Community Events

St. Michael's Choir School Presents...
A Christmas Overture

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 3:00 p.m.
Massey Hall, Shuter and Victoria Streets, Toronto.

Come celebrate Christmas with Toronto's renowned boys choir as they make their overture into the season. The concert features sacred choral masterpieces from Christmas past and present, arranged by composers from Canada and beyond. Join St. Michael's Choir School and special guest True North Brass for a spirited celebration of seasonal music.

To order tickets call 416-872-4255, online, www.masseyhall.com or in person at the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office. $36.50 - $22.50.

Mass in honour of Our Lady of Guadalupe

We cordially invite you to attend a Mass honouring “The Patroness of the Americas,” Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 - 5:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Victory Church, 117 Guestville Ave., Toronto.

Mass will be conducted in English (but with a “latin flair”) and we will sing the traditional “Mañanitas” in honour of “La Morenita”. Music will be provided by Mitch Chavez and the St. Anthony of Padua folk choir.

For more information, please call our office at 416-769-1171 or email us at ourladyofvictory@rogers.com.

Christmas Bazaar and Afternoon Tea Room

Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 11:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. 25 Augusta Avenue, Toronto. Rear Building.

“Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

St. Felix Centre, in downtown Toronto, provides programs that help homeless, low income and new immigrant families in the Queen/Spadina area. A hot lunch is provided to 100 adults daily.

The After School Program, runs entirely by volunteers, gives 60 children a safe place to go, help with homework and reading, a good snack and lots of fun time. Fuel For School provides 40 children with a hot breakfast and packed lunch.

Afternoon Tea Room (from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m., tickets $10)

Donations of items for the bazaar, baked goods etc. are always needed St. Felix Centre provides tax receipts for financial donations.

Please call 416-203-1624 to make a donation, get more information, or buy a ticket for the Tea.

Lectio Divina – A Year With St. Paul

All are welcome to join Archbishop Thomas Collins for Lectio Divina.

Sunday, December 14, 2008
St. Michael's Cathedral, 65 Bond Street, Toronto.

Vespers are at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Lectio Divina from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

This month's scripture passage: Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. Please join us for this personal encounter with God through Scripture.

This Sacred reading provides an opportunity to read aloud the Word of God taking time to pause, reflect and pray together. In the coming year, we will encounter Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, summarizing the foundation of Christian life.

Mp3 audio podcast and video posted on YouTube of Archbishop Collins' previous Lectio Divina are available at www.archtoronto.org. The Lectio Divina is also broadcast on Salt + Light Television. Visit www.saltandlighttv.org for more information.

3rd Annual Advent Vespers

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 7:30 p.m.
St. Basil’s Church, Toronto.

Please join us on to celebrate the First Sunday of Advent with Solemn Vespers sung by the St. Basil’s Choir. The celebration will feature Gregorian chant, seasonal psalms and hymns, Franz Biebl’s evocative setting of the ‘Ave Maria’, and organ music by J. S. Bach, Marcel Dupré, and Andrew Carter.

Light refreshments to follow. Freewill donations will be put toward the restoration of the St. Basil’s Casavant organ. For more information, please call 416-926-7110.

The Liturgica Seminar at T.S.T.

Hosted by the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael's College, promotes discussion on a wide variety of topics in the study of liturgy. Liturgical studies constitutes a significant and growing program at TST and we would like to continue nurturing it.

Enquiries and paper proposals are welcome tst.liturgy.seminar@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
The Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael's College.
Liturgical Reform in Contemporary Judaism: Is it Necessary? Does it Work?
By Rabbi Dow Marmur, PhD (Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom, Toronto).

Scarboro Missions 2008 Advent
Christian Mediation Series

Wednesdays - 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, (corner Brimley/Kingston)

November 26 - John Main Christian Meditation
by Scarboro Missions Meditation Community of 25 years.

December 3 - Praying with St. Augustine
by Fr. Larry Clark, member Augustinian Order and Pastor of St. Brigid's Parish, Toronto.

December 10 - Praying with Julian of Norwich
by Nada Conic – lecturer University of Toronto and spiritual counsellor at Manresa.

