Cross Image
Our Lady of Victory / St. Malachy
Star Image
            spacer

FOURTH SUNDAY

OF

ADVENT

 
CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST
Our Lady of Victory   St. Malachy
Sunday - 9:00 A.M.   Saturday - 7:00 P.M.


F O O D   F O R   T H E   W E E K

Reading I 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 9-11, 16 (the Lord’s promises to David)
Reading II Romans 16;25-27(doxology)
Gospel Luke 1:26:-38 (the annunciation of the Lord)
Key Passage

Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

Adult

When have you followed the example of Mary and said, “let it be done to me as you say?’’

 

Pastor
William Marrevee s.c.j.
Email
Rectory
490 Charles Street
Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K5
Secretary
Monday and Thursday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone
(819) 986-3763
Fax
(819) 986-9889

A sincere welcome to those who are new among us. We hope you find a warm and welcoming faith-home with us. Please introduce yourself after Mass and call the Rectory to register.

MASSES:
WED. Dec. 21 - 9:00 a.m.  Fred Jeror by O.L.V. Society
SAT. Dec. 24 - 6:45 p.m. 
9:30 p.m. 
OLV - All parishioners of both parishes
St. Malachy - Sick & Shut-ins, both Parishes
SUN. Dec. 25 - 9:00 a.m.  OLV - All parishioners of both parishes
WED. Dec. 28 - 9:00 a.m.  All parishioners of both parishes by the Pastor
SAT. Dec. 31 - 7:00 p.m.  St. Malachy - All Parishioners of both parishes
SUN. Jan. 01 - 9:00 a.m.  OLV - Sick and Shut-ins of both parishes
WED. Jan. 04 - 9:00 a.m.  Mr. & Mrs. Apollonius Burke by Peter & Marjorie
SAT. Jan. 07 - 7:00 p.m.  Basil Dunnigan by Jean & family
SUN. Jan. 08 - 9:00 a.m.  Marcel Villeneuve by Joanne Villeneuve, Mike Farnand & families
Deceased members of the McFaul family & friends by Hugh.

ADVENT PENETENTIAL/RECONCILLIATION SERVICE - SUNDAY DECEMBER 18th, 7:00P.M.:
It is entirely in line with Advent to come together as a parish community to say explicitly that we, personally stand in need of what God offers us in Jesus Christ: forgiveness of our sins.

Yes, we are sinful people. That is not a put-down. It is an acknowledgement that there are dark corners of various kinds in our individual hearts and in us as a community. It could also be expressed as “being out of joint” or ‘missing the mark” compared to the holy and godly lives that God summons us to. And only a gracious and forgiving God can handle these dark corners of ours, this “being out of joint”, this missing the mark”. God does so by extending his mercy, his forgiveness to us. Surely, we want to yield to and give ourselves over to such a God; we do so with a contrite heart.

That is what December 18th’s service is all about. It is a good way of preparing for Christmas. It is one of the ways in which we can grow in holiness. That is what God wants for us. Deep down, we also want that for ourselves.

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS:
What we celebrate in the communal service mentioned above can also be celebrated in a more personal way in “individual confession”.

One form des not cancel out the other. Having God’s forgiveness spoken over us in a more personal way can complement significantly the more general communal way of celebrating that same forgiveness. In fact, in some instances it may even be of a greater benefit.

A few specific time slots are set aside for that in the hope that everyone can be accommodated who wants to celebrate God’s forgiveness in the individual confession:

  • Sunday, December 18th, after the Penitential Service

TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES AND FOR NEW YEAR’S:
It is relatively easy this year as Christmas and New Year’s fall on a Sunday:

Date
Day
Time
Location
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
6:45 P.M.
O.L.V.
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
9:30 P.M.
St. Malachy
Dec. 25
Christmas Day
9:00 A.M.
O.L.V.
Dec. 31
New Year's Eve
7:00 P.M.
St. Malachy
Jan. 01
New Year's Day
9:00 A.M.
O.L.V.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE PURPOSE OF ADVENT:
Advent is a difficult season. AS Christians we are encouraged not to jump the gun on Christmas. And yet, all around us we hear Christmas carols, Christmas decorations are up, we can have the nativity scene out already.

