december 11, 2016 3rd sunday of...
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S T. J AM E S C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 5 5 0 4 — 2 0 S T. S W
C AL G ARY, A L B E R TA T 3 E 1 R 2
P H O N E : 4 0 3 2 4 3 2 6 8 0 FAX : 4 0 3 2 8 7 1 2 7 3
W W W. S T J A M E S C AL G A RY. O R G
PASTOR Rev. Edmund Vargas
DEACON
Rev. Mr. Bruce Jurgens [email protected]
SECRETARY Brenda Lerner
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Tom Linahan
PARISH SCREENING COORDINATOR
Lindsay Flynn [email protected]
CARETAKER
Bobby Georgopoulos
*** OFFICE HOURS
Monday to Friday 9:00am—3:00pm
Closed 12:00-12:30
***** MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday 5:00pm
Sunday
8:30am 10:00am 12:00noon
Weekday Masses
Tuesday thru Friday 9:00am
Eucharistic Adoration Fridays 9:30-10:30am
Reconciliation
Saturdays 4:00-4:30
or by request
December 11, 2016 3rd Sunday of Advent
Committee Contact List Parish Pastoral Council—Nick Fader, John Ostrander, Ralph Walicki, Colleen Cove, Daryl Engelman, Sheryl Schmitt, David Odongi, Elvira Castaneda, Ted Valentine, Kyle Hagan Finance Committee—Neale Johannesson, Scott Iredale, Terry Gonsalves Children’s Liturgy—Becky Elder Pastoral Care—Stephanie Davis Altar Servers—Vivian Moody Food Bank/Christmas Hampers—Vivian Moody RCIA—Pauline Montemurro, Shirley Valentine Building/Maintenance Committee—Arnie Funke, Richard Belzil, Al Meier Knights of Columbus—Tim Cove Funeral Lunches—Audrey McKean Weekday Sacristans– Florence Dickson, Ted Valentine, Midge Chartier Weekend Sacristans—Ted Valentine, Cor Stuijts, Martin Onon Lectors—Colleen Cove, Richard Belzil, Midge Chartier, David Odongi Eucharistic Ministers—Colleen Cove, Richard Belzil, Midge Chartier, David Odongi Hospitality—Marie Funke, Angela Nagy, Florence Dickson Sudanese Community—Martin Onon Syrian Refugee Committee—Pat Barry Sacramental Preparation—Vacant Ushers—Al Meier Social Committee—Vacant Art & Environment Committee—Lin Samson, Anita Zyla Liturgy Committee—Midge Chartier, Ted Valentine, Catherine Peet Sudanese Choir—Elizabeth Massimo Library—Colleen Montgomery Sandwich Days—Emil Rawlyk
Rejoice in the Lord always; for indeed, the Lord is near. As we wait for the coming of the Lord, we prepare our hearts and homes to receive him. As Saint Paul instructs, we prepare with patience and a firm heart. We will know he has come into our hearts and homes when we model true discipleship and work to bring the Good News to those around us. In the first reading, the prophet proclaims the joyful news that God saves his people and gives them great reason for rejoicing. Saint Paul, in the second reading, exhorts the faithful to prepare for the coming of the Lord with pa-tience and a firm heart. In the Gospel, John the Baptist asks if Jesus is really the Messiah, or should they seek another?
Tuesday, December 13 9:00am RIP—Elizabeth Hall Wednesday, December 14 9:00am Special Intention of Theresa Martin Thursday, December 15 9:00am Special Intention of Walter Hammond Friday, December 16 9:00am RIP—Adam DiPardo Saturday, December 17 5:00pm RIP—Bob Kelly Sunday, December 18 8:30am RIP—Kerry Hanson 10:00am Special Intention of Shirley Valentine 12:00 St James Parish
Pastoral Notes by Fr. Edmund
The gift of Christ’s Presence
This Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday, we light three candles, two purple and one pink, of the four candles of the Advent wreath. The pink candle of the Advent wreath symbolizes our joy of realizing that Christmas is at hand. We rejoice at the nearness of our celebration of the event that has made God present in our humanity. We rejoice at the fast approaching celebration of Christ’s birth that has made God present among us, in the sacraments and in prayer, in our daily life and in the signs of the times, in other people and in occasions of serving one another. We see and feel Christ’s presence in people whose lives reflect His love, mercy and forgiveness. Although harder to see and understand, God is also with us in pain and suffering. As we hasten towards Christmas, let us offer the gift of Christ’s presence to our loved ones as well as to those who need most our love, especially this season. Let us be more generous with our gift-giving, knowing that we give on behalf of Him who gave up his life for our sake. We give the gift of Christ’s presence even with gifts that come free for our sharing: the gift of listening, the gift of affection, the gift of laughter, the gift of solitude, the gift of favor, the gift of a written note, the gift of a compliment or the gift of a cheerful disposition. As a community, we share the gift of Christ’s presence through the gift of hospitality to newcomers, the gift of acceptance to those feel alienated or isolated or the gift of recognition to those who always do the “behind the scenes” work.
As Christmas approaches, let us share the giftedness of our life that has been redeemed by God’s becoming human in Jesus Christ. Those of us who are struggling with difficulties and challenges at this time of the year understand that the approach of the Christmas season can make our life more stressful or even more painful. As a people, we have to become the sacrament of Christ’s healing presence in our midst. Our Eucharistic celebration, in which we are transformed into bread broken for others, speaks of our being wounded healers. In our brokenness, we rejoice as a source of healing through Christ who is the bread broken for all of us.
Come Pray with Us…
Rosary—8:30am before weekday Masses Divine Mercy Cenacle—9:30am
on the 1st Wednesday of the month Marian Cenacle—9:30am on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Wednesdays of the month
Please pray for the sick:
Claire Oliphant, Mariah Lerner, Aidan Hanes, Harry Piet, Shirley Valentine,
James Wilson Jr., Betty Harrison, Renee Brassard And for those who have died:
Elizabeth Hall, Georgina Georgopoulos, Fred Phillips, Abiem Kuol Abiem, Adlan Wani, Mary Hriskevich
Welcome to all visitors and new parishioners! We invite
unregistered parishioners to complete a registration form found on our website or near the entrances to the church. Complete the form and drop it off at the parish office or in the collection basket. If you have requested donation envelopes, they can be found inside the hall. If you prefer to use pre-authorized withdrawal, forms can be found at the SW entrance or at the office.
Children’s Collection $ 35.35 TIA $1288.00 Food Bank $538.95 Regular $5565.25 PAPS* $1058.00 Total $6623.25
*Pre-Authorized Payment System
2016 TIA Goal as Set by Diocese: $27,583. TIA total to date: $26,574.
Thank you for your generosity!
Last Sunday Donations
Monday Christian Meditation 7:30pm Tuesday Mass 9:00am Wednesday Mass 9:00am RCIA 6:00pm Advent According to Joseph 6:30pm Confession 7:30—8:30pm Choir 7:30pm Thursday Mass 9:00am Friday Mass 9:00am
Bridge/Eucher 1:00pm
Christmas Hampers –Giving Tree
Thank you to all parishioners who took a red tag from the Christmas Giving Tree. Each tag indicates the gender and age of a specific child whose family is receiving a Christmas Hamper. If you have not yet brought in your item, please do so NO LATER
THAN MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 so that coordinators can determine what we still need. These gifts can be dropped off at the office. Christmas Hampers will be assembled on Monday, December 19th by St James School and delivered that evening by the Knights and willing volunteers. Volunteer drivers are welcome and should arrive at 6:45pm. Families are welcome. If you or someone you know is in need of a Christmas Hamper this year, please let the office know as soon as possible. With the current economic situation, we expect a significant increase for Christmas Hamper requests this year.
Advent & Christmas Schedule Confession available Wednesdays during Advent 7:30-8:30pm on Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14 & Dec 21.
Christmas Eve Masses: 5:00pm & 7:00pm
(Carols will be sung prior to the 7:00 Mass beginning at 6:30.)
