A Christmas wish list

Transcription

1 SUNDAY December 10 Envelopes/Pre Authorized Giving Program $15, Loose $ 1, WE PLEDGE 5%... Restorative Ministry $ Str8Up $ St. Mary's Christmas Hampers $ Thank you! BAPTISM Expectant parents please contact the parish office three months prior to the baptism date to arrange for the baptism preparation program and for the baptism celebration. The next baptism celebrations are January 27, 2018, February 10, March 17, April 21, May 12, June 2, June 23. Please call Sharon, for registration information. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5: This scripture reading sums up Stewardship. Rejoice always means place your trust in God; God will provide all that you need. Pray constantly means prayer should be a running conversation with God throughout the whole day, every day. Give thanks in all circumstances means even in bad situations, thank God. Suffering a little bit helps build empathy for others in similar situations. CHILDREN S LITURGY The program takes place during the readings and homily at Sunday Mass. It is suitable for children age 4 to pre-first Eucharist. Parents and young people interested in leading the program or helping, please call Celena Komarnicki, CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the Catholic Church s process whereby one could inquire about the Catholic faith and journey towards full reception into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil. At Holy Spirit Parish, RCIA meets weekly from mid-september through April. There is no fee and all materials needed are provided. New participants are always welcome. Meetings are Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. For information call Arch McKay, ; agmckay1@sasktel.net. NEW PARISHIONER REGISTRATION/CHANGE OF ADDRESS MARRIAGE PREPARATION Arrangements for marriage can be made by contacting the parish priest eight months prior to the date of marriage. This will provide adequate time for documentation and the diocesan required marriage preparation program. A preparation program is offered through Holy Spirit parish beginning Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 2:00 pm. This program is intended not only for engaged couples but also for couples considering engagement and marriage. Please call Todd and Maureen Heroux, or mahero715@yahoo.com for information and to register for the next session. Catholic Family Services, , also offers a marriage preparation program. Please check the diocesan website for more opportunities for marriage preparation, saskatoonrcdiocese.com. NEW IN THE PARISH? MOVING? Please help us keep parish records up-to-date. It assists us to serve you. Please complete the following and return to the parish office by mail or in the weekend collection basket. Thank you for your assistance. NAME ADDRESS POSTAL CODE TELEPHONE PARISH OFFERING ENVELOPES? YES NOT AT THIS TIME THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 17, 2017 A Christmas wish list Young children sit on Santa's lap to answer the question that consumes them these days: What do you want for Christmas? The child in each of us still wants stuff like toys and new clothes. But deep inside us we have more basic needs. We need security, fairness, and love. We want something huge for Christmas. We want peace on earth and justice for the oppressed. We want poverty eliminated and wars ceased. Isaiah promises we will not be disappointed. He promises that God will do such wondrous things that justice and praise will spring up in every nation. When God is the joy of our soul, Isaiah says, a robe of salvation clothes us and a mantle of justice enfolds us. When God is our joy, we feel as rich as royalty, no matter how poor our state. What does the earth want for Christmas? It wants good news for the poor, healing for the broken-hearted, liberty for captives, and release for prisoners. The earth wants what God alone can provide. What do you want for Christmas? Is it something for you or something for the earth? Will it hinder or help the earth get what it needs? Paul Turner Resource Publications Inc. PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING PROGRAM YES Alleluia, Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor. Alleluia.

