November 29th, 2020
ADVENT – “WATCHING”
Christ “opened for us the way to eternal salvation, that, when he comes again in glory and majesty and all is at last made manifest, we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope.” These words, taken from the first of two Advent Prefaces, set the tone for the coming four weeks. Entering Advent with some eagerness, we search today’s scriptures for the dispositions of heart that are fit for Christian “watching”.
We find in the reading from Isaiah a yearning for renewal. At times we find ourselves weary and longing to be refashioned. With the prophet, we confess that God is the potter, we the clay, “the work of your hand”.
From Saint Paul we learn that our watching is done in the Spirit of Christ, the one who moves us to gratitude and confidence. Gratitude, because God has blesses us with such gifts, so many proofs of his love. Confidence, because God is faithful and will keep us blameless until Christ is revealed.
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus both reassures us and warns us about our watching. He tells us in the parable of the householder that he has left us in charge, each with his or her own task in the world. He warns us, too, of the danger of ‘falling asleep’, or of our growing weary in time of service. Out of this situation, we discover the last characteristic of our watching : that we be people of prayer. With the psalmist, we Advent people cry out, “Lord, come to save us.” It is the Advent petition par excellence!
Advent Activities
Are you looking for activities to do from home this Advent season? Visit our webpage for activities to help you and your family enter into this Advent season and stay connected to the Church of Saint Boniface too!
We will continue updating this page with new activities throughout the season so be sure to check back often.
Share a Photo of Your Nativity Scene With Us
Let us share and spread the festive spirit that comes with the season of Advent!! The Archdiocese of Saint Boniface invites you to share your beautiful nativity scenes and your favourite holiday tradition as a way for us to celebrate as one family. Give inspiration and get inspiration while viewing how families/parishes/homes have prepared for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ with their nativity scenes and traditions! We will be sharing your submissions on our Facebook page, the website, and the Youth Ministry Instagram account!
Click here for more information or send your photo to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your completed submission form.
Development & Peace (D & P)
The storm-struck people of Honduras and the Philippines need our help.
“For you have been… a shelter from the rainstorm….” — Isaiah 25:4
Separated by 15,000 kilometres, Honduras and the Philippines are united by a terrible fate. Over the past month, a series of devastating storms have struck both countries.
Hurricanes Eta and Iota have affected about a third of the Honduran population, leaving a wide trail of death, displacement, disruption and devastation. Development and Peace — Caritas Canada has allocated $20,000 to help its partners coordinate relief efforts; assess damage; distribute rations and hygiene kits; and monitor shelters.
In the Philippines, where five major typhoons have struck in under a month, hundreds of thousands are displaced, and agriculture and infrastructure have sustained over US$400 million worth of damage. Development and Peace’s partners have already identified the most urgent needs and stand ready and able mount an effective response. To bring relief and dignity to affected people in both countries, our partners urgently need your generosity.
News from the CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops) Web site: www.cccb.ca/site/eng
We Can and Must do Much Better – Religious Leaders oppose Bill C-7
More than 50 religious leaders from across Canada released an open letter on October 14, 2020 to all Canadians in opposition to Bill C-7 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying). This ecumenical and interfaith message is a response by religious leaders to the legislation introduced by the federal government on October 5th, 2020, which seeks to expand the eligibility criteria for euthanasia and assisted suicide by removing the “reasonable foreseeability of natural death” criterion currently in the Criminal Code.
The religious leaders’ message reflects a unity of thought. “We are convinced that a robust palliative care system available to all Canadians is a much more effective response to suffering and to protecting the sacred dignity of the human person. Palliative care addresses pain in a loving and caring environment, wherein people go out of their way to offer comfort and solace. It makes everyone into a better person.” To read the letter, click here.
The development of the message was initiated by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, CM, Ph.D., the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI), the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada.
The Good Shepherd Campaign 2020
As the 2020 Good Shepherd Campaign draws to a close, we would like to thank those of you who have already sent your gift to the Archdiocese in support of the formation of seminarians for our archdiocese and of the efforts to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our parishes and their faithful. Donations can be made online at donate.archsaintboniface.ca (or click here) or by mailing your donation card and gift to the Archdiocesan Centre. Your donation is very much needed to reach our campaign goals and we will be happy to accept your gift to the Good Shepherd Campaign today or in the weeks to come.
We invite you to pray for our diocesan and parish leadership as they continue to navigate the challenges and changes imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be informed on BILL C-7 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code.
