Saint Cecilia. First Sunday of Advent. Home. 2 December Take Me. Waiting by the Window. Carl Vilhelm Holsøe ( )

Transcription

1 Saint Cecilia P A R I S H Take Me Home First Sunday of Advent 2 December 2018 Waiting by the Window Carl Vilhelm Holsøe ( )

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3 Saint Cecilia Parish Advent Giving TreeS Our annual Advent Giving Trees have arrived! Your gifts will bring tidings of comfort and joy this Christmas to many children, single parents, and seniors in our neighborhood, as well as agencies that support others throughout our city. There are also tags for people who have a special place in the life of our parish. This year there are some changes to the program. First, with so many requests and to make it easier to take tags, there are two additional trees in the Parish Hall. One is a table top Children s Tree with child-friendly tags for simple, inexpensive, small items like crayons and bubbles. Parents and children can take a tag and use this as an opportunity to teach about giving during this time of year. These tags are not for a particular person, however the gift will be given to a child from one of the programs we support. A few other details: 1. Please DO NOT take a tag unless you plan to purchase and return the gift. All gifts are checked-in to make sure we receive everything that has been requested. 2. You may take more than one tag! 3. If the gift is out of stock or cannot be found a gift card for may be substituted. 4. If the item is too expensive a gift card toward the purchase is acceptable. Many children and teens like to save for more expensive items. 5. For tags indicating a gift card the recommended amount is $25, however any amount is appreciated. 6. Please check the tag some gifts should be wrapped and some should not. 7. When you return the gift, make sure the tag is securely attached. 8. All gifts are due back by 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 16. Late gifts will be accepted but we want to make sure the gifts get to the clients on time! The agencies we are supporting this year are listed below and further information can be found on their websites. Elders at Home Program htm locations/barbara-mcinnis-house YMCA Housing ymcaboston.org/ ymca-housing Catholic Charities Child Care Division org/?q=node/ Server/Waltham_House org/

4 OUR COMMUNITY NEWS MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Saturday, December 1 5:00 p.m. Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrant Cynthia Wanner, lector Sunday, December 2 8:00 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Louvere Walker-Hannon, lector Sunday, December 2 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Eden Kelly, Rosaria Salerno, and Michele Maniscalco, lectors Sunday, December 2 11:15 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Christina Gebel, Kelly McClintock, and Clarissa Hadge, lectors Sunday, December 2 6:00 p.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Spencer Dunne and Zachary Boutin, lectors SPECIAL INTENTIONS Sunday, December 2 9:30 a.m. Joseph F. Ford, Anniversary Sunday, December 2 9:30 a.m. Carol Howland, Memorial Sunday, December 2 11:15 a.m. For those named on the AIDS Memorial Quilt This week at Saint Cecilia Saturday, December 1 Parish Day of Reflection 9:00 4:00 in Parish Hall Saturday, December 1 Faith and Film 6:00 in Parish Hall (p.16) Sunday, December 2 Marriage Ministry Book Club 6:00 in Parish Hall (p.12) TODAY'S READINGS Jeremiah 33: Thessalonians 3:12 4:2 Luke 21:25-28, NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6 Sunday, December 2 Sundays After 6 in Parish Hall (p.7) Monday, December 3 Advent Bible Reflection 6:30 in Sanctuary (p.8) Thursday, December 6 Evening Prayer 6:30 in Sanctuary (p.12) Thursday, December 6 Renovation Info Meeting 6:30 in Parish Hall (p.6) Saturday, December 8 Young Families Morning of Reflection 9:30 in Parish Hall (p.7) 4

