This issue of our newsletter will highlight both past

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1 V Volume 2, Issue 2 Winter 2017 Dear Parishioners and Friends Happy New Year! Here s hoping that your holidays were filled with love and laughter and were everything that you were hoping they would be. During this time of year many people make New Year s Resolutions. We are hoping that one of them is to make every effort to grow in your faith this year. We are all called to help lead others we encounter to Christ. When we move forward through the holidays and the months ahead, let us look for God s guidance and see Him in everyone around us as we are blessed with the New Year. Mary, Our Virgin Mother, has gazed into the face of Jesus. If we follow in her footsteps we will too. Inside this Issue Page Dear Parishioners and Friends 1 October Events 2 November Events 3 Fundraiser News/Pics 4-5 December Events 6-7 In Memoriam 7 Upcoming Events 8 Winter Feast Days 9 This issue of our newsletter will highlight both past and upcoming events. I hope you will give some thought as to how you too can help the Rosary Society or participate in our events. We always welcome new members. - The Altar & Rosary Society Current Officers President: Peggy Snyder Vice President: Robin Caroselli Secretary: Mary La Bruna Treasurer: Sandra Maldonado Chaplain: Deacon Joseph Gili 1

2 October Events Rosarians Robin Caroselli, Mary La Bruna and Peggy Snyder assisted in teaching the rosary to all CCD students on October 18 and 19. Rosaries and instructions were distributed to the children and to parents who were in attendance. Students were eager to use the rosaries and a blessed time was had by all in attendance.. Rosary Quotes "If you wish to convert anyone to the fullness of the knowledge of Our Lord and of His Mystical Body, then teach him the Rosary. One of two things will happen. Either he will stop saying the Rosary or he will get the gift of faith." - Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world. - Saint Dominic 2

3 November Events Our Rosary Society has begun a Youth Rosary group that recites a decade of the rosary every first Sunday after the 10 a.m. mass (after the first Saturday). Decade Rosaries were constructed by Rosarians at the November meeting. These rosaries were distributed to children who attended the First Sunday Rosary after the 10 a.m. mass. Rosarian help will be needed for all First Sundays Recitation after the 10 a.m. mass. We were all moved by the response to this endeavor. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide the parents of our youth in living the faith. If our children learn the rosary, they would know by heart the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be, the basic prayers of our faith. They would learn that prayer is simple, scriptural, in union with Mary, leading to an absorption into the mysteries of our salvation. So, we could teach them to pray. If our children knew the rosary, they would know the basics of the life, teaching, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus as they learn the twenty mysteries of the rosary. The rosary is not only an effective, beautiful prayer, but a remarkably effective catechetical tool. So, let s give it a try again today (adapted from Our Lady s Messenger 2008) A Prayer for America by John Carroll, First U.S. Bishop We pray you, O God of might, wisdom, and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to your people, over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty. We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our fellow citizens throughout the United States, that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that we may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. Amen 3

4 Our Rosary Altar Society appreciates YOU for helping us with our fundraisers: the November Cookbook Sale, and the December Cookie Walk and Flower Sale. It would be impossible for us to do everything that was done without your help. To all the ones that are always there for us, Father Richard, the Church staff, Pat Colando and Harriett Cronheim, the CCD staff, and all the Rosary Society volunteers especially Robin Caroselli and Peggy Snyder for chairing the December events. We had many parishioners donate Christmas goodies and items. Our Cookie Sale table was kept super busy and ended Sunday morning, after all the Masses, with a sellout. Our Parish is very blessed in many ways and with your help in supporting us, only makes us want to continue being a volunteer at St. Pius and to continue to take care of our Church and Altar. We are very blessed to have all of you in making our efforts so much easier. Thank you all again and our wishes are that all our parishioners have a very blessed, healthy and wonderful new year! November s Cookbook Sale December Cookie Walk & Poinsettia Sale Robin Caroselli manning Poinsettia Table Susanne Fay s handmade aprons with cookbooks 4

5 December 17/18 Cookie Walk 5

6 December Events December was a very busy month for the Rosarians. Our annual Christmas Party was held on Thursday, December 1st at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This year s celebration featured cocktail party hors d'oeuvres made by the great cooks of the Rosary Society. Music, fellowship and a gift exchange made the evening most festive! Rosarians also donated gently worn coats to the Samaritans in keeping with the Corporal Works of Mercy. 6

7 December Events continued On Thursday, December 8 th, in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Rosary Society sponsored a Parish Family Rosary. This Feast Day celebrates the wondrous moment when the Blessed Virgin began her existence in this world. At the same time, we celebrate the sublime privilege by which Mary, alone, among all human beings and in virtue of the future merits of Christ, was preserved at the very first moment of conception from the stain of original sin. A rosary was said after the 8 a.m. mass and before the 7:30 p.m. mass. The evening rosary was led by CCD students. How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening. St. John Paul II Our Parish Family recites the Rosary Monday - Saturday after the 8 a.m. Mass in the Chapel. All are welcome. Marion Dashuta & Eleanor Brett Meetings for the months of January, February and March are usually held the First Saturday of every month after the 8:00 a.m. prayer service held in the Chapel. The Prayer Service is followed by recitation of the Rosary as dictated by Our Lady who asks one to confess and receive Communion on five consecutive first Saturdays; to say five decades of the Rosary; and to meditate 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary for the purpose of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in reparation for the sins of men. We then have our formal meeting in the church s Parish Hall. You are welcome to join us at any time. 7

8 Our annual Birthright Baby Shower was cancelled due to snow. Our baby shower helps provide baby items for moms-to-be. Please bring Birthright donations to the February Meeting. The following is a list of suggested items needed (new only): Diapers up to size 4 Plastic bottles and pacifiers Newborn Stretchies Onesies sizes newborn to 24 months Summer and winter outfits birth to 2 Toddler Baby washcloths and hooded towels Baby toiletries, powder (not containing talc) Baby wipes Layette gowns Join the Rosarians in the Parish Hall on Saturday, February 4, at 9:00 a.m. following the 8:00 a.m. Prayer Service and recitation of the rosary. Ladies, bring your fancy tea cups since we will be hosting our annual Valentine Tea at this meeting. We are also asking each Rosarian to bring a friend, daughter or granddaughter to this special event. We will be making Valentines for residents of Spring Oak so bring any ideas and supplies you have with you. All are welcome to join the Rosarians for tea and light refreshments. On Friday, March 3 rd, the Altar Rosary Society will kick off the Lenten Soup and Stations a parish event that will replace the Lenten Fish Fry. Times are from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, immediately followed by Stations of the Cross in the church. Please check the church s weekly bulletin for more information and the dates and time of our March meeting. 8

9 Winter Feast Days February 2 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord This feast occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in today's liturgy. The Presentation of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter. "In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. This is another 'epiphany' celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day. In the Middle Ages this feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or 'Candlemas,' was of great importance. February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes This day marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen -year-old Marie Bernade (St. Bernadette) Soubirous. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times, and showed herself to St. Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes. On March 25, she said to the little shepherdess who was only fourteen years of age: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer, and charity. March 25 Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord This Marian Feast celebrates the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's fiat her willing acceptance of God's holy plan. 9