Pastor: Fr. Maurice Okolie Associate Pastor: Fr. Peter Ebidero

Office Phone: 780-459-3694

Email: hfp@holyfamilyparish.ca www.holyfamilyparish.ca

Holy Family Parish

JoyJoyJoyJoy 3rd Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2015

Holy Family Parish welcomes you with great joy on...

3rd Sunday of Advent December 13th, 2015

LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE:

December 19th & 20th, 2015

Saturday - 5:00 pm

Altar Servers: Madison B. / Grace R. Lectors:

Megan S. / Pamela H. / Pauline M. Eucharistic Ministers:

Colleen M. / Pauline M. / Rachelle C. Betsy W. / Don B.

Adult Servers: Gary H. / Bob G.

Sunday - 9:00 am Altar Servers: Mia / Thierry

Lectors: Dan J. / Gerry B. / Cheryl M.

Eucharistic Ministers: Lorie M. / Gayle N. / Mavis R.

Sharon R. / Tammy T. Adult Servers: Mary B.

Sunday - 11:00 am:

Altar Servers: Owen / Matthew G. Lectors:

Richard T. / Loriana C. / Lisa T. Eucharistic Ministers:

Kristen L. / Scott J. / Lucille S. Lisa T. / Richard T.

Adult Servers: Italo B.

Sunday - 5:00 pm: Altar Servers: Logan / Paul S.

Lectors: Evelyn D. / Noelle S. / Stacey S.

Eucharistic Ministers: Suzanne G. / Glenna G. / Susan M.

Adult Servers: Thomas S.

PARISH ACTIVITIES:

Sunday - December 13 9:00 am - Baptism(s)

12:00 pm - Private Function (Hall) 6:00 pm - UNITE

Monday - December 14 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

6:00 pm - Advent Retreat (Hall) 6:00 pm - Prepare and Enrich (MDY)

7:00 pm - KofC Exec. (Bro.A.) 7:00 pm - Legion of Mary (Res.Rm.) 7:00 pm - Social Action Mtg. (MDY)

Tuesday - December 15 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

9:30 am - Divine Mercy Cenacle (Res.Rm.) 7:30 pm - KofC Choir (Church)

7:30 pm - Prepare and Enrich (MDY)

Wednesday - December 16 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

10:00 am - Faith Study (MDY) 10:00 am - Bible Study (Bro.A.)

6:00 pm - KofC General Mtg. (Bro.A.) 7:00 pm - Verve (Hall)

7:00 pm - CGL (Res.Rm.) 7:00 pm - Parish Council (Res.Rm.)

7:00 pm - Rosary for the Unborn (Church) 7:00 pm - RCIA (MDY)

Thursday - December 17 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

6:15 pm - Alleluia Choir (Church) 7:00 pm - RCIA (MDY)

7:00 pm - Parish Penitential Service (Church) 7:30 pm - Adult Choir (Church)

Friday - December 18 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

9:30 am - 1:00 pm - Eucharistic Adoration 11:00 am - Card Marking (MDY) 4:30 pm - Children’s Catechism

5:30 pm - PW Family Dance (Hall)

Saturday - December 19 8:15 am - Morning Prayers

9:30 am - KofC 4th Degree (Hall) 10:00 am - Baptism

Sunday - December 20 11:00 am - Wedding Vow Renewal (Church)

6:00 pm - Private Function

Sunday - December 13th 3rd Sunday of Advent

9:00 am - Jack Stevens † 11:00 am - Rodolfo Vale † 5:00 pm - Maria Medeiros †

Monday - December 14th

St. John of the Cross 9:00 am - Helen Korpan †

Tuesday - December 15th 9:00 am - Adrienne Kramps

Wednesday - December 16th 9:00 am - Sister Tarcienne †

*10:00 am - Maxine & Rob Breda

Thursday - December 17th 9:00 am – Annie Goulet †

*10:00 am - Brendan & Samantha Beier

Friday - December 18th 9:00 am -

All intentions prayed at the altar

Saturday - December 19th 9:00 am - Wendy Brunelle

5:00 pm - Thomas Wacowich †

Sunday - December 20th 4th Sunday of Advent

9:00 am - Holy Family Parishioners 11:00 am - Trevor & Carol Ferguson

5:00 pm - Charles Nievira *Mass celebrated outside of the parish

MASS INTENTIONS:

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS:

Universal: That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of for-giving. Evangelization: That families, espe-cially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain hope

BAPTISMS: Isaac Maeda Chesca Cruz

Olivia Marghella Owen Brown

ROOTS OF CHANGE - ADVENT PROJECT:

During Advent, we are again fund-raising for Roots of Change. This will greatly help the mission in Nicaragua, started by the late Fr. Denis Hebert. Donations may be made throughout Advent. Cheques may be made payable to "Roots of Change" and put in the envelopes provided on the display table in the welcome ar-ea. You may also mail your donation directly to Roots of Change. Thank you for your continuing generosity.

