At St. Anthony’s Parish we strive to offer a variety of experiences which will allow all members of ourcommunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith.

Each of our programs offers time for us to come together and to share thoughts and ideas, to ask questions, or just to listen and be listened to.

We offer variety. Our programs may be led by a speaker, be group based, be centred around a video and commentary on topics of global or local concern. We may have an eclectic agenda or a single core theme.

We try to follow the seasons of the Church, offering activities which will help prepare ourselves for an upcoming event or a specific holy day.

We are aware that not everyone is on the same schedule or works the same hours of the day. To accommodate this we try to vary the times programs and events which are offered; repeating those wherean alternate time slot is both available and appropriate.

“Another cup of coffee?” Whenever possible we try to provide refreshments which are appropriate to the hour and to the season.

…and we listen. We are always open to your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Alpha is a parish tool for evangelization based on hospitality, sharing and open conversation. The same Alpha content is run all over the world by Christians of all traditions and provides a common expression of proclamation, service and witness. Millions of people have experienced Alpha in 112 languages in 169 countries around the globe.

Alpha takes people on a journey often leading to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It enables people to ask their questions, share ideas, build friendships and experience the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is often done in an informal setting that includes watching a well-produced video series, a meal, and some time for community.

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL) is a national organization rooted in gospel values calling its members to holiness through services to the people of God. CWL members contribute to the life and vitality of the church, family and community, both at home and abroad. They also support the efforts of League members across Canada who diligently work to promote the teachings of the Catholic church. Our motto “For God and Canada” guides us in our cause. Members often support the work of the parish and her ministries through organized bake sales and other fundraising initiatives.

Discovery leads you through a simple but personally challenging look at the Gospel message. It will allow you to strengthen your relationship with Jesus, grow in fellowship with other parishioners and learn how to share your faith with others. It is a 6-week series, usually 1-1.5 hours in length led by a facilitator and includes lively discussion with fellow group members. Discovery is the first of a series of five faith studies developed by Catholic Christian Outreach.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them ,for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” Luke 19:16

The Liturgy of the Word for Children is a program used to communicate the Gospel message to children in an enjoyable, engaging and age-appropriate way. Children are engaged and happy to come to Mass.

During the homily at the Sunday 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses, volunteers present and discuss God’s Word children between 3 and 7 years old. Children listen to and discuss Bible stories, sing, make crafts, and are engage in a variety of activities to make the Gospel stories come alive. Parents are welcome to join their children.

The program is designed to support parents are in their task of teaching our future students, parishioners, priest and religious.

If you would like more information and or would like to offer your help either with a donation or as a catechist please contact the parish office.

Liturgy of the Word for Children Guidelines from the Archdiocese of Vancouver http://rcav.org/lwc/

We are an ecumenical Christian meditation prayer group, which serves the parishioners and the community at large. We meet as a group “to nurture and communicate meditation as passed on in the Christian tradition through the teachings of Father John Main (a Benedictine monk) in the spirit of serving the unity of all.”

For more information see: The Canadian Christian Meditation Community

The Christian Meditation prayer group meets at St. Anthony’s Parish, in the church, every Tuesday at 7:15 pm.

We welcome you to join us and be spiritually nourished by participating together in this beautiful and joyful form of prayer.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for Vocations
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursdays.

We pray for Vocations to the priesthood, religious life and diaconate to spread the Word to the world. A benediction concludes the devotion beginning at 8 p.m.

Divine Mercy Devotion
Time: 3 p.m. every Friday.

It was at three o’clock in the afternoon that Jesus died for us on the cross. It is at this time when His Divine Mercy pours out for all those who invoke His Mercy for themselves and for others.

First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Time: Every First Friday from the end of morning mass until 4 p.m.

The Blessed Sacrament waits for us to visit, to reflect on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and what He means in our lives. A benediction at 4 p.m. concludes the devotion.

St. Philomena Prayer Group
Time: On the third Saturday of each month (unless otherwise scheduled).

This is a devotional and social women’s group that meets in honour of St. Philomela. There are prayers before morning mass at 8:30 a.m. which are open to all. After mass, members meet for more prayers and socializing.

Greeters

Greeters serve as part of the Hospitality Ministry at St. Anthony’s by welcoming parishioners and visitors. They promote a sense of welcoming and belonging. Greeters are the first contact that parishioners and visitors have as they enter the Church. They strive to welcome everyone with joy, kindness, reverence and an open heart.

Greeters are responsible for attending the Masses for which they are scheduled, arriving approximately 15 minutes before Mass begins.

