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SECOND SUNDAY
OF
ADVENT
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CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST |
| Our Lady of Victory |
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St. Malachy |
| Sunday - 9:00 A.M. |
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Saturday - 7:00 P.M. |
F O O D F O R T H O U G H T
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| Reading I |
Baruch 5. 1 - 9 |
Responsorial Psalm |
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. |
| Reading II |
Philippians 1.3 – 6, 8 -11 |
Gospel |
Luke 3. 1 - 6 |
| Food for Thought |
- Who is active here? Who takes the initiative?
- If the word of God “came’’ to me, would I be able to hear? What would block my hearing?
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Pastor |
William Marrevee s.c.j. |
Email |
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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.
M A S S S C H E D U L E |
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| WED. |
Dec. 13th - 9:00 a.m. |
OLV |
Kevin & Ghislaine Burke by Peter & Marjorie Burke |
| SAT. |
Dec. 16th - 7:00 p.m. |
St. Malachy |
Edward & Ida Price & deceased family members by Bill & Ann Price |
| SUN. |
Dec. 17th - 9:00 a.m. |
OLV |
Winnifred Pelletier by Aurele Pelletier
James Austin Martin (40th Anniversary) by the family
Larry Miller by Ambrose & Dolly Butler |
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SANCTUARY LAMP - December 3rd – 16th:
- for the intentions of Veronica Smith
THE DISPLAY AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH - OUR WORLD IN NEED OF WHAT CHRIST BRINGS:
As you and your family read the newspapers, please, cut out headlines which remind you that, indeed, we are eagerly waiting in hope for the coming of Jesus Christ. There are still so many things happening in this world that show just how much we need what Jesus offers! Bring these clippings to church and pin them on the display at the entrance.
A LOOK AT THE ADVENT BANNERS UP FRONT:
The Advent wreath with the Advent candles is a common feature in most churches. It is nice to see that a good number of parishioners have taken one home. That serves as an effective reminder that Advent and what it stands for does not remain locked up in the church building. Instead, we want it to be part of our Christian life which we live for the greatest part outside the church building.
In addition to the advent wreath, we also have two Advent banners in the front. Both of these depict some of the major figures in the Church’s Advent season:
- The one on your left depicts ‘Hagia Sophia’, Lady Wisdom at the center. She is surrounded by four Old Testament prophets from which the first Scripture readings at Mass are taken in the season of Advent Lady Wisdom inspires the prophets to articulate in striking images what the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus is coming for. The Advent season intends to strengthen our hope for the coming of Jesus Christ and especially for what he is coming for: God’s gift of peace, justice, reconciliation, renewal of humanity, things that are still far from being realized.
- The banner on your right holds an image of Mary: the Holy Spirit hovers over her and thus she conceives the Saviour of the world If there is one who knows what it is to wait and to live Advent, it is obviously Mary.
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THIS SUNDAY EVENING AT ST. AL’S AT 7:30 P.M.:
a closer look at the BIRTH OF JESUS story, not with the help of the movie, but with what the Gospels say about it.
How much do we know about the Birth of Jesus story? Have we ever looked at the way the Gospel writers Matthew and Luke deal with it? That is what we plan to do this Sunday evening. The renowned Bible scholar Raymond Brown will be our guide for this form of faith formation. In addition to a huge book he has written about the Gospel versions, he has also two smaller booklets that summarize in a more popular form his findings; we’ll be using these smaller booklets. It is timely and it promises to be interesting.
Yes, if you bring your Bible, it would be very helpful.
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS:
There are several ways of preparing for Christmas. Observing the Advent season is a uniquely Christian way of doing so. As we get closer to Christmas we may want to give
the encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation a special place in our getting ready for Christmas. We can do so in two ways:
- The Advent Penitential Service: Sunday, December 17, 7:00 p.m.
This is the communal way of celebrating what God offers us in Jesus.
- Individual Confessions: Sunday, December 17 after Penitential Service
- Individual Confessions: Friday, December 22, 7:00 — 8:00 p.m.
The communal celebration does not exclude the possibility or the
desirability of wanting to celebrate the same saving mystery
in a more personal and individual way. The one does not cancel out the other.
TIMES FOR MASSES AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S:
With Christmas and New Year’s falling on a Monday this year we have to make some adjustments:
| Date |
Time |
Place |
Celebration |
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| Dec. 23rd, Saturday |
7:00 PM |
St. Malachy |
4th Sunday of Advent |
| Dec. 24th, Sunday** |
6:30 PM |
OLV |
Christmas |
| Dec. 24th, Sunday |
9:00 PM |
St. Malachy |
Christmas |
| Dec. 25th, Monday |
9:00 AM |
OLV |
Christmas |
| Dec. 30th, Saturday |
7:00 PM |
St. Malachy |
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| Dec. 31st, Sunday |
9:00 AM |
OLV |
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| Jan. 01st, Monday |
9:00 AM |
OLV |
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| **The 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at OLV is made necessary because we share the organist with St. Gregoire. |
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STILL CONFUSED ABOUT ADVENT?
If so much around us speaks of Christmas, it is difficult to maintain an Advent perspective. Here are some further reflections on the meaning of Advent that may be of some help:
Advent arrives gradually, like leaves falling off a tree until its summer glory becomes, in the words of Shakespeare, “bare ruin‘d choirs where late the sweet birds sang.” This image is found in the words of Isaiah and repeated in our prayers: “We have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us, away like the wind” (Isaiah 64:5).
The despoiling of the world, the frosting of gardens, the slow ebbing of daylight: These are all warnings, as sharp as the prophets, as loud as John the Baptist, badgering us to face injustice, suffering, war — and the labour required of us to prepare the royal highway for the Sun of Justice, the Healer and Comforter, the Prince of Peace.
At the same time, Advent arrives suddenly, without warning, a startling change “in the twinkling of an eye “, like a snowfall that transforms the landscape. This image is proclaimed keenly in the gospel warnings of the end of time, a terror made more terrifying by the darkening of the sun and the waning of the moon. With Jeremiah we wail: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and yet we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20)
Advent is the church‘s winter, with its darkness, its cold, the threat of starvation, the threat of death. And here is the paradox: In such a fearful night, the lighting of candles brings great joy. In such a numbing silence, the Spirit and the bride sing, “Come. “ It is the wondrous paradox of God’s reign, where the desert blooms, the mountains are made low, where swords are beaten into plowshares and a virgin is found to be with child Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
COOKBOOK FUND RAISER - DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st TO SUBMIT YOUR RECIPES
CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THE CHANTERELLE CHOIR - December 20th, 7:30 p.m. at OLV:
Cost: $10.00. Fundraiser; Chanterelle, St. Malachy and OLV. Tickets available from the wardens, or the Office, at 986-3763 on Mondays or Thursdays from 1:00 to 4; 00 pm.
WARDEN’S MEETING - Thursday December 14th, 7:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS TEA:
The OLV Society would like to thank everyone who helped in anyway to make the tea a success. The profit from the tea was $1,025.00.
| W E E K L Y R E C E I P T S |
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| Date |
Collection |
OLV |
St. Malachy |
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| Dec. 03rd |
Regular |
$ 740.00 |
$ 192.00 |
| Dec. 03rd |
Support |
345.00 |
107.00 |
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