The Last week before Christmas

This last week before Christmas is always busy in Parish.  We had our "Longest Night Mass" on Wednesday Dec 18 (even if it was not quite the longest night).  This mass - part of our ministry of Consolation and Hope - helps those who come to the Christmas season with less Joy than others because of an experience of grief, or loss.  That loss can be the death of a loved one, it can be the loss of a Job, it can be the loss that occurs when a relationship "dies" in separation or divorce.

We also had the Sacrament of Reconciliation not only on the day of confessions - December 11, but also on December 19th with some priests coming from Brampton, Mississauga and King/Schomberg to help, and for that Fr. David and I are grateful.

My Brother, Sister in law, and nephew all flew in Saturday Evening from Shanghai - where they are living for a year while Chris and Maria work at an English school there. My Dad drove from Kingston Saturday afternoon, and came to Mass in Bolton, delivering some Tourtiere and coffee cake (mmmm good!) before heading to the airport to pick up the travelling trio.  They travelled directly back to Dad's house in Kingston - where they will live for the next 2 weeks before heading back to China on January 2nd.
They made it home trough the Icestorm - with no accidents.

Let us pray for all who are travelling these days - and all who are working to clear ice and snow for travellers as well as all the workers repairing broken power lines!
Peace

I was supposed to publish this on Sunday afternoon - best plans of mice and men!