E-Newsletter - December 13, 2023

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Advent Day of Confessions, Thursday December 14

This week each parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto is designating a day to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation (see www.archtoronto.org/confession/ ).

We invite you to join us tomorrow Thursday December 14 at 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (3 priests), 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (2 priests), 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (3 priests).

Suggestions for Celebrating Advent 2024

Advent is a season of joyful preparation for the coming of Christ, with true joy in the knowledge that our loving God will clear away all the obstacles we ourselves have made to his coming into our lives in full.  We begin therefore in a spirit of repentance as we “await with joyful hope the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  In that spirit, I offer the following as suggestions for celebrating Advent 2023:

†PRAY daily using the Sunday or Weekday Advent Mass Readings.            

†ATTEND WEEKDAY MASS during this season - the powerful symbolism of the readings and prayers will be a peaceful reprieve from this busy season.   

†INVITE a friend, loved one or neighbour to join you for Sunday mass in Advent.

†SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED through your support of the Annual and Christmas collections through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (see details below). 

†VISIT the lonely, the sick, those who mourn - perhaps inviting one of them to join your family for Christmas mass or dinner this year.

†BE RECONCILED to God and one another through the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) before Christmas.  Advent has been called a “smaller Lent,” and is as important a season as the one leading up to the Resurrection. This Sacrament is available as follows:

܀Every Saturday between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., or anytime by appointment.

܀Tuesday December 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

܀Saturday December 23 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.    

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses and Music Ministry

Please be sure to consult our Christmas and New Year Mass Schedule (which is included in this bulletin).  Please keep in mind that our 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass (with the Children’s Dramatization of the Gospel) is largely geared for families with young children…see below for details regarding the rehearsal for the dramatization of the gospel.

We thank our organists and cantors for their extra efforts to provide music ministry for the Christmas Masses: Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m.: Cheryl Hodges, pianist and Christine Wall cantor, Christmas Eve 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.: Ed Cyfko, organist and Megan Miceli, cantor, Christmas Eve 10:00 p.m.: Kenisha Alemao, pianist and Sarah Thusiar, cantor. Christmas Day 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 Noon masses: Claudia Ferro, pianist, and cantor.

Children’s Dramatization of the Gospel

Calling all young families…please consider having your children participate in our Children’s Dramatization of the Nativity at our Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Mass in the Church…one rehearsal only…Saturday December 23 at 1:00 p.m.!

Thank You for Your Support...

I thank you for your generous support of the recent St. Vincent de Paul Society collections: 

$ 34,358.00 Annual Collection was collected for use in 2024 in addition to $17,350.00 Christmas Collection donated for Christmas outreach this year! 

Donations are still welcome until the end of December and envelopes are at the doors of the church, or you may donate online through the SSVP link on the parish website under Outreach Ministries, or at https://Canadahelps.org/en/dn/53987

As your pastor I have been touched by your generosity not only for these special collections and appeals throughout the year, but also in your sharing in the financial responsibility of this parish, and so I thank you in advance for your kindness in generously supporting your parish at Christmas.   Please don’t forget to pick up your 2024 envelopes (available in the parish hall).  If you are not currently registered in the parish and wish to use Offertory envelopes, please fill out the parish registration form on the table in the foyer and return it to the parish office and we will notify you when your new 2024 offertory envelopes are ready for pick up.

I thank those who are currently using the option of Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) here at the parish and remind them to pick up a set of 2024 envelopes for the special collection envelopes are not part of PAG.  To register for PAG please complete the forms located in each foyer of the church or here:  https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org/en/our-community/pag/ .

Confirmation Preparation Programme Begins!

At each mass this weekend, we will be praying for our Grade 7 candidates for Confirmation this year as they present their Commitment Forms to the parish community.  Their preparation programme continues with a first Preparation Class on either Monday January 8 at 7:00 p.m. OR Tuesday January 9 at 7:00 p.m. Attendance mandatory for all candidates!

Those Grade 7 students who did not attend the Registration meeting earlier this month are asked to bring their registration form and baptismal certificate copy to the church office as soon as possible, and to plan on attending a special Registration Make-up Meeting with their parents and sponsor on Saturday January 6 at 3:00 p.m. in the church. 

After this date NO further registrations will be accepted for the 2024 Confirmation class.

Any older youth or adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in May 2024 are asked to contact Fr. Alex as soon as possible.

Parish Rectory Cook Needed

We are still looking for a cook for the rectory, to cook 3 or 4 meals per week.  If you are interested or know of anyone who would welcome this opportunity, please ask them to contact Fr. Tim.

Looking Ahead to 2024…

+ Bible Study

After Masses on January 6 /7, we will be having our registration for our next 10-session Bible study from Ascension Press entitled “Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life.” in the parish hall. The marvelous treasures of the Catholic Faith—the Eucharist, Mary, the saints, and the Creed—are all centered on a single figure: Jesus Christ. Jesus is more than a historical or theological figure. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, and our God. While many of us already know a lot about him, how well can we say we really know him? Filmed on location in the Holy Land, Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life is a new and fresh look at Jesus—who he is, what he is really like, what he taught, and what he did for our salvation. This encounter with Christ will inspire and empower you to center your entire life on him as you come to know and love him in an ever deeper & more intimate way.

Registration will be $40 per person and materials will be provided. This study will take place in the parish hall and will begin on Thursday January 18 and will end on Thursday May 2. 

Thank you in advance for your continued support of Bible Study here at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, and please invite a fellow parishioner to participate in this fall’s bible study. 

+Parish Family Pasta Dinner

This year’s Annual Parish Pasta Dinner (with our own Italian parishioners and their home-made sauces) is planned for Saturday February 3 at 6:00 p.m. (following the 5:00 p.m. mass) in the Parish Hall…further details to follow…hold the date in your calendar and plan to purchase tickets beginning on the weekend of January 13/14 from the parish office!

Christmas and New Year’s Mass Schedule 2023/2024

Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday December 23/Sunday December 24

Regular Weekend Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve: Sunday December 24 at 4:00 p.m.

with the Children’s Mass with Dramatization of the Gospel

and 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Day: Monday December 25

at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 Noon

(no 7:45 a.m. mass on Christmas Day)

Feast of the Holy Family

 (individual Family Blessings at each mass)

Saturday December 30/Sunday December 31

Regular Weekend Mass Schedule

New Year’s Eve: Sunday December 31 at 5:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day: Monday January 1

 at 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 Noon

Parish Office Closed:

Tuesday December 26 (no 9:00 a.m. mass) and

Monday January 1, 2024