2 114 Kingsmere Place Saskatoon, SK S7J 3V7 Phone Fax Office Hours 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Office info@holyspiritsaskatoon.ca Website holyspiritsaskatoon.ca Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon Phone communications@saskatoonrcdiocese.com Rev. Darryl Millette, Pastor Rev. Peter Olisa, Associate Pastor Sunday Mass Saturday - 5:00 pm Sunday - 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, 7:00 pm Daily Mass Tuesday to Friday - 8:30 am Reconciliation Saturday 11:00 am - 12:00 noon Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Office Administrator Delores McLean Pastoral Associates Charlene Nijhawan, Ministry of Care Kelly Wormsbecker, Ministry of Care Arch McKay, Christian Initiation of Adults Sharon Powell, Faith Formation Youth Ministry Coordinator Celena Komarnicki Financial Administrator Monica Johnson Building Maintenance Jack Altrogge, Ed Yuzyk Finance Committee Basil Waslen, Chair Mike Gartner Pat Pitka Ed Solie Bob Korol Parish Pastoral Council Fern Boutin, Chair Louise Bitz Lynn Eremondi Bev Jutras Jonathon Neufeld James Nestmann Kenton Peterson Ian Rana THIS WEEK AT HOLY SPIRIT Monday, December 18 6:30 pm EDGE Tuesday, December 19 8:30 am Mass 7:00 pm Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) 7:00 pm Readers/Lectors Orientation Wednesday, December 20 8:30 am Mass 9:30 am Advent Bible Study 7:00 pm Advent Penitential Service Thursday, December 21 8:30 am Mass 10:30 am Mass (Stensrud Lodge) 1:30 pm Seniors' 55+ Cards/Bingo 7:00 pm Hospitality/Usher Orientation Friday, December 22 8:30 am Mass 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 3:30 pm Youth Choir practice Saturday, December 23 11:00 am - 12:00 noon Confessions 5:00 pm Mass Sunday, December 24 10:00 am Mass 12:00 pm Mass CHRISTMAS EVE December 24 5:00 pm 8:00 pm 11:00 pm CHRISTMAS DAY December 10:00 am 25 PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES... to Jim, Dwayne, Russell, Darrell, Anita, Wanda, Ian and families on the death of wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother Beth Klyne. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in God s peace. holyspiritsaskatoon.ca DID YOU KNOW?... Church Art calendars ($5) are available for sale through the Catholic Women's League. Please contact Margaret if you would like to purchase one. 'Pop-Up' Sale continues at Station 20 West, Tuesday, December 19 and Wednesday, December 20, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm sponsored by Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan. Included are hand-made items and bead work, kids pjs, t- shirts, jewelry, moccasins, card holders, lanyards, drum bags, Charles Hudson Original paintings, and more. St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission is accepting applications for the position of Director of Formation. Please see posting on the bulletin board in the place of welcome Pregnancy Options Centre offers Post-abortion Recovery - recent or even if it is years after the fact. If you would like to participate in a group beginning Sunday January 7, 1:00 pm at the Pregnancy Opetions Centre, please call , Cathy LaFleche, Executive Director; cathy.spoc@sasktel.net The diocesan office of Restorative needs rosaries for prison outreach. Please drop off donations, attention Dianne Anderson at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 123 Nelson Road, or call (306) Prayer changes lives, and this devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary helps many on their journey of faith and healing. The Diocesan Office of Migration now has access to a storage space for donated items needed to assist refugees, newcomers, and others in need in our community, thanks to the generosity of the Concorde Group. Please consider donating gentlyused beds, bedding, furniture of all sorts, household items, etc. Items may be dropped off on Wednesdays between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm at a 51st Street location in Saskatoon. Please Robyn at migration2@saskatoonrcdiocese.com drop-off location. MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, 7:00 pm Weekday Mass Tuesday - Friday 8:30 am CATHOLIC WOMEN S LEAGUE Adele Giblin holyspiritcwl@gmail.com FIRST PARISH BREAKFAST in the New Year Let's celebrate a New Year, a New Oven, and a New Menu. The Knights of Columbus are offering a parish breakfast on Sunday, January 14, 11:00 am. All are welcome. Thank you for your support Knights of Columbus #8905 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 8905 Grand Knight, George Gartner Knights of Columbus memberships and information, please call James, or Rob, Welcome all new CWL members and members who have transferred from other parish Leagues. New memberships and member renewal, and for change of address - Diana cwlsk.ca and cwl.ca Simbang Gabi Day Christmas Novena Masses continue The Filipino Catholic Community invites all to participate in Simbang Gabi. Here is the Novena Mass Schedule leading up to Christmas. Please note that there is a potluck after every Mass. Everyone is welcome. Let us share our love and blessings! Thank you. 5:00 pm Sunday, December 17 - St. Paul Co-Cathedral, 720 Spadina Crescent 7:00 pm Monday, December 18 - St. Mary Parish, 211 Avenue O South 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 19 - St. Joseph Parish, 535-8th Street East 7:00 pm Wednesday, December 20 - St. Peter the Apostle Parish, 1121 Northumberland Ave. 7:00 pm Thursday, December 21 - St. Francis Xavier Parish, 222 Willow Street 7:00 pm Friday December 22 - St. Anne Parish, 217 Lenore Drive 7:00 pm Saturday, December 23 - St. Patrick Parish, 3339 Centennial Drive

