January 4 - Saint Benedict Parish

Saint Benedict Parish
45 Radcliffe Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 0E1 | Tel (902) 443-0725 | Email [email protected] | Web www.saintbenedict.ca
Epiphany of the Lord
January 4, 2015
“Go and search diligently for the child…”
VISION
~ Matthew 2:8
Saint Benedict Parish is a healthy and growing faith community that brings people to
Christ, forms disciples and sends them out to transform the world. Every member is
committed to worship, to grow, to serve, to connect and to give.
SUNDAY EUCHARIST:
Anticipated Saturday: 4pm
Sunday: 9am, 11:15am & 6pm
WEEKDAY MASS:
9am Monday to Friday
RECONCILIATION:
Saturday: 3 - 3:45pm
PARISH OFFICE HOURS:
Monday to Friday, 9:45am - 4pm
ADORATION OF JESUS IN THE
BLESSED SACRAMENT:
Saint Elizabeth Seton Chapel, Wednesday
following 9am Mass
Chapel open daily 8am-4pm
NEW MEMBERS - WELCOME!
Please stop by the Welcome Booth introduce
yourself and fill out a Communication Card
(inside).
COFFEE SOCIALS:
Following 11:15 Mass in the Rev. Bernard O’Neill
Auditorium & following Tuesday morning Mass in
the foyer. All are welcome!
NAME TAG SUNDAY:
3rd Sunday of the month
Saint Benedict Parish
45 Radcliffe Drive
Halifax, NS, Canada B3M 0E1
[email protected]
(902) 443-0725
Twitter: @SaintBP
www.saintbenedict.ca
Parish Priest
Rev. James Mallon
Assistant Priest
Rev. Michael Grace
Permanent Deacon
Rev. Mr. Marc Simard
Pastoral Care
Do you know a parishioner who has been hospitalized or is homebound? Please contact
Confessions
Saturdays: 3-3:45pm | Wednesdays: 9:45 - 10:15am
Prayer
Prayer Chapel open weekdays 8am - 4pm
us through our Parish Visitation Ministry (or the parish office).
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: every Wednesday 9:45am - 4pm
Community Prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays 2-3pm
Pray the Rosary: weekdays (except Wednesdays) after 9am Mass in the Chapel
Pray the Divine Office: weekdays at 8:30am in the Saint Joseph Room
Submit Prayer Intentions to the Prayer Tree: www.saintbenedict.ca
Prayer Ministry: in the chapel at the end of every Sunday Mass
News & Info
Subscribe to the weekly parish eNewsletter: www.saintbenedict.ca, scroll to bottom:
Marriage/Baptism
For the sacraments of marriage or baptism, please contact the parish office or visit the
Parish Shuttle
Would you like to come to Mass on the weekend but need transportation? We have a
“eNewsletter Subscribe”. Follow us on Twitter:
@SaintBP.
Welcome Booth (in the foyer, before or after Sunday Mass).
shuttle that can take you to and from our Saturday 4pm, Sunday 11:15am or 6pm Mass.
Email your name, address and phone number to: [email protected]. You will then
be contacted to confirm pick-up. This initiative is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
Alpha
Alpha is about connecting people of similar age over dinner, a talk and fun
conversation. If you have not experienced Alpha here then sign up! It is run for Youth,
Adults and Seniors. 26 Million people around the world have experienced Alpha. You’re
next! Contact Carol Smith, 902.457.0162, [email protected].
WOW (Wee Ones’ Word)
We have ‘church for kids’ downstairs during the 9am Mass every Sunday. Two to four
year olds may be dropped off before Mass and picked up after Mass. They’ll have Bible
songs and stories and time for lots of fun activities - check it out! Questions? Contact
Chantal via email: [email protected].
Announced Mass
Intentions:
January 5-9
May the
Light and
Peace of
Christ
shine
Monday, Anne Stanton !
Tuesday, Duke Abbott !
Wednesday, Frank and Blanche Andrew
Thursday, Jo Beaton !
Friday, deceased members of the CWL !
Financial Corner
in your
heart &
home in
2015!
Last week’s Sunday collection: $21,945
Christmas Collection: $32,189.
Thank-you!
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January 4, 2015
A WORD FROM FATHER JAMES
Christmas Thanks
As we head into the New Year
there is so much to be grateful
for as we look back and look
forward. We have just come
out of a very busy few weeks.
We welcomed over 2,500
people through our doors on
Christmas eve and Christmas
morning. What a blessing to
have so many parishioners
ready to serve and to make
our parish a place of
hospitality and joyful
celebration, from the
Christmas liturgies to the New
Year’s Day Levee. Thank you
all so much.
