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FROM THE PASTOR This Sunday, we celebrate the THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT and Christmas is just around the corner! So much remains to be done and there is so little time to do it. I know that we all have last-minute shopping to do, decorations to be put up, and a host of other things. However, as we prepare our homes for Christmas, we also need to be mindful of preparing our spiritual house for the Lord's coming. In our haste to make ready the way of the Lord through decorations and gifts, we can sometimes neglect our spiritual needs. I want to invite all parishioners to an ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE on this Monday evening, December 15th at 7:30 PM in the Church. We have invited additional priests to be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that all who wish can receive God's healing forgiveness as they confess their sins. All of us stand in need of God's forgiveness and it is precisely for the forgiveness of our sins that Christ came among us as a man. I hope that the real Peace of Christmas that only comes through the realization that your sins are forgiven will be yours this season and I encourage all of you to join us for this special moment of grace. There will be a SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION taken up at all of the Masses next weekend for CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. Many people have expressed a desire to have their loved ones remembered in prayers during the Christmas season and we have decided to decorate the Church in memory of all of our deceased loved ones. If you wish to make a financial contribution, please write the name of the deceased loved one on the outside of the envelopes that are in the pews and place your offering in the basket. In the event that finances are problematic, please feel free to write the name of anyone that you would like remembered on the outside of the envelope and place it in the basket. We are happy to remember everyone in our prayers during this season. Last week's storm severely impacted the lives of all of us. The priests have no difficulty getting to the Church to celebrate Mass but we appreciate the fact that the snowy weather proved to be very treacherous for many of you. I was impressed with the large number of people who braved the storm in order to participate at Mass. However, many people understandably were prevented from celebrating the Eucharist with us. Their physical presence was deeply missed. As a side effect of the weather and lack of attendance, the Sunday Offertory was considerably lower. Under circumstances like this, your weekly contribution can be placed in the offering for the following week. Given the weather conditions of New England, I suspect this will not be an isolated incident. This week, we observe some milestones of note. Yesterday, December 13th, was FR, RILEY'S BIRTHDAY AND Tuesday, December 16th is BISHOP WALTER EDYVEAN'S 39th ANNIVERSARY OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION and we offer them our prayerful best wishes. On a personal note, I am most grateful for their invaluable ministry and I am certain that God will bless them for their many acts of kindness to all of us. AD MULTOS ANNOS. Mass Intentions This Week Sun. 12/14 5:30 PM Collective Intention Mass
Fiarino Crisafulli, DiTuccio Family, Ruth Watson, Francis A. Corcell, Charles Scott, Frank Sorrentino, Edna R. Lambert, Berenice Zoccoli Rosica
PLEASE PRAY FOR The Gerry Family, Erin McKay, Tony Amendolla, Anne Casperson, Thoma Kean, Marlene Carmichael, Leo Alvares, Bobby Nolasco, Chuck Plaistek, Norma Lally, Joseph Lombardi, Louis Maffiola, Tony Armata, Jane O'Keefe, Diane Doyle, Amanda Clift, Stephen W. Humphrey, Jr., Lorraine McDonough, Gregg Giallonardo, Muriel Cosentino, Denise Perreault, Rose Kilmer, Amy Flickenger, Paul Cropper, James Philips, Jean Orme, Nadia DeMasi, Elvira Portyrala, Mike Fitzgerald, and all the sick of the parish, as well as all the faithful departed, especially John P. Rossi, Mary P. Coleman, and Robert McTague.. SANCTUARY LAMPS for the week of December 14th will burn in prayer for Gerard Halpin, Jr., Mary & Joseph O'Brien, Bob Cashman, Reba Welch, Celeste Turner, Fiarino Crisafulli, and Francis A. Corcell. 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 $15,000.00 $7,379.70 $7,620.30 A total of $1,597.75 was donated for the collection on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thank you for your generosity! Again this year we will be decorating the church with Poinsettias donated in a loved one's name and you have two choices this year for your donation. You may contribute to the collection on Sunday, December 20, 2003 using envelopes supplied to notate the name of the person or persons you wish to be remembered and we will purchase the poinsettias for you. You are also welcome to bring your own poinsettia to the church on December 24, 2003 by 10:00AM. If you have any questions, please call Gail at 508-655-6274, Diane at 508-653-1453 or Cathy at 508-651-2620. Religious Education Religious Education has ended for 2003 and will pick up again at the end of January. I would like to give my biggest thanks to all of the Teachers, Aides, Hall Monitors and other volunteers who have helped out in so many more ways than they know to make