DAILY READINGS:
21/12 Monday: [1] Zephaniah 3.14-18a or Song of Songs 2.8-14 [Gospel] Luke 1.39-45
22/12 Tuesday: [1] Samuel 1.24-28 [Gospel] Luke 1.46-56
23/12 Wednesday: [1] Malachi 3.1-4; 4.5-6 [Gospel] Luke 1.57-66
24/12 Thursday: [1] 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8-12, 16) [Gospel] Luke 1.67-79
25/12 Friday: NATIVITY OF THE LORD [1] Isaiah 9.2-4, 6-7 [2] Titus 2.11-14 [Gospel] Luke 2.1-6
26/12 Saturday: OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS [1] Acts 6.8-10; 7.54-59 [Gospel] Matthew 10.17-22
27/12 Sunday: HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS [1] Genesis 15.1-6; 17.3b-5, 15-16; 21.1-7 [2] Hebrews 11.8, 11-12, 17-19 [Gospel] Luke 2.22-40
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
- First Reading 2 Samuel 7.1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 “Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?” Is Advent not about preparing a place in our homes and in our hearts for Jesus to come in a special way at Christmas? How did God correct King David’s idea? How is God prompting me to welcome his Son, the Gift of God planned through all time?
Psalm 89 “Forever I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord.”
- Second Reading Romans 16.25-27
What effects have God’s ways of making himself known had on me? St. Paul speaks of strengthening and obedience of faith. What is my current relationship with God? How do I hope it may develop?
“Alleluia! Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. Alleluia.”
- Gospel Reading Luke 1.26-38
When did an Angel come to me? When have I asked God, “How can this be?” What insights have I had from pondering the stories of Mary and Elizabeth? How has God been helping me grow towards Mary’s trust and humility, so I may respond: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”
PRAY FOR THE SICK: May Chu, Caroline Bayle, Camilo Romero, Adela Lim, Mary Martin, Ky Truong, Gina Tabul, Olivera Lambeta, Ngan Thi Trinh, Sam Hong Thi Do, Thuong Van Tran, Francesca Cabrales, Maria Garcia, Pho Ho, Danita Chow, Hong Van Le, Tuyen Thi Nguyen, Phu Thi Truong, Bernard Boos, Hanh Huynh, Mary Magdalene H, Thanh Thi Dao, Sa Thi Dang, Phuong Van Nguyen, Hoa Xuan Thi Le, Estrella Rodriguez, Felipe Sobredo, Long Van Nguyen, Tuyen Van Nguyen, Patricia Rudolph, Shirley De La Cruz, Dinh Thi Luyen, Fr. Vincent Thao Dinh, Andrew Gock.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH (December) For a life of prayer:
We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.
PARISH NEWS
Live-streaming Masses will be offered during this holy season as follows:
Dec. 24 & Dec. 31:
- English Mass at 5PM and Vietnamese Mass at 7:00PM
- Distribution of Holy Communion*: 6:15-6:45PM & 8:15-9:00PM
Dec. 25 & Jan. 01:
- Vietnamese Mass at 9:30AM and English Mass at 11:30 AM.
- Distribution of Holy Communion*: 1 – 2 PM
* Distribution of Holy Communion on Holy Days (and on Sundays from 1-2 pm during the Christmas season?) will take place in front of the church.
Octave of Christmas: 26/12-2020 – 02/01/2021
English Masses
Saturday 26/12: 9:00 AM
Sunday 27/12: 11:30 AM
Monday - Wednesday 28-30/12: 8:00 AM
Saturday 02/01: 9:00 AM
Vietnamese Masses:
Saturday 26/12: 7:00 PM
Sunday 27/12: 9:30 AM
Monday – Wednesday: 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 PM
Volunteers needed for January - April: to help with the All Were Filled program. Can you pick up food boxes for our parish on Fridays at 4 pm at St. Mary’s? Volunteers there load the boxes into your vehicle. Or can you deliver to a few families on Fridays starting around 4:30 pm? In the first 2 weeks, 24 families have requested food. Repeat weekly requests will be lower. Please call the parish office if you can help, even once a month. A schedule of 2 volunteers per week would be ideal.
All Were Filled: Do you know anyone struggling to have enough food to eat? Maybe you lost your job due to Covid-19 and are having trouble making ends meet. The All Were Filled Project offers free frozen food packets of hearty soups and/or entrées to put over rice, pasta or potatoes. There is no qualifying requirement to receive the food, and your order is confidential. Every week, you can order your box of food by Friday at 5 pm and pick it up or have it delivered on Friday afternoon the following week. Just call 604-876-7826 or email [email protected] to order a box that has 6 different dishes (7 servings each). We are in this together. Help us get the word out or call to place your order today. No one we know should go hungry!
