E-Newsletter - October 25, 2023

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who signed up for one or more of our parish ministries at our mini-Ministry Fair on the weekend of October 14/15.   We are grateful for your desire to become more involved in the life of this great parish. The co-ordinator of each ministry will be in touch with you by the first week of November.

Carmela LaConte would also like to thank the parishioners that purchased her handcrafted rosaries and rosary bracelets. An amazing $850 was raised and will go directly to Dr Simone’s Canadian Food for Children charity!

Eternal Rest Grant unto Them O Lord...

Beginning on the weekend of November 4/5 and throughout the month of November the Church’s tradition of praying for our deceased relatives and friends will be observed at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish by the offering of all Saturday evening and Sunday Masses for our beloved relatives and friends. 

Again, this year you are asked to record the names of those you wish us to remember at these masses on the envelopes provided for that purpose (available at the doors of the church) and to place your envelope in the basket near the altar, where this Basket of Remembrance will remain throughout all of November.    Please note that no offering is required - we are much more interested in recording the names of those you wish remembered at mass! 

However, any donations are received, will be used to support the next Refugee family that we may sponsor through the Office of Refugees - Archdiocese of Toronto.

All Souls Day Masses Thursday November 2 at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

We will celebrate All Souls Day on Thursday November 2 with masses at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. for our beloved deceased relatives and friends. 

Mass of Remembrance

A special Mass of Remembrance will also be offered on Saturday November 4 at 9:00 a.m. for those who have died over the past year.  Invitation letters have been sent to those families whose loved ones have been buried from St. Ignatius Loyola Church over the past year.

Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Cancelled

Due to the war in the Middle East, we have cancelled our Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Tom Rosica csb, which was scheduled from November 12-24, 2023. 

Let us pray for peace in the Holy Land and let us hope that we can revisit the idea of a Holy Land Pilgrimage in the near future!

ShareLife update: Your gift will be matched!

Haven’t yet made your annual contribution to our parish’s ShareLife campaign? Wait no longer! From November 1 until year end, your gift will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $500,000. That means your compassionate generosity helps even more families in need, including those nourished through ShareLife’s recently announced food programs.

Our parish has currently raised $233,000 now exceeding our suggested goal of $230,000 thanks to your generosity! Double the impact of your kindness by giving at the parish with a ShareLife envelope or anytime at sharelife.org/donate.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul: 

Christmas Gifts and Annual Collection for Neighbours in Need 

Once again, our parish Society of St. Vincent 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 increases in food costs continue to be foremost in the minds of many

of our families. 

It is our aim this Christmas season to offer a gift of assistance once again 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 financial 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.

We will have a Vincentian in the foyer to gratefully accept your donations before and after masses on the weekends of November 18/19 and November 25/26.  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 $20 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.

ACTS Retreat for Men

The Men’s ACTS Retreat will take place on November 9-12 at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga. For more information or to register, please contact Marcel Pouliot, 905-961-7111 or marcel@marechindustiral.ca .

Knights of Columbus Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser and the Catholic Women’s League Fruitcake Sales in Support of Campaign Life

Both the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League will have more information about their upcoming fundraisers in our next email update.