THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT - DEC 13, 2020
Dear Sisters and
Brothers,
During this Advent season
the Lord wishes to draw near to us…to support us in these challenging times
even as all public masses remain cancelled and the parish office is closed.
Please know that our parish staff is always ready to assist you or a family
member via telephone message or email. When working remotely, we monitor our
messages daily.
We are still not sure
whether we will be able to offer public masses for Christmas, Feast of the Holy
Family (December 26/27) and New Years this year…but we should know this
information by Friday December 18…so please keep an eye on this space if an
announcement about re-opening of churches in Peel Region for Christmas is made
by the government.
If we are able to
open for Christmas we are planning 5 Christmas Eve
masses and 3 Christmas Day masses, and will be using EVENTBRITE to book spaces
for these masses. We will let you know when you can begin to reserve spaces via
the parish website. Please note that some spaces at each mass will be reserved
for those who do not have computer access and wish to phone the parish office
to reserve a space for a mass. Please do not phone the parish office this week
until it has been determined that we are in fact re-opening for Christmas.
If we are NOT able to open for Christmas we
will livestream Christmas Eve Mass at 5 pm and 12.00 Mid Night and Christmas
Day Mass at 10.00 am and 12.00 Noon.
CHURCH AND OFFICE HOURS
Our church
and parish office will be opened from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon throughout the week.
LIVE STREAM OF HOLY MASS ( www.stmartinoftourschurch.ca )
Monday – Friday
8:30 am
Saturday
9.00 am
Sunday
8.00
am & 10.00 am
SUNDAY
MISSALS
Sunday
Missals for this liturgical year is available from our parish office for a
donation of 5 dollars.
OFFERTORY
ENVELOPES
2021 offertory envelopes are ready to be
picked up any time during the office hours.
CONFESSION (Advent)
Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 12.00 Noon. Wednesday 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm and Saturday 4 pm and 6 pm, or anytime by appointment by leaving a telephone message with the parish office.
While I recognize it is
not a substitute for attending Mass in person, I encourage you to view our
livestream mass each Sunday morning at 8 am and 10.00 am via our parish website
www.stmartinoftourschurch.ca
PREPARATION DURING ADVENT 2020
I offer the following suggestions for
celebrating Advent:
WATCH
THE ADVENT VIDEO prepared for each week of Advent by the
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (less than 10 minutes long). They can
be accessed at the following link: www.cccb.ca/liturgy-sacraments/resources-in-english/liturgical-calendar/video-reflections/
PRAY daily using the Sunday or Weekday Advent Mass
Readings
VIRTUAL
ATTENDING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES during this season - the
powerful symbolism of the readings and prayers will be a peaceful reprieve from
this stressful time
SUPPORT
THOSE IN NEED through this weekend’s St. Vincent de
Paul Society (your donation is used to fund outreach throughout 2021. Special
St. Vincent de Paul envelopes for both the annual collection and Christmas
outreach are in the foyer of the church, and donations may be mailed into the
church or dropped off when the church is open for private prayer.
VISIT
the lonely, the sick, those who mourn – either virtually or by taking time to
talk to them on the telephone during this challenging time
BE
RECONCILED to God and one another through the healing Sacrament
of Reconciliation (Confession) before Christmas. Advent has been called a
“smaller Lent,” and is as important a season as the one leading up to the
Resurrection. We don’t often associate penance with Advent, and yet there’s a
strong current of thought that says it should be part of our preparation for
whatever lies ahead. This Sacrament is available during Advent as follows:
Monday to Friday 9.00 am
to 12.00 Noon. Wednesday 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm and Saturday 4 pm and 6 pm, or
anytime by appointment by leaving a telephone message with the parish office.
2021 OFFERTORY ENVELOPES AND
PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING
Thank you for your continued
support of our parish during these challenging times, especially through your
use of offertory envelopes, online and PAG donations. Offertory envelopes for
2021 will be available through the parish office (Monday to Sunday
9.00 am to 12.00 Noon).
Please drop your donation
in the designated donation box located at the entrance inside the church/
parish office or the outside drop box over the wall at the right side of the
main entrance door.
I thank those who are
currently using the option of Online/Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) here at the
parish. To contribute through
pre-authorized giving, please find
information along with an enrollment form St. Martin of Tours PAG form
>>click here which
can then be printed and completed. I am happy to note an
increase in those who have enrolled for PAG!
You can contribute to
the offertory via online banking. To do this, the archdiocese will need to send
you a unique account number. Please send an e-mail to campaign@archtoronto.org In the body of the email please provide:
§ Your
name
§ Address
§ Parish
name
§ Municipality
You will be emailed
account information which you can use to set up the Archdiocese of Toronto as a
payee in your on-line banking. Your gift will be forwarded to your parish. You
can make a one time or recurring gift to our offertory.
If you have any questions please contact the Development Office at the Archdiocese of Toronto, 416-934-3400, ext. 540 or development@archtoronto.org
Priests will continue to celebrate private Mass daily for the intentions of parishioners and for those suffering from Covid-19. Our church will remain open for private prayer and for the faithful to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Weddings, funerals and baptisms will now be restricted to 10 persons, including those who are involved in ministry (priest, cantor, etc.).
We will continue to
update you as the situation evolves through our parish website. We pray that
you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy. Once again, I would like to
thank each of you for your extraordinary support during these challenging
times. Fr Jose, Deacon Miguel and I wish you and your family a Blessed
Christmas and a Joyous New Year! Remember that whether the church itself
remains open or closed, we are always ready to assist you or a family member.
Should you have questions, please be in touch with us.
Yours in Christ,
Fr
Gijo, Fr Jose and Deacon Miguel
