The Good Shepherd Parish

Joe Dunham from Net Ministries will be appealing for Parish support for Net Ministries next weekend, November 23/24. Please make cheques payable to the Good Shepherd Parish.

Our 2nd Annual ‘Reverse Advent Calendar Project’ will begin on first weekend of Advent (November 30/December 1) and involves the daily accumulation of a non-perishable food item to be kept at home. Then, on December 27 (weather permitting), you will be asked to bring your donation to the lot of church to be put directly on a truck and delivered to the Life Centre Food Bank on Innes Road. Since the Food Bank is almost depleted after Christmas, our donations will help fill their shelves again! We are the stewards or our good fortune. Although we cannot bring gold, frankincense and myrrh to our King at His birth, we can bring smaller gifts – given with love, in His name. Let’s prayerfully consider what changes might be needed to re-energize our giving this Advent. To get you started, here is a list of what is always missing from the shelves: Juice boxes, large cans of soup, cookies, crackers, jam, canned salmon, canned fruit, condiments, salt/pepper, tea/coffee, shampoo, soap, baby products and feminine hygiene products. Set aside a small space or box in your home where you can deposit your purchases. Each time you do, think about the family, single mom, or handicap person who will be so grateful to receive your gifts. You bless them with your generosity. A detailed Advent calendar will be included in an upcoming bulletin!

Pope Francis has invited each one us to reflect on this day, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Throughout the year, the poor need our help by way of prayer, donations of clothing and furniture. A monetary offering will help our St. Vincent de Paul Council provide them with food. Envelopes are provided at the back of the church for your donation. Please make cheques payable to Good Shepherd Parish.

Do you like yummy treats? Are you pro-life and want to help the cause? Delicious traditional Christmas cakes and other tasty gifts made by the Cistercian Monks of Val Notre-Dame Abbaye in St-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec will be for sale in our church the first and second weekends of December after all Masses. All proceeds go to help the preterm babies.

We are seeking your help with the Christmas parish potluck that is being planned for Saturday November 30th, following the 5:00 pm Mass. Please consider lending a hand to make this spirit-building gathering a success. This will be a great time to connect with your faith family, share some delicious food and rejoice as we enter the period of Advent, preparing for the celebration of the Birth of Our Lord. Please contact Marilyn Olsen, Pastoral Council Chair at mabolsen@rogers.com; enter “2019 Christmas Parish Potluck” in the subject line.

The new Living with Christ Sunday Missals will be available for purchase on the weekends of 23/24 November and 30 November/01 December. A table will be set up in the Gathering Space both weekends; cost is $7.00 each. Copies can be purchased any time during office hours.

YOUTH GROUP – Come out to youth group Friday nights for food, fun and fellowship! Junior youth group (grades 6-8) runs from 6:30-8pm and Senior (grades 9-12) from 8:15-9:45pm. All are welcome! Any questions or interested in volunteering? Please contact Kate at: youth@thegoodshepherdparish.com

SECOND COLLECTION – there will be a second collection for the Catholic Missions in Canada the weekend of November 16/17. There are no envelopes in the envelope box for this collection. Additional envelope will be provided.