Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Mass Schedule & Fr. Marc in the news

For your convenience - here are the Mass times for the Christmas Season!

Thurs., Dec. 24 : 7:30pm Choir & Pageant presentation - 8pm Mass
Friday,  Dec. 25:  9:30am
Sunday, Dec. 27: 9:30am

Thursday, December 31st : No Mass
Friday, January 1st:  9:30am
Sunday, January 3rd:  9:30am

--------------------------------------------------------------

and on Monday, December 21st, the Montreal Gazette published a Q&A article with Father Marc Mignault. You can also see it online at:


http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Sermons+straight+heart/2365658/story.html


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

2 Special events - This Sunday!



Event 1: Sounding the Alarm for a Climate Deal
When: December 13
Where: St. Francis of Assisi Church
Description: Church bells will be rung 350 times to raise awareness of the Copenhagen Summit and represent the threshold of 350 ppm atmospheric carbon emissions (point of no return)

This special event is coinciding with the Copenhagen Summit. In partnership with D&P, our parish will demonstrate solidarity with all churches that will be ringing bells on the same day!






Event 2: The Gift of Music  
Later on, at 7 PM you can raise your voices in song at the popular annual Gift of Music Concert!
Where: St-Thomas d'Aquin (corner Queen and Alexandra)
Yes, the St. Francis of Assisi Family Choir will be performing!
A free-will collection will be taken up to prepare Christmas Baskets for the needy.


Friday, November 13, 2009

mini MINISTRY


FOR CHILDREN AGED 4 TO 7


We are launching a brand new program for the Anglophone Region!
(This in light of ideas brought forth through the recent diocesan evangelization project).
    and we're calling it...
                                         mini MINISTRY




The first session will be hosted:
  at St. Francis of Assisi Parish hall (aka, The church basement)
Saturday, November 28th, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. 


We are inviting you to bring your youngsters and come celebrate the beginning of the Season of Advent. 


Although doors will be open to all on the day of the event, 
pre-registering would assist us in preparing for the activities. 


For more information, and/or to register your child(ren)...
Email Christine at christine.pastoralagent@yahoo.ca 

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Bazaar! Bazaar!

St Francis is holding its annual Bazaar! Bazaar! *
this Saturday, Nov. 7
from 9am to 3pm

get there early - it's like a Treasure Hunt of sorts where you can discover fun forgotten items that can liven up your day...it's worked for me!
There'll also be home-made baked goods, crafts, hand knits, books etc...

tell friends & neighbours,
hope to see y'all there!



*The first attendee to shout out "Bazaar! Bazaar!" gets a free baked goodie snack. (print this out and show to snack counter barrister)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

time and community



First off! make sure you set your clocks back by one hour this Sunday (at 2am)...
If you don't -  will you be one hour early, or one hour late for Mass??
If you don't know about Daylight Saving Time...click here  (don't forget to c'mon back and read more here!)


and,
If you are inclined to think about pitching in to help strengthen our church community - Here are some ways you could consider getting involved:

CHURCH WARDEN
Ever think of becoming a church warden? Don't know what's involved?  To know more, you should speak to one of our current wardens or, our new President of the Fabrique , Mr. Ted C.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Starting your Christmas shopping early at our annual Bazaar on November 7th and inviting a friend to come along are very good ways of supporting our Parish, but it is not too late to help with the organization of it, if you feel you can volunteer some time. 



Thursday, October 22, 2009

Development & Peace 2009-2010


What can we do...
 at St. Francis 
to support the 
new 
Development 
& Peace 
Campaign?
"Agrofuels: Good news or a threat?"



This Sunday, Dan our Parish D&P representative will introduce the new efforts and describe what actions can be taken.

(from the Development & Peace website  
www.devp.org)...
Agrofuels are being heralded as a solution to our declining oil reserves. To fill the gas tanks of our cars, these new fuels are being manufactured with corn, sugar cane or soybeans.


Development and Peace, however, feels that this advanced technology hides a dark secret. Small-scale farming families in the Global South are seeing their land being used for a single crop and their harvests being sent up the road to countries in the North.

