St. Clare Updates for
December 24, 2020 to January 8, 2021
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Each year we celebrate Christmas – the Day of the Birth of our Divine Saviour. This year we are unable to celebrate this great Feast with our extended family members or friends seated together at a Christmas table or in church. Yet we are reassured by Scripture that Our Lord is with us in our present situation, that He loves us dearly and will never abandon us in our struggle.
I pray and wish you joy, peace, and happiness. Jesus was not only born in a crib two thousand years ago, but today, by our expectant faith and ardent love, He is born in our hearts.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021!
Fr. Maciej, Fr. Yarek
and the St. Clare Team
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On December 7th Bonnie Henry announced that all church services are suspended until at least January 8th with the exception of weddings, funerals and baptisms which are now limited to 10 persons in attendance.
That means that for now all of our masses are closed to the public. However, we have made arrangements to live stream our masses as follows:
Daily Masses Monday through Friday at 9:00am
(these are posted on Youtube and can be watched
throughout that day)
Weekend Mass at 5:00pm on Saturday
(this is posted to Youtube and can be watched Saturday evening or Sunday)
Our Christmas Mass will be Live Streamed on Youtube on
Thursday, December 24th at 5:00pm
Our New Year's Day mass for the Solemnity of Mary will be live streamed on
Thursday, December 31 at 5pm
Both will be available anytime for viewing after the life stream ends.
You can participate in all of our online masses by clicking on the link on our website, www.stclare.ca
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HOLY COMMUNION OUTSIDE OF MASS
We are giving Holy Communion on Sundays from 11am-12noon until the churches are reopened.
In addition, we will do special Communion Services on:
Christmas Eve (Dec.24th) from 6:15 pm-7:15 pm
Christmas Day (Dec.25th) from 11am -12noon and
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan 1st) from 11am -12noon
You must register for each day on our website. You need to register only one person from your family (from your “bubble”). For example, if there is a family of four coming to receive Communion please register online only one person (NOT four). Registration opens 7 days before the event.
This is not a regular service so we do not need to get the names of all attending. This way more people can receive the Bread of Life.
Upon receiving Communion please leave the parking lot immediately. As per the BC ORDER, we cannot have more than 50 cars for a so called “drive through”).
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Our Confession Schedule is as follows:
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By appointment by emailing our Pastor Fr. Maciej at mwos@rcav.org
Confessions are now heard in the Crying Room (by the washrooms on the east side of the church) NOT in the confessional.
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In order to help you facilitate the offertory for St Clare parish, The Archdiocese has created an Online Offertory page to facilitate one time or pre-authorized monthly or weekly giving through direct debit or credit card donations. |
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PROJECT ADVANCE
Our thanks to all those who have already donated to this year's Project Advance appeal. Thanks to your generosity, we have pledges totaling $210,612. Our diocesan goal is $32,500, so that means that $178,112 will be coming back to St. Clare's. Our goal this year is to raise $250,000 for our mortgage. If you wish to donate online you can do so by clicking below. This link is also on our web page (www.stclare.ca) To receive a tax receipt for 2020 your donation must be received by December 31st.
If you have any questions, please call Janet at 604-475-7195 or Lynda at 778-788-5045.
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2021 ENVELOPES
ARE IN THE LOBBY OF THE PARISH CENTRE
which will be open on Christmas Eve until 5pm and then closed until January 4th.
The Parish Centre is normally open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm to allow access for the Daycare.
If you wish to pick up your envelopes between Christmas and New Years, or
if you cannot find your envelopes please call the office at 604-941-4800 or email
PLEASE ONLY USE ENVELOPES which have YOUR NAME and are for the CURRENT YEAR. EACH YEAR your envelope number changes so please use your new envelopes ONLY in 2021. Thank you. If you donate online or with Pre-Authorized payments, we will correct the envelope number on your donation, but we would still like you to pick up your box of envelopes.
OTHER ITEMS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
You can still get a missal at the office for $5 each.
Free calendars are in the in the Adoration Chapel, the Parish Centre and the office as long as supplies last.
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OFFICE HOURS DURING THE HOLIDAYS
December 24 and 25 Closed
December 28, 29, 30 and 31 Open from 10am to 4pm
January 1st Closed
January 4th and onwards Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm
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To the Advent Tree committee, our knitters, and to the hundreds of parishioners who donated gifts to make someone else’s Christmas special.
To Maria Magnusson, her daughter Anna and the CWL for collecting money to send to the orphans in El Salvador so that they too may have a brighter Christmas.
To Oliveira Funeral Home who generously donated the beautiful poinsettias in the Sanctuary.
To Wim at Art Knapps who generously discounted the beautiful large trees beside the Tabernacle and to Renan who donated two live trees for the Nativity Scene.
