~ Jean Allen
Isaiah actually didn’t say, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,’ What’s written in Isaiah is, “the voice one crying: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord.” It would seem the difference is miniscule yet it indicates that John was not just one who was crying out somewhere in the wilderness; he was calling God’s people to come to the wilderness, out from under the recognized power centers and power wielders of the Jewish faith world. He was calling them to come away, from a path where everything spiritual was mediated for them through sacrifice, and enter into a new path of direct access to God. John was catching glimmers of what the New Testament way would be and he intuited that it definitely would not be centered on Temple Sacrifice and the often corrupt Temple authorities.
No wonder some Pharisees and Sadducees came to check him out under the pretext of wanting to be baptized. John was a real threat to their authority and lifestyle and, there was no doubt about it, people were flocking to John out there in the wilderness on the Jordan River. John was calling the people to prepare their hearts for a new way, and new ways always feel like a wilderness at first. The old comforts and perspectives are gone, which can be scary and uncertain. John wasn’t saying, “Repent and go sacrifice a lamb.” He was saying, “Repent, be baptized and change your ways. Do good. Don’t cheat. Be satisfied with your wages. Live simply. This is the way; this is the path to the heart of God.”
People were so ready to come out from under the thumb of Temple Sacrifice. Where the Temple was built of stumbling blocks that made the people’s access to God difficult, John’s way, even though it was a wilderness way, felt fresh, open and untangled. Even John’s preaching about the wrath of God felt better to them and more doable than the heavy and burdensome yoke of the Temple.
In the wilderness, prepare your way.
P ♰ C
Connecting Catholics in parishes across Vancouver Island
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In case you are not on their mailing list, here’s the latest from the RC Diocese of Victoria Chancery.
Dear friends,
We have three items to share with you today:
1) All are invited to join “A Gift of Silent Reflection,” an online Diocesan Year-End Examen on Saturday, December 13, from 10:30–11:30 am. This 500-year-old Ignatian prayer helps us grow in gratitude and awareness of God’s presence in our daily lives. The reflection will be led by Joelle Dressler and Mary Kearsey. Find more information about how to join here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/events/december-13-year-end-examen
2) On Sunday, December 28, the Diocese of Victoria will join the worldwide Church in celebrating the Rite of Closing of the Jubilee Year. The Rite of Closing will happen at the 11 am Mass at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Victoria, with Bishop Gary Gordon presiding. All are invited to participate in person or via the livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BBauIl-9vo
3) December 8, 2025, marks the 18th anniversary of the Diocese of Victoria Health Care Committee. Its members, bringing diverse professional backgrounds and representing regions across the Diocese, advise Bishop Gary Gordon on medical and ethical matters, and offer experience, support, and training in the ministry of care, accompanying the sick, the elderly, the lonely, and the dying with the compassionate presence of Jesus Christ. In doing so, they help foster and strengthen pastoral care among pastors, parishes, and all people in the Diocese of Victoria. Learn more about Pastoral Care Ministry here: https://www.rcdvictoria.org/pastoral-care
Many thanks,
Marie D’Souza
Communications Coordinator
Diocese of Victoria -
Good Evening (this is the last of November’s events for our E-newsletter, for Parish Connections and a few leading into December…just received :>)
1. Sat, 29 Nov – 10am – 2:30pm Christmas Market, @Mount St Mary’s, Fairfield Road, Victoria (see attached flyer)
2. Sat 29 Nov & Sun 30 Nov: 2025:Birthright Fudge Sales
**Look for us after Mass:
Sat 29 Nov @5pm
Sun 30 Nov @10:30am, @12:00pm (new, for Advent) & @5pm
Accepting cash, cheque or
by e-transfer (Message Line: Parish Name, Fudge. Etransfer to: info@birthrightvictoria.org)3. Sat Dec 6 & Sun Dec 7, 2025 – Birthright Fudge Sales @OLOR Parish
**Look for us after Mass: @5pm Sat, & Sun, @8:30am & @4pm Masses @Our Lady Star of the Sea
Accepting cash, cheque or
by e-transfer (Message Line: Parish Name, Fudge. Etransfer To: info@birthrightvictoria.org4. Fri, 13 Dec 2025: Advent Learning For Ladies (bring a snack to share) @St Joseph the Worker Parish.
