Second Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 Blessed Sacrament Church "I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven. If any man eats of this Bread, he shall live forever; and the Bread I will give, is My Flesh." John 6:51-52 SCHEDULE OF MASSES LORD'S DAY: Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. HOLYDAYS: Vigil: 6:00 p.m. Holyday: 7:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. WEEKDAYS: 9:00 a.m. SATURDAYS: First Saturdays only: 8:00 a.m. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment BAPTISM: As part of the preparation process an interview with the Pastor and two instructional sessions are required. Please contact the rectory to schedule. ENGAGED COUPLES: Arrangements for your marriage must be made at least nine months in advance of the marriage date. NEW PARISHIONERS: We welcome you and ask that you register at the Rectory. We want to know and serve you! We hope that you will favor your parish with your prayers, your presence and your talents. Pastor Rev. Timothy J. Campoli Second Sunday of Advent Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42; 44 Church Rectory 221 Federal Street 182 High Street Greenfield, MA Greenfield, MA blessedsacramentgreenfieldma.org (413) Deacon Calvary Cemetery Deacon John J. Leary Wisdom Way (413) (C) Greenfield deaconjohnleary@gmail.com Director of Organist Religious Education Choir Director Laurie Tilton Stephen Glover lltilton2@gmail.com Alternatives Pregnancy Center P. O. Box 344, Greenfield, MA Pregnancy Tests, Counseling and Support Services Post Abortion Support (413) Natural Family Planning Ed & Suzi Cottrill (413) Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place in the side chapel twenty-four hours a day, every day. All are welcome to come and worship and adore our Eucharistic Lord. Could you not watch one hour with Me? Matthew 26:40

2 Blessed Sacrament Church Greenfield, MA Weekend of December 13 & 14 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Saturday, December 13 4:00 Janet Zilch Winston LaBelle Judie McCarthy Jason Semaski Hannah Lively Bill Randall Brian Luippold Raymond Perry Joanne Yestramski Sunday, December 14 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 TH (Fr. Di Mascola) 4:00 Annie & Andrew Dedinas by daughter, Birute SUN., DEC. 7 TH Second Sunday of Advent (Clergy in Purgatory) 8:00 Ann LaFleur by Family 10:30 David Guy by Wife & Family MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 TH The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary *Holy Day of Obligation* (Deacon Leary) 7:00 Beverly Small by David & Helen Shea Murphy 9:00 James J. Costello by Family TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 TH St. Juan Diego (Deacon Tudryn) 9:00 Kersavage-Toomey Family WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 TH (Deacon Bucci) 9:00 Larry Gagnon by Dorothy & Family THURSDAY, DEC. 11 TH Pope St. Damasus I (Fr. Roach) 9:00 Marlene Holmes by the Food Pantry Crew FRIDAY, DEC. 12 TH Our Lady of Guadalupe (Deacon Bete) 9:00 Fr. Thomas F. Schmitt by Laurie SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 TH St. Lucy (Pope Francis) 4:00 Geraldine & John Klima by the Zilch Family SUNDAY, DEC. 14 TH Third Sunday of Advent (Vocations) 8:00 Campbell & Clark Family by Family 10:30 Louise & Albert Elwell by Sharon & Frank Elwell ************************************************** REMINDER: Please join with us in praying the Rosary before each daily Mass at 8:15 a.m., before the 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mass and 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Confessions after each weekend Mass. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel. All are invited to come and pray with us. Blessed Sacrament has a Prayer Chain which is available for anyone. To utilize the Prayer Chain simply contact Annette Canuel [anet70@comcast.net]. Sponsor Certificates - Many parishes require certificates of sponsorship for Godparents and Confirmation Sponsors. These will be issued only to those who are confirmed adult Catholics, registered in the parish, regular participants at Mass, validly married in the Church (if applicable) and providing for the religious education of their own children (if applicable). 8:00 Kevin O Neil Lynne Podlesney Liza O Neil Robert Earley Kevin O Neil, Jr. Patricia Earley Lionel Martin Ginger Baird Jim Podlesney 10:30 Deacon John Leary Bob Page Donna Leary Pam Page Mary Jane Bardwell Judy Lapointe Holly Elmer Bob O Connor Joyce Thibodo Poet s Seat Nursing Home: Sun., December 14 Lectors/Cantors Marie Boynton, Joyce Thibodo Sat., Dec. 13 4:00 Monica McCarthy / Sandra Pavoni Sun., Dec. 14 8:00 Jae Helenek / Karlena Henry 10:30 Wayne Cottrill / Jane Winchester Saturday, December 13 4:00 Piper Day, Jason Semaski Sunday, December 14 8:00 Stephen Filiault, James Staelens 10:30 Eddie Muenkel, Nathaniel Pierce

