SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH

Fr. Peter Proulx, Pastor Sr. Sheila Whelan GSIC Deacon Don Smith
331 Plaunt Street, South; P.O. Box 396
Renfrew, Ontario K7V 4A6
Tel: (613) 432-5825 Fax: (613) 432-6663
E mail: sfx.parish@on.aibn.com Web Site: www.sfxrenfrew.blogspot.com
“St. Francis Xavier, a welcoming faith community lovingly sharing the gifts of God.”

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

TH
JANUARY 4 , 2009
PRAYERS: We pray for our loved ones who have died, especially James Dick
and Alice Murphy and for all those who have asked for us to pray for them in
times of grief and illness.

During the Christmas Season we have been blessed with many willing people who
generosity
have added much to our liturgies by their generosi ty and commitment. Please
know by these few words that “appreciation” is expressed and sincere.

THE YEAR OF ST. PAUL

“A special year will be dedicated for the Bimillennium Celebrations of the Birth of the
Apostle Paul. This Pauline Year will run from June 28, 2008 to June 29, 2009” Pope Benedict XVI

We will celebrate this Pauline Year with a Parish Mission during Lent. It will be
facilitated by Father Rick Walsh – a member of the Paulist Community in Toronto.
Second Journey
Paul’s first objective was to go with Silas to meet the communities he created in Southern Anatoly (in Lystra he met Timothy,
who accompanied them during their journey). They continued their travels towards the northwest, up to the Dardanelles, to
Troas, from where they departed for Greece; Paul established the Churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens and
Corinth. Afterwards he went back to Antioch, his main base, passing through Ephesus and Caesarea. In Antioch, for the
very first time the believers were called “Christians”. (continued next week)

I take this opportunity to express a word of gratitude to all who were so kind to me at Christ-
Christ-
mas. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is appreciated. January will be a great month to wear
well enjoyed. Fr. Proulx
off the calories that were so well

Parish Directory: This year and in an ongoing way, we will be seeking your co-
co-operation in our
effort to have a photo record of our parishioners. This will not be of any cost to you – there will be
no “sale of pictures”. We will however, provide several opportunities for you to have your picture
taken. Eventually, our parish data system will include these photographs. We respect
respect your desire for
privacy and assure you that they are exclusively a way of identifying with the Parish Family. Please
note updates
updates in the bulletin later in January.
January.

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Light of the World
Today is a feast of light! Images of light surround us in today’s liturgy. In fact, the meaning of the word
epiphany means “revelation” or “illumination.” What was once darkness is now light; what was once hidden is
now revealed.
Christ, the Light of God, has come into the world and has overpowered the darkness; God, through Christ, has
literally transformed the darkness into light!
Today’s celebration gives us hope! The darkness that exists in the world is all too real: darkness of war, of ter-
rorism; darkness of an increasing disregard for human life; darkness of oppression and of violence. Sometimes
the darkness is strong and it threatens to actually overcome the Light that is Christ, the Light that is his Gospel,
the Light that is God’s love. But, we have a promise from God and today we remember that promise: The
darkness will never overcome the Light! Today we proclaim that God shines upon us and, in his love, his glory
will always appear over us.
 LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
Please carefully note the times of the daily Liturgies

MON Jan.5 7:00 p.m. Anna McArthur – Welland & Helen Caldwell
TUE Jan.6 9:30 a.m. Elvina Zavitski – Doris & Brian Long
WED Jan.
7 4:15 p.m. Alice Lee – June & Gilles Gervias
THU Jan.8 10:30 a.m. Bonnechere Manor: Mr. & Mrs. Art Ross – Marie Windle
12:10 p.m. Dennis Isaiah Enright – Maureen Enright
FRI Jan. 9 8:00 a.m. Dan Anderson – Elaine Turner
SAT Jan. 10 5:00 p.m. Audrey & Terry Mulvihill – The Estate
SUN Jan. 11 10:30 a.m. Joan Kluke (Sparling) - Don & Sheila Letts
Intentions of the Parishioners – Father Proulx

