st. anthony of padua catholic...
TRANSCRIPT
7237 Morrow Road, Agassiz BC V0M 1A2
Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Phone: 604-796-9181 Web: http://stanthonyagassiz.ca/
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Steny Mascarenhas OCD
PASTOR [email protected] (778-321-8301)
Deacon James Meskas (604-615-5677)
PARISH STAFF
Beccie Bokenfohr (Administrative Assistant)
[email protected] SUNDAY EUCHARIST
Sunday 09:00 am, 11:00 am
WEEKDAY EUCHARIST
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
and Saturday 09:00 am Tuesday, 7:00 pm
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 to 8:40 am,
Tuesday 6:30 pm to 6:55 pm
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Every Friday at 09:30 am (Benediction at 10:30 am)
PARISH GROUPS
Parish Finance Council: Karl Dopf 604 302 1988
Parish Pastoral Council: Rick McArthur 604 220 5843
CWL: Joan Postnikoff 604 491 1891
Knights of Columbus: Gerard Gouwenberg, 604 316 9708
Youth Ministry: Adriana Striker, 604 795 0270 PREP:
RCIA: Ginny Lejeune 604 796 9573
Lectors: Jack Van Dongen 604 997-4625
Eucharistic Ministers: Cruz Ortiz 604 761 1929
Counters: Wilma Struys 604 796 8901
Sacristy: Patrick Donegan 604 796 0261
Ushers/Greeters: Gerald Struys 604 796 8901
Fundraising committee: Jack Van Dongen 604 997-4625
Parish Screening Committee:
Peggy Turner 778 878 0650
Maintenance: Frank Van Scheyndel 604 491 3000
SACRAMENTS: Please contact the Parish Office
Music coordinators
Anna Gouwenberg at 604-796-2341
Ron & Marguerite Rocheleau 604 796 1236 Anthony Pavick 604 860 0202 Janelle Ryan 604 796 1078 Project Advance: Leonne Beebe 604 796 3382
Gerard Gouwenberg, 604 316 9708
Parish Website: http://stanthonyagassiz.ca
We, the Catholic community of St. Anthony of Padua, relying on the wisdom and the grace of God, unite
ourselves to the call for renewal and transformation of our spiritual, social and economic life
1st Sunday of Advent – 03 December 2017
Advent, Christmas and New year Celebrations
Mark your calendars
Christmas Potluck Dinner: December 17th at 4.30pm
Advent Confessions: December 19th at 6pm to 7pm.
Christmas Eve Mass: December 24th at 5pm (Sunday)
Christmas day: December 25th at 10.30am
Last day of the Year: Dec. 31st Adoration at 10am to 11am
New Year 2018: 1st January 2018 Mass at 10.30am
************************************************ Reflection: Hope; Advent is a good time to remember that God
is the source of all we have accomplished or accumulated this
past year. He is the source of all our gifts. Unending hope is one
of the rewards of knowing that our good and generous God
always provides for our needs.
************************************************
World Premiere of In the Spirit of Reconciliation Film
We are pleased to invite you and a guest to the World Premiere of
In The Spirit of Reconciliation at SFU Goldcorp's Centre for the
Arts on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. The screening will be
followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with director Larry
Lynn, Bishop Gary Gordon (Bishop of Victoria and former
Bishop of Whitehorse, Yukon) and Monique Sabourin, Dene
Elder and residential school survivor. Please RSVP at
www.reconciliation.film/contact to have your name added to the
rapidly expanding guest list as we have limited capacity.
Christmas Potluck Dinner Dec. 17th at 4.30 pm
All are invited (please signup)
03 December 2017 1st Sunday of Advent – 03 December 2017
Mass Intentions
Sunday
Wedding Ave.
9 am
11am John VanLeeuwen +
Isabelle Gidon +
Monday 9 am Nara
Tuesday 7 pm Anne Marie Wauthy+
Wednesday 9 am Gelmana Shin
Thursday 9 am Nara
Friday 9 am Divine mercy
Saturday 9 am Anders Newman & Riley Fly
26 November 2017
Envelopes $1123.80
Loose &47.50
Total $1171 . 3 0
.
.
(Continued from last week Bulletin)
We bring our failings to the Church, then, because Jesus
imparted to his apostles, their successors, and through them to
all ordained priests, his own power to forgive sins, to restore
and reconcile the sinner with God and also the Church. This
power to forgive sins is often referred to as the “power of the
keys”, the power entrusted to the Church when Jesus told St.
Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt
16:19).
6. Why do we continue to need forgiveness if we are already
saved?