If you would like to know more about this Ministry please contact Gloria Lowe by leaving a message for her at the parish office.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)

St. Anthony’s Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are properly formed, instructed and commissioned lay persons. They are appointed to aid in the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and to the sick and home bound when the ordained Ministers are unavailable.

EMHC must be fully initiated and practicing members of the Church and be able to receive Holy Communion. They are chosen and appointed by the Pastor, usually for a 3-year term.

If you would like to learn more about this Ministry, please contact Gloria Lowe by leaving a message for her at the parish office.

The Lector Ministry calls for volunteers to grow in a warm and loving knowledge of Scripture, which is the living Word of God. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other liturgical services. They are encouraged to read scripture in a clear and meaningful way so that everyone can hear and understand what is being said.

The choir enhances the liturgical celebrations by leading the music ministry at Sunday Masses through hymns and songs that will ensure the “full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgical celebration” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). The whole church community benefits from participating in the Eucharist through prayerful music.

The Ministry of Music enables us to rejoice in and worship the Lord through His wonderful gift of music! James 1:17 explains that every good gift comes from God – and music is most certainly one of those gifts. We experience the Word of God, His message for us and the Holy Eucharist each Mass in various ways. The many songs written for His glory are just one of those ways!

The Music Ministry is thoughtfully and prayerfully provided at each weekend Mass by our devoted group of musicians and long-time parishioners. Their efforts and joyful praise have given the parishioners of St. Anthony’s a long tradition of beautiful liturgical music. The Sunday Mass choirs are directed by Ian Law at the 9:00 am Mass and Alenka Rener at the 11:00 am Mass, while Noel Murphy provides the music for the 5:00 pm Saturday Mass.

If you love music and would like to join one of our 2 choirs, or would like more information, please leave a message at the parish office. We are always on the lookout for new members and welcome any level of musical ability. Our regular Sunday Masses start with a rehearsal approximately 45 minutes before each Mass, and additional rehearsals for special occasions are announced as needed.

PREP is a Ministry that teaches the principles of the Catholic faith to those children (grade 1-7) of our Parish that attend public school or non-Catholic independent schools, preparing them to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and perhaps even Baptism. Our purpose, together with the Pastor and Catholic parents, is to help develop the spiritual and intellectual growth of these students, enabling them as Christians to live, share and serve in the parish community.

The Catholic Church recognizes parents as the primary educators of their children and the PREP program is meant to help parents with this key responsibility as well as to support and nurture the child’s journey to know, love and serve God. Through PREP, parents and families have also the opportunity to renew their own faith foundation by studying with their children and participating in the life of the parish community and attending the many event and learning opportunity through the year. Please check the parish website for more information about these events.

Following the mandate and learning outcomes of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and with the direction of our parish pastor, the Very Reverend Father Gary Franken the teaching of the Catholic faith is coordinated by Sister Angela Marie and taught by volunteer catechists. Our catechists, who are parishioners of Saint Anthony, are encouraged to continue their own faith journey and education and attend workshops and retreats that will deepen their love and understanding of the faith. If you are interested in serving as a catechist in the PREP program, please contact the Parish office at 604-926-6881.

2020-2021 SCHEDULE
In the past years, our classes have been held every Wednesday, from 6pm to 7:15pm. At this time of pandemic we are working on providing a plan for a safe and healthy environment, that will be conducive to good learning and growth in the faith. The tentative start date for classes is in mid October. Please stay tune. The Registration Form is available on our parish website and at the parish office. If you have any questions, please contact Sister Angela Marie Castellani, FSE (PREP Coordinator) at prep.sawv@rcav.org or the parish office.

REGISTRATION
Please return the registration form for this year to the Parish office, with the correspondent fee and the copy of your children Baptismal Certificate.

COMMITMENT
PREP year builds on the previous year and each, and every grade is important. Families are encouraged to register their children from 1st to 7th grade. To be able to receive the Sacrament of Holy Community the student would need to complete grade 1 before registering for grade 2. To receive the Sacrament of Confirmation the student would need to complete grade 6 before registering for grade 7. Two years of consecutive preparation are needed to receive the Sacraments. It is extremely important that the children attend all PREP classes and attend faithful Sunday Mass. It is also important that the education in the faith continues at home and we encourage the families to get involved in the life of the Parish as well as to attend the different parenting workshops offered by the Parish during PREP time.

SERVICE
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mince, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

In the Spirit of Christian Charity and following the great example of our patron Saint Anthony, the children are encouraged to engage in acts of service. Before Confirmation, the children will be asked to complete 20 hours of service. Some opportunities will be provided during the Sacramental preparation for Confirmation.

Trained volunteers visit parishioners to offer emotional and spiritual support during sickness, bereavement, or other life changes that may isolate them from the parish community. Visitors seek to live the Gospel values of patience, kindness, compassion, and gentleness, and to strengthen the parishioner’s connection with the parish community.

