The Holy Family
Important Updates
Online Giving
Make a weekly, or one-time donation to the St. Edmund's Parish collection.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS OVER NEW YEARS:
Closed on Tuesday, December 31st & Wednesday, January 1st
Reopens Thursday, January 2nd
NO ADORATION ON THE UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY. Instead, we will have a special Adoration on December 31st, the last day of the year, at 7:00 PM, followed by Mass. Additionally, our New Year's Day Masses on January 1st will be celebrated at: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM. We look forward to welcoming you as we celebrate the close of the year and welcome the new one in faith!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone for your donations. We are continuing to collect food items & gift cards for needy families. You can drop off your full bags at the back of the church or at the Parish Office.
2025 ENVELOPES ARE READY. Please pick it up from the parish office this coming week. Next weekend they will be in the back of the church. They are in Alphabetical order.
We reduced the amount of envelope boxes we purchased therefore anyone who had a number over 401; has been assigned a new number.
2024-25 SUNDAY MISSALS are available from the Parish Office at $5.00 each. There is a limited supply
THE FILIPINO MASS is on the 1st Sunday of the month at 6 pm.
CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP meets in person on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 pm
Special Notes
MASS ATTENDANCE COUNT 2024 – Our parish count for this year is 612 which is an increase of +1% over last year
CHRISTMAS TREE SPONSORS
We want to thank all our Christmas tree sponsors, your generosity is grateful and appreciated
ARCILLA FAMILY
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS
BEYROUTI FAMILY
VENUE KINGS
REMAX RALPH MAGLIERI
ANONYMOUS – 8 trees
A LONG TIME PARISHIONER – 3 trees
EDGETT FAMILY
VIGNONE FAMILY
BELLA ALMAZON
ROYALE ORCHID TOURS
ATC GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION LTD. – 2 trees
ST. EDMUND’S CWL
ERNEIDA DEGUZMAN
ST. EDMUND’S KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS
OCDS-NORTH VANCOUVER
OCDS-VANCOUVER
FIRST MEMORIAL FUNERAL SERVICES
McKENZIE FUNERAL SERVICES
WALLACE UNDERPINNING -2 trees
HOA TRAN
RUEL BAG-AO, GRACE KOO, JESSIE EGUNA & MARINA DADULA
TYLER & KIM THORPE – 2 trees
LEGIONARIES - JOVITA RAMIREZ, ROSE DUMALIANG, HELEN MERCADO, LAURA LABADAN, CELIE CALIPTO, ANNIE OANDASAN, ANNA PANINTUAN, GRACE KOO, ERNA MILLS, PATTI CALINDAS, GEMMA QUIBUYFEN, CHARMAINE GUINDON & EMMYLOU OCMEJA
EDGAR & ROSEMARY GERMIA, NOEL & MARIA HERRERA
LORENZO’S KITCHEN CATERING
PINAY CAR LOAN-RACHEL NAWALES
EMMANUEL & JANET MAXIMO FAMILY, EDWARD & LENNETTE VILLAGANTE FAMILY, BERNARD & IVY DUCOT FAMILY & ELSA CATALAN
REGIE & NITA DIEGO & NESTOR & MARITESS DIEGO
NOEL & MARIBETH BIHIS, ROMY & IRENE IGNACIO
AGNES & PHILIP JUMILLA
JASMIN’S FOOTCARE SERVICES
CWL BOTTLE, CAN DRIVE FUNDRAISER is ongoing. CWL has an account with Return It Express. You can take your bottles, cans, tetra packs, milk, plant-based beverage containers to any Return-It location. Instructions are as follows:
Place unsorted bottles in a clear plastic bag(s)
Print off sticker @ Kiosk – Use phone # 778-996-3407
Text code RVCA TO 778-400-5253
To open the door, touch the keypad with your finger or the back of your hand to activate it
Enter the one-time pin code you receive by message. The one-time pin will time out in a few minutes. Repeat if it has timed out.
The Keypad light will turn green. Open door and drop off bag(s)
North Vancouver Return It Express Locations:
310 Brooksbank Ave. (Mon-Fri 8-4/Sat 8-5/Sun 9-5/closed holidays)
At Superstore 333 Seymour Blvd. (everyday 8-8)
235 Donaghy Ave. (Mon-Sat 8-5/Sun 10-4/closed holidays)
30 Riverside Dr.-North Shore Recycling Depot (Tues-Fri 8-5/Sat., Sun, Holidays 9-5)
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, PLASTIC BAGS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CHURCH ENTRANCE
Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the renovation of the Kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring in the school gym.
If you are unable to return the bottles yourself, please get in touch with Donna @ 778-996-3407 / dkcolcleugh@gmail.com. Donna will happily pick them up for you and make the deposit.
Please do not drop off bottles at the church or parish office.
Reflections
NEW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast is part of the Christmas season, and we should place today's Gospel in the context of what Luke's Gospel tells us about the birth of Jesus. Luke has been answering the question “Who is Jesus?” through his stories of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Today's Gospel reading continues this theme. It has no parallel in the other Gospels and is the conclusion of Luke's Infancy Narrative.
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are presented in this Gospel as a faithful Jewish family. They are participating in the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, an event shared each year with family and friends. When Jesus is found, Luke describes him as seated in the Temple in the midst of the Jewish teachers. Although he is young, Jesus seems not to need teaching about his Jewish tradition. In his dialogue with these learned teachers, Jesus astounds them with his insight and understanding. Jesus is a child of Israel. His Father is God.
