Rooted

ROOTED

A ministry for Students in grades 3, 4 & 5

What is Rooted?
Holy Family welcomes all parishioners in Grades 3-5 to join our interactive, fun, and faith-based ministry. This ministry aims to foster our youth in their faith development and offers a great environment to answer some fundamental questions our young Catholics may have. More information and a registration form will be posted on our youth ministry website www.hfym.ca 

When is Rooted? 
We encourage all individuals interested to attend the first ROOTED gathering at Holy Family on Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 10:00-11:30am! If you cannot make it to that one please feel free to join us at any other date. ROOTED will be held Saturday Mornings 
from  10:00-11:30am on: 

Saturday February 9Saturday March 2Saturday March 23Saturday April 13Saturday May 4Saturday May 25

Rooted Ministry needs Ministry volunteers who are interested in dedicating their time to our youth! If you are interested, please contact Stephanie Benedetti at 905-857-1938 or Stephanie.benedetti@holyfamilybolton.ca

A volunteer information evening will be held

Wednesday, January 16th at 7:30pm

Peace

Edge Social

Each Friday night we run our Edge Youth Ministry - for children in grades 6-8.  This is accomplished through the hard work and dedication of many teens and adults who are part of the Edge Youth Ministry CORE Team.  This past Friday night we had our first Edge night for 2013 - where we looked at needs and wants - and how commercials often try to trick us into thinking that what they have - the product that they produce - we need (not just want). This was from my teaching:

Here is the big lie that advertisers want us to believe – that their product will bring us happiness! If you eat certain foods, wear certain clothes, or go certain places, then you will be happy! The truth is – happiness comes and goes. You can wake up feeling happy, then maybe someone says something bad about you, about what you are wearing, what you said, how you look, and then you are sad.

What we can experience is joy - joy is not an emotion,     but is the fruit of having a relationship with God. Joy is not having a big smile on your face all day, every day – it is finding peace in God & his great love for us.

There is a great quote from Pope Benedict XVI: 

“The world promises you comfort. But you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness” 

World says that things (and more and more things) will make us  comfortable and able to live an easier life. Perhaps that is true on some level. However, being a Catholic Christian, we are not made for comfort. We are made for greatness – proclaiming Jesus Christ.

After the Edge night - the CORE Team headed over to the rectory - where we enjoyed a festive Christmas season Dessert Social! MMMM Good!
here is the picture of the entry way. Stephanie loves this image of the many shoes of those who walk in the way of Christ, leading our youth in their relationship with God.

Peace.

Vitamin F

Reading Ron Rolhieser's recent book "Shattered Lantern" we spoke on Tuesday Evening at Faith Nourishment about our imagination - and how it limits our understanding of God.
Jesus’ parables tell the story about God - They are revelatory – like Epiphany and they reveal the heart of God.  They remind us that God does not think and feel as we do. 
• Prodigal Son – who could have expected the father not to have grabbed the returning son by the ear…
• The Vineyard Workers – with the last worker hired receiving the same as the first worker hired...
• The good Samaritan – The priest and the leader of song walk by – and the foreigner stops...

God was always more than they had anticipated 
• Like a woman who loves too much…
• Like ointment that costs too much… And is spilled too much
• Like a seventy times seven God - Who forgives too much…
• Like a seed that grows too much and yields thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold.

Here is a cute video on how what God does is unexpected!

Peace

Oshawa - Brampton OHL Game

Earlier in December - just at the beginning of the Christmas School Break - my Godson Geoffrey Schemitsch visited LifeTeen for a men's night session.  He shared part of his story, about playing in the OHL - originally for the Owen Sound Attack and now with the Oshawa Generals.  It was a great night.  We started with a workout - and my thighs were still aching 3 days later as I celebrated Christmas Eve Masses!

This past Thursday - Oshawa was playing in Brampton - and so a few of us headed down to Brampton to cheer on the Generals and Geoffrey!  It was a great time - made all the more fun as the Generals beat the Battalion 4-1.  
Interestingly - as we waited to meet Geoffrey after the game - I met Stan Cameron - The OHL Official Score Keeper, and Palgrave resident.  Stan is also the Public School Board Trustee for Caledon, and I had heard how good a trustee he is while I was at the December CCS Board Meeting.  It is a small, small world!