3 December 7, 2014 Requiescat In Pace Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Sr. Mary Lou Wright For the Glory of God and in memory of Mary Bergeron a donation was made to Blessed Sacrament Church from Elizabeth Lapierre. God Bless you! The Sanctuary Candle will burn this week in memory/honor: Theresa L. Letourneau from the Family The Adoration Chapel Candles will burn this week in memory/honor of: 1.) Birthday Blessings for Eunice Hannigan from son, Jim 2.) Birthday Blessings for Eunice Hannigan from son, Jim 3.) Birthday Blessings for Eunice Hannigan from son, Jim 4.) Birthday Blessings for Eunice Hannigan from son, Jim Holy Day of Obligation Monday, December 8 th, is the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America, and a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses for the Holy Day are Monday at 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Mitten Tree Blessed Sacrament is sponsoring the Mitten Tree during Advent for the needy at Christmas time. Do you knit or crochet? Please start working on hats, scarves and warm socks. If you need yarn, there is a supply available in the sacristy. We will continue to make lap robes and to distribute them to area nursing homes. The robes are 30 x 36 and are knitted, crocheted or sewn. For info., call Annette Canuel at Knights of Columbus Warm Clothing Drive The Knights of Columbus are collecting warm clothes and blankets again this year for the homeless shelter. If you have items to donate, please leave them at the back door of the church or call Jay Dillon for pick up at Thank you! Lessons and Carols The 14 th annual Lessons and Carols, a Festival of Light, will be performed by the Cathedral Choir of Boys and Adults on Sat., December 13 th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, 260 State Street, Springfield. The progression of the nine lessons, carols, and choral selections are accompanied by the gradual lighting of candles until the cathedral is in full light. The Cathedral Choir will be accompanied by strings, harpsichord, handbells, and the majestic cathedral organ. This public event is free of charge. For more information, contact worship@diospringfield.org or Parish Displays First Class Relic A first class relic of St. Anthony is now on display every Tuesday during the noon novena Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Maronite Church, 375 Island Pond Road in Springfield. The relic, which was given by the Conventual Franciscans from Padua, Italy, is in a special relic case that Father George Zina, pastor, brought back from a recent trip to Rome. The relic is part of the same piece of muscle that was viewed by thousands in September, according to Father Zina. Those attending are welcome to come pray before the relic and even touch the relic or light a candle. For more information, call St. Cecilia Choir Seeks Singers Members of the St. Cecilia Choir sing for funerals in the parish and they are seeking more singers. If you would like to join in, please call Joyce Thibodo at Inclement weather CCD Cancellations In case of inclement weather please check any of the following: WHAI 98.3, WHMP 1240AM, Bear Country 95.3 or websites: or for CCD cancellations. Second Sunday of Advent ALTERNATIVES Gifts for the Manger As we remember the Infant Jesus in the Manger, please remember the women in unplanned pregnancies and their babies who are made in the image of Jesus. The generous parishioners of Blessed Sacrament are again sponsoring Gifts for the Manger to support the work of ALTERNATIVES Pregnancy Center. A list of items needed by the mothers, babies, or by the office staff to do their work is next to the manger. Choose a gift from the list, wrap it up in any kind of pretty paper, put a tag on the gift to describe its contents and place it in the manger. These gifts will help ALTERNATIVES continue to be a presence in Franklin and Hampshire Counties, reaching out to women who are lonely, afraid, desperate, and in need of emotional and material support. Please pray every day for these mothers, babies and staff of ALTERNATIVES. Thank you! Retirement Fund for Religious Just a reminder about the Retirement Fund for Religious collection during the weekend of December As you consider our retired and infirm religious, know you are ever remembered in their prayers. Prayer for them is a ministry of gratitude. Food Pantry Our Food Pantry for the Poor is in need of spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, hearty soups, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, baked beans, canned ravioli, crackers and desserts. Thank you! Large Paper Grocery Bags Needed for Food Pantry We are in need of LARGE paper grocery bags for our Food Pantry. If you can help, please drop the bags off by the back door of the church by the parking lot. Thank