The Church is not in such a hurry. With the help of Scripture readings, especially from the Old Testament prophets, we are encouraged to reflect on the purpose for which Christ has come and in many ways still needs to come. The realization of God’s dream with our world.

The Advent season invites to re-visit our dependence on God, to re-visit our desire for God and to discover through the night of waiting for that God does indeed come. And what a way for God to come: as one of our own!

It is hoped that what we have done in “these weeks of Advent” makes us ready to touch base again with the awesome mystery from which we are privileged to live.

ANOTHER INTERESTING REFLECTION ON ADVENT FROM THE TABLET:
“The Lord will come to save all nations and your hearts will exult to hear his voice.”
Entrance Antiphon, Second Sunday of Advent.

Recently there have been painful reminders on television of the pain of the world, news of victims of war across the world, of the plight of the millions of refugees, of famine victims, of the bereaved and homeless from the tsunami disaster, of the earthquakes in India and Pakistan, of the many hurricanes which have afflicted Central America and the southern US, of the victims of suicide bombings.

The longing for healing is not just a longing for physical healing, but for healing from our lethal stupidity that still believes the answer to violence is greater violence and that our defenses are only secure when we terrify others. We are all in desperate need of healing from that obduracy which does not allow us to see beyond our own personal interests or that group whatever it may be, whether secular or religious, to the damage and misery our way of thinking and living inflicts on other nations and classes of people, whose lives are blighted by our blindness.

The God who is to come is the God of compassion. He was born into the Roman imperial family, or among people of influence. His mother was unmarried, a political refugee, mother if a condemned criminal, a widow, who outlived her child, a model for our time, to whom the will of God meant more than the rules of any system, sacred or secular, values she passed on to her son who was condemned because of them.

To get in touch with the Coming of this compassionate and healing presence, we need to listen to our hearts, our sorrows and our joys. One way of doing this is to imagine we have died and someone writes an obituary. In our wildest dreams, what kind of obituary would we love to have? Then write it yourself. God meets us in our deepest longings, for they come from God and draw us to God.

Our deepest desire is usually the quietest, bur also the most influential factor in our life. Would you like it to read”He/she was totally dedicated to ensuring his/her own financial security, personal well-being and social advancement, leaving behind an immense fortune, a well-preserved body, and much misery”? Or would you prefer “She/he was a great lover of life, a free spirit, gentle and effectively compassionate to all she/he encountered. She/he died penniless, mourned by the thousands to whom she/he still gives hope”?

To meet God in God’s Coming, keep asking, like the psalmist, “Show me your face”. Then we shall catch glimpses of God’s attractiveness and begin to understand St, Augustine’s words, “My heart is restless until it rests in you.”

SUNDAY ENVELOPES:
Sunday Envelopes are available at the entrance of the Church. If you do not presently use envelopes and wish to do so, please take a blank box and write your name on the first envelope that you use, or you may contact the Rectory.

LIONS CLUB ANNUAL TELETHON:
The Transformation Committee would like to thank all parishioners who generously contributed to the Lions Club Annual Telethon held on December 4th. Representatives of our two parishes presented a total of $817.50 to the Lions Club during the Telethon, which was a huge success with a grand total of $55,000 being collected. As we said in a previous bulletin, Christmas is a time of giving, of thanking God for all we have and of reaching out to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Again, thank you for your usual generosity.

BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
Rose Weatherdon on December 25th

Weekly Receipts

O.L.V.

St. Malachy

Dec. 11, Regular

$ 1202

$ 338.75

spacer
 
© Copyright 2024 Our Lady of Victory / St-Malachy Site
490 Charles Street • Gatineau • Quebec • J8L 2K5
Telephone: (819) 986-3763
Website powered by Red Line Services