E-NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 9, 2022

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Gill Refugee Family Update

We are delighted that daughter Sunena Gill and her husband Aurangzeb Joseph arrived safely on Wednesday January 26, 2022. Here they are on their initial visit to our parish, along with Refugee Committee Chair Michelle Kolozetti and Fr. Tim Hanley, Pastor:

We pray for the safe arrival of Sunena's parents Younas Gill and Saleema Bibi and her younger brothers Shan and Adeeb, who are scheduled to arrive on Thursday February 24, 2022.

We have secured a semi-detached townhouse for them to live in for the coming year and through your generosity we have now received all we need to prepare the house for the family's arrival.

We are however, continuing to accept monetary donations to assist this family. Donations, through your own envelope marked "Refugee Family" or by using the yellow Humanitarian Relief Envelopes (at each door of the church), may be left in the offertory basket in the centre aisle (when the church is open) or mailed to the parish office.

Thank you for your generosity in assisting our Refugee Committee in settling this family who have lived displaced in Thailand for over five years.

Welcome Back Deacon John!

Following successful knee surgery in mid-December we welcomed Deacon John Brown back to the Sunday 9 a.m. mass last weekend. We look forward to his return to two masses this weekend, and back to preaching again on the weekend of February 19/20. May God bless your continued recovery Deacon John!

World Day of Prayer for the Sick: Friday February 11

Please join us for 9:00 a.m. mass on the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, Friday February 11 when we pray in a special way for our sick during this time of pandemic.

I am grateful to the members of our Pastoral Care Team under the direction of Anita Gonsalves who continue to check in via telephone with those who are sick in our parish community. We look forward to resuming our in-person pastoral care weekly visits with holy communion once the pandemic subsides.

Please be reminded that I am always available to anoint your family members who are seriously ill at home (just e-mail me or leave a message on my telephone line at the parish office).

While under current restrictions it is difficult for me to visit the local hospitals, the Archdiocese has specifically assigned hospital priest chaplains who have been allowed to continue to provide ministry in large acute care hospitals in the GTA- including Trillium Hospital Sites (Credit Valley, Hurontario, and Queensway Sites).

Given the current restrictions, many hospitals are not yet allowing these priest chaplains to make non-urgent visits using the list of registered Catholic patients. If a patient desires to see a priest for the anointing of the sick, please ask the patient or family member to speak to the patient’s nurse to make a request. It is best not to not wait for the last minute to request the attendance of a priest.

Finally, given the large turnover of staff in the hospitals, if a patient or family is incorrectly informed that a priest is not available, please have them contact the hospital’s Spiritual Care Department.

Marriage Sunday February 12/13

Marriage Sunday highlights the importance of the sacrament of matrimony, affirms couples who strengthen our faith community through their witness, and complements World Marriage Sunday celebrations that take place across North America. It also honours those who nurture marriage ministries - marriage preparation, enrichment, etc. It was first celebrated in the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2011 by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins.

The celebration of Marriage Mass will take place on Sunday, February 13 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica at 2:30 p.m. Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB will preside. You may watch the mass via livestream at https://www.archtoronto.org/en/offices-and-ministries/sub-sites/marriage/marriagesunday/.

2021 Tax Receipts/ 2022 Offertory Envelopes

We thank everyone for their support of the parish in 2021. Once again, this year your tax receipts (for those who have contributed over $50 directly to the parish or via PAG) will be mailed to you from the Archdiocese of Toronto offices before the end of February. Tax receipts for donations made electronically via the website (through the Donate Now button feature) will be receipted separately and will also be mailed to you directly from the Archdiocese before the end of February.

Offertory envelopes for 2022 not yet picked up will be delivered to all homes within the parish boundary and most apartments by the end of February. Those who live outside the parish area will find their envelopes available for pick up from the parish sacristy- please ask for assistance in locating them.

Candle Offering Increase

We are happy that the lighting of our three-day votive candles at the statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph remains popular: not only on weekends, but also through the week when the church is open for mass and private prayer.

We have not increased the offering ($3 per candle) in the eight years since we first installed them in our parish church. Effective this weekend of February 12/13 we will be increasing our suggested offering to $5 per candle due to yet another price increase in the cost of candles last month. Thank you for your understanding!

Catholic Women’s League General Meeting: Tuesday February 15

Our next CWL General Meeting will be on Tuesday, February15. Due to the pandemic gathering restrictions, we will meet virtually via ZOOM. All members who have email will be sent the ZOOM link. We will begin with the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and then the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

All women of the parish (from 16 to 99 years old) are welcome. For more information, please email Debbie at debbie1993.cwl@gmail.com

Livestream of Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass

For those not comfortable or able to return to mass quite yet we continue to encourage you to view the livestream of our Sunday 9 a.m. Mass via our parish website: https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org .

Are You or someone you know divorced?

Every Catholic has the right to investigate their marriage. (Canon 1674). Talk to your pastor about the Catholic Marriage Tribunal and the marriage nullity process, or www.archtoronto.org/MarriageTribunal .

Please see the posters on the front foyer and hall bulletin boards and scan the QR code for more details.

Upcoming Retreats at Queen of Apostles

Lenten Retreat:
Saturday March 5 or, Tuesday March 15 from 9:00a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost: $40.00 including lunch.

Father Ron Rolheiser Lenten Retreat:
Fri April 1 @ 7:00 pm. – Sun April 3 @ 2:00 p.m. Cost: $450.00 per person, or, $700.00 per couple

For more information please contact, 905-278-5229, or office@qoa.ca .

Archdiocesan Survey on Synodality

Pope Francis has launched the Synod on Synodality: a two-year global process of listening to the faithful that will help the Church reflect on how we can do God’s will in the world today. The comments of the faithful will ultimately be discussed at a meeting of the bishops in the Vatican in 2023.
You are encouraged to watch a video featuring Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, explaining the synod and inviting all Catholics to participate: https://bit.ly/SynodalityVideo .

To learn more about the Synod on Synodality and to share your thoughts, please visit: www.archtoronto.org/synodality.

Your Financial Support is Appreciated

Thank you once again for your generosity and support of our parish community especially by placing your envelope in the offertory basket before mass or mailing in your donations, or donating via Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG forms available through parish website) or by credit card, or single or monthly donations through the “Donate now” button (at www.archtoronto.org) or through our parish website www.stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org