MASS SCHEDULE. Saturday, December 16. DAILY (in Chapel) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. & 5:15 p.m. Saturday: 7:00 a.m. Sunday, December 17

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1 MASS SCHEDULE READINGS FOR SUNDAY LITURGY can be found at number 773 in Worship. WEEKEND Saturday: (Vigil) Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 (Family Mass), 10:30 a.m. & Saturday, December 16 DAILY (in Chapel) Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. & 5:15 p.m. Saturday: 7:00 a.m. Sunday, December 17 HOLYDAY (in Church) Eve: 5:15 p.m. (Vigil) Holyday: 7:00 a.m., 12:10 p.m., & 5:15 p.m. MASSES FOR SPECIAL GROUPS (September to June - in the Chapel) French Mass - 2nd Sunday 11:00 a.m. Italian Mass - 3rd Sunday 11:00 a.m. Spanish Mass - 4th Sunday 11:00 a.m. RECONCILIATION - Sacrament of Penance (Church Sacristy) Saturday: 3:00-4:00 p.m. or by appointment Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Mt 17:9a, :00 a.m. Carlos Ramon Roberts Alberto Zinco Family and Luigi Vitti Family Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, :30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. All the Members of this Parish Terence Cunniffe Filomena and William Morelli Mario Russo and Rosina and Angelo Gangi Anton Murljacic Monday, December 18 Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1: :00 a.m. Emily Lozina 5:15 p.m. Mariano and Maria DeAngelis Tuesday, December 19 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 7:00 a.m. All Souls 5:15 p.m. Raymond E. Grant, Jr. Wednesday, December 20 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (Individual or during Mass) Please call the Rectory to arrange for Baptism. Attendance at a Pre-Baptism Session is required 3rd Saturday: 1:30 p.m. in the Rectory SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Please call the Rectory 9-12 months before proposed wedding date to arrange for marriage preparation. Is 7:10-14; Lk 1: :00 a.m. Linda Mowbray 5:15 p.m. Dorothy Manfredo Thursday, December 21 Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Lk 1: :00 a.m. Raffaella, Antonio and Pietro Diaso and Maria and Donato Sinisi 5:15 p.m. Eugene Restivo Friday, December 22 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1: :00 a.m. John A. Sarica 5:15 p.m. Richard Raffa, Louis Raffa Sr., Camelina and Robert Curcio Saturday, December 23 Please pray for the deceased members of our parish, especially for Dolores Detscher Trudden. Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1: :00 a.m. Thomas G. Shea Michael Joseph Gaynor Sunday, December 24 ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE December 23-24, 2017 Sat. Emma May, Kate May Sun. 7:30 a.m. TBD Sun. 9:00 a.m. A. Pajer, R. Mckersie, J. Peldunas Sun. 10:30 a.m. TBD Christmas Eve Masses: Sat. 5:00 Church: Grayson Tella, Juliette, Matteo, Charlotte and Estelle Santulin Sat. 5:00 Hall: Carolyn and Brian Mullins, Dyer Steele Sat. 5:00 Gym: Caroline and Jack McShea, Alyce and Kelly Janssen, Mara Visentin Sat. 7:00: Peter and Daniel McDermott Midnight: Cholo Cruz 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1: :30 a.m. All Souls 9:00 a.m. All Members of this Parish 10:30 a.m. Joseph Langham * Christmas Eve Mass - Church * Christmas Eve Mass - Chapel * Christmas Eve Mass Lucey Parish Hall *7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass - Church *12:00 a.m. Christmas Eve Mass - Church NEXT WEEKEND CELEBRANT SCHEDULE Saturday, December 23 Reconciliation Fr. Mark D Silva Fr. Mark D Silva Sunday, December 24 7:30 a.m. Fr. William F. Platt 9:00 a.m. Fr. Mark D Silva 10:30 a.m. Fr. William F. Platt *Christmas Masses: See The Holiday Mass Schedule

