Third Sunday of Advent
Gaudete Sunday
This Week in the Church
Our heartfelt thanks to Erneida & her friends who cleaned the Church to help make the Church ready for Christmas.
SIMBANG GABI NOVENA MASSES continue – please see the schedule on the next page.
ADVENT CONFESSIONS
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE CHANGES – please note changes to the schedule: December 23rd – Confession at 3:30pm & December 24th – Christmas Evening Mass at 6pm (not 7pm)
Important Updates
PLEASE PICK UP YOUR 2024 ENVELOPES FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH (they are in numerical order after this weekend please)
CHRISTMAS FLOWER DONATIONS – envelopes are available at the Church entrance. Thank you so much for your generosity.
TESSIE HANLON-MCMILLAN - Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Tessie Hanlon-McMillan who went home to God. May she rest in peace in the comfort of the Lord. Funeral services are Thursday, Dec. 21st at Holy Trinity Parish. Prayer service & eulogy @ 10am & Funeral Mass @ 11am
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 – there will be 8 & 9:30am Masses but no 11am Mass on that day. Please check the Mass schedule included in this bulletin for more information & for Christmas schedule.
PARISH OFFICE CLOSED 24TH DEC 2023 TO 2ND JAN. 2024 - REOPENS – WED., JAN. 3RD
Project Advance : Every gift, regardless of its size, makes a difference. Every gift, regardless of its size, makes a difference. All pledge forms were mailed out; if you receive it and already have given; please disregard and we thank you for your donation.
Please look over information on your pledge form before sending in and make sure it is up to date, make any corrections as needed.
You may also make a donation online here: https://support.rcav.org/project-advance-2023/ Be sure to select St. Edmund's in the parish drop down menu to ensure the excess funds come back to our community.
THE MONTHLY FILIPINO MASS – is on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6pm
SPECIAL OFFER – go to the Knights of Columbus notices for important information
Reflections
ADVENT IS A SEASON OF JOY
This Sunday’s Gospel invites us to continue our reflection on the person and mission of John the Baptist. Today we depart from the Gospel of Mark and read a selection from the Gospel of John.
The Gospel for today combines a brief passage from the prologue to John’s Gospel with a report about John the Baptist. As in Mark’s Gospel, the Gospel of John contains no birth narrative. Instead, John’s Gospel begins with a theological reflection that has come to be called the “prologue.” This prologue places the story of Jesus in its cosmological framework. It speaks of Jesus’ existence with God since the beginning of time. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the culmination of the Word, the light that is coming into the world’s darkness.
Following this prologue, John reports on the ministry of John the Baptist. We learn about the attention that John the Baptist received from the Jewish authorities. Messengers from the Jewish priests, the Levites and the Pharisees question John about his identity and the meaning of the baptisms that he is performing. John’s Gospel uses these questions to establish the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. John the Baptist is not the Messiah, nor is he Elijah or the Prophet. In John’s denials, we hear echoes of the kind of messianic expectations that were common in first-century Palestine.
The only affirmative response that John the Baptist gives is when he quotes the prophet Isaiah. Upon answering the next question, John announces that the savior they seek is already among them, but as yet unrecognized. John’s response highlights for us an important Advent theme: Jesus has already come into the world as our savior. During Advent, we pray that we will be able to recognize Jesus’ presence in our midst. Advent also reminds us that Jesus will come again to fulfill the promise of salvation. We pray that we will continue to be watchful as we anticipate that great day.
The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, a Latin word which means “rejoice,” is taken from the entrance antiphon for Sunday’s Mass. This theme is echoed in today’s second reading from the first Letter to the Thessalonians. It is a reminder that Advent is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand.
- Loyola Press
Mass Intentions
Sunday, December 17
• Healing Mass for Yanic Pean by Chantel Pean
• Repose all deceased members of Cusano & Maglieri families by Pasqualina Cusano
• Repose Curtis Dayton by Aime & Terry Lehouillier
• Repose Benjamin Aguillardo by daughter
Monday, December 18
• Spec. Intention St. Edmund’s Parishioners
• Repose Fred Ryman by Helene & Lorne Brooks
Tuesday, December 19
• Spec. Intention Imelda Weafer by Zofia Bronowska
• Repose Jean Winstanley by Sue Farrell
• Repose Grandmother Calandra’s
• Repose Antera Dumaliang by Jasmin Pinto
Wednesday, December 20
• Repose Curtis Dayton by Barbara Stuart
• Repose Kay Donnelly by Elisa & John Bueno
• Repose Francisca Climacosa by Sonny & Violeta Tibayan
Thursday, December 21
• Spec. Intention Imelda Weafer by Lynn
Friday, December 22
• Repose Suzanne Lambert by Helene & Lorne Brooks
Saturday, December 23
• Repose Curtis Dayton by Charmaine Guindon
• Repose John Cusanelli by Giovanna Cusanelli
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
Mondays @ 7 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
School Events
St. Edmund's Elementary School
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Pilgrimage to the Medjugorje Youth Festival & Italy - The STA Alumni Association, in conjunction with STA Campus Ministry, is hosting a Pilgrimage to the Medjugorje Youth Festival and Italy from July 22nd - August 8th, 2024. All STA alumni & their families (18+) are invited to join.
Find more information at: https://www.aquinas.org/alumni
Religious Education
PREP
PREP classes will be held every Wednesday 6:00 - 7:00 pm at St Edmund’s School
Children's Choir Training
Every Saturday at 10am
Altar Server Training
Every Saturday 11-11:30am
Archdiocese Notices & Events
PROJECT ADVANCE 2023
Make a donation online here: https://support.rcav.org/project-advance-2023/
Be sure to select St. Edmund's in the parish drop down menu to ensure the excess funds come back to our community.
Thank you for your generosity!
WORLD YOUTH DAY - LISBON 2023
Discover the essence of WYD Lisbon 2023 in the video created by WYD Canada.
Please click the link below:
🎄Dundarave Festival of Lights 2023
Everyone welcome - Free, Festive, Fabulous.
The Forest of Miracles: Located at DUNDARAVE BEACH open 24/7 to January 7th
Wheelchair Accessible
WV Blue Bus 255 will take you to 25th and Marine Drive (one block from bus stop)
** we have a few trees left for anyone to sponsor - reserve now.
Please contact mary@dundaravefestival.com 778-847-1426 for any questions.
Performance Programme:
Saturday Dec 23rd 4-8pm
Christmas Wassail and Bonfire Night
Los Duendes - Psych Latin Funk Fusion
Square Dancing
Carolling
Santa arrives by Search and Rescue Boat, Music Dancing etc.
CATHOLIC INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS VANCOUVER ARCHDIOCESE
Invite you to be a part of their upcoming Catholic Educators Conference that will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, BC. The event promises to be a fantastic platform for showcasing and promoting your products and services to a diverse and engaged audience.
Here’s why you won’t want to miss this opportunity:
• Exposure: With the Catholic Educators Conference set to attract a large crowd of over 1500 attendees, your brand will gain maximum exposure
• Networking: Connect with our 46 schools, potential clients, and fellow vendors to establish valuable business connections
• Promotion: Benefit from our extensive marketing efforts that will promote your presence before, during and after the event
• Innovation: Showcase your latest products and innovations to a captivated audience
For more information on how to become a vendor and sponsor of the event, please visit the following link: https://cisva.regfox.com/cec2024
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of something truly special and grand. Your presence at the 2024 Catholic Educators Conference will be a highlight, and we can’t wait to have you on board!
Special Gifts
Remember a loved one with a special gift
Financial Updates
Remember St. Edmund's in your Will
Prayer Requests and Advertisements
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