THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST
Our Lady of Victory		St. Malachy
Sunday - 9:00 A.M.		Saturday - 7:00 P.M.

F O O D   F O R   T H O U G H T

Reading I Zephaniah 3. 14-18a Responsorial Psalm Cry out with Joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Reading II Philippians 4. 4 - 7 Gospel Luke 3.10 - 18 Food for Thought Again, we see two women, chosen and set apart to cooperate in God’s plan of salvation. Just like any pregnant woman they don’t know how it will all work out. Yet, there is great joy and confidence in this scene. Where does that joy come from?

December 17th, 2006

Pastor	William Marrevee s.c.j.
Email	w.marrevee@sympatico.ca
Rectory	490 Charles Street Gatineau, Québec J8L 2K5
Secretary	Monday and Thursday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone	(819) 986-3763
Fax	(819) 986-9889

A sincere welcome to those who are new among us. We hope you find a warm and welcoming faith-home with us. Please introduce yourself after Mass and call the Rectory to register.

M A S S       S C H E D U L E WED. Dec. 20th - 9:00 a.m. OLV All Parishioners by the pastor SAT. Dec. 23rd - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy James Miller (2nd anniversary) by the family SUN. Dec. 24th - 6:30 p.m. OLV All Parishioners SUN. Dec. 24th - 9:00 p.m. St. Malachy All Parishioners MON. Dec. 25th - 9:00 a.m. OLV All Parishioners SAT. Dec. 30th - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy Paul Aube by Doris & Andre Prevost SUN. Dec. 31st - 9:00 a.m. OLV James Austin & Julia Martin, Marion Hewson & Bill Weir by the family MON. Jan. 01st - 9:00 a.m. OLV All Parishioners WED. Jan. 03rd - 9:00 a.m. OLV Larry Miller by the OLV Society SAT. Jan. 06th - 7:00 p.m. St. Malachy Mary Elizabeth Byrne by her Estate SUN. Jan. 07th - 9:00 a.m. OLV Deceased members of the Wallingford Family by Lynn and Gail Helen Ladue by Val & Lewis Rowe Emily Burke by Iris Butler

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE PURPOSE OF ADVENT:
Advent is a difficult season. AS Christians we are encouraged not to jump the gun on Christmas. And yet, all around us we hear Christmas carols, Christmas decorations are up, we can have the nativity scene out already.

The Church is not in such a hurry. With the help of Scripture readings, especially from the Old Testament prophets, we are encouraged to reflect on the purpose for which Christ has come and in many ways still needs to come. The realization of God’s dream with our world.

The Advent season invites to re-visit our dependence on God, to re-visit our desire for God and to discover through the night of waiting for that God does indeed come. And what a way for God to come: as one of our own!

It is hoped that what we have done in “these weeks of Advent” makes us ready to touch base again with the awesome mystery from which we are privileged to live.

ADVENT PENETENTIAL/RECONCILLIATION SERVICE - SUNDAY DECEMBER 17th, 7:00P.M.:
It is entirely in line with Advent to come together as a parish community, stand in need of what God offers us in Jesus Christ: forgiveness of our sins.

Yes, we are sinful people. That is not a put-down. It is an acknowledgement that there are dark corners of various kinds in our selves and in our community where the true God and his Reign are not altogether welcome, where w do not live the holy and godly lives that God summons us to. And only a gracious and forgiving God can handle these dark corners of ours, this “being out of joint”, this missing the mark”. God does so by extending his mercy, his forgiveness to us. Surely, we want to yield to and give ourselves over to such a God; we do so with a contrite heart.

That is what this Sunday’s service is all about. It is a good way of preparing for Christmas. It is one of the best ways in which we can grow in holiness. That is what God wants for us. Deep down, we also want that for ourselves.

