Christmas Eve Gospel: Benedictus - My Visits to Montreal and Russell

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

Born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

[Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.]

* * *

COLLECT PRAYER

FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

MASS DURING THE DAY

 

Come quickly, we pray, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, that those who find trust in your compassion may find solace and relief in your coming. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

* * * * * *

VISITS TO FAMILY IN MONTREAL

TO THE KERRS IN RUSSELL

Because of commitments in Timmins and Halifax after Christmas (the ordination of Mgr Serge Poitras on December 27 and attendance at CCO's Rise Up! from December 28-January 1), I slipped away for a couple of days in Montreal to visit with family, Jesuits and friends.

Saturday evening, my brother John and his family (Sonia, Clara and Paul) hosted a supper meal.  Here are some pictures taken there (mostly of my nieces); a few pix:

Clara, Paul & the Christmas tree

Cousins Gillian and Clara (my nieces) chatting with...

... my niece, Alison

On my return to Ottawa Sunday morning, I visited with the Kerr Family in Russell (they moved there this year from Barry's Bay).  As Father Paul Nwaeze was under the weather, I presided at the 10:45 Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal church and accepted, on his behalf, a generous cheque from the Knights of Columbus (the results of a Keep Christ in Christmas fund-raising campaign) to assist with the renewal of the church's windows.

Herewith a few more photos:

The Kerrs (left to right): Lauren, Sarah-Grace, Stephen,Annmarie, Rebecca, Isaiah, Colin

The Parish's outdoor creche

The cheque...