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Dec 24/25, 2022 - Sunday Bulletin

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

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

























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









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