5 Prayers & Occasions Our Sick Please pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Mary Pickering, Caeden Boyce, Kristen DeVenezia, Nicholson Nicolas, Madeleine Dougherty, Margo Bromfield, Matt Strazzula, Marie Deignan, and Brother Bob Donovan. Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish We are pleased to welcome the following new members of our parish who have recently registered: Elaine and William Trepicchio of Boston, the Cundiff Family of Peabody, and Brian Kalish and Marykate O'Malley of Jamaica Plain. If you have not previously registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register online at Baptisms Today we celebrate baptism at the nine-thirty liturgy for Benjamin Reynolds, son of Mark and Erica Meskell and Gage Benjamin, son of Brandon and Kara Woolkalis. The Christian community welcomes you with great joy, Benjamin and Gage! Happy Anniversary! This week we celebrate the baptismal anniversary of Carly Caminiti who was baptized on December 1. May the Lord continue to bless her with the grace to live out her baptismal call. Happy Feast Day, Carly! Today's Second Collection Peter's Pence Today's second collection will support the Holy Father s Peter s Pence collection that provides funds for emergency and disaster relief and for Catholic World Missions that support pastoral and evangelization efforts in mission dioceses. This collection will also provide support to The Catholic University of America that educates priests and lay people for ministry and for the inner city parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston. Your generosity and prayers will assist the Holy Father and the various missionary efforts at home and abroad. Anniversary of Four U.S. Churchwomen Martyred in El Salvador December 2, 1980 The word "martyr" is derived from the same Greek word as "witness" and for Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel, and Jean Donovan, their witness to nonviolent love and service to the poor led to their deaths. Thirty-eight years ago, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan drove their van to El Salvador International Airport to pick up Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford. Members of El Salvador's National Guard stopped their van and they were taken to an isolated location where they were sexually and physically abused before being brutally murdered. Pray for all victims of violence and for all whose lives give courageous witness to the needs of the powerless even unto death. World AIDS Day Every year on December 1, we commemorate World AIDS Day. Remember in your prayer all those who live with HIV/ AIDS. Remember also those who care for individuals with this virus loved ones, physicians, nurses, and nursing assistants, as well as for scientists who work to find a cure. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Patronal Feast Day of the United States Saturday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and a holy day of obligation. Many people confuse the Immaculate Conception with the doctrine of the Virgin Birth (Mary's virginal conception of Jesus). Friday's solemnity celebrates Mary's Immaculate Conception: that is, our solemn belief that Mary, though conceived in the normal way, was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. This solemnity occurs nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on September 8. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 9:00. Christmas Flowers You are invited to remember your loved ones by donating towards the Christmas flowers that will grace our sanctuary. In the narthex you'll find envelopes that you can use for this purpose. Please drop the envelope in the collection basket or hand it to any staff person. The names of those remembered will be published in the Christmas and Epiphany bulletins. Please be sure to PRINT clearly. Hanukkah Judaism s Festival of Lights Hanukkah begins at sunset today, December 2. We remember our Jewish sisters and brothers as they kindle the first candle of the menorah and begin their eight day celebration of light. 5

6 Save the Date Christmas Decorating Party December 22 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Parish Pastoral Council will be hosting a Christmas decorating party on December 22 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Please join us for this family-friendly event filled with tree trimming, ornament making, and some delicious seasonal treats as we deck our hall in preparation for Christmas. We want to be sure to have enough food so please let us know if you're coming and how many people will be joining you: info@stceciliaparish.org. All are welcome! Thank You, Saint Cecilia Parishioners! Thank you for your contributions to another successful Pine Street Inn Low Threshold Thanksgiving dinner. The volunteers, donations, and support helped to make this year's dinner certainly the BEST one. Once again through the generosity of Shane Manfred and his team from Bellino s Restaurant in Wakefield, over 50 tenants were served a delicious hot meal and got to walk away with take-home meals, Dunkin' Donuts and CVS gift cards! And for all of those people who gave their leftover Halloween candy and donated Community Servings pies (Thank you!) the tenants were so happy that they had sweets to take to enjoy later. We are so grateful to each of you and wish you and your family a blessed and merry Christmas. Karen Dunnett Construction Corner Here you'll find updates, tidbits, and explainations for all things related to our renovation. Ask the Architect! You have two more chances to voice your thoughts on the upcoming renovation, please sign up to one of the following: December 6, 6:30 p.m. Parish Kitchen, Cafe, and Parish Center December 9, 1:00 p.m. Family Center, Community Room, Infrastructure RSVP with the link in the Bulletin Blast, or by ing Leah at lbennett@stceciliaboston.org Proposals are due soon from construction companies, after which we will interview each candidate. Real Foods Consultants, who are working in partnership to design the kitchen will be visiting church today. If you meet them, give them a big welcome. O COME, ALL YE SINGERS If you like to sing the traditional hymns and carols for Christmas, have some singing experience, would like to join our choirs, but time does not permit, Fear not, for behold, I bring tidings of great joy. You are invited to join us for one of the Christmas Eve liturgies at 4:00 and 6:30, or BOTH (with a simple dinner between). We would ask you to join us Thursday evenings for rehearsals on 13 December and 20 December at 7:15 9:00 p.m., in the church. If you have questions, or if you would like to join us, please contact TImothy at tzimmerman@stceciliaboston.org. It is important that we have a count of people in order to have music and seating (in the choir loft) for all. 6