In Africa, Asia and Latin America, we are witnessing a clash between industrial agriculture for export and family agriculture. Development and Peace deplores this trend and is working to counteract it in its new campaign.

Throughout the fall, members of Development and Peace will be publicizing this issue. They will also invite people to sign a postcard to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, asking him to ensure that the heads of state of the world's richest countries give priority to local and family agriculture when the G8 meets in Ontario in June 2010.

if interested in supporting this - see the petition at

http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/education/petitionprimeminister-eng.html



Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Saturday Night Coffeehouse


This Saturday (October 17th) at 7pm is our 2nd coffeehouse variety show!


We've got lots of performers of different types (no mimes though), 
sharing their talents. Should be fun , entertaining, inspiring. Bring a friend or two.
There'll be refreshments & snacks served at the 2nd half of the show.


Any Freewill donations will go directly to fund the Christmas Baskets.


See you there!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Some Things to be Thankful for...


Development & Peace and all the work they do. 
There is a special emergency campaign to raise funds for the recent tragedies in the Philippines. You can show your generosity by making a donation at church this Sunday, or by visiting their website at


http://devp.org/


and 

Our Harbour  and the important volunteer work they do supporting  people who are coping with mental illness in our community.   if you are interested in helping out in some way,  contact Mary Ann  at 450-656-1157.


 and 






The St Francis Pie Ministry and their delicious pie creations which are now available for buying (and eating). Available downstairs following Mass. 



We have these and so much more to be thankful for...!


Thank YOU!



Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Francis's Feast, Faith First Families & Follow-up



This Sunday (October 4th) is the Feast Day of our patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi!

So you can expect some songs honouring St Francis.  Can you predict what any might be??

Also, we will be celebrating the start of this year's FAITH FIRST program. 
http://www.faithfirst.com/html/family/family.html
Karen and Chris are the leaders (aka Pastoral Agents) for our Cluster. Let's give them, the kids and their families a warm welcome and wishes for a good year...(there's a rumour that there might be cake...)

and - after mass (and coffee time), the Contemplative Prayer Group will be having its 2nd (follow-up) meeting in the Oak Room. Parishioner Ray T., has started this support group - it's a great opportunity to learn more about developing a personal spirituality through prayer. All are welcome!

All of the above (and more - always more!)  is in the calendar at the bottom of the webpage...
http://stfrancis-stlambert.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Peace & Performance

This past weekend Mass, Fr. Gerard spoke about the new Diocesan guidelines for H1N1 flu prevention.

One of our parishioners emailed,  suggesting that during the Sign of Peace, instead of shaking hands, we could adopt the hand gesture of peace...try it out next Mass!




and,
CALLING ALL PERFORMERS!!


coffeehouse talent night at St Francis - Saturday, Oct. 17 - 7pm.
singers, musicians, jugglers, spoken-word artists, etc. (but no mimes please).
sign up now by emailing:
stfrancischoir@hotmail.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Catechism, & a Synagogue visit.

This coming Sunday, September 20  is "Catechetical Sunday"  What is Catechism?  
  I looked it up...!
cat·e·chism 
noun
  1. a book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity
  2. a basic manual in some subject
  3. a set of questions designed to determine knowledge


This Sunday, all across Quebec, the emphasis is on learning about our Faith!


also...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interested in visiting a synagogue? 
Our diocese is organizing a field trip to Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom, 
        4100 Sherbrooke West, Montreal.
         on the evening of  Friday Oct. 30th
Although some of the explanations will be in French, the service itself will be in Hebrew and English.  Register by email at interreligieux@videotron.ca 
  or email us at stfrancis.stlambert@gmail.com  and we can send you more info.
Shalom.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Welcome . . .

...to St. Francis of Assisi's new website!

This is just one more way for you to keep up with what's going on at the church.
You can bookmark this page to check what's new now and then, or,
enter your email address on the right-hand side (under "Subscribe via email")
to receive notices in you inBox - we're thinking of sending updates about once per week.

(also check out the CALENDAR at the very bottom...just click on an event - and a little window pops up
with details and a map)

Let us know what you think (by commenting below)...or in-person at church on Sunday.

John