Highlights:

• Fire Drill for St. Anne’s Church Chesley will take place on Sat. Dec. 20 following the 4 pm Mass.
• Community Brunch News – Join us Sunday, Dec. 7th following the 9 am Mass and serving until 12:30 pm in the Holy Family Lenhard Room. All are welcome. Your free will offering will go to support the replacement of new hand railings at the church. We thank the Knights of Columbus for organizing and sponsoring this event for us to all enjoy delicious food, a time of fellowship and raise funds for important needs.

There will be no brunch in the month of January, but Save the date for a January Spaghetti Supper
Friday Jan. 16th, Holy Family Lenhard Room
Organized by the Knights of Columbus. Meatless and Gluten Free options available. More details will follow.

Pope Francis on the topic of Confession
“Someone can say, “I confess my sins only to God.” Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and say your sins. But our sins are also against our brothers, against the Church. This is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness of the church and of our brothers, in the person of the Priest…. Forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves.”

“Someone may say, Father, I am embarrassed!” Even embarrassment is good. It’s healthy to have a bit of shame… it does us good, because it makes us more humble. Don’t be afraid of confession… When someone is in line for confession one feels all these things – even shame – but then, when one finishes confessing, they leave (feeling) free, great, beautiful, forgiven, clean, happy. The Sacrament of reconciliation is a sacrament of healing.” “Be courageous, and go to confession”

Confession – the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered a 1/2 hour before all Masses.

2026 Offering Envelopes are ready for pick up. Current users will find a box labelled with your name. If you would like to be a new user, please look for boxes labelled “unassigned” and include your information on the first several donations. Forms for Pre-Authorized Remittance are available for anyone who would like to start that means of donating. Those already signed on do not need to take action unless they desire a change to their monthly offering. Thank you for your church support.

Year End Donations: Please note that donations must be received by Dec. 31st in order to be included on your 2025 Tax Receipt. Thank you

CFFC item donations – The Canadian Food for Children Team just packed and shipped this week. Due to limited space, they would appreciate if you have clothing/ item donations to wait until after Christmas to bring them in, as their next packing day will be in January. Thanks!

Card Party on Tuesday Afternoons – 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
Christmas Break – The last card party for 2025 will be on Tues. Dec. 16th. Card parties will resume on Tues. Jan. 6th

Milk Mat Work Bee cancelled for December. Our next one will be on Wed. Jan 14th.

Formosa’s Children’s Choir presents Christmas Concert & Live Nativity
Sun. Dec. 21st, 2 pm Immaculate Conception Church, Formosa
Admission: Free will Offering

Adoration Chapel Hour Available Please note that on Monday evening there is an adoration hour available from 8-9 pm. If you would be able to fill this hour, please contact Don or Helen Waechter at 364-1185

Adoration Chapel Christmas Schedule: The chapel will close on Wed. Dec. 24th at 12 noon and re-open on Monday, January 5th.

Bad Weather – Is an Event Cancelled?
Parish events that are cancelled due to the weather will be added to the answering machine Cancellation Line. If you want to check to see if an event has been cancelled, call 519-364-1973 and press 6

Parking Lot – An Act of Kindness
Especially now with winter months approaching please consider leaving the parking spaces closest to the church for those who have walking difficulties. Thank you!

The Stewardship Advisory Committee is reaching out to all parish groups, ministries and committees for reports, photos and highlights of our many parish activities for the 2025 Annual Parish Report. Submissions may be sent to Bryan Plumstead at plumstead@eastlink.ca.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul News If you have taken a tag from the Giving Tree please drop off your gift by December 7th. Thank you.

Bring a non perishable food item with you to Mass. Mark it for local (St. Vincent de Paul) or missions (Canadian Food for Children) Thank you for sharing with the less fortunate.

Would you like to help decorate Holy Family Church for Christmas? We need lots of help to bring items up from the basement, to decorate the trees, hang wreaths and banners, and bring in the nativity stable. If you can help, please be at the Church at Sun. Dec. 21st at 1:30 pm Thank you.

Christmas Flowers For Holy Family Church We are most grateful for donations towards the cost of the Christmas Flowers.  Please mark your donation as such.  In thanksgiving, the 8 pm  Christmas Mass will be offered for the intentions of the donors of the Christmas Flowers. 
It’s a lovely way to remember and pray for your deceased loved ones or special intentions.
Note: This is for Holy Family Church, the St. Francis Xavier Flowers are already donated.

Reflection on Today’s Gospel Matthew 3: 1-12
Discussion Questions:

• Who has been a John the Baptist in your life? How did he or she prepare you to meet Jesus?
• How is repentance linked to your experience of
  salvation: In the past? Now?
• Where does repentance, to God and/or others, still need to happen in your life?

SUNDAY LITURGIES (Dec. 6/7)
2nd Sunday of Advent

Saturday Vigil Masses
4:00 pm
Eternal Happiness of Justina Slocombe – Bruce Grey CD Schoolboard
6:00 pm  
Eternal Happiness of Lenora DiSaverio- Albert & Elizabeth DiSaverio
Sunday,  
9 am Mass For all the people of the Parish & Parish Missions
11 am Mass – Location: St. Francis Xavier, Carlsruhe
Intentions of Norine Hamilton – F. J. Gross

Tuesday: 
10:30 am Mass Location: Hanover Care Manor
Mary Evers – BG Catholic D. Schoolboard
7 pm Mass
For the intentions of Landon Preiss-Hillier and souls of
Damon Davis, Haley Keffer, Tyson Varley – F.J. Gross
Mary Anne Hunt and the intentions of Louise

Wednesday
9 am Mass
Intentions of Don & Helen Waechter – Dane, Crystal, Marie & Joseph

Thursday:
10:30 am Mass Location: The Villa (The Village LTC)
Holy Souls – Jean Trafford
7:00 pm Mass
Louis & Leonard LeBlanc – Doug & Marie McGilvray
Jack Hesch – Helen & Family
Ken Graf – Don & Helen Waechter
Joe & Anna Montag & deceased members of their family – Betty Hunt
Friday:
9:15 am Mass (Includes School Community)
Joe Del Guidice – The Family

SUNDAY LITURGIES (Dec. 13/14)
3rd Sunday of Advent

Saturday Vigil Masses
6:00 pm  Eternal Happiness of Mary Hunt – Katie & Josh Zacharias & family
Sunday,  
9 am Mass For all the people of the Parish & Parish Missions
11 am Mass – Location: St. Francis Xavier, Carlsruhe
Eternal Happiness of Walter & Lorraine Ditner – Daryl & Carol Becker & Family