**SMB - Christmas Eve (6:00 & 8:00 p.m.)
Tickets are required.
Please call the Parish Office for tickets.
This is due to capacity limits and we don't want to turn any individual away.
Wednesday, December 25
Christmas Day
9:00 a.m.
HAP - St. Joseph's Faith Community, Shad Bay
10:00 a.m.
HAP - St. Augustine's Faith Community, Chester
SMB: December 24 at 6:00 p.m.; December 25 at 11:00 a.m.; will be livestreamed.
PLEASE NOTE:
Capacity limits at all Churches for Christmas Masses are to be in accordance with the Fire Marshall.
When capacity is reached, doors of churches will be closed.
Please consider other Mass times in order to have a safe, prayerful Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 31
New Year's Eve
4:00 p.m.
HAP - St. Joseph's Faith
Wednesday, January 1
New Year's Day
9:00 a.m.
HAP - St. Augustine's Faith Community, Chester
1. No electricity, No Mass
2. Web page, Facebook, Twitter will all have notification
3. CBC Storm Center
4. Consultation will be done with local community, 24 hours in advance
PRAYER AND SPIRITUALITY
Many thanks to the children who were involved in our child/youth-focused Mass for the First Sunday of Advent, and to the adults who worked with them. Everyone -- the singers, the readers, the Jesse Tree decorators, and those involved in hospitality -- did a great job! Thanks also to the children and parents who attended our recent Advent Stewardship Fair. In addition to creating beautiful Jesse Tree ornaments, we filled more than eighty treat bags for the St Vincent de Paul Society to distribute to those in need. We created a large stack of beautiful Christmas cards for the residents of the White Hills Retirement Home, and families made their own mini Advent wreaths to take home. Thanks for sharing your time, talent, and treasure!
CHRISTMAS
We know that preserving the memory of your loved one is especially important during the holiday season. That's why we want to remind you that envelopes for Christmas flower donations are available at all locations. We are here to assist you in any way we can. If you would like to participate, please submit the envelopes by December 14-15 to help us prepare the list of loved ones. Your thoughtful contribution will help bring comfort and joy to those who need it most.
HOLY APOSTLES PARISH
Parish Office
Friday, December 20 - Friday, December 27 closed
Monday, December 30 7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 31 - Friday, January 3 closed
Parish Office will reopen on
Monday, January 6, 2025
regular hours
Draw will be held December 19, 2024
Livestreamed - 2:00 p.m.
Tickets available at
HAP - Office
or
before/after Mass on Sunday
in Person, Cash Sales only
will take place at Holy Apostles Parish - SMB Faith Community
on Thursday, December 19
at 3:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL
for 2025
When the offering envelopes are received at each Faith Community Church, please locate your name on the box instead of the assigned number for this year.
You are encouraged to continue utilizing your 2024 envelopes until the year's conclusion.
In addition, special offering envelope boxes are available for parishioners who contribute through Parish Pre-Authorized Remittances (PAR). These boxes are smaller than the standard offering envelopes and will display your name. If your name is not listed, please contact the Parish office by phone or email for assistance.
Holy Apostles Parish
902-826-2696
HAParishNS@gmail.com
How to Support Our Parish Financially
Pre-Authorized Remittances (PAR)
PAR is invaluable to the parish in these times as these contributions still arrive even if you can’t. For the parish, PAR provides a steadier and more predictable stream of funds. This is extremely helpful for budgeting and planning for larger projects. Contact the Parish office at 902-826-2696 or email engagehap@gmail.com. The PAR form is available to download here.
Canada Helps (Credit Cards can be used here)
You can now make donations to Holy Apostles Parish through Canada Helps. Through this safe and secure site you can support any Canadian charity and centralize all your giving. If you choose to use one, a free account allows you to track all your giving, set giving goals, manage monthly gifts, and more. Choose to receive an instant tax receipt after each donation or a summary receipt at the end of each year for all donations.
For those who have asked about using a credit card, Canada Helps allows you to donate using one. You can make one time or recurring donations.
E-Transfers
E-transfers can be made to holyapostlesparish16@gmail.com. Please include your envelope number or contact info so we can ensure that we credit the right person for the donation!
Sunday Missals are now available at all locations for $5.00 each.
The Living with Christ Missal includes Complete Scripture readings for Sunday Masses
as well as Musical acclamations by Canadian composers,
reflections for all Sunday liturgies, and much more.
We have arrived at Gaudete Sunday (Gaudete is the Latin word for “rejoice”) this Third Week of Advent, and the Scriptures take on a joyful tone as we continue our preparations for the feast of our Savior’s birth.
Our Second Reading gives us cause for joy as St Paul reminds us, “The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all….” Then he gives us a prescription for maintaining this peace: “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s instructions for obtaining peace come as an early Christmas gift. They remind us that we can and should go to God with all our needs and present them to Him along with our thanks. This guidance calls to mind a vital aspect of a stewardship way of life: gratitude to God in response to His great love and countless gifts to us.
The Gospel passage, from Luke, shows us how to live out this sense of thankfulness, making our lives a “Christmas gift” to Christ in joyful response to His love for us. When the crowds hear John the Baptist’s message that their Savior is coming, they ask him what they should do to prepare. He responds, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do the same.” He tells tax collectors to stop collecting more than is prescribed and soldiers, to be satisfied with their wages. In other words, he tells them to be good and generous stewards of all God’s gifts to them!
As the great feast of Christmas draws near, let us rejoice in Christ’s extravagant love. Let’s avail ourselves of the peace He longs to give us. And let’s look carefully at our lives to make sure we are indeed making of them a gift fitting for Him.
Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals and Sacrament of the Sick (Annointing): Please contact the main office at 902-826-2696.
Baptisms at Holy Apostles Parish
For further information or to schedule a baptism, please call the main office at 902-826-2696. Please note that a short baptismal preparation course will be required and provided before the actual baptism.
Parish Communications
If you have any concerns to be addressed by our parish Leadership Team, you can now email them directly at LeadershipHolyApostles@gmail.com.
All communications should be made to the Holy Apostles Parish office
(call 902-826-2696 or email HAParishNS@gmail.com).
St. Augustine's Faith Community 105 King Street, Chester
Office Hours: Mondays - 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Telephone: 902-275-5463
Mailing Address: please use HAP main office address
St. Joseph's Faith Community 3709 Prospect Road, Shad Bay
Office Hours: Tuesdays - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Telephone: 902-852-2763
Mailing Address: please use HAP main office address
We live, work and play in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral, current, and unceeded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. For more information on the Peace and Friendship Treaties please click HERE.
HOLY APOSTLES PARISH
Maryn Anderson, DMI
Parish Life Coordinator
Father Edwin Ewuzie
Assistant Priest
Maryann Doyle, CPHR
Manager for Business Administration
Dale Rycroft
Coordinator for Cemeteries
Andre Edmunds
Building & Maintenance Coordinator
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Faith Communities - Staff
Dinah Simmons
Coordinator of Elementary Religious Education
SMB Faith Community
Jim Kemp
Janitor
SMB Faith Community
Tish Hammond
Administrative Support Worker
St. Joseph's Faith Community
Karen Mackenzie-Stepner
Administrative Support Worker
St. Augustine's Faith Community
