FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY JANUARY 29, 2012
 

PRAY FOR THE SICK: Howard Carter, Karen Williams, Olga D’Rosario, Felix Gouveia, Pat Dean, Dirouhi Ansourian, Mary Lou Short, Kathleen Angus, Christopher Chiu, Augustine Leung, Joao Baptista Leung, Katherine D’Alessandro, Sherwin Wong

PRAY FOR THE DEAD:  Julio Matias, and for those who have no one to pray for them.

NEXT CONFIRMATION CLASS is February 4.

RECEIVING A BLESSING INSTEAD OF HOLY COMMUNION? Priests have been advised to discontinue this practice since this is obviously not a proper place in the Liturgy for a blessing.  Those who are not receiving Holy Communion at Mass should remain in their seats and make a good spiritual communion.  Children may accompany their parents but should not be encouraged to seek a blessing at this time.

ARCHBISHOP THOMAS COLLINS has been elevated to the College of Cardinals by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.  The consistory will take place in Rome the weekend of February 18-19.  This is a great honour for the Cardinal-designate and for the Archdiocese of Toronto.  Let us pray in thanksgiving and ask God’s blessings as “His Grace”, soon to be “His Eminence”, continues to serve as Archbishop of Toronto.

OUR REFUGEE FAMILY - Let us continue to pray for our refugee family from Iraq who are preparing for arrival to Canada. Their interview in Syria was successful and following their medical tests, they will be met at the airport as early as February. The various support committees will be recalled as we prepare for their arrival.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CONSECRATED LIFE is celebrated on February 2, the Feast of the Purification of the Lord.  Let us thank the Lord for the vocation and example of the many Religious who are sisters, brothers and priests working in the Archdiocese of Toronto, living the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.  All are welcome to a mass of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Basilica on Jan 29 at 3:00 p.m.

NEXT COME AND SEE WEEKEND will be February 3-5 at St. Augustine’s Seminary for young men 18 and older who may be discerning a vocation to the Priesthood.  This weekend is a time of prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming a disciple of Christ as a Priest. For more information contact Fr. Andrews or Fr. Hansoo Park (416)968-0997

LET US PRAY FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE.  Is God leading you or someone you know to discern a religious vocation?  Contact Fr. Hansoo Park, Vocations Director - vocations@vocations.ca or (416)968-0997 or check out www.vocationstoronto.ca

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for all York Catholic District School Board Schools has begun for September 2012.  We look forward to welcoming your child into our schools, where we emphasize academic success following a curriculum that is deeply rooted in the values of Jesus Christ and formed in the teachings of the Catholic Church.  You can register your child at your local Catholic school or at the Catholic Education Centre in Aurora.  For more info www.ycdsb.ca

SUNDAY OFFERTORY ENVELOPES for 2012 – If you have not received your envelopes see Jackie in the Parish Office.

ANNUAL PARISH FINANCIAL REPORT is included in the parish bulletin this weekend. 

ALL PARISHIONERS SHOULD BE REGISTERED and are asked to support the parish and the needs of the Church by using Sunday Offertory Envelopes and for making up for an absence during vacation.  New parishioners are asked to register in the parish office.

SUNDAY MISSALS FOR THE NEW LITURGICAL YEAR with the new translation may be purchased from the Parish Office.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO announces the launch of a new donation portal available at archtoronto.org as of December 1, 2011.  This makes it possible to donate to our parish or to a favourite Archdiocesan charity on-line.  It is possible to make a one-time donation or a monthly contribution using a credit card.  A receipt will be issued immediately by email and funds will be directed to the recipient charity such as – St. Thomas the Apostle Church (Sunday Offertory, Building Fund or Capital Campaign), ShareLife, St. Michael’s Choir School, St. Augustine’s Seminary, Tribute Giving (memorial and living gifts), Archdiocese of Toronto, Sunday Television Mass or Humanitarian Relief (for special announced collections).

