
Announcements
Intentions
for the month of December
General…
Mission…
We
begin the journey to Christmas
Once
again, we find ourselves heading toward Christmas.
While in familiar territory, we must seek to make of our Advent
preparations an experience that is ever new. Toward this end the church will
not have an Advent wreath this year. While certainly a tradition long in
existence, the wreath is not a necessary action.
To aid us in having a conscious rethinking of why we do things, the
marking of the weeks of Advent, while still involving candles, will be
carried out in a slightly different manner.
In
and through our Advent prayer and action, it is hoped that the motivation
attached to the parish synod might also come to be better understood.
The synod is intended to allow us to see our community and ourselves
in a manner slightly different from that in which we are accustomed to.
As in the case of the Advent wreath, we are being offered an
opportunity to explore who it is we are, what it is we are seeking to be, and
how in light of our experience we can advance individually and as a community
into the future.
May our Advent celebrations and our Synod preparations lead us to that
which we seek, the relationship that we have with God or Father, in and
through Christ His Son.
An adult understanding of Christmas
The second in our series of Coffee and Conversations on Saturday mornings will take place this coming Saturday at 8:30, lasting roughly an hour. This month’s topic, as listed above, will take a look at the Christmas narratives, and unlock for us the messages and purpose regarding Christ and his earthly mission that are to be found there. Here is an opportunity to grow in your understanding of what it is that we are celebrating when it comes to the feast of the nativity.
Included n the discussion will be a presentation of the historical developments of the feast and its traditions, the layers of messages contained in the scriptural accounts of Saints Matthew and Luke, as well as the theological understandings associated with them. Our time together, while hopefully an informative one, is carried out in a relaxed and open manner. So why not join us for some coffee, pastries and conversation as a start to your day.
Christmas
prep day for the children
With the increased numbers involved in Faith First the Christmas prep day has had to be divided over two days. This compulsory portion of the program will therefore be organized in the following manner…
Grades 3 and up… as previously planned will have their prep day on Saturday, December 13th from 10:00 a.m. until noon.
Grades 1 and 2… will have their prep day take place after Mass on Sunday, December 14th. Please watch for more information in the bulletin next weekend.
Schedule
of Masses for
December 24th
4:00 Children’s Mass with the Pageant
7:00 Children’s “Pajama” Mass with a sending
off to bed at the end of the Liturgy.
9:00 Formal Liturgy with the Adult Choir
December 25th
10:00 am The family Mass
Christmas
Pageant
The sign up sheet for the Christmas Pageant is at the back of the church
this weekend. The practices for
the pageant (which will take place at the 4:00 Mass on Christmas Eve) are at
10:00 on Saturday December 6th and on Saturday, December 20th.
Adults are also needed to aid in the execution of the pageant.
Your help in this regard would therefore be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in working on the pageant, please approach Robin
Peissel.
The Montreal West Operatic Society will be performing its 2008 Christmas Concert entitled
SEASON’S
GREETINGS
Parish
Christmas Trees
While
new parishioners will not be familiar with this Corpus Christi tradition,
experienced parishioners know about the parish Christmas trees. These trees
are decorated with ornaments containing the family names of the parish. The
person who had written the names in the past is moving to England, and
therefore will no longer be able to write the names.
Should there be someone who could take up the task of inscribing the
ornaments, would you please make yourself known to either Father Joe or Gene
Gauzer. Your aid to the parish
in this manner would be most appreciated.
As
well, the list of existing ornaments can be found on the bulletin Board.
If you do not find your name on the list, and would like to have an
ornament prepared, please fill in the stub below, and drop in the collection
basket next weekend.
Gift
Drive for Saint Gabriel’s
The young men from Corpus
Christi who are students at Loyola High School are organizing a gift drive
for the children whose families will be aided by Saint Gabriel’s Parish
this coming Christmas. While
more information will be forthcoming, it was desired that parishioners should
be informed of their project at this time.
Baby
food jars…Can
you help us prepare for a project for next year?
We need a large quantity of small baby food jars. We
are therefore sending out an appeal for those of you who use baby food, if
you would, to bring in the empty jars, and place them in the box that will be
located at the back of the church beginning next week.
Thank you.
The
Grapevine
See the latest copy of The Grapevine on the
bulletin board at the back of the church.
The Parish Auxiliary
The annual membership drive for the Parish Auxiliary
is currently underway. If you
would like to join the Auxiliary, or wish to learn more about it, please
approach the representative at the back of the church after Mass.
Mass Intentions
Mass intentions for weekend Liturgies are presently
booked through to the middle of November.
While there is still some availability for weekdays during October,
those wishing to assure that they have their desired intentions reserved over
the next two months are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH
An appreciation of the past…
An examination of the present…
A plan for the future…
The
parish is now embarking upon the second half, both of its jubilee year, as
well as of its first hundred years of existence. We will therefore take a
critical look at our parish life, and see where we are in need of change; so
as to better lead our community into the future.
The
ongoing vibrancy of our parish demands that all aspects of our community be
open to renewal. The natural
fear of change should never be seen as justification for leaving things as
they are. True growth and maturity requires that the road ahead not be
avoided. While the experience
and wisdom of the past 50 years is to be valued, history must not be used to
prevent the calling forth of our community into the future.
The creative drive that led to endeavors of the past must now place
itself at the disposal of inspiring the future. The challenge of this forward
action should be undertaken without fearing the effect on that which has been
built up and cherished. The strengths of the past can only be enhanced by the
tempering action of examination. Each
organ of parish life must be actively involved in the betterment of the
whole. In doing so, every person
and group within the parish can then be both better prepared, and more
effective, in the carrying out the parish’s mission.
