OF HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS & IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 145, L'Ardoise, NS, BOE ISO.
Phone: 1-902-587-2416/Fax: l-902-587-2529/hgap@ stpeterscable.com
Pastor - Fr. Barrett Clare-Johnson
First Sunday of Advent
December 1 & 2, 2007
Weekday Masses
Mon.. Dec. 3rd: Mass @ 6:30 p.m. in HGA -Intention for Jean Jones from Mary O'Brien
Tues.. Dec. 4th:Mass @ 9:00 a.m. in HGA - Intention for Steven & Ernest LaBelle
Mass @ 10:45 a.m. in the Mi'kmawey School
Wed., Dec. 5th:No Mass. Fr. Barrett will be attending a pastoral meeting with Mi'kmaq Communities and Bishop Lahey in Eskasoni.
Thur., Dec. 6th: Mass @ 6:30 p.m. in Immaculate Conception - Special Intention
Fri.. Dec. 7th: Mass @ 6:30 p.m. in HGA - Intention for Daniel Sampson from AnnaBelle SampsonPlease call 535-2053 for Mass Schedule for St Peters & St John the Baptist
Ministries
4:00 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:15 a.m.Date
Reader
Offertory
Eucharistic
ServersSat, Dec. 8
Ernie Doupe
Lois & Bertram Madden
Shirley Gracie (T) Marie Kemp
Karen Evong
Sun. Dec. 9
Carolyn Cook
Dorothy Matthews Joseph Boudreau
Sarah Touesnard (T) Maria Collett
Bill Fitzpatrick
Sun. Dec. 9
Joseph
Joe, Chris, Bill
Annie, Allie, Kaysha
Sacrament of Reconciliation: (Confessions) Before evening weekday Masses or by request.
Advent: Within the Catholic Christian Tradition, the Liturgical or Church Year begins with Advent,
the first Sunday after the Feast of Christ the King. The Bible readings for this year will come from
the Sunday Lectionary, Cycle A. Advent has a twofold nature: it prepares us for Christmas, and it is a time when we look forward to his second coming at the end of ages. Advent is a season of joyful expectation. Advent is sometimes lost in the busy schedule of Christmas. Traditions like the
Advent wreath help us to slow down and focus on this holy season with a sense of prayer. The Advent wreath has its origins in the ancient fire wheel of pagan times. Today, Christians celebrate
the circle as a symbol of God and the Father's presence throughout human history. The wreath is made of four candles; three purple and one pink in a circle of evergreens. The purple candles represent the spirit of the Advent Season: we always need Christ in our lives. The pink candle is lit
on the Third Sunday of Advent and symbolizes the mood of joy that is growing stronger because we know that our Saviour will soon be with us. Evergreen branches encircling the four candles remind
us of the eternal love of God, in Christ, which is without beginning and end. The candles represent the four weeks of Advent. The wreath may be blessed on the First Sunday, in Advent, after the homily; the usual place for blessing in the renewed Mass. During the rest of Advent, the wreath may be lighted before Mass, without ceremony, as we do with the Easter candle during the Pascal season (National Bulletin on Liturgy. vol.12#71). Light is the most powerful symbol of the Advent season. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..." (Isaiah 9:1).Sunday Missal 2007-2008 - available for sale in the church vestry. Cost - $4.00.
Grades 7 & 8 Religion: Religion will resume in January
45's Card Game at the L'Ardoise Community Center on Saturdays at 7 p.m. Usual 1st, 2nd, & 3rd. Prizes along with rising toonie jar which is now $612.00+
Jesse Tree: The Social Action Committee will put up the Advent Jesse Tree. Donations can be made to the Social Action Committee in support of the Food Bank and their other works. The Jesse Tree uses illustrations to represent the genealogy of Christ. Each illustration is a symbol for some
part of the story of the coming Messiah. Bethlehem: Bethlehem means "House of Bread." It was designated as the birthplace of Christ, the Bread from Heaven. The Root of Jesse: Isaiah prophesied that the Saviour would be born from the root of Jesse; that the Saviour would sit upon the throne of David and, in Christ, this prophecy is fulfilled. The Star of David: The six-pointed
star is the emblem of the Royal House of David even to this day, Christ, who is born of the House
of David can truly claim this emblem as his own. Jacob's Ladder: Jacob saw a ladder reaching
from heaven to earth, with angels descending and ascending. Christ, the Incarnate God (God-made-human while still God), is the Ladder reuniting earth to heaven; humanity to God.Angel Trees: Parishioners can donate a small angel to be hung on our Angel trees in memory of a deceased loved one. Please place your angel in the box at the main entrance of the church, and mark on the angel the names of the deceased and donors.
Parish Pastoral Council Update: The Parish Pastoral Council has formed an Ad Hoc Committee. This committee will work towards finding the make-up of the parish pastoral council for our two parishes. They will gather information on what other groups of parishes have done in the Diocese
and formulate the make-up of our council.Children's Sunday Liturgy: It has been two years since we started this program during the Liturgy
of the Word at Sunday Mass. We could not have done it without the help of so many volunteers and the active participation of the children. A sincere thank you to all who have contributed. (We are always in need of more volunteers - no experience necessary!)Youth Choir: Anyone wishing to sing in the youth choir for the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass (L'Ardoise) is asked to come to a practice at the church on Sunday, December 2 at 6 p.m. Please phone Gaye Middleton for further information.