The new life received in Christ does not abolish the weakness of
human nature or our inclination to sin. “If we say, ‘We are
without sin,’” Saint John wrote, “we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us”. There are a great many kinds of sins, some
mortal, others venial. But all sin has a detrimental effect. It
impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the
prevalence of the good. “Sin creates a proclivity to sin,” the
Catechism reminds us. “It engenders vice by repetition of the
same acts”. As a result, even though we are baptized into new
life, we must continue to return to the sacrament of Penance to
cleanse ourselves of sin and receive God’s mercy. We are
always in need of God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of
Penance if we are to grow in a life of grace.
7. Why do I need to go to a priest for confession?
It is most unfortunate that many people have adopted a mindset
that they do not need to go to Confession. Many say “I just tell
my sins to God and he forgives me.” There is on the part of such
persons a failure to recognize that the sacrament of Penance is
not an invention of the Church. Rather, the sacrament of
Penance is Christ’s gift to the Church to ensure the forgiveness
he so generously extends will be made available to every
member of the Church. Once again, we cite the words of our
Holy Father in highlighting the connection between Christ, his
Church and the sacrament of Penance:
“From the revelation of the value of this ministry and power to
forgive sins, conferred by Christ on the Apostles and their
successors, there developed in the church an awareness of the
sign of forgiveness, conferred through the Sacrament of
Penance. It is the certainty that the Lord Jesus himself instituted
and entrusted to the Church - as a gift of his goodness and
loving kindness to be offered to all-a special Sacrament for the
forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism”.
8. What is the role of the priest in forgiving sins?
In establishing his Church, Christ passed on to her the power to
forgive sins. Just as he forgave sins, so would those chosen by
him to be his apostles have the extraordinary power to forgive
sins. In the priesthood today, the visible external sign of Christ’s
mercy and forgiveness is exercised in confession. Just as the
whole Church makes visible in our world the presence of Christ,
so the priest makes visible the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus in
the sacrament of confession. The priest who by ordination is
configured to Christ absolves sinners, not in his own name and
power, but in the name and person of Jesus.
(Will be continued in the next week Bulletin)
Reflection: a) This is the first Sunday of Advent. We begin a new
liturgical year, and so we take a new set of readings – Year B on
Sundays and Year 1 on weekdays. The Gospel readings for Sundays
will be from St. Mark.
b) Advent is the season in the liturgical calendar, which is composed of
4 Sundays as preparation for Christmas. The liturgical color is violet
since Advent Season has a penitential character, but has also the
element of hope and joy in the expectation of the Lord’s joyful coming
on Christmas. Any major event in the life of a person needs ample
preparation. Advent is a preparation for the “appointed time” when
God-made-man was born into the world. A meaningful Advent season
is necessary for a fruitful celebration of Christmas.
c) “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” (arrival), taken
from “advenire”- “ad” (to) + “venire” (come). It means “coming”. The
one who is coming is no ordinary person, but the Son of God made
man, Jesus Christ. There are three (3) comings of Jesus. The first
coming took place on the first Christmas night in Bethlehem. Jesus
came as a small and helpless infant. This is what we recall every time
Christmas comes. He lived among us as true God and true man. He
offered His life on the cross. And after 33 years in this world, He went
back to His Father in heaven. This is Jesus’ coming in history.
d) And now, we await His second coming. He will surely come, but
nobody knows the exact day and hour. So, with joyful hope and
expectation, we await His second coming. This is called the Parousia.
He will come, not anymore as a baby, but as the Eternal judge, who will
judge the living and the dead, and establish with finality His kingdom in
this world. For His faithful followers, this is the much- awaited day of
salvation and victory. But for those who rejected Him and who lived in
obstinate sinfulness, that day is their damnation. The Second Coming of
Jesus is called the coming in majesty. e) What many of us do not realize
is that there is another coming of Jesus. It is between His first and the
second coming. Since Jesus is God, and so He is eternal, He is always
coming to us at every moment of our lives. He is true to His promise: “I
am with you always until the end of time.” His Spirit dwells with us
always. It is His abiding presence among us. But in a more concrete
way, He comes to us in the sacraments of the Church, which He
established. But most especially, and in a real way, He comes to us in
the Eucharist. This is the sacrament of His Real Presence. The Blessed
Mother calls the Eucharist as the “perennial Nativity”, because in every
Eucharistic celebration, Jesus is born to us (Msg 367, letter c). This
coming can be called the coming in mystery.
f) It is true that we look forward to His Second Coming as a future
event, but we have to remind ourselves always that He comes to us at
every moment of our lives, in our moments of silence, in prayers and
solitude, in the signs of the times, in the unfolding events around us,
and most especially in the sacraments, particularly in the Eucharist. Let
us never forget that our preparation for the Second Coming consists in
and depends on our meaningful encounter with Him everyday in our
life. This is the general theme of the Gospel this Sunday. Jesus comes to
us in the sacraments. What is our disposition when we come to Mass?