you! March for Life Catholics for Life, along with the Franklin County Deanery, are sponsoring a chartered bus to attend the Annual March for Life in Washington, DC on the 42 nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. The bus will depart from Blessed Sacrament Church in Greenfield on Wednesday evening, January 21 st. We will spend Thursday, January 22 nd in Washington, leaving at 4:00 p.m. We will arrive back in Greenfield early Friday morning. All students may attend at no charge; sponsorship will be available. For additional information, please contact Deacon John Leary at deaconjohnleary@gmail.com or (413) Pilgrimage to the Shrines of France Visit Lourdes, Lisieux, Chartres Cathedral, Nevers, Ars, Paray Le Monial, LaSalette and Paris from October 19-28, These are associated with St. Thérèse, St. John Vianney, St. Bernadette, St. Margaret Mary and the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of LaSalette, St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal. Fr. Campoli and Msgr. Yargeau will accompany us for spiritual direction and Mass. The cost of $3,999 which includes airfare from Boston, hotels, two meals a day, bus transportation, and tour guides. For more info. contact Helen Shea Murphy at helensheamurphy@verizon.net or Visit Catholic Cruise to Bermuda Come and sail away on a 7-night Catholic Cruise with Father Richard Curran June 6-13, 2015 on Holland America Veendam out of Boston. Ports of Call: Hamilton, Bermuda; Boston. Prices begin at $2,434 for two passengers which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass offered. Deposits of $200 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For further information or to register, contact Doug or Eileen at / Doug@CatholicCruiseandTours.com.

4 Silence and the Liturgy I ll never forget the silence of Sept. 11, Most of us remember the chaos of that day the sirens, the alarms, the confusion and pandemonium. The senses were assaulted especially for those who were physically present in New York, Washington, D.C., or Pennsylvania. But like many, I watched the events of Sept. 11 unfold on television from afar. I was still in Rome at the time, working for the Vatican Congregation for Bishops. I watched the Twin Towers begin to collapse on a television set, with other American priests assigned to Rome. All of us sat in stunned silence, helpless to do anything. What amazed me was that the television commentators also sat in silence. For long periods of time, the television displayed terrible images, with almost no sound, commentary or interruption. Everyone seemed to know that words were nearly useless in the face of something so unthinkable. Silence amplified the magnitude of what we were watching. I think I remember that silence so vividly because silence, especially on television, is a rare thing in contemporary culture. Rarely in the world do we encounter a silent moment. Media blares and, more than that, we are a people who talk a lot. In some ways, our culture seems uncomfortable with silence. But I learned, on Sept. 11, 2001, the power of silence. A silent moment, in a loud, chaotic, confusing world, amplifies reality. In silence, without distraction, we see what is real what is truly before us. We are given the time to better comprehend the true meaning of things. This is the reason the Church calls for silence, and a great deal of silence, during the liturgy of the Mass. Silence amplifies the reality of what we experience. Silence is a proper response to a reality which words cannot express in the case of the Mass, to the reality of God s presence. We are invited to silence several times during the Mass. We are first of all called to be silent before Mass begins. We need that space of time to recollect ourselves in order to enter into prayer. This is why there should be no video presentations or even choir rehearsal during those five or 10 minutes before Mass begins. We are then called to silence as we recall and repent of our sins. We are called to silent reflection after each Scriptural reading, and after the homily. We are all called to silence after we have received Holy Communion. And we are invited, at the conclusion of Mass, to kneel down for a silent prayer of Thanksgiving before departing for the parking lot. These periods of silence are intended to bring reality into focus. At Mass we express to God our contrition, we hear his word, and we receive his physical presence sacramentally. These realities go beyond our comprehension. To hear and understand the Word of God is an expression of his great love for us. To receive the body of Christ is the deepest kind of communion with God. The silence in the liturgy punctuates a rich and profound time of prayer with opportunities to reflect on the reality of our experience. The silence of the liturgy is a gift which helps us to understand the