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COME AND SEE INFORMATION SESSION will be Saturday, February 4 from 9:30-12:30 at the DP Office, 10 St. Mary’s St., Toronto. Contact Luke Stocking (416)922-1592 ext. 225 or luke.stocking@devp.org

LIFT JESUS HIGHER RALLY at Metro Convention Centre on Saturday, March 3 from 9:00-5:30 – powerful talks, videos from Missions, Mass with the Archbishop who will be Thomas Cardinal Collins.  For tickets and information (416)251-4255 www.lift-jesus-higher-rally.org

PHILIPPINES FLOOD RELIEF – Typhoo Washi hit southern Mindanao Island before Christmas and following loss of life and property, an estimated 40,000 are living in evacuation centers. Donations may be made at our parish, marking cheques “Philippines – Flood Relief” or at archtoronto.org – DONATE – Humanitarian Relief.

GALA DINNER-DANCE FUNDRAISER on Friday, February 3 at 6:30 for the student volunteers from Fr. Michael McGivney Academy who will be going to Jamaica on March Break to work with the Missionaries of the Poor.  For tickets (905)472-4961 ext. 247

VILLANOVA COLLEGE – Winter Open House on Friday, February 3 from 10:00-12:00. Villanova is an independent Catholic school offering an enriched academic Programme from grade 5 to university admissions, focusing on the development of each student through the teachings of the Catholic Church and extensive co-curricular activities. For more information (905)833-1909 www.villanovacollege.com

THE PILGRIM VIRGIN MARY STATUE – The Legion of Mary will bring Our Lady to your home, we encourage the family recitation of the rosary. 

50th INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS will be in Dublin, Ireland from June 8-12, 2012.  A pilgrimage is being organized from Toronto.  For more information www.archtoronto.org/iec

FATHERS FOR GOOD is an initiative for men by the Knights of Columbus to help fathers and Catholic families lead a good Christian life www.fathersforgood.org

JOIN THE FRIENDS OF FRASSATI  if you are a male senior high school student.  This group is inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who lived as a “man of the Beatitudes”.  It assists young men to foster a greater desire for spiritual growth in the Catholic Faith, learning how to be in the world, but not of it and being more attentive to God’s love and God’s will.  For more information contact Fr. Paul Magyar (416)298-0989 or Fr. Russell Asch (905)294-5955.

TEACHER APPLICANTS TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARDS in the Archdiocese of Toronto are asked to have a conversation with their pastor early in the process so as to avoid disappointment and stress at a time when applications are to be submitted.

VOLUNTEERS INVITED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE through Canadian Hearts and Hands. Les Rodrigues and some of the Knights of Columbus, family and friends have been working on several projects in recent years.  Ongoing projects include St. Vincent’s Kitchen in Oshawa (first Sunday each month), Happy Hour with seniors at Extendicare Living Centre (second Sunday each month) and work at the Good Shepherd Centre in Toronto (third Sunday each month).  For more information contact Les Rodrigues l_s_r_3_@hotmail.com

PROVIDE A MEAL is a monthly opportunity for the people of St. Thomas the Apostle to bring a frozen shepherd’s pie which will be picked up by the Good Shepherd Centre and provide a meal there for those in need.  The empty containers are available for pick-up the first weekend every month and the donated pies are collected in our freezer the second weekend every month.  Thanks to the many parishioners who have been participating for years to help meet the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged who live in the city. 

THANKS TO ALL WHO VOLUNTEER in various ministries and services in our parish.  All parish volunteers must be prepared to serve under the authority of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s program for volunteers called “Strengthening the Caring Community”.  The goal of the Screening Program is to ensure the safety of every member of our parish.

ST. THERESE VOCATION SOCIETY is a group in the Archdiocese of Toronto whose members pray daily and offer sufferings and sacrifices for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life, through the intercession of St. Theresa of Lisieux.  There are no dues or meetings – only a promise to pray for vocations.  Brochures, including “how to register” are on the table at the entrance of the church.  Registration on-line at www.vocationstoronto.ca