Author: stfranciskw

With supply-chain issues forcing some of us to be more creative with our gift-giving this Christmas, perhaps it is a good time to really think about what we give to our loved ones. Can we do more with our gifts than simply fill another shelf? If we are already mindful of our gift-giving, maybe we are looking for new ideas to spice it up!

As a parish community let us strive to respond to the Cry of the Poor and the Cry of the Earth this Christmas, through a Christmas of Fraternity. Click the button below for great gifting ideas to make this Christmas special for your family and our community!

WHY@Breakfast is pleased to offer an online video presentation for your viewing anytime during Advent! Sister Barbara Paleczny will present “St. Joseph: A Man Who Followed His Dreams.” St. Joseph is well known for drawing on the wisdom of his dreams while carrying out his role as the earthly guardian of our Blessed Mother and our Christ Child.  Are you aware of four of his remarkable dreams recorded in the Scripture? Perhaps, finding meanings in our dreams may help us in our journey forward? No registration required! Check out our webpage www.whyatbreakfast.com anytime during Advent! You are welcome to check out our links to our past presentations on topics such as hope, healing, and receiving the Christ Child during difficult times too!

The Offices for Liturgy, Youth Ministry and Evangelization and Catechesis at the Diocese of Hamilton have put together several resources for families to encourage prayer and celebration in the home during the Advent Season.  Please see their website by clicking here for suggestions, videos and a simple prayer to be prayed around the wreath each Sunday of Advent. 

ST. MARY AND THE MISSIONS PARISH IN OWEN SOUND is presenting an Advent retreat online. All are welcome to join the livestream on the four Wednesday evenings of Advent (December 1, 8, 15, 22), at 7:00 p.m. Join the program live or watch it later, through the St. Mary’s youtube channel.

Each year our parish chooses a charity in great need to be the recipient of our Advent Charity Collection, and this year we have chosen House of Friendship.

House of Friendship has been ministering to the most vulnerable in our community for 82 years, and since the beginning of the pandemic they have also supported those who normally access our Food Hamper Program. On Nov. 5 House of Friendship announced a temporary closure of their men’s shelter as the temporary space is no longer available to them and while they finalize funding and arrangements at the new permanent site they have identified. You can learn more about this situation by clicking here.

Our support through the Advent Charities Collection will help the organization weather this storm and continue to support their staff and clients until the new site is open. Please make any cheques payable to St. Francis Parish as we will gather your contributions and make one large donation to House of Friendship. Thank you for your generosity and care for our neighbours in great need.

Franciscan Media has produced a wonderful resource on their website, telling the story of Seven Followers of Saint Francis. These are people like you and I who lived normal lives which were turned upside down by our patron Saint. Today we invite you to learn about these followers and be inspired by their lives!