SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT ~ DECEMBER 4, 2022

STAR OF THE SEA, CANSO

ST. AGNES, LITTLE DOVER

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, QUEENSPORT

ST. JOSEPH’S, PORT FELIX

PASTOR: FR. JONATHAN NNAJIOFOR, 366-2927

CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME 358-2346

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Donna Jackson, Janet Delorey, Cynthia Creamer,
Calvin Harnish, Agnes Casey, Corrine Munroe,
Gerry Parker, Gelly Parker, Paul Horne,
Sr. Alma, Marie Parker, Fr. Jonathan

The complete text of this bulletin is also available on the parish's website at www.cansoparishes.org

WEEKEND MASS TIMES

Saturday, December 10 - 6:00 p.m. - St. Joseph, Port Felix - †Rev. Robert Cashin

Sunday, December 11 - 11:00 a.m. Star of the Sea, Canso - †John Michael Hartley

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE:

Thursday, December 8, 6:00 p.m. St. Anthony’s Chapel - ♥For the Faithful

NOTES: The churches of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Agnes are now closed for the winter months. MASS will resume the first weekend in May, 2023.

REFLECTION ON TODAY’S READINGS- Prepare the way for the Lord!
Prophet Isaiah foretells that the new world of justice, where the wolf shall live with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion shall browse together, the baby shall play by the cobra’s den, is going to be established. Are these mere tall claims? There is so much bloodshed, and so much more hatred in the world all in the name of the love of God and religion! There is so much more pride and selfishness in our world. We live in a society where people make bombs and other sophisticated weapons to fight a just war to protect God and religion! The harmonious world painted by the Prophet seems to be an illusion. To see this prophecy become a reality one should listen to John the Baptist. He announces, “Reform your lives, the reign of God is at hand.” The words of the Prophet are not magic but a reality that will be achieved when the Messiah on whom the Spirit of the Lord rests, comes to the world. John tells us, “I baptize you in water as a sign of your conversion, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I; indeed, I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” When one is prepared to leave the ‘ways of the world’ and reform oneself to accept the ways of the Lord, the words of the Prophet will be realized. John prepares the way for Jesus. He calls for a total change of attitude and direction. He makes it clear that no status, birth, pedigree, past or present religious experience, or allegiance will ensure salvation unless one accepts God’s ways. According to John, there are no favorites. Every one of us should undergo a baptism of the Spirit and Fire that Jesus alone can give, and this ensures a transformation into the character and attitude of Christ. Every person matters to God and in his kingdom, everyone including the unloved, the outcasts, the downtrodden, and the sinners, has a place. We are called to prepare ourselves to be part of the kingdom by opening ourselves to love.