Our Dear St. Philip Neri Parishioners, 

New Year's Greetings and blessings from Fr. Mike and Fr Bill!

As Fr. Mike and Fr. Bill just returned from their trip to Edmonton, there will not be a message this week. They do want to wish you a very Happy New Year, and hope that you will be coming to our little New Year's celebration in the Welcome Area after the New Year's Eve 5 pm Mass (tomorrow night).  There are more details below.

Peace … Fr Mike & Fr. Bill

Praise be Jesus Christ … and Mary Immaculate

St. Philp Neri … pray for us

St. Eugene de Mazenod … pray for us

St. Kateri Tekakwitha … pray for us

Something from the Parish: Mark your calendar:

THIS Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – After the 5 pm Celebration of the Eucharist, we invite you to gather for our Parish New Year’s Eve Party in our Welcome Area. If you are not planning any other evening celebration … come join us, here at the Parish.

The Parish will provide food and drinks (as it is supper time). We invite you to bring appetizers/munchies and/or your favourite dessert.

January 10, 2023 will be the first meeting of the RCIA journey, in St. Philip Neri Parish. We are privileged to journey with two young people. Please keep us in your prayers.

NOTE: If there is anyone who wishes to enrich and deepen your faith life, you are also welcome to join us. We meet in the Welcome Area of the Parish.

January 23, 2023 – St. Philip Neri Parish will host the Alpha experience for young adults. We begin with supper, complements of Fr. Bill … then watch the video … then talk about life! Please contact Fr. Mike at (306) 850-9075 for more information.

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children at risk and in fear that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

God's richest blessings on you and all those you love, as we begin the New Year, 2023 - already! 

Thankfully the frigid temperatures and the "heavy snowfall" warnings are now behind us and we can ring in the New Year with seasonal temperatures and sunny skies!  It already feels so much nicer to be outside. Hopefully all of us who live on side streets will see the snow removal crews arrive soon so that we can begin to navigate through our winter lives more easily and safely. Hang in there!   

Below are a few final reminders and a few new items for you as we head into New Years and 2023:

• The New Year's Mass Schedule is below, for your reference.
  
• The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2 for New Years. 
• If you have a sweet tooth, this sale is for you!  The Refugee Committee is having their famous Honey Sale again!  See all the details below for when and where. 
• Check out the "Thank-you Note" below regarding the Christmas Meal at the Bridge on 20th that was supported by many of our parishioners!  Way to go!  
• The St. Philip Neri CWL have a meeting coming up on Wed. Jan. 11.  Please check out the details below and mark your calendar!
• This is your Final Reminder to please pick up your 2023 Collection Envelopes in the Welcome Area if you haven't already.
• This sounds like a yummy way to raise money!  Check out the details below regarding the St. Philip Neri Refugee Committee's Chili Fundraiser coming up on Fri. Jan. 13. Get your tickets soon from the Parish Office!
  
• For the month of January, we will be collecting whole grain pasta and hearty soups and stews for the Food Bank. More details are below. 
• The next Bereavement Support gathering will be held on Tuesday, Tuesday, Jan. 10.  Anyone can join at any time - we would love to have you.  Please see more details below.  
•  Check out this week's post-Christmas Church Chuckle!  Baby Jesus is growing so quickly!
• The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is coming up in mid-January.  All the details are below, in blue.
• Here is a chance to learn more and feel more about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  "The Eucharist:  Christ Our Sustainer" will be held on the five Tuesdays in January.  See all the details below.
• Want another way to experience Adoration?  Check out "A Holy Hour for the Feminine Heart", which is held on the first Thursday of every month at Holy Spirit Parish.  See all the details below.  

Have a wonderful New Year's celebration, everyone, whether it is big or small, noisy or quiet.  May God bless you in the days and months ahead, with an abundance of peace and prosperity, love and laughter, health and happiness and new adventures!  Talk to next year! 

New Years Blessings, 

Marlene

New Year's Mass Schedule

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God:

New Year's Eve - Sat. Dec. 31 ~ 5 pm

New Year's Day - Sun. Jan. 1 ~ 10 am

Mon. Jan. 2 ~ NO MASS

Parish Office Closed

Monday, Jan. 2

The Parish Office will be closed on Mon. Jan. 2, for New Years.  Please note that there is NO Morning Mass on this day.

Honey for Sale!

The Refugee Committee is pleased to announce that we have the same, great Creamed Ice Honey for sale that we’ve had for the past two years. The price is $15 for a jar or two for $25. You can buy them before and after all Masses NEXT weekend, on Jan. 7 & 8, in the Welcome Area, or at the Chili Supper on Friday, Jan. 13.

This is some of the best honey you will ever taste and always sells out, so don’t miss this opportunity, and help support our refugee work at the same time!

Christmas Joy at "The Bridge on 20th"

Once again this year, thanks to the generosity of members of St. Philip Neri Parish and Oblate Associates from Saskatoon, collectively, we were able to provide a very large portion of the Christmas meal served on December 22 at The Bridge. Many dropped off food, gifts, and financial contributions during the week and then on the morning of Dec. 22 there were six or seven cooked hams and six or seven roasted turkeys dropped off.