If you are interested in joining this ministry, please contact Gloria Lowe via the parish office.

Prison Visitation is made up of men and women volunteers who minister to help our brothers and sisters “redeem, restore and reconcile” their lives, by visiting inmates in provincial and federal prisons. Inmates often feel unloved and unlovable, but have said in many ways that the volunteers show them that the community hasn’t given up on them. Volunteers visit in groups for various activities and programs such as Mass, Praise and Worship, Taize, Bible Study, Rosary Making, Houses of Healing, and many more.

Catholic Charities Justice Services (CCJS) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese ofVancouver builds an educated Christ-centred community that upholds the dignity of every human person touched by crime.  Our volunteers visit those in prison addressing their spiritual needs and walking with them on their journey of faith. Community support is offered to released offenders and victims of crime through programs such as CoSA(Circles of Support and Accountability) and V-CoS (Victim Circles of Support).

We also raise awareness through social justice and educational initiatives. Parish activities include prayer programs and card/calendar collection and distribution to federal and provincial facilities.

We are accepting volunteers aged 25 years and over to mediate God’s healing and restorative touch to all who have been impacted by crime.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a program for people interested in the Catholic faith, whether they are non-Catholics thinking about becoming Catholic, or Catholics who wish to learn more and/or embrace the Catholic faith. The program starts with a period of instruction and progresses into a more in-depth experience of Catholicism and then invites participants into a process of initiation. Often this includes the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism (for those not yet baptized, or baptized in another denomination), Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist.

At St. Anthony’s we offer the following program for Adults who wish to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. There are a number of steps an individual will move through and there is no set timeline that must be adhered to although the Sacraments are administered at Easter.

A person may take as long as they, and those journeying with them, deem appropriate.

What are the steps of RCIA?

Prior to beginning the RCIA process, an individual comes to some knowledge of Jesus Christ, considers his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and is usually attracted in some way to the Catholic Church. This period is known as the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate. For some, this process involves a long period of searching; for others, a shorter time. After a conversation with a priest, or RCIA director, the person, known as an “inquirer,” may seek acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, through the Rite of Acceptance. During this Rite, the inquirer stands amidst the parish community and states that he or she wants to become a baptized member of the Catholic Church. The parish assembly affirms this desire and the inquirer becomes a Catechumen.

The Period of the Catechumenate can last for as long as several years or for a shorter time. It depends on how the person is growing in faith, what questions they encounter along the way, and how God leads them on this journey. When a Catechumen and the priest and the parish team working with him or her believes the person is ready to make a faith commitment to Jesus in the Catholic Church, the next step is the request for baptism and the celebration of the Rite of Election.

The Rite of Election includes the enrolment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. Typically, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Catechumens, their sponsors and families gather at the Cathedral Church. The Catechumens publicly express their desire for baptism to the diocesan bishop. Their names are recorded in a book and they are called the Elect.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is: “To live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.” Vincentians see Christ in anyone who suffers; come together as a family; have personal contact with the poor; help in all possible ways. Often these visitations happen weekly at homes of the poor and marginalized or at different community facilities.

Ushers are a part of the Hospitality Ministry at St. Anthony’s Parish. They serve at all the weekend Masses and on Holy Days of Obligation.

Ushers are responsible for assisting parishioners to find seating when the Church is crowded. They also ensure that parishioners are available for the Offertory Procession. At the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Masses the usher informs the Young People’s Liturgy of the Word leader that it is time for her students to take part in the Offertory Procession.

Ushers take up the collection during Mass and hand out the weekly bulletin following Mass.

If you are interested in becoming an Usher, or would like to know more about this Ministry, please leave a message at the Parish office.

After the first successful Youth Alpha Movie Series, St. Anthony’s Parish will run the NEW YOUTH Alpha! STAY TUNED. The new series will be released in October and we will begin early November. Please call the office or email for the date of the next course and you will be contacted when a date is decided.

Alpha is a fun, dynamic and fast paced series. The meeting begins with a delicious meal, followed by the showing of the video and discussion. Alpha is a basic introduction to the Christian faith. It tackles life big questions, not assuming anything about the participants. There will also be an all-day outing at about half way the series.

You can find out more here: http://www.alphacanada.org/.

Alpha welcomes everybody, whether believers or none believers, Catholics or none Catholics. JOIN US and BRING A FRIEND!

Youth are an integral part of the life and growth of the Church. At our parish, we put priority on the formation & spiritual journey of young people. We seek to provide a space where they can have fun, make lifelong friends, ask deep questions, and most importantly, come to know and love the Lord.