Christmas Flowers:
In memory of Florence Parry from Cecil Parry
In memory of Danny & Theresa Stone from Anne & Steven Mombourquette
In memory of John & Walter Rehberg & Bert & Rose Peterson from Margaret PetersonSocial Action News: Pot Luck Dinner on Sunday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m. If you wish to contribute food, please bring it to the Hall in the morning of December 9. Bingo at 2 p.m.
The Festival of Choirs will be held in St John the Baptist Church, River Bourgeois on Sunday, December 2nd at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome. No charge.
Adult Choir Practice on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. to prepare for Christmas. In case of stormy weather, the practice will be on Thursday, December 13 at 2 p.m.
C@p Site News: The C@p site regular hours are 2:00 to 6:00 Monday to Friday. Please feel free to drop in. We are located in the basement of the Community Center. Phone # 587-2011.
Cecile, Co-ordinator
The 2008 Calendars with scenes ofL'Ardoise and area are now available. These can be purchased at the L'Ardoise General Store, Le Magasin Fleur de Lis and the C@P Site for $12.00 or you can call Rene at 587-2426, Marie at 587-2226 or Cecile at 587-2043. These would make a great Christmas gift or stocking staffer. The proceeds will go to L.E.A.D. And the L'Ardoise C@p site.Confirmation Classes are being held in the Kateri Chapel, Chapel Island for high school students associated with Immaculate Conception Parish, Barra Head. This includes the communities of Barra Head, Chapel Island, and Soldier's Cove. Place: Kateri Chapel, Chapel Island. Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Dates: December 2 & 9. A new schedule will be made available, at the December 9th class,
for 2008; however, confirmation will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 in Immaculate Conception Parish, Barra Head at 7 p.m.World Youth Day Group is selling calendars of the Catholic Churches in Richmond County.
Each calendar is $8.50. Representatives of the group will be selling these calendars after the weekend masses starting this weekend.Country Christmas Service on December 9th at 7 p.m. in Calvin Church, Loch Lomond led by the Mira Gaelic Choir. Ceilidh to follow. All are welcome!
Cape Breton's Family Place Resource Center: L'Ardoise Playgroup (newborn - 6 years) - 9:30 -11:30 a.m. on December 3, 10, 17
St. Peters Parish will feature a wonderful evening of Christmas and popular music by renouned organist on Monday, December 3rd at 7 p.m. Reception to follow in the glebe. This concert is free
will offering admission and is a wonderful beginning to our advent season.Concert: Come and enjoy a lively afternoon of traditional and contemporary music at Our Lady of Assumption Church, Arichat on Sunday, December 30th, 2007 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is $10.00. Featuring: Buddy MacMaster. The lineup also includes: Cornelia (Boucher) Sutherland, Joe
MacLeod, Robert Bouchard, Michael Power, Marilyn Seeles, Dennis, Daniel & Leah Boudreau, Delores Boudreau and more! Call 226-2109 for tickets or purchase at: Jeantie's Mini-mart,
Arichat, or Fleur-de-Lis Restaurant in Port Hawkesbury. Proceeds go to the Pipe Organ Restoration Fund.Christmas Mass Schedule:
Monday, December 24
5:30 p.m. Family Mass - Holy Guardian Angels
8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass - Immaculate Conception
Midnight Mass - Holy Guardian Angels
Tuesday, December 25
9:30 a.m. Christmas Morning Mass - Holy Guardian Angels
Mary, Mother of God Mass Schedule:
Monday, December 31
6:30 New Year's Eve Mass - Holy Guardian Angels
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
9:30 a.m. New Year's Day Mass - Holy Guardian Angels
11:15 a.m. New Year's Day Mass - Immaculate ConceptionThe Richmond Villa will be hosting their Annual Christmas Angel Tree on Sunday, Dec. 9 st 2 p.m. Everyone welcome. Luncheon served. The Residents, Staff, and Volunteers of the Richmond
Villa will be celebrating their Annual Christmas Party on Friday, Dec. 14 at 1:30 p.m. -- all family
and friends welcomed to join in on the celebration. The Richmond Villa will be hosting a
'Christmas Gift Fair" on Friday, Dec. 14th from 1-6 p.m. Director of Premier Books Ltd - Shawn Lesnick. Drop in for a visit and participate by entering your name for a door prize draw.Youth-Adult Committee: This committee will meet on Sunday, December 2nd @ 2 p.m. in the
glebe house. The Youth-Adult Committee came out of the youth ministry workshop given
by Jeannette Pearson, Youth Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Antigonish. The purpose of this committee is to think of ways the parishes can reach out to young people in our communities. If any additional youth or adults are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Sherry
Sampson.Development & Peace: A special thank you to the people of L'Ardoise for supporting the Fall Action of Development and Peace. Thanks to Sally Ann Mombourquette for taking the
responsibility of leading the campaign. My thanks also to Fr. Barrett Clare-Johnson for encouraging
this wonderful action for the people of the Global South. Helping these people in this small way
means we put our daily faith into action. Thanks Jenita Methot, f.j. For Richmond DeaneryChristmas Toy Bingo at the Lakeside Community Center on Sunday, December 2 at 2 p.m.
Skating Party at Richmond Arena - Sat., Dec. 8 from 8:30 - 11 p.m. Admission $5.00
Employment Opportunity: The Richmond Community Access Society is accepting applications
for the position of Project Facilitator, Formulating Strategies for Success Initiative. This is a
twenty-six (26) week term position. Deadline for application is 4:30 p..m. December 3, 2007. For more information call 226-0383.Eastern Counties Regional Library will be visiting in L'Ardoise (Community Center) on Tuesday, December 11 from 4- 5:30 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. This library service is free to the public. Everyone is welcome.
Have a Good Week!