Third Sunday of Advent
December 13, 2015
Year "C"
But as time went by the early Church gradually
began to realize that the Second Coming of Jesus
would not be as early as originally expected.
Therefore it became important for the Church to
have written records of Jesus so the Gospels were
composed.
Why did the early Church long for the Second
Coming of Jesus and why are we invited now to
reflect on it and long for it during Advent? Jesus’
birth at Bethlehem, his death, and resurrection are
not yet the final victory over evil. The final conquest
of evil will take place when Jesus comes again as
Judge. Jesus’ Second Coming will complete what
Jesus began with his birth in Bethlehem, his death
and resurrection. It will bring the fullness of salvation
to the world. Therefore in the early Church they
longed for Jesus’ Second Coming and we are invited
now to reflect on it and long for it during Advent.
God is present with us throughout all of history but
the Second Coming of Jesus and the General
Judgment will show all of history leading to God’s
final purpose and goal. At the General Judgment we
will see how God’s plan for all of history worked itself
out. There are two ways of looking at history. You
can look at history as a secular historian or you can
look at history with the eyes of God. For example,
how do you look on the Second World War? That
could be one secular view of the war. There is
another way to look at it. When Our Lady appeared
to the children at Fatima on July 13th 1917 during
the First World War she said,
The Lord is close at hand."
Philippians 4.4-7
The readings of the first Sunday of Advent each year invite
us to watch for the Second Coming of Jesus and the
readings of the Second Sunday of Advent invite us to
prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus. That is why
each year on the Second Sunday of Advent the Gospel is
John the Baptist asking us to prepare a way for the Lord.
And on the third Sunday of Advent each year we can
detect some of the readings encouraging us to be patient
for Jesus’ Second Coming.
In the early years after Pentecost the Church believed the
Second Coming of Jesus would be only a matter of years
away. Many are of the opinion that St. Paul, early in his
ministry, believed the Second Coming of Jesus would be
so soon that he himself would not die before it occurred.
Many believe this is what Paul meant when he wrote to
the Thessalonians,
We who are still alive for the Lord’s coming
will not have any advantage over those who
have fallen asleep. At the signal given by
the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet
of God, the Lord himself will come down
from heaven; those who have died in
Christ will be the first to rise, and only
after that shall we who remain alive be
taken up in the clouds, together with
them to meet the Lord in the air.(1
Thess 4:15-17)
“…if men do not cease offending God,
another and more terrible war will
break out during the Pontificate of Pius
XII. When you see a night lit up by an
unknown light, know that it is the sign God
Masses for the Week
Tue Dec 15
9:00 a.m. †J. Pillo
Family
†Flip Dawson
Family
Wed Dec 16
9:00 a.m. †Filomena Crapsi
†Antonio Di Rienzo
7:00 p.m.
Thu Dec 17
9:00 a.m. †Nicola & †Franco Torres
Thanksgiving for graces received
Laurinda Rodrigues
Fri Dec 18
9:00 a.m. †Rose Lee-Poy
7:00 p.m. †Frank Lipreti
Maria Tenalia
Sat Dec 19
9:00 p.m. †Ada Ottolino
Family
4:30 p.m.†Milan Ludvik
DiIorio Fam.
†Ben Locicero
Dolores Locicero
Sun Dec 20 4th Sunday of Advent
9:00 a.m. †Angela Cerenzia
Family
†John Zarb
DaCosta Fam.
11:00 a.m. †Paciencia Donato Family
†Cenzo &†Alfredo Latini
Elisa Latini
Christmas Flowers
Envelopes for donations for Christmas
Flowers are at the back entrance.
Please be generous with your donation to
help us decorate the sanctuary for the
"Birth of Jesus".
Sunday Offering Envelopes
Sunday Offering Envelopes for 2016 are
available for pick-up at the back of the church.
Please indicate on your first few donations if any
corrections to your name or address are to be
made. Thank you.
The ritual opening of
the Holy Door of
Mercy in the Basilica
of St. Peter, December
8, 2015, marks the
official start of the
Jubilee of Mercy.
From that moment on,
in every Catholic
Church in every
diocese, the faithful
are called to celebrate
and live the Jubilee,
particularly through
the liturgy.
You are invited to
live the Jubilee in
the Archdiocese of
That unknown light occurred on January 25th 1938 and
meteorologists called it the Northern Lights or Aurora
Borealis. This is just one example of two ways of looking
at an event in history. At the Second Coming of Jesus and
the General Judgment we will see all of history leading
towards God’s goal and purpose. The final conquest of
evil will take place when Jesus comes again the second
time as Judge which is why we look forward to it.
May our love for each other increase more and more as
we await the coming of Jesus
. Fr. Tommy Lane
Pray for the sick of the parish, especially for:
Please let us know of any one that needs our
prayers.
You can also live the Jubilee in your everyday
actions. Learn about spiritual and corporal works of
mercy.
“We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of
mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace.
Our salvation depends on it.”
– Pope Francis, Bull of Induction of the
Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Christmas Schedule - Confessions 2015
Wed Dec 16
Thu
Tue
10:00 am - 12:00 (noon)
and 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
No Evening Mass
Dec 17
10:00 am - 12:00 (noon)
and 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dec 22
Wed Dec 23
gives you that he is about to punish the
world for its crimes by means of war,
hunger and persecution of the Church and
the Holy Father.”
Donna Wilson, Jane Murnaghan, Mary Bergin,
Gladys Smyth, Mary Pennell, Anne English,
Anita Bergin, Viola McLaughlin, Ada Ottolino,
Fred Micallef, Sharon Cardina. Susie Zahra, Marcelle
CaruanaArduino Bonora.
of these doors during the Jubilee Year to obtain a
plenary indulgence.
Toronto!
In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we have nine Holy
Doors, which open on Sunday, December 13, 2015.
The faithful are invited to make a pilgrimage to one
10:00 am - 12:00 (noon)
and 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
and 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Schedule - Masses
2015
Wed Dec 23
No Evening Mass
Thu Dec 24 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Carols at 10:00 pm Mass at 11:00 pm
Fri Dec 25 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sat Dec 26 4:30pm (no morning Mass)
Sun Dec 27 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Dec 28/29/30 ******* no Masses
New Year/Mother of God
Thu Dec 31
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Fri Jan 01
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Epiphany
Sat Jan 02 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Sun Jan 03 9:00 am - 11:00 am
He never tires of forgiving us
Let us not forget this word: God never, ever
tires of forgiving us!... The problem is that we
ourselves tire; we do not want to ask; we grow
weary of asking for forgiveness. He never tires
of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking
for forgiveness.
Let us never tire; let us never tire! He is the
loving Father who always pardons, who has
that heart of mercy for us all. And let us too
learn to be merciful to everyone. Let us invoke
the intercession of Our Lady who held in her
arms the Mercy of God made man.
Pope Francis
Christmas cards and Christmas Cakes
Many thanks to all who purchased cakes and
cards in support of the Pro-Life work.