E-Newsletter - August 9, 2023

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Fr. Tim’s Second Hip Replacement Surgery

Thanks for your prayers for my surgery scheduled for Wednesday August 9.  I hope to resume parish ministry on the first weekend in September, and in the meantime please direct your pastoral concerns to our associate pastor, Fr. Alex D’Silva.  I thank Fr. Ron Mercier (August 12/13), Fr. Luis Melo (August 20) and Fr. Bill Burns (August 26/27) for assisting us with weekend ministry during my absence.

Welcome Maria Ferrin!

We are happy to announce that parishioner Maria Ferrin has joined our parish staff as part-time Secretary/Receptionist.  She is a Minister of the Eucharist at the Sunday Noon mass and a member of the Floral Committee.  She will assist our parish secretary Olga Calderon and has also been filling in for her during the summer break.  Welcome Maria!

Church and Foyer Flooring Replacement/Sanctuary Renovation Project Update

We are progressing well with the tiling in the church itself and will begin moving into the church foyer and sanctuary areas over the next few weeks.  We hope to return to the church for weekend masses on the weekend of September 9/10 and for weekday masses beginning on Monday September 11.

In the meantime, Saturday 5:00 p.m. and Sunday masses continue to be celebrated across the parking lot in the cafetorium of the St. Kateri Centre until after Labour Day weekend.  Weekday masses Monday to Friday at 9:00 a.m. continue to be celebrated in the parish hall until Friday September 8. Confessions are heard each Saturday between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the church sacristy, or anytime else by appointment.

Please note that for the month of August, the church office will be closed not only on Monday but also each Friday.   Each Monday and Friday in August the church and hall will close after mass at 10:00 a.m.  The parish office will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and on Sundays after each mass.

Thank you for your continued co-operation during this time of construction and disruption!

Annual Catholic Cemeteries Mass:  Wednesday August 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Our Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed will be celebrated on Wednesday August 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Assumption Cemetery, Mississauga by Most Reverend Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto.  In the event of rain, mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Mausoleum at Assumption Cemetery.  All are welcome!

Catholic Women’s League Update

Once again, the Father’s Day Cake Raffle was a great success.  Thank you to the talented bakers who donated cakes and to the CWL members who coordinated and facilitated the event.  Special thanks are extended to all the parishioners who supported the event which raised over $1,600.  Your generosity has allowed us to donate to several charities at home and abroad, including Chalice (sponsorship of a teenage girl), Development and Peace, Catholic Missions in Canada, Bishop F. Pappin Bursary Fund, Margaret Ann Jacobs Scholarship Fund, St. Michael’s College Scholarship Fund, Sisters of Life, Open Door, Right to Life, Vita Centre, the Society of  St. Vincent de Paul, St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, and the Rosary Apostolate.

Rosary Apostolate Gala Luncheon Fundraiser

The Rosary Apostolate is holding a fundraiser Gala Luncheon on Sunday, September 17, 2023

at 11:00 a.m. at Julius Event Centre: https://www.juliuseventcentre.com/ . Tickets are $35 per person and this event will support the mission of Our Blessed Mother Mary's work, visiting our local schools and praying the Rosary with the children. To purchase tickets, please contact Verena Mayhew, 905-820-1214 or Judy Camilleri, 416-568-6361.

If you would like to learn more about the Rosary Apostolate, please visit rosaryapostolate.com or if you are interested in volunteering at one of our parish schools, please contact Judy Camilleri at  judy.camilleri.2010@gmail.com .

ShareLife 2023: Support our Seniors through ShareLife

Society of Sharing is one of the agencies you support through your generous donations to ShareLife. They serve our isolated, housebound, and lonely seniors in Toronto.

Society of Sharing does not charge for services, and it provides our seniors with assistance through your donations to ShareLife.

Thus far we have raised $220,000 towards our goal of $230,000. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at https://sharelife.org/. Thank you for generously supporting our parish’s ShareLife campaign.

"Pour Out" Adoration Night for Youth and Young adults aged 14-35

Merciful Redeemer Parish, 2775 Erin Centre Blvd. is hosting an adoration night for teens and young adults on Friday August 18 from 7:00 -9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Inspired by John 12:1-9; when Mary of Bethany pours her expensive perfume on Jesus to the astonishment of His disciples, Merciful Redeemer is hosting a night of praise and worship, adoration, prayer ministry and confession. There will also be testimony sharing and a talk by Fr. Séamus Hogan! 

If you're a teen or young adult looking to reignite your faith this summer, we would love to see you! Bring a friend or meet new people as we dive deeper into how we can give more fully to Jesus!

Bundle Up Sunday September 23/24 for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

The SSVP container will be in the front parking lot to accept your donations of all clothing (any condition), all footwear (any condition), bedding (any condition), drapery/towels and NEW toys.

The SSVP cannot accept baby items of any kind including cribs, car seats, strollers, construction materials, dishes, furniture, or books/video/ audio cassettes.

SSVP Volunteers will be happy to help you place your donations into the container after all weekend masses.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Begins in September!

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults who would like to become Roman Catholic will begin again in September.  If you or a loved one would like to consider becoming a Roman Catholic, please have them speak to Fr. Alex after mass or contact us by e-mail or telephone to arrange for an interview.

UTM Catholic Chaplaincy Update

If you or someone you know is a university student, then this announcement is for you! The UTM (University of Toronto Mississauga) Catholic Chaplaincy exists to provide a supportive community for students to learn, grow, and celebrate their Catholic faith. While many schools continue to offer online learning for this Fall Term, the increased isolation creates a deep need for authentic community. Whether you are at UTM student or a student studying remotely at another university or college, we invite you join our community. Our chaplaincy is working hard this fall to plan safe in-person gatherings as well as virtual gatherings for those wishing to connect remotely.

For more information visit our website www.utmcatholics.com …and feel free to share our website with any university-age students that may be interested in joining or learning more about our chaplaincy.

Find a Church Near You This Summer!

From the shores of Lake Ontario north to Georgian Bay more than 200 churches are ready to welcome you for mass this summer. Please visit:  Archdiocese of Toronto - Find a Parish (archtoronto.org) and find a church near your cottage or summer destination.