ST. DOMINIC'S PARISH HAS A NEW Email: StDominicsMI@archtoronto.org ( Please note the upper and lower case on the email.)/

Jesus makes it quite clear in Matthew 24:36: “No one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the father.” Our Father in heaven is the only one who knows when his creation will come to a conclusion. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be prepared for the end.  In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica that the day of the Lord, the end of time, will come like a thief in the night when people least expect. Perhaps time will not end before we die, but when we die, our own personal time comes to an end.  We spend the month of November praying for our loved ones and all the souls of the faithful departed who have died.  Death is a reality everyone has to face. How then, should we prepare for the Lord to come whether it is at the end of all time or the end of our own personal time?  Instructions are available, particularly in today’s Gospel. Jesus is speaking about the end of time.  Today’s Gospel is the Parable of the Talents.  The master entrusts his possessions to three of his servants, and then goes on a journey.  When he returns he calls them to see how they invested them, rewarding the first two who had returned more to him than he had given them, and punishing the third who buried the talent in the ground.  By burying the talent, the ancient law said that the servant was no longer was responsible for it.  That is why the Master in the parable was so upset with the third servant. The Lord tells us in the parable that the Master will come for an accounting of how we used the gifts and talents He has given to us.  The first two servants in the parable returned more than they received, allowing the Master’s possessions to grow.  God is calling us to develop what we are given to allow His Kingdom to grow.  We can’t be concerned with worrying about the exact day or hour.  That is not up to us.  But what we have to be concerned with is doing our part to prepare for the Lord’s coming, either at the end of all time or the end of our time.  If we develop the talents he has entrusted to us, the day will come when He will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
 CONCERT - Please remember the concert on November 24th. Tickets are available in the vestibule after Mass or from the office during the week.

ADVENT – Thanks to those families who have signed up to light the advent wreath candles. There are still a few times to be filled in.

CROSSES FOR FIRST COMMUNION STUDENTS – On the weekend of November 29-30, the first Sunday of Advent, our students receiving First Communion in 2015 will receive their crosses. There is a short ceremony involving all the parents/guardians and the children. This will be done at all 3 Masses, 5pm Sat. Evening and 9:30am and 11:30am Sunday morning. Please be sure to attend with your children.

ARCHDIOCESAN DAY OF CONFESSIONS On Wednesday December 10th Confessions will be heard at all parishes in the Archdiocese. The particular times here are: 10am – 12 noon, 2pm – 4pm. A PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 7PM. Please check the websites of other parishes if you wish to know the times there.

TREE LIGHTING – We will have the tree lighting ceremony on Atwater Avenue and our evening with Santa for the children on Saturday, December 13th after the 5 PM Mass. Refreshments will be served in the hall for everyone.
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES – Since many have been asking about the Christmas Mass Schedule this year I am publishing the times now but will include this on an information sheet in December with the Mass/Office schedule over Christmas and New Year.
CHRISTMAS EVE – WED. DEC. 24th 5 PM (Children’s pageant), 7PM, 9:30 PM and 12 Midnight
CHRISTMAS DAY – THURS. DEC. 25th – 9:30 and 11:30
I hope you have a good week

Fr. Phil