Teaching from Our Holy Father from the Rector's Desk
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Cathedral Church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton 10044 – 113 St. Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 1N8 Tel: 780-488-7295 Fax: 780-488-1530 Most Rev. Richard Smith – Pastor Rev. Paul Kavanagh – Rector Rev. Simmy Joseph, CMI – Associate Pastor Rev. Benjamin Obetta, CFIC – Associate Pastor Third Sunday of Advent December 13, 2020 “My soul shall exult in my God.” Teaching from our Holy Father ALPHA & OMEGA: SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS AT ST JOSEPH’S BASILICA The Pope, as Bishop of Rome and successor of Peter, is the Copies of our new CD make great Christmas gifts. Be visible and perpetual foundation of unity among the bishops and among Christ's faithful. It is the Pope's role as Vicar of sure to order yours in time for Christmas. Last local Christ and Pastor of the entire Church to guide the mailing date is Dec 18. community of Christ's faithful, to safeguard them in the This sequence of sacred music for Christmastide aims to truth, and to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith. be a soothing balm at the end of a turbulent year. To support this project, please visit www.basilicastore.ca to Dear Brothers and Sisters, purchase your copy: CD $20; Download $15. Special offer: 3 CDs for $50 (use discount code 3FOR50) In our continuing catechesis on Christian prayer, we Copies will be available to purchase before Sunday now turn to the prayer of petition. The Catechism morning Masses (8:30, 10:30, 12:30) THS WEEKEND explains that in every prayer we ask for the coming of God’s Kingdom in our lives and in our world. Jesus ******************************************************** taught us to pray to our heavenly Father, View our Revised Advent and Christmas acknowledging our total dependence on him and schedule here. Registrations for Christmas Eve trusting entirely in his providential care, even at the and Christmas Day Masses will begin on darkest moments in our lives. Prayer of petition arises Wednesday, December 16th. naturally in human hearts. In the Bible we see Register online here. countless prayers to God to intervene in the face of our helplessness before situations of sickness, injustice, ******************************************************** betrayal and despair. Even the simple cry, “Lord, help Parish Office Hours me!” is itself a powerful prayer. God always hears the cry of those who call upon him. Saint Paul tells us that The parish office is closed to in-person visits due to COVID 19. The Reception Desk is staffed Monday our prayers echo the yearning of all creation for the through Friday from 9:00am to Noon to receive Mass coming of the Kingdom (cf. Rom 8:22-24) and the pre-registration requests by phone and email inquiries. fulfilment of God’s saving plan. We make our prayers Please phone 780-488-7295 ext 0 or email of petition with confidence in him who has triumphed [email protected] to reach the Reception over all evil through the cross and resurrection of his Desk. During all other hours, please call 780-488-7295 Son and the sending of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes ext 0 and leave a message, or email on our behalf and quietly works to transform all things. [email protected]. A staff member will get back View here for full catechesis. to you within the next business day. For emergency General Audience, Saint Peter’s Square, assistance, please phone 780-984-0633. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Next Sunday’s Readings – 4thFrom Sunday the of Rector’sAdvent Desk First Reading: 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Second Reading: Romans 16.25-27 Gospel: Luke 1.26-38 Dear Friends, May God continue to bless each of you, and please be assured of the prayers of Fr. Simmy, Fr. Ben and I. This Sunday the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. We light the God bless, Fr. Paul rose candle of our advent wreaths, which symbolizes the time of joy, as we joyfully anticipate the birth of YEAR-END AND CHRISTMAS GIVING Jesus. May we continue to pray for one another, especially during this time of pandemic, and support As you consider making year-end and Christmas one another as Christmas draws near. donations to your favourite Charities, we hope that you will also consider making a gift to your favourite This past week we learned of new restrictions and Parish – St Joseph’s Basilica. This year has been a protocols mandated by the province of Alberta in particularly challenging time to reach our revenue response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These new goals, which