3 Tidings of Great Joy A Christmas Prayer Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen. by Robert Louis Stevenson WE PLEDGE 5%... Care and Share - an outreach program that coordinates support for children in Saskatoon s 17 Community elementary schools. The program assists St. John's Ambulance in offering a babysitting course to 12 year old youths in the Community Schools to help them gain First Aid skills. Care and Share also supports a DIGNITY Fund. If a child does not have the dignity of underwear or socks or shoes or weatherappropriate clothing to wear, this fund is used to purchase what they need. The identified child in need can come from any area of the city. Personal hygiene supplies like soap shampoo or toothbrushes are also provided when needed. For more information, please see careandshare saskatoon.com or PARISH OFFERTORY ENVELOPES Parish offertory envelopes for 2018 and the pre-authorized giving special collection envelopes are available in the Place of Welcome. It would be appreciated if you pick up your box as soon as possible. Thank you. NOTE: if your address, phone number, or other information has changed, please advise the office or monica@ holyspiritsaskatoon.ca. FOOD FOR THE POOR A food container is available at the church entrance to receive your gifts of non-perishable food. This food will be distributed to agencies in Saskatoon involved in helping to feed the poor. Why not try on a weekly basis to bring an item of food? It will be a great reminder of God s blessings and how we are called to bless others. CHRISTMAS DÉCOR Poinsettias are available for purchase in memory of a loved one. The Environment and Art Committee will use these poinsettias as part of the Christmas décor - $20. Place the completed form, with $20, in an envelope marked 'Poinsettia." You may drop it in the offering basket or at the office. A card with your loved one's name will be placed with a poinsettia for the Christmas season. Deceased name PLEASE PRINT Requested by $ WELCOME to all visiting with us this weekend. Your faith and spirit enrich our community. May you travel safely and know that God s presence is always with you. Ways you can help SENIORS CARDS/BINGO Fun, enjoyable afternoons of card games and bingo are held two Thursdays each month in the parish hall. The next gathering is Thursday, December 21-1:30 pm For more information, please call Lucille, Together, as a faith community, Holy Spirit Parish is preparing Christmas Hampers for 50 families in need this year in the vicinity of our parish. bring non-perishable food items as requested by the Knights of Columbus. make a cash donation for perishable food items make a cash donation for children's gifts (Make cheques payable to Holy Spirit Parish and place in the collection basket at Mass in an envelope marked Christmas Hampers.) Deliver two hampers Thursday, December 21 between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm For more information, contact Ministry of Care Charlene or Kelly, ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICES St. Augustine Tuesday, December 19 7:00 pm HOLY SPIRIT Wednesday, December 20 7:00 pm St. Joseph Saturday, December 23 11:00 am - 3:00 pm nce again, St. Francis Xavier Parish and Holy O Spirit Parish are joining together to invite children and their families to partake in a Christmas Pageant. We will meet at St. Francis Xavier Parish, 222 Willow Street, on Tuesday, December 19 at 6:30 pm. The children are invited to be part of the pageant, in which they will have a short rehearsal and then perform for their families at 7:00 pm. This is a great way to join with our neighbouring parishes to celebrate the season. Thank you to the coordinators at St. Francis for hosting this wonderful family event. For more details or to confirm your participation please contact Celena at or via at celena@holyspiritsaskatoon.ca Celena Komarnicki Youth Ministry Coordinator PARISH CONTRIBUTIONS Thank you to all who have contributed financially to Holy Spirit Parish during Please be reminded that to qualify for a 2017 tax receipt, contributions must be dated no later than December 31, 2017 and received in the parish office by December 31, READERS/LECTORS An orientation for new readers/lectors (former volunetters are welcome to participate) will be held in the parish on - Tuesday, December 19, 7:00 pm Thank you for your ministry Jeannette Chicoine-Darroch, Coordinator HOSPITALITY/ USHER MINISTRY Volunteers are encouraged to attend a meeting to review responsibilities of leaders and instructions for all volunteers - Thursday, December 21, 7:00 pm or Wednesday, January 3, 7:00 pm Thank you for your ministry. Simone Gareau, Coordinator