2 PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dec. 21 Dec. 31 Mediation Group 7:00 p.m., Chapel New Year s Eve Parish Mass 7:00 p.m. NOTES ON MUSIC Come sing with us this Christmas! Followed by a reception in the Lucey Parish Hall Jan. 4 Walking with Purpose 9:30 a.m., Lucey Parish Hall COMMUNAL CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE We invite all families with children to sing as part of our Family Choir at the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass in the church. Please join us on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the church for a Communal Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance with individual confessions and absolution. Please contact Dr. Liya Petrides for more information at music.director@stcath.org. Because Christmas falls on a Monday this year many people (including the parish staff) have expressed confusion regarding the obligation to attend Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and for Christmas itself. MORNING PRAYER To put it simply, there are two distinct obligations: one for Sunday and the other for Christmas. The Sunday Mass obligation may be fulfilled by the Saturday Vigil Mass or one of the Sunday Morning Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The Christmas obligation can be fulfilled by going to one of the Christmas Eve Masses starting at on December 24 or any of the Christmas Day Masses on December 25. During Advent, please join us for Morning Prayer in the Chapel Monday through Saturday at 6:45 a.m. EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND READERS Your help is always appreciated, especially at Christmas. Please remember to sign up for one of the Christmas Masses. *Note: the regular Sunday morning Masses will take place in addition to the Christmas Eve Masses. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT December 24 The rectory will be closed. December 26 All parish offices will be closed. There will be only one Mass, in the chapel, at 9:00 a.m. NEW YEAR S MASS SCHEDULE New Year s Eve Parish Mass Sunday, December 31 at 7:00 p.m. Followed by a reception. Octave of Christmas: Mary, Mother of God Sunday, January 1 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m., and & Thank you to everyone who participated in and attended last Sunday s Interactive Christmas Pageant. Thanks also to Tina Librandi for being our reader, to Aux Delices for donating the hot chocolate and to the Carvalho Family for donating Nature s Bandits fruit snacks for the children. It was a beautiful morning for all! See the video on our website

3 PARISH EVENTS AND NEWS **************************************************************** Financial Report Sunday Offertory (for the last four weekends) November 11 & $ 9,982** November 18 & $ 13,017** November 25 & 26 $ 16,949** December 2 & 3 $ 11,988 **Includes Monthly (AEG) Offertory/Annual Donations Take the Simple Way to Support your Parish! Automatic Electronic Giving (AEG) allows you to make your Sunday Offertory donations with your VISA, MasterCard or American Express Credit Card or by using electronic funds transfer (EFT). Visit St. Catherine s website ( or contact the Business Office for details. **************************************************************** RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS Religious give thanks. A religious sister writes, When we see the generous response of so many thousands of persons in order to help us, religious men and women, we are left speechless. Senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests across the country send heartfelt thanks and prayers for your donation to last week s collection. THANKS-IS-GIVING APPEAL 2017 Parish Goal: $175,000 Date Total Donations Received # of Donations Received Nov $13, Nov. 26 Dec. 2 TOTAL $18,735 $32, Thank you to our 46 families that made their donation during the second week of the Appeal. St. Catherine of Siena Church cannot do anything without you. With your help we will be able to reach our parish goal so that we can continue with the ongoing upkeep of our parish facilities. THANK YOU for your support! FAITH COMMUNITY NURSING MINISTRY Loving Hearts, Faithful Friends We must walk united with our differences: there is no other way to become one. This is the way of Jesus. - Pope Francis THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Knights of Columbus Museum, at 1 State Street in New Haven, has a new Christmas exhibit, Peace on Earth: Crèches of the World. The show includes more than 70 Nativity scenes from artists across the globe, including a large set from Mexico, hand-carved in cedar, as well as the museum s popular 120-square-foot Baroque Neapolitan (Italian) diorama. Open 10-5 daily. Free admission & parking. More at or kofcmuseum.org. ****************************************************************** This Christmas season, the Knights of Columbus are initiating a "Call for Volunteers" for their Council's Christmas Morning feast for the senior citizens of Greenwich. Some guests eat at the Council Hall and some receive food deliveries. For those who want to eat at the Council Hall, the Knights of Columbus provide transportation from the local senior living establishments. In short, they feed a lot of hungry and lonely seniors on Christmas day. But they need volunteers to get the job done and are hoping Saint Catherine's parishioners will be part of the effort!

