Bring an ornament of your choice for our Christmas tree. Page 2

Transcription

1 INSIDE: Holiday and January Mass schedule is on Page 2 Bring an ornament of your choice for our Christmas tree. Page 2 Love compels each of us to resist racism courageously. Read more in Consider this: Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism. Page 3 Our annual Food Drive is this weekend. Non perishable items are needed. To feed our local needy families. Page 4 Many lay women and men are seeking new ways to serve their parishes, and, in collaboration with the clergy, to create vibrant and thriving communities. See the Quote of the Week. Page 5 Mark your calendars: On Tuesday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m., all are invited to the Parish Hall for an hour long presentation and discussion of an abridged version of a spirituality/ethics course. Page 5

2 Mass Intentions Saturday, December 15 5:00 p.m. Carl King Bob Parrillo Ann Knudsen Sunday, December 16 8:00 a.m. Anthony & Anna DelPozzo Vincent Costanza John Addington 9:15 a.m. Andrea Rizzo Larry Caswell Liz Nayman 11:30 a.m. Dennis Nabb Jameson Dennis White Raymond Wright Monday, December 17 12:00 p.m. Sally Szumita Friday, December 21 12;00 p.m. Joan Walsh, Jean Plymesser Saturday, December 22 5:00 p.m. Manuel and Agnes Alvernaz Carl Brigada Christopher Collins Sunday, December 23 8:00 a.m. Eileen Kudlak Bill and Barbara Sanantonio 9:15 a.m. Dr. Zanoni and Estelita Ortega Gary Rose 11:30 a.m. Katie DeCubellis William Smith Margaret and Thomas Ryan *************************************************** Christmas/New Year Schedule December 24: 4:00 p.m. in the Church 4:00 p.m. in Edwards Hall 10:00 p.m. in the Church December 25: 8 & 10 a.m. in the Church December 31: 4:00 p.m. in the Church January 1: 10 :00 a.m. in the Church No 8:00 p.m. Mass on December 23, 30, January 6, 13, 20 Daily Mass Schedule Change From December 26 January 22, daily (M-F) Mass will be at 8 a.m. in the CTK Church. No Mass on Jan. 21. December 16 - Classes for grades K - 5 (except Grade 2 ) this is the last class before the holiday break. The next class for K - 5 is January 6. Grade 2 Reconciliation Retreat - Saturday December 15 at 10:00 a.m. Another thank you to the teachers Cheryl and Brady Butler, Kate McHugh and Emily Jalbert, Mary Ellen & Maura Powers and Deb Schofield for leading the 2 nd graders through the preparation for First Penance. Reminder: there is no class for 2 nd graders on Sunday, December 16. Grade 4: Generations Sharing Faith To all those who made our Senior visit to our classes a success - many thanks! A very special thank you to our seniors: Gerald & AnneMarie Finnegan, Marcella McCulloch, Ted & Becci Osterhoff, Kathy Pesta and Eileen Sadasiv for sharing their wonderful memories. Many thanks to Jay Masse, Jen Nappi, Tim Dziekan and Tina Moore for helping to manage our museum and set up/clean up. Finally, a big-thank you and job well done to teachers: Peter LoPresti, Dean Balcirack, Melissa Twarog, Maureen Gately and Diane Paolino because without your preparation and lessons this would have never happened! Grade 7: Mass Sunday, December 16 at 11:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. rehearsal in the church for those who have an active part. All other class members should report to Miss Eva for seating before the Mass. YOUTH MINISTRY FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE Bring an ornament of your choice for our Christmas tree and place in the box next to the tree in the Narthex by December 17. Our Youth Choirs will be decorating the tree on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. Hot Chocolate and cookies for all! URI BASKETBALL GAME Treat your family with an afternoon of fun on Saturday, February 16, at 2 p.m. with our Rhody Rams. Makes a great Christmas gift! Discounted tickets ($20) are available in the office.