KICK START TO OUR PARISH YEAR OF MERCY!

An effective way of helping feed a fam-ily in need in this Year of Mercy is by offering a Superstore gift card this Christmas. We will be taking a Year of Mercy collection of Superstore gift cards for any amount on the weekend of 19th/20th December after all Masses. Please give generously. Gift cards will be available to buy after all Masses from the Knights of Columbus at their table at the back of the Church. Your gift will place food on the table for those in need! Thank you!

HELP NEEDED: Short term help needed in the office in December and January to complete 2015 bookkeeping requirements. Must have simply accounting experience. For more information please contact the parish office.

MERCY MINUTE: O soul steeped in darkness, do not despair. All is not yet lost. Come and confide in your God, Who is Love and Mercy. Diary 1486 (Our Lord’s words to St. Faustina)

SAINT OF THE MONTH:

The Holy Family (Patron of Families, Portrait of a Virtuous

Family - Feast Day Dec. 27th) This year our parish will be presenting a new Saint each month. Resources and information about these saints can be found on the website. Cut out the prayer below, put it on your fridge, and pray daily for the intercession of that Saint in your life.

Prayer for Families

Loving God, During this holy season of Christmas, we ask for Your blessing on all families.

May Mary’s openness to Your wondrous ways be an inspiration to place all

our trust in You. May Joseph’s courage provide hope during

time of anxiety and uncertainty. May Jesus’ life ignite all families with a

spirit of light and love. May the grace that encircled the Holy Family widen to embrace all our families

and loved ones. Amen.

ADVENT RETREAT As a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to celebrate an extraordinary jubilee of mercy you are invited to join Fr. Peter for an ADVENT RETREAT, based on God’s greatest gift of mercy, the Sacrament of Confession. An evening of spiritual formation, personal reflection and adoration that you won’t want to miss! Please mark your calendars and invite a friend to join you on MON, DEC 14th from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. RSVP to stewardship.hfp@gmail.com

Advent Reverse Collection This Weekend (December 12th/13th) we will be doing a reverse collection for the food bank. A basket will be passed around after communion, please take a donation suggestion out of the basket and bring that donation back on the 4th Sunday of Advent (December 19th/20th).

Baby Jesus Blessing Please remember to bring your baby Jesus from your nativity to the Church on Christmas to receive a special Christmas Blessing.

SAVE THE DATE Advent Toys for Tots - Dec. 12/13 Advent Reverse Collection - Dec. 12/13 Advent Retreat - Dec. 14 Penitential Service - Dec. 17 Family Dance - Dec. 18 SSVP Collection - Dec. 18/19 Baby Jesus Blessing - Dec. 24/25 Feast of the Holy Family - Dec. 27

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Thursday December 24th (Christmas Eve)

**No 9:00 am Mass 5:00 pm - Mass (Children’s Liturgy) 7:30 pm - Mass / 9:30 pm - Mass

12:00 am - Midnight Mass

Friday December 25th (Christmas Day)

9:00 am - Mass / 11:00 am - Mass **No 5:00 pm Mass

Thursday December 31st (New Year’s Eve) 5:00 pm - Mass

(Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God)

Friday January 1st (New Year’s Day)

9:00 am - Mass 11:00 am - Mass **No 5:00 pm Mass

ADVENT REFLECTION: John the Baptist’s life and mission re-minds us how badly we need a Saviour to save us, in order that we might be all that we are called to be and do all that we have to do to live in the Light. How are we courageous and prophetic in our Christian witness to the Light, who has already come into our world? So often we fail to recognize the one among us who is our True Light. May John the Baptist give us strength and courage to bear the light to others, and the generosity and ability to rejoice as we wait. “Rejoice always, pray with-out ceasing,” Paul writes in his first letter to the Thessalonians. We can also reverse the order of these two sentences: “Pray without ceasing, so that we will be able to rejoice always.” In prayer we experience God’s gather-ing up all of our concerns and hopes into His own infinite love and wisdom, His setting us back on our feet, and His giving us fullness of life and light.