To all those who were able to contribute to this very worthwhile cause, thank you and God Bless You.

St. Philip Neri CWL

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 in St Philip Neri Church starting at 7 pm.

Life Member, Mary Nordick, will be giving a presentation on the theme of “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” which will occur January 18 to 25. The theme this year is “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17)

Hope you will enter this in your calendar and plan to attend.

2023 Parish Collection Envelopes

Final Reminder

Please pick up your 2023 Parish Donation Envelopes from the Welcome Area as soon as possible.  We will not be mailing them out due to the high postage expense.   

Thank you so much for your continuous generosity throughout the year!

Join us for a Chili Fundraiser! Friday, Jan. 13

St. Philip Neri Refugee Committee

The St Philip Neri Parish Refugee Committee is hosting a chili fundraiser to celebrate the arrival of Yvonne Byendimbwa and her grandchildren to the safe embrace of their family and friends in St Mary’s Parish. We have been partnering with St Mary’s to make this dream a reality and now it is time to celebrate it!

Date: Friday January 13, 2023

Time: 5 pm

Location: St. Philip Neri Parish Welcome Area

Tickets: $10 per person

Tickets are available in the Parish Office. Come grab yours and see you at this delicious Chili Fundraiser!

Parish Liturgical Ministries

Liturgical Ministries:  There are continuous updates happening with Ministry Lists!  Shirley, who facilitates the coordination, creation and other details concerning the lists, including scdheduling, is working hard to keep on top of this. Changes are being made as necessary, making this an ongoing process. 

Sacrament of Baptism: .The next date for the celebration of Baptism is Sunday, January 29, 2023. Pre-registration is necessary.

January Food Collection

For the Food Bank

For the month of January, we are collecting whole grain pasta and hearty soups and stews for the Food Bank. There is nothing like a bowl of hot stew or hearty soup on a cold winter day!  The Donation Bin remains just inside the front doors of the church, on the right.   

In addition, there is always a need for other non-perishables. Please be sure to check "best before" dates.  There is a large bin in the Welcome Area to accommodate your donations. Thank you for your incredible generosity!

St. Philip Neri Refugee Committee

Furniture & Household Items Needed

Are you downsizing or just doing some fall house-cleaning and de-cluttering?  We have just the place for the items you no longer want or need.  The Refugee Committee is once again asking for furniture, kitchen and other household items to replenish their stock as they prepare for the future arrival of more refugee families.  Please call Denise Debrau, at (306) 291-1675 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a pick-up of your donated items. Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our refugee familiies!  

St. Philip Neri Parish Bereavement Support

Tuesday, January 10, 1-3 pm

Please know that there is support offered here at the Parish. If you would like a place to gather and talk with others who have lost a loved one, please come out to our next gathering on Tuesday, January 10, from 1 to 3 pm, here in the church's Sunroom. We look forward to walking with you in faith! No registration fee or sign up are required. Please just feel comfortable in coming to join us. For more information, please call Deb, our Parish Nurse, at the Parish.

Golden Age Card Players

The Golden Age Group at St. Philip Neri meets regularly to play cards, every second Wedesday, from 1:30-4:00 pm in the Welcome Area. 

Their next card-playing session will be on Wednesday, January 11. The cost is $2 per day.  The group happily welcomes any new players to join them for some fun, friendly competition! The new dates for 2023 will be coming out soon.  For more information, please call the president, Sylvia Godbout, at (306) 374-9085. 

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Every Monday evening (except for long weekends), from 6 pm to 10 pm, and also every second Thursday of the month, from 9 am to 6 pm, people are invited to pray with the Blessed Sacrament in the main area of the church. 

The upcoming Adoration schedule: 

• Monday evenings:  January 9, 16, 23, 30 from 6 pm-10 pm) 
• The next full day Adoration will be on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 9 am - 6 pm.

Diocesan Prayer Intention

We pray as a Diocesan family that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who came into our world on the first Christmas, will come into the hardest and messiest parts of our lives and hearts to give us new life. We pray especially for healing and peace in all of our families.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023

January 18-25

The theme of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is "Do good; seek justice" (Isaiah 1:17) and is scheduled to run from Jan. 18 to 25, 2023.   

Learning to do right requires the decision to engage in self-reflection. The Week of Prayer is a time set aside for Christians to recognize that the divisions between our churches cannot be separated from divisions within the wider human family. Praying together for Christian unity allows us to reflect on what unites us and to commit ourselves to confront oppression and division amongst humanity. The 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) resources were developed by the Minnesota Council of Churches. They reflect the ecumenical work on racial justice in the U.S. following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. Resources are now available at https://weekofprayer.ca, including an order of worship, hymn suggestions, 8 days of scripture reflections on the theme, and materials for children and youth.

“The Eucharist: Christ Our Sustainer”

Five Tuesdays in January

The Adult Faith Diocesan Awaken series – “The Eucharist: Christ Our Sustainer” will be held on the five Tuesday evenings in January - on Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, from 7-8:30 pm, with Fr. Stefano Penna presenting at Holy Spirit Parish. There is also an online Zoom option. Register now at: https://form.jotform.com/222236197984264 or for more information, please call Astrid Alas at (306) 659-5858 or email amalas@rcdos.ca. The cost is $40 for all five sessions.