On a personal note, I would
like to thank the parishioners
who sent me Christmas wishes
and gifts. Thank you so very
much. I’d like to be able to
thank everyone personally but
due to the generosity of
people here, the volume
makes responding personally
an impossibility (sometimes
cards get mixed up,
separated or aren’t signed,
which adds to the challenge).
So, with all this in mind, I would
like to thank everyone that I
have not yet personally
thanked. Your prayers,
greetings, kind words and signs
of support mean so much. I
am truly blessed, honoured
and humbled to serve you as
your pastor. Please continue to
pray for me; I
recognize my
brokenness
and need for
your
forgiveness
and God’s grace in my priestly
ministry. As we look forward to this
coming year, I am so excited
to see what the Lord will
continue to do in our midst as
we continue to strive to make
His name known and to make
Him known, to bring people to
Him and form disciples who
are ready and willing to serve
him with their lives.
Saint Benedict Parish Purpose
To form disciples who joyfully live
out the mission of Jesus Christ.
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Zero Tolerance
As many of you are aware, several years ago, the Archdiocese of
Halifax-Yarmouth established the "Responsible Ministry Protocol" to
ensure the personal safety of parishioners both young and elderly
against possible sexual predators. For the most part, the steps taken
have been successful; however, we realize that despite all our efforts,
sexually inappropriate statements and/or actions may occur without
our knowledge. Sexually inappropriate comments and/or actions will
not be tolerated at Saint Benedict Parish. Should anyone be on the
receiving end of inappropriate statements and/or actions from
another, they are asked to contact parish staff immediately. Thanks
for helping us to create an atmosphere where all feel safe and
welcome and are treated with dignity.
Saint Benedict Parish
Pastoral Council Members
Chair, Eileen Moore
Fr. James Mallon
Bev Brown
Michael McAllister
Fr. Michael Grace
Rob McDowell
Anthony Hlahatsi
Sharal Riggs
Ron Huntley
Kate Robinson
Robin Lawrence
Kathy Silverstein
Sheila Maguire
Dcn Marc Simard
Parish Staff Team (Phone: 902-443-0725)
Darlene Bonang, Parish
Secretary, (press 0)
[email protected]
Ron Huntley, Director of
Pastoral Ministries, (ex 30)
[email protected]
Rob McDowell, Director of
Parish Life, (ex 26)
[email protected]
Tanya Rodgerson, Director of
Engagement, (ex 21)
[email protected]
Dinah Simmons, Director of Faith
Formation, (ex 24)
[email protected]
Jen Ferrier, Coordinator of
Evangelization, (ex 39)
[email protected]
Ronnie Lunn, Coordinator of
Youth Ministry, (ex 37)
[email protected]
Kate Robinson, Director of
Communications, (ex 29)
[email protected]
Patrick Salah, Director of
Music, (ex 27)
[email protected]
Joanne Thibeau, Manager of
Finance, (ex 28)
[email protected]
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Preparing to Receive Sacraments
G.R.O.W (God Renewing Our Women)
The children and families who are preparing for First
Communion will celebrate on Sunday, January 18th
at the 9am Mass. Please keep these children and
their families in your prayers.
A new group will begin preparation for First
Reconciliation and First Communion in early
February. There are a few spaces still available in the
program. To get an application form, or for more
information, contact Dinah Simmons, Director of
Faith Formation ([email protected];
902-443-0725 ex 24).
We are a group of women who meet out of a desire
to be around other women of faith. It is a place
where we develop friendships, provide support for
each other, and share our journeys.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 7th from
7:00-8:30pm in the St. Joseph Room here at Saint
Benedict. Come and join us!
"GROW provides the opportunity to know Christian
women personally. It is a cornerstone to building a
strong faith community based on our common
Catholic faith. I would encourage all women to
come and see.” Sharal Riggs, member of G.R.O.W.
Religious Education
Tuesday Faith Sharing
Religious education for elementary-aged children at
Saint Benedict Parish is provided through a familybased program, which we call GIFT (Growing In Faith
Together). Families meet once a month, and can
choose between two dates. The next session will be
held on January 25th or February 1st. For more
i n f o r m a t i o n o r t o r e g i s t e r, c o n t a c t D i n a h
([email protected]; 902-443-0725 ex 24).
Join Deacon Bob Smith for small group sharing on
Tuesdays at noon. Bring a brown-bag lunch; we'll
supply coffee, tea, etc. Here's what Bob says about
the Winter offering: We're beginning another Bible
study as part of our Tuesday Noon-hour Faith Series.