fund the mission of our parish including restrictions will affect the Basilica, especially our the upkeep of our beautiful Church. In order for your parish staff who will be working primarily from donations to be credited towards your 2020 tax receipt, home. The parish office will remain closed until they need to be received in the office or collection by January 8th at the very least. We will check for phone December 31, 2020. messages and emails regularly. Donations made at the Masses on Dec 31 will The 5:30pm weekday evening Mass and Sunday be considered 2020 donations; however, any Masses will proceed as usual. Please continue to cheque dated 2021 will be recorded in 2021. register for Mass online through the Basilica website at Donations made at the New Year’s Day https://www.stjosephbasilica.com/ or by phoning the Masses will be considered 2021 donations. parish office at 780-488-7295. We will keep to our Donations may be dropped off in the mailbox present numbers of participants at each mass. I thank beside the rectory door until 9:00 pm on Dec you for your patience, especially as we have many 31. people who want to come to Mass, but some are turned Donations may be mailed, but MUST be away due to limited seating. postmarked Dec 31 or earlier to be counted as a The parish is making good progress with our Annual 2020 donation. year-end Financial Appeal. With the goal of raising Donations may be made by credit card over the $95,000, to reduce the deficit as of Sept. 30th, we have phone - call the office anytime on Monday and so far received $55,846 in donations towards this mornings only on Tuesday through Friday request. Support so far is fantastic! If we are to (except on holidays). eliminate the deficit by year-end, it will take the support of all parishioners and I know that for some of ELECTRONIC GIVING you this as asking a lot. Be assured that whatever size sacrificial gift you offer, large or small, it will make a Canada Helps – open 24 hours a day! Go to difference. If you have not yet made your contribution www.stjosephbasilica.com, follow the Donate to the appeal, please do by December 31st. Now link and make your donation prior to midnight on December 31. The funds will Pre-registration for Mass on Christmas Eve and come to the parish and you will receive your Christmas Day will begin on December 16th. Please tax receipt instantly from Canada Helps. use the online registration calendar on the Basilica website. For those without internet, the office will E-transfers – open 24 hours a day! Make take phone-in registrations. Walk-ins are discouraged. your donation prior to midnight on Dec 31 We have added additional masses on Christmas Eve using the following email address: and Christmas Day. We will also livestream the [email protected] 4:30pm mass on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, and 2020 tax receipts will be sent out in February 2021. 10:30am Christmas Day Mass. The 5pm mass on New Thank you in advance for your generosity. Year’s Eve and the 10:30am mass on New Year’s Day will be livestreamed. Family Ministry: Bonnie Kirk, Sacramental Coordinator WORDS OF CONGRATULATIONS Last Monday evening we enjoyed our Family Bible Scavenger Hunt. Here is a shout out to Bella and mom, Dawn for their enthusiastic and successful hunt. WORDS OF THANKS Archbishop Smith: The Necessary Perspective Each Sunday you will find our Advent wreath with a weekly prayer on our Facebook page. Thank you to Archbishop Smith writes it is helpful now and again to take those of you who have shared pictures of your wreath a break simply to ponder the beauty of God and His works. there. Certainly, the immediate horizon is looking a little brighter lately than it has been, due to announcements of vaccine AN INVITATION approvals and the imminent start of distribution. The th needed horizontal breadth, however, is given when we This Monday, December 14 , we will gather via consider not our own human accomplishments but the ZOOM for our final Advent Family evening. At that mighty deeds of God, who is with us in the power of His time, we will explore and celebrate the Jesse Tree. love. Have you begun yours? Do you need directions? Ask ([email protected]) for directions to make one It is good — very good — to step back from what is and suggested prayer for your family. In many ways, it immediately pressing upon us and ponder the love of God is Jesus’ family tree. By adding symbols to a tree and what He is able to achieve. For our loving God, nothing (branch, drawing or your Christmas tree) we reflect on is impossible. Read the story how the promise of a Saviour made to Adam and Eve was fulfilled in Jesus. Be sure and send us your pictures.