Bulletin: First Sunday in Advent
What you need to know from this weekend’s bulletin:
Our Ministry of Presence
November 28, 2021
The coming of Christ, as presented at the beginning of the new liturgical year, is a way of introducing His presence who has dwelt among us. Our Advent celebration is inspired by the spirit of John the Baptist whose detachment to material things and message of repentance speak of the emptiness and transformation required to make Christ’s presence felt in our life experiences. Our Advent celebration focuses on Christ’s coming into our lives. It is an opportunity to re-examine the far-reaching implications of the Mystery of the Incarnation in our challenging journey towards Christian maturity.
In a very real way, our ministry of presence relates to our sense of hope for this life and life after. Advent affords us to reflect on our readiness for the final moment, while striving to live this life in the best way possible.
Our sense of hope, like the spirit of the Advent season, targets two aspects of our future: our future in the present life and our future in the life after this life. Our hope in our immediate future, that is, our future in this present world, can be made more significant in the context of our ultimate future, the future that awaits us at the end of our lives or at the end of time. Our personal hope in Someone beyond our world can impact our cares and concerns, making our efforts more significant.
Hope, like our celebration of the Advent season, is like a two-edged sword that cuts through the curtain of both time and eternity, giving us a vision that sees the temporal from the vantage point of the eternal. The stronger our hope, the wider it cuts through the curtain that conceals the mysteries of life, death and the afterlife. Advent is a time to strengthen our Christian sense of hope. It is time to intensify our hope for the world that is yet to come, while re-assuring ourselves that life as we live is worth living.
When we always hope in God, and are always hopeful for the final moment, we find life as intense, loving, precious and meaningful. Hope makes us see ourselves as pilgrims, living a borrowed life on a borrowed time. Hope steers us to take the road less traveled by. Hope makes us dare to face the future with the confidence that God is with us today and until the end of time. Hope makes us say “I am here” when the call to the ministry of presence beckons us to God’s love and compassion.
FrEdmund@saintmichael.ca
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!
Poinsettias in Memory of a Loved One
Parishioners are invited to help decorate the Sanctuary this Christmas by purchasing a poinsettia in memory of a loved one. Order forms are available in the gathering area. You can drop off your completed form along with your payment ($30/poinsettia) in the collection basket during Mass or at the parish office by Wednesday, December 15.
Advent Penitential Service
Our parish penitential service will be on Wednesday, December 8. Come and prepare yourself for Christmas, starting with Mass at 6 p.m. followed by adoration and the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Simbang Gabi at SMCC
Join the Filipino community on Saturday, December 11 starting with carols at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m. Simbang Gabi is a nine-night series of traditional Filipino Masses in preparation for Christmas. Other churches are hosting Masses as well. The Simbang Gabi at SMCC is an opportunity for our Filipino families to welcome other Filipino families from other parishes into our community.
Advent Mission
Join Michael Chiasson and the Access52 Team for a one-night mission designed to prepare and inspire your Advent experience on Wednesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. The night will be filled with inspiration, talks, stories and music. Free event. All ages welcome.
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.
SSVP Christmas Hampers:
Hamper Night is on December 14
We are happy to announce that we will have Christmas Hamper distributions this year. Due to COVID restrictions we will be having a smaller event, but we need your assistance more than ever as requests for help at Christmas are coming in. SSVP is working to meet the needs and deliver hampers while maintaining the safety of our volunteers and recipients. This year, we’re unable to handle food donations but we will process Angel Tree gifts. SSVP will purchase all required food from our wholesaler and would welcome your support for this in the form of monetary donations.
Donations to SSVP may be dropped in the collection basket, placed in a green SSVP donation envelope and dropped off at the church in the SSVP locked box located in our collection bin, or made online: Donate Now – St. Michael Catholic Community (canadahelps.org) – Please select Society of St Vincent de Paul (including Christmas Hampers) in the “Funds” drop-down menu. Tax receipts will be issued in January 2022 for any monetary donations.
Our hamper assembly efforts require some volunteers, spread out over a period of several days prior to hamper delivery evening, which is scheduled for the evening of December 14. We are still in need of hamper assembly volunteers for Monday, December 13 and Tuesday, December 14 during the day. Watch for a more detailed email describing specific needs. Email inquiries and offers to help can be directed to hampervolunteers2021@gmail.com.
Drivers Needed for Hamper Delivery
We request volunteers for hamper delivery: 2 adults minimum per car. We will send a Model Code of Conduct form to volunteers delivering Hampers to sign and return. If volunteers do not have a partner, we can match up with someone else. Volunteers please email hampervolunteers2021@gmail.com.
Angel Tree
The Angel tree table will be setup in the Gathering Area after Weekend Masses on November 21, 27 and 28. For all those interested in purchasing a gift, angels with gift ideas will be available at the table. For those of you unable to attend Mass in person to obtain an angel you can still purchase a gift for a child in need. Email us at 2021angeltree@gmail.com and indicate how many angels you would like to buy gifts for. Please provide your name and a contact phone number.
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 Intentions
We are no longer accepting any Mass bookings until December 15th as we are fully booked until December 31st.
Mass Schedule for this Weekend
Saturday, November 27, 5:00 PM – Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, November 28, 9:00 AM – Fr. Edmund Vargas
Sunday, November 28, 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM – Fr. Raul Hernandez