3 The angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. This passage (Luke 2:10) will be proclaimed at our Christmas Masses in a few short weeks. During the season of Advent, the bulletin will feature reflections that will emphasize our understanding of the angel s words: all the people. The Sundays of Advent will feature excerpts from the new document: Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism. It was developed by the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the full body of bishops at the November 2018 General Meeting and has been authorized for publication. The Savior we welcome at Christmas comes for all the people. All people are created equally in the image and likeness of our Creator. There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11). May our Advent reflection on this great mystery help us to embrace Jesus with arms open wider than ever this Christmas. Love compels each of us to resist racism courageously. It requires us to reach out generously to the victims of this evil, to assist the conversion needed in those who still harbor racism, and to begin to change policies and structures that allow racism to persist. Overcoming racism is a demand of justice, but because Christian love transcends justice, the end of racism will mean that our community will bear fruit beyond simply the fair treatment of all. Our faith gives us a treasury of inspiring holy men and women who courageously worked toward racial reconciliation, showing us the way forward. There is, for example, the Servant of God Augustus Tolton, who was born into slavery and escaped to the free state of Illinois. Despite a strong calling to the priesthood supported by clergy who knew his faith, all the seminaries in the United States rejected him. Having eventually made it to a seminary in Rome, he was ordained, and returned to serve as the first black priest born in the United States, where, again, he faced much discrimination and racism. Once home and ministering to the People of God, Fr. Tolton was tormented by others, especially by a brother priest who was white. This priest made public and ugly statements urging the white people of the city not to go to Fr. Tolton s parish. Through this long persecution, Fr. Tolton exhibited the love of Christ, forgiving what was done to him and continuing to serve others. Things got so bad, however, that Fr. Tolton accepted an invitation from Archbishop Feehan to move north to Chicago, where he served the faithful until his death in Fr. Tolton often spoke of how the Church had taught him to always pray and forgive my persecutors. During his ministry, Fr. Tolton corresponded with Mother (now Saint) Katharine Drexel, who helped support his parish work in Chicago. She is another example of people working for racial reconciliation. Following a directive from Pope Leo XIII in 1887, St. Katharine dedicated her life to working closely with Native Americans and African Americans, exhibiting genuine respect and concern. By the time of her death in 1955, St. Katharine had more than 500 sisters working in 63 schools and had established 50 missions for Native Americans in 16 states. She also founded 50 schools for African American students, including Xavier University of Louisiana, the first and only Catholic university in the United States established specifically for African Americans. Her motivation was clear. As she said, If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing. Examining our sinfulness individually, as the Christian community, and as a society is a humbling experience. Only from a place of humility can we look honestly at past failures, ask for forgiveness, and move toward healing and reconciliation. This requires us to acknowledge sinful deeds and thoughts, and to ask for forgiveness. The truth is that the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have been complicit in the evil of racism. In his Papal Bull Dum Diversas (1452), Nicholas V granted apostolic permission for the kings of Spain and Portugal to buy and sell Africans, setting the stage for the slave trade. Even though subsequent popes strongly renounced and rejected the international slave trade, much to our shame, many American religious leaders, including Catholic bishops, failed to formally oppose slavery; some even owned slaves. We also realize the ways that racism has permeated the life of the Church and persists to a degree even today. For too long, in the Church s missions throughout the world, the way to a fully indigenous clergy and religious was blocked by an attitude that was paternalistic and racist. Not long ago, in many Catholic parishes, people of color were relegated to segregated seating, and required to receive the Holy Eucharist after white parishioners. All too often, leaders of the Church have remained silent about the horrific violence and other racial injustices perpetuated against African Americans and others.

