SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH

Fr. Peter Proulx, Pastor Fr. Ryan Holly, Associate Pastor Deacon Don Smith 331 Plaunt Street, South; P.O. Box 396 Renfrew, Ontario K7V 4A6 Tel: (613) 432-5825 Fax: (613) 432-6663
Web Site: http://sfxrenfrew.wordpress.com/ E mail: sfx.parish@on.aibn.com

St. Francis Xavier, a welcoming faith community lovingly sharing the gifts of God.

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 11TH, 2011
PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED: We pray for our loved ones who have died recently especially Gladys McNulty. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND SHUT-IN: Let us raise up in prayer those who seek Gods healing love, those at the hospital, hospice and at home especially John Albert, Joan Faye Prince. May your struggle be consoled by Christs love.

ADVENT III - GAUDETE SUNDAY "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice" The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete "Rejoice" Sunday. Marking the half-way point during the season of Advent, we are reminded that our joy comes from our hope and belief in the Lord. Joy is the hallmark of the Christian life.
ROMAN MISSAL - Week Three A very special thank you to one and all for your openness and devotion in our implementation of the revised texts of the Roman Missal. While it certainly requires some getting used to, our transition has gone smoothly and we are slowly getting used to the new responses. We have all been very conscious of how imbedded the only responses are in our memory! One of the graces of this transition has been a renewed awareness of the words we pray. Now we are more alert to the fact that the dialogue "The Lord be with you / and with your spirit" takes place four times during the Mass! This dialogue takes place during the apostolic greeting at the beginning of mass, before the proclamation of the gospel, at the beginning of the preface of the Eucharistic prayer and before the final blessing. Before receiving holy communion, all are asked to make a sign of reverence. In Canada this sign of reverence is a small bow. This gesture can be made as the person in front is receiving communion, so as not to unduly delay the communion procession. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be made available this week in the following locations: Our Lady of Fatima Parish - Tuesday, December 13th at 1:30 p.m. St. Francis Xavier Parish - Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. Each weekend the sacrament is available here at St Francis Xavier parish on half hour before each of the weekend Masses.

CHRISTMAS GIVING AND RECEIVING: Each year we are asked to respond to requests families at this time of year to assist the needs of families and individuals who experience hardship during this season. Our Parish must recognize our responsibility to act in charity. To do so we rely on your assistance as well. Your kind donations to the Care Fund through gift cards and used monetary gifts are us ed to outreach these requests. Please consider assisting the need of the community by donating to the Parish Care Fund marked clearly marked on your donation envelope.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: December 12th: is designated as an occasion to pray and reflect on the Sanctity of Human Life. The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, created by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998, proposed that the feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe be a National Day of Prayer for Aboriginal People.
We will have special prayers at our Parish Liturgy on December 12 th to recognize our First Nations Peoples.

WEVE GOT MAIL...from Ghana

Dear Fr. Proulx & Parishioners of S.F.X. Church Community: I hope this card with its few words of greeting will find you all in good health and spirits. The big news event of my life is that after 12 years as parish priest of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Bunkpurugu, I am finally to go on transfer. My new appointment will be in Bolgatanga. Bolga for short, is the Regional Capital of Ghanas Upper East Region. It is a large bustling town, with all services close at hand. It will certainly make a change from what I have lived and known in Bunkpurugu. May the birth of the Christ Child fill your hearts with love, joy and peace. Keep me in your prayers as I do all of you in mine. Blessings, Fr. Kevin Rand

LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
MON Dec. 12 7:00 p.m. TUE Dec. 13 8:00 a.m. WED Dec. 14 4:15 p.m. THUR Dec. 15 10:30 a.m. 12:10 p.m. FRI Dec. 16 8:00 a.m. SAT Dec. 17 5:00 p.m. SUN Dec. 18 10:30 a.m. Dominic Dedo Diane & Family Bernice Blimkie Linda, Jenn, Wes & Matty James Chapieski Margaret & Alex Gavinski BONNECHERE MANOR: Patrick John Gregg Estate of Beverely Gregg Raymond Turner Elaine Turner & Family Sunday Doug Visneskie Eddie & Sylvia Visneskie offering: Thomas & Terry Mulvihill Lola Mulvihill & Family Dec. 4th Christine Narezny The Family $4,983.32 Intentions of the Parishioners Father Proulx

LITURGICAL ROLES
4 Sunday of Advent
SATURDAY EVENING MASS - 5:00 p.m. MINISTERS OF THE WORD J. Dowdall; J. Freemark MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY A. & W. Wren; E. Yantha; D. Ballard MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST L. Kingsbury; T. Lemenchick; D. Mantil; D. Mooney; L. Neville SERVERS K. & C. & K. Dowdall; L. Zohr CANTOR C. Slight
th

December 18th, 2011

SUNDAY MORNING MASS 10:30 a.m. MINISTERS OF THE WORD N. Saumure; C. Chapman MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY T. & P. Rousselle D. & C. Varrin EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS T. Fiebig; J. & K. OConnor; B. & D. OConnor SERVERS S. & J. McNulty; S. Rowat; E. Saumure CANTOR A. Hermans

The St. Francis Xavier CWL News:

POTLUCK CHRISTMAS PARTY: Tuesday, December 13th at 6 p.m. in the large hall. Our Lady of Fatima C.W.L. sisters will be joining us, and will provide us with entertainment after our dinner. Come for an evening of Faith, Fun and Fulfillment. AN EVENING OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC (instrumental & songs)
presented by Limited Edition and friends here in the Parish hall on Sunday, December 18th at 7 p.m. A free will offering to the Mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Peru Refreshments to follow Contact Nancy Bailey at 432-4060 for more info.

THIS WEEK AT S.F.X.: *Mon. Bereavement Grp (Small Hall) *Mon. S.F.X. Cemetery Board Mtg. (Mtg. Rm. #2) *Thurs. R.C.I.A. (Mtg. Rm. #1)

7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

20th Anniversary Free Community Friendship Dinner

The Knights of Columbus Council 1916 Renfrew will be Friendship serving free Community Friendship dinners again this CHRISTMAS DAY from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery of meals, free take out, and for those who wish to join us at the hall, free transportation to and from your residence. 432433for Please contact Brian at 432-0887 or Don at 433-9298 for 613-432dinner requests. On CHRISTMAS DAY call 613-432-6121. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SUNDAY EVENING EUCHRE PARTIES

A sincere "Thank You" to all who participated in the Euchre Parties. A total of $1,256.50 was raised for the Development and Peace "Horn of Africa" fund. Thank you also to the C.W.L. for supplying and serving lunches at the parties.

SCHEDULE FOR THE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASON

Tuesday, December 13 1:30 p.m. Sacrament of Penance Our Lady of Fatima Church Wednesday, December 14 7:00 p.m. Sacrament of Penance St. Francis Xavier Church Saturday, December 24 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon Sacrament of Penance St. Francis Xavier Church Christmas Eve Mass 5:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Christmas Day Mass 10:30 a.m.
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO ALL ON THE

LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

An Ecumenical Service for those who are finding the Christmas Season difficult to get through

ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT * Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment begins at 7:00 p.m. * Free Admission. Donations accepted with proceeds going to our annual Dominican Republic mission, and the school's performing arts. * Refreshments will be available. * Please support Catholic education, by supporting your local Catholic High School.
* Thursday, Dec. 22nd at St. Joseph's High School.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22 AT 7:30 P.M. HALEY UNITED CHURCH, HALEY STATION

See posters for more information