In your prayers kindly remember the sick and those who care for them, the lonely, the handicapped, those isolated, and those who have died.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LITURGY – Mary in God’s Plan – From the infancy narratives, which are written from a post-Easter theological perspective, it is impossible to determine how much Mary understood at the time of Jesus’ conception and birth. However Luke’s gospel comes back repeatedly to her reflection on what God was revealing in the message of the angel, the words of the shepherds, and the words of Jesus when as a boy he is found in the temple. She is a woman of faith and the church presents her life as an example for us on the first day of the New Year. Numbers, in today’s first reading, recounts the priestly blessing conferred upon the Israelites. It invokes an abundance of God’s kindness and goodness. Paul then tells us that Yahweh’s goodness became incarnate in Jesus who makes us all the children of the one Father through the gift of the Spirit. And the humanity of God was made possible through the cooperation of a woman, one of the few references to Mary outside of the gospels. In the gospel the shepherds recount for Mary and Joseph the message they had received: Jesus is the Messiah, Saviour and Lord. For Mary the mystery leads to prayer and reflection.

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS – St. John Chrysostom – We greet you Mary, Mother of God, venerable treasure of the whole world, inextinguishable lamp, crown of virginity, scepter of orthodoxy, indestructible temple… mother and virgin… We greet you, who held in your holy, virginal womb, the one who cannot be contained. Because of you, the Trinity is worshiped and adored. Because of you the cross is venerated and adored throughout the whole world. Because of you heaven rejoices, the angles and archangels delight and demons are put to flight. Because of you, the devil, the tempter, has fallen from heaven, and fallen creation is taken up to heaven… [Homily 4]

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY WEEK!

Thank you for your generosity and support.

 In your kindness, please remember St. Columbkille’s Cathedral Parish in your bequests and wills.

Your Sunday Offering Envelopes for 2022 are available at the main entrance of the Cathedral. If you want envelopes and cannot find a box with your name on it, please contact the parish secretary at (613)732-8513 and one will be prepared for you.

First Communion & Reconciliation – Registration has begun for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Classes begin in January and will be a mix of in person, and, at home sessions.

Any child that has reached the age of reason, regardless of school grade, can partake in these sessions. Please contact the Parish Office for a registration form. Forms will also be sent home with the children from Cathedral School. For further information please contact Lance Patriquin at 613-633-1108.

Please Note – The Parish Office will be closed until Tuesday, January 4^th

Synod questions now online – Adsumus Sancte Spiritus is a Latin expression and prayer that mean “We stand before You, Holy Spirit”. It has been used for Church Synods for hundreds of years. With the questions of our Synod now available online at <https://pembrokediocese.com/article/you-can-now-answer-the-synods-questions-online/>.  We invite all the baptized living in the diocese of Pembroke to respond to them and invoke the Holy Spirit with the following prayer:

“We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen”.