E-Newsletter - November 29, 2023

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Suggestions for Celebrating Advent 2023

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

            ܀Archdiocesan Week of Confessions (see www.archtoronto.org/confession/  for times

              of confessions at other Mississauga parishes

           ܀Here at St. Ignatius Loyola:

             Thursday December 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. AND Tuesday December 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. AND Saturday December 23 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30                 p.m.     

Advent Candles

We still have a small number of Advent candle sets available in the parish office for $12.00.   The Sunday Missals 2024 in both the adult and children’s versions (suitable for children from Grades 1-6) are available in the main foyer of the church at a cost of $5 each. 

Sacrament of Confirmation 2024

Confirmation Registration (for candidate and one parent only) will take place on either

Tuesday December 5 or Wednesday December 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the church foyer with Registration Meeting to follow in the church.

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.

Archdiocesan Consultation Underway – Share Your Ideas to assist with future planning!

Archbishop Francis Leo is inviting the Catholic community to share thoughts and ideas regarding future pastoral planning in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Feedback will help inform a renewed Pastoral Plan to be used in the years ahead. To learn more about the process, read the letter of invitation from the archbishop and complete the short survey by December 15, 2023, please visit: www.archtoronto.org/consultation. Please take a few minutes to share your insights and ideas. Thank you for your collaboration in this archdiocesan initiative.

Thank You for Your Support...

I thank you for your generous support of the St. Vincent de Paul Society collections:  $24,771.74 was collected for use in 2024 in addition to $11,011.87 donated for Christmas outreach this year!  Donations are still welcome until the end of December…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

Thank you also for supporting The Shepherds’ Trust Collection last month…$13,913.00 was

collected for the benefit of our retired and disabled priests.

Your generous donations through the All-Souls envelopes during the month of November will provide $19,708.10 for future Refugee Sponsorship undertaken by our parish.

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.

In 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 the electronic version found here:  https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org/en/our-community/pag/ .

Finally, for those interested in making donations by credit card, you may either visit the parish office in person, or by using the “Donate Now” button on our parish website you may make a single or monthly donation to our parish:

https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org/en/contact-us/donations/ .

Altar Server Serra Awards 2023

The Greater Toronto Area Serra Clubs recognize the service and achievements of altar servers in each parish throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto. The servers, nominated by their parishes, were recognized by Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Camilleri in a special ceremony on Saturday November 25 where they were presented with the “Bishop’s Award for Service.”

Please help us congratulate this year’s Serra Award winners, Dayne Agellon, Elizabeth Dekker, Torrey Efealukwu, Bryan Efealukwu, and Eamon Tang.

Christmas Eve Children’s Nativity Play

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…one rehearsal only …Saturday, December 23 at 1:00 pm in the church.

Knights of Columbus Poinsettia Fundraiser Thank You!

A sincere Thank You to everyone who supported the Poinsettia Fundraiser by ordering poinsettias for Christmas. Orders may be picked up on the weekend of December 9/10 in the parish hall. Thank you for your support!

Catholic Women’s League Thank You!

The CWL wishes to thank everyone who purchased a Campaign Life fruitcake or the League cookbook or renewed their memberships at the Advent Fair this past weekend.

A reminder that the CWL Christmas Potluck will take place on Tuesday December 12 at 6:30 pm in the parish hall.

If you are new to the parish or thinking of joining the CWL, please contact Debbie Bates at debbie1993.cwl@gmail.com  for more information. All are welcome!

Coffee Sunday/Cider Sunday Thank You!

It was wonderful to gather and socialize after mass this past weekend with delicious hot cider and festive cookies!

Thank you to Fr. Tim for providing the apple cider and “secret” ingredients, and the Coffee Sunday Ministry coordinators, Maria Ferrin and Gerald Menezes and their team of volunteers who purchased supplies, set-up, cleaned-up and hosted the event.

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 direct them to contact Fr. Tim.

"Pour Out" Adoration Night

Merciful Redeemer's Pour Out Adoration Night is back this Advent, except this time, it is open to all ages! In the summer, we talked about how we can pour out/surrender ourselves to Jesus; this time, we reflect on how God pours Himself out for us by giving us His only Son. Join us for an evening of praise and worship, adoration, prayer ministry and confession inspired by John 1:1-18 and a talk by Fr. Michael Corpus and testimony sharing on December 15 from

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.

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, 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 2, 2024