How do we regard the celebration of the other sacraments?
Jesus comes to us in our silence and prayers. Do we find quality time to
pray and be with him everyday? Or do we rush our prayers, looking at
them more as a duty to fulfill than as an opportunity of a fresh and
personal encounter with Jesus?
Jesus comes to us in the persons who are needy. Do we see Jesus in the
poor, the prisoners, the sick, jobless and the abandoned? How sincere is
our compassion and care for them?
Up-Coming Events Adoration: First Friday of every month at 9.30am
Divine Mercy Novena: Every Friday 9.30 am
Advent Confessions on Dec. 19th @6pm
Christmas potluck dinner December 17 @4.30pm
We remember in prayer all those who are sick, including:
Peggy Turner, Florence Sinclair, Cheryl Yaretz, Fr. Gerry
Guillet, Paul Mckenzie , Ernie Solomon, Louis Hunter, Richard
Pennier-Hall,, Carol Beebe, Mike Harrison, Nick Rusnak, Terry
Huculak, Quirinus Corneilius, Stella Hildebrandt, Ken
Ferguson, Stella Hildebrandt.
We remember in prayer: those who have died: Maurice
Fernandez, Fred Postnikoff
Preparing for our Refugee Family
We are happy to inform you that our parish and 3 other parishes
from the Agassiz-Harrison area are welcoming Katherine and her
family, Rebecca, Steve, Mutale, Junior from Africa on 6th of
December Wednesday. Those who would like to contribute
towards the support of Katherine and her family may write the
cheque to St. Anthony of Padua or cash clearly mentioning
donation for “Refugee family”. Donations are tax deductible.
Thank you so much for helping this family as they begin their
new life in Canada.
Bulletin advertisements: We are thankful to the businesses that
have so generously placed advertisements on the backside of our
bulletin. If you are interested in placing an advertisement, there
are still a few openings. Please contact Fr. Steny if you would
like to do this at [email protected]
ONE Conference 2018: The annual ONE Conference brings
1,000 parish and ministry leaders from across Catholic Vancouver
together to connect, learn, and inspire each other. Mercy and
Beyond: Sharing our Joy is the theme of the 2018 ONE
Conference, and we will hear from two remarkable keynote
speakers who have inspired thousands of people to receive God’s
mercy and share his joy with others. Sign up to get notified when
registration opens at onecatholic.ca. The ONE Conference will be
on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at the Chandos Pattison Auditorium
at Pacific Academy, Surrey. rcav.org/event
Love Incarnate: Understanding Christian Charity
Advent Retreat: All are welcome to this Advent retreat led by
Sister John Mary Sullivan and Fr. Jude Iloghalu on Saturday,
Dec. 9, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., at Holy Rosary Hall, followed by
confession and Mass. Admission is by donation. Sponsored by the
Catholic Women's League.
Alpha and Discover Discipleship Information Session
Are you interested in participating or taking on leadership in the
New Evangelization? There will be information sessions for
parishes interested in Alpha or Discover Discipleship on Tuesday,
Nov. 28, and Friday, Jan. 19, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the John Paul II
Pastoral Centre in Vancouver. Please contact Amber Zolc at 604-
683-0281 for more information.
Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild
“Liturgical Vestments through the Ages” will be the topic
presented by Bishop David Monroe, former Bishop of
Kamloops. He will present historical information about
these priestly articles of clothing and show samples from
his own collection. Show and tell of Guild members’
works to follow. Join us at St. Clare of Assisi Parish,
Coquitlam, Dec. 9, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for non-
members.
Nativity Scene Draw
Poinsettias for Christmas
Poinsettias for Christmas: Would you like to place a
poinsettia in our Christmas Altar
Display to honor a loved one?
If so, you may use the specially
marked envelopes provided in the
pews, along with the donation and
the name(s) of those to whom who
you wish to acknowledge. (Kindly
indicate your name or envelope
number) You may drop them into
Sunday offering basket, or at the
parish office. Thank you!
The knights of Columbus have organised Nativity scene draw. This is prepared by Leo Vantol. All the proceedings will go for the Global wheel chair donation. $2 per one ticket or $10 for 10 tickets.