January 7, The Epiphany of the Lord

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1 Rectory: 170 Mechanic Street Leominster, Massachusetts Telephone (978) / / Parish Office Hours are Monday thru Thursday 9 am - 5 pm and Friday 9 am - 4 pm Religious Education (C.C.D) Office Telephone (978) Bingo Telephone: (978) January 7, The Epiphany of the Lord Celebration of the Eucharist Saturday Vigil Masses: 4:00 & 6:30 P.M. Sunday Masses: 7:00, 9:45, and 11:15 A.M. Weekday Masses (Monday - Saturday): 6:30 A.M. Holy Day Masses: As Announced In Bulletin Rev. Robert D. Bruso Pastor Rev. Eric K. Asante Associate Pastor Rev. Richard G. Roger Retired Deacon Ronald J. Aubuchon Deacon Robert S. Connor, Jr. Confessions: Fridays, 6:00-7:00 P.M. Saturdays, 3:00-4:00 P.M. Baptisms: Please call the rectory in advance to schedule baptismal instruction. Marriages: Couple should contact the rectory at least one year in advance. A marriage preparation program is required. Mr. David M. Lasky Music Director, Organist Mrs. Patricia A. Secino, Religious Education Director and Director of Evangelization and RCIA

2 Saturday January 6 Vigil Masses Mass on pg :00 p.m. Laura & Adrien Beaudoin by the family 6:30 p.m. Bernadette Goguen (anniv.) by Carol & Lena Sunday January 7 The Epiphany of the Lord Mass on pg :00 a.m. Yvette Desharnais by her estate 9:45 a.m. Deceased members of the LeBlanc & Comeau families 11:15 a.m. Fernande Beland by the family Monday January 8 The Baptism of the Lord Mass on pg :30 a.m. Barry R. Niles (30th day) by Kevin & Michele Mack, Simard s Tuesday January 9 Weekday Mass on pg :30 a.m. Yvette Cormier (30th day) by Kevin & Michele Mack, Simard s Wednesday January 10 Weekday Mass on pg :30 a.m. Robert F. Dube, Sr. by his wife & children Thursday January 11 Weekday Mass on pg :30 a.m. Joseph E. Duval, Jr. (5th anniv.) by DMG 1:00 p.m. Mass at Manor on the Hill in the Adult Day Care Center Friday January 12 St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Mass on pg :30 a.m. Geraldine Aubuchon by Paul 6:00-7:00 p.m. Confession Saturday January 13 St. Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church Mass on pg :30 a.m. Parishioners of St. Cecilia Parish 1:00 p.m. Wedding - Erin Cronan & Sean Barnicle 3:00-4:00 p.m. Confession Vigil Masses Mass on pg :00 p.m. Elise & Livain Collette by Jan & Wayne Doucet 6:30 p.m. Mary Elizabeth Davis by the Connor family Sunday January 14 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass on pg :00 a.m. Arthur St. Pierre (anniv.) by his family 9:45 a.m. Rudolph Rudy Gaudet (14th anniv.) by his daughter & family 11:15 a.m. Alonzo Maillet (5th anniv.) by his wife & family The Sympathies of the parish community are extended to the family and friends of Raphaela A. Picucci, Tina M. Ruiz and Angelo J. Risotti, Jr. whose Funeral Masses were held recently. Please remember them in your prayers. 2

3 Dear Friends, A Message From Our Pastor. We all have known the story of the Three Wise Men or Magi, and their visit to the Christ Child in Bethlehem from the time that we first heard about Christmas from our parents and teachers. We all remember learning about the gold, frankincense and myrrh. We probably also remember wondering what myrrh was and why it was spelled so weirdly. We might have wondered why it took so long for the three men with the camel to get to the manger set after the rest of the scene had been put out on a place of honor in the living room. As we got older, we were told the significance of the gifts of the Magi and also began to realize that it was because of those gifts that we celebrate Christmas with gifts to one another. Indeed, in many countries the Feast of the Epiphany or Little Christmas is the day for exchanging gifts. There is more to this day than that, however. Firstly, the Wise Men represent the gentile world. Just as the people of Israel were represented by the shepherds who adored the Infant, so these men of the east became the representatives of the hundreds of millions of people over the past 2000 years from every corner of the globe who have recognized Jesus Christ as the Savior, not just of one tribe or nation, but of all the world. Yet this joyful story contains within it the seed of evil which will burst upon the families of Bethlehem when Herod seeks to destroy the Holy Child. That is the second lesson of the Epiphany: the coming of the Kingdom of God will be resisted. The Feast of the Epiphany is at the end of the Christmas season. (Monday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, actually is the last day of the Christmas Season liturgically.) We then begin Ordinary Time until Ash Wednesday inaugurates Lent. The lessons of the Epiphany complete the lessons of Christmas. A child is born to us who is Christ and Lord, not just for a select few but to all of us of the human race. But we must accept this gift in faith and sincerity of heart. Glory to God in the highest and peace to those of good will. May God bless you all, Father Bob Bruso Blessed John XXIII Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Tune In To WQPH 89.3 FM Your Catholic Radio Station 3

