MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 5:00pm For + Grant & Ruby Kett by The Family 10:00pm For + Ted Montague by Frances & Family Sunday, December 25 10:30am for + Agatha Dykstra by Theo & Family Monday, December 26 FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN 9:00am for the Intentions of the Parishioners Tuesday, December 27 FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE 9:00am for + Janice Poirier sister Kathy by Catherine Montague Wednesday, December 28 9:00am for +Departed members of the Stoneman Family by Monica Thursday, December 29 FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS 9:00am for + Reita & Nelson Nopper by Jerry & Sue Feeney Friday, December 30 FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY 9:00am for + Eileen Doyle & Deceased Family Members Saturday, December 31 5:00pm for + Ralph VanExem by Andrew VanExem Sunday, January 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD 8:30am for + Joyce Feeney by Jerry & Sue Feeney & Family 10:30am for + Jack Gordyn by Anna Honkoop FLOWER DONATIONS Tina Ankumah Mildred Addison Margaret Andrews Mary Bene Michele Borba Tony Burke Paul & Anne Cavanagh Ellen Craddock Jaye Dagenais Bill & Chris Doyle Jerry & Sue Feeney Yvette & Lionel Gagnon Denise Gill Linda Hartnett Agnes Jorna Bonnie McKinnon Barry Meahan Diane Miller Frances Montague Laureen Montague Monica Montague Nick & Lynn Montague Harry & Maryanne Moretti Stephanie Morris Sue O’Dwyer Randy & Renee Reid William & Izabella Selmeci Keith & Marilyn Vanderbolt Thank you to Linda Feeney for organizing flowers for St. Ann’s Church. BISHOP BERGIE’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...For a child has been born or us, a son given to us." When we look to the Christmas stable what do we see? Our God came to us not in magnificence and power; he came to us in poverty and simplicity. He was born in a barn with straw and animals, with a manger for his crib. This image shows us that our God accepted so little in order to give us so much. What an incredible gift of love! Sadly, what we see in our world today is something completely opposite to what Jesus has modeled for us. People seem to demand much and give little. This is especially true regarding our relationship with God. The darkness of this world is often the result of selfishness and a rejection of God's love. Christmas gives us the opportunity to focus on God and others, especially those most in need. Gifts of love are offered, knowing that it is far better to give than to receive. We savor the simplicity of family and friendship as we gather to celebrate God's gift to us. This feast has the power to transform us as we open our hearts to Jesus who accepted so little in order to give us so much. I wish to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a truly blessed Christmas. May our darkness be dispelled by the light of Christ and our hearts filled with the Good News of Christmas: 'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...For a child has been born for us, a son given to us." CHRISTMAS - WHERE LOVE IS BORN My greetings to the parishioners of St Mary and St Ann. IT IS CHRISTMAS!!!!! It is such a joyful moment to celebrate Christmas. But what is Christmas? I asked this question to myself and immediately what came to my mind was, just one word “Emmanuel”. Which means "God is with us"(Matthew:1:23). And this led me to think further about the mysterious love of God, as mentioned in John’s Gospel "God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whoever believed in him should not per- ish, but have everlasting life". John 3: 16. Therefore what I consider is that Christmas is nothing but the celebration of God’s. Love shown visibly in the birth of his beloved Son Jesus, who was born to be with us and to give us everlasting life. The church has a beautiful tradition of having a nativity scene placed inside and outside of the church. The simple reason for this tradition is to make infancy narratives in the gospel more visible to our senses. To think, ponder and to reflect on the Love of God made flesh and dwelt amongst us. The best and the simplest way to remember the infancy narrative of the gospel, is to look at the nativity scene. The little children of our parish community participate every year in the nativity scene which they always turn into a liv- ing crib. And it is always wonderful to watch them play their role with love, faith, joy and fun. No matter what we try to see in the nativity scene; It will always inspire us. Like for example, when we look at the angel we are reminded of the angel's hymn that we sing at Mass; Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people of Good will. When we look at the shepherds, we can imagine how they might have wondered to see the Glory of God, and when we look at the three wise kings, we know how they had come to see the infant Jesus and adored Him with precious gifts. Joseph Mary and Jesus have always been the icon of the Holy Family, with the virtue of Poverty, Humility, and Obedience to God’s will. One thing that really inspired me on one of the Advent Sessions which was held on December 13th 2016, at St Mary’s parish on the theme “watch and pray” that was played on FORMED, the speaker explains the link between the MANGER AND THE EUCHARIST . The Manger, where Jesus was placed was considered to be the feeding ves- sel where the food was served for animals. And so the Eucharist is seen as the manger whenever we come for mass. We come to him as humble creatures, gathered around His Holy Altar to be fed with his precious body and blood. The Three kings had the privilege to adore the Lord but we are more privileged than those three wise kings because we not only adore our Lord, but we can also receive Jesus in the Eucharistic bread at every mass we attend with devotion, sanctity and love. In the Eucharistic bread, Jesus comes again. Emmanuel, God with us, is always with us because he cares, loves, heals and strengthens all those who come to Him in humility, faith and perseverance. At this Christmas mass, we thank God and we tell him how grateful we feel, for we are loved by Him so dearly. Christmas is a celebration of God's love and so we also turn our hearts with Joy to celebrate with our families, friends and with our community. Finally Christmas is also a Call to love – “Love one another as I have loved you”. (John 13:34) May This Christmas bring joy in our families and let us work to spread the message of Love through our lives. I wish all a blessed and Merry Christmas. Fr Victor OCD Pastor