Many members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, other parishioners and friends spent countless hours to shop, organize gifts, pack food, and deliver with the kind help of the thoughtful EMS volunteers. $100 worth of food plus gifts went to the less fortunate people.

May God Bless you for sharing and caring. We certainly appreciate your continuing prayers and bountiful support.

Gratefully,
Noreen Brasier
Pres. of SSVP

On behalf of Fr. Charlie, Fr. Theo, and Fr. Tom, we are very grateful.

We will keep you and your families in our prayers.

God Bless!

In ancient times before people had access to currency they offered the gifts of their workd and their lives. One of the most ancient customs of the Church is that of the people themselves providing the bread and wine for the Eucharist. As the Roman liturgy spread to other lands, this rite became a true procession of all the people who brought forth not only bread and wine but at times also oil, candles, wheat, grapes, and other items of precious value. Although traces of the procession continued down to the end of the Middle Ages, the presentation of bread and wine by the faithful was, from the eleventh century, generally replaced by the giving of money.

You can often see at school masses the children bringing up the results of their work both in real and symbolic forms. At Chrismas we bring up some of the food collected for the poor. At least some of the monies collected should be brought up as this is for the maintenance of the Church, priests, workers and the poor in our communities and in the world. Even the pooorer areas of the Church here in Canada and abroad have helped with our Lenten collections and Development and Peace.

The Offertory is often accompanied by a song, which celebrates the communal aspects of the procession. The text, therefore, may be an appropriate song of praise or of rejoicing in keeping with the season.

Reflection:

There are many forms of collections. We are used to ushers coming to us but often offertory baskets are passed from one to another through the congregation. In some Korean-Canadian parishes all parishioners who wish to give an offering form a single file and bring their offering to the foot of the altar (can be seen in some places in Africa today).

Questions for Reflection:

1.  Do I see myself bringing my gifts to the Altar?

2.  How do I decide what is a proper amount to give?

3. Do I pray about this?

4.  Do I reflect on the generosity of the Lord to me?

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 31:5

……….. the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruit of grain, wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

A donation of $5.00 to cover refreshments and lunch would be appreciated.

Please call the parish office 705-324-4828 and let them know of your attendance so we can prepare for materials and lunch

Thank you to all the parishioners who helped decorate, clean the church, the choirs, lectors, Eucharist ministers, K of C, ushers, servers, youth group, and anyone we may have missed.

On behalf of Fr. Charlie, Fr. Theo, and Fr. Tom, we are very grateful.

We will keep you and your families in our prayers.

God Bless!

Father Charlie Fitzpatrick will move to half time duties with primary responsibilities for the nursing home Masses and visits, twice weekly hospital rounds, visiting our shut-in at home parishioners monthly, and other various duties.

We will soon be making other announcements as to the make up of a new pastoral team for the parish.

Sunday July 4th

World Youth Day Strawberry Social Fundraiser!

Held at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot after the 9 and 11 am Sunday masses! 

Need volunteers to serve, prepare strawberries, set up/clean up, etc.  All proceeds will help us go to WYD 11!  Also, Rebels for Christ is asking St. Mary’s Parishioners to donate any of the following items for the Strawberry Social:

Broccoli Salad                                                     

Bean Salad

Macaroni Salad

Devilled eggs

And any other Specialty Salads or appetizers!

The more the better because we usually serve about 150 in total Sunday morning. 

Thank you in advance for your help in sending us to the next World Youth Day to see Pope Benedict in August 2011!

Our procession is going to be somewhat smaller. At the end of the 9:00 a.m. mass the Blessed Sacrament will be placed in the monstrance and Fr. Tom will process from the altar immediately out of the church, left up St. Lawrence Street turning at the school on Glenelg Street. We will have an Altar of Repose where we will have a Litany of the Sacred Heart then proceed around onto Huron Street where we will a second Altar of Repose and where we will have a Litany of Our Lady. Then we will come back onto Russell St. and finish on the steps of the church. We will have Benediction and the Consecration to Our Lady.

For all the 9:00 a.m. parishioners, get ready to stay later and for all the11:00 a.m. parishioners come earlier. It is only 4 blocks. You are encouraged to accompany the Blessed Sacrament for all or part of the procession. We hope to have all the parish groups and organizations represented along with music.

St. Mary’s World Youth Day Pilgrims are collecting beer, wine, and liquor bottles again to help offset the cost of attending the next World Youth Day to see the Pope in Madrid, Spain in 2011.  Rebel’s for Christ Youth will be going door-to-door collection bottles Sunday May 16th from 12-3pm.  Parishioners are also encouraged to drop  their bottles off on the porch of the rectory anytime.  All of the bottles will be returned for a refund at the local beer store and the funds raised will be set aside for St. Mary’s WYD pilgrims who participated in the bottle collection and are attending WYD.