7 SAINT CECILIA PARISH PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND JOIN US FOR AN ADVENT MORNING OF REFLECTION FOR PARENTS CHRISTMAS CONCERT CELEBRATION Tuesday, December 11 SATURDAY, 12/8 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM CHILDCARE PROVIDED Our annual Christmas concert featuring the Copley Singers will be taking place in just over one week! Following the concert there will be a gala reception in the Parish Hall. This is one of the highlights of the year at Saint Cecilia, but we need quite a bit of help to make it happen. If you are able to assist with shopping, cooking, decorating, setting up the hall, and clean-up, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Lisa Pickering if you would like to be a part of this year's hospitality team. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, VISIT BIT.LY/STCSFAMILIES ChildCare Helpers Needed! To sign up, please contact Lisa Pickering lpickering@stceciliaboston.org This holiday season, volunteering your time can be such a gift. If you enjoy spending time with babies and toddlers, then we need your help! We are in need of child care helpers for the Young Families Ministry's upcoming Advent Morning of Reflection on Saturday, December 8. Hourly options are available from 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. It is a busy, fulfilling, and truly special morning. If you are interested or would like to be added to our listserv, please contact Valerie at valerie.diment@gmail. com. Bridgewater State Hospital and Saint Cecilia Prison & After Holiday Bag Donations Every year the parish has generously donated items to fill holiday bags for patients at Bridgewater State Hospital, a psychiatric prison hospital. The holiday bags remind the men incarcerated there that they are not forgotten. As the only gifts they are permitted to receive, these donations are appreciated more than words can express. We are also making holiday bags for the men who participate in the Saint Cecilia Prison and After Program. Many of these men are living in a halfway house not far from our church. They have recently left prison and are preparing to begin new lives. Sundays After 6 PM: Holiday Soirée! Please leave any items you are able to donate in the bin located in the Narthex. Body Wash (liquid only, not soap) Shampoo (any size) Toothpaste (any size) Hard Candy Winter Hats If you have any questions, please contact Peg Newman: Peg3Newman@gmail.com; Thank you! Join us this Sunday, December 2, for some holiday-themed treats and eats, and kick your season of holiday parties off right! Come downstairs to the Parish Hall promptly following Mass and spend some time with new and old friends in the Saint Cecilia community. This is the last Sundays After 6 of 2018 our next will be after the start of the new year so be sure to come by and get your fill of cookies and sweets before those pesky resolutions kick in! 7

