Saturday December 27th - 5:00 pm...Late Jim and Mary McCarthy
Sunday December 28th - 11:00 a.m...For all our parishioners
Sunday December 28th - 5:00 p.m...Late William, Ann, Francis Newman and Late Scott Howell Monday December 29th - 9:30 am...Late Marie Kennedy
Tuesday December 30th - 9:30 am...**McCarthy and Scanlon families
Wednesday December 31st h - 7:00 pm...Late Robby Bennett
Thursday January 1st - 11:00 am...Living and deceased members of the Kindellan family
- 5:00 pm...Late Mike and Robyn Lynn Sweeney
Friday January 2nd - 9:30 am...Late Mark LaCosta
Saturday January 3rd - 5:00 pm...Late Charlie Renouf
JUBILEE YEAR CLOSING MASS:
As part of our Diocesan Jubilee Closing Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday December 28th at 11:00 am, we are inviting everyone who can bring a non-perishable item for the food bank as a symbol of our willingness to share the blessings we have received during this year of grace, and as a sign of hope to those who are in need. We invite all the people of Corner Brook and surrounding area to attend this Mass and the reception that follows.
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
New Years Eve - December 31st:
3:00 pm - St Brendan’s
5:00 pm - The Cathedral
NEW YEAR’S EVE ADORATION:
The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed until 8:00 pm on New Year’s Eve, after the 5:00 pm Mass at the Cathedral. Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. This is a wonderful way to end the year.
New Years Day - January 1st:
9:30 am - All Hallows
11:00 am - The Cathedral
5:00 pm - The Cathedral
PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE:
The Parish Office is currently closed during the Christmas Season and will reopen at 9:00 am on Monday, January 5th. There will be no bulletin for the weekend of January 3rd/4th.
CHURCH ENVELOPES FOR 2026 ARE NOW AT THE CATHEDRAL
THE CHRISTMAS WREATH:
On Christmas Eve, the purple and pink candles of the Advent wreath are replaced by four white candles.
The use of the white candles reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World through whom our spiritual darkness is dispelled. The wreath will be lit each weekend of the Christmas season.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:
If you wish to donate for Christmas Flowers for the altar in memory of a loved one, please put your donation in an envelope with your name on it and also the name of your loved ones and drop it in the Sunday Collection or at the Parish Office.
HOLY FATHERS INTENTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:
ForChristians in areas of conflict - let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.
POOR BOX COLLECTION CANCELLED:
Due to overwhelming generosity of parishioners during this Christmas season, the Society of St Vincent de Paul w ill not be having a Poor Box collection on December 27/28th. We are so grateful for your ongoing support of our work.
REFLECTION:
A fire has been lit: In our times Christmas has been very pagan. Many into over spending and excessive overeating and drinking. However, these abuses must not blind us to the true meaning of Christmas. When thick smoke rises up, catches in your throat and brings tears to your eyes, it is because a fire has been lit. Ever since the coming of Christ a bright fire has been burning on our earth, a fire that will never die. At this fire, we experience the warmth of God’s love and the glow of human fellowship. Let us not be afraid to come in out of the cold and warm ourselves at this fire. Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year.
JANUARY 4TH - EPIPHANY:
What is an Epiphany? The word comes from the Greek word epiphaneia or theophananeia, meaning appearance or manifestation. After the festivities of Christmas, it is the time of the Christian year when we wonder at the revelation of God to the world in Jesus Christ. The feast of the Epiphany symbolizes the fact that the man born to be king will rule not by force but by love,
reigning not from a throne but from a cross. Gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for the one who was to die: gifts of the wise men foretell that (Jesus) will be the true king, perfect high priest and supreme saviour. The unfolding season honours the public life and witness of Christ, including His baptism in the Jordan, the miracles He performs and His unfailing compassion for others.
BAPTISM PREPARATION:
The next baptism preparation session will be held Monday, January 12th at 6:30 pm at the Cathedral. Please contact the parish office at 709-634-5161 to register. This is for parents and God-parents.
TIME TO UPDATE:
To assist the parish in outreach to all parishioners, an update of the parish records is needed. Therefore, during the month of February, Parish Council will be asking ALL PARISHIONERS to complete a short registration form - which will be provided - and to place the completed forms in containers which will also be provided. It should only take a few minutes to complete - we just need your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one). Thank you for your cooperation!
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:
The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written to be a kind of secret catechism at a time when Catholicism was outlawed. Each verse refers to a teaching of church doctrine - with Christ being the partridge and the “True Love” being God the Father, who gave us all gifts. The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25th and end at Epiphany, January 6th.
Partridge in a pear tree: Jesus;
Two turtle doves: the Old and New Testaments;
Three French Hens: faith, hope and love;
Four calling birds: the four Gospels
Five golden rings: the first five books of the Old Testament
Six geese a-laying: the six days of creation
Seven swans-a-swimming: the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids-a-milking: the eight Beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing: the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten lords a- leaping; the Ten Commandments
Eleven pipers piping: the eleven faithful Apostles
mming:
Twelve drummers drumming: the twelve
points of belief in the Apostles Creed
4 YOUTH:
On the Feast of the Epiphany, which the Church celebrates on January 4th, we commemorate the visitation of the Magi to the Baby Jesus. These 3 men travelled a great distance guided only by a star and brought with them gifts f gold, frankincense and myrrh to honour Jesus. This is a good time to think about our own journey of faith. How are we called to grow closer to Christ? What gifts do we have that we can bring to the Lord today to share with Him? Remember the best gifts come from the heart.
REFLECTION: JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM:
Joseph and Mary set out for Bethlehem. When they arrived there, the time came for Mary to have her baby and she gave birth to a son. All of us are journeying to Bethlehem where we hope to be born. I know we were born once. Nevertheless, we are still unborn, in the sense that our true and full self hasn’t yet seen the light of day. When our second birth occurs , than all the gifts of grace and nature, which God gave us all as seeds, will blossom and bear fruit. Our ultimate goal is the heavenly Bethlehem where we shall see God face to face.
FAMILY CATECHETICS:
Registration is open and ongoing for K to year 6. Registration for Confirmation is closed. Schedules and registration sheets can be found at the entrances to the parish or at the parish office. Our program runs from Kindergarten to year 6 in addition to the two years of preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please contact angie.dolomount@gmail.com or 709-631- 4543 with any questions.
WEEKLY EXPOSITION AND ADORATION:
Held after morning Mass on Wednesdays and also on Friday at 7:00 pm. It is a great opportunity to unite your joys, struggles, success and sufferings to the Lord who unites us to His merciful love on the cross through His presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
FUNDRAISING - TICKETS:
On a cash draw - $5.00 each draw date is January 25th, 2026.
Prizes are:
1st prize - $10,000.00,
2nd - $5,000.00,
3rd - 2500.00,
4th -$1000.00.
To buy or help sell tickets, contact the parish office 709-634-5161 or call Marjorie Deckert 709-632-2051 or Elizabeth Coleman 709-640-5241
ADULT CONFIRMATION:
If there are any adults wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or any other sacraments, please contact the parish office. We hope to offer a course in the new year for interested individuals.
ADVENT ENVELOPES CAN BE FOUND ON THE TABLES AT THE ENTRANCES OF THE CATHEDRAL.
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL:
Is a privately funded school dedicated to educational excellence in a Christian environment. It is operated independently of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador by the Catholic School Foundation of Corner Brook Inc, For more information about the school and go online at www.ihmsc
