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FROM THE PASTOR As we begin the season of ADVENT this Sunday, we are invited to remember Christ's first coming to us in history and also to prepare for His Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is primarily a period of devout and joyful expectation. It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner and that December 25th will be here before we realize it. In some ways, that is true about the Second Coming of Christ as well: while we might not know the exact time of His coming, we do know that He will come again. I hope that this season of Advent will be an occasion for all of us to meditate on the wonderful gift of Christ's peace so that we might be better able to live each day more fully to the Lord. Friday of this week, December 8th, is the FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION and it is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. All Catholics are obliged to participate in the celebration of Mass on this day when we recall that Mary was conceived without sin in anticipation of her role as Mother of the Savior. She who was to bear Jesus in her womb was spared the stain of original sin in order that she might be a pure vessel to carry the Son of the Eternal Father. In order to accommodate parishioners as they fulfill their responsibility on this Feast, Masses at St. Patrick's will be celebrated on Thursday, December 7th at 7:30 PM and on Friday, December 8th at 6:30 and 8:00 AM and 4:00 and 7:30 PM. I had the opportunity to meet with the PARISH PROPERTY TASK FORCE last week to discuss the various real estate holdings that the parish presently owns. As we look to the future needs of the parish as well as the present fiscal realities that confront us, we need to explore in detail every available option in order to ensure that we do nothing that will compromise or hinder the pastoral mission of this local Church. The rapid growth of the worshipping community, the departure of Montrose from our school building and the expansion of various parish ministries demand that we thoroughly investigate every conceivable plan and determine its positive and negative components. One of the immediate needs that emerged from this meeting was the necessity of expanding the Task Force to include additional members with particular skills. We are in need of a person with architectural expertise to assist us as we contemplate the various possibilities for our future. It is difficult to imagine what can be done without a visual image to aid us. If you have this specific skill, I would ask you to consider offering your services to us at this critical moment. Mass Intentions This Week Sun. 12/3 5:30 PM Family Healing Mass
PLEASE PRAY FOR Francis Burke, Patrick Burke, Philip Allen, Felicia Quesada, Charlene Lombardi, Patricia Finnegan, Mary Porter, Rita Marso, Harold Davis, Lucille Belmore, Ralph Vaccari, Leonard White, Harold Kashala, Robert Goldkamp, Ed Saunders, Jr., Richard Guerin, Kay I. Zinna, Maryann Webster, Helen MacDonald, Julie Branton, Catherine MacLellan, Jim Campbell, Wilma Verge, Ricky Webster, Eleonore Santospago, Eileen Dennis, Jordan Pascucci, Elaine Ruda, Ulysse Richard, Dave Markow, Lucy Grupposo, Marie Smith, Joel Dennis, Nancy Brodeur, Erin McKay, Tony Amendola, Thomas Kean, Diane Doyle, Amanda Clift, Stephen W. Humphrey, Jr., Muriel Cosentino, James Phillips, James Atherton, Barbara DiVaio, Barbara Waite, Gregory S. Giallonardo, Angela Marie Cobb, Celia Pasquarosa, Mike Fitzgerald and all the sick of the parish. SANCTUARY LAMPS LAMPS for the week of December 3 will burn in prayer for Robert F. Cashman, Luisa Valenti, Donna Kane Kelly and Debra Hamel-Caloran. If you would like a LAMP in our Church or Adoration Chapel burning for one week, in memory of a loved one or for a special intention, please call the rectory (508) 653-1093. PARISH SUPPORT Budgeted Actual $14,000.00 $12,259.51 $1,740.49 Thanksgiving Collection St. Patrick Parish has donated $1,500.00 to Cor Unum, the meal center feeding the hungry in Lawrence. Thank you for your generosity! Retirement Fund for Religious Next week's appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious asks us to recall those women and men religious whose ministry has nourished our own faith, served our church, and strengthened our nation. Today, more than 37,000 women and men religious are past age 70. Their institutes face critical economic challenges as the costs of health care escalate and as the need for handicapped-accessible housing increases. Please give generously. Stewardship "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36) "Be vigilant," Jesus warns in today's Gospel, "lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence. "Let us heed His warning and follow the advice of St. Paul, conducting ourselves in a way pleasing to God, overflowing with love for one another. Music Ministry The Music Ministry would like to extend an invitation to all parishioners to participate in the Adult or Children's Choir during the Christmas Season. Singing Christmas Carols is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of one of the most precious times of the year. The Adult Choir rehearsals are on Tuesdays evenings at 7:30pm in the Joseph Center. On December 