Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel...

View this email in your browser In preparation for this weekend's reading... IN THIS ISSUE: Advent •  8 pm Mass • Tree of Remembrance • Mary's Baby Shower • Envelopes • Vocation Seeds • McMaster Drop-In Thank You • From the Diocese • Did You Know? • Mass Intentions • Holiday Schedule • Liturgy Schedule This Sunday is the Last Sunday of Advent. On this evening, we light the final candle, the "Angel's candle," that is symbolic of peace. It reminds us of the message of "Peace on Earth, and Good Will Toward All." "Through him, we have received the grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved...called to be holy." Romans 1:5-7 The time of preparation for the coming of Christ is coming to an end. Since you have been called to be holy, what have been some of the best moments spent with God these past few weeks? The Sunday evening 8 pm Mass has been extended until at least April 5, 2020!  Please note there is no 8 pm Mass on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Each year Canadian Martyrs has a Tree of Remembrance honoring those who were baptized into the family of God, and those from our community who entered into eternal life. We hold especially dear in our hearts, those on the Tree of Remembrance who were born and died at McMaster Children's Hospital. Mary's Baby Shower What an incredibly generous and giving community that we are blessed with! We put out the call for donations for new mothers in need, and did you all ever deliver! Thank you all so much for these gifts. They will surely be so appreciated by some new moms this Christmas season! 2020 Sunday Offering Envelopes   On December 21 and 22, members of the finance committee will be available to distribute the 2020 offertory envelopes. Please note that they cannot be picked up by anyone other than who is named on the envelopes. Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 22, 2019 “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife...  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”  Are you willing to respond as Joseph did?  If God is calling you to be a priest, contact Fr. Michael King, Vocation Director, Diocese of Hamilton at 905-528-7988. vocations@hamiltondiocese.com    The Chaplaincy Centre at McMaster University would like to extend their deepest gratitude to those who donated home-baked goods for the Exam Drop-In. Special thanks to the Catholic Women's League for their contributions. The students enjoy the cookies more, knowing that they were made with love! CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2019  For many, Christmas is a wonderful time of year! Homes are decorated, families gather, gifts are shared, the best meal of the year is served, and the music at Christmas Masses is always uplifting – to say nothing of the Christmas homily!  Sadly, for others Christmas is a time to dread! The unemployed, those who are on the streets, those who are alone perhaps isolated from family, those who are in prison, those who are in hospitals or suffering from mental health or other serious illnesses, and those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, can find this time of year challenging and very difficult indeed! If we have been blessed, we must bless. Can we make the Christmas season a time of blessing for others? We bless when we recognize others to be sisters and brothers, and treat them with the dignity that is theirs, listening to them and speaking to them with respect and affirmation. We bless when we support the Good Shepherd Ministries of the Brothers of St. John of God, the DeMazenod Door at St. Patrick Parish, Hamilton, the Out of the Cold programs, hospice care and other similar programs in our Diocese, where people are respectfully cared for and lovingly nourished! At Christmas, we celebrate our belief that “God comes to us”! God comes to us as a baby, unthreatening, dependent, and in simplicity. All we have to do is open our hearts to welcome the Lord of life and love. We recognize and welcome Him in every person who comes to us in the same simplicity of spirit, seeking from us the same generous greeting of peace. May God bless you this Christmas and always! Let us pray for one another. Our Lady of the Annunciation, pray for us! Ex corde, + Douglas, OMI  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body... With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday." In addition to all Sundays in the year, Canada has only two other days of Obligation: Christmas Day and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God (January 1). Hong Kong has only one.  There used to be 36 holy days of Obligation, until Pope Pius X reduced it to the current 8 that are mentioned in canon. Read more about it here. So now you know!  Anything you're not sure about? Email us at canadianmartyrshamilton@hamiltondiocese.com with your questions, shower-thoughts, and ponderings! Join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 6:00 pm Christmas Day Mass 11:30 am Join us as we honour the Blessed Virgin Mary. New Year's Eve Vigil Mass: 6:00 pm New Year's Day Mass: 11:30 am  If you would like to have a Mass celebrated for a special occasion, on behalf of a family member, a friend, or a deceased loved one, please call the office to have that intention put into the calendar. This week's intentions: Saturday, December 28, 2019     ✞Charles Moote Intentions of Adam Jacula Click the image above to see booked mass intentions and all dates that are available to book to pray and remember those who have died or for the needs of our family and friends. All are welcome to come and celebrate with us! Liturgy Schedule Tuesday — Friday 12:30 pm Saturday Vigil 6:00 pm Sunday 11:30 am & 8:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesday — Friday 12:00 pm Office Hours December 24: 8:30 am to 11:30 am December 25, 26, 27: CLOSED Copyright © 2019 Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church & Chaplaincy, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.