DESCRIPTION: St. John Paul II once said: "This is the wonderful truth my dear friends: The Word, which became flesh 2,000 years ago, is present today in the Eucharist." But what happens when we don't feel the presence of Christ in the Eucharist? When we struggle with understanding the Sacrament of the Eucharist? When we ask ourselves why Catholics should return to Mass after the pandemic? Participants will come to a deeper understanding of why the Eucharist is, as Vatican II states: "The Source and Summit of the Christian Life." Through dynamic presentations and prayerful reflection, participants will learn the importance of the Eucharist for the life of the Church, and for our own lives.

Another Adoration Opportunity

A Holy Hour for the Feminine Heart

Take time away to refresh your soul and spend time with new friends. All women are invited to a monthly Holy Hour followed by refreshments and fellowship, held at 7 pm on the first Thursday of every month at Holy Spirit Parish. The evening includes adoration, a short Gospel reflection led by Fr. Joseph Salihu, quiet prayer, benediction, and rosary.  It's not too late to join in on this inspirational opportunity! 

CWL Clothing Depot

Ongoing Needs

The CWL Clothing Depot is requesting donations of warm coats and jackets, sweaters, gloves, mitts, toques, socks, underwear, sheets, towels, personal hygiene items, and household and kitchen items. 

Donations help our sisters and brothers in our community who are struggling to make ends meet. Donations can be dropped off between 10 am and 2 pm Monday to Friday, at 619-20th Street West (rear entrance of Friendship Inn). Please ring the back doorbell when delivering items. Volunteers are always welcome at the CWL Clothing Depot! Please call Bea for more information, at (306) 242-5042.

Donations may also be dropped off here at St. Philip Neri Parish, in the large bin on the LEFT hand side (under the coat rack), as you come into the Welcome Area. 

Delicious Monthly Pancake Breakfasts!

St. Joseph's Hall on Broadway

Everyone is welcome to join the K of C Chapter #11429 - San Lorenzo Ruiz - for their delicious monthly Sunday morning pancake breakfasts, held in St. Joseph's Parish Hall, on Broadway Ave. & 8th Street. These yummy breakfasts will be served on Sundays, from 10 am to 1 pm, on the following dates:

Jan. 22, Feb. 19, Mar. 19, April 23, and May 28.  

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 5-15 years.  Breakfasts consists of pancakes (with syrup or whipped cream & berries!), sausages, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and juice. Come on over and join us!  Everyone is welcome!

Donate your recycling refund to Catholic TRC Healing Response

Please consider donating your recycling refund to Catholic TRC Healing Response. There are four "drop-and-go" recycling locations in Saskatoon where you are able to donate your returnable deposit proceeds to the Diocesan TRC fund:

1.  350B-103^rd St. East in Sutherland
2.  2327 Faithful Ave.
3.  2900 Jasper Ave.
4.  2305-22^nd St. West

Note:  These locations will have a separate entrance for Drop and Go.  Everything is a touch screen, and when it asks for your account, you can type in TRC or trc.  You will enter the number of tags you need for your bags and stick them on before droping them off.  Thank you for your kind contributions to the Catholic TRC Healing Response!

Filipino Catholic Community of Saskatoon

Next Monthly Mass - Sun. Jan. 15

The Filipino Catholic Community of Saskatoon gathers on the third Sunday of every month to celebrate Mass at St. Paul Co-Cathedral, 720 Spadina Cr. E., with the next celebration to be held on Sunday January 15, at 5:00 pm. The Filipino Catholic community also holds a weekly Novena in English every Friday at 5:30 pm at. St. Paul Co-Cathedral. Everyone is welcome. 

Catholic Saskatoon NEWS

Our Diocese has an online news portal featuring local, national and international Catholic news. Go to “Catholic Saskatoon News” at https://news.rcdos.ca to check out the latest coverage, or to sign up to receive headline updates via e-mail. The Diocese also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saskatoonrcdiocese and can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SaskatoonCath.

Weekly Diocesan Bulletin

Get the latest fall news from around the Saskatoon Diocese!

Find out what's going on around the Diocese, including upcoming events, new learning opportunities to help you grow in your faith,  and other interesting information and announcements.

St. Philip Neri Masses are live-streamed, every Saturday at 5 pm

 If you aren’t able to attend Mass in person, you may watch it LIVE on YouTube.

To find us on YouTube, click on St Philip Neri YouTube Channel or go to our website, stphilipneriparish.ca and get to our channel from there.

NOTE:  If you are hard of hearing or would like to have the Live-Streamed Services "with text", please click the “cc”/ “Closed Caption” icon/button at the bottom right on your computer screen, below the live-streamed service.  You will be able to see the words of the speaker!

We have left past Masses up on our channel for you to watch, or you can tune in to our next upcoming LIVE Masses on the dates and times below:

Upcoming Live-Streams: 

Saturday, December 31 - 5:00 pm (Fr. Mike)

Saturday, January 7 - 5:00 pm (Fr. Mike)