Advent, Christmas & New Year's Celebrations
Roman
Catholic Diocese of Calgary
Announcements from the
Catholic Pastoral Centre for
November 27th 2011, First Sunday of Advent.
Office
of Liturgy
Implementation
Directive for the Diocese of Calgary According to the GIRM 2011. As we wait for the full implementation of the Roman Missal on
the First Sunday of Advent, we are inviting you to visit our diocese's
Roman Missal website at http://RomanMissal.calgarydiocese.ca. Find the Implementation
Directive for the Diocese of Calgary according to the General Instruction
to the Roman Missal (GIRM) 2011 and the updated PDF file for the Mass
Response card (leaflet format) with the updated changes in posture for your
own printing convenience.
Religious Education Secretariat
The Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Alberta
Catholic School Trustees’ Association (ACSTA) will be hosting the biennial
“Catholic Conference” in Calgary on March 9 - 10,
2012. This conference is designed to give all Catholics, from all walks of
life an opportunity to come together and pray and celebrate their faith. The
Conference theme is "Open Wide the Doors..." Welcome the
New Evangelization. Several of the Alberta Bishops will be
presenting break-out sessions. In order to allow as many people as possible to attend
this event, the organizing committee is asking any local businesses or
individuals who would like to help sponsor this event to contact them for a
sponsorship package. There are many ways to become involved, from
sponsoring meals and refreshment breaks to donating products and services to
enhance the Conference program. If you or your business would like to
help make this Catholic gathering more affordable to all, please contact ACSTA
at admin@acsta.ab.ca
or call Michelle at 1-780-484-6209.
Life
and Family Resource Centre (LFRC)
Transitions –
a 15-week program for those newly separated/divorced. New program will start
on Monday,
January 23, 2012. For more information or registration call 403-218-5504.
Effective
Co-Parenting: Putting Kids First will
be offered on Tuesdays evenings from 7:00-9:00
pm. on the following dates: Feb 7,
14, 21, 28, and March 6. This program provides tools to create effective
communication skills for parents who are separated or divorced. It is
recommended that parents do not enroll in the same course. For more information
please call 403-218-5504.
The
Marriage Preparation program “For Better and For Ever”, has been adapted for couples in one
or more of the following circumstances: living together, previously married,
beginning marriage with children, couples 45+,
or those who wish to have their marriage blessed in the Church. For information
and/or to register call the Life and Family Resource Centre at
403-218-5504 email
Because, Calgary Pro
Life is a non-profit Association offering FREE programs intended to educate
regarding respect for all life, your support is needed! Become a member today or
consider a donation. Call 403-243-0691 or visit www.calgaryprolife.com
Social Support Group at Catholic Family Service - an ongoing social support group for men and women that focuses on
bringing people together who would like to make connections to others and
develop self-confidence in building relationships. New members are welcome the
first Tuesday of every month. Meetings are Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30
p.m., at the Catholic Family Service Office at 250-707 10 Ave SW. Fees
on a sliding fee scale. Call 403-233-2360.
Social Justice Office
Society of St. Vincent DePaul is running their Christmas Campaign to
provide Christmas Hampers and Gifts for families who are in need. Please contact
the Society of St. Vincent DePaul Conference at your local Parish if you
would like to provide food items, gifts, and financial support, or if you would
like to assist with packing and delivering.
Chalice - A Catholic Child Sponsorship Program with a mission to
share Christ with those in need. During this Advent Season, consider making a
difference in the life of a child by choosing to become a sponsor. Chalice is
rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and looks to affirm the dignity of every
child. Currently, Chalice has 45, 000 sponsored children in 15 countries. For
more information, please call Chalice at 1-800-776-6855 or visit their website
at www.chalice.ca.
The Human Experience film – This Grassroots documentary that
speaks to issues of homelessness and the dignity of the human person is now
available in our Pastoral Library. Also, if your parish or parish group is
interested in a showing of the film at your church, please contact Jana Drapal
at 403-218-5519 at the Social Justice Office or e-mail socialjustice@calgarydiocese.ca.
Development and Peace Fall Campaign Action Cards - All involved in
this year’s CCODP campaign to Help to
Cool the Earth are encouraged to send in their signed Fall Action Cards to
Social Justice Office, Pastoral Centre, 120-17th Ave. S.W., Calgary,
AB, T2S, 2T2. Signed cards demonstrate our solidarity with small-scale farmers
in the Global South who request the promotion of agricultural models that allow
them to feed their families and seek sustainable solutions to Climate Change.
Action cards will be collectively sent to the CCODP office and signatures will
be collected and counted; The message will be displayed on large banners and
sent to our CCODP partners, who can use them to increase the impact of their
advocacy work with their government, and at public events, such as the 2012 Rio
+ 20 conference (www.earthsummit2012.org).
MISSION
MEXICO DAY December 11
Bishop Henry has again declared the
feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as
Mission Mexico Day in the Diocese of Calgary. Mission Mexico is an outreach
project to marginalized mountain communities in southern Mexico. In partnership
with a number of accountable on-site agencies, we fund culturally sensitive,
dignity-affirming initiatives in health, education and human rights. These have
included construction of a high school, equipping computer labs and libraries,
funding clean-water and sanitation projects, underwriting adult literacy
programs, and providing student bursaries. We are asking every parishioner in
the diocese to contribute a loonie on Mission Mexico Day to support this
missionary outreach. On December
10-11 we will take up a special collection.
St. Bonaventure Parish, Calgary
Visitation of the Relics of St. Gianna Beretta Molla
A presentation on the life of St. Gianna will be given
by Mr.