MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK (FROM 23. XII. TO 29. XII.)
WEDNESDAY, 25. XII. (0,00 i 11,00) – FOR THE PARISH COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, 26. XII. (11,00) - +MARIJAN AND KATA MADŽAREVIĆ
FRIDAY, 27. XII. (19,00) - +ANA VUKOVIĆ AND ANA GLUŠČIĆ
SATURDAY, 28. XII. (18,00) - +ALOJZIJE AND KATA ČULO
SUNDAY, 28. XII. (11,00) – FOR THE PARISH COMMUNITY
*** HOLY SEE
*BEGINNING OF THE JUBILEE YEAR 2025. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, a great event for the universal Church begins: the Holy or Jubilee Year. For the Vatican, the Holy Year is a centuries-old tradition of pilgrimage of the faithful to Rome, wrapped in signs of love and hope, fraternal communion, sacramental penance and conversion in order to encourage the faithful to make a sincere profession of faith and receive the Jubilee indulgence for sins committed. The Jubilee or Jubilee Year was established in the Old Testament when, according to Jewish tradition, equality was restored among all Israelites in the Holy Year. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the one who fully fulfills the old Jubilee by announcing the good news, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord (cf. Lk 4:16-21). In the Catholic Church, the first Holy Year was proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300. The original decree declared that a Holy Year would be celebrated every hundred years, but from 1475 onwards it was determined that an ordinary Jubilee would be celebrated every 25 years (with the possibility of declaring extraordinary Jubilees) so that each generation could experience at least one Jubilee Year. The Holy Year is opened by the Pope before the first Christmas Eve Mass by striking the walled-up "Golden Door" (Porta Aurea) with a hammer, which is then opened and then closed again after a year. The 2025 Jubilee will begin with the opening of the Holy Doors of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on 24 December 2024. Then on 29 December 2024, Pope Francis will open the Holy Doors of the Church of St. John Lateran. On New Year's Day, 1 January 2025, the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major will be opened, and finally the doors of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls will open on 5 January. The Holy Year 2025 will end with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on 6 January 2026, while the doors of the three remaining basilicas will be closed until 28 December 2025. All the faithful who are truly penitent and free from the inclination to sin, and who have received the sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion during the Holy Year, will be able to receive a plenary indulgence of all their sins (which can optionally be applied to the souls in purgatory) if they devoutly make a pilgrimage to the Holy Jubilee sites, participate in devotions and perform works of mercy and penance. Millions of pilgrims are expected in Rome on this occasion, who, by registering on the pilgrim website or through pilgrimage applications, will receive a digital ID card that allows access to Jubilee events and the Holy Door, as well as the possibility of independently planning a visit to Rome that includes a visit to certain Roman churches. The entire text of the papal bull of indiction of the Jubilee Year 2025 called “Spes non confundit” (Hope does not disappoint) could be found at following link: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html
*** PARISH
*DECORATING CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE CHURCH. Today after mass we will decorate the Christmas tree. I invite everyone who is able and willing to stay and help. Thanks to the Plazonja family on their traditional donationa of the Chrsitmas tree and our Parish Council members who brought and installed it here.
*CHRISTMAS DAY. Christmas is on Wenesday. Keep in mind what is the most important: to prepare your soul through Sacrament of Confession and parttaking in Christmas Mass. After the Midnight Mass, we will organize gathering to express warm wishes and have a refreshment in the church hall. Everyone is welcome.
*CATECHISM CLASSES FOR THE CONFIRMANDS AND CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST COMMUNION. We are taking a break for Christmas and the blessing of the families. So, next catechism class for the confirmands will be at the beginning of February. Attending Sunday Mass is still part of God's third commandment.
*NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY. Our parish will organize New Year's Eve Party with live music, dinner and dancing. Ticket price: adults $90, students $60, children under 6 for free. Ticket price includes a dinner, a bottle of wine per table and a midnight buffet. Live music will be performed by our local band, T. S. Melodije. Ticket reservations: Parish office (613-722-7135) and Vinko Marinković (613-822-3321). Please, apply as soon as possible for easier organization and preparation for the event. I also invite anyone willing to volunteer to prepare cakes and/or preparing the hall for the event, to come on Monday, December 30 at 7 p.m.
*FAMILY GIFT FOR THE PARISH. Christmas and the year's end are ahead. If you haven't done so already, please keep in mind to give your family gift for the parish, according to your possibilities. If you are not able to bring your gift in person, there is a possibility of remote donation by mailing a cheque or e-transfer to leopoldmandic@rogers.com. Thank you everybody who contributes for the needs of the Church.
*BLESSING OF FAMILIES. Starts on December 27. Sign-up list will be available on the table by the entrance door, or you can email or phone the parish office. During the blessing of home there should be crucifix and a lit candle on the table.
*CHURCH ENVELOPES AND CALENDARS. You can pick up your church envelopes for 2025 at the table near entrance. Please, pick up also the envelopes for the people you will meet who can't come to church. Croatian Catholic calendars I will bring personally to each family during the blessing of the families.
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