Summary of this Issue

Liturgical overview of the month of December dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

A reflection on the symbolism of candles in Advent is given.

Helpers of God’s Precious Infants is a new Ministry in Ottawa that is bearing fruit.

A suggestion of what to do for Linda Gibbons, a grandmother jailed for praying in front of an abortion facility.

The Manhattan Declaration is a strong public appeal in defense of life, of marriage, of religious freedom and objection of conscience.

Michael Coren offers an encouraging summary of how the church is being renewed in the last 20 years.

An Introduction to Spiritual Warfare is a powerful reflection on a topic that should be considered.

Temperaments explain differences in personality and natural tendencies which are important considerations for spiritual growth.

A link providing panoramic views of the Holy Sepulcher is provided.

Two new Youtube videos are available in this issue.

We have some book ideas for Christmas shopping.

There is a survey on Maryvale Academy.

On the VM Lighter Side you have three videos to make you laugh.

Upcoming Events of Note:

• Saturday December 5^th: come meet Phil Lees, the newly elected leader of the Family Coalition Party of Ontario.

• Thursday, December 10: “Reasons to Believe” lecture by Fr Terry Donnahue.
  
• Friday December 11^th: RORATE Mass AT ANNUNCIATION OF THE Lord Parish

• Friday December 11^th: all-Night Vigil of Eucharistic Adoration begins at Saint Patrick’s Basilica.

• Saturday December 12^th, is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Special High Mass at Saint Patrick’s Basilica.

• Saturday December 12^th – Messiah Highlights and other Christmas Favourites concert at Saint Anthony’s Church.

• Saturday December 12^th - ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS at St. Patrick’s Basilica

You are all beautiful, O Mary, and there is in you no stain of original sin.

For overview of month including Papal Intentions, click HERE.

Candles in Advent

What we see so often in Church history: certain things have been done first for practical reasons, but then in the course of time there was also attributed a spiritual meaning. And the use of candles during Advent belongs into this category. The symbolism of the candle matches
very well with the spirit of Advent. Advent is dawn. It is still not the bright light of Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for something exceedingly joyful that will be going to happen. The Church and the soul are still struggling through the darkness toward the Light. There is a
longing and expectancy of Advent. The light of our candles is a symbol for our longing for the coming of our Savior Whose light is already dawning. On Christmas Eve we will enter the Church in procession by candlelight. When the Gloria is sung all the lights will be turned on
meaning that Christ is now born.

Thursday Nov 19^th was the first day that the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, and we were blessed with three possible turnarounds. Read the reports by F. and Doris: http://helpersottawa.blogspot.com/. Isn’t this a sign that God wants us to continue this prayer-vigil effort across from the abortion mill?

The objective is to have the vigil one day a week between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, when abortions take place, which means Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Click on the calendar to see when the next vigils are planned. Doris Gagnon, who looks after this ministry, hopes there will be at least three vigilers praying across from the abortion mill, and one or two sidewalk counsellors distributing material. Please consider taking part in this life-saving/ culture changing prayer effort.

To register, please visit the following link:

http://helpersottawa.org/en/31_vigil.html

Send Jailed Pro-Life Heroine Linda Gibbons a Christmas Card

Linda Gibbons has been a “common criminal” for many years now.  For fifteen years, since 1994, this grandmother has been in and out of Ontario prisons. Her totally accumulated jail time is seven years.  What is her crime?  Linda prayerfully and quietly witnesses in front of Ontario abortion clinics, in violation of an unjust "bubble zone" law. …for more, click HERE.

The Manhattan Declaration

You are invited to read this profound and timely document called "The Manhattan Declaration", which was finalized and signed by 12 Bishops in the US only a few weeds ago.  Please go to the website link below and sign the declaration and then forward it to your e-mail friends and colleagues.  The "Manhattan Declaration" website started with 100 signatures only weeks ago and they are now over 200,000 Christians who have signed it and the movement is growing like wildfire throughout the world.  All Christians are uniting through this important document in speaking the truth about what it means to be a Christian. 

 Read The Manhattan Declaration: The Manifesto That's Shaking America

http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/

A Call of Christian Conscience

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The Church that grew out of crayons

“His heart sank when he first encountered Canadian Catholicism. But today he is proud of the country's vibrant Catholic life” Michael Coren gives a succinct recapitulation of how he sees the renewal of Catholicism in Canada in the last 20 years in this article. He mentions solid orthodox Episcopal leadership as well as well as Opus Dei and The Oratory as being important forces in this renewal.

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

In response to a question on his blog (Catholic Spiritual Direction), Fr. John Bartunek, LC, offers a four part response on the subject of Spiritual Warfare:

·         Introduction to spiritual warfare… Part I

·         Introduction to spiritual warfare… Part II

·         Introduction to Spiritual Warfare Part III – What is the devil up to?

·         Introduction to Spiritual Warfare – Part IV – Getting Down to Action

Temperaments

Why should Catholics want to understand their temperament?

One's temperament is a gift from God, an important aspect of our human nature that brings with it certain strengths as well as weaknesses. It is important to know oneself so that one does not go through life reacting instinctively, but rather acting with wisdom and fortitude. When we begin to understand our temperament, we can identify our natural tendencies and use this as a springboard for growth.

To read more, click HERE.

How to Keep Your Children Catholic

FATHER JOHN A. HARDON, S.J.

