Epiphany of the Lord From the desk of Fr. Phil
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Monday, Jan 4
Ferial
8:00AM – Mass – Gail Carey Tuesday, Jan 5
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Ferial
7:00PM – Mass – Frank Quinn – Peter Quinn Wednesday, Jan 6
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Ferial
9:15AM – Mass th
Thursday, Jan 7
St. André Bessette 7:00PM – Mass – Jane Brisbois - Pickett th
Friday, Jan 8
Ferial
8:00AM – Mass – Mary Daly th
Saturday Jan 9
Ferial
9:15AM – Mass – Theresa Hazel Perry 5:00PM – Mass
If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recognized by everyone who hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus came into the world the world knew him not and his own people received him not (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized him at his birth. Some wise men also found their way to Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel. These men were not Israelites, but foreigners. They likely had read and discussed the Messianic prophecies and were anxious to see when this Messianic King would appear. God led them by means of an extraordinary star across the desert to the little town where Jesus was born. In their thirst for the knowledge of God, they willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge – to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the newborn King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king. What fueled their search for the Messianic King? Faith in the promise of God to send a Redeemer, a King who would establish God's reign of peace and righteousness. Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. It is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and opens the eyes of the mind, that we are able to understand, accept, and believe the truth which God reveals to us. In faith, the human will and intellect cooperate with grace. "Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace" (Thomas Aquinas). To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew and Gentile might find true and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that all peoples will find the Lord and Savior on their journey of life. Wishing you all a great week!
Fr. Phil First Holy Communion First Eucharist Preparation Begins: For those Parents who have registered their child for First Eucharist preparation, our first meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm or Tuesday, Jan. 19th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Please note - this is a Parent Meeting – if possible, please leave your children at home for this session, as we are unable to provide babysitting. If you have not yet brought in your child’s baptismal certificate, please bring it to this meeting.
Sunday Missal 2016 Sunday Missal for the new liturgical year is available in the parish office for $6.
Session Two Date Change: Session Two of the First Communion Preparation Program has been moved a week earlier. The new dates for the children and parents to gather for the first time is: Sunday, January 24 at 1:30 – 2:30 pm or Tuesday, January 26 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Thank you for making note of this change. Please bring a small picture of your child to add to our First Communion banner. Final Registration for First Eucharist: If you have a child aged 7 or older and missed the fall registration meeting, plan to come 15 minutes early to our “Parent Meeting” on Sunday, Jan 17th at 1:30 pm or Tuesday, Jan. 19th at 7:00 pm. A copy of your child’s baptismal certificate is required for registration. Cost of the program is $30.
Jan 2nd – Jan 9th, 2016 Vocation Seeds
Journeys Worth Taking Dominican Seminars is pleased to present: “Journeys Worth Taking: Personal Stories of Faith”. Our distinguished guest speakers will be Michel Cote OP, Prof. Stephen Scharper, Prof. Michael Attridge, Prof. Emerita Margaret Lavin, Susan Goncz, M Div., and Ted Schmidt, author. Please join us on six Thursday evenings (7 – 9pm): January 14, February 4, March 3, April 7, May 5 and June 2, 2016, and hear some inspiring stories to enhance our own faith journeys. Cost is a prepaid registration of $40.00. Please call the church office (at 905-278-7762) for a registration form or e-mail direct to
[email protected] . Cheques can be made payable to The Dominican Institute and dropped off or mailed to the Church office. Lectio Divina As a result of the extensive renovations underway at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Lectio Divina with Cardinal Collins will travel throughout the archdiocese in 2015/2016. On Sunday, January 10, it will be hosted at St. Mary’s Parish, 66A Main St. South, Brampton. We hope you will be able to join Cardinal Collins and our faith community. Lectio Divina (“divine, or sacred, reading”) is the name given to a spiritual tradition among Christians over the last two thousand years. This form of prayer involves three distinct stages: a) reading a short scripture passage b) reflecting on the passage and c) a short period of silence. We begin with Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 7 p.m., followed by Lectio Divina from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. All are welcome to join Cardinal Collins for this special evening of prayer. Lectio Divina is recorded by Salt & Light Catholic Media for future broadcast. More information and archived video of Lectio Divina can be found online at https://www.archtoronto.org/lectio. Marriage Course 2016 If you are being married in 2016 and beyond, you will need to take a marriage course before the wedding can be celebrated. Dates for the marriage course here are as follows: February 19-20 and 26-27.
“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” God asks us to give our lives. What treasures have been given to you to share with others in Christ’s name? If you think God is calling you to be a priest, religious or deacon, contact Fr. Chris Lemieux, Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Toronto 416-968-0997 email :
[email protected] www.vocationstoronto.ca St. Dominic‘s Seniors Seniors meet every Tuesday at 1pm. All seniors, (men & women) are welcome. LET US PRAY For the Sick:
We pray for all the sick in our community. For the Deceased: We pray for all the deceased in our community.
Please register at the office. Kindergarten Registration Kindergarten registration for the 2016-17 school year, will be held at all Dufferin-Peel Catholic elementary schools on January 25* from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and January 27, 28, 29 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. *A snow date has been designated on January 26 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Admissions are open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least 4 years of age by December 31, 2016. For more information, parents/guardians should contact their local Catholic school, visit the board website at www.dpcdsb.org, or call the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board at 905-890-1221.
WEEKLY OFFERING Weekend Jan 3, 2016 Not known at the time of publication. Many thanks for your generosity Fr.Phil