4 LITURGY CORNER Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday The Third Sunday of Advent is a day of joy in the midst of our spiritual preparations for Christmas. It is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin Antiphon: Gaudete in Domino semper, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near (Phil.4:4-5). The antiphon captures the mood of the entire liturgy as we move into the second part of Advent: there is a sense of joyful expectation, an awareness that the fulfillment of God s great plan for us is near. (LTP Sourcebook 2019) INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK This Gaudete Sunday calls us to rejoice because the Lord is near. Does your heart rejoice and sing, or are the pressures and burdens of life weighing you down? We can easily become overwhelmed. The weaknesses and sins of life, indeed our own weakness and sin, eat away at the joy and hope God wants us to know. Those who are grounded in their faith and possess deep spiritual lives know that God is near. Realizing this puts life into perspective. We really want to be free from our burdens but do not always know how to achieve this. We keep stumbling and falling. Advent is a time when we can learn to do life differently, just like John the Baptist instructed the crowds. Joy and hope are the gifts God offers, not anxiety and despair. ADVENT FOOD COLLECTION During Advent the Social Action Committee will again coordinate a food drive for the families who use our Emergency Food Pantry and other local families who need our assistance. The food drive is Saturday/Sunday December 15/16. Collection boxes will be in the parish hall to place nonperishable items. Any canned meat, vegetable, cereal, pasta, sauce, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, soup, etc. We invite all parishioners to help sort and/or deliver the food baskets on Monday, December 17 at 9 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Thank you for your generosity. REFLECTION In Christianity, we hear often about the Good News. We might often associate it with Jesus' compassion to the poor, his healings and miracles, and the salvation he won for us. In today's Gospel, we read of John the Baptist. Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. Yet as we examine the rest of the reading, we see examples of John's preaching. If you have two cloaks, give one away. Don't cheat others out of their money, extort, or lie. And, of course, the warning that the Messiah is on the move and his winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Not only do John's listeners enjoy his message, but they seem to think he might be the awaited Messiah! To understand today's Gospel, it's important to understand the Jewish people. For most of their history, God's chosen people had been under someone else's heel. They were slaves in Egypt. Their kingdoms were ravaged first by the Assyrians, then the Babylonians. Now they were under the yoke of the Roman Empire. Familiar with being strangers in a strange land, welcoming the stranger, caring for the vulnerable, and enacting justice was incredibly important to them as a people. While John's words may seem odd or strong to our modern ears, this call to justice was welcome, even if it was directed at the hearer. The truth is, no one is exempt from John's call to repentance. We all have further to go in the Christian life. We can all grow in virtue and love our neighbors more generously. The Church gives us the Advent season to examine our own hearts. Did any of John's warnings resonate with you? That could be a great thing to bring to Jesus this week!

5 Quote of the Week We are at a very particular moment in the history of our Diocese, and indeed, within our Church. As I travel throughout Fairfield County, it has become apparent to me that many lay women and men are seeking new ways to serve their parishes, and, in collaboration with the clergy, to create vibrant and thriving communities. Most. Rev. Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport CT, in a December 9, 2018 letter announcing his decision to appoint, for the first time, a lay woman to serve as Administrator and Parish Life Coordinator of a Catholic parish. Dr. Eleanor Sauers will have decision-making authority over a team of priests who will be responsible for sacramental ministry at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield. Her responsibilities, said Caggiano, as it is with any priest or deacon appointed as Administrator, is to work with the parish community to develop and foster its pastoral vision and mission. She will continue to be present to the parish in times of celebration and sadness. Her education, formation, and experience makes her professionally, academically, and spiritually ready for this role. This is a first for the diocese and, perhaps, a sign of more change to come in Bridgeport and elsewhere, said Deacon Greg Kandra of the Deacon's Bench Blog at Patheos.com. SPIRITUALITY AND ETHICS PRESENTATION On Tuesday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m., all are invited to the Parish Hall for an hour long presentation and discussion of an abridged version of a spirituality/ethics course offered at the Naval War College, Newport over the last 40 years. The course consists of readings, philosophical, biblical and literary (Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, Hume, Kant, and Mill on the one hand; Job, New Testament, Aeschylus, Dante, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, and Camus on the other); and it focuses on our need to believe that virtue is rewarded and evil is punished. ADM James Stockdale, course designer, drew on his experience in a North Vietnam prison. You will have an opportunity to share pertinent examples (e.g., books, bible passages, personal experiences) with other participants, along with a lecture on the course theme. Additional sessions will be offered, over several weeks, to those interested in attending the complete course. A free e-book is available, plus an Abstract that summarizes the course. Scheduling for the full course will be set to accommodate participants. For more information or to reserve a place for the initial session, contact the course presenter Lynn Bentley, Veterans Committee Member, or lbentleyus@yahoo.com CALENDARS Stewardship Calendars will be at the doors of the church this weekend. compliments of Avery Storti Funeral Home. Please take one home. TAX ASSISTANCE Become a volunteer tax preparer and help put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of low-income households. The Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale seeks individuals interested in preparing and filing taxes for low income households. No prior experience necessary! You will be trained through a mix of classroom and online experiences, and be asked to commit to 1 three hour time slot each week, for up to twelve weeks. For more information, visit or Alicia Monnes at amonnes@jonnycakecenter.org. CATHOLIC QUOTES TO INSPIRE THE FAITHFUL Our world has been filled with noise. It is time to enter into the classroom of silence. -- Matthew Kelly Saturday/Sunday, December 15/16 Food Collection Monday, December 17 9:00 a.m. Pack/Deliver Food Baskets Tuesday, December 18 10:30 a.m. SK Nursing Home 1:30 p.m. Brookdale Nursing Home Thursday, December 20 6:00 p.m. Teen/Youth Choirs Tree Decorating 7:30 p.m. Choir