8 The Advent Wreath Welcome to the First Sunday of Advent! The name of the season comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning "a coming, approach, or arrival," and it is the season when we prepare for our celebration of the birth of Jesus. With the beginning a new liturgical year, we have set aside the Gospel of Mark that we have been hearing for much of the past year and we will now be listening to the Gospel of Luke. Advent wreaths were originally part of the folk traditions of Northern Europe. Wreaths of evergreens were decorated with candles to symbolize light and life during the dark months of winter. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God. Evergreens stay green all year and so signify continuous life. Each of the four candles represent one of the Sundays of Advent. We needn't worry about the colors of the candles; traditionally, three violet candles and one rose candle are used, but some people prefer to use royal blue candles, which recall the color of the early morning pre-dawn sky just before the first rays of the sun's light appear. You may also want to use all white candles as we do at Saint Cecilia. The symbol is the flame, not the color. Each Sunday during Advent, the light of the wreath glows brighter as a reminder that Christ comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. In the bulletins during Advent, we will include a prayer of blessing that can be said during the lighting of the candle(s). A nice custom is to set-up the wreath on your dinner table and light a candle (or candles) at your evening meal. We will be selling boxed sets of Advent candles in the narthex this morning for $10. Little Blue Books for Advent The Little Blue Books for the seasons of Advent and Christmastide are now available. Consider spending six minutes daily with these refections based on the Gospels for Cycle C. These books are in baskets in the rear of the church. Please take one home and spend just six minutes per day in refection. This is a great way to keep Advent and prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas. ADVENT WREATH PRAYER WEEK ONE Tonight, light the frst candle, sing a verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, re read part of today's Gospel, and say a brief concluding prayer. If you prefer, here is a prayer that you can use. FIRST WEEK Light one of the violet candles. During the rest of the week, this candle is relit at the evening meal or whenever you choose to do so. Jesus, as we wait for your coming, help us not to be afraid and to trust in you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of hope into our lives. May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts. Amen. Advent Small Group Bible Reflection Let s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. Mark 6:31 Jesus invited his disciples and invites us to go off for a little while, enjoy his presence, think about what his coming can mean for us. Especially during this frenetic time of year when our holiday preparations can short circuit awareness of the holiness of the season, the Adult Faith Formation Commission invites you to experience small faith group reflection this Advent. Each Monday during Advent, (12/3, 12/10, 12/17) at 6:30 in the sanctuary, we will read the Gospel for the coming Sunday together and share, in a contemplative manner, what we feel it may mean for each of us. If you think that you might enjoy Small Group Bible Sharing for the season of Advent, please RSVP to judycastaldi@hotmail.com. 8

9 world aids day TODAY'S SOLEMN READING OF NAMES our aids memorial quilt Throughout history quilts have symbolized a legacy of memory and community. The Saint Cecilia AIDS Memorial Quilt, inspired by the NAMES Project which originated in San Francisco and is now based in Atlanta, was first dedicated at the Jesuit Urban Center in November of 1995 and brought to Saint Cecilia eleven years ago. It is a tapestry that binds us together and reminds us of the loved ones, friends, and partners this community has lost to the AIDS virus. In the mid-1990s, members of the Jesuit Urban Center s Last Tuesday Dinner Program (a program founded to serve a nutritious and delicious dinner on the last Tuesday of each month to people living with HIV/AIDS), came together to determine how best to honor the many wonderful people they loved who had died. It was during this gathering that the idea of an AIDS Memorial Quilt was born. Pedro Carasquilto, a Jesuit scholastic who was stationed at the church at this time, helped design this powerful visual reminder of so many lives cut short by the AIDS virus. Each Quilt panel in the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is 3 feet by 6 feet; eight panels are sewn together to create full size quilts of 12 square feet. The Saint Cecilia AIDS Memorial Quilt is modeled after a full size quilt. The bold primary colors used in the Quilt contrast with its solemn symbolism. The Quilt evokes both Christian imagery and the memory of those who have died. IHS is derived from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus (IH- SOUS). In ancient times, this became a widely recognized monogram of the Christ. IHS is also featured in the Jesuit crest. The red AIDS ribbon is looped through the H. Each star circling around the central image represents someone from our community who died from AIDS. The Quilt is displayed in the church on the Sunday nearest World AIDS Day a stark reminder that AIDS is still with us. Calling us to the hope born of faith is a verse from the prophet Zephaniah, edging the Quilt in four-inch letters: I will sing and dance before the Lord. With happy song God will dance for you with shouts of joy. For God now rejoices over you." At today s 11:15 liturgy, in observance of World AIDS Day, designated members of our community will come forward at the conclusion of the Prayer of the Faithful for the solemn reading of the 152 names inscribed on our AIDS Memorial Quilt. Following the liturgy, the Saint Cecilia Rainbow Ministry will sponsor a reception in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. As members of the Church and society, we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with and reach out with compassion and understanding to those exposed to or experiencing this disease. We must provide spiritual and pastoral care as well as medical and social services for them and support for their families and friends. The Many Faces of AIDS: A Gospel Response U.S. Catholic Conference Administrative Board PRAYER FOR WORLD AIDS DAY Most Gracious and Compassionate God, on this World AIDS Day we are mindful that countless people are at risk of joining the 36.7 million currently infected with AIDS. You are greater than any disease or plague; and now we ask, as you have done in times past, to heal and comfort those who are suffering. Be with those who may learn today that they or a loved one may have just been diagnosed with HIV. God of mercy, we confess that we have often turned our backs on those with HIV/AIDS, those who are sick and dying. We ask you to forgive our disparaging attitudes, our indifference, and our failures to offer a helping hand. Help us to hear their cries, respond to their needs with compassionate love, and to be your welcoming face of mercy. Amen. Dianna Ortiz, O.S.U. 9

