On February 8th we mark St. Josephine Bakhita Day, who is the patron saint of human trafficking survivors. This year, to commemorate St. Josephine, we are promoting "The Migrant Worker Exercise" workshop. At the workshop, you will play the role of a migrant worker and are led through some of the stages of exploitation many workers face upon their arrival in Canada. This experiential exercise is for anyone interested in learning more about migrant worker issues in Canada. Our hope is attending the workshop will inspire you to reflect and demand systemic change. Register for the workshop It's on Wednesday, Feb 8 6:00 to 8:00pm at 70 St Mary St Toronto

When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman Help Us Enter the New Year God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power. May we walk gently. May we speak only after we have listened well. Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose. May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honour rather than destroy. Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come. May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead. Vinita Hampton Wright; Offered by Douglas Ruschman

WAKE UP AND HEAR OUR CRY As we journey with the Holy Family to Bethlehem, we pray for all who make forced journeys. Give them strength to carry on and courage to walk the road ahead. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry As we hear the innkeeper say there is no room, we pray for refugees for whom there is no country. Gather them to yourself and keep them free from harm. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry As we contemplate that first Christmas night, we pray for those with nowhere to lay their head. Comfort them in their need and uphold them in their plight. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry As we listen to the cry of the infant king, we pray for children everywhere born into poverty. Wrap them in your love and uphold them in your tender mercy. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry As we remember the fear of the shepherds in the presence of the angels, we pray for all who are afraid to look ahead. Reassure them with your presence and embolden them to face the future. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry As we recall the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, we pray for all who flee from danger. Enfold them in your care and challenge us to offer our protection. Wake up, little baby God And hear our cry That justice may be born. Amen. Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD

Advent Poem By St. John the Cross If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the road pregnant with the Holy and say, “I need shelter for the night. Please take me inside your heart, my time is so close.” Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime intimacy, the divine, the Christ, taking birth forever, as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us. Yes, there, under the dome of your being, does creation come into existence eternally, through your womb, dear pilgrim, the sacred womb of your soul, as God grasps our arms for help: for each of us is His beloved servant never far. If you want, the virgin will come walking down the street, pregnant with Light, and sing! O ANTIPHONS – December 17 - 23 Watch Enya - O Come, O Come Emmanuel Mary sustains our waiting for God “Mary sustains our journey toward Christmas, for she teaches us how to live this Advent Season in expectation of the Lord. For this time of Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord, who will visit us all on the feast, but also, each one, in our own hearts. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for him!” Pope Francis, Angelus, 8 December 2013 Watch Kathy Mattea - Mary Did You Know

Migration is a human right for all people around the world. Migration is part of human life The history of humanity is based on the constant experience of migration. Migration has been the root of the development of countries, as a “source of prosperity, innovation and sustainable development in the globalized world, and these positive impacts can be optimized by improving migration governance” (Global Compact for Migration, 2018). Throughout human history, people have faced migration and today is no exception. An individual’s or a family’s reasons for migrating are a “complex combination of factors” (HCHR. 2020), such as violence, natural disasters, unemployment, poverty, lack of access to livelihoods, environmental degradation, and climate change. Many of these factors are consequences of global economic policies that put money and profit above human life and the life of the planet. We need to be aware that “While migrants are not inherently vulnerable, they can be vulnerable to human rights violations”, as the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations warns. Migrants living in irregular situations are vulnerable to discrimination, marginalization, and exploitation. Frequently, they live in the shadows of cities, unaware of their rights, afraid to claim protection or assistance, and often denied the ability to claim their human rights and fundamental freedoms. EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE Frequently, migrants are often denied the chance to integrate into the country where they have worked for a long time. This increasing situation draws the attention of civil and human rights organizations to monitor cases of labour and immigration policies and to review hiring mechanisms to guarantee fairness and ethics. The need to protect migrant workers from all forms of abuse and exploitation, and to maximize “the economic contributions of migrants both in their countries of origin and destination” are of paramount importance to the national and global economy and development.” (Global Compact for Migration, 2018). We are all defenders of human rights Working together as defenders of human rights and dignity to reduce xenophobia, common discrimination against migrants, is an urgent commitment. Therefore, there is a need for committed efforts to promote, protect and fulfill the human rights and dignity of all migrants. Of particular importance are those migrants in vulnerable situations, who experience higher propensity towards marginalization and human rights violations. Once again from the Mary Ward Centre, we reaffirm our commitment to contribute to the protection of the dignity of migrants, accompanying their voice that calls for justice and respect for their human rights. Migrants from all over the world help to build our nations, and all migrants with their work dignify the life of the communities they live in by integrating themselves into day-to-day life. We cannot be indifferent to the contribution of migrants, It is imperative that all of us, from our different positions, recognize and value the contribution of migrant men, women, and families to the care and creation of a better world for all. To learn more about IMD 2022