See attached for more info.Need a flyer on your phone?: https://parishconnections.ca/bulletin-board/
Blessings
Pamela & Katherina -
November 28th, 2025. We slowly gathered in the pews of St. Joseph the Worker Parish during weekly Friday adoration.
I flitted around a bit, checking with Fr. Alfredo that our timing would still work and that we had enough copies of the Jubilee Prayer I found posted on the Vatican website. Then I took the opportunity to rest in prayer and adoration.
At 10:45am, Fr. Alfie came to the front of the church and called us Pilgrims up for a blessing and send-off. As we gathered, I was filled with awe to see that Fr. Alfie was in his formal robes. His benediction included lifting the monstrance high between his fabric-covered hands. I know I wasn’t the only one with tears of gratitude and joy forming her eyes.
As we flocked out of the church, I was reminded of the scene in Sister Act when the nuns all crossed the street from their abbey to the casino. How did I come to be involved with this group of wonderful CWL women? Thanks be to God.
Our bus, on loan from St. Andrew’s High School (thank you, so much, St. Andrew’s High school and thank you, Beth, for arranging our transportation!), was awaiting us outside. Driver Jim welcomed us aboard for our journey to the Cathedral. Cecelia S. graciously led us in praying the Rosary. I asked for everyone’s indulgence to pray the Luminous mysteries since we were on this hopeful pilgrimage. We closed our five decades parked just outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral. What perfect timing!
Happily, we arrived at 11:20am, which gave us lots of time to enter the cathedral, admire the beauty therein, find our pews and settle down, and chat briefly with Fr. Dean before the beginning of another Rosary we could join in with: this time, the Friday Sorrowful mysteries. Mass was beautiful; thank you, Fr. Dean, for your very kind words of welcome.
After mass, we walked over to the rectory lunch room to find a lovely set up with tea, coffee and water ready for our arrival. Thank you, so much, Anjali and all your colleagues who helped set up the room for our meal.
We returned to St. Joe’s on the bus with Jim in plenty of time to vacate the parking lot before the chaos of after-school pick-ups began. Again, glorious timing!
Thank you, everyone who helped facilitate this Jubilee Pilgrimage. We are all ever so grateful.
If you would like to arrange your own Jubilee Pilgrimage before the end of this Jubilee Year of Hope, you still have more than a month: the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica doesn’t close until January 6th!
For more information on pilgrimages, see my infographic (and references). For more on hope, see this one.
~ Katherina
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Development and Peace – Caritas Canada
We had a very successful walk with 17 people participating. One made a nice poster to lead the walk. Another took pictures. 7 parishes were represented and 3 community members.
The script was read as we moved from St. Patrick’s School, to Eric Martin Pavilion, part of Royal Jubilee Hospital, to a branch of TD Canada Trust and back to St. Patrick’s Church. We learned about the unjust and unsustainable debt carried by the poorest of countries. Interest payments on the debt impact their ability to fund education and health care in their countries. Our petition calls on global leaders to establish a permanent, transparent, binding and comprehensive debt framework within the United Nations.
A few signed the petition, but everyone else had signed in the Spring. The rain held off as we navigated the 1.4 km walk through Victoria drizzle.
Our St. Patrick’s Parish collected a total of 120 signatures.
To sign the petition go to devp.org/debt.
~ submitted by Nancy on behalf of Development and Peace, St. Patrick’s Church, Victoria, BC
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Well, not live today: Pope Leo was recorded live in conversation with the youth at the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Friday, November 21st .
What can youth do today to help the church today to “strengthen the church now and in the years to come?” Pope Leo says by getting involved in our parishes, by participating in youth groups, in the mass, in adoration. Wherever we are called, to whatever vocation, trust in Jesus who will lead us to true happiness; we can rely on the Church to guide us and provide the formation we need to bring us closer to God.
Pope Leo is praying for all of us, as we pray for him. Wherever we are, we are called to be missionary disciples. Jesus seeks to guide us, to love us, to nurture us along the path.
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November 28, 2025 is a pilgrimage day in Victoria! The CWL at St. Joseph the Worker Parish have organized a pilgrimage to St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Come join us if you can!
During this year of the Jubilee of Hope, pilgrimages that meet certain requirements grant the pilgrims an indulgence. A second pilgrimage grants an indulgence to a soul in purgatory, so even if you have attended a pilgrimage this year, there are multiple benefits to your faith formation, your soul and the souls of those who have passed on before us.
