Readings for 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time:  1st Reading: Isaiah 62.1-5
                                                                           2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.4-11
                                                                           Gospel: John 2.1-12


Knights of Columbus Meeting:  Wednesday, January 13, 7:00 pm in St. Joseph’s Room.

Parish Council Meeting:  Monday, January 25, 7:00 pm in St. Joseph’s Room.

Is it ok for a parent to “share” the Eucharist with their child who has not yet received first communion?  I recently saw a parent taking the Eucharist after receiving from the Priest and upon returning to their seat they broke off a piece of the Sacred Host and gave it to their child;  what should one do when they see this type of behavior? Answer:  This question requires several distinctions to answer it properly.  First is that the only one who should “break” a host is the Priest or the Extraordinary Minister of Communion in the rare case that there is insufficient consecrated hosts for the people present.  This is rarely done as the normal procedure is to stop giving communion once all is gone and there is no reserve in the tabernacle.  Fragmenting a consecrated host to “share” with others would be wrong at any time.  The next part of the question deals with a person who is not of age or has not been prepared to receive communion.  The Church recognizes the age of seven as an age at which one is able to comprehend the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  Age alone is not the criteria as one must be instructed to understand the great gift given to us in the Eucharist and prepared by first receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.   Where there are Catholic schools this is usually accomplished by co-operation between the parish and the school and instruction is part of the class lesson plan.  One must remember that Sacraments come from the Church and when a school has students from a number of parishes children are encouraged to receive in their home parish.  The same is true for children who attend public school with the exception that they must arrange for instruction that is coordinated by the parish in which they are registered.  This instruction is often given by the parents at home.  To give communion to one who has reached the age of reason may seem kind, however it diminishes the ability for the child to be instructed on the normal way and age of receiving communion and for this reason alone should never be done. The next part of this answer has to deal with responsibility of adults in this situation.  First,  the parent must realize the error of their action and should seek counsel from their parish Priest as to whether or not they have desecrated the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and have need of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.   Any person who has witnessed such an event should approach the person and ask them to speak to the parish Priest, this is true of any act against the Eucharist. Finally it is possible for children of the Eastern rite who are in communion with the Catholic Church to receive communion from the time they are Baptized,  in fact they are also Confirmed at this same time.  An example of this is the Ukrainian  Catholic Church,  usually the children do not receive on Sundays outside of their own communities without first arranging this with the local pastor.  In Flinton a family would come for vacation each year and this was the case although it was surprising for parishioners to see these young people receive communion. If you are ever in doubt regarding your child’s ability to receive Holy Communion,  please speak to Fr. Gillis.

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

New Life Group: a Catholic Ministry for the Separated and Divorced will meet on Tuesday, January 5th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Diocesan Centre on Palace Rd.  Topic: Legal Issues. Speaker: Deborah Swartz

Bereaved Families of Ontario -Mourning Coffee: January 7th  from 10:00 to 11:00 am at 721 Progress Ave, Unit 1. A drop in time for any bereaved person or volunteer to visit with other bereaved persons.

Bereaved Families of Ontario- Mother’s Night: An evening for mothers to share the loss of a child with other mothers, in confidence.  January 12, 7:30 to 9:00 pm at 721 Progress Ave, Unit 1. Topic: Creating Traditions to Remember Your Child.  Facilitators – Barbara Brousseau & Caroline Yates.

    Statue of Mary ( please leave in the entrance after the Mass you attend – for the next family)
            Please sign up in entryway of church!