this a wonderful start to the year. Your ideas and presence are truly what makes the program. Thank you for everything you are and everything you bring forth. Christmas Pagent Please join us immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass in the annual dramatization of the Birth of Christ performed by the children of St Patrick Parish. A huge thank you to all of the children, parents, and volunteers who have made this a beautiful tradition to look forward to each year! Youth Mass The organizers of the Monthly Youth Mass are looking for singers and musicians willing and able to be a part of a band to play for the Mass and other special youth events we have planned. We are especially looking for anyone with acoustic, bass or electric guitar experience, as well as drummers, and keyboardists. All eager musicians should email Melissa Cecchi meliss4399@rcn.com, or call Melisa at the Religious Education office. Next Youth Mass will take place Jan 4 and will be every 1st Sunday of the month. The last of the Advent video series is the Friday evening at 7:00 in the Lower Church Hall. All are encouraged to come and see, "T'was the Fight before Christmas" about the lessons of Love that cannot be taught except through experience. Appropriate for ages 7-10. The Pre-School Story Hour continues for the next 2 weeks then will be starting again the 9th of January. Come and join us for a story, a craft, a song and more on Fridays from 9:30-10:30AM in the Lower Church Hall! If you have any questions please call Sally DeGeorge (508) 655-0198 or Kim Horton (508) 653-6309. Thank you to all of the 4th grade students who made and dropped off a build-a-bear for St Angela's Parish in Mattapan! What a wonderful way for you to show your love to others! A Special thank you to all of the adults who made one of our student's idea a reality. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the Snow Storm the build-a-bear service project has been extended. All bears must be received in the rectory by Wednesday Dec 17 so that they can be delivered to St Angela's the following day. Prayer Partners We are still looking for more parishioners to share in the journey of preparation with our 2nd grade students as they move toward the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A Prayer Partner is an individual or a family who commits themselves to praying for a child in 2nd grade that the Lord will be with them and grow in them as they prepare to receive the Sacrament. Prayer partners will have the opportunity to meet the child that they have been praying for before the sacrament date. If this ministry is of interest to you or your family there is a sign up sheet in the back of the church or else please call the Office of Religious Education to be assigned to a child.
May all of the families in the Religious Education Program have a Happy and Holy Christmas and New Years. Adoration THANK YOU! THANK YOU! A special thank you to all the adorers who braved the elements to willingly spend time at the adoration chapel. It was because of their love to be in the real presence of Jesus that once again we were able to keep the chapel open through a storm. If anyone lives within walking distance of the chapel and would like to help out when we have storms, like the previous one, please call Carole @508-653-0371. A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT Inside the entrance to the Adoration Chapel is a bulletin board with an "ADORATION SUBSTITUTE NEEDED' list. If you are unable to commit to a regular hour, because of your schedule, why not consider filling in for a regular adorer who is unable to do his/her hour. If you have someone on your Christmas list that has everything and you have no idea what to give, why not offer the hour for this person and at the same time you would be helping out a regular adorer. Reflecting a Consistent Ethic of Life Seamless Garment Reflection "Catholic social teaching emerged in the mid-1800s as a powerful force to grapple with the great social problems of the day and continues right up to our times.
The "sense of the whole" embracing all Earth's systems and members as unique and indispensable, presents a major challenge to Catholic teaching."
Fellowship of Young Adults (20s & 30s) Bible Study, Thu 12/18, 7:30pm. Learn more about your faith at our weekly Bible Study at the Joseph Center. We're studying Matthew. Contact Eric,eje@world.std.com , 508-845-5008. ST. VINCENT de PAUL
ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE EVENING OF PRAYER The monthly Evening of Prayer for December will be an Advent Penance Service on Monday, December 15th, at 7:30 PM in the Upper Church. Several priests will be available to hear confessions. Please come and experience the healing presence of Christ through this powerful Sacrament of Reconciliation. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. community events THE NATIVITY PAGEANTA Real Living Performance of the Nativity
MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL
When: Saturday, Dec. 27th, leaving Marian High School at 6:00am, returns at 11:00pm.
Peace Care deeply,
PEACE AND JUSTICE Please bring an item or two for the Natick Food Pantry if you can. MUSLIM JEWISH CHRISTIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE O God, you are the source of life and peace.
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