Holy Family / Mary, Mother of God

December 30, 2012 / Jan. 1, 2013

BEING REAL: THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

In the Christmas message this year, we reflected on the importance of making room at the inn. When we make room for Christ in our lives, he becomes real for us. For if the wondrous message is true that in Jesus, God has become One with us, has embraced every aspect of what it means to be human our joys and hopes, our sorrows and struggles then Christmas is not just one day, but every day. Jesus is no longer a porcelain figure I take out of the closet once a year, to whom I pay my respects, and then store him safely out of the way until next year. He becomes a part of my life, my family, my world, and my values. He occupies a permanent place in my heart. The more real Jesus becomes for us, the more Jesus reveals to us our full humanity, our true identity. Margery Williams childrens classic, The Velveteen Rabbit, beautifully expresses the discovery of what it means to be real: - "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit of the Skin Horse one day, when they were lying side by side, before Nana came to tidy the room. - "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." - "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. - "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse. "But when you are Real, you don't mind being hurt." - "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" - "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you are always beautiful, except to people who don't understand." Because we have been loved with an everlasting love, we too are real. Christmas reminds us that beyond the glitter and the glitz, the ribbons and the bows, there is a deeper and truer self, loved from all eternity. Through our encounter with Jesus, the Word made Flesh, the Real Presence of God in our midst, we become real. As we become more fully human, sharers in Christs own life, we allow those around us to be real: family, friends, coworkers, neighbours. Our society becomes more real, more loving, and more open to the gift of Gods presence. Let this be our New Years Resolution: to consent to Gods presence within us, and all around us. Happy New Year!

On behalf of Fr. Bertoli, Deacons Richard, Dennis and Bernie, our pastoral associates Anna, Jennie and Odette, the support staff, wardens and pastoral council, and all of us here at St. Monicas, I would like to extend a special thanks to all those who worked so hard to make our Advent and Christmas celebrations so beautiful and meaningful. We thank those who planned, prepared and decorated; those who shared their gifts of song, service, prayer and proclamation; those who offered gifts of money, food, toys and winter clothing; and those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in a hundred other ways. To each and every one of you, we wish a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, joy, and good health. Thank you for the many ways in which you so generously support the mission of our Parish throughout the year. God bless you all! Father Raymond

Mass Intentions December 30, 2012 to January 6, 2013

4:00 December 29, 2012 Amelia Brocca Bernadette Boudreau December 30, 2012 Nazzareno Michetti Mariangelo Battista Libero Fontana Giuseppina Fiori Ramsay Archer December 31, 2012 St. Thomas Becket Her Family Connie McLaughlin The Holy Family Rosa & Luigi Salvati His daughter Jose Battista His daughter-in-law Jose Battista Her children His wife Dolores Monday In the Octave Of Christmas Her Sister Genevive

NEW POLICY FOR MASS INTENTIONS

8:30

11:00

4:00

8:30 11:00

8:00

8:00

8:00 4:00 8:30

11:00

The Healing of Caroline Dufour Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God For Peace & Justice For Peace & Justice January 2, 2013 Wednesday, St. Basil the Great Giuseppina, Flora, Emidio Sorella Maria & Domenica Matalucci January 3, 2013 Thursday, The Holy Name of Jesus The Deceased Members Maria & Raffaele Cinelli of the Cinelli Family January 4, 2013 First Friday, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Leo Lehman Deacon Bernie Glover January 5, 2013 Vigil of Epiphany Alba Paliotti The Paliotti Family January 6, 2013 Epiphany of Our Lord In Loving Memory: Gerald McManus;Mickey Laughlin; Mr. Durcharme; Leona Clarke; Terry & Leonard Winslade; Gerry Maloney; Dorothy Rice Ettore Lanni Virginia Lanni & Family

Christmas Holiday Office hours

The parish office is closed starting at noon on Friday, December 21st until January 3rd 2013 at 9:00 AM In Case of Emergencies please leave a message and someone will call you back shortly.

Every week, many people come to St. Monicas to request that a Mass be celebrated for a relative or friend who has died. In the Eucharist, we pray for the repose of the soul of our loved one, as we ask for the prayerful support of family, friends and parish community. Often such requests are made weeks or even months in advance. It is also common that the birthday of a loved one, or the anniversary of their death, be celebrated by offering a Mass in their memory. This can lead to a large number of requests in any given month. Previously, to accommodate the high volume of requests for Masses, we have allowed the booking of two or even three intentions per Mass. This practice is not consistent with the principle of one Mass, one intention, enshrined in canon law to prevent the abuse of multiplying Mass intentions in order to increase the stipends paid to the priest and/or parish. After much discussion, reflection and prayer, it was decided that we should follow our diocesan norms more closely. Thus, beginning January 1, 2013, we will only be accepting one official intention for each Mass. This may be in the form of an individual name, or a family grouping (e.g. George, Mary & Fred Smith or Deceased members of the Smith Family). These will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The regular offering for these Masses remains $15, as per diocesan norms. We realize that many parishioners have dates of significant importance on (or close to which) they wish to remember a loved one. If a loved one has died recently, it may not be appropriate to have to wait several months until the next available date. Our experience also shows that there is a high demand for Sunday Masses, for this is when family and friends are more likely to be able to attend. To accommodate this, our Loving Memory program will be expanded. Every weekend, one of the three Masses will be designated a Memorial Mass, rotating between the Saturday 4 PM, and the Sunday 8:30 AM and 11 AM Masses. No set fee or amount will be requested, but a free-will offering will be gratefully accepted. For this Mass, the names of the deceased will be listed in the bulletin and announced during the Prayers of the Faithful, but not those of the requesting person or family. For more information, please see Deacon Bernie or call him at the office.