Season of Advent:  Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance! It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world. Part of the expectation also anticipates a judgment on sin and a calling of the world to accountability before God. We long for God to come and set the world right! Yet, as the prophet Amos warned, the expectation of a coming judgment at the "Day of the Lord" may not be the day of light that we might want, because the penetrating light of God’s judgment on sin will shine just as brightly on God’s people. Because of this important truth, the Season of Advent has been a time of fasting and penitence for sins similar to the Season of Lent. However, a different emphasis for the season of Advent has gradually unfolded in much of the rest of the church. The season of Advent has come to be celebrated more in terms of expectation or anticipation. Yet, the anticipation of the Coming of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament and Judaism was not in connection with remembrance of sins. Rather, it was in the context of oppression and injustice, the longing for redemption, not from personal guilt and sin but from the systemic evil of the world expressed in evil empires and tyrants. It is in that sense that all creation groans for its redemption as we witness the evil that so dominates our world (Rom 8:18-25).
Of course, there is the problem of longing for vindication from an evil world when we are contributors to that evil. This is the power of the images of Amos when he warns about longing for the "Day of the Lord" that will really be a day of darkness (Amos 5:18-20). Still, even with Amos’ warning the time of Advent is one of expectation and anticipation, a longing for God's actions to restore all things and vindicate the righteous. This is why during Advent we as Christians also anticipate the Second Coming as a twin theme of the season. So, while some church traditions focus on penitence during Advent, and there remains a place for that, the spirit of that expectation from the Old Testament is better captured with a joyous sense of expectancy. Rather than a time of mourning and fasting, Advent is celebrated as a time of joy and happiness as we await the coming of the King.
With this in mind we should be able to distinguish the celebration of the Christmas Season that begins with Christmas Day and the preparation that leads up to this great feast.

Readings for 1st Sunday of Advent:  1st Reading: Jeremiah 33.14-16
                                                              2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3.12-4.2
                                                              Gospel: Luke 21.25-28, 34-36
                                                                                                             Listen to the Daily Readings on your computer

Thank you: A special thank you to the ladies of our Catholic Women’s League for providing the food for our recent funeral receptions.

St. Vincent de Paul Food Drive: At all Masses on the first weekend of Advent (Nov. 28/29) the Knights of Columbus will have bags of groceries already purchased.  You can purchase these bags for St. Vincent de Paul at a cost of $5 each or you can bring your own bag and they will be placed in the St. Vincent Food Bin.  This is a great no hassle way to contribute to those in need!

Flower Donations for Christmas:  This year we will be accepting donations towards the purchase of flowers for the church during the Christmas Season that begins on the 25 of December.   I would ask that you not bring poinsettias or other flower arrangements but instead make a donation in the name of a loved one.  When the Christmas Bulletin is published it will contain the names of the loved ones who flowers have been placed in memory of, and the names of the donors.  Envelopes will be placed in the pews during the Advent season and you are asked to place them in the collection basket no later than December 20th .  Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Catholic Women’s League – “Angel Project: Thank you to all C.W.L. ladies who have generously donated a Christmas tree with all the trimmings and money for a needy family in our community.
Final pick up for these donations will be November 22 after all Masses. We will deliver it to the family in time for Advent.

Thank you for praying for our armed forces .  Please continue to pray for those now serving in foreign lands: Carl Turenne & David Hannon.

2010 Envelopes are now available. If you would like envelopes please call Christine at the parish office.

Do you have questions about parts of the Mass, prayer; Catholic celebrations or any part of the Catholic Faith? There will be a new section in the bulletin where Father Gillis will answer questions submitted via the collection basket. One question and answer will appear weekly. (A special thank you to one of our parish families for this idea.)

Holy Family Parish First Annual Holly Jolly Christmas Craft and Bake Sale: at Holy Family School on Sunday, November 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. Free admission or donation to Food Bank. Purchase gifts and baking for Christmas! All proceeds to support Holy Family Parish.

Entertainment to Seniors’ Committee: of the St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council is sponsoring an afternoon of musical entertainment, featuring the local talent of Chris Murphy and Jon McLurg in St. Joseph’s parish hall on Palace Rd. on Thursday, December 3rd from 1 to 3 pm.  Please come and bring a friend for an afternoon of Christmas Cheer. Refreshments will be served; a free will offering would be appreciated. For further info, please call Marie 613-542-0653.

Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School: will be presenting Les Miserables, December 9, 10, 11, 12.Curtain time is 7:30 pm.  $15 – Adults and $10 – Students.  For tickets please call 613-545-1902  @2200.

Statue of Mary ( please leave in the entrance after the Mass you attend – for the next family)
            The week of November 22 prayers will be offered in the Mulholland Home