It is good to now be back on a regular Schedule - But with Fr. Damian off - I'll be celebrating all the masses this Sunday - and the Baptism's too.  Thankfully Deacon Robert is preaching - and he and his wife Gabrielle are taking me to dinner Saturday Evening.  Swiss Chalet - OK!

Peace.

Mary Mother of God, New Years & Peace

This prayer was posted on the Archdiocese of Toronto website for the feast of Holy Family - and so I wanted to post it here for our parish to enjoy!

January 1st each year marks 3 events in the Church:

• The Solemnity of Mary - the Mother of God.
• The World day of prayer for Peace,
• and the beginning of a New Calendar Year.

For the celebration of Mary - Mother of God, I wanted to share another video from "Busted Halo" a website that endeavours to use social media to express the truths of the catholic church - and they have a video on Mary - the Mother of God.

Each year - on this first day of the year - the Holy Father provides a statement / letter on the topic of peace - in order to mark the International Day of Prayer for Peace.  How very needed these messages are!  From the domestic front in people's homes, to international relations - I think all violence needs to be confronted with peace.  Here is the text of the Holy Father's message this year:

Finally - on behalf of everyone here at Holy Family Parish - I wish to thank the Knights of Columbus and everyone who helped to make our Parish Feast Day skate such a terrific success.  I think it was our largest turn out since we began this tradition 5 years ago! 

There were over 300 cups of Hot Chocolate served - thanks to the Tim Horton's owner of the 2 locations on Hwy 7: at Gore Road and at McVeen Road.  I think there were over 250 skaters - and close to 350 people at the arena Sunday Afternoon. 

At one point we had 5 members of the parish staff on the ice!

I conclude with the blessing for the beginning of the year from the new Roman Missal:

May God, the source and origin of all blessing, grant you grace, pour out his blessing in abundance, and keep you safe from harm throughout the year.  
Amen.

May he give you integrity in the faith, endurance in hope, and perseverance in charity with holy patience to the end.  Amen.

May he order your days and your deeds in his peace, grant your prayers in this and every place, and lead you happily to eternal life. Amen.
Peace

Feast of the Holy Family

Happy Feast Day…

What parent would not be beside themselves
     When a child goes missing from their side:
In the Store – Mall – Arena -
The Teenage Jesus is lost in this Sunday's Gospel: but not really!

Mary and Joseph are looking for him for 3 days (an allusion to the cross!) and Jesus asks: "why are you distressed?"
This is not Jesus giving lip to his mother and Joseph, perhaps it was more like: Look for me HERE – first!

This past week I had the chance to spend time together with Family, making the trek to Kingston  – where my Dad lives now. (Thanks to my brother-in-law for the driving!)
All of us were talking in the living room after presents, meal, more presents, and dessert – then Gabriel and Michael (my 2 nephews) were put to bed by my brother in law and my sister in law.  But they never resurfaced! So it was just 4 of us (those inlaws have no staying power!) Then Dad went to bed - so it was just Chris, Julie and I: the 3 kids! Then just Chris and I... talking and reflecting late into the night... but it was not always so…  Chris and I used to fight like the dickens!

Certainly - Family is where we experience the Highs & Lows in life. Pleasures & Pains. Both Joys & Sorrows.  Yet when we feel that anger or frustration – that can be a flag to remind us - 
"They Matter – I love them…"

How can the Holy family be a model for our Family?
Fidelity in the face of ridicule and turmoil,
Hope in the face of despair,
and Love in the face of violence.
Faith // Hope // Love //   and the Greatest of these is Love!

Peace

Christmas Eve

The  Church is now decorated... just a final vacuum run to clean up those pesky pine needles, and we will be ready for those who seek to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation.

The stores are still busy this morning - and I can attest by my own witness - I myself have seen ... Why go to Garden Foods on Christmas Eve morning??? I'll tell you: last night my Dad emailed and asked  if Garden Foods had "dessert manicotti" shells.  I knew he meant canolli shells - and so (against my better judgement) I was at Garden Foods at 10 this morning! The guys there were all very helpful - and after a call to Dad - 2 packages of Canolli Shells were purchased! (Imported from Sicily no less!)
I hope you have all of your shopping for Christmas dinner already done - so that you are not caught in all of this!!! 

Here is a cute video - from New Zealand - where it is already Christmas morning!!!

Peace