6 Parish Directory Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Phone: (401) Fax: (401) Religious Formation Office: (401) Rev. Jared Costanza (jaredjcostanza@gmail.com) Pastor Rev. Joseph Creedon (jcreedon@verizon.net) Parish Priest Emeritus Rev. Joseph Upton (fatherupton@gmail.com) Catholic Center Chaplain Jennifer Marran (jmarran@ctkri.org) Pastoral Associate Tom Kendzia (tjkendzia@gmail.com) Director of Music Ministry Heather Skidds (hskidds@gmail.com) Associate Director of Music Ministry Georgann Lardaro (glardaro@ctkri.org) Director of Religious Formation Eva Mancuso (emancuso@ctkri.org) Director of Confirmation & Youth Ministry Beth Hogan (bhogan@ctkri.org) Parish Office Manager Ron Bernier (rbernier@ctkri.org) Fiscal Manager Doug Paquin (dpaquinjr@gmail.com) Custodian Mike Mitchell Web site Administrator (ctkri.org) Trustees: Mark Noble & Phil Tracy Auditors: Richard Gervais & Carol Hartley Parish Council (parishcouncil@ctkri.org) Prayer Chain (prayerchain@ctkri.org) URI Catholic Center 90 Chapel Way, Kingston, RI Office: (401) (office@rhodycatholic.com) Liz Cotrupi-Pfunder Campus Minister Doug Carr Facilities Director MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 5 p.m. Sunday: 8, 9:15, 11:30 a.m. 8 p.m. BAPTISM The celebration of baptism takes place either during a weekend Mass or a Sunday afternoon liturgy. Parents should speak to Jennifer Marran to make arrangements. ADULT INITIATION Adults wishing to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and/or Confirmation should speak to Jennifer Marran. CONFIRMATION Eighth graders receive Confirmation in the spring. Please speak to Eva Mancuso for more information. MARRIAGE Engaged couples should speak to Fr. Jared at least nine months prior to the wedding. RECONCILIATION Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the parish office to make arrangements. MINISTRY TO THE SICK & HOMEBOUND If you or someone you know is unable to attend Mass and would like to receive Holy Communion regularly, please speak to Jennifer Marran to make arrangements. On the third Tuesday of each month, Mass is celebrated at South Kingstown Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 10:30 a.m., and at Brookdale South Bay Assisted Living at 1:30 p.m. BIBLE STUDY (Fr. Jared) 1 & 7 p.m. ST. PAUL S LETTER TO THE ROMANS, January 9, 23, February 6, 20 BIBLE STUDY (Shared/Group) 7:00 p.m. Spring dates to be announced. GODPARENTS & SPONSORS Please see one of the priests for a sponsor form, or visit ctkri.org/sponsor. BELONG TO CHRIST THE KING! Welcome to our growing family of faith! Call the parish office or visit ctkri.org for more information. ALL weather cancellations will be posted on our website: and on local TV/radio stations.

