Saint Patrick's Parish Bulletin

December 24-25th , 2006 - 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

*** NO MASSES AT HOPE COTTAGE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS***

Sun— Dec 31  St. Pats	10 am……..Holy Family Sunday
Mon— Jan 1    St. Pats	10 am….….“Mary Mother of God” Octave of Christmas
Sun— Jan 7    St. Pats	10 am….….Epiphany

 

FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Parishioners:

With the First Sunday of Advent, we in St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s parishes began a year of discernment and commitment to our call to be disciples of Jesus Christ as stewards of God’s gifts to us.

At Christmas we celebrate the greatest of those gifts – God’s gift of Himself, in the person of his Son Jesus Christ born of Mary in Bethlehem. As we relive that turning point in the history of the world, we have an opportunity to appreciate with renewed gratitude how generously we have been blessed.

John says that “to all who received Him, he gave the power to become children of God”, and that “From his fullness, we have all received “grace upon grace”. Those gracious gifts are celebrated and shared in a special way in this Christmas season as families and communities gather to retell the story, to reaffirm bonds of family and friendship, and to support brothers and sisters who are disadvantaged in their social and life conditions.

In the narratives of Jesus’ birth, it falls to angels and shepherds and a star in the heavens to announce the wondrous event of his birth and God’s favour to us. In today’s world it is the responsibility and vocation of those who believe in his name, who are baptized into his body, and who are the stewards of his grace to proclaim God’s love and favour to a world that still either has not heard or has not responded to God’s gift to us.

An important part of the Christmas story is the way Mary, Joseph and the seekers coming from afar responded to God’s gift by making the gift of themselves and of their treasures to him. In doing so they were only acknowledging that all that they had — much or little — had come to them from the God who had now sent his Son to fulfill the promise of creation and redemption through the light and love shed by his ministry, his death and resurrection.

They had learned the first lesson taught by the birth of the Lord — that “glory” is given to “God in the highest heaven”, when “on earth” there is generosity, sharing and “peace among those whom He favours”.

By returning their gifts to the service of the Giver of all gifts, they allowed God to magnify and expand His loving desire for the peace, well being and salvation of all people who receive him. They put themselves at the disposal of the One who had come into the world to fulfill the promise of the angel’s announcement: “I am bringing you good new of great joy for all the people”.

Gathering as a Christian community to give thanks in our Eucharist for God’s grace and favour expressed in his gift of Himself, we pray that we may become better stewards and disciples bringing good news of great joy to our families, friends, communities and the world through the way we use those gifts in the service of God’s plan.

I myself, in the name of Fr. Wojciechowski, Msgr. Balee, Deacons Britton and Carnell, as well as all the staff of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica and St. Patrick’s Parish, wish that in this Christmas celebration all of us will be given the grace of being open to receive the gift of the Lord with joy, and of returning that gift generously so that peace and justice may grow in the land.

Fr. Thomas Mabey

 

Stewardship

The model of good Stewardship, the Virgin Mary, waiting for child herself, hurried off to help her cousin Elizabeth. She gave of herself to bear the Savior and gave her time and love to others as well.

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS tonight is at 8 pm
Presider: Fr. Tom Mabey. Service will be preceded by Christmas music and then carols from 7:30 pm. Please be at church on time!

CHRISTMAS MORNING EUCHARIST is at 10 am
Presider: Fr. George Leach. Join us in celebrating this mass for families and singles of all ages, to be preceded by music and carols. All children will be invited to join the procession to the crib.

YOUTH GROUP
THANKS to everyone who helped with our Youth Group “Christmas Fundraiser” by giving donations or buying tickets! We raised $1032 which will be used towards sending our youth to Australia for World Youth Day 2008. AND the WINNERS were: Christmas basket/dinner—Lynn Simpson of Halifax / Painting by Pat Ahern—Cecil Oakley of our Parish.

T h a n k s:
Cathy White and her family would like to thank you the parishioner for your prayers and hospitality during the sad time of her mother’s passing (Theresa leBlanc).

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ENVELOPES FOR THE YEAR 2007 ARE AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH. IF THE ADDRESS ON YOUR ENVELOPE IS NOT RIGHT, YOU WOULD BE KIND TO LET BETTY KNOW 429-1300 SO THAT HER RECORDS CAN BE UPDATED.
THANK YOU!

PLEASE NOTE:  The office will be CLOSED from Monday December 25th to Tuesday, January 2nd phone messages will be checked regularly