​
Our Lady of Mercy Church St. Anthony of Padua Mission
196 Bridge Street West, P.O. Box 879 27 Victoria Street, P.O. Box 1200
Bancroft, ON, K0L 1C0 Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
613-332-2954 Reverend Casmir Muobike SMMM, Parish Priest 705-457-3695
Email: olmbancroft@gmail.com Email: stanthonyhal@bellnet.ca https://olmbancroft.wixsite.com/ourladyofmercy https://stanthonyhal.wixsite.com/stanthonyofpadua
“LIKE” us on FACEBOOK!
Office Hours: Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Secretary: Mrs. Kathy Tripp Secretary: Mrs. Catherine Wheeler
Our Lady of Mercy School: 613-332-3300
THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
January 3 and 4, 2026
​
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Special Intentions of Madeline Dawson – John and Maria Dawson
-----------------------------------------------------------
ROSARY WILL BE PRAYED BEFORE THE 9:00 AM MASS
Monday - Bancroft 9:00 am Special Intentions of Father Chris Shalla
Tuesday - Bancroft 9:00 am Bernice Cote – Rhonda and Paul Wood
Wednesday - Bancroft 9:00 am Memorial of St. Andre Bessette
Marc O’Donnell – Gary and Adrienne O’Donnell
Thursday - Bancroft 10:30 am Deceased members of the Tomasini and Schutt Families
- Mary Schutt
-----------------------------------------------------------
~ THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD ~
January 10 and 11, 2026
Saturday - Haliburton 4:30 pm Gabrielle Gervais – Maughan Family
Sunday - Bancroft 10:00 am Missa Pro Populo – Mass for the People
PRAYER CORNER
Maximillian Sullivan, the Sullivan Family,
Evan and Gary Wheeler, Judy,
Katherine Flowers, Matt and Kate Flowers,
Alverna Ross, Paul Lee, Lori Best,
Samantha Spencer, Bill O’Shaughnessy,
Anne Carr, Silas Agina,
Rita Stock, Anita Neuman,
Helen Curran, niece of Pauline Burcher,
Julian Joseph Forget, Kathy Willerding,
Thomas Smallwood, Mary Hall,
Gladys Roberts, A.S. Crean,
Shirley Grimshaw, Gerald Diamond,
Brian Dunn, Barb Perog, Sandra Wheeler,
Rita Callaghan, Stacie Burnett,
Gina Mazara, Anthony, Reuben Maughan,
Dennis Purcell, Joan Colligan,
Joyce Allen, Eddie & Daphne Faria,
Clare Kavanagh, Marie Giamblanco,
Mike Flanagan, Annette Giamblanco,
Carolyne Morais, Frank Young,
Roger Musclow,
Joanna Kastner, Tom Holly, Jean Tyler,
Barry Malloy
---------------------------
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
1.) WAKE UP – Begin the day with the Lord. It is His day – rejoice in it!
​
2.) DRESS UP- Put on a smile. It improves your looks and says something about your attitude.
​
3.) SHUT UP: Watch your tongue. Don’t gossip!
​
4.) STAND UP: Take a stand for what you believe! Learn to listen. Resist evil. Do good.
​
5.) LOOK UP: Open your eyes to the Lord.
​
6.) REACH UP: Spend time in prayer with your adorations,,
Confessions, thanksgivings, and supplication to the Lord!
​
7) LIFT UP: Be available to help those in need – serving, supporting and sharing.
May Mary, the Mother of God whose Solemnity we celebrated on New Year’s day,
grant us all an amazing year!
May she help us grow closer to her Son,
Jesus, in holiness, good health, peace and prosperity.
HAPPY AND BLESSED 2026
​
​
​
ST. ANTHONY’S MISSION
​
Sunday Mass Attendance: 44
Christmas Mass attendance: 110
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
SANCTUARY LAMP
For the week commencing
Sunday, Jan. 4th - Jan. 10th :
Special Intentions of
Judy and Family.
------------------------------------------------
OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH
​
Sunday Mass Attendance: 75
Christmas Mass attendance: 130
OUR LADY OF MERCY
SANCTUARY LAMP
For the week commencing
Sunday, Jan. 4th - Jan. 10th :
In loving memory of Grace Delyea.
------------------------------------------------
PRAYER CORNER
As we begin the new year, just a reminder to everyone that if you have placed a name in the PRAYER CORNER and that name no longer needs to be there, please contact the office to let us know. Likewise, if you know of someone who is in need of prayers and would like to add them, again, please contact the parish office.
THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD: The Gospel is Matthew 2:1-12.
The Magi are the central personages in today's feast of Epiphany. They were pagans who did not know the true God of the Jews. Yet that true God revealed to them that the King he had promised the Jews had come. The expected Prince was born. They came to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, expecting, of course, to find the city and the whole country rejoicing. Instead they found suspicion and hatred in the reigning king—a hatred which in a few days turned to murder. Among the religious leaders they found knowledge of their past history, but utter indifference as regards the present and the future. These leaders knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, they must have realized that the Magi were very sure of the truth revealed to them—they would not have come such a long journey on a "fool's errand." In spite of that, the thought of going to Bethlehem with the Magi never entered their minds. These were the leaders who some years later refused to listen to Christ and in spite of his miracles, refused to admit his claim that he was not only the promised Messiah, but the true Son of God. These were the men who rejected him because he had mercy on sinners, and spoke of a future life.
What they wanted from their Messiah was political power and earthly freedom and prosperity. Like Herod they ended with murder—the crucifixion of the "King of the Jews." The pagan king was not much worse than the indifferent Leaders of God's Chosen People.
We too know the true facts concerning Christ, his mission, and his present and future kingdom. Like the leaders of the Jews of his day, we also could become absorbed in the affairs of this life and the quest for wealth, pleasure and power. We could become so totally absorbed in such things as to have neither the interest nor the time to pay our respects to Christ or to welcome him into our homes and our hearts, as our true Lord. God forbid it should ever be thus with us. Rather let us resolve this morning to make the Magi our models, to follow them to Bethlehem and offer him all that we have and are. He will accept our offering and we will return by another way, wiser and better men.
—Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPIPHANY BLESSING
An Epiphany blessing is a Christian tradition, especially Catholic, for blessing homes around the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th), often involving chalking doors with 20 + C + M + B + 26 (for the year 2026), symbolizing the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar) and the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat ("May Christ bless this house"). It's a prayer to invite Jesus into the home for the year, asking for protection, health, and love for everyone who lives there or visits, often using blessed chalk and holy water in a special rite.
​
THE RITUAL
​
Gather:
Family and friends gather, often with blessed chalk and holy water.
​
Prayers:
A leader says prayers asking God to bless the home,
inviting Christ to dwell there and fill it with His light and love.
​
Sprinkling:
Holy water is sprinkled in each room.
​
Purpose:
To consecrate the home to Christ,
asking for His presence, protection,
and grace throughout the year,
and to share the story with visitors.
---------------------------
2026 BOXED ENVELOPES
Envelopes are available at the entrance to the church in Bancroft and in the hall in Haliburton.
If you do not see a box with your name and would like to obtain one,
please contact the parish office.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