To the talented skills of our decorating team of Rey Granados, Michelle Hemphill, Marna Omichinski, Renan Azurin, Willy and Teresa Evangelista, Chandra Collett and Bruce Dureau who transformed our church and grounds and built our Nativity Scene with their beautiful decorations and lights.
To all our choirs for managing to provide such beautiful music despite the pandemic and lack of practice time. A special thank you to the Elijah Choir who have posted a number of seasonal hymns on Youtube to help us connect the past, the present and the future and to feel the spirit of Christmas.
To all the volunteers who disinfected the church after every mass and to those who managed registration desks and lines for confessions and communion. Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you also to Louanne Richards who selflessly helped anyone without a computer to register for mass.
To Lynn and Rod and especially to Roy Evangelista who record our masses and puts them on Youtube so that we can all be fed spiritually and stay connected.
And a special thank you to Rey Granados for the outstanding job of pulling it all together and for seeming to always be there to get the job done!!!
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Zoom Fellowship
Please join us on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. beginning January 12th, 2021 as we gather on Zoom to discuss a book called “Into His Likeness” by Edward Sri. This book explores how we should live as a disciple and experience the transformation Jesus wants to work in our lives. For further information please contact Roxanne at roxannecwl@gmail.com or Gillian at queenans@gmail.com
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ADVENT TREE RECAP
A BIG BIG thank you goes out to our parishioners and friends for your very generous contributions to our Covid Year Advent Tree.
We put the call out and you responded, with your donations which made it possible to purchase enough gift cards to cover all of our recipients.
Also, an abundance of beautiful knitting and crocheting from our prayer shawl ladies were distributed to all of our groups. This included toques, scarves, finger-less gloves, dish cloths, wraps, baby items and little dolls and teddies.
Last year we sorted and distributed approximately 1300 gift items along with 40 boxes of food. This year we purchased several hundred dollars worth of gift cards to distribute along with 1100 items of knit goods.
Thank you again, and God bless you all
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
THE ADVENT TREE COMMITTEE.
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ORPHANAGE FUNDRAISING UPDATE
The Children of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphanage
in El Salvador.
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Anna Magnusson would like to thank everyone who has participated in the Orphanage Fundraising.
With your generous donations, we have raised just over $1,500.
Anyone who would still like to
participate, can make your donation by December 31st. You can donate by
or Drop your donation at the office:
-Cash in an envelope addressed “ORPHANAGE DONATION”
-Cheque payable to CWL St Clare of Assisi
For any questions please contact Maria at 604-671-6213
Click on this Link to Watch the Message from Anna Magnusson
(Please note- as this money is given to a charily outside of Canada, no tax receipt will be issued)
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Everyone is invited to join us daily
7:30 pm, Online
Contact
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Join the Knights of Columbus for Free
Have you been wondering about the Knights of Columbus? Put your faith into action by joining the Knights. Go to kofc.org/join and fill out the online application, enter MCGIVNEY2020 in the Promo Code to receive free membership for the first year.
Knights General Meetings are online. Join our Zoom meetings to catch up on all our activities.
Join our monthly Zoom Rosary prayers, everyone is welcome. Email gk@stclare.ca to get on the invitation list.
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For more information on the Knights of Columbus please visit our websites at kofc.org and kofcbc.org. If you are interested in becoming a Knight please email
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MOTHERS' PRAYER GROUP
We are having virtual meetings every week. If you are interested in joining us or would like to know more about Mothers Prayers, please contact Thelma Rose at (604) 464-3383 or email Thelma at glenthel@shaw.ca
Mothers Prayers which was started by two grandmothers in England is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this month. For more information, please visit:
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Food for Thought . . . and for the Soul
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A Priestly Recommendation |
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I was reminded of the significance of this prayer by Fr Yarek recently. For me I am taken back to the beginning of the papacy of Pope Francis (download 3rd attached article).
"When Pope Francis was still Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, studying in Germany in the mid-1980s, he became very fond of a Baroque icon of Maria Knotenlöserin (Mary, Undoer of Knots) in the Church of St. Peter am Perlach in Augsburg, Bavaria."
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Pope Francis Proclaims 2021 as "Year of St Joseph" |
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With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021.
In the Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.
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From Archbishop J Michael Miller |
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Looking Ahead to Christmas |
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An early homily from Bishop Crosby of Hamilton ON followed by a concert of contemporary sacred music for your enjoyment!
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We’ve decorated our Church with blue lights as part of the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Blue Light campaign. It’s a sign of hope and solidarity with families who have lost loved ones and are experiencing a “blue Christmas” this year. Blue is also the colour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and so signifies trust and confidence in God, purity, virginity, innocence, and birth.
You can enter the Archdiocese Blue Light Photo Contest to win one of three gift baskets
How to Enter
- Take a photo of your home, living space, church or office decorated with blue lights.
- Post your photo to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtags #bluelightchristmas #catholicvanchristmas @archvancouver before December 28.
