E-Newsletter November 24, 2024
From The Pastor's Desk
As we enter into this season of Advent, we will be reciting the Nicene Creed as our profession of faith when we gather for the Eucharist. Traditionally, the Apostles’ Creed is recited during the season of Easter and the Nicene Creed during other parts of the liturgical year. In case you need a refresher, the words to the Nicene Creed, which we will be using at all of our Sunday Masses is below:
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Parish News/Events
Bundle Up Weekend: Thank you!
A sincere Thank You to everyone for your overwhelming support and generosity for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Bundle Up Weekend. The container was completely filled, and we had to request for additional storage for the supplementary donations! The next Bundle Up Weekend will be on May 24/25, 2025.
First Reconciliation: Meeting & Rehearsal Reminder!
Families of the First Communicants: We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday November 26th OR Wednesday November 27th, 2024, at 7:00 PM for our next meeting and First Reconciliation rehearsal. Doors will open at 6:30 PM. Attendance for the students and one guardian per family is mandatory. Should you have any questions, please contact our Lay Pastoral Associate at msiuchong@archtoronto.org.
Advent Fair: November 30th and December 1st
We look forward to seeing you at our next Coffee Sunday happening on November 30th and December 1st after each Mass. Come by for some fellowship, enjoy your coffee/tea/hot chocolate, and cookies, while you walk around our Advent Fair. Catholic Women’s League (CWL) will be selling Fruit Cake and Cookbooks, and Knights of Columbus will be collecting Poinsettia orders and selling our Advent Candles. You will also have the opportunity to meet the Knitting Club and to grab your 2025 Offertory Envelopes. See you then!
Advent Candles and 2024/2025 Sunday Missals
Prepare for Advent by purchasing your Advent Candles and Sunday Missals before we run out! Visit the office; Sunday after Mass or Tuesday – Friday to pick up your new set of Advent candles ($15 per set) and a copy of your 2024/2025 Sunday Missal. Young Catholics Sunday Missals are also available. The Missals are $7/each. Advent Candles will also be for sale at the Advent Fair with the Knights of Columbus.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul: Christmas Gifts and Annual Collection for Neighbours in Need…
Our parish Society of St. Vincentt de Paul (SSVP) will be providing Christmas assistance to families-in-need within our community. Awareness of maintaining each person’s dignity is always our priority. Food insecurities and the increase in food costs continues to be foremost in the minds of our families. It is our aim this Christmas season to again offer a gift of assistance with a food voucher that will allow families to provide a special Christmas meal for their loved ones. Please consider assisting our neighbouring families-in-need through a financial donation to our Christmas Campaign.
Hunger never sleeps and so we also welcome your generous financial donations to the Annual Collection; your continued support of this SSVP drive provides assistance for the entire upcoming year to our neighbours-in-need.
Donations to both the Christmas and Annual Campaigns can be made by cash, cheque (payable to Society of St. Vincent de Paul) or via the on-line portal accessible through our SSVP link on the parish website under Outreach Ministries, or at https://Canadahelps.org/en/dn/53987 or by accessing our QR code below. We will have a Vincentian in the foyer to gratefully accept your donations before & after Masses on the weekends of Nov 23/24 and Nov 30/Dec 1. Please ensure that envelopes (which will be provided) are clearly noted as “Christmas Gifts Collection to Families” or “Annual SSVP Collection” along with your name and address. Our goal this Christmas season is to be able to assist over 125 families in our community. Donations outside of this window can always be dropped off at the church office during their hours of operation. Please note that tax receipts will be issued for donations to SSVP greater than $25 if you have provided your name and address.
God’s blessings to each of you for your ongoing generosity and support during this challenging year through your poor-box donations and most especially during this Christmas season.
The Knights of Columbus Christmas Poinsettia Sale
The Knights will be in the foyer after all Masses on November 23/24 and at the Advent Fair November 30/December 1 to accept your orders for Christmas poinsettias.
These vibrant blooms will add warmth and beauty to your home during the festive season so reserve yours now and be part of a cherished tradition! This fundraiser helps to support the Knights of Columbus ongoing volunteer work which supports our community through the Y.E.S. (Young families, Elderly, Students) Program.
Payment may be made by cash, credit card or cheque or by scanning the below QR Code.Want to donate poinsettias to the Church? We are looking for 50 large red poinsettias to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. If interested in donating poinsettias to the Parish, under “St. Ignatius” please check off” Altar Donation (red only)” on your order form. Thank you in advance for your support!
2025 Offertory Envelopes/Pre-Authorized Giving
Thank you for your continued support of our parish, especially through your use of offertory envelopes and/or Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG).
Offertory envelopes for 2025 will be available in the parish hall at the Advent Fair, Saturday November 30th and Sunday December 1st, 2024, before and after each Mass. The envelopes have been pre-assigned and will be displayed in order by number. Please do not use these envelopes until 2025. We kindly ask that when using the envelopes for the first time, please write your full name and current address so that we can update our records.
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 or submit a completed copy electronically through our parish website.
Envelopes that are not collected at the Advent Fair will be available for pick up at the Parish Office from Tuesday December 3rd.
Winter 2025 Bible Study: Genesis to Jesus
What is the Bible? Where does it come from? What is its purpose? How are Catholics supposed to read the Bible and what story does it tell? These are the ever-important questions answered in Genesis to Jesus. Join us on Thursday evenings from 7:30 – 9:30 PM beginning Thursday January 9th, 2025 to learn the basic Catholic principles for reading Scripture and to survey the broad outlines of the books of the Bible and their place in the story of salvation. Please register at the office if you would like to participate. The cost of this 12-week session is $40.
Archdiocese News/Events
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre Retreats
Join the Centre Team the Day of Prayer with the Saints and the Holy Souls Retreat (Saturday November 9th), Day of Retreat Meditating on the Last Things (Monday November 25th), Advent Retreat (Saturday December 7th), and/or Bereavement Day Retreat (Saturday December 14th) at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre (1617 Blythe Road, Mississauga). Registration is $45 and includes coffee/tea, muffins, and a hot lunch. The retreats conclude with Mass. For more information contact Jean 905-278-5229 or office@qoa.ca.
Friars Student Writing Contest (Nov. 11, 2024–Jan. 13, 2025): “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
High school students aged 13 to 19 from the Catholic School Boards in the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in this annual event, which honours the global Week of Prayer for Christian Unity taking place from January 18 to 25. Write a five-hundred-word essay that explores the 2025 theme. Great prizes await the top three submissions. Students are encouraged to explore the resources at https://bit.ly/3zOVHly to gain insight into the meaning and purpose of the theme. They should also refer to the focus question available on the poster at https://bit.ly/3XCGGgo. Entries are to be submitted at https://www.catholicregister.org/writingaward. Contact ecumenical@archtoronto.org or call 416-934-3400 ext. 527 with any questions and/or for more information.
