Advent

SUGGESTIONS FOR CELEBRATING ADVENT 2025

Advent is a season of joyful preparation for the coming of Christ, with true joy the knowledge that loving God will clear away all the obstacles we ourselves have made to his coming into our lives in full. We begin therefore in a spirit of repentance as we “await with joyful hope the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. In that spirit, I offer the following as suggestions for celebrating Advent 2025:

PRAY - daily using the Sunday or Weekday Advent Mass Readings

Visit OUR ADORATION CHAPEL - Open Tuesday to Friday 7 a.m. to Noon and Saturday 8 a.m. to Noon for a quiet time of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament

Attend WEEKDAY MASS during this season - the powerful symbolism of the readings and prayers will be a peaceful reprieve from this busy season.

Come to FIRST FRIDAY MASS AND HOLY HOUR DECEMBER 5 - Mass at 8:15 a.m. followed by a Holy Hour in the Church from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

INVITE a friend, loved one or neighbour to join you for Sunday mass in Advent.

Join us for our ADVENT PARISH DINNER/ EVENING OF REFLECTION ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 12…see details in this bulletin or via the website - click here.

SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED through the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Collection (which funds the good works of the Society at Christmas and throughout 2026) during the weekend of November 29th/30th. Extra envelopes are available at the doors of the church and can be dropped into the Sunday offertory basket or dropped off at the parish office. Cheques payable please to SVDP Society- St. Clement and please fill in the information on the donation form to receive a tax receipt.

VISIT the lonely, the sick, those who mourn - perhaps inviting one of them to join your family for Christmas mass or dinner this year.

BE RECONCILED to God and one another through the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) before Christmas. Advent has been called a “smaller Lent,” and is as important a season as the one leading up to the Resurrection. This Sacrament of Reconciliation is available as follows:

Every Saturday between 3:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. or anytime by appointment - Archdiocesan Week of Confessions (see www.archtoronto.org/confession/ for times of confessions for Etobicoke parishes). Here at St. Clement Parish:

Thursday December 18: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (2 priests available)

Saturday December 20: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. (2 priests available)

Saturday December 20: 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (2 priests available)