7 Northup s Service Center Fast - Lube 1892 Kingstown Rd., Peacedale Bring in this coupon & save $2.00 off our already low priced fast-lube oil change service! Visit Please Uncle Mike s Home Improvement & Handyman Services Need Help? Call Uncle Mike Mike Larkin, St. Mary Parishioner Licensed & Insured Michael K. Marran, Esquire General Practice of Law (401) marranlaw@cox.net 55 Cedar Street, Suite-100, Providence, RI Wills Trusts Estates Probate Elder South County Appointments Available 12 High St. Wakefield info@sandypawsri.com SandyPawsRI.com Daycare Walking Sitting full service mechanic shop all foreign & domestic cars Oil Changes - Tires - Brakes - Tune Up s Shocks & Struts - Computer Diagnostics Maintenance - State Inspections 30 Dean Knauss Drive - Narragansett, RI (401) Parishioner 12 Southwest Avenue, Jamestown RI Dr. Jacqueline Boisvert Clinical Director, Karen Agostinucci PT, DPT, MS, OCS Certified Clinicians Offering: Dry Needling Spinal Manipulation Orthopedic Specialist Pain Management 163 Main Street Wakefield mechanixforlife.com Evidence-based therapy from a Catholic faith-based perspective. Richard Beaupre, LICSW Tel: (401) South County Commons Way, Suite D8 richard@journeyllc.com South Kingstown, Rhode Island Celebrating 50 years of Faith Based Academic Excellence Accepting Students 18 months to 8th Grade Year Round Early Learning Program Extended Day Program - Spanish Pre-k to 8 Robust Enrichment & After School Programs Safe Nurturing Environment Call to schedule a tour Or admissions@monsignorclarkeschool.org The Genuine. The Original. Overhead Door Company of Providence, Inc. One Overhead Way, Warwick, RI Alan Mclaughlin Garden Design & Landscaping Contact Lisa Elliott to place an ad today! lelliott@4lpi.com or (800) x Main St., Wakefield, RI WOOD CORK TILE CARPET LAMINATE VINYL AREA RUGS (401) Established 1879 TALLY S Religious Gifts & Books 1150 Pontiac Ave. Cranston, RI A Better Place To Shop Perfect Produce, Fabulous Fruit, Beautiful Bakery, Magnificent Meals, Finest Prepared Foods, Delightful Deli, Freshest Fish, Fantastic Flowers, Super Sushi, Great Groceries! Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, RI ~ Since 1949 ~ Bagelz The Bagel Bakery Kingston Emporium 99 Fortin Rd., Kingston, RI (401) Bagelz of Wakefield 90 Pershing Ave., Wakefield, RI (401) Traditional Funerals to Simple Cremation Services Pre-Arrangements & Pre-Financing Available. Directors Michael F. Quinn, Patrick J. Quinn, Jerome D. Quinn, Christopher P. Quinn, Maria A. King, Stanley G. Larson Intern Michael J. Quinn Boston Neck Rd., N. Kingstown, RI Ad info Publication Support Christ the King Church, Kingston, RI

8 All Your Stains Will Be Forgiven KEEP IT CLEAN SERVICES JOHN C. MORRELL PA I N T E R CARPET UPHOLSTERY CLEANING TILE STONE GROUT CLEANING ROBERT HAUSER JR., OWNER Pinecrest Golf Club 25 Pinehurst Dr. Richmond OPEN TO THE PUBLIC PRO SHOP GRILL & BAR CLUBHOUSE STEVE S LANDSCAPE SERVICES, INC IMPROVING THE LANDSCAPE ONE YARD AT A TIME STEVE PECK WEB: STEVESRI.COM Lunch, Dinner & Sunday Brunch Overlooking Narragansett Bay Baptisms, Rehearsal Dinners, Funeral Repast 40 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI John M. Underhill, DDS 24 Salt Pond Road, Suite A-3, Wakefield, RI (401) % -50% off New + Pre-Owned Fitness Equipment Consulting Design Available Rhonda De La Cerda Realtor/Parishioner Call or Text me Today!!! Rhonda@randallrealtors.com Randall, Realtors RhondaDeLaCerda.RandallRealtors.com Bob Rae bob@frontlinefit.com Cell: Office: Fax: Jefferson Boulevard Warwick, RI QUALITY PAINTING SERVICE Established 1976 GAETAN D. CHARBONNEAU, D.M.D., LTD. (401) South Kingstown Office Park 24 Salt Pond Road, Suite A-2 Wakefield, RI GRENCO Septic And Excavation Services Specializing in Septic System Design & Installation Drainage and grading solutions Visit us at to learn more about our services Contact: Scott Grenon grencoexcavating@verizon.net Cell: Office: Serving South County Families Since Columbia St., Wakefield Peter J. Storti Joshua P. Storti - Traditional - Cremation Services - Monuments Michael C. Paolino, CFP, AAMS Financial Advisor 24 Salt Pond Road, Suite D3 South Kingstown, RI LET US PLACE YOUR AD HERE. Come check out our tasting room - see website for hrs. on-site pours cans, bottles & growlers to-go 141 Fairgrounds Rd. W. Kingston, RI Secrets can change a life forever... Judith A. Boss, Award Winning Author AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL AND PRINT Joanne M. Daly, CDFA First Vice President / Financial Advisor Morgan Stanley One Financial Plaza, 19th Floor, Providence, RI joanne.daly@morganstanley.com The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC /17 Ad info Publication Support Christ the King Church, Kingston, RI