What is the Immaculate Conception?
When declaring this doctrine as dogma in 1854,
Pope Pius IX, professed, "The Most Blessed Virgin
Mary was, from the first moment of her conception,
by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God
and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour
of the human race, preserved immune from all
stain of original sin," committed by Adam and Eve,
which we all carry before baptism. Mary, because
of her participation in the plan of salvation , was
saved from original sin at the time of her conception in the womb of her mother St. Anne (Jesus’
grandmother). God chose to bestow on Mary
special graces, understandable and proper for the
Mother of God.
Unlike us, Mary was saved from sin before she had
the opportunity to commit any. This belief does not
take away from Jesus' glory as the Saviour of mankind. It only adds to it. It protects the holiness of God to be brought into the world through a woman who
herself had been protected from the sin He was sent in the world to redeem.
Mary remained without sin her entire life. The Church celebrates this mystery
of our faith on December 8th.
by Peter Kreeft
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of
God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
SPECIAL ADVENT EVENT TONIGHT!
“Christmas in the Artistic Masterpieces of Europe”. To help us prepare the
coming of Jesus at Christmas, you are invited to a fascinating exploration of two
key themes in Christian art: the Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel,
and the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Fr. Eric Nicolai, who holds a masters
degree in art history, will help you to rediscover the rich tradition of beauty and
symbolism of some of the greatest artistic treasures in Christendom. It will be
feast for the eyes, and nourishment for the soul. December 4th at 7:00 p.m.
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTION:
$3,275.07. Many thanks to all!
YOUTH CHRISTMAS EVENING
Friday, December 16, 7-9:30, in the church. Youth of all ages
and their families are invited to an evening of tree decorating
and making sandwiches for the poor. Please bring new socks,
underwear, toiletries, toques & gloves for Dans la Rue. Contact
Chris Borrelli at (450) 969-1448, or [email protected]
NEW AL-ANON MEETING IN LAVAL
Al-Anon is a mutual support group for friends and families of problem
drinkers. Friday evenings 8-9. Christian Laval Assembly Church,
5305 boul Notre-Dame (corner Montgolfier), Chomedey. Learn more
at www.al-anon.alateen.org. (There is also an open meeting of
Alcoholics Anonymous at Holy Name of Jesus every Saturday night at 8:30.)
MASS INTENTIONS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
As we wrote a few month ago, because of the deaths of a number of prominent
parishioners over the past year, it is necessary to book Mass intentions farther
in advance than previously, which is frustrating to many of you. Church regulations require that we accept only one intention per Mass. The suggested offering is $15.00 for an “announced Mass”, celebrated at one of our regularly
scheduled Masses. An alternative is a so-called “mission Mass” that could be
published in the bulletin, but will be celebrated by a priest in a poor Montreal
parish or in the missions, and for which the suggested offering is $5. Call the
parish secretary for details. Here are some recently offered “mission Masses”:
Donato Izzo by Nancy & Roger Labelle
Mary Barrett by Mr. & Mrs. James Doyle
Edward Croke by Barb Koester; by Margaret Harding; and by Regina & family
Filomena Margiotta by Barb Koester
Nancy Murphy by Helen Croke; by Regina & family; by Lydia & Carmine
Carbone; and by Barb Koester
Uwe Koester by Helen Croke
Maria Marinkovits by Regina & family
Debbie Jones by Anna Di Nunzio
Felice Di Nunzio by Anna Di Nunzio
Vincenzo Petrilli by Anna Di Nunzio
RECENTLY BAPTIZED AT HOLY NAME
Nathan Damon Raymond Tait Bilodeau, son of Jonathan
Bilodeau & Sherryl-Ann Tait; Abbygail Rose Brisson, daughter of Charles Brisson & Jennifer McArthur; Loredana Enrica
D’Orazio, daughter of Sandro D’Orazio & Maddalena Manzo;
Angelina Di Nardo, daughter of Patrick Di Nardo & Baifern
Thongsaeng; Nicolas Roland Di Nardo, son of Marco Di
Nardo & Rosherrie De Guzman; Kayla Corinne Frigon,
daughter of Karl Frigon & Tina Gismondi; Juliano Devin Iannuzzi, son of Devin Iannuzzi & Cynthia Caltagirone; Abraham
Deflin Jesuratnam, son of Deflin Jesuratnam & Queen Mary
Anne Babians; Justin Kondilopoulos, son of Constantinos
Kondilopoulos & Josephine Cuerquis; Azaria Bella Leiva,
daughter of Joseph Miguel Leiva & Stéphanie Lock; Marianne Elizabeth Mascarenhas, daughter of Rohit Raymond Mascarenhas & Catherine Blais; Ava
Pacheco, daughter of Daniel Pacheco & Silvia Di Ciocco; and Aidan Anthony
Richer, son of Brennan Richer & Angela Marie Kalisch. Congratulations to
our new Catholics and their families, and a warm welcome to the children into
the Body of Christ and to our parish community.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
When a farmer prepares to till the soil he must put on clothing and use tools
that are suitable. So Christ, our heavenly king, came to till the soil of mankind
devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his ploughshare,
cultivated the barren soul of man. He removed the thorns and thistles which are
the evil spirits and pulled up the weeds of sin. Into the fire he cast the straw of
wickedness. And when he had ploughed the soul with the wood of the cross, he
planted in it a most lovely garden of the Spirit, that could produce for its Lord
and God the sweetest and most pleasant fruit of every kind. St. Micarius, bishop
THIS WEEK’S MASS INTENTIONS
Sanctuary lamp for the week of December 4
Eugen Danisch by Danis & Rassias families
Saturday, December 3
5:00
Bruce Dore
by Deirdre Rochefort
Sunday, December 4 (Second Sunday of Advent)
8:30
11:00
Veronica Faherty
Parishioners
by Teresa & Nick Baird
Monday, December 5
9:00
7:30
Michele & Anna Maria Maselli
Frank Malick
by Donato Maselli
by the family
Tuesday, December 6
9:00
5:00
John W. Shaver
Juanito & Saturnina Cunanan
by Isabel Shaver
by Thelma Cayanan
Wednesday, December 7 (St. Ambrose)
9:00
4:00
5:00
Kathleen Kaufmann
by Barb Koester
Mass at Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital
Guerino Di Meglio
by the family
Thursday, December 8 (Immaculate Conception of the BVM)
9:00
5:00
Bruno Raizenne
Souls in Purgatory
by the family
by Mr. & Mrs. Emmett McCoy
Friday, December 9
9:00
5:00
Melchora & Daniel Notarte
Edith Baptiste
by Thelma Cayanan
by the family
Saturday, December 10
12:00
5:00
Joseph Gauker
Harry & Sevasti Stavrinidis
by James & Mary Foster
by Eddy Stavrinidis
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through
the mercy of God rest in peace.