My Dear Sister and Brothers in Christ, the Parishioners of St. Peter’s Parish:
The first Christmas was one like no other. Mary and Joseph were required by Caesar to leave their home and travel to register in Bethlehem. This caused them to be isolated from their family and loved ones at an important moment in their lives. They were confronted with loneliness, fear and isolation. Despite these difficult times, the Christ child, Emanuel, was born into their family. Through the kindness of others, the charity and compassion of the Shepherds and Wise Men, they came through this difficult situation. This unique Christmas changed history.
This Christmas 2020 is like none that any of us have ever experienced before. Many will celebrate without family and friends. Isolation and loneliness will be experienced by many people. Despite the difficulties we will all experience this Christmas, we are invited to allow the Christ child into our hearts and homes. By reaching out to those who are lonely, caring for the needy and showing compassion to others, we can each imitate the example of the Shepherds and Wise Men who welcomed Christ and help make Him present to our brothers and sisters at this difficult time.
This is a Christmas for all of us to find new ways of encountering Christ through acts of charity, compassion and generosity. I believe the Lord is inviting all of us this Christmas to challenge ourselves to act in such a way that we might bring Christ’s love to others in these difficult and unprecedented circumstances. This year, it is up to each of us to make this Christmas different by reaching out to others through our own acts of kindness, charity and compassion. Please reach out to someone.
I wish to thank all of you for the support that you have given to our parish community through this very difficult and challenging year. Whatever support you are able to give this Christmas, is greatly appreciated and much needed.
On behalf of our entire parish community and staff, I would like to wish you, all your friends and loved ones a very blessed Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year in 2021.
On Christmas Eve and Day, no matter how we are able to celebrate it this year, at all of the parish’s Christmas Masses, I will remember, with profound gratitude, the intentions of all the loved ones and family members of the parishioners of St. Peters Parish.
May God bless you and your families this Christmas and throughout 2021.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Michael McGourty
Pastor.
P.S. This Christmas, due to the lockdown in the City of Toronto, there will be no publicly celebrated Masses. On Christmas Eve, the church will be open from 5:00 to 10:00 pm and the Eucharist will be distributed every 15 minutes. Due to capacity limits, only eight (8) people can be admitted to the church at a time. On Christmas Day, the church will be open from 9:00 am until noon. Again, the Eucharist will be distributed every 15 minutes and only eight (8) people can be admitted to the church at a time. The number eight (8) is due to the fact that the parish priest and volunteer at the door also count as part of the ten (10) people who are permitted in the building at a time.