19th, the Adult Choir will be Caroling at the Metro West Hospital. If you would like to join us, we will meet in the Main Lobby at 6:15pm. Christmas Eve during the Midnight Mass the Adult Choir will be joined by the Commonwealth Brass Quartet and Vocal Soloist. Children interested in singing at the 6:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve should attend rehearsal on Sunday 12/24 at 5:25pm before the 6:00 Mass on Christmas Eve. For further information please contact Martin Kelly, Music Director 617-489-2472. Rest in Peace Let us pray for those who have died, especially Religious Education Annual Christmas Pageant St. Patrick's Annual Christmas Pageant will take place Sunday, December 17 following the 9am Family Mass. There will be an organizational meeting Sunday, December 10 at 1pm during which parts will be assigned to children from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3. Grade 4 students will handle speaking parts and serve as narrators. There will be a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 16 at 1pm. Attention Extraordinary Ministers Deacon Jim Crump is creating the Extraordinary Minister schedule for the Christmas Masses and would like to know which Mass you plan to attend in order to accommodate your schedule as much as possible. Please contact him at the Rectory at 508-653-1093 as soon as possible so that he can schedule you accordingly. Thank you! 2ND ANNUAL
Join other local Christian Churches as we put the 'Christ' back in Christmas!
Parish Christmas Dinner You are cordially invited to
Parish Penance Service Our Evening of Prayer in December will be held on Monday, December 11th, at 7:30 PM. This evening will be our Advent Penance Service and many priests will be available to hear confessions. Please come and experience the healing presence of Christ through this powerful Sacrament of Reconciliation. Nursing Home Ministry
Last year's Tidings of Comfort and Joy Project at Christmas brought great joy to the nursing home residents. For this project, some parishioners bought a small gift and delivered it to a resident of Riverbend Nursing Home in South Natick during the holiday season. Another group of parishioners bought treats and visited the residents at a social hour. This year the social hour will be a weekday early in January to celebrate the Epiphany. If you would like to participate in one of these projects, please sign up this weekend at the back of the church or contact Jane Teepe (508) 653-2098 or jteep@rcn.com. Respect Life Ministry This is the last weekend to select a gift tag from our Jesse Tree. Please consider sponsoring a child or an adult in this worthwhile endeavor as we reach out to those members in our community who need our assistance this Christmas. Gifts need to be returned no later than December 10th in order that they can be distributed in a timely manner. Christmas Lights Display The traditional Christmas Lights display at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine will take place from December 2 through January 1, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. The Christmas Concert by the Choir of St. Thomas Parish in Millis will be held on Sunday, December 3 (TODAY) at 4:00 p.m. followed by a candlelight procession carrying the Infant Jesus to the outdoor Nativity Scene. Centennial Concert St. Tarcisius Church, 562 Waverly Street (Route 135), Framingham is celebrating its centennial with a concert by the Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir on Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and are available in the rectory office during the week and after weekend Masses. The concert will include Christmas music. Refreshments following the concert in the Parish Center. For more information call 508-875-8623. Feast of The Immaculate Conception
CYO Basketball The Saint Patrick CYO Basketball teams had their first home games this Saturday, December 2. Please consider going to a home game (held at Natick High School) and cheer on our teams. Here is the schedule Director of Advancement St. Bridget School, 832 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01702 is seeking to hire a part-time (two days per week) Director of Advancement. Data entry, fundraising, and advertising experience is a must. Please forward resumes to Roseanne Mungovan, Principal or fax 508-875-9552. St. Linus Christian Book Group Please join us at the Norton Center, St. Linus Parish, Natick on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. as we discuss the book This Perfect Darkness(not This Perfect Darkness) by Frank Peretti. For information please call Karen Mallozzi at 508-651-9788 or email to KMallozzi@aol.com Christmas Festivities
Parish Penance Service Our Evening of Prayer in December will be held on Monday, December 11th, at 7:30 PM. This evening will be our Advent Penance Service and many priests will be available to hear confessions. Please come and experience the healing presence of Christ through this powerful Sacrament of Reconciliation. Safety for All In an effort to make sure our building is a secure place for all during the celebration of Mass, parents please accompany your children when they need to use the rest room. In this way we will all be assured that our youngsters are safe at all times. |