There
are therefore some basic questions that should be faced by the various
dimensions of parish life. Along with those questions, the process of
developing an awareness of the aspects of parish life and their
interrelationship must be undergone. By
better understanding the role and action of each other, we will be better
prepared to support and nurture of one another in Christ’s name.
As
we therefore embark upon this second half of our jubilee year, may we do so
with the excitement and dream of the future that inspired the first members
of our parish to begin building a new faith community 50 years ago.
The liturgical ministries
Would you be interested in reading at Mass, or perhaps you would be willing to help with the distribution of the Eucharist. Maybe you could help with the greeting at the door of the church and the taking up of the collection. These and other vehicles of service to the parish are consistently in need of greater numbers. If you wish to have more information on some aspect of service, either in the Sanctuary or behind the scenes, please speak with Father Joe, Gene Gauzer, or Pierre Joncas.
And so, into the future.
Our focus now shifts to the process that we will undertake in the fall; seeking to map out the future of our parish community. In this regard, Father Joe and the parish council will take the lead in developing a program through which the parish as a whole can play a role. There will be more information on this part of our year in September.
We continue to
improve
Over the last three years, a number of projects have been undertaken, contributing to the better maintenance and condition of our parish facilities. Most notable of these projects have been the repair of the furnace and heating system, the new roof, and the refurbishing of a number of liturgical materials. The success of the fundraising campaign held last year has permitted the wardens to look ahead at repairs that were thought to still be a few years off, so as not to put too great a strain on the budget.
The next project of some note will be to replace the 45-year-old windows of the hall, the sacristy, and the rectory. An evaluation undertaken in 2006 determined that the condition of the windows was such that remedial action would only delay replacement by no more than 3 to 5 years. Further, the cost of such action would only add to the overall expense that would need to be undertaken a short time later
This is due to the general decay of the wood in the frames of the windows, as well as the effect of time causing the many of the windows to longer provide a barrier to air and heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the building. This leads to increased costs for heating oil and takes away from some of the benefit attained from the repair of the heating system. While the furnace is heating the building and we are far more comfortable, the system is called upon to work harder than would otherwise be necessary. The funds saved though less oil consumption therefore add to the wisdom in repairing the windows. A further problem with the windows is the inability to open or close them properly. Many have seized in place and must either be sealed with foam or left as is.
In light of these circumstances, the wardens have decided to undertake a project to replace the widows of the building (with the exception of the church itself) over the next two years. While a major campaign to cover the cost is not planned, there may be some need to find ways by which the expense can be dealt with, so as not to unduly deplete the resources of the parish. The wardens will seek to keep the community advised as to the progress of this latest project, and its contribution to the overall integrity of the physical plant.
See the Bulletin Board for copies of “The Grapevine”.
Electronic
Bulletin
Would
you like to receive the Bulletin by e-mail?
We would be happy to accommodate you in this way. As well, you can
sign up to be on the mailing list for the “Grapevine,” the weekly
bulletin from the department of English Pastoral Services, and for the
“Weekly Message” and information sheet from the office of Cardinal
Turcotte. All three of these
documents can be sent to your computer as an easy way of being informed as to
events on the parish, English and diocesan levels of the church of Montreal.
Learn about the parish
It is our
intention to have one article a month
Marriages
for 2008
If you are planning on getting married in 2008, it is time to register with the parish. The archdiocese of Montreal requires a notification period of no less than 6 months prior to the desired date for the Wedding. This period of time allows the various actions, such as the collection of documents and the completion of paperwork and registration to take place in a timely fashion. As well, a preparation process that is duly sanctioned must be undergone.
Requests
for prayer
While not
desiring to be publicly named, we
The Prayer Intention Book
has been moved to a new resting place, in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. As in the past we encourage you to make use of this vehicle of intercession and prayer.
Mass Intentions
Please take note that Mass intentions for Saturdays and Sundays are now booked through to the latter part of June. Requests for weekday Mass intentions can be accommodated within the next three weeks. In light of this backlog, should you wish a particular date for an intention, please contact the rectory as soon as possible.
It is anticipated that a series of articles will appear in the bulletin,
beginning in September. These will describe the various functions and
ministries of the Council, and will hopefully provide a better understanding
of the role of the Council and how it can be of service to us all.
Requests
for Prayer in the announcements or petitions at Mass
With regard to public requests for prayer, the request should come
through the person directly referred to in the request, or through a family
member. This is to ensure the
right to privacy on the part of the people involved.
While someone may wish to be prayed for, the public declaration of
such a desire may be a different matter.
We encourage you to ask for prayers, both from Father Joe and from the
parish, but that for public petitions, you do so with these provisions in
mind.
Please
remember that there is a process of preparation involved when one requests
admission to the Sacraments, whether for oneself or someone else.
In
the case of Marriage diocesan policy requires a minimum of six months notice,
coupled with an approved preparation program, before the celebration o f a
Marriage in the Catholic Church.
For
Baptism, a notice of 3 months and a preparation involving two sessions before
the celebration of the Sacrament is to be anticipated.
For
the celebration of Reconciliation, Eucharist, or Confirmation, participation
in the Faith First Program for a minimum of 20 months is required for school
aged children. For Adults a
one-year period of preparation is regarded as the norm.
Should
you wish further information regarding the Sacramental prep programs of the
parish, please contact Father Joe at the rectory.
Sick - Hospitalized - Homebound?
Please Notify the Rectory.
Requests for prayers are welcomed.
The Outreach Ministry wishes
to support you with spiritual and practical help.
Anne Parsons 514-457-2183
Carole Trinque 514-457-5965
Social Justice Committee
For information relating to the
Social Justice Committee please click here
Faith First
For information relating to
Faith First please click here
General Information
For General Information relating to
Corpus Christi please click here
Other Information
For more announcements and other information please click here
Mass Times
For schedule of mass times click here