Saturday December 20th - 5:00 pm...Late Helen and Michael Joseph
Sunday December 21st - 11:00 a.m...For all our parishioners
Sunday December 21st - 5:00 p.m...Late Ronald and Gertrude Griffin
Monday December 22nd - 9:30 am...Late Jim Wilcott
Tuesday December 23rd - 9:30 am...Late Annie Park, Ann Marie Pennell and families
Wednesday December 24th - 7:00 pm...Late Robby Bennett
Thursday December 25th - 11:00 am...Hickey and Hackett families
Friday December 26th - 9:30 am...Late Thomas Lasaga
Saturday December 27th - 5:00 pm...Late Jim and Mary McCarthy
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
Christmas Eve - December 24th
3:00 pm - St Brendan’s 5:00 pm - All Hallows 7:00 pm - The Cathedral Christmas Day - December 25th
9:30 am - All Hallows 11:00 am - The Cathedral New Years Eve - December 31st
3:00 pm - St Brendan’s 5:00 pm - The Cathedral New Years Day - January 1st
9:30 am - All Hallows 11:00 am - The Cathedral 5:00 pm - The Cathedral
JUBILEE YEAR CLOSING MASS:
As part of our Diocesan Jubilee Closing Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday December 28th at 11:00 am, we are inviting everyone who can bring a non-perishable item for the food bank as a symbol of our willingness to share the blessings we have received during this year of grace, and as a sign of hope to those who are in need. We invite all the people of Corner Brook and surrounding area to attend this Mass and the reception that follows.
PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE:
The Parish Office will be closed during the Christmas Season beginning noon on Wednesday, December 24th and reopening at 9:00 am on Monday, January 5th. There will be no bulletin for the weekend of January 3rd/4th.
CHURCH ENVELOPES FOR 2026 ARE NOW AT THE CATHEDRAL THE ADVENT WREATH:
The Fourth Candle - On each Sunday of Advent an additional candle of the is lit until all four candles
are lit. The light from these candles represents the light of Christ coming into the world. As Christmas draws nearer, each candle brings a little more light into the darkness. This weekend, we light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath. The fourth candle symbolizes love and the message of God’s love that the angels announced at Christ’s birth.
THE CHRISTMAS WREATH:
On Christmas Eve, the purple and pink candles of the Advent wreath are replaced by four white candles.
The use of the white candles reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World through whom our spiritual darkness is dispelled. The wreath will be lit each weekend of the Christmas season.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:
If you wish to donate for Christmas Flowers for the altar in memory of a loved one, please put your donation in an envelope with your name on it and also the name of your loved ones and drop it in the Sunday Collection or at the Parish Office.
HOLY FATHERS INTENTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:
For Christians in areas of conflict - let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.
250th ANNIVERSARY:
The Sisters of the Presentation are celebrating their 250th Anniversary this year. They will mark the beginning of their year-long celebration with a Mass at the Basilica in St John’s on December 21st at the 11:00 am Mass, accommodating those who may want to mark the occasion, but are not able to travel to St. John’s. The Mass at the Basilica will also be live streamed on the Basilica website. Please remember the Presentation Sisters in your prayers this year.
REFLECTION:
Christmas Expectations - As Christmas approaches, people’s hopes soar, However, the substance of these hopes is often dictated by commercial interests. Little wonder, then , that when the sun goes down on Christmas Day, many feel disappointed, not because they promise too little, but too much - of the wrong thing. What our hearts long for is taste of what the angels announced to the shepherds. ‘Behold, I bring news of a great joy; today a saviour has been born to you’ This joy is the real hope o f Christmas. Let us open our hearts to receive it.
BAPTISM PREPARATION:
The next baptism preparation session will be held Monday, January 12th at 6:30 pm at the Cathedral. Please contact the parish office at 709-634-5161 to register. This is for parents and God-parents.
TIME TO UPDATE:
To assist the parish in outreach to all parishioners, an update of the parish records is needed. Therefore, during the month of February, Parish Council will be asking ALL PARISHIONERS to complete a short registration form - which will be provided - and to place the completed forms in containers which will also be provided. It should only take a few minutes to complete - we just need your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one). Thank you for your cooperation!
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:
The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written to be a kind of secret catechism at a time when Catholicism was outlawed. Each verse refers to a teaching of church doctrine - with Christ being the partridge and the “True Love” being God the Father, who gave us all gifts.
The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25th and end at Epiphany, January 6th.
Partridge in a pear tree: Jesus;
Two turtle doves: the Old and New Testaments;
Three French Hens: faith, hope and love;
Four calling birds: the four Gospels
Five golden rings: the first five books of the Old Testament
Six geese a-laying: the six days of creation
Seven swans-a-swimming: the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids-a-milking: the eight Beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing: the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten lords a-leaping; the Ten Commandments
Eleven pipers piping: the eleven faithful Apostles
Tweleve drummers druming: the twelve in the Apostles Creed
4 YOUTH:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) As we recall and celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ on that first Christmas Day, may we find love, joy and peace in our hearts and in our lives. We take this opportunity to wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas.
REFLECTION: JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM:
Joseph and Mary set out for Bethlehem. When they arrived there, the time came for Mary to have her baby and she gave birth to a son. All of us are journeying to Bethlehem where we hope to be born. I know we were born once. Nevertheless, we are still unborn, in the sense that our true and full self hasn’t yet seen the light of day. When our second birth occurs , than all the gifts of grace and nature, which God gave us all as seeds, will blossom and bear fruit. Our ultimate goal is the heavenly Bethlehem where we shall see God face to face.
FAMILY CATECHETICS:
Registration is open and ongoing for K to year 6. Registration for Confirmation is closed. Schedules and registration sheets can be found at the entrances to the parish or at the parish office. Our program runs from Kindergarten to year 6 in additin to the two years of preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please contact angie.dolomount@gmail.com or 709-631- 4543 with any questions.
RELIGIOUS ARTICLES STORE:
Is opened after 5:00 pm Sunday Mass.
WEEKLY EX POSITION AND ADORATION:
Held after morning Mass on Wednesdays and also on Friday at 7:00 pm. It is a great opportunity to unite your joys, struggles, success and sufferings to the Lord who unites us to His merciful love on the cross through His presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
FUNDRAISING - TICKETS:
On a cash draw - $5.00 each draw date is January 25th, 2026.
Prizes are:
1st prize - $10,000.00,
2nd - $5,000.00,
3rd - 2500.00,
4th -$1000.00.
To buy or help sell tickets, contact the parish office 709-634-5161 or call Marjorie Deckert 709-632-2051 or Elizabeth Coleman 709-640-5241
ADULT CONFIRMATION:
If there are any adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or any other sacraments, please contact the parish office. We hope to offer a course in the new year for interested individuals.
ADVENT ENVELOPES CAN BE FOUND ON THE TABLES AT THE ENTRANCES OF THE CATHEDRAL.
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL:
Is a privately funded school dedicated to educational excellence in a Christian environment. It is operated independently of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador by the Catholic School Foundation of Corner Brook Inc, For more information about the school and go online at www.ihmsc
