Share Christmas – Thank You
Thanks be to God and thanks to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta for inspiring our parishioners to participate in our Share Christmas Program. We would like to thank everyone who made sacrifices and for some who went out of their way to find the food item on their card. Also, we thank the parishioners who generously went above the approximate $25 worth of the card requirement and those who took more than one card. As promised, all food donations and monies received as well as socks and clothing were handed over to the Sisters in the Downtown Eastside on December 10. Last, but not least, we would like to thank our Share Christmas Volunteers who sacrificed their precious family time to serve our parish community on the weekend(s). To all the volunteers: Grade 7s, teens, adults, and seniors, thank you! And to all the parishioners who made a food donation(s), once again, thank you! Also, to the Penske Rental Company, in gratitude for providing a complimentary truck so we can transport your donations. All in all, we are grateful to everyone for their contribution. Your effort will support the Sisters who serve the families and individuals in need during the Christmas Season.
CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS SCHEDULE
Christmas day (and New Year’s Day) fall on a Monday this year. All the faithful are obliged to attend both a Sunday Mass and the respective Christmas Mass or New Year’s Day Mass. Our schedule below indicates whether a Mass is the celebration of the 4th Sunday of Advent or Holy Family Sunday (Sunday obligation) or Christmas or New Year’s Day (Holy Days of Obligation).
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday, December 24
8.00 am – 4th Sunday of Advent Mass
10.00 am – 4th Sunday of Advent Mass
12.00 pm – 4th Sunday of Advent Mass
5.00 pm – Christmas Eve Mass
10.00 pm Christmas Eve Mass
9:00 pm Festival of Lessons and Carols
10:00 pm Mass
NO MIDNIGHT MASS on Christmas Eve
Monday, December 25
8.00 am – Christmas Day Mass
10.00 am – Christmas Day Mass
12.00 pm – Christmas Day Mass
No 5.00 PM MASS on Christmas Day
NEW YEARS DAY MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday, December 31
8.00 am – Holy Family Sunday Mass
10.00 am – Holy Family Sunday Mass
12.00 pm- Holy Family Sunday Mass
5.00 pm New Year’s Eve Mass
Monday, January 1
8.00 am – New Year`s Mass
10.00 am – New Year`s Mass
12.00 pm – New Year`s Mass
No 5.00 PM MASS on New Year’s Day
ALPHA FOR MEN – STARTING JANUARY 2024
Do you have big questions about the meaning of life? Do you want to learn more about what it means to follow Jesus? Do you want to grow in your faith?
If so and you are a man aged 30 to 55, we invite you to join Alpha for Men at Holy Cross – a set of weekly evening gatherings that will explore these questions. If you have a husband, brother, or son who may not be a believer or has drifted from their faith, Alpha is also for them. All are welcome.
Each gathering consists of dinner followed by a short video and small group discussion. Alpha for Men begins on Friday, January 12 at 6:30pm at the parish.
Alpha has changed countless lives. To get a taste of what Alpha is about, watch this short video on how Alpha transformed a parish in Montreal.
To join Alpha for Men at Holy Cross, sign up here. We hope to see you on January 12!
ALPHA FOR MEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
As you know, Alpha for Men is starting on Friday, January 12, 2024 for 11 weeks (ending on March 22). We are currently seeking your help to make this a successful and fruitful program. Here are the options for everyone:
• 5pm to 9pm – This would be great if you could commit these hours for various tasks.
• If you are only available for a couple of hours:
– 5pm to 7pm- set up and serving food
– 7pm to 9pm- clearing dishes, washing, take down
Dessert
Please share your love of baking on the dessert table. Just let me know if you would like to bring a dessert on one of the Fridays.
I also understand that it’s hard to know about your plans in February or March. I can certainly put you on the volunteer list for now and email you in the beginning of the year to find if you are available.
Please email Makiko Morelli at mymorelli@hotmail.com if you would like to be on the list. If you have any questions, feel free to text me or call me at 778-938-3244. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you!
CWL RELIGIOUS ARTICLES SALE THIS WEEKEND
If you are looking for something to help you or your family live your faith, the CWL is selling religious articles at the back of the Church this weekend after the 5:00 pm Mass this Saturday and after the 8:00am, 10:00am & 12:00pm Masses on Sunday. We accept cheque or cash for payment.