4 Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, where the Magi find the newborn king and offer him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Attention Lectors Schedules are now ready for pickup in the Sacristy. In the spirit of the Magi, please put your gift in the St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box so that comfort and peace can once again be given to a newborn child. Saint Vincent de Paul Society donation boxes are located on the radiators in the right and left transepts and also in the rear vestibule of our church. Contributions are welcome to help needy families with shelter, utilities, rent, etc. March for Life Please join us for the Diocese of Worcester s bus trip to the 45th annual March for Life in Washington, DC. Buses leave on Thurs. Jan. 18 after the 7:30 p.m. Mass at St. Paul s Cathedral, travel to Washington for the March for Life on Jan. 19, followed by the return trip to Worcester. Cost is $90 per seat. For more information, and to download registration forms, visit Please pray for all our homebound parishioners, those who are in nursing homes or assisted living residences, and our brave men and women in the military. Religious Education/CCD Classes Sunday Classes for Grades 1-6 will resume on Jan. 14 at 9:45 am. Monday Classes for Grades 7-10 will resume on Jan. 22 at 7:00 pm. See you at Mass! Discerning A Vocation? Interested In The Diocesan Priesthood As A Vocation? For more inquiries and applications please contact Father James Mazzone, Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies, 51 Illinois St., Worcester MA 01610, or jmazzone@charter.net. St. Cecilia s Bingo Friday Evenings at 6:30 PM Doors Open at 4 PM Come Try Your Luck! Bingo Workers Needed! You Need To Work Only Once A Month. Workers are needed to help in all areas of the parish Bingo, but especially helping out in the two Bingo kitchens, upstairs and downstairs. Call the rectory if you can help, or see Fr. Bob. Workers are needed also to help verify winning numbers or to sell the Charity Game tickets. Collection Report Last Week s Stewardship $ 9,

5 Questions & Answers about Funeral Masses Why should I have a Funeral Mass for my loved one? The Mass of Christian Burial is the privileged time when we pray for our beloved dead, asking God to forgive his or her sins and to render a merciful judgment to our brother or sister who has gone before us marked with the sign of faith. It is through the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that sin and death have been definitively destroyed and that we who have been united to his redemptive mystery through faith and baptism have been given the hope of eternal glory in heaven. The saving effects of Christ s Passion, death and Resurrection are made present in each Mass. At the Funeral Mass we implore God to apply those saving effects for the soul of the deceased. What if my loved one hadn t been attending Mass regularly, isn t it hypocritical to have a Funeral Mass now? No. At Baptism we become members of the Church and the adopted children of God. God never forgets us or stops loving us. Our souls are indelibly marked for God. None of us responds fully to God s love in our life. None of us gets to Heaven on our own merits. We all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Like St. Martha who, even after her brother Lazarus had died, turned to Jesus and trusted in Him, we turn to Jesus at the Funeral Mass out of faith in Him and love for our deceased. But what if I m not Catholic? At a time of loss, we all need a reminder of God s love, a love that is stronger than death. But the Funeral Mass is first about the spiritual good for the person who has died. We thank you for considering that and we welcome you to the Church for the Funeral Mass. The priest will understand if you are not familiar with the Mass. He will be happy to answer your questions. Your funeral director will be present and will prompt you when to stand, sit and the like. Although non-catholics cannot join us in Holy Communion, your presence to us and joining us in prayer is a privilege for us and a powerful appeal to God for the good of the deceased. But what if there may not be many people in attendance? Frequently, elderly people outlive their contemporaries and surviving friends may no longer be able to get out to Church. The essential point is that God is present at the Mass and He comes to reassure us. Cost is a factor for us, what is the offering for a Funeral Mass and can it be waived in case of hardship? The offering for a Funeral Mass is $300 ($100 goes to the organist, $100 to the singer, $65 to the parish and $35 to the priest). In case of hardship, the pastor can waive the offering. No one will be denied the baptismal right to Christian burial due to a lack of finances. 5

6 What if we are making arrangements for cremation, does that prevent a Funeral Mass? No. While the preference is that the cremation takes place after a Funeral Mass, if the cremation takes place beforehand, the ashes may be brought into the Church for the Funeral Mass before they are interred at a cemetery. In any event, because of our belief in the dignity of the human body and its future resurrection, ashes should not be scatter but should be interred promptly in a grave or crypt at a cemetery. It is sad and lacking in the respect due our loved ones when, as is happening more and more, cremated remains are abandoned in funeral homes or crematory basements or brought home instead of being reverently interred in consecrated ground or in a blessed crypt. What if I want to have a Funeral Mass at a parish that wasn t the one my loved one attended? Normally, a Funeral Mass would be celebrated at the deceased s parish church and amidst the community that the deceased was part of. However, there certainly are legitimate reasons why another parish might be appropriate. Your funeral director can speak to the pastor about this. What if I want some special music, poetry and personal remembrances? The Catholic Funeral Rites consist of three services the wake service, the Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal at the gravesite. Secular music and poetry might be incorporated along with personal remembrances at the wake, at the funeral home or at the graveside. Scriptural readings and sacred music are most appropriate for the sacred space of the Church and Funeral Mass. However, a brief remembrance may also be offered at the Funeral Mass in the Church. Catholic Schools Night at the Railers Join us on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018 for the Diocese of Worcester Night at the Railers. We will be celebrating Trax s Birthday and our Catholic Schools. Come hear students from Our Lady of the Angels School sing the National Anthem, students from Our Lady of the Valley School sing God Bless America and students from St. Anna School sing America the Beautiful! Tickets are $15. Proceeds will go to our participating Catholic Schools. Also, don t forget to visit us on the concourse and get your Chuck-A-Puck! All seats are in Section 106, which are normally $25. To purchase your tickets for $15, visit railers.isportstix.com/order/seats/119/, and enter the Group Code: DioceseWorcester, if prompted. Tickets will be left at will call the night of the game window unless other arrangements are made. Please comment in the customer comment box the name of the School, Parish, Group, or Agency. 6

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