Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm Office for Parishes: 265 Stafford Rd Mrs. Nancy Smith.

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1 The Catholic Faith Communi es of Saint Theresa and Saint Christopher 265 Stafford Road Tiverton, Rhode Island Parish Office: Parish Fax: Main Road Tiverton, Rhode Island Parish Rectory: Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm Office for Parishes: 265 Stafford Rd Mrs. Nancy Smith Parish Secretary Third Sunday of Advent Mrs. Rose Marie Paul Receptionist Parish Staff Rev. Przemyslaw Shemek Lepak Pastor Deacon Timothy Flanigan Deacon Assistant Mrs. Cindy Wesling Parish Administrative Assistant Mrs. Lynne Swass Director of Faith Formation Grades 1-6 Facilitator Mass Schedules and Sacraments Weekend Masses Saturday Evening 4:00pm at Saint Theresa Sunday Morning 8:00am at Saint Theresa 9:30am at Saint Christopher 11:00am at Saint Theresa Weekday Mornings Monday through Wednesday 8:00am at Saint Theresa Thursday 8:00am at St. Christopher Morning Prayer at 7:45am Holy Day Masses Mrs. Kelsey Hetu Coordinator of Confirmation Youth Ministries As Announced Mr. Ronald Destremps Maintenance Novena to Our Lady of Fatima Mrs. Nancy Smith Coordinator of Music Ministries Wedding Coordinator Sacrament of Reconciliation Mrs. Betty Henderson Mr. & Mrs. Steve Beaupré Miss Andrea Desilets Organists and Music Ministry Directors Karen Cooper & Gregory Smaldone Trustees, Saint Theresa Parish Charles Miksis & Wayne Moran Trustees, St. Christopher Parish Holy Hour As Announced Tuesdays, 6:00pm at Saint Theresa Saturday afternoons 3:00pm at Saint Theresa or by Appointment. Please call the rectory Sacrament of Baptism By Appointment Please contact Rectory First Friday Mass at Brookdale Sakonnet Bay 9:30am with home visits to follow. Visit us on the Web

2 December 16-17, 2017 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday, December 16th 4:00pm For the Parishes Sunday, December 17th 8:00am + Michael Moniz (by M/M Peloquin) 9:30am + Svetlana Yakupova (by Barrett Family) 11:00am + Armand Brodeur Fifth Anniversary (by Irene & Children) Monday, December 18th 8:00am + Luis & Lena Escobar (by Children) Tuesday, December 19th 8:00am + Evelyn & Joseph Cabral (by Daughter) Wednesday, December 20th 8:00am + Theresa Cook (by Husband) Thursday, December 21st 8:00am Deceased Members of Nadeau & Lavoie Families Saturday, December 23rd 4:00pm + Idelina Arruda 25th Anniversary (by Maureen Murphy and Family) Sunday, December 24th 8:00am For the Parishes 9:30am + Ken Travers (by Mom) 11:00am + Angelina and Manuel P. Goncalves (by Family) Christmas Mass Schedule Sunday, December 24th 4:00 pm For the Parishes (St. Theresa Church) 6:00 pm For the Parishes (St. Christopher Church) Monday, December 25th 9:00 am For the Parishes (St. Christopher Church ) THE LIFE OF PRAYER MORNING PRAYER: 7:45AM MONDAY THRU WEDNESDAY AT ST. THERESA AND THURSDAYS AT ST. CHRISTOPHER CHURCH. MORNING ROSARY: Prayed each weekday morning immediately following Mass. Offered for respect of life and conversion of our own nation. OUR LADY OF GRACE MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS: 2:00pm every Tuesday, Rosary and Prayer at St. Christopher Church. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: 3:00pm on Tuesdays at St. Christopher Church. OUR LADY OF FATIMA NOVENA: 6:00pm Tuesday Irene Shepard Claire Proulx Claude Rev. Clifford Cabral Mary Giannini Doug Vrona Benoit Beaudoin Kenny McGough David Boudreau Irene Lewis Paquette Pam K. Edwin True Theresa Hayden Renee Melancon Dakota Alton Reynolds Baby Jacob Joyce Lamothe Natalie Silva Barbara Cordeiro Raymond Sylvestre Patricia Bachus William Bachus Ray B. Elizabeth O Neill Jil Silva Please remember all those whose names are in the prayer box in St. Christopher sanctuary, all the sick of our parishes, those at home and in the hospitals. Call the number below if you know anyone in need of prayers and you would like to remember them in the bulletin where their name will remain for one month of prayers or until we hear from you. Please contact our Church Office, Mondays 9am to 12 noon, at THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a, Isaiah describes the joy and salvation which will accompany the coming of Christ. He compares the plants which spring from a garden to the justice that will spring from all nations. Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Paul reminds the Thessalonians to constantly ready themselves for Christ s arrival. He tells them to avoid any semblance of evil so that they may be found irreproachable when Jesus does arrive. Gospel: John 1:6-8, John explains that he is only a messenger to the people for one more powerful than himself. John stresses to them that they must make a path for the one so powerful that he is not fit to unfasten the strap of his sandal. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: Come explore and unpack what is going on with You and God, and God and You. If you are interested in spiritual direction, contact Jamie Medeiros at or medeirosjamie@gmail.com (For more information on what spiritual direction is, please see our parish website). evenings - St. Theresa Church. PARISH WEBSITE: SUNDAY

