PARISH STAFF & MINISTRY CONTACTS

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1 TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME September 25, 2016 PARISH STAFF & MINISTRY CONTACTS Parish Priest: Father Toochukwu Okafor Deacon: Danny MacDonald Deacon: James McLevey Catechist, Primary-6: Shereen Daniels Catechist, Jr. High: Diane Gibbons Office Administrator: Catherine Gonsalves Music Director: Kim Sampson, Pastoral Council Chair Cyril Muise Responsible Ministry & CWL -RoseAnn Hetherington Finance Chair: Ralph Beal Knights of Columbus Gary Moore St. Vincent de Paul Martin Delaney Property & Mass Coordinator-Wayne O Leary Liturgy- David Chiddenton EVENTS AND MEETING toochukwuokafor@yahoo.com dannymacdonald@chalice.ca mclevey@ns.sympatico.ca sdreligioused267@gmail.com diane.juniorhigh@gmail.com officeinfo@ns.aliantzinc.ca kimplusmusic@gmail.com cyril.muise@bellaliant.net ra.hetherington@ns. sympatico.ca casuralu@ns.sympatico.ca gmooresr@mooreandcormier.com delaney1@ns.sympatico.ca linway@bellaliant.net david.chiddenton@gmail.com Monday, Sept 26 Praise & Worship 7 pm Church Tuesday, Sept. 28 Parish Potluck Lunch after 12:15 Mass-SHR Tuesday, Sept 28 Our Lady of Grace Prayer Group 7 pm Church Thursday, Sept 29 Adoration after Mass until 7.00 pm- Church Thursday, Sept 29 Staff Meeting am noon Friday, Sept 30 Chase the Ace and Soup Supper 5pm-7pm Hall Friday, Sept 30 Youth Group 7pm Hall Saturday, Oct1 Yard Sale 8am-1pm Church Parking Lot Saturday, Oct 1 KOC Organizational Meeting 10am-1pm SHR MASS INTENTION SCHEDULE FINANCIAL NEWS: Sept Saturday, September 24 Sun, September 25- Monday, September 26 Cecil Mackay Robert Boudreau For Parishioners NO MASS Sunday Offering Collection $ Building Fund: $ If you wish to offer your Sunday Offering using Direct Deposit, please contact the parish Office for information. Thank you. Tuesday, September 27 Wednesday, September 28 Thursday, September 29 Friday, September 30 Henry & Michael MacDougall Louise & Edmund Pineau Ron Morgan Cathy Clancey SCRIPTURE READINGS For Next Week: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Habakkuk 1.2-3; Rs Psalm: Ps , 6-7ab, 7c-9 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy , Gospel: Luke

