We are initiating a food bank donation by distributing customized collection bags with the parish name on it.

The plan is to collect canned food with minimum 1-year to expiration. Last Sunday, we could hand out such bags to a few members only. Since more bags are available this week onward, we request all our members to pick the collection bag from church; one bag for each family. Let us join hands to feed the needy. Let us be resolute that nobody within our reach will go hungry.

We would like to share a meal with all our members and guests after the service, so that they won’t need to buy food on their way back home or won’t have to stay hungry until they reach home.

We have recently introduced a food coupon system. A coupon for each family costs $ 120.00 for the next six- month period. We request all families to buy one coupon which can be availed until December 31, 2022. Guests won’t require coupons. If a coupon is lost, there won’t be any issue for enjoying the meal. We request your co-operation to put this plan into action.

It has been decided to postpone the OVBS to spring of 2023 because many of the students and teachers are away on holidays in August. Those who have already sent in the registration forms and payments will be automatically included in the OVBS 2023.

Requesting all Sunday school students to return the text book and work book back to Sunday school office before end of July.

Sunday school will reopen in September. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer vacation.

The second volume of Urava will be released on Sunday, August 14 connecting to the Soonoyo Feast.

We are inviting all organizations of our Parish to contribute articles to be featured in the Journal. The articles are expected to reflect the theme selected for this issue “Theotokos – The Second Eve”. The last date for submission of articles will be 30th June 2022.
Please find below – the subthemes selected for each organisation:
1. Sunday School i) Life of Saint Mary ii) “Behold, Thy Mother.”
2. MGOCSM i) “Here I am” ii) Intercession of Mother Mary
3.OCYM i)‘Joseph’, a Male Model for Women Empowerment ii) ‘Mary’, More than a shell
4.MMVS i) Women Leadership towards Salvation ii) Sword through the Heart
5. Senior Forum i)”Hail Mary, Full of Grace” ii) Mary – An Initiator of Miracles
6.Choir i) Magnificat – A Revolutionary Anthem ii) St. Mary in the Orthodox Liturgical Hymns
7. Acolytes i) Various Symbols of St Mary in the Temple ii) Model for Diakonia – from Altar to Street
 
Please send the articles to below email id with the subject line “Urava Volume 2 – Article – Organization Name”. 
Email id: ocymtoronto@yahoo.com

We may have members, adults or kids, willing to join the Altar Assistance Service.

Whoever wishes to join the Acolytes, please feel free to reach out to the Vicar on (416) 570 5610. We will conduct the training sessions and fix a date for ordination.

MMVS Charity Drive and Honouring of long serving members
In accordance with NEAD’s directive, our parish MMVS plans to hold a short but beautiful celebration of MMVS Day on August 21st, following the Holy Qurbana. At this gathering, former MMVS office bearers shall be honoured. Details shall be announced soon.
As part of MMVS Charity programs for the year, a charity drive shall be initiated. The Ernestine Women’s Shelter in Etobicoke will receive boxes with household goods, children’s/baby necessaries, health and hygiene and other items. A portion of the fund generated through the June bake sale shall be spent for this. MMVS would like to express sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the bake sale. Any help to accomplish the charitable fundraising objective for the year will be highly appreciated.
Whoever wishes to donate but was unable to attend the fundraiser event, may send donations to skariahomana@gmail.com. A list of things that will go into charity boxes will be available with MMVS secretary Beena Mathew. Please feel free to contact her on (647) 835 1521 if anyone wants to contribute items. Please encourage each other to participate in this project.
Please remember the campaign in our prayers.

MGOCSM Toronto will be holding their annual Kanesh retreat as an in-person event from Friday 19 – Saturday 20, August, 2022 at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of Toronto.
The meeting will begin at 08:00 am. The theme for this year will be ‘Orthodoxy and Evolving Times’, and our guest speaker Dn. Roby Antony will be at the conference in person. There will be a registration fee of $50 for each person attending and the registration link is open now. Hoping to see you all attend the event! Please access the Registration Link: https://bit.ly/Kanesh2022
All our youth members are requested to participate. Donations would be highly appreciated. Anyone who wishes to volunteer and help out the MGOCSM Toronto committee on either Friday or Saturday are also welcome to do so. Those interested please contact Reuben Mathew on (647) 574 6314.

Our deepest condolence to Mr Ben Varughese Nellithara and family on the passing away of Ben’s beloved sister Mariamma George (80 years) at Ernakulam, India, on 4th August, 2022, at 1:00 a.m. IST.

She is survived by children Asha and Aji. Funeral will be held at ST Ignatius Orthodox Church Kaipattore, Kerala. Details shall be updated soon.

Prayers to be held on Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 at 2:30 pm at the residence followed by funeral service at St .Ignatious Jacobite Syrian Church, Kaipattoor, Kerala.

Link for livestream: https://youtu.be/J-3vBD_uMDM

May the Lord comfort the departed soul and give strength and hope to grieving family members and friends.

Our deepest condolence to Rilu Raj and family on the passing away of Rilu’s beloved mother Rachel Zacharia, 75 years, Ennasheril House, Kodumon, Kerala passed away on Friday, August 5th, 2022 at 9:00 am IST.

She is the beloved wife of Mr. Rajan George. She is survived by children Rilu Raj and Rini Sabu, daughter-in-law Merlin Abraham, son-in-law Sabu Mavelil and grandchildren Alrin, Meldin, Johan and Jonath. Prayers to be held on Sunday, August 7th, 2022 at 2 pm at the residence and and followed by funeral service at St.Behanan’s Orthodox Valiyapally, Kodumon, Kerala at 3 pm.

May the Lord comfort the departed soul and give strength and hope to grieving family members and friends.

Evening:

• St. Luke 1:39–56, 2:22–35

Morning:

• St. Luke 2:42-51

Before Holy Qurbana:

• Exodus 3:1–6, 19:16-23
• Ezekiel 44:1–3
• Isaiah 45:11-19

Holy Qurbana:

• Acts 1:12–14, 7:44-53
• Hebrews 9:3-12, 2:14–18
• St. Luke 11:22-28
• St. Matthew 12:46–50
• St. John 19:25-27