E-NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 29, 2021

From the Desk of Fr. Tim…

Dear Parishioners

Wishing you all the joy and peace of Christmas! I would like to thank you for your assistance in helping us to implement health and safety protocols. I am also grateful for your patience as we navigate current Covid-19 related restrictions.

Over the past 24 hours, we have learned that a member of our pastoral team has tested positive for Covid-19. The individual assisted in preparing for Masses held on Christmas Eve, December 24 and Holy Family, December 26, 2021. The team member was appropriately distanced and masked following our WorshipSafe protocols.

While the risk of transmission remains low, we ask that you continue to self-monitor for symptoms. As we have said in the past, if you are not feeling well or experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, please do not come to church, minimize contact with others, consider a rapid antigen or PRC test and/or connect with your family doctor.

A self-assessment tool can be found by visiting: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/. Peel Public Health is operating a Call Centre dedicated to only COVID-19 enquiries, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call 905-799-7700, if you have any questions.

Thank you for your continued co-operation as we pray for all those who are sick and those who are caring for them. Be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones in the days ahead!

O God, who on this day revealed your only Begotten Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star, grant us in your mercy that we, who know you already by faith,
may be brought to behold your sublime glory.

-Collect prayer for the Solemnity of the Epiphany

Christmas Thank You!

A sincere Thank You to the many people who were involved in the preparation of Christmas for the church. For all those involved in the liturgies at all the masses, the Hospitality/Users, the Ministers of the Eucharist, the Ministers of the Word, the cantors and musicians, the decorators of the outdoor urns, creche and sanctuary…for those who worked so hard to bring comfort to the poor…for our parish schools and for the generous hearts of our parishioners who also donated to the annual St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Drive. A special Thank You to Longo’s Winston Churchill for their generous donation of poinsettias!

As priests who are called to minister in this parish, we are very fortunate to have such  generous people who respond with giving hearts to our parish collections during this holy Christmas season, We, in turn, are truly committed to serving you with our utmost abilities and gifts that God has given us. May God continue to bless all of us with His abundant love and compassionate heart this coming year.

On behalf of Fr John Sutka, the parish staff and myself, we extend wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a peace-filled New Year to you and your loved ones!

New Years’ Masses: Please Book via Eventbrite

We look forward to celebrating New Year’s Masses (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) with you, and because of our social distancing and limited seating in church and hall, I invite you to register via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/st-ignatius-loyola-church-miss-christmas-new-years-masses-202122-tickets-224057230207

Please Note:

• You may purchase 5 FREE tickets per mass.
• Please purchase your tickets with a computer or tablet. Please do not use your cellphone as it may not work properly.
• You should receive your tickets via email within a few minutes. If you do not receive your tickets, the order may not have been completed. Please contact Caroline Borcsok, cborcsok@archtoronto.org or 905-820-1444 ext. 3 to verify that your order has been completed.
• The church will open 30 minutes before mass. Please arrive with your entire group for entrance to church (or parish hall once the church is full).
• Please follow the instructions of the Hospitality Team and all Peel Region of Health COVID-19 guidelines.
• Kindly cancel your tickets if you are unable/do not want to attend the mass.

Friday December 31 and Saturday January 1 Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Masses reserved via Eventbrite (Day of Obligation in Canada)
Friday 5:00 pm., Saturday 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 Noon
(No 7:45 a.m. mass on January 1)

Sunday January 2 Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord First Come First Seated
(No Need to book via Eventbrite)
Regular Sunday Schedule 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and Noon
Please note there is no anticipated mass at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday January 1

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.

Sacrament of Confirmation 2022

Earlier this month we held our registration meetings for Confirmation 2022. Our preparation begins in the 2nd week of January, and so any Grade 7 students who missed the registration may visit our parish website home page under the Sacramental Preparation tab for the registration materials as well as information about our afterschool RCIC program (for students not in our parish schools). A final opportunity to register will take place in the church on Thursday January 6 with registration and meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Any older youth or adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in May 2022 are asked to contact Fr. John as soon as possible, 905-820-1444, ext. 23.

New Parish Secretary/Receptionist

I am delighted to announce that Olga Calderon will be our new Parish Secretary/Receptionist and will start working with Carol Dewar in early January before Carol’s planned retirement later next month. Olga and her husband Jorge are parishioners, and Olga worked in our parish office as a weekend receptionist from 2016-2018 before accepting a position as Office Administrator at St. Mary’s Parish in Brampton, ON. Welcome back to St. Ignatius Loyola, Olga!

Weekend Parish Secretary/Receptionist Needed

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish is seeking a part-time Parish Secretary/Receptionist to work on weekends with pastor, other parish staff and parish volunteers to provide a welcoming environment to those who visit or contact our parish community, as well as being responsible to assist the parish secretary with duties relating to the parish office.

Those wishing to be considered should submit their resume and cover letter in MS Word or PDF format to Fr. Timothy K. Hanley, Pastor thanley@archtoronto.org. Deadline for receipt of applications is Tuesday January 3, 2022. We thank all applicants, however, only respondents selected for an interview will be contacted.

Bible Study ACTS - The Compelling Story of the First Christians begins January 20, 2022

Acts is the story of how a few Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, were chosen to bring Christ and the Good News to the ends of the earth. They faced secular forces, internal strife, and hostile crowds, and despite all of this, they brought the kingdom of God to a broken world and the love of God to the hearts of men.

Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom traces how the gospel witness spread outward in waves from Jerusalem. It reveals how the seeds of Church structure and authority took root as well as how the joys and struggles of the early Christians in living the life of Christ apply to us today. This bible study will help you to see your place in the Church as a disciple of Christ.

The 20-session bible study will take place via ZOOM. In-person registration will take place in the front foyer from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 13. The cost is $50.

2022 Offertory Envelopes/Pre-Authorized Giving

Thank you for your continued support of our parish during these challenging times, especially through your use of offertory envelopes and/or Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG). Offertory envelopes for 2022 are now available in the parish hall and have been pre-assigned and sorted alphabetically by last name. Please observe social distancing in picking up your envelopes before or after mass. Thank you for picking up your offertory envelopes as soon as possible!

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 2022 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 2022 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.

Your Financial Support is Appreciated

Thank you once again for your generosity and support of our parish community either 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: https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org .

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 9:00 a.m. Mass via our new parish website:
https://stignatiusloyolami.archtoronto.org .