Advent: 'Moments of waiting that fill the heart with joy' – Global Sisters’ Report 2022 is the sixth year of The Life, featuring a panel of 20 sisters who will reflect on issues that impact the lives of Catholic women religious around the globe. The panel was chosen from 50 good applicants from around the world, and it reflects a diversity of ages, nationalities, religious congregations, ministries and charisms. The sisters will take turns writing responses to a prompt or a question about spirituality, religious life and other topics. Words of Pope Francis … JOY “Yes, joy enters the hearts of those who put themselves at the service of the lowly and poor.” December 16, 2007 On this third Sunday of Advent, known as the Sunday “of joy”, the Word of God invites us on the one hand to joy, and on the other hand to the awareness that existence also includes moments of doubt, in which it is difficult to believe. Joy and doubt are both experiences that are part of our lives … December 15, 2019 Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, which is characterized by Saint Paul’s invitation: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice…. The Lord is at hand” (Phil 4:4-5). It is not a superficial or purely emotional cheerfulness that the Apostle exhorts, nor is it the cheerfulness of worldliness or of consumerism. No, it is not that, but rather, it entails a more authentic joy, the taste of which we are called to rediscover. The taste of true joy. It is a joy that touches our innermost being, as we await Jesus, who has already come to bring salvation to the world, the promised Messiah, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary. December 11, 2016

Comfort O Comfort Your People We pray for those lives, made in your image, damaged by violence. Response: Comfort, O comfort your people. We pray for those in authority that they may use their power to bind wounds, heal relationships and find common ground. Response: Comfort, O comfort your people. We pray for a transforming peace, turning fear into trust, pain into hope and doubt into confidence for a better future. Response: Comfort, O comfort your people We pray for world leaders that they may establish structures for justice, protecting human dignity, enabling reconciliation and building God's kingdom. Response: Comfort, o comfort your people. Sue Cooper/CAFOD Advent Calendar for Adults "The injustices of the world and of history are not healed by hatred and revenge, but by dialogue and forgiveness." Pope Francis has repeatedly and urgently appeals for peace, saying that it requires human effort but also “incessant prayer.” Watch The Tenors – Instrument of Peace

Advent Prayer by Sr Rosemary Albon When summer’s brilliance has faded into winter’s darkness The Christian people of the north Turn slowly inward to reflect on their advent journey towards Incarnation. What does it mean? To wait and long for? ….. Ask a pregnant woman To be vulnerable and fearful? ..… Ask a pregnant woman To be full of joy and dreams? ….. Ask a pregnant woman To be shamed? ….. Ask a pregnant woman To birth hope, a new and precious heartbeat of God? ….. Ask a pregnant woman Mary of Nazareth, as Advent approaches We walk with you and all pregnant women Through our journey of waiting, of longing and into transformation. Amen Pray as You Go for ADVENT The Advent of Christ’s Barrier-Free Kingdom The first week of Advent and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is a wonderful week to reflect on the hope of Christ, our saviour who was here, is here with us now through his Holy Spirit, and who will someday, hopefully soon, be with us in the flesh again. It is also a great week to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and our hope of full and equal participation of people with and without disabilities the world over. Learn more Hope We have hope! Even though This year has been hard. For good things can come When we least expect them. We found ourselves strong When we thought we’d be weak We found ourselves brave When we thought we’d be scared We find all this life In the dead of winter. We find all these lights At the end of the year We see a star rise In the longest of nights We find God with us When we feel most alone. We have hope! And though The year’s not over yet That means there’s still time To be surprised again. Watch The Piano Guys – O Come O Come Emmanuel

