LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS
extended until January 23, 2021
ALL PUBLIC MASSES CANCELLED
BUILDING CAPACITY RESTRICTED TO 10 for all gatherings
OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER:
Monday - Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 12 NOON
WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND BAPTISMS
10 person restriction includes priest, cantor, etc.
CONFESSION
by appointment - please contact the office to arrange
THE OFFICE is closed. Staff are working remotely; responding to emails and phone calls during regular office hours: Wed-Fri, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fr. Joseph is responding to urgent messages outside of regular office hours.
The Epiphany of Our Lord is January 6th. We celebrate it on the Sunday between January 2nd and January 8th. Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season, and is the 12th day of Christmas. The word 'epiphany' comes from the Greek word 'epiphainen' meaning 'shine upon', 'to manifest' or to 'make known'. Jesus was 'made known' to the gentiles for the first time with the visitation of the three Wise Men or Magi. In many parts of Europe, the exchanging of gifts occurs on the Epiphany; the day the gifts were presented to the baby Jesus by the visiting Magi.
PSALMS AND CANTICLES
Sunday, January 3, 2021
In Life’s Struggle: Despair and Trust (Psalm 13 and Psalm 11)
One Sunday evening each month, all are welcome to join Cardinal Thomas Collins for Lectio Divina at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, 65 Bond Street, Toronto
Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 7 p.m.
Lectio Divina 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.
Join live at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica OR LIVESTREAM: via www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live
NEW BEGINNINGS INTRODUCTORY SUPPORT PROGRAMMES
Online Bereavement Support Group
begins Wednesday, January 13, 2021 @ 7:00 pm
Online Separated/Divorce Support Group
begins Thursday, January 14, 2021 @ 7:00 pm
For more information and to register please contact:
Arcangelo Limanni, MRE (416) 921-1163 ext. 2225
RECTORY OFFICE "re-opens" following Christmas Break:
JANUARY 18th, 2021
Thank you to everyone for wearing your face masks out of consideration and love of neighbour! Please be reminded that the mask/face covering must cover your nose as well as your mouth to be effective.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
January 18-25, 2021
Theme: “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit” (cf. John 15:5-9).
The Annual Week of Prayer Service for the Greater Toronto Area
Sunday January 24, 2021 at 4.00 p.m.
Please join virtually at:
https://www.facebook.com/agincourtcommunitychurch
Join His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Sisters of Life and wide representation of Christian leaders to pray for the restoration of full visible unity willed by Jesus for the Church. Our host this year is the Salvation Army. The homilist is David Wells (General Superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada).
This event is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Promoting Christian Unity and Religious Relations with Judaism and the Greater Toronto Area of Council of Christian Churches.
MARRIAGE SUNDAY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
February 13/14, 2021
To celebrate the tremendous contributions of married couples who continue to strengthen our faith community, our parish is participating in a program to offer a personalized, special blessing certificate signed by Cardinal Thomas Collins to married couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60+ wedding anniversary in 2021.
To request a special blessing certificate for milestone wedding anniversaries in 2021, please visit https://bit.ly/2021MS-SpecialBlessing.
The Office of Formation for Discipleship will be processing the orders – the deadline to order is January 17, 2021; we will be assisting in distributing the special blessing certificate to you.
Let us celebrate the contributions of married couples who continue to strengthen our faith community. Let us also pray and extend loving support to those who have lost a spouse or are struggling from a broken relationship. For more information and resources on marriage, visit: www.archtoronto.org/marriage
FRIARS’ STUDENT WRITING CONTEST 2021
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Theme: Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit
Submission Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2021
Submit essays by E-mail to: editor@catholicregister.org, Re: “Friars’ Contest”
Information:
416-934-3400 (x 527) or 1-855-441-4077 (x 401)
Details & Resources:
www.catholicregister.org/writingaward
AND
http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/settimana-di-preghiera-per-l-unita/en.html
1st Place: Lenovo Idea Pad 3 Laptop
2nd Place: Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch
3rd Place: Apple Earpods
Sponsored by The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement , Graymoor and The Catholic Register
2020-2021 Living with Christ Missals will be available for purchase after Masses NEXT weekend November 14/15th. The cost is $5.00
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
AUGUSTINE’S SEMINARY LAY FORMATION PROGRAM
The Songs of the Angels in the Book of Revelation
Saturday, January 23, 2021 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
A VIRTUAL EVENT OFFERED BY ST. AUGUSTINE'S SEMINARY
After a brief introduction to the Book of Revelation, this talk will explore the hymns of the Apocalypse, their role and function, and St. John's message of hope in a time of crisis. Presented by Monsignor A. Robert Nusca.
COST: $25
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/HymnsoftheAngels
CONTACT: St. Augustine's Seminary of Toronto
PHONE: 416-261-7207
EMAIL: lay.formation@staugustines.on.ca
WEBSITE: www.staugustines.on.ca
Scripture Readings for
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Baptism of the Lord
First Reading: Isaiah 42.1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29
Second Reading: Acts 10.34-38
Gospel: Matthew 3.13-17
MASS INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
Mon. Jan 4 - Sun. Jan 10
Saturday 7 p.m.
Intentions of the Parish Community (INT)
Sunday 9 a.m.
Catherine and William Hall (RIP)
Req. by Ann Rooney
Sunday 11 a.m.
Intentions of the Parish Community (INT)
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, William (Buddy) O'Hara, Robert Freimuts, Giuseppe R., Mikayla Haswell, Victoria Cooper, Anna Solims, Lorenza Varga, Steven McKinney, Krysten Telfer, Natalie Chabane, Edward Spiteri, Maria Ruccolo, John Conforzi, Ignacio Juarez Ednet, Dominic Coccimiglio, Winifred Ismail, Hector Balthazar, Mimi Ashton and Ann Baby.
Please notify the office of any changes to the list.
OFFERTORY
You may mail your offerings to the office at 161 Annette Street or drop them off in the mail slot.
Please consider signing up for monthly pre-Authorised Giving. You may do this through the parish office or the Archdiocese. You may also donate to the parish through the Archdiocese website using the Donate Now button.
We will distribute the 2021 envelopes when it is safe to do so.
Please note January 3rd is your last opportunity to contribute 2020 donations. Donations received after January 3, 2021 will count towards your 2021 income tax receipt. If your address has changed, please inform the office.
Thank you for your generosity and patience!
2021 OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
Due to the on-going lock-down, the 2021 offertory envelopes may be picked up at the church during private prayer or you may call the office in the new year to arrange pick-up from the office.
2021 TAX RECEIPT INFORMATION
Please note: January 3rd is your last opportunity to contribute 2020 donations. Donations received after January 3, 2021 will count towards your 2021 income tax receipt. Please inform the office of any change in address.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
If you moved this year, please inform the office of your new address. Thank you.