THANK YOU! Thank you to all parishioners for wel-coming my Bishop with open arms. I know he felt the hospitality that Holy Family is known for. ~Fr. Peter

“Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2:9

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral Care people will bring Com-munion or visit those who are sick, shut-in or in the hospital. Contact: Jerry Stack 780-459-4589

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM:

Emerita Sacluti, Joe Pimentel, Bertha Casavant, Adelyn Warawa, Thomas Kho, Therese Gibeau, Jay Meakin, Norma March, Pat Howrish, Stephen Tamayo, Roger LaPlante, Helen Rom-mings, Colette Vanderkley’s family members, Helen Delorey, Frank Co-razza, Hale Popowich, Mark Holan, Joseph St. Arnaud, Dolores & De-colynneJo Barteski, Dave & Diane Hawirko, Colin Diakow, Brenda Gin-grich, Paulette Schoenberger, Mary Anne & Heikki Laitinene, Cherica Castro, Barry Laing, Duncan Mac-Donald, Anne Liese Zimmerman, Karen Petrone, Rita Frederick, Mark Schoenberger, Brian Rogers, Mark McLoughin, Michelle Black, Lance McNamara, Douglas Lemieux, Rich-ard Sabourin, Brenda Fraser, Gabriel-le Carriou, Shawn Hunt, Colin Holt-ner, Chuck Mitchell Jr., Dominic Wil-lott, Melody Contant, Lena Sokolan, Joseph Paquette, John Duncan, Joe Bulva, Lorie McMillan, Maria Bene-vider, Emily & Sandra Mikalonis, Chad Zima, Carl Swift, Ruth An-struther, Tom Watson, Pierre Phalempin, Fleurette Phalempin, Teddy Petryshyn.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE: Blessings to you and yours This Advent Season

We wish you great Joy. Membership:Sandra:780-459-0206 General Meeting January 4th All Ladies Welcome Always

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

YOUTH GROUPS:

VERVE: Youth Group for Grades 6-8. Wednesday Nights from 7:00 - 8:30pm. The last Verve before Christmas break will be on December 16th and we will resume again on January 13th, 2016.

UNITE: Youth Group for Grades 9-12. Sunday Nights: Supper at 6:00 pm programming from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

Unite this Sunday will be the last Unite before Christmas break we will resume

again on January 10th, 2016.

FAMILY DANCE FOR ALL AGES December 18th at Holy Family Parish Hall. Doors open at 6:45pm and Dance begins at 7pm. Please bring a snack to share. Come out for an evening of fun and fellowship with great company and music. Bring a friend, cousin, sister, and brother. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to dance we will teach you. Come Two-step, Waltz, Polka, Jive, Foxtrot, Rumba, and Cha Cha the night away!

WORLD YOUTH DAY We have launched our Kilometres to Krakow campaign, this is a donation based campaign. Donations of $20 or more are eligible for

a tax receipt! We are also asking for you to provide us with prayer intentions, we ask you to write your intentions in our prayer book found at our table. We will pray for your intentions as we prepare to go to WYD and while we are in Poland. Thanks for your prayers and support!

See the website or foyer for a calendar of events!

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Dates to remember:

• Selling gift cards at Saturday and Sunday masses throughout the month of December

• Holding its executive meeting on Monday, December 14th, commenc-ing at 7pm

• General meeting on Wednesday, December 16th, commencing at 7pm (no dinner)

• Hosting Ladies Night – January 16th

SSVP CONTACT INFO: To make a donation: donations4ssvpstalbert@gmail.com To notify us of someone in need: needs4ssvpstalbert@gmail.com

Open Door Prayer Group welcomes you to join them every Thursday even-ing at 8 pm in the Star of the North Retreat Centre, St.Albert. For more information please contact Nick West-geest: opendoorprayer@gmail.com.

ESSMY Chapel The Ecole Secondaire Sainte Margue-rite d’Youville School community is excited to be in the process of creating a chapel within our school. This will become a holy space dedicated to prayer and reflection. We have re-ceived beautiful items from the Arch-diocese and still have many items to purchase. With this comes a financial cost, so we are requesting monetary donations. Any amount is welcome and received in prayer and thanksgiving.

Advent Penitential Services Schedules for Advent Penitential Ser-vices are now posted on the website - look for the square purple button on the front page, or go directly to http://caedm.ca/advent.

Finding Christ in the World An Ignatian Retreat in Everyday Life. An 11 week intro to the Spiritual Exer-cises of St. Ignatius. 3 Saturdays and 11 Tuesday evenings. For more info: 780-459-5511