The Good Shepherd Parish

Under the Spiritual leadership of Fr. Vernon Boyd, SJ, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Guelph, Ont. October 19-30, 2020 for 12 days at $4390.00. Travel arrangements by International Heritage Tours. For more information, please contact Michael Kwadrans at 1-877-999-8868 ext. 367 or email at michael@intours.com. Flyers will be available at the church foyer.

2020 Sunday Envelopes – The 2020 Sunday envelopes are available to be picked up in the gathering space. The new envelopes begin on January 1st, 2020

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!

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.

* DATE/TIME CHANGE* Christmas Parish Potluck Luncheon - Sunday 08 December 2019 following the 11:15 am Mass Due to a conflict with other planned community and parish activities the date for this event has changed and it is now a potluck luncheon. Please mark your calendar for Sunday 08 December, following the 11:15 am Mass. At this event we will also be marking a special farewell and gratitude to Deacon Dan as he retires from active Diaconate Ministry; best wishes will also be extended to Dee, his wife, who has journeyed with him in his years of ministry. Please plan to attend, bring along your favourite dish to share and enjoy wonderful fellowship with your faith family. We will have a Christmas sing-along and some activities for children as we endeavour to make this a memorable spiritfilled gathering. We are grateful for all help with the set-up in the morning and tear down at the end. Please contact Marilyn Olsen, Pastoral Council Chair at mabolsen@rogers.com; enter “2019 Christmas Parish Potluck” in the subject line.

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