10 By JOSEPH AMODEO CATHOLIC REFLECTION ON WORLD AIDS DAY These remarks were originally prepared and presented as a keynote address for the World AIDS Day service on December 1, 2012 at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY. Thank you, Fr. Tom for your thoughtful introduction, and a special thank you to the The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Straight Ministry of St. Augustine Church, the Rainbow Ministry of Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Friends of Social Justice at St. Francis Xavier. I am truly grateful and humbled by your invitation to join you this evening. This evening we have gathered to celebrate the lives of friends and family while seeking to also raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. Tonight, offers a moment for us to pause and reflect on the essence of Catholic social teaching and how it guides our hearts to be sources of compassion for each other. In his landmark encyclical, Pacem in Terris, Peace on Earth, Blessed John XXIII eloquently wrote: Finally, may Christ inflame the desires of all men to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong. Through His power and inspiration may all peoples welcome each other to their hearts as brothers, and may the peace they long for ever flower and ever reign among them. Standing at the threshold of a new era of faith it was these prophetic words that called upon the Church to speak to the world with a renewed sense of purpose aimed toward achieving the peace that Christ promised. This evening, we stand at a similar juncture in the history of the Church; we stand at a place that calls upon us to reflect on the meaning of faith and what we are called to do as a people of the Gospel. Earlier this year, I reflected on the stories of the Canaanite woman and the tax collector Zacchaeus to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of what it means to be viewed as an "outcast" or different. What I realized in these moments of reflection was that I am the Samaritan woman and I am the tax collector. Just as the disciples urged Jesus to send the Canaanite woman away and the residents of Jericho accused Jesus of staying at the house "of a sinner," so too today do those of us who are marginalized feel the look of judgment. Yet, amid this reality Catholic social teaching guided by the prophetic words of forward-thinking Church documents remind us of the Christian call to justice in furtherance of the liberation of humanity. One such document is Justitia in Mundo, Justice in the World, which states: "By his action and teaching Christ united in an indivisible way the relationship of people to God and the relationship of people to each other. Christ lived his life in the world as a total giving of himself to God for the salvation and liberation of people." Through our experience of being the outcast, the different, and the marginalized, we come not only to witness the Gospel's message of inclusion, but also to see the face of Christ in a way that truly allows us to understand his very essence. Christ is Peace. Christ is Love. Christ is our Liberator. These concepts of peace, love, and liberation are not foreign to the Catholic experience, but rather define the very essence of our faith. These teachings guide us as we respond to poverty, warfare, LGBT inequality, racism, HIV/AIDS, and other issues related to social justice. As Catholics we cannot turn a blind eye to the realities of our world, and more importantly, to the fact that these issues are impacting the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Peace and love are not merely words, they are a way of life; a practice of faith in action that allows others to meet Christ through our very being. In fact, the words from the first book of Samuel remind us that it is through our acts of love that God comes to know each of us: But the LORD said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) Tonight, as we gather to memorialize the lives of friends and family, while also raising awareness about the importance of effective treatment and prevention for HIV/AIDS, it is Catholic Social Teaching that guides our conscience as we unite our hearts in prayer. The issue of access to treatment and medically-supported prevention are issues of justice in our world to- 10

