The Parish Community of St. Kevin

Served by the Holy Cross Fathers

303 Niagara Street
Welland, Ontario  L3C 1K5

Email
905-735-5885

December 22, 2024

The Fourth Sunday of Advent – An Advent Prayer from Henri Nouwen

Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”

 

A Christmas Message

Dear Parishioners and Beloved Families,

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we wish you all a season filled with joy, peace, and the love of Christ.  In this season of hope and love, let us reflect on the beautiful words from the Gospel of John: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) These words remind us of the incredible gift we celebrate—God becoming one with us, dwelling among us in the person of Jesus Christ.

The profound mystery of the Incarnation reveals the depth of God’s love—a love that meets us where we are and invites us into a relationship full of grace and truth. The Incarnation is not just a historical event but an ongoing reality that shapes our lives today. Because God became human, every aspect of our existence is touched by His presence. Our joys and our sorrows, our work, and our relationships, even our challenges and fears—all are places where His grace can be found.

In Jesus, the Word made flesh, we see God’s love fully revealed—a love that is personal, tangible, and transformative. The celebration of Christmas is an invitation to encounter this love anew. I warmly encourage you and your loved ones to join us for our Christmas liturgies here at St. Kevin’s. Together, let us come before the manger, where heaven touches earth, and rejoice in the gift of Emmanuel, “God with us.”

May the light of Christ fill your hearts and homes this Christmas, and may His grace guide you into the New Year with renewed hope and joy.

Sincerely in Jesus,


Fr. Jinto Mathew, CSC & Fr. Arockia Sunil, CSC

 

 

Thank you – Children’s Art – Nativity Scene  

We thank the children of Mrs. Sweitzer’s class at
St. Kevin Catholic School for their beautiful Nativity scene
artwork that is now on display on one of our bulletin
boards in the foyer. They did a beautiful job
and we are so appreciative! We encourage you
to stop by for a moment and admire their work!  

 

St Vincent de Paul Society Donations

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society – St. Kevin’s Conference would like to thank the members of St. Kevin’s Parish Community for their generosity in supporting our work with those people in need on the west side of Welland. We receive our funding from individual donations, the Share Advent Collection, and money dropped into the poor box as people leave church. We have 579 households in our database which includes 819 adults and 441 children. Over the year 2024 our volunteers have made 914 home visits assisting 1,319 adults and 660 children (up to Nov. 30th). We have gained over 2024, 128 new client households.

As you can see, the need for assistance in our community is great. Many donors have been prevented from making donations as a result of the mail strike with Canada Post. If you are able, and are so inclined, we respectfully request that you consider making a donation to St. Vincent de Paul. You may place an envelope in the collection basket at church or drop it off at the parish office on weekdays between 9:00am and 4:00pm. We ask that you please include your full name or envelope number, and if it is your first time donating, please include your full address as well (for income tax purposes).
All donations must be received by December 30th as December 31st is the end of our fiscal year.

“In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brother, you have done it unto me.

 

Canadian Blood Services – It’s in you to Give

We have been approached by Canadian Blood Services to reach out to our parishioners on their behalf. The need for blood products is rising, but there are not enough donors to keep up with the rising patient need. Canadian Blood Services needs 450 new donors across the country every day this winter. The need for plasma is growing and won’t stop during the holidays. In fact, significantly more plasma donations are needed to make lifesaving treatments for patients in Canada. So, wait no more! Get into the holiday spirit by giving someone the gift of time that they can spend with their loved ones! Come and donate plasma in December. To book your appointment, call 1-888-236-6283 or visit https://www.blood.ca/en

 

 
 

Please remember the Poor Box as you leave the Church.
 

Worth Repeating

The items below you may have seen before but remain here if seasonally important information

or

General information that people need to review from time to time.

 

Housekeeping Reminders

  • Please place hymn books neatly back in their spots. Please be sure to dispose of tissues, wrappers, or other debris when leaving. And don’t forget your bulletin. Please do not leave behind daily Missalettes at the end of the month – simply recycle them.

  • When entering the parking lot please do so from Niagara Street and exit via Northcote. Please drive slowly in our parking lot as well. If you are parking on the side streets for Mass, please be respectful of road signs and driveways. Please be sure to lock your car doors when you come for Mass or any other function.

  • Please also be very careful with perfumes and colognes. Some parishioners tend to go very heavy with these and it can be difficult for fellow parishioners with allergies or breathing troubles. We have had many parishioners come to us about this requesting that we ask people to not wear scents. Please refrain or use the tiniest amount possible.

  • For those who place loose bills or coins in the collection – we would like to give you proper credit for income tax purposes. Please consider using our Visitor envelopes or asking Father/our Staff for a box of envelopes.

The Vineyard, the Diocese of St. Catharines journal has gone digital.

It can be viewed at http://saintcd.com/diocesan-directory/the-vineyard

 

Safety Reminder

We wish to remind Parishioners to please lock car doors when attending Mass and please do not leave valuables in vehicles, in the parking lot or on the street. Thank you.