The dialogue between Mary and Jesus contains many references to family relationships. In fact, in this Gospel reading Mary and Joseph are never identified by name. Instead, they are referred to by their relationship to Jesus. Ultimately, this emphasizes Luke's point about the identity of Jesus. When Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple, they question Jesus and express their anxiety. Jesus replies in words that many have thought to be disrespectful. Jesus says that he was never lost; he was at home. Jesus is God's Son, and he is in his Father's house. Luke will continue to suggest that faith in Jesus establishes new family relationships as he describes Jesus' public ministry.
In Luke's Gospel, Mary's importance is even greater than her role as Jesus' mother. Mary is the first disciple and will be present with Jesus' disciples after his Resurrection at Pentecost.
~ Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, December 29
Spec. Intention Yvette Harriott by Barbara Stuart
Repose Marta Brisco by Roger & Pat LaBreche
Repose Antonio Diego by Maribeth Bihis
Monday, December 30
Repose St. Edmund Parishioners
Repose Marta Briscoe by Zofia Bronowska
Tuesday, December 31
Repose Betty Watson by Bev Watson
Wednesday, January 1
Spec. Intention Charlene & Myla Wilson by Hildegard Fercho
Thursday, January 2
Spec. Intention Chantal Pean
Repose Mary D’Souza by Zofia Bronowska
Friday, January 3
Repose Joseph Pham by daughter Rosa
Spec. Intention Chantel Pean
Saturday, January 4
Spec. Intention Imelda Weafer by Lynn McLeod
Spec. Intention Justin Wilson by Hildegard Fercho
Parish Events
CWL 2nd Thursday of each month @ 7 PM
Knights of Columbus
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
SPECIAL OFFER - Knights of Columbus - Free 1 Year On-Line Membership. You can enjoy the benefits of being a Knights of Columbus member including Accidental Death Benefit and the famous Columbia Magazine.
Promo Code: BLESSEDMCGIVNEY
After joining, please check your Inbox for confirmation.
St. Eds Christian Meditation Group
The St Edmund's Parish unit of the 'World Community for Christian Meditation' (WCCM) will resume its in-person meditation meeting, on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7.00 pm in St Edmund's Church.
"No Experience Necessary"- The group leader will give new people the basics of meditation and some resources.
WCCM continues to hold a weekly virtual meeting on Mondays (via ZOOM), also at 7.00 pm. You are sincerely invited to attend the WCCM meeting(s). All are welcome.
To learn more about WCCM, kindly contact: Luis Zunino - email lzunino@gzarchitects.com
School Events
St. Edmunds Elementary School
Religious Education
PREP 2024-2025
Any questions can be sent to prepatsteds@shaw.ca
Children's Choir Training
Practices will be every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month @10am - Masses will be every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month @ 11am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30 am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
The B.C. Catholic CHRISTMAS Edition
The Christmas edition of The B.C. Catholic is now available online. Registered parishioners can receive a free subscription to The B.C. Catholic by calling (604) 683-3208 or registering at bccatholic.ca/subscribe. Due to a mail disruption, our print edition is temporarily paused. We hope to resume printing on January 6.
JUBILEE 2025: SOLEMN OPENING MASS - celebrated by Archbishop Miller
At Holy Rosary Cathedral
December 29th, 2024, 11:00 AM
More information is here: beholdvancouver.org/events/jubilee-year-2025-opening-mass
A website dedicated to the Jubilee will be live on the RCAV site before the New Year.
RELIC TOUR
St. Jean de Brébeuf and St. Kateri Tekakwitha - As part of the Jubilee Year 2025, you are invited to come and pray with the major relics of the Canadian Martyrs, including St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Gabriel Lalement, St. Charles Garnier, as well as North America's first indigenous Saint, Kateri Tekakwitha. These first class relics are visiting from the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario as part of their first tour of Western Canada.
Saturday, Jan. 11 – St. Anthony of Padua, Agassiz
Veneration: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Anticipatory Mass: 5:00 p.m. (celebrated by Fr. John O’Brien)
Sunday, Jan. 12 – Holy Rosary Cathedral
Mass Times:
11:00 a.m. (celebrated by Archbishop Miller)
6:30 p.m. (in Spanish, celebrated by Fr. John O’Brien)
Veneration Times:
12:30–1:00 p.m.
2:00–4:00 p.m.
7:30–8:00 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13 – Holy Rosary Cathedral
Votive Mass of St. Jean de Brebeuf: 12:10 p.m.
Veneration: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm.
PDO INQUIRERS’ SESSION
With strong support from Archbishop Miller, the Permanent Diaconate Program is currently starting a sixth cohort of men who will begin formation for the permanent diaconate in September 2025. The Permanent Diaconate Office is holding two Inquirers’ Sessions for those interested in the permanent diaconate. Men, with their wives, wishing to be considered for this new cohort must attend one of these sessions. They will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre from 9 am to 11 am, and on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at St. Nicholas Parish, Langley, from 10 am to 12 pm.
GOOD NEWS!!!
We have reached our parish goal so now all pledges made will come back to the parish.
You have the option to collect the pledge forms from our parish office or receive a scanned version via email.
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Bread & Wine
Prayer Requests
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Father Steny & Father Cannio
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Father Jeevan Prakash D'Almeda
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 Repose of the Soul of Maria Caridad Campos Mendoza
Our Parish Community is asked to pray for the Special Intention of Erneida & Joel de Guzman
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