4 HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Eve The Family Vigil Mass of Christmas (Church) Rev. Msgr. Alan F. Detscher; Deacon Renato Berzolla The Family Choir Elisabeth Franklin Quigley, Cantor The Vigil Mass of Christmas (Gymnasium) Rev. William F. Platt Hernan Berisso, Cantor Lennie DeCsepel, Pianist The Vigil Mass of Christmas (Lucey Parish Hall) Rev. Mark D Silva, Deacon Eduardo Rodrigues The Contemporary Choir Tracey Martineau, Cantor Rita Lapcevic, Director and Pianist 7:00 p.m. The Candlelight Vigil Mass of Christmas (Church) Rev. William F. Platt Deacon Vincent Heidenreich Andrea Howland, Cantor The Solemn Midnight Mass (Church) 11:30 p.m. Prelude of Congregational and Choral Carols Rev. Msgr. Alan F. Detscher Deacon Robert Henrey The Traditional Choir Dr. Liya Petrides, Director and Organist ************************************************************** Christmas Day 7:30 a.m. The Christmas Mass at Dawn (Church) Rev. Msgr. Alan F. Detscher; Deacon Robert Henrey Elisabeth Franklin Quigley, Cantor 9:00 a.m. The Christmas Morning Mass (Church) Rev. Mark D Silva; Deacon Vincent Heidenreich The Contemporary Choir Tracy Martineau, Cantor Rita Lapcevic, Director and Pianist/Organist 10:30 a.m. The Mass of Christmas Day (Church) Rev. William F. Platt; Deacon Renato Berzolla The Traditional Choir Dr. Liya Petrides, Director and Organist There will NOT be a 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day.

5 What s Happening in Faith Formation Grades 1 12 Visit for the full class calendar. The Religious Education Office hours are Monday Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to OPEN THE GIFTS OF ADVENT "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,'" Gospel Summary Jn 1:6-8, Today s Gospel reading is taken from the first chapter of John. The passage has many parallels to last week s Gospel. It begins by telling us that John the Baptist was not the light, but came to testify to the light. John the Baptist himself makes it clear that he is not the Christ. He again explains that he is the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the LORD. It s hard to compete with the breathless excitement of Christmas but Advent has a beauty all its own. When families step out of the busy pace of life during Advent, the Christmas celebration at the end becomes all the more heartfelt. Create Rituals. Life is to be different during Advent - quieter, more reflective and rituals can help. Light a candle every day in an Advent wreath. Gather to read some of the Nativity story (Luke 1:5-2:40). Drawing it out until Christmas, for an hour each night, turn off the lights in your home and work by candle light. Make Small Sacrifices. The holidays can herald a season of excess. Instead, create a Sacrifice Stocking for Jesus. Encourage each child to make small sacrifices - foregoing dessert, performing an unasked chore, befriending a lonely classmate. Write each sacrifice on a slip of paper and place it in a Christmas stocking in the four weeks during Advent. On Christmas morning, read each gift in the stocking offered to the Babe as the first gifts of Christmas. Let music make the mood. The right music can help create a quiet mood during the season. Pick a time each day to play only spiritual and religious carols. Choose songs that tell of God s love for us. Or, make up new words to your old favorites. Gospel Reflection for Parents Tony s mom. Maria s dad. Michael s wife. Angela s husband. How many times and in how many ways do we define ourselves by who we are? And, like John the Baptist, are there times and ways we define ourselves by who we are not? John made it clear that he was not the Christ, not Elijah, and not the Prophet. What he was is what we are called to be ones who testify to the light, ones who prepare the way of the Lord, and ones who proclaim his message of truth to all. Today, pray to be who you are as a disciple of Christ. Proclaim the Good News through your words and actions, and point the way to Jesus, the One who is to come. Bringing the Gospel Into Your Family Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, often called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a word that means rejoice. Light two purple and one rose (pink) color on your Advent wreath and invite family members to recall things that brought them joy in the past week. Decide as a family on one thing you will do to share joy with a family member, friend, or neighbor in the coming week. Then turn out all the lights and sit together in the light of the Advent wreath candles for a few moments of quiet prayer. If you have thoughts or questions about todays Gospel, any questions about your faith, or simply to let me know you re reading these discussions, please feel free to me at deacon.howe@stcath.org. I d love to hear from you. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Bless us Lord, this Advent season, with quietness of mind. Teach us to be patient and always to be kind December 24 January 1 No Classes Merry Christmas/Happy New Year. January 7 Family Program 10:00 11:30 a.m. in the Lucey Parish January 10 or January 11 CHOOSE ONE First Reconciliation Parent Meeting 7:00w p.m. in the Lucey Parish Hall FAITH FORMATION CALENDARS Visit our Faith Formation webpage at You will find the link to the Religious Education Calendars for grades 1-8.