December 17 - Prayer of the Heart
by Peter McKenna, S.C.J. and Kathy Murtha, Director, Scarboro Missions, Mission Centre.

For more information please call 416-261-7135 ext. 266 or email terryg@scarboromissions.ca www.scarboromissions.ca.

Global phenomenon - The Priests
Release Iconic Debut Album

The Priests are Father Eugene O'Hagan, Father Martin O'Hagan and Father David Delargy; three practicing Roman Catholic Priests from Northern Ireland who grew up singing together while studying for the priesthood, and all joined by their shared faith and passion for music. Their debut album will be released November 18, 2008. Look for it in local retail outlets.

Uniquely for a debut album The Priests is being released simultaneously in more then 30 countries, including mainland Europe, USA, Argentina and the Philippines, fulfilling an unprecedented global demand. Additionally, the three have stipulated that a percentage of the proceeds from record sales will go to a charity or charities of their choice.

Featuring a collection of spiritually inspired tracks such as Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus as well as great classical arias and traditional Irish tracks and blessings, the album showcases the passion and exquisite harmonies of The Priests.

Theology of the Body Study Group

Every 2nd Wednesday of the month
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Daughters of St. Paul / Pauline Books & Media. Streamed online: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/theology-of-the-body

Facilitator: Fr. Thomas Loya is pastor of Annunciation Byzantine Catholic parish in Homer Glen, IL, USA (as well as its iconographer) www.byzantinecatholic.com. He heard the Theology of the Body addresses LIVE in St Peter's Square, and has been helping others discover TOB ever since. Father can be heard on www.catholicradiointernational.com (program: “A Body of Truth”). Father is available for retreats, conferences, etc.: www.taborlife.org

Learn the basic principles and concepts of John Paul II's revolutionary and life-changing Theology of the Body. We will be using JP2G's revised text: “Man and Woman He Created Them.”

Letters of St. Paul Reading Group
(For the Year of St. Paul)

Every 2nd Friday of the Month, 7:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Newman Centre Chapel (U of T campus).

Please join us as we read and pray the letters of St. Paul together (in response to Pope Benedict XVI's proclamation of the year of St. Paul - June 28/08- June 29/09).

We will look at the context, the content and the applicable message of the letters to our lives. Like St. Paul, our aim is to combine study and prayer so as to live out in our daily lives - "Christ Crucified".

Join us every month or as often as you can.

All are welcome anytime!

For further information please contact Maria at agovinomaria@hotmail.com or John at jspano@yorku.ca.

Gregorian Chant at Holy Cross Parish

Gregorian Chant and traditional Church music are practiced most Thursdays at 7:45 p.m. at Holy Cross Church, 291 Cosburn Ave., for those interested in forming a Latin Mass choir, and for those who just want to sing.

Participants will have the opportunity to sing for Masses on a variety of occasions. Sponsored by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. For more information call 416-421-5225 or www.fssptoronto.com.

Kolbe Eucharistic Mini-Retreat

Saturday, December 6, 2008
St. Brigid's Parish, Toronto.

The Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate invites you to come and adore the Lord at a special KOLBE EUCHARISTIC MINI-RETREAT at St. Brigid's Church, 300 Wolverleigh Blvd. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Most Rev. Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will give a special talk on “Discipleship” and there will be Eucharistic adoration throughout the afternoon. All are welcome to attend this special event.

For more information call Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate 416-425-0189 or see www.kolbeapostolate.com.

New Beginnings
“Finding God in Unexpected Places”

Tuesday December 2, 2008 - 8:00 p.m.
St Bonaventure's Church, 1300 Leslie St., Toronto.

New Beginnings is a ministry for those who seek comfort and strength following the loss of a spouse. Guest speaker: Friar Richard Riccioli, O.F.M. Conv.

For more information please contact 416-921-1163 ext. 2246.

Mississauga Choral Society and Sinfonia Mississauga

Presents:
G.F. HANDEL MESSIAH
Conducted by Mervin Fick

Sunday, December 7, 2008 - 3:00 p.m.
St. Dominic's Church, 625 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga. (Cawthra & Q.E.W.)

For tickets please contact the LAC Box Office at 905-306-6000 or St. Dominic's parish at 905-278-7762. Tickets $15-$35.