LITURGICAL ROLES THIS WEEK AT S.F.X.:

Baptism of the Lord *Mon. Bereavement Group 7:30 p.m.
January 10th/January 11th, 2009 (Rectory Mtg. Rm. 1)
* Mon. P.P.C. (Rectory Mtg. Rm. 2) 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY EVENING MASS - 5:00 p.m. * Tues. Finance & Property 7:00 p.m.
MINISTERS OF THE WORD – J. Lemay; J. Freemark (Rectory Mtg. Rm. #2)
MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY – H. O’Connell; E. Yantha * Thur. Liturgy Committee 3:30 p.m.
J. Skebo; L. Lee (Rectory Mtg. Rm. 2)
MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST – D. Lennox; J. Lynch;
L. Prince; H. Robinson; E. Coulas CHRISTMAS OFFERING: $8,144.31
SERVERS – T. Sul; H. & M. O’Neill; M. Brumm SUNDAY OFFERING: (Dec. 27/28) -
SUNDAY MORNING MASS - 10:30 a.m. $4,864.80 – Total made up of
MINISTERS OF THE WORD – S.J.H.S. Students $4,709.80 [235 postings] + $155
MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY – S.J.H.S. Students Automatic Withdrawals [9 postings])
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS – B. & D. O’Connor;
M.L. Rowat; D. Yemen; N. Smith CONGRATULATIONS: to Taylor Sul, winner of
SERVERS – S.J.H.S. Students
CHILDREN’S LITURGY: A. Ryan; C. Humphries the Altar Server draw for December.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM GHANA

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis Xavier: at this time of the year my thoughts turn to all those who
have gifted me with their support and friendship. I hope that the past year has been good to all of
you. Next Sunday, the 7th of December will be election day in Ghana. For the past month we have
prayed every Sunday that the elections will be peaceful. Violence is always a looming danger
where people lack education and tend to take losing as an affront to their pride. We are also busy
preparing towards the celebration of Christmas and our 3 days New Year’s convention that follows.
Plenty to do but that’s O.K. It tends to help us to keep our minds off the heat. May God bless you
all and may he fill your hearts with joy. Father Kevin

2009 SUNDAY CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES: Please HAPPY ANNIVERSARY:

pick up your envelopes from the table at the back of the church. If you to all couples of the Parish who
wish to receive envelopes please leave the pertinent information on the celebrated a Wedding Anniversary
sheets provided and envelopes will be provided for you. during December. We remember
you and your intentions at the
DIOCESAN WEBSITE: We encourage you to visit 10:30 a.m. Mass this weekend.
the new Diocesan website at www.diocesepembroke. May God Bless You All. Among
ca. The new site is not only up-to-date with news and those celebrating are:
events concerning our diocese, but it also has features
Mervyn & Elizabeth McCarthy (66)
to nourish your spiritual life such as the daily Mass
readings and many other spiritual resources.
Dan & Genevieve Deslaurier (60)
Hector &
SHARE LENT WORKSHOP 2009 – at the Marguerite Centre, Bob & Josie Quinn (48)
Pembroke, on Saturday, January 17th from 10 a.m. to noon. Neal & Margaret Moriarity (45)
Parishes are pleased asked to send a representative.

RENFREW & DISTRICT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: Bring your junior or senior Kindergarten aged child to discover
learning opportunities at Renfrew & District Christian School. Kindergarten Discovery Days will be held every
Monday from 8:45 a.m. – noon. Watch your child blossom in a small class setting.
Call 613-432-4340 to register your child for a Discovery Day experience.

DIRECT DEPOSIT SUNDAY OFFERINGS: You will notice that we have begun a program for people
to have their Sunday Offerings electronically transferred to the Parish. The weekly or monthly contributions
are noted in the bulletin along with our “Sunday Offering” notation. If you have any questions about this
program or if you would like to participate at any time, please call Martha Scott at the Parish office or feel
free to speak to any of the Parish staff.