Christmas Cards and 2024 Calendars FOR PRISON MINISTRY
We are collecting unused Christmas cards and calendars for 2024 for the Prison Ministry. Calendars can be wall, desk or appointment calendars without coils and should have a modest theme. Please put the cards and calendars in the boxes in the lobby of the Church.
2024 Sunday donation envelopes and wall calendars
Your 2024 Sunday donation envelopes and 2024 wall calendars from Kearney Funeral home are available for pickup in the Church lobby.
CWL MEMBERSHIP
Thank you to all CWL members who have paid their 2023 membership dues. It is not too late to join the CWL and/or renew your $45.00 membership – you can drop it off at the Parish Office or leave it in the collection basket at the front of the Church when you come for Mass. (Please make sure that you label your envelope CWL and if you are paying cash, put your name, address, phone number and email address on the front of the envelope.)
PROJECT ADVANCE
Thank you very much to everyone who has already supported Holy Cross with their Project Advance donation. We have reached our Diocesan goal so all further donations go directly to our Parish and help us achieve our three main campaign goals for this year:
– Replacing the furnace in the rectory – $13,000
– Parking Lot Repairs – $22,000
– Seismic upgrade of our elementary school
The deadline for a 2023 tax receipt is December 31, 2023.
You can drop off your pledge form in the collection basket, at the parish office or go online to give at www.projectadvance.ca and make sure you designate our parish as the recipient. You can also make a donation by phoning the Parish Office with your credit card information.
Save the Dates in 2024
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Sunday Feb. 11, 2024 – Super Bowl Party
Friday May 10, 2024 – Annual Golf Tournament
Sunday Sept. 15, 2024 – Annual Salmon Barbecue
MASS INTENTIONS for Monday December 18 to Sunday December 24, 2023 12:00 Noon (requested by):
Spl. Int. Cheryl Dias (Daphne)
Tues. Dec 19 8:15 am
+Flora Calori (Family)
Wed. Dec 20 8:15 am
+++Adriano Van Essen and Anna and Antonio Patano (Family and Maria B.)
Thurs. Dec 21 8:15 am
++John Van Essen and Steven Leong (Families)
Fri. Dec 22 8:15 am
Spl. Int. Octavio Parel (Perla)
Fri. Dec 22 9:15 am
School Mass – Parishioners
Fri. Dec 22 7:30 pm
+John Morris (Lanny and Danny)
+Willy Klippert (Regina)
+Magda Deck (Regina)
+++Vincenzo and Maria Di Campli
+++++Teofilo, Tomasa, Elisa, Carmen and Limwel Alpajora (Teresita)
+++Edwin and Ciya Sapla and Baltazar Parmitan (Teresita)
++++Epifano, Lumen, Jessie and Virgilio Dechavez (Teresita)
++Leo and Lina Agulay (Teresita)
++Ramon and Irena Cruz (Teresita)
+Nicoletta Mene
Spl. Int. Regina (Magda)
Spl. Int. Barbara Van Heiningen (Magda)
Spl. Int. Nenita Marsland (Diva)
Spl. Int. Marcelo San Juan (Grace San Juan)
Spl. Int. Di Campli Family
Sat. Dec 23 9:00 am
+Paolo Catania (Family)
Sat. Dec 23 5:00 pm
+Joseph Chow (Paul C. Pao)
+Arthur Wunderlich (Carmine and Makiko)
Spl. Int. Marcelo San Juan (Grace San Juan)
Sun. Dec 24 8:00 am
++John and Emilia Mauro (Family)
+Raina Atherton (Gerald and Madeline Owen)
+Carla Lionello (Gemma)
Spl. Int. Marcelo San Juan (Grace San Juan)
Sun. Dec 24 10:00 am
++Deceased Members of the Tarcisio Boffo Family (Family)
++Deceased Members of the Meneghetti Family (Family)
+Giuseppe Guttadauro (Giuseppina G.)
+Bernadina Liguori (Family)
Spl. Int. Giuseppina G. (Raju)
Spl. Int. Pope Francis (Maria Hu)
Sun. Dec 24 12:00 Noon
+Bev Chan (Family)
Sunday 5:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 pm Mass Intentions will be included with next week’s Bulletin.