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS:
What we celebrate in the communal service mentioned above can also be celebrated in a more personal way in “individual confession”. One form does not cancel out the other. Having God’s forgiveness spoken over us in a more personal way can complement significantly the more general communal way of celebrating that same forgiveness. In fact, in some instances it may even be of a greater benefit.

A few specific time slots are set aside for that in the hope that everyone can be accommodated who wants to celebrate God’s forgiveness in the individual confession.

Sunday, December 17th after Penitential Service
Friday, December 22nd, 7:00 — 8:00 p.m.

4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT MASS - SATURDAY 7:00 P.M. AT ST. MALACHY:
With Christmas on Monday this year and with the tendency to see the greatest number of people go to Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve (that is Sunday evening) we cannot expect that many people will go to Mass on Sunday morning. So the squeeze is on the 4 th Sunday of Advent Mass. In fact, there won’t be a Mass on Sunday morning at O.L.V. The 4 th Sunday of Advent Mass for both our parishes (O.L.V. and St. Malachy) will be observed at St. Malachy at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday evening.

THE CHRISTMAS MASSES:
Most people will go to the Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. at OLV or 9:00 p.m. at St. Malachy.

But we would not want to let Christmas Day itself (Monday) go without Mass altogether. That is why we will have Christmas Day Mass at the regular time 9:00 a.m. at O.L.V.

LIONS CLUB ANNUAL TELETHON:
The Lions Club’s goal of $50,000 was exceeded by $20,000! Over $70,000 was pledged and/or collected during the annual telethon held on December 3rd 2006. The Transformation Committee wishes to thank all parishioners of Our Lady of Victory and St. Malachy who generously contributed to the Lions Club Annual Telethon, either by including envelopes in our weekly collection baskets, or by participating during the telethon and making a pledge. An envelope was presented to the Lions Club during the Telethon with a total of $665.00 – tax receipts are being distributed.

If you take a look at the front of the bulletin, between the pictures of our two churches, you see that Transformation is one of the 4 areas of parish life. To quote from Bishop Ébacher’s Discovering Jesus Christ – the Path to Freedom booklet, transformation is “…a place for changing the world … using our faith to encourage us to make a commitment to help those who are less fortunate that we are…” The Transformation Committee is formed of parishioners who seek to contribute to the transformation of our society in the direction of the Kingdom of God for which Jesus was sent and gave his life. We meet to discuss social issues within the community and find ways to involve other parishioners in social issues, such as the Lions Club Annual Telethon.

Again, thank you for your usual generosity

TIMES FOR MASSES AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S:
With Christmas and New Year’s falling on a Monday this year we have to make some adjustments:

Date Time Place Celebration Dec. 23rd, Saturday 7:00 PM St. Malachy 4th Sunday of Advent Dec. 24th, Sunday** 6:30 PM OLV Christmas Dec. 24th, Sunday 9:00 PM St. Malachy Christmas Dec. 25th, Monday 9:00 AM OLV Christmas Dec. 30th, Saturday 7:00 PM St. Malachy   Dec. 31st, Sunday 9:00 AM OLV   Jan. 01st, Monday 9:00 AM OLV   **The 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at OLV is made necessary because we share the organist with St. Gregoire.

COOKBOOK FUND RAISER - DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31st TO SUBMIT YOUR RECIPES

CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THE CHANTERELLE CHOIR - December 20th, 7:30 p.m. at OLV:
Cost: $10.00. Fundraiser; Chanterelle, St. Malachy and OLV. Tickets available from the wardens, or the Office, at 986-3763 on Mondays or Thursdays from 1:00 to 4; 00 pm.

SUNDAY ENVELOPES:
Sunday Envelopes are available at the entrance of the Church. If you do not presently use envelopes and wish to do so, please take a blank box and write your name on the first envelope that you use, or you may contact the Rectory.

BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
- Rose Weatherdon who will celebrate her birthday on December 25th.

W E E K L Y     R E C E I P T S   Date Collection OLV St. Malachy Dec. 10th Regular $ 507.00    $ 303.00