“You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18.37
From Fr. George
Prayerful greetings from St. Bonaventure Parish.
We have gradually come to the last weekend of this Liturgical Year, celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI as a feast of the universal Church in 1925, when the dark clouds of totalitarianism were rolling over the world. In response to the world's increasing secularization, nationalism & atheism surged forth & threatened the Christian world, the Church decided to fight against these ideologies, by emphasizing the sovereignty of Jesus Christ & his final triumph over evil & injustice.
This weekend’s scripture readings make clear to us that the kingdom of Jesus is not a kingdom of this world but a kingdom in the world to come, life after death, life with Jesus, forever. In the Gospel Jesus declared, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. So, this feast points our attention not only to the identity of Christ as the king of the universe but also to the goal of the Christian life, to live & reign with Him forever. It is also a summary of our lives as Christians.
As we celebrate this beautiful solemnity of Christ the King, let Jesus Christ be our king. We need to allow him to set us free from selfishness, so that we can follow him & help him to build his kingdom of love, a kingdom of holiness, peace & grace, a kingdom of justice, love & peace.
So, let's ask for the grace today to really make Jesus the king of our lives & let us try to serve Him in every person we meet. We need to allow Jesus Christ to rule in our hearts & souls as we serve others for the love of him. Let us seek to build his kingdom of love in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you all.
Keep Christ in Christmas
Knights of Columbus Christmas Card Sales
This weekend after all Masses
The Knights of Columbus will be selling “Keep Christ in Christmas” cards,
beautiful cards with inspiring Christ-centred Christmas messages.
Packs of 5 different cards will sell for $5.
Grey Cup Pool Ticket Sales
The 2021 CFL Grey Cup game will be played in the "donut box", Hamilton's Tim Horton's Field, on Sunday December 12. The Knights of St. Bonaventure Parish are selling grey cup pool tickets in support of Catholic scholarships. Purchase them in the parish office for $2. Please support this Knights' fundraiser.
We can help those in need
Pope Francis has said that we need to fully overcome the stigma with which mental illness has often been branded in order to ensure that a culture of community prevails over the mentality of rejection.
We are committed to following the Pope’s call to build a community of warmth & affection where people who live with depression & other mental health challenges can find hope & healing.
“Let us pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support & a light that opens them up to life.” ~ Pope Francis
CCCB Justice, Healing & Reconciliation Initiatives
Pope Francis will meet with residential school survivors, elders, knowledge keepers & youth at the Vatican from December 17-20, 2021.
"With this delegation, we hope to walk together in a new way, to listen with humility, & to discern the next steps that the Church can take to support residential school survivors, their families & their communities." Full CCCB news release here
Residential Schools
Apology from the Canadian Bishops, & links to much more information about Residential Schools, including the $30M pledge to support healing initiatives.
Pope Francis' message on the Kamloops Residential Schools.
Bishop William McGrattan's message on Kamloops Residential Schools.
A Catholic Response
Call to Action 48 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Delegation to the Holy See: diverse group of Indigenous people to meet with Pope Francis
Crisis line for Indian Residential School survivors & family:
1-866-925-4419
Catholics for Truth & Reconciliation (Facebook group)
Christmas Giving
There are several Catholic charities in Calgary in need of help this Christmas season. See below to find out how you can help the needy in our city.
Feed the Hungry
Alberta winters are hard, especially for those who are homeless or in transition. Such a small thing as a good pair of mittens, gloves or a warm toque can make a big difference. We invite you to donate new mittens/gloves, toques or $10 gift cards (from fast food places) to share with Feed the Hungry's guests closer to Christmas.
Kindly deliver items or gift cards to the Catholic Pastoral Centre Reception (120 17 Ave SW) before Nov. 30. The reception is open during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
Elizabeth House
Click here to donate
Bring a joyful Christmas to the residents of Elizabeth Hose & fulfil their wish list. As in previous years, donors will be matched with a family & would receive a wish list from them. This year the limit is $500 per family for gifts, & items must be new. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the house in any amount.
Items are to be dropped off at the Catholic Pastoral Centre on December 18 between 1-3 pm, but alternate arrangements can be made. Tax receipts will be provided for donations more than $20 as long as you fill out the gift in kind form & have receipts
Starting now to Dec. 20, your donation to Elizabeth house will be doubled by one generous Calgary couple, up to $25,000! Double your donation to Elizabeth House by giving online at: elizabethhousecalgary.ca/donation-form
Faithfully
A diocesan faith letter with a new shorter format - emailed every Monday.
Subscribe here to start your week with these nuggets of faith & inspiration.
Livestream Masses
Livestream of masses from our diocese (scroll to the bottom of the page), around the world & on TELUS Optik TV Ch. 877 (choose Diocese of Calgary tile logo).
Sunday Readings - Reflections
Mass Readings
- Alpha and Omega. Go look at the parish Easter Candle near the baptismal font. You see an Alpha (A) & an Omega (W), the first & last letters of the Greek alphabet. They remind us that Christ, yesterday & today, is the Beginning & the End. To him belongs all time, all the ages, & glory & power for ever. Amen. Since he is more powerful than me:
- What will I believe about God’s Kingdom?
- What truth do I need to hear Jesus speak?
- What action will I do because it is right & true?
Diocese of Springfield
Our Sunday Mass Times
Saturdays at 5 pm
Sundays at 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am,
12 noon & 7 pm
- You do not need to register to attend mass.
- The dispensation of the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues.
- The sign of peace is to be exchanged with a bow, not by a handshake.
- Collection baskets are in the Narthex to drop off your donations.
- Holy Communion will be distributed by the priest (center aisle)
- There is a limit of 50 attendees for funerals, weddings & baptisms.
- Tuesday & Thursday evening masses at 7 pm.
The dispensation of the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues at this
this time.
Parish Guidelines
- Masks are mandatory at all times.
- Hand sanitizers are located throughout the building for your convenience. We ask that you maintain proper hand hygiene.
- Please exercise charity & kindness in respecting peoples level of comfort regarding physical distancing, physical contact, cohorts.
- There is a limited capacity of 1/3 of fire code capacity.
Anyone who has even the slightest symptoms or feelings of illness must remain at home.
Covid 19 General Directives from the Diocese of Calgary here
Adoration Chapel Hours
Monday - 9:30 am to Midnight
Tuesday - 7:00 am to Midnight
Wednesday - 7:00 am to
Tuesday - 7:00 am to Midnight
Wednesday - 7:00 am to
Thursday at Midnight
Friday - 9:30 am to Midnight
Friday - 9:30 am to Midnight
The Adoration Chapel is still in need of adorers. Current openings here.
If you can spare one hour a week, please contact Heather Burdeyney at heather.burdeyney@outlook.com or 403-278-0394. Thank you.
Parish Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am - noon
Parish Office: 403-278-7556 or info@stbonaventureparish.ca
Please know that our parish community is here for you.
If you or your family need spiritual or emotional support, or if you would like a priest or parishioner to call you, please contact the parish at 403-278-7556 or reply to this email. If you require assistance with food hampers from St. Vincent de Paul, you can contact the parish office to connect to the SVDP Society.