3 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT PARISH NEWS PARISH NEWS FAITH FORMATION CLASS SCHEDULE CALENDAR OF EVENTS December See bulletin announcement for more information. Dec. 18 Youth Group 6:30 7:45 pm Decorating Dec. 21: Confessions for Grades 3-6 & Parishioners St. Theresa Church 6-7 pm Dec. 28 Faith Formation Pot Luck 6:00 pm Sunday, December 17, 2017: Grades 1-3: 9:00 10:30 am Thursday, December 21, 2017: Sacrament of Reconciliation 6-7 pm Grade 3-6 Students and Parishioners St. Theresa Church Sunday, December 24, 2017 & Sunday, December 31, 2017: NO CLASSES YOUTH GROUP Youth Group will meet the first and third Mondays of each month from 6:30-8 pm. Thank you! CHRISTMAS FAMILY POTLUCK DINNER We will be having a potluck dinner for our Faith Formation students and their families. It will be held during the Christmas recess on Thursday, December 28 at 6:00 pm at St. Theresa's. Please sign up at as soon as possible with the dish you plan to bring. On December 18th the Youth Group will be assisting in the decorating of St. Theresa Church. If you are 12 years or older and would like to participate, please join us on December 18th at 6:30-7:45. JAMAICAN MISSION TRIP In June, 2018, a group of adults and teens from the Catholic Community of St. Theresa and St. Christopher will again go to Jamaica for a mission trip. Please continue to keep these missionaries in your prayers as they plan to serve the less fortunate. As we prepare for our mission trip, we will be selling Christmas Wafers after each mass this weekend, December 16-17, as a fundraiser for our trip. CDS and PAMPHLETS NOW AVAILABLE December CD Desires of the Heart Receiving the Gifts of the Father Sister Bethany Madonna, vocations director for the Sisters of Life, shares how God not only wants us to know him, but also to give us the desires of our heart and gifts that brings purpose, meaning, and hope. She makes it clear that receiving is the gift that we give to the Lord and that he wants to be invited into every aspect of our lives. Speaking from her own life experience, Sister Bethany shows the importance of asking in order to receive all the Lord has in mind for us. CD s and other pamphlets are available in the stand at the back of the church. Please feel free to take one. When you are done, you may keep it or return it to be passed on. There is a box available for a freewill offering. SUNDAYPARISH WOMEN S GUILD NEWS We are collecting diapers (newborn and size 1) and baby wipes for the Little Flower Home during the month of December. If you can help us with this project, please place items in baskets at entrances to St. Christopher's and main entrance of St. Theresa's. Thank you. GUILD CHRISTMAS PARTY The Women's and Men's Guild Christmas party will be held on Sunday, January 7th at Samantha's, at the Montaup Country Club, 500 Anthony Road, Portsmouth, with cocktails at 5pm and dinner served at 6pm. Menu choices are Surf and Turf (8oz ribeye and 2 baked stuffed shrimp) for 28.00, Stuffed Chicken Breast with herb stuffing and gravy for 22.00, and Baked Stuffed Cod with scallop cracker stuffing for All prices include gratuity, and each meal is served with Caesar salad, baked potato, broccoli, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Please make checks payable to St. Christopher's Church, indicate meal choice(s), and place in collection basket in envelope labeled "Women's Guild". Please call Kathy Gallagher at with any questions. CHOIR REHEARSAL Adult Choir: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 6:30pm at St. Christopher Church. Youth Choir: Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm at St. Theresa Church. WEBSITE:

4 DECEMBER 16-17, 2017 PARISH FINANCES ST. THERESA ANNUAL COLLECTION Week #3: $16, one-time gifts 7 pledges 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 Retirement Fund for Religious collection. CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS December 1-9 1st: Marie Brogan 2nd: Alfred Costa, Jr. 3rd: Norman Lavoie 4th: Nancy McManus 5th: Annette Heath 6th: Alfred Costa, Jr. 7th : Richard Valeriana 8th: Paul Kilby 9th: Elsie Giasson AMAZON SMILE PROGRAM With Christmas coming up soon, this is a great time to signup for the Amazon Smile Program and assist your parish at the same time! St. Christopher s and St. Theresa's are part of the Amazon Smile program. This allows us to get 0.5% of anyone's purchase through Amazon donated to us! All you have to do is go to: smile.amazon.com/ch/ to select St. Theresa Church OR go to and search using Saint Christopher Church Tiverton, add your choice as your charity - and then start buying things on Amazon. A great thing for people to do to support our parishes. St. Theresa: December 9-10: Budget Envelopes: 208 EFT: 10 Total: Weekly Budgeted Expectations: Second Collection: Retired Religious Immaculate Conception: $5, $1, $6, $5, $ $ St. Christopher: December 9-10 Budget Envelopes: 82 Loose collection: EFT: 6 Total: Weekly Budgeted Expectations: Second Collection: Retired Religious Immaculate Conception: 45 $1, $ $ $2, $3, $ $ Thank You for your continued support of your parish. A bequest is a wonderful way to express gratitude for a lifetime of blessings! The gift you give establishes a lasting legacy of love for others by helping the Church to continue its Catholic heritage through its many ministries. PARISH TRIP TO ITALY On September 12-19, 2018 Fr. Shemek will lead a Parish Trip to Italy. If interested and for more information, please speak to Fr. or contact him by frshemek@gmail.com. This trip will visit Rome, Assisi, Sorrento, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast; and the cost of $2, includes flights, four-star hotels, breakfasts and dinners. DECEMBER Parish Website: WINNERS

5 WELCOME TO ST. THERESA AND ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISHES OTHER PARISH NEWS ADVENT CONFESSIONS /DEVOTIONS GREATER TIVERTON COMMUNITY CHORUS Advent Devotions at St. Christopher on Mondays 6-7 pm, Exposition, the Rosary, Benediction, Spiritual Talk on the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Greater Tiverton Community Chorus will present their concert, "Star Light, Star Bright" on Saturday, December 16 at 7:30 pm at St. Theresa Church, Tiverton. Tickets are $15 (children 12 and under admitted free). We hope to see you! Dec Our Lady of Czestochowa Fr. Shemek Confessions at St. Theresa on Thursdays 6-7 pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Dec. 21- CCD grades 3-6, parish confessions LITURGICAL MINISTERS Sunday, Dec. 24th & 25th 4:00 PM Christmas Vigil St. Theresa Church Lector: Don Comeau Eucharistic Ministers: Antonio & Analia Caldera, Dottie Eckersley, Doris Robidoux, Julia & Chris Joncas, Mary Tierney Altar Server: Timothy Swass, Doug Swass 6:00PM Christmas Vigil St. Christopher Church Lector: Herman LaPointe Eucharistic Ministers: Justin & Kim Katz, Don Desilets, Rose Moniz Altar Servers: Chloe, Caleb & Leah Katz 9:00 AM Christmas Day Mass St. Christopher Church Lector: Annette Galindo Eucharistic Ministers: James & Carol Hines, Jerry Silva, Barry Simpson Altar Servers: Michael Keating, Renee & Raymond Barrett LITURGICAL MINISTER SCHEDULE Please note that substitutions may have been made that the office was not aware of. The last name listed for EM at St. Theresa is assigned to serve when Deacon Tim is not present. Saturday, Dec. 23th Saturday, Dec. 16th 4:00 pm Lector: David Dion Eucharistic Ministers: Evelyn & Joseph Wieszbicki, Cindy Wesling, Jesse Martin, Mark & Julie Bessette, Richard Tierney Altar Servers: Nathan Swass, Timothy Swass Sunday, Dec. 17th 8:00am 4:00 pm Lector: Tom Wesling Eucharistic Ministers: Don Desilets, Doris Robidoux, Jacquie Marshall, Raymond & Judy LePage, Dottie Eckersley, Cindy Wesling Altar Servers: Angelina Costello Sunday, Dec. 24th Lector: Christine Costa Eucharistic Ministers: Charlene Andrade, Anthony Concepcion, Bob Busenbark, Jackie Brodeur, Lynda Figueiredo, Tony Medeiros, Jean Cameron Altar Server: Adam Costa, Gianna Wesling 8:00am 9:30 am Lector: Herman LaPointe Eucharistic Ministers: Carol & Jim Hines, William Cabral, Barbara Hanaway Altar Servers: Michael Keating, Neil D Attelo 9:30 am Lector: Nicholas Elias Eucharistic Ministers: Carol & Jim Hines, Jerry Silva, William Cabral Altar Servers: Neil D Attelo 11:00 am Lector: Charlie St. Denis Eucharistic Ministers: Lisa & Greg Smaldone, Donna Amaral, Karen Coooper, Anne Klegraefe, Andrew Tavares, Madge Thombs Altar Servers: Jayden Goetz, Laney LePage 11:00 am Lector: Robin Jones Eucharistic Ministers: Jack Soban, Denise Tavares, Anne Klegraefe, Melanie St. Denis, John & Kassandra Cordeiro Altar Servers: Noah Soban, Marcus Smaldone Lector: Diane Santos Eucharistic Ministers: Andy Lavoie, Anne Quinn, Paul & Margaret Wesling, Pat Medeiros, Jackie Ott, Deb Mottas Altar Server: Gianna Wesling, Kristen Kendera Parish Website: