DECEMBER 24TH 2024, FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
- Posted On 23rd Dec 2023
Masses for the Week
| Sat Dec 23 09:00 AM | † Augustine & Piedade Fernandes |
| Sat Dec 23 05:00 PM | † Angelo H. Nepomuceno |
| Sun Dec 24 09:00 AM | † Renante Hingada |
| Sun Dec 24 11:00 AM | People of the Parish |
| Sun Dec 24 05:00 PM | Intention of members of the Tanuan family |
| Sun Dec 24 07:30 PM | Intention of Bunny & James Santos |
| Mon Dec 25 12:00 AM | People of the Parish |
| Mon Dec 25 09:00 AM | † Bernardo Chua Go |
| Mon Dec 25 11:00 AM | † Arlene Eusebio-Angeles |
| Tue Dec 26 09:00 AM | † John Rodrigues |
| Wed Dec 27 09:00 AM | † Casmir D'Silva |
| Thu Dec 28 09:00 AM | † Stephen Wong |
| Fri Dec 29 09:00 AM | † Reynaldo Marcelo † Bernardo Go † Rosa & Ramon Chua † George Tomie Intention of Gabrielle Laberinto Intention of Nestor & Debra Silveira Intention of Alicia Santos |
| Sat Dec 30 09:00 AM | Intention of Maria Fan |
| Sat Dec 30 05:00 PM | † Giovanni & Aquilina Vacca |
REFLECTION
How hard we humans have tried to build a fitting dwelling for the Lord God! Today’s first reading tells us of King David’s resolve to build a beautiful temple. But God refuses his offer. Instead, David’s descendants will become the house in which God dwells, and God himself will do the building. The psalm sings gratefully of the Lord’s love. But who could have fathomed God’s wonderful plan, praised in the concluding hymn of the letter to the R omans? The annunciation story, the liturgy's prelude to Christmas, tell us how God took on human flesh. The body of Christ (his human body and his body as Church) becomes the living temple where God is adored. Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, is the new ark of the covenant. When God took the initiative in coming to dwell with humankind, it was a graced individual, Mary, who responded with her yes. She could not know all the implications of her answer, and yet she agreed to God’s work in her. Through her son Jesus we are able to offer God perfect worship.
Sunday Mass Book for Canada
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: 2023 TAX RECEIPTS
Please note that ONLY Donations received at the parish office by December 29th, 12 noon qualifies for a 2023 Tax Receipt.
2024 DONATION ENVELOPES
The 2024 donation envelopes are available for pick up in the Narthex. They are alphabetized within each tray.
Please be patient and ensure you are taking your own box. Please help us return those boxes that are not yours to their original spots to save everyone’s time.
We thank you for your generosity and for following and respecting this guideline.
Do you feel called?
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”
Luke 2:16–19
How well do you understand the awe-inspiring mystery of Christmas? How fully do you comprehend the significance of God becoming a human, born of a virgin? Though many are quite familiar with the beautiful and humble story of the birth of the Savior of the World, that familiarity can have the surprising negative effect of keeping our intellect from deeply probing the depths of the meaning of what we celebrate.
Mother Mary was the one person who would have understood the mystery of the birth of her Son, the Son of God, the Savior of the World, far more deeply than anyone else. It was to her that the Archangel Gabriel appeared, announcing her pregnancy and His birth. It was to her that Elizabeth, her cousin, cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42).
Our Blessed Mother, more than any other, understood the incredible event that had taken place in her life. But, the
Gospel above says that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” One thing this tells us is that even Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of God, needed time to ponder, reflect and savor this most holy mystery. She never doubted, but her faith continually deepened, and her heart pondered the unfathomable and incomprehensible
mystery of the Incarnation.
Another thing this tells us is that there is no end to the depth of the “pondering” to which we must commit ourselves if we want to enter more deeply into the mystery of the birth of the Son of God. Reading the story, setting up a nativity scene, sharing Christmas cards, attending Mass and the like are
central to a holy celebration of Christmas. But “pondering” and “reflecting,” especially during prayer and especially at the Christmas Mass, will have the effect of drawing us ever deeper into this Mystery of our Faith.
Reflect, today, with our Blessed Mother. Ponder the Incarnation. Place yourself into the scene that first Christmas. Hear the sounds of the town. Smell the smells of the stable. Watch as the shepherds come forth in adoration. And enter the mystery more fully, acknowledging that the more you know about the mystery of Christmas, the more you know how little you actually know and understand. But that humble realization is the first step to a deeper understanding of what we celebrate this day.
Excerpt from Thomas, J. P. (2022, September 30). Pondering the Birth of Christ. My Catholic Life! https://mycatholic.life/books/catholic-daily-reflections-series-two/advent-christmas-series-two/christmas-octave/#buy
Pondering the Birth of Christ
There was a man named John, sent by God, who came as a witness to testify to the Light, so that through this person all people might believe. Is it possible God could be calling your name to witness to the Light of Christ in our day?
If you think God is calling you to be a priest, religious or deacon, call Fr. Matt McCarthy, Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org or check www.vocationstoronto.ca.
REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN!!!
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CHILDREN
Who should register?
- Children in grade 2 and 7 of the school year 2023-2024
- Children in public schools in grade 2 and 7 of the school year 2023-2024 or children who have missed a Sacrament at the usual time. Note: they must register for both Sacramental Prep and Sunday School
Please register using the buttons below.
FIRST RECONCILIATION & HOLY COMMUNION
The first parent meetings for First Reconciliation will be on Sunday, 15 Oct 2023 OR Tuesday, 17 Oct 2023. Please register BEFORE these two dates
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Children in non-Catholic schools or who have missed a Sacrament at the usual time must register for Sunday School.
Announcement to All Ministries by the Parish Office
| BULLETIN DATE | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| December 17th, 2023 | Wed, Dec 6 by 5 PM |
| December 24th, 2023 | Tues, Dec 12 by 5 PM |
| December 31st, 2023 | Thurs, Dec 14 by 5 PM |
| January 7th, 2024 | Thurs, Dec 29 by 5 PM |
Edge Youth Ministry
EDGE Youth Ministry 2023—2024 has opened its registration for youth in grade 6, 7, and 8.
EDGE will meet on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, starting from Oct 13th, 2023.
COME DISCOVER HOW THE WORD CREATES!
We grow in our relationship with God & one another through various activities: obstacle courses, escape room puzzles, team crafting & more.
Please contact Jeremy Tanuan for more information: JTanuan@archtoronto.org or 416-282-0370 ex. 213.