First Sunday of Advent

Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

With these words we began the Season of Advent, a four week period of expectation, hope and anticipation. A time in which each of us is called to the 'joyful hope of the expectation of the coming of the Son of God". These four weeks, marked by the presence of the wreath and candles, recall for us a period of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. But it is also a time of waiting.

Is there anything more difficult or trying in our lives than waiting ? We are not acustomed to waiting. We have instant messaging. Waiting is uncomfortable; but Advent reminds us that it is what we do with the wait that matters. What will you do with the wait?

Feast of Christ the King - Catholic Cafe...Micheal Coren... and Haiti

If you haven't heard - Michael Coren is coming to St Mary's Parish. It will be part of our on going Tuesday Night Together series. He will be speaking on "Growing in Clarity of Faith" on December 6, 2011 - After the 7:00p.m. Mass. Michael is a popular and articulate contemporary figure known for his clarity of thought and presentation. Michael Coren will speak on “Growing in Clarity of Faith" and also on the life of C.S. Lewis. A free will offering in support of our Outreach Fund for Haiti will take place. You will not want to miss this wonderful evening of growing in knowing His Name.

In 2010 the eyes of the world were focused upon the destruction that a 7.0 scale earthquake caused in the island nation of Haiti, and especially its hard-hit capital, Port-au-Prince. In many areas nothing was left but widespread devastation. During 2010-2011, as a parish family, we aided, thru the Sisters of St Joseph of Hamilton Diocese. Our own parish was able to send during 2010 a total of $ 23,023.23 in donations to help with direct aid, and also sent 2,348 Haiti Health Kits to the area which were used in Port-au-Prince University Hospital and The Hospital of Peace, Delmas where the Sisters of St Joseph of Hamilton Diocese have for over twenty years been directly involved in the lives of the Haitian people.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 during 2011 to provide direct emergency medical assistance and relief. Through individually designated parishioner donations and the proceeds of our Catholic Café since September we have raised almost 50% of our goal. The proceeds of our Tuesday Night Together with Michael Coren will add to this amount. During our Catholic Café in December a representative from St Joseph International Outreach will be present to answer questions about the efforts we are partnering with in Haiti.

Come Support Our Partnership with the Sisters of St Joseph in Haiti By attending the Café Being Held At All Masses on December 10/11 - Special Draws and Opportunities to Help will Also be A Part of This Month’s Café.

Neighbourhood Minstry - Put Your Hand There !

This year as a Family of Faith we are dedicated to HIS NAME. We desire to know HIS name, to grow in knowing Our Name and to come closer as a parish family by getting to know one another's name. One gem which has grown out of this dedication has been our Neighbourhood Ministry.

When Sadness Strikes or a new member arrives- a family is there - and that is the goal of the Neighbour Ministry. We seek to be a network of names of parishioners that would be willing to provide a kind card, a warm dish, a helping handy hand, a friendly voice, a compassionate ear to welcome (or comfort) a fellow member of our Family of Faith.

This weekend we held our major 'recruitment weekend ' for this ministry. My hope has been to attract 25 new families to be a part of the ministry, I am so happy to say that we had 72 families say - put my hand there - I want to help ! Wow! Amazing! Epic! To all those who have signed up - THANK YOU! Within the next two weeks we will be sending you some information packages on how this ministry will develop, right now we are a little overwhelmed with the response (a good thing). There is still time to sign up - just call our parish office and let us know you are interested.

We have a great Family of Faith - you glorify HIS Name !

May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our help and guide.

Lest We Forget

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.