4 Journey through Advent Symbolism of Light Throughout the Bible, light is the symbol for the very presence of God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is the very presence of God. Jesus identifies himself: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12, see 9:5). John the Baptist is described in terms of his relationship with Jesus the light. The Baptist is the divinely chosen witness to Jesus the light. He is not the light, but is to bear testimony to the light. He was a voice that cried out from the darkness, the voice that proclaimed the light was soon to come. Testifying to the Light John the Baptist's mission was to "testify to the light" - Christ's presence among people. Testimony to the light requires two things. First, it means to do good work ("bring glad tidings to the poor," "heal the broken-hearted"). By these good works, we too bring the presence of Christ to others. Second, to "testify to the light" means to grow in relationship to Christ and with others. Our Own Witness to Jesus We too are called to be witnesses to Jesus. This is a part of our Advent practice. We are the contemporary voices crying out in the wilderness, "prepare the way of the Lord." This is how we live out our baptismal promises. At baptism, we were given a lighted candle. This is a symbol of Christ the Light of God, who enlightens our way and helps us overcome the darkness that can often show up as we pilgrimage through life. This is the light that we are to keep shining. How do you bring glad tidings to the poor, heal the broken hearted, and witness to the light of Christ in your own life? by Art Zannoni pastoralcenter.com Keeping Christ in Christmas by Feeding the Littlest Ones The wonderful joy we feel in December as well await the coming of the Christ child is not so joyful for children who will go hungry this Christmas. In every community in Canada children wake up hungry. They spend the day hungry. They go to bed hungry. "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone person to person." Many children nationwide are affected by food insecurity, a phenomenon defined by experts as inconsistent access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy life. The consequences and costs of child hunger are severe. Research shows that lack of nutrition can permanently alter a child's brain architecture, stunting intellectual capacity and a child's ability to learn and interact with others. With hunger comes more frequent sickness and higher healthcare costs not to mention the resulting societal costs later on. Many children will not enjoy a bountiful meal on Christmas day, or any day, and for many, there may be no festivities, no tree, no gifts. Christian stewards understand the obvious paradox as they celebrate the Incarnation of Christ as an innocent child. Finding comprehensive remedies to hunger in Canada and worldwide is complex, subject to debate, and transcends politics and ideologies. But what is not subject to debate in Catholic social teaching is that Catholics don't let children go hungry. Good stewards are motivated by the words of Mother Teresa: "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Like the Good Samaritan, good stewards do not avert their eyes from the needs of the littlest ones who suffer in our own communities and neighbourhoods. They know they are called to reach out. Mother Teresa also said: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." One way to keep Christ in Christmas is to Be Christ to a hungry child. by Leisa Anslinger catholicstewardship.com An Examination of Conscience for Advent of Jesus' healing? Has my anger, judgment, or temper hurt those around me? Have I allowed work, hobbies, or other activities to rule my life instead of God? Am I able to share with Jesus the parts of myself that need his healing touch? of Jesus' companionship? Have I allowed time to connect with God? Have I created space in my family or community to learn about Jesus? Do I look for Jesus in my daily life? of generosity? Have I given my time and gifts freely to the service of others? Have I cared for the poor and the needy? Do I commit myself in tangible ways to the creation of a more just society? of Jesus wisdom? Do I follow Jesus in times of conflict at home or work? Do I ask Jesus to share his wisdom when I am faced with a difficult decision? Have I invited Jesus to change my heart and mind? of Jesus' love? Do I let Jesus love all of me, even the parts that I am not proud of? Do I share that healing love with others who are in need of it? Do I invited Jesus to be present in my daily interactions with those I love and those I meet? Jennifer Owens and Jay Mitchell ThePastoralCenter.com

5 CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR S/HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE Fourth Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 23 Sunday, December 24 Christmas Sunday, December 24 Monday, December 25 5:00 pm 10:00 am 12:00 noon 5:00 pm 8:00 pm 11:00 pm 10:00 am Sunday, Feast of the Holy Family Saturday, December 30 5:00 pm Sunday, December 31 10:00 am 12:00 noon New Year s Day, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Sunday, December 31 7:00 pm Monday, January 1, :00 am Sunday, Epiphany of the Lord Saturday, January 6, 2018 Sunday, January 7, :00 pm 10:00 am 12:00 noon 7:00 pm O

6

7

8