greatest gifts we can receive. In 2000, Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, offered an insight into the silence of the liturgy. We respond, by singing and praying to the God who addresses us, but the greater mystery, surpassing all words, summons us to silence. It must, of course, be a silence with content, not just the absence of speech and action. We should expect the liturgy to give us a positive stillness that will restore us. Pope Benedict described the liturgical silence as a silence with content a positive stillness. He meant that our silence in prayer is not to be an emptying meditation alone. Instead, silence in prayer is an occasion to more deeply understand the Mass itself. After the readings, for example, we can, in silence, picture the narrative of the Old Testament or the Gospel. If the readings contained advice, an exhortation, or an admonishment, we can ask the Lord how it applies in our lives. The period of silence is a time when the Lord can vivify make alive the word proclaimed. We need only to ask him for this, Speak Lord, your servant is listening. After Communion, as we pray in silence, we can ask the Lord to fill us with his love to help us love our brothers and sisters, to help us see the world as he does. We can give him thanks for the great blessings he has given us. After a while, our silent prayer after Communion may become an experience of simply being in the silent, radiant, loving presence of our God. Silence isn t easy for any of us. The Church gives us silence in the liturgy to train our hearts and minds in silent prayer. But attentive, active, positive silence takes work. Often, we may find it difficult to focus. The Church encourages us to ask the Lord to help us to experience his presence. As we cultivate silence, we will begin, more frequently, to hear the voice of the Lord. Silence points us to reality. It is a rare gift, but to understand it may take us each a lifetime. Let us give thanks for the silence of the liturgy. Let us ask the Lord to help us use it to see more clearly the reality of his magnificent and loving presence. Denver Catholic Register

5 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: PEACE Advent Wreath Prayers for Home Leader: The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. It is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place in which preparations were made to receive and cradle the Christ child. Peace is a gift that we must be prepared for. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to him in faith. VOICE: The prophet Isaiah calls Christ the Prince of Peace. Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that he may come in. Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in him. We light this candle today to remind us that he brings peace to all who trust in him. (Light Advent Candle Two - Purple) Leader: Let us pray - Loving God, we thank you for the peace you give us through Jesus. Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him. Bless our worship. Guide us in all that we say and do. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord. Amen. On August 24, 1981, twelve children from Saranac Lake, led by two adults, began to descend from the crest of wooded Ampersand Mountain, which they had just climbed. Ten year-old Kathryn Dekkers, the last in line, stopped for a minute to tie her shoestrings. When she tried to catch up with the strung-out party she unfortunately took the wrong turn of the trail. In moments she was lost in the depths of the great Adirondack forest. As soon as the leaders noticed that she was not with them, they wisely completed the trip and reported her missing. Everybody was deeply concerned. The last time a hiker had gone astray in that area in 1896, he had never been found. Kathryn's father and brothers quickly assembled a searching party of 200 to comb the woods. They fanned out from the trail and kept looking for three days. Finally, thanks to a hunch of one of the hunters in the posse they discovered the little wanderer. Kate was hungry and a He Gathers the Lambs little scratched-up but otherwise sound in body and mind. In fact, her only real fear was facing her mother. She had lost her socks and was afraid of a big scolding. Now somebody might ask (say a robot): Why should 200 people take three days off and go traipsing through the woods in search of one small child only ten years of age? Anybody with a heart could answer. All the living things of earth that God has created are precious. Most precious among his creatures is the human being, no matter how small. He made us lovingly in his own image and likeness. He made sparrows, too; but we are worth more to him and to our fellowmen than many sparrows. "... Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care." (Isaiah, 40: Today's first reading). -Father Robert F. McNamara