Pastor's Message for Dec 1st

Advent: Preparing for the Coming of Jesus

The First Sunday of Advent, and the beginning or our new Church year, arrives tomorrow Dec 2nd. Advent, which means “arrival”, is a time when we as Catholics prepare ourselves for something big. The arrival of God among us in the person of Jesus!

The culmination and fulfillment of God’s desire to be with us is fully revealed in Jesus. The Word of God becomes flesh. The Son of God becomes the Son of Man so that the sons and daughters of men and women might become children of God once more. God wanted to be with us to breath the same air, feel the same sense of helplessness, experience the same pleasures and the same suffering. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is God present with His people. “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matt. 1:23)

We were created in love by God, but through sin we had become separated from Him. The birth of Jesus marks a major turning point in the salvation story; the arrival of Emmanuel! It culminates with his passion, death and resurrection. Through his death on the cross our sins are forgiven and we are once again restored to right relationship with God and by his resurrection on Easter Sunday, he defeats death and we are given the promise of eternal life with Him. “It’s by His coming down from heaven to earth that we’re granted forgiveness, and everlasting life in heaven if we chose to believe.” (Rom. 10:9)

Advent is our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community. I strongly encourage all of you to participate in the two programs being offered this month through FORMED. The first is a four-part video series entitled Prepare the Way and the second is a daily Advent Reflection program that will come to your email inbox each day. See the details on these programs below.

Let us make a special effort over the next four weeks to attend Mass, pray regularly, read scripture, teach our children and grandchildren about the true meaning of Christmas and give to charity. Let us make this Christmas a celebration of the birth of Our Saviour and the great gift of faith we have received. By striving to live in the presence of Christ during Advent, we will receive the best present of all — Our Saviour.

My brothers and sisters, true love is a reflection of the Saviour's love. May you feel much love this Christmas and, in turn, may all those you meet, feel loved by you.

Merry Christmas! Father Titus

Worship

Christmas and New Year's Mass Schedule

Monday, Dec 24th:    3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 10:30 pm

Tuesday, Dec 25th:    8:00 am (no music) 10:00 am

All Christmas Masses to be held at the Church this year.

Monday, Dec 31st     7:00 pm New Year's Eve Mass 

Tuesday, Jan 1st      10:00 am New Year's Day Mass

Enrich your Advent preparation with daily videos from Dr. Tim Gray that will ready your heart for the coming of Christ. Add on children's reflections with Brother Francis to get the whole family spiritually prepped for Christmas!

When asked if you have a FORMED account, check, " Yes, through my parish." and submit your name and email to receive for the Advent Reflections

If you would like to have full access to all of the FORMED resources click here to register .

"Years ago my family began using a Jesse Tree during December. It is a family-focused, child appropriate chronological journey through salvation history from the creation story to the birth of Jesus. It takes about 10 minutes each day. Check out this video for an overview.

Click here for the template for the ornaments that need be coloured, cut-out and then hung, one per day. Click here for the associated scripture verse and explanation to be read before hanging the ornament. 

Alas, we use a branch cut from a tree along the ravine placed in a large vase and left in our living room.

I think this has been the single best method we have found to aid our children in learning the stories and characters of the Old Testament."

JESUS IN ACTION!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox campaign at St. Leonards in now over.

Thank you to many of you who prepared these shoeboxes this year. St. Leonard parishioners

brought in 65 shoeboxes for children in poorer countries. These shoeboxes will be added to many

thousands gathered from Churches all over North America.  Samaritans Purse, a Billy Graham 

organization started this initiative 25 years ago and it is now managed by his son Franklin Graham.

You can still donate 'on line' if you didn't get a chance this year.

https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/

Merry Christmas to All of you! From Marc Wood (our Parish Operation Leader and his grandson Theo)

Dec. 1 Victorian Tea and Penny Sale 11:30 am

Dec. 1 K of C Light up for Christmas 9:00 am

Dec. 1 Manotick Christmas Parade

Dec. 5 Pastoral Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 12 Knights of Columbus Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 16 Christmas Pageant 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Dec. 18 Advent Reconciliation Service 7:00 p.m.

Dec. 19 & 20 Amor Dei Packing and Delivering Christmas Hamper

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Masses: 3:00 pm 4:30 pm 

7:00 pm 10:30 pm

Dec. 25 Christmas Day Masses: 8 am (no music) and 10 am

Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Mass: 7 p.m.

Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Mass 10 a.m.

Dear Parishioners we are very interested in your feedback. If have any comments and/or suggestions as it relates to any of our Parish activities, including the E-Newsletter, please  click here. If you would like a direct response to your suggestion, please include your email address.

Don't have a smart phone or tablet? Like us on Facebook. Special events and reminders are posted continually on the St.Leonard Facebook page BUT you have to LIKE the page.  Do it now - go to the St.Leonard Facebook page and LIKE the page. SHARE with your friends!

Mobile App

The mobile app has been discontinued until further notice. Please delete the app from your device as it is no longer supported.