“This is surely an unusual subject for today’s conference, "How to Keep Your Children Catholic." The subject may be unusual but it is desperately important. I would like to briefly address myself to three questions, expressed in three words, Why? What? and How?”

To read, click HERE.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Here is a panoramic view of the courtyard (notice the handicap ramp!), the Catholic chapel, and other inside portions of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (which contains the traditional locations of the crucifixion and the tomb of Christ), in Jerusalem.

Move your mouse to move the picture.

Click on  "Full screen"

http://www.360tr.com/kudus/kiyamet_eng/index.htm

YouTube videos of this Issue

·         O' Come All Ye Faithful (Celtic Woman)

·         On the Occasion of Fr.Groeschel's 50th Anniversary of his Priesthood

Great book ideas from Justin Press

Justin Press, a new Ottawa-based Canadian Catholic printing house has just released its first titles. Click HERE for details. These books can also be purchased at St. Patrick's Gift Shop. These are great ideas for Christmas gifts, and a great way to support this wonderful Ottawa-based initiative.

Maryvale Academy Survey

Please find below a link for a survey from Maryvale Academy about independent Catholic education.  This survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.  I would be most grateful if you could take time to do this as it will provide valuable information for Maryvale Academy .  You need not be interested in Maryvale Academy , or have even heard of it, in order to fill it out.

  All those who complete the survey will be eligible to win a $50 gift card at PetroCan.

 The survey can be found at:

 http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform...

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday December 5^th: meet Mr. Phil Lees, the newly elected leader of the Family Coalition Party of Ontario. 

 At the HINTONBERG COMMUNITY CENTRE 1064 WELLINGTON STREET (Beside St. Francoise d’Assise Church) on Saturday, December 5, from l:30 to 4:30 pm 
in the Laroche Room.
Free parking is available at the rear of the Community Centre and the OC Transpo bus #2 serves the area.  Free coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be available to attendees.
Come and hear what Phil has accomplished for  the pro-life cause and share your ideas for a new and dynamic Family Coalition Party of Ontario. Bring a friend with you!

For more info, contact Tom Rooney (613) 231-5235

Thursday, December 10: “Reasons to Believe”, Fr Terry Donnahue, CC

ST. PHILIP'S PARISH, RICHMOND:  Father Terry Donahue, Companions of the Cross, will be speaking on "Reasons to Believe - Evidence for the Truth of the Catholic Faith from Philosophy, History and Miracles"  in St. Philip's Hall at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 10, following the 6.30 p.m. Mass.  Info: (613-838-2314).

Friday December 11^th: RORATE Mass AT ANNUNCIATION OF THE Lord Parish

Annunciation of Our Lord Parish is celebrating the RORATE Mass on the Friday the December 11th; the start time is 07:15 PM with Marion songs leading into Mass. This is a joint venture sponsored by the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus. Here is some background on the Rorate Mass

Introduction:

What is a Rorate Mass and why is it celebrated with white vestments and
by candlelight?

The Rorate Mass got its proper name from the first word of the Introit (Entrance antiphon): "Rorate caeli désuper et nubes pluant justum". "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness". We know Gaudete and Laetare Sunday which also got their
names from the Introit. In Advent we live spiritually between the Annunciation and the birth of
Christ. Mary teaches us the spirit of Advent and inner attitude we should have during Advent. During the nine month of pregnancy Mary lived a hidden life, in the spirit of silence and intense intimacy with Christ she carried in her womb. This spirit of intimacy with God the faithful
are to cultivate during the season of Advent more intensely by listening attentively to God's message and by obedience to His word.

Friday December 11^th: All-Night Vigil Of Eucharistic Adoration

Saint Patrick's Basilica (downstairs in the Grotto)
Friday, December 11th, beginning at 8:30 p.m.  

For priests, for an end to abortion, for world peace. Continuous rosary, chaplet of Divine Mercy, Litany of Reparation. Masses in the Basilica at 7:00 and 8:00 a.m., on Saturday.

Info: Oliver Hunt at 613-825-5273.

Saturday December 12^th, is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the unborn.

There will be a special “High Mass” at 8:00 am at Saint Patrick’s Basilica celebrated by Fr. Richard Siok

Saturday December 12^th: Messiah Highlights and other Christmas Favourites

Maryvale Academy, will once again be singing with the Sacred Music Society choir and other Sparrows choirs at the annual "Handel's Messiah and Other Christmas Favourites" concert on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm.  This year it will be held at St. Anthony's Church, 427 Booth St. (instead of Dominican College).  The concert will feature a selection of great choral works, accompanied by a 21-piece orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Uwe Lieflander.  Listening to glorious choral music in a beautiful church setting is a great way to prepare for Christmas.  Tickets are available from Amy Lau (timlau@sympatico.ca), or from Maryvale Academy, (613) 321-2186.  $20 for adults, $15 for students, $85 family rate (immediate family).  Part of the proceeds will go to support Maryvale Academy (www.maryvaleacademy.ca).

Click HERE for details.

Saturday December 12^th: ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS: will be presented by the Choirs of Saint Patrick’s Basilica, with the Cathedral Brass, in conjunction with the Basilica’s Adult Faith Series on Saturday, December 12 at 7 p.m. Come, prepare for Christmas with an hour of music and reflection, including congregational singing and instrumental music, as well as choral pieces in honour of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Click HERE for details.

Free will offering