This time the biblical content will be on DVD, and
this will allow us ample time to discuss the content,
compare it with our Bibles (what was left out,
added, changed) and how God’s Word was born
through a desire by God to enter into a personal
relationship, a covenant, with us. It is about back
then, and also equally about today. The program
will run from January 6th to mid or late March, and
it should be noted that each session is complete in
itself. (Come for one, or come for all!) A look at
some of the content: January 6th – Abraham
(Genesis); 13: Exodus; 20: Homeland; Feb 3:
Kingdom; 10: Survival; 17: Mission; 24: Betrayal;
March 3: Passion; 10: Courage. Contact Deacon
Bob ([email protected]) for more information
or to register.
Tuesday Coffee Social Ministers
Copies of the the new January - March, 2015
schedule are now available (in the hospitality
area). If you feel called to help with this ministry
serving our Tuesday morning coffee socials, please
contact Eileen Bridge ([email protected]).
Study on the Mass
An 8-week course on the study of the Mass will take
place on Wednesday evenings (7:30-9pm), starting
January 7th. Cost for the course is $15 (to cover
materials) and space is limited. Please contact Paul
Doiron (902-876-0546, [email protected]) with any
questions or to register.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The next meeting for our Society of St. Vincent de
Paul will be on Tuesday, January 6th at 7pm.
Becoming a Member of Saint Benedict Parish
We can’t wait to meet you! In a large parish, we need to be purposeful in being personal. It’s important to us that you
feel at home here! Our membership process is set up so that we can get to know each other a little better! It’s a 4 step
process. Here goes:
1)
"I like this church!" Complete the Communication Card.
2)
"I don't know enough about it." - A member of our Welcome Team will call and arrange to meet with
you. 3)
"Sign me up, I want to be a part of the parish!" Attend a New Parishioner Welcome Event to fill out a
formal registration card. 4)
"Do they remember me?" Your Welcome Team member will check in with you periodically to see how
you are doing.
Please fill out the reverse and drop this in the collection basket.
www.saintbenedict.ca
follow us on Twitter @SaintBP
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“I earnestly call upon pastors and the whole community of the faithful to help the divorced
and with solicitous care, make sure that they do not consider themselves as separated from
the Church.”
~ Saint John Paul II
“You all know divorce is a particularly painful situation. Given these
people’s situation of suffering, it must be studied.”
~ Pope Benedict
Saint Benedict Parish Communication Card
First Name:!__________________________________________ Last Name:!__________________________________________!Best Phone #:!___________________________________!!
! home ! work ! cell
Email Address:!______________________________________________________________________________________________!
When would be a good time to contact you?: ! daytime ! evening ! weekend
! teen ! young adult (18-28)!! adult (29-39) ! adult (40-50) ! adult (50+)!
If you have a significant other, what’s their name?!______________________________________________________!Date Submitted:!____________________________!
If you have children, what are their names & age ranges?
Name: ________________________________________________________!! infant ! toddler ! grade p-5 ! jr high ! high school
Name:!________________________________________________________ ! infant ! toddler ! grade p-5 ! jr high ! high school
Name:!________________________________________________________ ! infant ! toddler ! grade p-5 ! jr high ! high school
! I’m interested in having my child baptized.!
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Freedom from our Hurts, Hang-ups, and Habits 9 Weeks - Tuesday evenings
Jan 13 – Mar 27, 7-9pm
REGISTRATION CLOSES JANUARY 5TH!!
The 1st night (January 13th) is a Mandatory Information Session.
This is an interactive session where your questions will be answered as you are introduced to the group process and
the content of the program.
We've all been hurt by other people, we've hurt ourselves, and we've hurt others. As a result, each of our lives is
tangled up with:
Hurts that haunt our hearts;
Hang-ups that cause us pain and;
Habits that mess up our lives:
The question we all face is: Do we have to carry these burdens forever? The short answer is, NO. Life’s Healing Choices Program offers an
opportunity to make the connection
between past hurts and how they can
develop hang-ups, and habits which
interfere with the peace we are all
seeking.
Life’s Healing Choices Program can
transform your life with each of the 8
healing choices, which are based on the
solid foundation of the Beatitudes of
Jesus. These Choices are designed to
guide you along God's healing pathway
into wholeness, growth, and spiritual
maturity. Find answers, and a future full of
hope - one healing choice at a time.
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You may register by email:
[email protected], on the website:
saintbenedict.ca/lifes-healing-choices, or
by calling: Paulette 902-832-3818.
Alpha Alumni are welcome too, but must bring an invited guest!
Early in the New Year, we will offer several different Alpha opportunities:
Sushi Alpha - Monday nights at Tako Sushi & Ramen (fee to cover meals)
Thursday Night Alpha
Daytime Alpha (Wednesdays at noon)
Plan to attend the Come & See on January 22nd and register for any of the above on our parish website in January.
New Member Wine & Cheese
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