- Make sure your post is public so we can see it and enter you
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Please pray for the sick of our Parish
Noah Zanatta, Bob Roy, Loni Cain, Brendan Pace, Gracienda Ramos, Brian Stewart, Catherine Dunne, Lucy Chase, Doreen Allyen, Tyson Ward, Nora Arroyal, Christopher Brown, Joan McDonald, Annabella Cirko, Frank Matchett, Kelly Durkin, Jason Kendall, Bill Clendinning, Chris Mah, Lydia Guzman, Angelo Visentin, June Cross, Katelyn Boudewyn, Karen Morris, Ramon Montecillo, Janice Caine, Nadine Classen, Leanne Theiss, Sierra Osborne, Sebastien Robillard, Carol Clifford, Sandra Diersch, Lori Dennis, Marcel Quaghebeur, Mazoe Kaufman, Cindy Mazerolle-Kass, Anna Figura, Ed Garcia, Viray Family, Walter Banke, Nettie Helgason, Etheen Lowry, Elizabeth Teixeira, Reema Ferreira, Terry McDonald, Andrew De Boda, Maurice Quaghebeur, Henry Sicking, Hari Vijay, Peggy Maas, Chad Galitzky, Al Trotter, Pat Dizy, Margaret Smith and all recipients of St. Clare’s Prayer Shawls.
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The Poor Clare Sisters are praying for our parish and would be happy to take your personal prayer requests by mail or telephone 1-604-826-2818. St. Clare's Monastery, Box 3370, Mission, B.C. V2V 4J5 |
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Shalom World TV Network is a 24/7, family-friendly Catholic TV channel and is the recipient of the Gabriel Award for "Best TV Station of the Year 2020", instituted by the Catholic Press Association of North America. It is a commercial-free, high-definition network appealing to young, as well as young-at-heart viewers. Shalom World is an official partner with the Vatican and is authorized to telecast papal liturgies live.
The newly launched channel, ‘SW Prayer,’ is also available 24/7 as a separate stream. This channel is designed exclusively for live Holy Mass, prayer, devotions, and Catholic teachings. Viewers become spiritually enriched and engaged, as they unite their prayers with others joining from across the globe. This prayerful momentum invites God's blessings into our world in these times.
We are pleased to let you know that you can watch Shalom Word TV and SW Prayer from within our parish website absolutely for free. Please go to our parish website https://stclare.ca and click on the image under Shalom World TV on the bottom right of our home page and you can watch the programs live as well as on demand.
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Of Interest from the Diocese |
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Making Sense of Anxiety in Children and Youth
The escalating level of anxiety in our children begs for an explanation as well as a solution. Dr. Neufeld sheds light on this age-old problem, paving the way for natural interventions that can actually get to the root causes as opposed to just managing symptoms. Although the focus is on children, this enlightening material will benefit anyone suffering from anxiety.
Dr. Gordon Neufeld's revolutionary yet science-specific approach turns parenting right-side-up, restoring natural intuition to parenting, and putting parents back in the driver's seat. This video-course takes the best that science has to offer and renders it readily accessible to parents of children of all ages. Join us on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm on Jan. 6 to Jan. 27. Register online at beholdvancouver.org/events
The Gospel of Matthew: A New Exodus
In this webinar, we will investigate the brilliant way in which the Gospel of Matthew describes the person and mission of Jesus. In particular, we will see how Matthew portrays Jesus as a new Moses working a new Exodus of liberation. In this way, Matthew’s Gospel continues to provide hope to all, especially the oppressed. Join us online on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Register for free at beholdvancouver.org/events
Our Lady of Fatima Preschool
Sep. 2021 - Jun. 2022 - Registration for new families
Registration Date : 25 January, 2021
Book an appointment by email:
Wearing a mask is mandatory and only one parent at a time will be allowed in the preschool to view and register.
Forms can be dropped off at the preschool door
between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
Our play-based, enriched 3 and 4-year-old programs offer an introduction to French, early literacy, math, arts & science programs. A Christ Our Life Religion program is also introduced in the 4-year-old-program. It is a fun, educational experience that helps children grow & prepares them for an all day kindergarten in English or French.
If you are unable to come to registration night, feel free to download the forms, as we have ongoing registration. Our classes remain small and we follow all Covid safety guidelines.
If you have questions, call us at (604) 936-4250
Email Fraud Warning
The Archdiocese has received multiple reports from parishioners and priests who have fallen victim to a recent Internet email phishing scam. Imposters, posing as priests and using email addresses that are similar to those of our priests, have been emailing people asking for personal donations, gift cards, and other forms of financial assistance.
Never respond to emails requesting Google Play cards, iTunes cards, or any other form of personal financial assistance, even if it appears to be from a priest, deacon, religious, parish staff or bishop. If you have any doubt, please contact the sender by other means to verify any requests.
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