ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PARISH? WELCOME!
Welcome to those who want to make our parish their faith home. You may have come from other places. You may have been “away for a while”. Be assured that we love to have you among us. We would appreciate it very much if you identified yourself at Mass. It would also help if you would take the time to fill out a registration form. The next time you are with us, you may leave it in the collection basket or give it to one of the ushers or to the priest. Thank you and welcome.

THE 49TH INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
– will be held in Quebec City from June 15th to 22nd, 2008. Here is a little background information on it:

With the support of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Quebec’s Archbishop proposed to the Pope that the 49th International Eucharistic Congress be celebrated in Quebec City in 2008.

Pope John Paul II officially announced the holding of the Congress in Quebec during an address on October 17, 2004, inaugurating the Year of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Congress will be the most important religious event of the 2008 celebrations of the founding of Quebec City (400th Anniversary of Québec City).

The theme of the Congress is “The Eucharist, Gift of God for the Life of the World”. As Cardinal Marc Ouellet remarked, “The Eucharist, as we know it from the accounts of its institution, testifies to the gift of love which the Son gives of himself for all humanity, a gift of love for the Father and for us which seals the New Covenant. It can also be seen as the gift which the Father makes to the world of his only Son, incarnate and crucified, who gathers around his table the dispersed children of God…. Finally, it is the gift of Trinitarian communion for the life of the world, through the action of the Holy Spirit who assures the intimate participation of the faithful in this Covenant mystery.”

The first International Eucharistic Congress, held in France in 1881, gathered some 300 persons at the head of Eucharistic movements in European countries. During the following 125 years, the format of Congresses strongly evolved and they now attract some 12,000 to 15,000 participants for a full week of celebrations, adoration, catecheses, cultural events, fraternal gatherings, and commitments to aid the poor.

Public events, especially the Closing Eucharist, draw considerable crowds. Moreover, every Congress is preceded by a Theological and Pastoral Symposium to deepen understanding of an aspect of the Eucharistic Mystery.

Article 20 of the Statutes of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses (1986) stipulates that:

“In preparing a Congress, emphasis is laid mainly on an intense catechesis on the Eucharist as the Paschal Mystery of Christ…, on active and conscious participation in the Liturgy…, and on a careful choice of initiatives and the diligent implementation of social ministries, in such a way that the Eucharistic table may be a sign of solidarity and sharing with the poor.”

Click here for more details on the Logo and the Theme song of this upcoming Congress.

And to all of you who are asking the question: “So why are we looking at details about this Congress a full six months before it is to occur?” Good question! Tune in next week for the answer!

COMMUNITY PRAYER GROUP TO START UP JANUARY 31st
“Praying the rosary” is a popular devotion worthy of much consideration, especially as we reflect on the needs of our community as well as our world; and we have a great resource within our midst that is so seldom taken advantage of. We speak of our senior membership who have a lot of love and care to give. And we speak also of the power of prayer and of faith. All of these valuable resources can be tapped into… and will be, starting in a couple of weeks.

Community members who wish to pray for/on behalf of their community (from the very local to the very international) will have the opportunity to do so. Community members who wish to have a special prayer mentioned on their behalf will be able to leave their petitions with this prayer group.

Our plan is to have a “Prayer Petition Box” at the back of each parish to allow us all to add our personal requests and petitions at any time. We will need someone at both parishes to accept the responsibility to faithfully take these petitions and requests to the prayer group. And, last but not least we have Al Goulet has graciously accepted the responsibility to manage the weekly prayer-hour for all who can come to OLV to pray together on behalf of the rest of our 2-parish community.

We will begin this prayer devotion on Thursday January 31 at OLV, where will try a weekly scheduled prayer hour starting from 1:30 pm. To all who will take on the responsibility of praying on behalf of the rest of the community, and to all who believe in the power of prayer and entrust petitions to them: Thank you!

FLOWER POWER
As the months go by, we continue to find more and more ‘little things’ that need our attention that was previously (and very quietly) taken care of by resident priests and volunteers who did more than most of us knew (i.e. the very thirsty look of our beautiful Christmas flowers this year).

During ‘high seasons’ such as Christmas and Easter, we use festive liturgical décor including flowers to ‘beautify’ the altar. Heartfelt thanks goes out to all who are able to generously donate towards this endeavour season after season to accomplish this.

We also know that these beautiful flowers need a little TLC more than once a week! So our thanks also goes out to the volunteers who have in the past taken this quiet little duty in stride and we thank Ethel Pearson for accepting the responsibility in this new year.

LIONS CLUB ANNUAL TELETHON

A very sincere thank you to parishioners from Our Lady of Victory and St. Malachy parishes who contributed to the Lions Club Telethon held on December 2nd. Your usual generosity will help the Lions Club in their worthwhile endeavors during the coming year, including the distribution of over 200 Christmas baskets to the needy of our community. Because of that first snow storm of the year on the day of the telethon, our contributions did not get to the Lions Club until a few days after the telethon. However, the Lions Club has since mailed out all the tax receipts. If you have not received yours, please contact members of the Transformation Committee, Linda Cameron, Jean Dunnigan, Shirley Plouffe, Diane Cameron or call the rectory at 986-3763. Thank you from the Transformation Committee and the Lions Club.

SUNDAY ENVELOPES
Just a reminder that there are still 2008 envelopes at the back of the church to be picked up. There are also blank boxes of envelopes for any of you who have not used envelopes in the past and may wish to do so. Just write your name and address on the first envelope that you use so that your donation may be credited to you for income tax purposes.

INCOME TAX RECEIPTS
Please drop a self-addressed stamped envelope in the collection basket or in the parish mail-box if you wish to receive a receipt. You may also call the office to pick up your receipt. Would the owners of 2007 envelope numbers 117 and 122 please call the rectory (819) 986-3763 with your name and address, or you may drop a note in the collection basket. We do not have a record for income tax purposes.

CEREAL BARS
Next Sunday will be the collection for the cereal bars for the Buckingham Elementary School. These bars are given to the children who come to school without breakfast. Your generosity is appreciated.