11 day. It is for this reason that Catholics must stand in solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS. We must as a community of faith be Christ to each other and, in turn, bearers of justice and peace not only for our world, but perhaps most importantly within our own hearts. This is precisely the message that was proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council in their pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes. In unequivocal language, the Council Fathers professed the dignity of the human person. This is made particularly clear in the document's emphasis that every individual has been created in the imago Dei - the image and likeness of God. It is this common likeness, not a likeness defined by physical trait, but rather by the spiritual essence of who we are as children of God that unites us even amid worldly differences. Hence this spiritual identity should aid all of us in accepting our moral obligation to demand equitable access to antiretroviral medications here in the United States and throughout the developing world. Just as Christ went to the home of Zaccaheus, witnessed the great faith of the Canaanite woman, and sat beside the Samaritan woman at the well, so too are we called not only to see ourselves in these biblical figures, but we are also called to be hope for one another just as Christ was hope for them. This is particularly relevant to our global community as we recognize today, December 1, as World AIDS Day. Today, discrimination based on real or perceived HIV status continues to serve as a barrier for millions of people around the world. The existence of such discrimination is antithetical to Christ's message of compassion and should guide our hearts to stand with those who suffer injustice due to fear. Just as the old axiom states: "Fear knocked, faith answered, and no one was there." The question is, will we and will our leaders - both spiritual and secular - open the door to see that now is the time to respond to this epidemic with open hearts and charitable embrace? If we truly profess to be a people of the Gospel, then the only answer to this question is YES. Yes, I am prepared to open the door and speak out against discrimination, and, yes, I am prepared to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS. We must profess a unity that is rooted in the meaning of being created in the image of God, because no child of our Creator should be subjected to stigma or discrimination. Such discrimination is contrary to the meaning of being human and to the dignity that is inherent in the essence of every person. As we respond "yes" we become living witnesses to the Gospel's message of inclusion and to the love that defined Christ's ministry. Today, more than one million Americans are living with HIV/ AIDS. As communities of faith we have a moral obligation to lead by serving as examples of compassion and bearers of great love as we respond to an epidemic that has claimed the lives of far too many friends and loved ones. As we join together this evening at St. Augustine's, take a moment to look around... love surrounds us. It is through moments such as this, that Church leaders encounter our lived experience and through these experiences discover an embodied theology that embraces the human experience. As we go forth from this sacred place tonight, let us remember that the sacred is not limited to the walls we currently find ourselves within, but rather the sacred is as vast as our love for one another. Therefore, we must carry the sacred with us wherever we go so as to constantly bear witness to the Gospel's message of inclusion and to our faith's great love and compassion. Through this simple action, we will not only be prophets to each other, but we will also be working with the hands and heart of Christ. This evening, we stand at the threshold of the door. This evening, we stand at one of those moments in history when peace prevails. Tonight, we look at each other and discover anew the face of Christ. As we look into the eyes of those we love and long for the eyes of those we love who have found eternal rest, let us take great comfort in the compassionate arms of Christ; however, let us also offer our open hearts and arms to each other as a living expression of Christ's own love. As Catholics, we need only follow our faith and the conscience that guides it, to realize that World AIDS Day is an opportunity, and a call, for us to exercise faith in action. As you look into the eyes of Christ tonight, do so realizing that Christ not only looked, but touched, not only prayed, but knelt, and not only stood alongside, but embraced and loved those he encountered. This is our call: embrace and love -- by doing so you may be the only Christ someone meets. By this action, may Christ help us to overcome those barriers that divide us, so that we may discover the ultimate source of our unity: peace and love through Christ. ~ Joseph Amodeo is a legal and policy researcher, nonprofit professional, and freelance writer living and working in New York City. His writings on religion and society have been featured in The Tablet, The Evangelist, Religion Teachers Journal, The Huffington Post, and Believe Out Loud. He continues to serve as a contributor for the religion vertical of The Huffington Post. 11