2 -STM NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS- Praise & Worship: There will be Praise & Worship on Monday, Sept 26 at 7 pm in the Church. Greg Moulaison from Yarmouth will be leading the worship. All are invited to attend Welcome Maria O Brien to the St. Thomas More staff team. Maria will be our evening office staff on Monday and Thursday from 6 pm 8 pm. She is a parishioner here and is actively involved in our Elementary and Junior High Religious Ed and Youth programs.. She is currently attending Prince Andrew High School. Music Ministry : We would like to enhance the music ministry by inviting other musicians to come and join the choirs - not only singers, but instrumentalists as well. This would include drummers, bass guitarist and rhythm guitarists. If you are interested, and have at least 3 years playing experience, please contact me. You must be available for rehearsals. In order to give everyone ample time to learn the new Mass Setting, " Mass for Renewal ", composed by Curtis Stephan. we will postpone incorporating it until January. Please take some time to listen to this music on You Tube. It is very important to the liturgy that you praise God by singing as much as you are able. Please don't be a spectator! Thanks!! Kim Sampson ( Music Director ) Spanish Mass Mass in Spanish will be celebrated at St Thomas More Parish in Dartmouth on Sunday, Sept 30 at 4 pm. It will be concelebrated by Fr. Jim Richards and Fr. Toochukwu Okafor. Reception to follow in the hall Memoriam We remember Beverly Mary Deschenes whose funeral was held here on Friday, September 23. May her soul rest in peace. The parish offers their heartfelt condolences to their families and we have them in our prayers. May God give them the strength to bear their loss. Sick Family Members: If you have any sick members and would like us to pray for them or have Fr. Toochukwu visit them at home or in hospital, please call the parish office. Further, the Knitting Group in the parish are making Prayer Shawls. If you know of any one who is sick and would welcome a Prayer Shawl, please call Anne McLevey Potluck: We welcome everyone back after a wonderful and restful summer. As we settle into our Fall program, we will continue with our potluck lunch on the last Tuesday of the month. The next one will be on Tuesday, September 27 after the 12:15 pm Mass. Those attending are requested to bring a dish, if possible. Please call Pat Miles at or send her an at pat_holy_spirit@hotmail.com if you are attending so we can set up for numbers. Please also let her know if you are celebrating a birthday or an anniversary. All are invited to attend. 33 Days of Merciful Love Based on Fr. Michael Gaitley s bestselling book 33 Days to Merciful Love, this small group retreat offers workbooks, talks on DVD, and more. The perfect way to end the Year of Mercy! Beginning on October 11, we will meet for 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7pm to watch Fr. Michael Gaitley and to discuss the readings for the week. (This will take the place of the prayer group meeting for the six weeks). Participants will need the book 33 Days to Merciful Love, available at Veritas Book Store. A participant s kit is also available which includes a workbook, 33 Days book, and other materials, but must be ordered from the Marian Fathers. If you are interested in participating in this retreat, or would like more information, please contact Nora Muise, Because materials must be ordered as soon as possible, please contact Nora by September 25. Deacon Bernie Thank You I am speechless, now that's a first. If I could talk to the angels, I'd ask the one who watches over each of you to make sure you will always know how much you all have meant to me... and how much all your kindness has touched me. I am Grateful and Blessed... not just for what you all do and accomplish, but for just your being you. I will always remember that you believed in me... even when I didn't believe in myself. Deacon Bernie P.S. Please come to visit me from time to time, I will miss you. (This msg was sent a couple of weeks ago; sorry for the late publication) Looking for Counters to count the Sunday Collection. If you have the time to volunteer, please call the parish office. Requirement need some accounting background. Thanks!

3 SAINT OF THE WEEK St. Vincent De Paul Feast day, September 27 St. Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the monies he earned teaching to continue his formal studies at the University of Toulose where he studied theology. He was ordained in 1600 and remained in Toulose for a time. In 1605, while on a ship traveling from Marseilles to Narbone, he was captured, brought to Tunis and sold as a slave. Two years later he and his master managed to escape and both returned to France.St. Vincent went to Avignon and later to Rome to continue his studies. While there he became a chaplain to the Count of Goigny and was placed in charge of distributing money to the deserving poor. He became pastor of a small parish in Clichy for a short period of time, while also serving as a tutor and spiritual director. From that point forward he spent his life preaching missions to and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This work became his passion. He later extended his concern and ministry to convicts. The need to evangelize and assist these souls was so great and the demands beyond his own ability to meet that he founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of woman, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests - the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, commonly referred to now as the Vincentians. His incorrupt heart can be found in the Convent of the Sisters of Charity and his bones have been embedded in a wax effigy of the Saint located at the Church of the Lazarist Mission. Both sites are located in Paris, France. Two miracles have been attributed to St Vincent - a nun cured of ulcers and a laywoman cured of paralysis. As a result of the first, Pope Benedict XIII beatified him on August 13, Less than 8 years later (on June 16, 1737) he was canonized by Pope Leo XIII. The Bull of Canonization recognized Vincent for his charity and reform of the clergy, as well as for his early role in opposing Jansenism. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM NEWS Children s Corner: Primary Grade 6 September 25: Commissioning of Catechists, Assistants and Substitutes will be during the 8:30 and 11:15 am Masses. Please keep them all in your prayers. First Holy Communion parents meeting will take place at 10 am in the church. October 2: Rite of Presentation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion during the 8:30 am Mass. This is for the students starting the First Reconciliation Program this year. October 2: Our 1st Faith Formation session ("Why Catholic) for parents at 9:50 am October 9: No Catechism classes as we celebrate Thanksgiving weekend. Chalice Can : Thanks to the children and parishioners for your continued support of our sponsored children, Cristobal, Maksym, Sofia & Priscilla. Last week's total: $38.85 Junior High News Classes are back on Sunday night from 6:30 till 8:00 pm in the hall. Registration is ongoing and can be done during office hours or on Sunday night. Registration forms can be found on our website. Youth Group will continue to meet on Friday nights 7-9 pm for fellowship and service. On Sept 30 they will host a Soup Supper from 5-7 pm, with home made soup, chowder, chilli, biscuits & sweets; freewill donation for the Steubenville Fund will be accepted.. Yard Sale The youth will host one more Yard Sale on Oct 1, 8 am till 1 pm. Donations can be dropped off at the office during office hours or before mass. Thank you for supporting all our projects Jubilee for Catechists On Sunday, September 25, 2016, Pope Francis will celebrate with Catechists around the world the Jubilee for Catechists. Here at STM, we will be commissioning our Catechists, Assistants and Substitutes at the 8.30 am and 11:15 am Masses. Let us pray for them and celebrate those who pass on the gift of faith to people of all ages!