If passed, Bill C-7 expands the eligibilty critera for physician-assisted dying even when natural death in not reasonably foreseeable or allowing a person to waive their final consent when death is foreseeable, putting them in a vulnerable position. As Catholics we affirm the right to life which cannot be taken away by others, the importance of compassion by relieving pain and suffering of the sick and dying and the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us. We need a public, transparent process taking into account inviolable moral and ethical principles where all voices are heard. Be sure your member of parliament (MP) hears your opinion! Send an e-mail, letter, or use the electronic form here:
https://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/
For more information, visit the Marriage, Family & Life “News and Activities” page on the diocesan website at https://www.archsaintboniface.ca/main.php?p=401 We have also created a one-page information sheet for you. You can download it here.
We must act now to protect all persons, including future generations from Bill C-7
Photos and videos of Christian Mutombo’s, Jean-Baptiste Nguyen’s and Brian Trueman’s ordinations
A moving celebration of faith took place on Saturday, June 13th, when Brian Trueman was ordained to the priesthood at St. Bernadette church in Winnipeg. To view photos of this blessed event, visit the Photo Gallery on the diocesan website’s homepage, or click here. The ordination Mass can be viewed on the Diocesan Facebook page. And don’t forget to click here for Christian Mutombo’s ordination to the transitional diaconate (Friday, June 5th) and to click here for Jean-Baptiste Nguyen's ordination to the priesthood (Saturday, June 6th).
WARNING - BEWARE OF RECENT SCAM
Be advised that fraudulent emails have been going around using the name of our priests (Pastors) as bait.
Recently, some people have received emails claiming to be from their Pastor (or a priest) asking for money. In reality, criminals have collected the names of priests and are using their name/identity to deceive people.
It is up to each person to identify fraudulent emails and eliminate them.
We remind you to always use caution when dealing with email. Hackers use all sorts of tricks including identity theft and current news to try and bait people.
Below is information about identifying questionable emails:
How do you determine if you should open an email or not? Please find below tips to help identify questionable emails. If the authenticity of an email is questioned, it may be wise to simply delete it without opening it.
A few questions to help you identify bad emails:
1) How did they get my email address?
2) Do I know the sender?
3) Does the email really come from the sender and could his email address have been compromised?
4) Do I recognize the sender's email address?
5) Is there a way to verify if the information in the email is legitimate without clicking links from the email and without having to reply to the email?
6) Are they promising money or benefits?
7) Are they making it sound urgent to answer immediately?
8) Would this person/company contact me by email for such a request?
9) Is there errors in the text?
10) Are the links really going to bring me where I should go?
11) Is the attachment safe to open?
These are a few questions that can help reflect before responding to an email.
Scammers and spammers usually want:
1) Your personal information (bank account, PIN, email account and password, credit card number, confirmation of your name or email, etc.)
2) Infect your computer and gain control over it. They can then add it to their arsenal to collect names, accounts, passwords, to make SPAM attacks, to redirect you to Internet Sites, and for other possible reasons.
3) Money – they usually give a sense of urgency, appeal to your good nature to help someone in distress, or even promise a great deal of money if you respond.
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Let us “come together” in praying the Rosary
We know of the power of prayer and that in the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, we have the greatest of intercessors. Like a loving mother, Mary, who cares for us and listens to us, carries our prayers to her beloved Son, Jesus, our risen Lord and Saviour. Our Lord hears every sincere prayer! In these trying times let us place our hope and trust in Him.
I invite all parishioners (families, couples, individuals) of St. Mary and Our Lady of Hope, from your homes, to unite in praying the Rosary every day at 11:00 am. If you wish, you can have a different intention for each decade. Here are some suggestions. Let us pray : for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic; that all people in our communities be kept safe; for all who have died due to the virus and those who mourn their death; for all infected by COVID-19 and those who care for them; for the protection of all frontline health-care workers; that God’s Spirit may lead those involved in research to the discovery of a cure (vaccine); …
Our Lady of LaSalette … pray for us.
Our Lady of Hope … pray for us.
PLEASE NOTE : Till further notice, the St. Mary Church main entrance door is open on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm so you can stop in and pray for a moment. Please do not come to the church if you have flu-like symptoms.
If you need assistance or spiritual help please call the office (204-268-2453). God bless you!
IMPORTANT NOTE : The Mass intention for each day will appear in the bulletin whether the Mass is celebrated privately or with a few people in attendance.
Livestreaming of the Diocesan Sunday Masses
The English Mass at 10 am from Holy Cross Parish, can be followed on the diocesan Facebook page at :
https://www.facebook.com/ArchSaintBoniface/live.
The French Mass at 10 am (Sts-Martyrs-Canadiens Parish), can be followed on the YouTube channel at : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLbnkM6HlRYpb4QjiXeBOg/live
