The Nativity of the Lord
This week in the Church
2023 COLLECTION ENVELOPES – they are ready to be picked up at the Church entrance and are in alphabetical order. In 2023, it is very important that you use your 2023 envelopes to help ensure that you are credited for any donations. Do not use previous year envelopes, as envelope numbers may change and, again, you may not receive credit for your donations.
Important Updates
FUNERAL MASS FOR CHRISTOPHER McGUINNESS is at 11am on Monday, January 2nd in St. Edmund’s. Our condolences to his family & friends. May he rest in the peace & comfort of the Lord.
OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES to the family and friends of Dominga Sue Santos who went home to God. May she rest in the peace and comfort of the Lord
PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE – The Parish Office will be closed from December 24th to January 3rd.
Twinkling Lights
A HUGE thank you to all the many people who worked so hard to make this Parish Event a great success. It was truly a wonderful occasion of community working together and celebrating together. Well done to all!!!!!!
Reflections
The Feast of Christmas in the Darkness of Winter
The Mass at night proclaims the birth of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke. The Mass at dawn on Christmas morning continues the story of the birth of Jesus as found in Luke’s Gospel, ending with the shepherds’ visit to the infant Jesus. In each of these Gospel readings, we hear portions of the infancy narratives with which we are familiar.
The Gospel for the Christmas Mass during the day is taken from the beginning of John’s Gospel. John’s Gospel starts at the very beginning and presents the Creation story as the framework for announcing the Incarnation. John’s opening words echo the first verse in the Book of Genesis. This framework invites us to view Jesus’ birth from God’s perspective. Each of the Gospels makes clear that Jesus’ birth was the result of God’s initiative. John’s Gospel, however, emphasizes that Jesus’ birth was the divine intention from the moment of Creation.
As we observe in today’s reading, the Gospel of John includes highly philosophical and theological language. One example that particularly stands out in this Gospel is John’s repeated references to “the Word” in the opening verse. This expression (logos in the Greek) borrows from a concept found in both Jewish and Greek thought. Jews used this phrase to describe God’s action in the Creation story, for example, and in the Wisdom literature. In Greek thought, the logos was understood as an intermediary between God and humanity. John and others in the early Church adopted this language to describe God’s incarnation in Jesus. As the term was used to express the Trinitarian faith of Christians, the Word came to be equated with the Second Person of the Trinity.
In this prologue to the Gospel of John, we also hear the main themes that will be developed in his Gospel. These are often presented as dualities: light and dark, truth and falsehood, life and death, and belief and unbelief. We also hear in this prologue a unique aspect of John’s Gospel, the theme of testimony. John the Baptist was sent by God to testify to Jesus, the light. Others in this Gospel will also offer testimony about Jesus. The reader is invited to accept this testimony, which bears witnesses to Jesus, the Son of God. But even more directly, Jesus’ action and words will testify to Jesus’ identity as God’s Incarnate Word.
Thinking about Jesus’ birth in these theological and cosmological terms is particularly appropriate as we celebrate the Feast of Christmas in the darkness of winter. At this time, nature itself seems to remind us of the darkness of sin. Into this darkness, in the midst of our sinfulness, God comes to dwell among us. John’s Gospel reminds us that through the Incarnation, God saves us from the darkness of sin and makes us his children.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, December 25
· Repose Mum & Dad Cusanelli by family
Monday, December 26
· Spec. Intention Kevin Fisher by Bev Watson
Tuesday, December 27
· Spec. Intention St. Edmund Parishioners
· Repose Angelita R. Varias by Bella & Lando Almazan & family
Wednesday, December 28
· Repose Mary Wong by Elizabeth Wong
Thursday, December 29
· Spec. Intention Yvette Harriott by Barbara Stuart
· Spec. Intention Lynn McLeod by Barbara Stuart
Friday, December 30
· Spec. Intention Jane Richmond by Barbara Stuart
Saturday, December 31
· Repose Betty Watson by Bev Watson
· Spec. Intention Imelda Weafer by Charmaine Guindon
If you need a Mass Intention, please contact the Parish Office
Events
Parish
Parish Groups
ST. Edmund's Christian Meditation Group
Date: All Mondays at 7:00 PM
Participation in person:
please contact Luis Zunino - lzunino@gzarchitects.com or at 604-987-8304
Option to participate via ZOOM:
For an introductory conversation, please contact Luis Zunino - lzunino@gzarchitects.com or at 604-987-8304 – Afterwards, A ZOOM link will be provided
CWL
Catholic Women’s League meetings are now in person on the 2nd Thursday of each month @ 7pm
SPECIAL NOTE: monthly CWL meetings will be via Zoom for December/January/February
The Knights of Columbus general meetings are in person on the 1st Tuesday each month @7pm/executive meetings are also in person on the last Tuesday of the month @7pm
School
St. Edmund's Elementary School
KINDERGARTEN APPLICATIONS for the 2023/2024 school year are now being accepted at St. Edmund’s School. Please submit a copy of your child’s birth and baptism certificates with your application form. If you are non-Catholic, please submit a birth certificate. Application forms may be printed from our website www.stedmunds.ca and e-mailed to the school office at office@stedmunds.ca
Kindergarten to Grade 7 Principal: Ms. Diana Silva
Office Telephone: 604.988-7364
Email: office@stedmunds.ca
Website: www.stedmunds.ca
Instagram: @stedselementary
Our school is a vibrant faith and learning community dedicated to developing the full potential of each child using Christ as our centre. We are blessed with caring and dedicated educators committed to inspiring life-long learners in all areas. We welcome the opportunity to share the many enriching learning experiences with you and your family. Please contact the school office for more information.
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
12 Days of Aquinas Giving - Thank you for your incredible generosity in supporting the 12 Days of Aquinas Giving! The items received will benefit many people this Christmas through The Door Is Open, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Good Shepherd Ministry, and more.
Religious Education
PREP
Every Wednesday at 6-7pm
Children's Choir Training
Every Saturday at 10 AM
Altar Servers’ Training
Every Saturday at 11 - 11:30am
Archdiocese Events
Project Advance 2022
The Project Advance Webpage is live, please visit projectadvance.ca
You can donate by scanning ↘
Special Gifts
Remember a loved one with a special gift
Bread & Wine
Financial Updates
Remember St Edmund's in your Will
Prayer Requests and Advertisements
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 |  | Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of St. Edmund Parishioners |
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intentions of All Carmelite Priests |  |  |
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Father Steny & Father Cannio |  | |