Parish Christmas Outreach: Thank you for sharing your time, talents and treasure with our neighbours in need! The 70 families we visited this year were especially appreciative of our assistance and love in this difficult time.
Weekly Collection Envelopes: for 2021 can be picked up at the church entrance.
Prayers of the Faithful: Can you be an instrument of the Holy Spirit in helping to write General Intercessions for Sunday Masses? Guidance and mentoring will be provided. Please let the parish office know if you are interested.
Project Advance 2020: Thank you to everyone who already donated to Project Advance! Our Parishioners have pledged $$67,120 and donated $65,160. Our parish goal is $75,000. Donations can be made by mail, at the parish office, or online at: http://www.projectadvance.ca
PARISH INFORMATION
Mass schedules: The suspension of Masses in person has been extended until January 8 by the provincial health officer. Please check the website for further COVID updates.
Livestreamed Masses continue at 11:30 am Sunday in English, and Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday at 9:30 am in Vietnamese.
Receiving Holy Eucharist: Our priests are now distributing the Holy Eucharist every Sunday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. The requirements are to prepare well before receiving the Eucharist, such as being free from all sins, especially mortal sins, and to commit to attending Mass online.
Special Advent Confession Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 5:00-6:00 pm. Maximum of 9 people. Please call the parish office to pre-register. You can also arrange for confession any time during office hours.
The Church is open for private prayer: from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Hand sanitizer, supplies to clean the pews, and marking guides to ensure distancing are available. Please help lower the risk of spreading infection at church by trying to minimize your contacts and staying home when ill, wearing a mask in the church, hand washing/sanitizing, cleaning the pew when you leave and giving other people space to stay safe. Thank you very much!
Stay in Touch: We welcome emails or phone calls to the parish office (604-876-7826 / [email protected]) if you have suggestions or need assistance. Please keep your contact information (address, phone, email) up to date.
Donations: Christmas offering is on Dec.25. To donate online go to www.rcav.org/sunday-offering and select St. Joseph, Van Offering.
ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS
Blue Light Campaign: Jesus, Our Living Hope. Catholics are encouraged to put up blue lights this year, to show hope and solidarity. Blue recalls the Blessed Virgin Mary, with her trust and confidence in God, purity, virginity, innocence, and birth. It also expresses solidarity with those grieving loss and other hardships this Christmas due to COVID-19.
Blue Light Campaign Photo Contest
Enter to win one of three gift baskets:
1. Take a photo of your home, living space, church or office decorated with blue lights.
2. Before Dec. 28, post your photo to Facebook or Instagram using #bluelightchristmas #catholicvanchristmas @archvancouver
Make sure your post is public so we can see it and enter you. Questions? Please email [email protected]
Daily Rosary and Intercession: Dec. 1-31 at 7:30-8:30 pm, with St. Joseph Vaz Sri Lankan prayer group and the Community of the Risen Lord. All are welcome. By Zoom. For information see: https://beholdvancouver.org/events/making-sense-of-anxiety-in-children-and-youth
Making Sense if Anxiety in Children and Youth: Wednesdays from Jan. 6-27, 7:30-9:00 pm. Video course by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, facilitated by Kevin Bredeman MA. $10. Info/registration at: https://beholdvancouver.org/events/making-sense-of-anxiety-in-children-and-youth
PRH Workshop: Helping My Children Become Themselves: 4 Saturdays from Jan. 9-30, 9 am-4 pm. Cost scale. Info: Leah Bittante at [email protected]
The Gospel of Matthew: A New Exodus: join us online on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm to investigate the brilliant way in which the Gospel of Matthew describes the person and mission of Jesus.. Register for free at https://beholdvancouver.org/events/the-gospel-of-matthew-a-new-exodus
How Can We Hear Christ's Voice More Clearly in Our Lives? Is there a way to know Christ's desire and invitation for my life? Join and explore together with Fr. Elton Fernandes online on Saturday Jan. 9 at 7:30 pm. Register for free at https://beholdvancouver.org/events/st-mary-s-padre-pio-prayer-group-5
BEHOLD: Be sure to sign up and check this new archdiocesan portal for spiritual writing, workshops, events and other links! https://beholdvancouver.org/
