NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
DECEMBER 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Let us pray:
O God, Creator and Father of all, with humility we your children acknowledge the relationship of all living things. For this we thank you, we praise you and we worship you.
We call on you, Great Mystery, the Word made Flesh – our teacher, prophet and brother – to open our hearts to all our brothers and sisters, and with them to grow in the wisdom, honesty, courage and respectfulness shown in The Sacred Teachings.
Give us the vision and honesty to recognize that the we are all brothers and sisters of one human family, created and sustained by the One Creator.
As we deal with many challenges, may we never give way to fear and anger, which can be the source of division and threat amongst peoples.
We look to how God always gives to us, as a remedy for sins of prejudice and intolerance.
We see in God the Creator of all things, One who always provides and is generous – even given the abuses we have heaped on one another and on the earth.
We see in the Son, Jesus Christ - the innocent Victim who pours His life blood out from the Cross for all peoples.
We see how the Holy Spirit is God’s gift, alive in our world today – inspiring vision and hope that we can have the same mind and heart of God!
May Your Spirit also bless and guide the delegation of indigenous leaders and young people as they prepare to visit the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in the near future. May this be occasion of grace and healing, and make possible a renewed journey and future.
O Creator, show us the way to healing, forgiveness and reconciliation, and a renewed fellowship.
+Amen
DAY OF CONFESSIONS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14th, 2021
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 16th, 2021
Let every heart prepare Him room.
Confession times at St. Cecilia Church on December 14th and 16th:
9:00- 10:30 a.m.
11:30a.m. -12:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Christmas SCHEDULE
Christmas Vigil Masses
Friday, December 24th, 2021
8 p.m. Vigil Mass
11:45 p.m. - 12 a.m. Carols
12:00 a.m. Solemn Midnight Mass
Christmas Day Masses
Saturday, December 25th, 2021
9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Masses
The Holy Family Masses
Saturday, December 25th: NO VIGIL
Sunday, December 26th: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. and 7 p.m.
New Years' Eve Mass
Friday, December 31st
7:00 p.m.
New Years' Day Masses
Saturday, December 1st, 2022
9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Confessions are not permitted on Saturdays this year due to the nature of the calendar. Please see the Day of Confessions schedule for confession opportunities.
Livestream of Mass
MASS LIVESTREAMED - Sunday at 9 a.m. on our YouTube channel: St. Cecilia Parish Toronto. To access our Youtube channel from our parish website, click on "Watch the Livestream" then scroll down and click on "Subscribe to St. Cecilia Church Channel ", the Mass does not stream directly on our website.
CHRISTMAS NEWS - CAMPAIGN LIFE & RIGHT TO LIFE
Campaign Life Coalition has moved its office to Hamilton and has cancelled its Christmas cake fundraiser. It will never cancel the life of the pre-born or the vulnerable.
"There are no human rights if there is no right to life". - Cardinal Collins
Right To Life still has fundraiser items. A pack of 10 assorted Christmas cards is $10.00. You may place your order up until December 19th and delivery will be made: 416 769 9749.
Please consider a donation to these most essential charities. Thank-you.
ADVENT GOSPEL REFLECTIONS
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Each week, beginning Sunday, 21 November 2021, the CCCB will release a video recording of a Bishop reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday of Advent.
To access the videos: https://www.cccb.ca/evangelization-catechesis-catholic-education/video-resources/journey-through-advent/
WALKING THE PATH OF TRUTH and RECONCILIATION: An Advent Journey
Nov 20, Nov 27, Dec 04, Dec 11, Dec 18
7:30 to 8:15 p.m.
Presented by The Mary Ward Centre, in partnership with: Loretto Sisters Canada, Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, Loretto Maryholme
A five-part series based on the Advent Reflections prepared by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
You may choose the date/s you wish to attend.
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/RegistrationWalking the Path
St. Vincent De Paul Society 'Christmas Star Program'!
This year, due to Covid, we will not have the tree displayed with Christmas Stars, however, because of Covid, the need is greater than ever. SVDP is running the program to meet this need! Please place your gift card or monetary donation in an envelope marked SVDP Christmas Star Program and deposit in the offertory basket after Mass or in the mail slot of the office at 161 Annette.
Please make your offering by: Sunday, December 12th, 2021.
Gift cards may be purchased at any major department store or pharmacy. Food gift cards can be purchased at all major grocery stores. The pandemic, coupled with inflation, have impacted many in our community. Thank you for sharing with our neighbours who find themselves in need this year!
Thank you for putting People and the Planet First
A major focus of Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s People and Planet First campaign is advocating for a law that compels Canadian companies to respect the human and environmental rights of local populations in their overseas operations.
This fall, acting in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the Global South, thousands of Canadians signed a petition asking the government to enact such a law.
On behalf of all those who struggle to preserve their land, lives, livelihoods and ways of life, Development and Peace-Caritas.
