FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 24TH, 2017

From the angel Gabriel, Mary heard God’s plan for her life and she said “Yes!”...and so the Saviour came into the world. Pray to know God’s Will for your life, so as to help

bring Jesus to our world. If you think God is calling you to do this as a priest, religious or deacon, call Fr. Chris Lemieux, Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Toronto 416-968-0997 Email: vocations@archtoronto.org

Website: www.vocationstoronto.ca

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE PASTORAL DESK

At this special and sacred season, I extend to all of you, Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year 2018. The joy and the miracle of Christmas has its source in the birth of Jesus Christ, our redeemer. God, in his son Jesus, fulfills his promises to the world. And Christ is at the center of Christmas. Without him, there is no Christmas. He is the King, the son of God, who was born not in a temple or royal palace but in an earthy, raw, smelly stable. He comes to us in all sorts of human conditions — and no matter what we’ve done or haven’t done, he meets us where we are in life. The Advent season, the start of the new Church year, has always been the preface or prequel to that world-changing event. It leads us to reflect on Jesus the Son of God and Lord of history at the end of time, and readies our hearts to receive the Child Jesus at Bethlehem two thousand years ago, TO-DAY and everyday, at the Bethlehem of our hearts. It helps us to reflect and fill the potholes on the road of our lives, leveling the mountains and exulting up the valleys caused by our sins and failures, leading us to begin again in hope as true disciples. Our God is a God who comes, and wants to be with us.. He is Emmanuel and we his people are blessed because we can have a conversation with him in prayer, as we celebrate the Eucha-rist and as we present ourselves to be cleansed through the sacrament of reconciliation, and encounter Him in his word. These are life-giving waters in the desert of our daily challenges and distractions. Reading and praying over the first and second chapters of Luke’s Gospel during the season of Advent, has prepared us to experience the richness of the Christmas season. That the two strangers, the expecting couple, who have travelled into the little town of Bethlehem, poor and without shelter, and are ‘sent away’ even from the inn because there is no room for them, are carrying the king who is to invite everyone into the ‘inn’ of the heavenly abode, where there are many dwelling places. How ironic that is. It brings to us such a sense of ‘AWE’. I pray that you will have a Peaceful Christmas: the peace that we are given, the peace that will mend broken hearts; the peace that is contagious and can be shared with one another in forgiveness, kindness and charity. May the birthday of Christ sow seeds of peace in all our hearts... May the birthday of Christ renew hope in all our struggles... May the birthday of Christ bring joy to each one of us...

Merry Christmas from your humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord,

Fr. Colman N. Mruma

Now Accepting Nominations to the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards

The Durham Catholic District School is currently accepting nominations for the Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award. The Award recognizes former students of the Durham Catholic District School Board who have achieved significant success in their chosen pathway. Through their pursuit of personal excellence, they have made a positive con-tribution to their communities and represent the image of the Catholic learner as described by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must meet the following criteria:

The nominee is a former student of the Durham Catholic District School Board

The nominee has distinguished herself/himself through service or accomplishments or career

The nominee reflects the characteristics of the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations:

o A Discerning Believer Formed in the Cath-

olic Faith Community o An Effective Communicator

o A Reflective and Creative Thinker

o A Life Long Learner

o A Collaborative Contributor

o A Caring Family Member

o A Responsible Citizen

If you know of a former student of the Durham Catholic Dis-trict School Board who is eligible for this award, nominate them at https://www.dcdsb.ca/en/our-board/distinguished-catholic-alumni-award.aspx. Nominations are due on or be-fore Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

Winners of the 2018 Distinguished Catholic Alumni Awards will be recognized at the annual Durham Catholic Children's Foundation Gala, on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Oshawa Jubilee Pavilion.

The Parish office is currently accepting Mass Intentions for February 2018.

Saturday, December 23rd

5:00 p.m. † Deceased Members of Valladares Family

Sunday, December 24th (Sunday Obligation)

9:00 a.m. † Sydney Rowsell 11:00 a.m. Mass For The People

Sunday, December 24th (Christmas Eve Mass)

5:00 p.m. Reserved 8:00 p.m. Reserved 11:00 p.m. Reserved

Monday, December 25th 9:00 a.m. Reserved 11:00 a.m. Reserved

Tuesday, December 26th 9:00 a.m. † Roshan Anandappa

Wednesday, December 27th 7:30 p.m. † Duann D’souza

Thursday, December 28th 8:30 a.m. † Elizabeth Dobson

Friday, December 29th

8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving for 61 yrs of Marriage: Mike & Mary Bridgemann

Saturday, December 30th 5:00 p.m. † Bertie Nazareth

Sunday, December 31st (Sunday Obligation) 9:00 a.m. † Barbara Fernandez

11:00 a.m. Mass For The People

Sunday, December 31st (New Year’s Eve) 5:00 p.m. † Mary Fitzpatrick

Monday, January 1st (New Year’s Day)

9:00 a.m. Available

11:00 a.m. Available

Sunday Obligation Dec. 23 5 p.m.

Dec. 24 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24

5 p.m. 8 p.m. 12 a.m.

Midnight

Christmas Day Monday, December 25

9 a.m. 11 a.m.

Tuesday, December 26 9 a.m.

Sunday Obligation December 30 and 31

Dec. 30 5 p.m.

Dec. 31 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31: 5 p.m.

Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God

Monday, January 1 9 a.m.

11 a.m.

Offertory of the 7 Day Candle If you would like to offer a 7 Day Candle, at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima or the Sanctuary Lamp, for your intentions, kindly contact the parish office or speak to the Sacristan.

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

The parish office will be closed from Friday, December 22 to Tuesday, December 26 and will

reopen on Wednesday, December 27 at 8:00 a.m. If you have an emergency that requires a priest please call 905-839-9774, and follow instructions to leave a message for Fr. Colman to contact you. In case Fr. Colman is unreachable please contact another local Parish for assistance.

If you are a visitor to our parish, we want you to know how welcome you are– whether you have come from another part of the country, from across the world, or simply from another parish here in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

We extend our warm welcome to you on behalf of the people of the Parish, Priest and Deacon.

On behalf on Holy Redeemer Youth Ministry, we would like to thank the Parish Community of Holy Redeemer for their continued support and the support shown in 2017. We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless!

Church Gift Shop

Don’t forget our Church Gift Shop is open after all the weekend Masses. Plan to stop by! You may be

surprised to see what all the gift shop has to offer!

Entrance Antiphon (Isaiah 45.8) Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.

2018 Envelopes Are Ready Please remember to pick-up your 2018 envelopes in the parish hall.. Kindly do not use them before January 1st, 2018.

Knights Korner: Council 11729 To our dear parishioners, Pastor, Deacon, Parish staff, members of our fellow Ministries in the Church and committees, we the knights wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Grand Knight, Errol Jennings

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16 Second Reading: Romans 16.25-27

Gospel : Luke 1.26-38