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Ascension
of Our Lord parish wishes to offer to all parishioners the opportunity
to express their faith and share their gifts with the community
through ministry.
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There
are various ministries within our parish and many people are necessary
to produce our liturgical celebrations, including Sunday Eucharist
and weekday Masses.
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Parishioners
are also invited to share in the social action projects and to participate
in our faith & spiritual development programs.
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As
members of our congregation, we invite you to consider becoming
involved in our various parish ministries and take the opportunity
to enrich your own spiritual life in return.
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If you are
interested in pursuing any of these ministries, you may contact
the parish office at
932-3131.
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LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
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Ministers of Communion
Members
of this ministry serve the parish by delivering the Body and Blood
of Christ to the congregation at Mass. Some members may also perform
the same service for parishioners who are homebound.
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Lectors
Lectors
proclaim the Word of God during the Mass. They are parishioners
gifted with a clear speaking voice, willing to share their love
for the Word of God and willing to spend time preparing to proclaim
the Word.
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Altar
Servers
This
ministry provides an opportunity for members of the parish to
assist the celebrant at the altar during Mass. It is a particularly
good way for our young people to share in parish ministry in a
special way.
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Choir
Choir
members participate in parish ministry through their gift of song.
They also assist and encourage our worshiping community to express
and share their faith through song. The choir rehearses on Thursday
evenings and sings at 10:30 Mass on Sunday. The repertoire is large
and varied, and includes many classical sacred works. In addition,
some members of the choir cantor at weekend Masses.
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Ministers
of Hospitality
In
this ministry, members assist the community as it gathers for worship
by greeting and welcoming parishioners and visitors, fostering the
feeling of being "at home", distributing worship aids and the parish
bulletin. They also organize the taking up of collection, and assist
those who will bring up the gifts during Mass.
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FAITH AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
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Liturgy of the Word for Children
The Liturgy of the Word is available for children of preschool
and elementary age every Sunday throughout the school year during
the 10:30 Mass. In this program, children celebrate the liturgy
of the Word at their own level of understanding. They leave to
celebrate this part of the Mass in the Parish Room, and rejoin
the congregation during the Liturgy of the Eucharist after the
homily. All children are welcome to participate, including visitors
to the parish.
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Religious
Education for Children
Faith First, a diocesan approved program, is offered in our parish
to all children of elementary school age ( and some older ). Our
program uses the "at home" approach, with parents as the primary
educators of their children, supported by a team of trained catechists,
who meet with the children on a regular basis during the school
year. This program also prepares the children for the sacraments
of First Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation.
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Adult
Faith Development
Short courses and small faith sharing groups are currently being
developed on a variety of faith and spiritual development topics
to meet the needs of the adults in our parish, including parents
and seniors. These will be announced from time to time in the parish
bulletin and billboards. All parishioners are welcome to join in
these groups.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRIES
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Benedict
Labre House
Several times a year, our parish organizes, cooks and serves Sunday
lunch at Benedict Labre House.
This
provides parishioners with the opportunity to deepen their spiritual
lives through service to the poor. As well as being a great way
to get to know their fellow parishioners!
http://www.benedictlabre.org
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The
Montreal Diet Dispensary
This
program helps families through their "Christmas Cheer Program".
Our parishioners have helped with the purchase of food vouchers.
This communal effort by the Parish helps the Montreal Diet Dispensary
assist their clients to spend the holiday season with their families
in much less stressful circumstances. For more information, contact
the Parish office at (514) 932-3131.
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L'Abri
en Ville
The
mission at l'Abri en Ville is to provide a stable and fullfilling
environment for persons with mental illness through safe, affordable
housing and inclusion in a supportive community. They believe
in a society in which persons can be full, contributing members
despite a mental illness.
For more information please visit this site:
http://www.labrienville.org
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Westmount
Park School
Generous
members of our Parish continue to support Westmount Park's School's
Breakfast program every year. In 2009, our donation of $5,000.
helped to feed over 230 primary school children who often go to
school with no breakfast and no lunch.
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Visits
to Shut-Ins
This is a special ministry to our homebound parishioners requiring
the gifts of caring, compassion and discretion. Some of our parishioners
do welcome a friendly visit from time to time to help brighten their
day!
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Meals
on Wheels
For the past 25 years, our Parishioners have been providing meals
twice a week to shut-ins in our area.
To do this efficiently we need volunteers who can commit twice a
month to cook, deliver the meal or drive on Tuesday or Friday mornings
for about two hours. If you can help, please call Jackie Neville
at (514) 935-3817
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The
Seniors Lunch Club
Sponsored
by Ascension of Our Lord parish and the Greene Avenue Community
Centre, this club provides a relaxed atmosphere where seniors can
meet others with similar interests.
Clients pay for their meals but, thanks to donations, careful shopping
and volunteer helpers, we offer a three course meal at a nominal
cost, and the option of the main course as takeout.
If you can help on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month
from October to May, please call Jackie Neville at (514) 935-3817.
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St Willibrord's
Food & Clothing Bank
Every
week, our parishioners drop off donations of food and clothing
which is delivered to the St-Willibrord church in Verdun. St Willibrord's
Food Bank assists over 400 families each month. A constant supply
of non-perishable goods, such as tinned meat, fish, fruits and
vegetables as well as dry goods such as pasta, rice and cereals
is required to meet the need. Baskets in which to deposit donations
are provided in the vestibule at the back of the church.
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Lenscrafter's
Gift of Sight Program
For
over ten years, Parishioners have been dropping off their used
eyeglasses and non-prescription sunglasses at the church so that
others may have the gift of sight.
This
program provides free vision care and eyewear to underprivileged
individuals in North America and in developing countries around
the world.
Many
eyecare specialists who participate in this program by travelling
to developing countries and matching donated glasses to patients
waiting for this gift say that the look of wonder on a child's
face because they are seeing the world clearly is a very powerful
thing..
To
date the program has run 175 clinics in 31 countries. They need
2 million pairs of used eyewear each year to support 20 global
clinics each year..
For
more information please visit this site:
http://www.onesight.org/na/
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OTHER
MINISTRIES/PROGRAMS
Our parish is
always open to considering other forms of ministry which will be developed
if there is sufficient interest.
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