Since this was all new to me, I created a Pilgrimage infographic to summarize my research — check it out, if you are interested!
We have room on our bus; if you are interested in coming on the pilgrimage, send me a note on the form below.
Agenda
10am — adoration at St. Joseph the Worker Parish
10:45am — send off and blessing by Fr. Alfredo
11am — bus departs for St. Andrew’s Cathedral (declared a pilgrimage site by Bishop Gary)
12pm — mass at St. Andrew’s followed by lunch (bring a bagged lunch) in
1:15pm — bus back to St. Joseph the WorkerPilgrimage Agenda for November 28, 2025 in Victoria, BC. St. Joseph the Worker Parish is located at 753 Burnside Road West. St. Andrew’s school has kindly donated the use of their 24-seat bus; we are asking for donations to cover the driver’s wages. Please bring what you can.
Again, if you are interested in coming on the pilgrimage, let us know by submitting the form below. We only have a few spots, so they will be given on a first come, first served. Hope you can join us! 🙂
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From SSVP – Vancouver Island
Let’s make a difference together on Tuesday, December 2nd
The season of giving is upon us, and this year, we’re thrilled to once again participate in Giving Tuesday, a Global Day of Generosity taking place on December 2nd.
The focus of our campaign this year is food security. On Vancouver Island, food insecurity has reached a record high, with one in five residents expressing concerns about food security. Additionally, food banks are seeing a 24% increase in demand over the past year, indicating a growing need for assistance.*Food Banks BC This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise $70,000 to help with this ever-increasing need.
From November 26 through December 2, every dollar you donate will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $10,000.
This means that your gift will have twice the impact, doubling the support we can provide for those in need.
How to Contribute:
Online: Use our Giving Tuesday Donation Form
By Phone: Call us at 250-727-0007 ext 2051.
By Mail: Send cheques to:
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Vancouver Island
4353 West Saanich Rd., Victoria, BC V8Z 3E8
In Person: Visit our Main Office (4353 West Saanich Rd.) or drop off donations at our Social Concern Office, Thrift Stores, or affiliated conferences/parishes.
Important: Please mention “Giving Tuesday” with any phone, mail, or in-person donation so it counts toward our $70,000 goal.
Spread the Word: Share our campaign on social media and tag us!
With your help, we can reach this goal. Your generosity means so much to us, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support of our mission.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, love, and blessings.
Thank you,
Heather Jones
Director of Communications and Fundraising
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver IslandSOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL – VANCOUVER ISLAND
FEED | CLOTHE | HOUSE | SUPPORT | SERVE
4353 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 3E8
Call us: 250-727-0007 -
This new stamp is very beautiful. What a way to invite people to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Here is the link to buy 12 postage stamps to mail an old fashioned Christmas card (with thanks, Pam):
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A recent community dinner event was hosted by Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in the Lourdes Hall, St. Patricks Parish, in Victoria.
Several questions that arose during the planning this event: What does one have to know to have an event set up and then run? Where do you rent the tablecloths? Yikes, we don’t have enough glasses! Where will we get those? What temperature does the Hobart machine have to be for “FoodSafe”? Which caterer do we want to hire?
Fortunately, thanks God, we had an amazing working group who made this happen (for example, all the table flowers that were so beautifully arranged came from a friend’s garden)! And, of course, the government strike gave us a few additional challenges but, thankfully again, we had a full house and a lovely evening.
SSVP Conference Sacred Heart Victoria recently hosted a simple Pasta Dinner. I was told it was a hit, and the cost was – by donation! I first heard about this at the SSVP AGM, from Donalda (a Conference member in Nanaimo) who ended up raising more than a $2000 to help those in need!
Did you go to Sacred Hearts Bazaar with Mirium, from their CWL? OLORs Broken Gold/Silver Jewelry Collection had a table there, maybe you saw it? The jewelry was first offered for sale to a goldsmith jeweller, with the remaining Vintage jewelry going for sale on consignment in Oak Bay, the remaining costume jewelry was first set up for sale on a rented table at the CWL hosted Bazaar, and any still left was donated to St Patrick’s CWL’s upcoming “Good Used Clothing Sale event”. A good fun run for over 5K collected, so far.
And you can see from the photo the kind of funds that can be raised by running fun events.
Please share your event results with us with a brief blog post; I’m sure others will be happy to hear about your ideas, too.
Pamela & Katherina
P ♰ C 