Christmas Day Masses: 8:30am, 10:00am, 12noon New Year’s Eve: 5:00pm
New Year’s Day: 8:30am, 10:00am, 12 noon
Sign-up sheets for Christmas and New Year’s can be found at the back of the church along the west wall.
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers—If you have not yet received the General Protocol sheet for weekend Masses and/or your schedules, please pick them up from the sacristy. Workbooks for Lectors are available through the office.
Holiday Office Hours
December 23—Closed at noon December 26 & 27 - Closed
December 28 & 29—regular hours 9-3 December 30—Closed at noon
January 2—Closed Regular office hours resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
Fr. Edmund will be presenting a two-part reflection on Advent, “Advent According to Joseph” on Wednesday,
December 14 at 6:30pm, and “Advent According to Mary” on Wednesday, December 21 at 6:30pm.
Confessions follow at 7:30pm.
Poinsettias We are asking parishioners to consider donating white, pink, peach or red colored poinsettias to decorate the church for Christmas. Please drop them off at the office prior to Dec 23.
Today our 2nd collection is for Mission Mexico, an outreach program of Catholics in the Diocese of Calgary. Our goal is to provide funding for micro-economic, education, health and human rights projects in one of the poorest regions in the state of Guerrero, Mexico.
Fire in the Rose
Same-sex Violence
Women/men who experience violence from their same-sex partners may not have the language to define what is happening to them. There is still a perception that violence only happens in heterosexual relationships. Same-sex relationships are often characterized as mutual, and devoid of the hierarchy that can pervade male/female relationships in our patriarchal society. However, abuse can happen whenever there is an inequality of power.
A lesbian woman/gay man who seeks to report violence faces discrimination in the institutions that should be there to help them. Many fear that no one will believe them. Law enforcement officers can view violence between same-sex partners as mutual or consensual abuse. They may not know who to believe, and the survivor of violence may be arrested. Service providers may identify the person who goes to a shelter first as the person who was abusive, thereby including someone who has committed violence in an environment that is supposed to be sheltered from violence. A person who stays in a shelter may fear that their partner may still try to have access to them. Danger increases as a person seeks to leave an abusive situation; lack of direct and assured access to assistance endanger people leaving abusive same-sex relationships.
Women/men who are abused by same-sex partners fear physical, sexual, emotional, economic and spiritual violence. Issues around sexual orientation can be used in that violence; a partner may threaten to expose their orientation to the community if they seek help from the battering. A partner can threaten to “out” a person to their family, their workplace, their landlord or their religious community. (Why Can’t She Leave—Part 12)
For more information contact Jane Oxenbury at 403 255 7004 or [email protected].
Caring response to the lonely, shut-ins, the sick and dying to help in meeting their spiritual needs. Please notify the parish office so that a visit and/or Sacrament of the Sick may be arranged.
Sacraments Baptism:
Please call the office to coordinate an interview and registration. A baptism workshop is required.
Marriage: At least 6 months notice is required. A Marriage
Preparation Course is also required.
Like us on Facebook @ stjameschurchcalgary
Rejoice in God’s Mercy—Gaudete Sunday With God anything is possible. There is the danger to think that God will never forgive you or that you cannot change yourself or the world. In Advent, we are reminded that we do not need to do everything ourselves. Jesus has ransomed us and we respond to the psalmist by crying out “Lord, come and save us.” It may be that the healing or the change for which we long does not come quickly enough for us. Advent is also about waiting. In Advent we have to be patient and trust that the coming of the Lord is near. With God the blind can see, the lame walk, the sick are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive good news! The Lord continues to do these things for us but we have to put aside all substitutes for God in order to see and receive the healing promised through Jesus Christ. Action: Look for the goodness of God in your life, in the people around you, and in the world.
2017 Donation Envelopes are available in the hall. If you do not have a box and would like one, please let the office know. Also if there are errors on the label, please advise the office so that our information remains up-to-date. Thank you!
The funeral Mass for Mary Hriskevich will take place at Holy Spirit Parish on Wednesday, December 14 at 11:00am.