Pick Up December 21 and 22
Next year’s 2025 contribution envelopes will be available for pickup in the gathering area on December 21 and 22. Please look for your name alphabetically organized. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 403-249-0423.
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:
Dec. 22, 29, Jan. 5 CANCELLED: Children’s Liturgy
December 26 CANCELLED: Moms & Tots
Dec. 26, Jan. 2, 9 CANCELLED: Knitting Ministry
Dec. 24, 31 CANCELLED: Rosary Group
December 29 CANCELLED: Coffee Sunday
Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 OFFICE CLOSED
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Christmas and New Year’s, 25/12/2024, 631.70 KB