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on the 25th of November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and runs until the 10th of December - Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women's Global Leadership. It is an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. To learn more

We celebrate National Child Day each year on Novmber 20th. National Child Day commemorates the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child in 1989. What are children’s rights? The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines the basic rights of all children. These rights can be grouped into three categories: Provision rights - the right to an adequate standard of living, education, health care and to play. Participation rights - the right to express their views about matters that affect them and participate in decision-making processes. Protection rights – the right to be protected from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and all forms of exploitation. All levels of government, community organizations and institutions, including religious institutions, families, and individuals have a role to play in making sure children’s rights are respected. This year, we join with Pope Francis’ prayer intention for November to pray for ‘children who suffer.’ Many children in Canada suffer. According to the Raising Canada 2022 Report from Children First Canada, these are the top ten threats to children in Canada: Unintentional and Preventable Injuries Poor Mental Health Systemic Racism and Discrimination Child Abuse Vaccine Preventable Illnesses Poverty and Food and Nutritional Insecurity Infant Mortality Bullying Limited Physical Activity and Play Climate Change How are we Promoting Children’s Rights in Canada? The Loretto Sisters, through the Mary Ward Centre, work with several partners to promote the rights of children and alleviate their suffering. We provide spiritual support and accompaniment through retreats and workshops, we advocate for children’s rights in Canada and at the United Nations, and we participate in the process of Truth and Reconciliation. We commit to a synodal approach, one of deep mutual listening and sharing, when working with children and we uphold the safeguarding of children. Resources and To Learn More Mary Ward Centre National Child Day webpage National Child Day – Government of Canada website dedicated to National Child Day that provides free resources to education about children’s rights. Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children – The CCRC is a network of Canadian organizations and individuals who promote respect for the rights of children. Its purpose is to: exchange information; provide public education materials about the Convention; monitor implementation of the Convention in Canada; and engage in dialogue with government officials on children’s rights issues. UNICEF Canada – Learn more about National Child Day and UNICEF’s initiatives to promote children’s rights. Children First Canada – CFC is a national charitable organization that works collaboratively with a network of partners to advocate for and with children and youth in Canada.

Today we remember all those who have sacrificed their lives to ensure our freedom in Canada . At 11:00am, observe a minute of silence to reflect and give thanks for their heroism.

Mission is at the heart of who we are, and love is the driving force that urges us on. The Journey to Canada: August 5 to September 16, 1847 Dublin ∙ Liverpool ∙ New York ∙ Albany ∙ Rochester ∙ Toronto The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded by an Englishwoman, Mary Ward, in 1609. She pioneered a new way of religious life for women – ‘contemplatives in action’ within a self-governing congregation, free of enclosure, and responsive to the urgent needs of the time. Mary Ward’s Institute was brought from England to Ireland in 1821 by Frances Teresa Ball where they became known as Loret(t)o Sisters. In response to requests Teresa sent sisters to India, Mauritius, Gibraltar, and then to Canada when Bishop Michael Power asked for teachers for the growing population of Irish immigrant children in Toronto. On August 5, 1847 Teresa Dease, Gertrude Fleming, Ignatia Hutchinson, Valentina Hutchinson, and Bonaventure Phelan left Ireland, landed on September 16 at Cooper’s Wharf in Toronto, and began the first Catholic school on September 29. Despite hardships, deaths, and limited resources this small foundation grew to start new missions in Canada and the United States. Today IBVM Loretto Sisters serve in Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, East Timor, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and Zambia. Watch the celebration Watch a special celebratory Eucharist held at St Michael's Cathedral, Toronto on September 17, 2022. Learn more about us and love is the driving force that urges us on. and love is the driving force that urges us on.