Canada thanks you for your commitment and mobilization. Together, we act in solidarity with the protectors of the Earth. Together, we have the power to change lives. To continue supporting the petition and to keep up the campaign momentum, visit https://devp.org/en
LIVING WITH CHRIST MISSALS
Sunday, Nov. 28th is the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year.
Sunday Missals for 2021-2022 are available for purchase at the back of the church. The price is $5.00
FOR SEPTEMBER 2021
The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites parents to register their children for Junior Kindergarten beginning Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at 10:00 am EST. Due to current COVID-19 conditions all applications (including the upload of required documents) must be completed online.
The following documents are required for registration:
1. Child's Birth Certificate (Certificate of Citizenship or Landed Immigrant Status)
2. Child's Catholic Baptismal Certificate (or proof of Catholicity)
3. Child's Immunization Record
4. Proof of residency in Toronto
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE PARISH DURING THIS TIME
Weekly envelopes may be used - mailed to the parish or dropped off: 161 Annette Street, Toronto, ON M6P 1P5.
The easiest on-line options:
Archdiocese Donate Now link https://community.archtoronto.org/page.aspx?pid=416 Enables you to give to St. Cecilia parish by credit card. You choose St. Cecilia from a list of parishes and the Archdiocese directs your donation to our parish. The parish receives a monthly report of all donations made via this method. Tax receipts are issued to donors at year end by the Archdiocese (one-time gifts are receipted at time of giving).
Pre-Authorised giving A set donation figure of your choosing is withdrawn from your bank account on the 20th of each month. Please contact the parish office to set this up.
If you have any questions regarding methods of donating, please email or phone the parish office.
Thank you for your many and varied contributions to our parish community!
Dear parishioners,
I hope and pray that you are staying healthy – both physically and spiritually. Please let me know if the parish can help you during these difficult times.
No doubt you are aware that our parish relies on the support of our parishioners to operate – parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (heating, water, electricity, etc.) – are funded through the generosity of our parish community. It will be a challenge for our parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collection.
In response to many queries that I have received from parishioners, I offer below some of the ways that you may continue to support our parish if you are in a position to do so. I recognise that many of you, like the parish, are experiencing financial strain at this time and I pray that those stresses are soon eased for you.
For those in a position to continue to give to our parish, the easiest on-line options would be through the Archdiocese Donate Now link. Through this link you can give to the parish by credit card. These donations are handled by the Archdiocese. The donation is directed to the parish of your choice. The parish receives a monthly report of all donations made to the parish via this method and tax receipts are issued to donors at year end by the Archdiocese (one-time gifts are receipted at time of giving).
Pre-Authorised giving is also an option. A set donation figure of your choosing is withdrawn from your bank account on the 20th of each month. We have a number of parishioners who give by this method. Please contact the office if you wish to set this up.
Weekly envelopes may still be used - mailed to the parish or dropped off.
Thank you for your many contributions to our parish community. I miss seeing all of you at the Mass and I pray daily that we will be able to gather together again soon.
Yours in Christ,
Father Joseph
Pastor, St. Cecilia
Scripture Readings for
Sunday, December 19 2021
First Reading: Micah 5 : 2 - 5a
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading: Hebrews 10 : 5 - 10
Gospel: Luke 1 : 39 - 45
MASS INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
Mon. Dec.. 15 - Sun. Dec. 21, 2021
Monday 9:05 a.m.
Aniela Rymarz (RIP)
Req. by The Czajkowski Family
Saturday 9:05 a.m.
Peter Czajkowski (RIP)
Req. by His Wife and Children
Saturday 7 p.m.
Mariana and Stanley Juskiewicz (RIP)
Req. by Natalie Chabane
Sunday 9:00 a.m.
Antonio Grasso (RIP)
Req. by his wife Teresa and children
Sunday 11:00 a.m.
Arthur Lennon (RIP)
Req. by Herb and Ann Clough
and Family
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK
Hang Sam Lee, Richard Mijares, Drew Fiala, Connie Tari-Kornhauser, Lisa Reardon, Stuart Robson, Rosa Maria Santos, Dory Kashin, Bianca Auriemma, Rosie Po, Frank Ferreira, Antonina Koziara, Julia Collins, Mary Ann Cuschieri, Sebastian Caravalho, Anne Tran Fazzalari, Gabriel Sebastian Romano, Robert Freimuts, Giuseppe R., Mikayla Haswell, Victoria Cooper, Anna Solims, Lorenza Varga, Steven McKinney, Krysten Telfer, Edward Spiteri, Maria Ruccolo, John Conforzi, Ignacio Juarez Ednet, Dominic Coccimiglio, Winifred Ismail, Mimi Ashton, Ann Baby, Susan Murphy, Marta DiGregorio, and Guy Alcamo.
Please notify the office of any changes to the list.
OFFERTORY
Weekly, Dec 5 $ 1,925.00
Taxes and Insurance $ 330.00
Baptism $ 90.00
Donate Now, October $ 1,905.00
Thank you for your on-going support!
CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
If you moved this year, please inform the office of your new address. Thank you.