4 Reflection Corner Throughout his letters, St. Paul gives more than hints as to what we should be doing to seek holiness and to live lives that stress Christian virtues. In fact, his comments are often direct and to the point. The excerpt from Paul s First Letter to Timothy, our Second Reading for today, contains one of those passages, which though brief, is the formula for seeking holiness and living lives of stewardship. Paul says to Timothy, and thus to us, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Of course, we are aware that in spite of its simplicity, that is a group of instructions that can be very difficult to really live out. Yet, that is exactly our calling. It all begins with pursuing righteousness. We tend to think of the meaning of that as being goodness, as in pursuing being a good person, but its real roots are deeper than that. Based upon the original Greek, a more accurate translation might be pursuing justice. More accurately the translation would be pursuing justice as Jesus defines it. That is really our charge to seek lives of stewardship and discipleship in response to the Lord s call to us. The Greek philosopher Socrates said, All men s souls may be immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine. PRAYER TO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUNESS Lord, make me hungry and thirsty for righteousness sake! Grant me a passion for loving, knowing and doing your word! Give me the discernment to see what the people around me are really stand for. Help me to be wise enough to tell the difference between truth and justice and lies and corruption. Teach me to stop judging others and to begin to worry more about the distance between the life I live and the life you expect and desire of me. This day, Lord, make me hungry and thirsty for righteousness! Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. AMEN

5 ARCHDIOCESE OF HALIFAX-YARMOUTH The Archdiocese of Halifax- Yarmouth will be holding its 4th Annual Archbishop s Dinner and Silent Auction fundraising event on October 5, 2016 at the Cunard Centre in Halifax. The guest speaker for the evening will be Cardinal LaCroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada. Cardinal LaCroix will be addressing the end of life issues that are affecting Catholics today. The Reception and silent auction will be at 6 pm and dinner will be at 7 pm. Cost of ticket is $ person. Tax receipt will be issued. For tickets, please call Lydia Hood at the Archdiocese lhood@halifaxyarmouth.org Volunteer Opportunity The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth is looking for a dedicated volunteer to work with us in our Development office. This is an administrative role for an individual(s) that would be able to volunteer a minimum of 3 hours per week. Orientation, Training, Support and Parking are provided.as an Administrative Support volunteer you bring to the Archdiocese the following skills and abilities: Computer skills including MS Word (Excel is an asset) Commitment to at least 3 hours per week Ability to communicate and work effectively as a team member Organizational skills with great attention to detail and flexibility Sense of Humor is mandatory All volunteers with the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth are required to complete the Responsible Ministry Protocol which includes a Criminal Records Check. If you are interested in volunteering with the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth please send your resume or contact: Jeannette Smith, Human Resources jsmith@halifaxyarmouth.org COMMUNITY NEWS Founders' Dinner - CCO's Annual Fundraiser McInnes Room, Dalhousie Student Union 6136 University Ave, Halifax Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 6 pm Guest Speaker: Angèle Regnier, Foundress of CCO Note: this event is free to attend, but there will be an invitation to financially support our work at the dinner Send to eric.myatt@cco.ca to register -"Respect for Women Walk" sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on Sept 25 at 1.30 pm. Walk starts on Victoria Park from Spring Garden Rd. Please call Bruce Colburne for more info. Quote of the week Eventide, a time of quiet contemplation and prayers will be provided by the Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul at 137 Hebridean Drive (Herring Cove Church) on September 27 at 7.30 pm. Eventide is held on the last Tuesday of each month. Guest speaker on September 27 is Fr. Toochukwu Okafor and he will talk on God s Love for Us is Unchangeable. All are invited to attend. Bring a friend. Our personal prayer team will be available during the service. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8:24-25