**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 Community, Shad Bay
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
CHRISTMAS
Christmas Blessings
to our
Holy Apostles Parish
family
Salome,
Holy Apostles Parish
Staff
missing from picture
Karen MacKenzie-Stepner
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
Faith Formation Notice: Many thanks to the catechists, assistants, substitutes, and committee members who share their faith and love with the children and youth in our faith formation programs. We appreciate all you do. Thanks, as well, to the parents, for their commitment. Elementary faith formation sessions resume on Tuesday evening, January, 14, at 6:30.
Liturgical Ministry, participation from so many people to make the celebrations wonderful times of worship and hope. For all gifts received - thank you!
HOPE COTTAGE
We genuinely appreciate your contribution to this outreach program. There will be many people in downtown Halifax who will have warm feet and hands this Christmas Season.
MARGUERITE CENTER
With deepest gratitude, we thank you for your donation. There will be smiling faces during this Christmas Season from the women released from prison. Let us continue to pray for them as many are coping with addictions.
Thank you to those who so faithfully donate stew to Hope Cottage.
Thank you to all Volunteers who used their gifted abilities within the Parish Office.
Your work has a ripple effect, motivating others to give their best as well. We value your unwavering commitment and the positive impact it has on our team.
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!
There will be no Bulletin for Sunday, December 29, 2024. Our weekly Bulletin for Sunday, January 5, 2025
will be circulated on Friday, January 3 at 3:00 p.m.
Our Blessed Mother takes center stage on this fourth Sunday of Advent, and fittingly so, as we draw near to the celebration of her Son’s birth. After our Lord Himself, Mary is our model and guide to a stewardship way of life.
Today’s Gospel passage from Luke describes Mary’s actions immediately after her “yes” to the angel Gabriel’s message. “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah… and greeted Elizabeth.” Mary immediately begins to think of others before herself, setting out quickly to be with her cousin, modeling two of the pillars of stewardship – Hospitality and Service.
What warmth and humility the Mother of our Savior shows, traveling to Elizabeth to spend time with her, rejoicing with Elizabeth over her own incredible pregnancy, and assisting her in a time of need. And what joy this hospitality and service brings to Elizabeth.
Our Blessed Mother’s example of a stewardship way of life is one that we, her children, can follow in our own lives today. With all the gifts God gives us — our time, our talents, our material possessions — we, too, can offer ourselves to God by using these gifts to serve and glorify Him. In so doing, we will effectively spread the Good News of the Gospel to the world around us today.
As they navigated the ninety or so miles of rugged, treacherous terrain between Nazareth and Bethlehem, what did they say to each other?
Did they laugh out loud about the wild miracle God had invited them into?
Did they feel awkward in the silences and fill the space with silly stories and antics?
Or were they giddy? Singing and dancing as they made their way.
They were teenagers after all.
And there’s Jesus. Perfect Jesus. Tucked carefully beside Mary’s heart, just days from His birth.
Already Lord. Already the Savior. Already the One all of creation cries out for.
Jesus.
What incredible joy there must have been there in those moments leading up.
Being so close to Joy Himself.
And this morning as we anticipate with them - with those human teenagers on the most important walk of their lives - let’s breathe deep the joy of this history changing miracle.
Let’s remember Who exactly He is. And what He means.
This Baby. Our Saviour.
He IS Joy. He IS Peace. He IS Hope.
And while the world demands our attention and seeks to pull us away from the whole point - may you and I hunker down with a determined knowing. Just as they did.
Jesus is coming. Jesus.
He changes everything.
Jesus - He makes the darkness tremble. He silences fear.
Remember and Rejoice in that this morning.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely
with joy and peace because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NLT)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
With a heart filled with gratitude, thank you
to all who participated in this special project.
Your kindness enabled us to pack 50 Blessing Bags,
ready for distribution to those who need care.
We are the hands and feet of Jesus!
CONTACT US
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
-----------------------------------------
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