Catholic Marriage Tribunal

If you are considering remarriage in the Catholic Church at some point, or hoping to enter a marriage with someone previously married, please speak to a priest, or contact the Diocesan Catholic Marriage Tribunal in St. Catharines at 905-687-8817. Information Pamphlets are available through the parish.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Due to the privacy laws, the hospital does not list our parishioners by address or parish unless you state your religion as ST. KEVIN PARISH when you are admitted. It would help the parish visiting team if when the hospital asks religion – you respond ST. KEVIN'S PARISH. If you or a family member enter a hospital for several days please be sure to call the parish office to let us know if you wish a visit. If you wish the Anointing of the Sick before an operation, either at home or while in the hospital, be sure to inform the parish office. A priest will come as soon as possible to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. We also have a group of lay people from our parish who each week visit or bring communion to Catholic parishioners in the hospital. Please, we need to know that you are there!

A Review of Some Parish Policies

  1. Requests: We often receive requests for baptism or marriage, or Pastoral References for teachers, who are not members of St. Kevin's Parish. Examples would be: They might like our church and so want to get married here although they live elsewhere. Or: they were baptized here and so they would like their child to be baptized here although they live elsewhere. Or: I went to Notre Dame College School. The main point here is "they live elsewhere". Now – wherever elsewhere might be, there is a Catholic parish there. Our policy is to minister to the parishioners of St. Kevin's. We have more than 3400 families; there is a lot of ministry work for us to do here. Our focus and attention is first and foremost on our own parishioners.

  2. Parishioners should be registered: And here it is important to remember – that all of our parishioners should be registered in the parish, that is, on our books with names and phone numbers and addresses.

  3. Young Adults: There is a point when the young person must register in our Parish. It does not suffice to say my parents are members of St. Kevin's and I was confirmed at St. Kevin's when that person has been living on his or her own. The young adult should not depend on the faith and loyalty of parents or grandparents but must take ownership of his or her own faith. That means, as well, the young person should be engaged in the financial support of the Parish.

  4. Support of the Church: One of the precepts of the church – parishioners should be generous in supporting the material needs of the church. Today, we do this best by regularly using envelopes to help with the expenses of administering a very large parish such as St. Kevin's.

  5. Needing a Letter of Permission: Hospitality is a wonderful characteristic of St. Kevin's Parish. And we do want to be open and hospitable to folks who are not registered members in the parish. Yet – we must be careful to observe church laws and regulations. We will consider doing a marriage or a baptism of those folks from elsewhere. But – we must ask that the person or persons making this request of us have a "letter of permission" from elsewhere, that is, from the parish in which they are actually living - a letter from the Pastor of that parish giving us permission to do the baptism or marriage. Without such a letter of permission our policy must be to refuse to do such baptisms or marriages.

  6. Weddings: To be married in St. Kevin's, one should be registered in the parish. Please call at least six months in advance to make arrangements. If not a registered member of our parish, we must have a Letter of Permission from the Pastor in which the person(s) is registered. (See above.)

  7. Baptisms: To be baptized in St. Kevin's, one should be registered in the Parish. Please call as early as possible to arrange a baptism. If one is not registered, we must have a Letter of Permission from the Pastor in which the family is registered. (See above.)

  8. Pastoral References for Teachers: Pastoral references for teachers are given for those persons who are registered in St. Kevin's Parish. The Pastoral Reference for teachers testifies that the person practices his or her faith regularly. Sunday Eucharist is the great Christian norm for the practice of the faith. The Pastoral Reference for teachers inquires as to how active the person is in participating in different dimensions of parish or civic life.

  9. Godparents / Christian Witness for Baptism: At baptism, a Roman Catholic sponsor is called a Godparent. All Godparents for Baptism should be practicing Catholics. One of the sponsors at baptism must be a Roman Catholic, 16 years of age and already confirmed. A non-Catholic sponsor is called a "Christian Witness". (This presumes that the non- Catholic is indeed a practicing Christian and baptized in a Christian church). In choosing a Godparent for baptism, parents should keep in mind that a Godparent at baptism should also be the person's sponsor at Confirmation.

  10. Confirmation Sponsors: A Confirmation sponsor must be a practicing Roman Catholic, already confirmed and 16 years of age. We ask the sponsor at Confirmation to have a brief meeting with the Pastor of his/her Parish. Simply inform the Pastor of your desire to act as a Confirmation sponsor at St. Kevin's and kindly ask the Pastor to sign the Sponsor Form. The Sponsor Form itself presents in a clear way the expectations for a Confirmation Sponsor.

  11. Parish Pastoral Practice.
    •   If someone is seriously sick at home or in the hospital, please call the office. One of the priests will be happy to visit.
    •   If one is unable to come to Sunday Eucharist over a long period of time, please call the office and arrange for a communion visit on the part of our Eucharist Ministers.
    •   When spending time in the hospital, please indicate that you are Roman Catholic and a member of St. Kevin's.

     

REMINDER:

Are You Registered in Our Parish?

Please do not take for granted that you are registered in the parish just because you attend Mass here. If we have no record of your parish membership, it could be quite embarrassing to us, or to you or your family, when someone wishes to make wedding plans, have a baby baptized, or if you have been asked to act as a sponsor for baptism or confirmation. Please fill out a registration form. This form is on the shelf in the book stand in the foyer of the church. When you have completed the form, place in the collection basket or return it to the Parish Office