Highlights

• Please note:  10am Mass on New Year’s Day – 6pm Mass New Year’s Eve
• The parish office will re-open on Tuesday, January 2nd.
• Annual Report from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Pastor’s Christmas & New Year Message

God’s glorious act of redemption in his birth is not an event and the story of the past. His redeeming grace in the Holy Spirit continues to create and re-create us and the world. It is a work in progress.

The noise of the world like wars, suffering, plague and inequality are just the result of our fallen nature. But God, the Emmanuel, has and will never abandon us. It is for this reason that He gave us His Son to restore the beauty of our humanity, to bring peace to our hearts, a new vision of joy and hope that cannot be given by our material world but only by Jesus.

For all what God has done for us and for all what we have been through, we renew our invitation to our parishioners to “come back” to our Church. We long to see you, not only at this special season of Christ’s birth, but whole throughout the year, so that as a family, in our thanksgiving and worship, we can gain more strength once again by one’s presence.

To all of us, especially to our dedicated volunteers and generous parishioners, thank you for all your support. We continue to hope that as we journey together at this challenging times, we remain to be His people, a leaven in making our place brighter.

May God bless you and your family this Christmas! May Jesus by His light dispel the darkness in us, and may our hearts be filled with Christ’s hope and joy! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fr. Romelito Guillen

To all married couples

Our parish will be launching our Two As One meetings for married couples, the second and fourth Thursdays of each month after Mass.  Come and share faith and fellowship as a couple.  Be supported in your vocation, and support other married couples.  First meeting is on January 11th.

Tye Quilting for the Missions  Will begin on Monday, January 8, 2024 from 1-4pm in the Carlsruhe Church Hall. Contact Joan Stroeder (519-881-0978) or Anne Schwan (519-367-5466) for more information

 UNIFY Worship Services   Unify begins with a community meal at 6pm, followed by a service of music, preaching, testimony and prayer. Concludes with dessert at 8pm. Childcare is available!  Next Series begins January 24th.   Visit holyfamily.ca/unify for details.

Youth Ministry  Mustard Seeds Youth Ministry (Grades 8 through 12)   Upcoming meeting  Sat. January 13, 7:30pm to 10 pm

 Please remember in your prayers: the soul of Nancy Stroeder, wife of Leonard.  Her funeral mass will be on Sat. Jan. 6th at 11 am.

Ministry Schedules for January

Minsters of the Word:   6 pm: Robin Oberle, Jim Zettel  9 am: Marg Weber

Extra Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist:   6 pm: G.  Fedy, T. Bester    9 am: J. Jacques, T & D Schultz

Hospitality Ministers  6 pm: A & D Rehkopf  9 am: Diane McNichol-Byers

Sacristans:  Keith & Pat Weaver   Sacristans’ Linens:  Joanna Terpstra

Adoration Chapel News  

Chapel re-opens on Tues. January 2nd at 9 am.  Consider making regular visits to the Adoration Chapel.  Find the blessings, peace, solitude and love of Jesus by placing yourself in His presence.  Call Don & Helen Waechter at 519-364-1185 to learn more about times of operation and open hours.  Currently there is one hour needing a committed adorer.

Card Parties will start again on  Tuesday, Jan 2nd.  All are welcome!  Join with others for a friendly game of euchre or solo on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm, in the Holy Family Lenhard Room.  Bring a friend.  $2.  Admittance  

This Sunday’s Gospel

Luke 2: 22-40

Discussion Questions:

• As a child, were you introduced to Christianity?  How?
• Simeon declared that Jesus would be the ‘light’.  How has Christ brought ‘light’ to your life in the past?
• What is He illuminating about your spiritual life now?