12 PINE STREET CARDS FOR SALE SAINT CECILIA PARISH This Sunday, we will once again be selling Christmas cards to support Pine Street Inn, where Father John and several parishioners serve on the board of directors. This is a wonderful way of supporting Pine Street Inn's mission of finding permanent solutions to homelessness while sharing some wonderful Boston themed Christmas cards with family and friends. The cards are priced at $20 for a pack of 10. Marriage Ministry Upcoming events A Daring Promise Book Discussion Sunday Evenings 5:00 6:00 p.m. Classroom 5 The Book Discussion is open to anyone, in a relationship or not, wishing to explore a Christian meaning of living in a relationship committed to love, community, hospitality, and justice. The Book Discussion sessions will be held on the following Sundays: 12/2, 12/9, 12/16. stc.marriage@ gmail.com for access to the reading material and to be added to the Book Discussion listserv. MY SOUL IN STILLNESS WAITS: ADVENT PRAYER VESPERS The church gathers in the evening to give thanks for the day that has passed and to lift up to God the needs of the world. Liturgy lasts about half an hour. Thursday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. Memorial of Saint Nicholas Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Thursday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. Memorial of Saint Lucy Thursday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. O Key of David TAIZÉ PRAYER A meditative hour of song, scripture & silence in candlelit beauty. Friday, December 21 at 6:30 p.m. Social and Racial Justice Ministry Upcoming Events Prayer Vigil and Pilgrimage for Undocumented Immigrants Saturday, December 15 12:30 3:00 p.m. Parish Hall to Suffolk County House of Corrections Each day over 250 immigrants are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Suffolk County House of Corrections in Boston. At this vigil, we gather to bear witness to the pain, suffering and loneliness of those detained and their families, including a call for just immigration reform. We will meet at Saint Cecilia at 12:30 for prayer and to hear testimonies from those who have had personal experiences with immigration or incarceration. Coffee and light snacks will be served. We will walk over to the Suffolk County House of Corrections together at 1:00. Those with limited mobility can meet us at the Suffolk County House of Corrections at 1:40 pm. RSVP at Follow the Social and Racial Justice Ministry on Facebook! or visit ly/2jlwwya. Contact: sc.socialracialjustice@gmail.com. CATHOLIC CHARITIES As you know, we have been collecting food for the Catholic Charities food pantry in Dorchester for nearly seven years. If you are unable to bring groceries with you to church or forget to do so, there are Catholic Charities envelopes in the narthex that you can use to send a donation. Just write "food pantry" on the memo line of your check. COMMUNITY SERVINGS For those of you who like to plan far ahead, we have two future dates for volunteers at Community Servings. We will be helping out in the kitchens on Saturday, December 22 and Saturday, December 29. No culinary skills required: you can help feed those who are homebound with critical illnesses by joining us at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain. Volunteers must be over 13 years of age. Please mark. lippolt@gmail.com if you would like to help. 12

13 Greater Boston save the date CATHOLIC CHARITIES GREATER BOSTON ChristmasGala DECEMBER 7, 2018 SEAPORT HOTEL BOSTON honoring Commissioner William G. Gross Boston Police Department AND Former Commissioner William B. Evans Boston Police Department For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit

14 SAint Cecilia Young Adults Upcoming events Happy Hour Sunday, December 9 7:30 p.m. Trident Booksellers & Cafe 338 Newbury Street Join us as we head over to Trident Booksellers & Cafe after the 6:00 Mass for some socializing and mingling. We ll meet in the narthex, and walk over. This event is free, but is 21 + only. Please remember to bring your ID! RSVP to scyoungadults@gmail.com SCYA Book Club - Flannery O Connor First meeting - Thursday, December 13th 6:30 p.m. Location TBA Love to read? Want to explore more stories by Catholic authors? Come join us for the first ever SCYA book club! We will meet monthly to socialize and discuss short stories or books with Catholic themes, starting with the master of American Gothic - Flannery O Connor. If you re interested, join us in reading her short story "A Good M a n i s H ard to F i n d ". L et u s kn ow we can ex p ect yo u at scyoungadults@gmail.com Saint Cecilia Young Adults (SCYA) is for parishioners between the ages of 20 and 40 who are looking to explore their faith while meeting new people and building community. Group events fall into three categories: service, spirituality, and social fellowship. Sign-up for our newsletter at to get updates on our events, or us at scyoungadults@gmail.com. Help Care For those in need Occasionally we give gift cards to our sisters and brothers in need. We need to replenish our supply of gift cards to Shaw's Supermarket. If you would like to help out in this way, simply purchase a gift card and place it in the collection basket at Mass, give it to a member of the staff, or mail it to the Parish Office. We are very appreciative of your help as we attempt to offer some assistance, especially around the holidays, to those who struggle. Our Lady of Guadalupe AFTDJ December 9 1:00 p.m. Saint Anthony Shrine Join A Faith That Does Justice to learn about the history of the apparitions, the meaning of the image and its current meaning among the Hispanic communities in the United States. Registration is free at 14 Adult Faith Formation Events FAITH FORMATION EVENTS AT SAINT CECILIA OFTEN APPEAR ON PAGES 4-7 PAULIST CENTER BOSTON For further details on this event, please check their website: Prayer of Heart & Body Series: Yoga & Meditation in Christian Context Instructor: Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP Eight Tuesdays: October 23 December 18 (exception: November 6) 5:45 7:25 p.m. Auditorium Registration forms available in the rack at the back of Chapel, or at reception office ( ). $12 per session - $6 for students SAINT SUSANNA PARISH DEDHAM For further details on these presentations, please check their website: The Exercises of Saint Ignatius in the Context of Social Justice Presenter: Peter Gyves, SJ, MD Monday, December 3, :00 9:00 p.m. Saint Susanna Parish Hall Free Will Offering Racism in our Church How to Recognize It and How to Address It with Father Oscar Pratt: A Joint Presentation with Saint Susanna Pax Christi Committee Monday, December 10, :00 9:00 p.m. Saint Susanna Parish Hall Free Will Offering SAINT Clement shrine Advent Series: Parables in Matthew's Gospel Presenter: Peter Grover, OMV December 5, 12, 19 7:00 8:00 p.m. St. Clement Shrine Presenter: Fr. Peter Grover, OMV This course will discuss the parables in Matthew s Gospel which were used to help us understand the importance of the kingdom of God. They motivate us to pop our world bubble, and to live in a manner that will benefit others and gain blessings for ourselves. Join us as we better understand the advantages of being a member of the Kingdom of Heaven from the parables.

15 EVEN UNTO DEATH: THE MARTYRDOM OF JEAN DONOVAN By JOHN DEAR Jean Donovan was a modern-day martyr, losing her life while caring for the poor in the midst of El Salvador's bloody civil war. Thirty years later, her memory continues to inspire. When I heard the news that four U.S. church women, including Jean Donovan, were raped and killed in El Salvador on Dec. 2, 1980, I was a senior at Duke University with plans to enter the Jesuits. But I was having second thoughts. What difference could I make? How can one witness to Christ in such a harsh world? Why bother? Their deaths changed my life; I reconfirmed my decision to become a Jesuit. Within a few years, I befriended Donovan s parents, Pat and Ray, and organized speaking events for them around the country. In 1985, while working in El Salvador, I prayed at the lonely place where they were killed. A stone cross marks the spot, and a plaque there reads: "Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel, and Jean Donovan gave their lives on Dec. 2, Receive them, Lord, into your Kingdom." Jean Donovan, along with the heroic sisters, offers a rare gospel witness in these brutal times. Donovan was born on April 10, 1953 and grew up in upper-middleclass Westport, Connecticut. During college she spent a life-changing year in Ireland, where a charismatic priest committed to the Latin American poor challenged her to serve God s poor. In 1977 Donovan quit her executive consulting job at Arthur Andersen, a national accounting firm, said goodbye to friends, and joined the Maryknoll lay mission program. For the next few years she served a poor parish in La Libertad, El Salvador. She managed its budget, played with children, and helped other church workers. But the brutal government s war against the poor intensified. The streets were filled with soldiers, and dead bodies were left along the roads. Donovan and the sisters buried the bodies and supported the distraught relatives who searched for their loved ones. Donovan and the rest of El Salvador found hope in the fearless homilies of Archbishop Oscar Romero. She wrote to a friend that his message was convincing her that prayer does make a difference. In gratitude, she baked and delivered chocolate chip cookies to Archbishop Romero every Sunday. On March 24, 1980, Romero was shot while presiding at an evening Mass. During the funeral Mass, the army threw bombs into the crowd of 30,000 mourners, killing 30. Although Donovan was terrified at the funeral, she told herself that if she were killed, she would go straight to God. "There are lots of times I feel like coming home," Donovan wrote a friend afterwards. "But I really do feel strongly that God has sent me here." "Everything is really hitting so close now," she wrote her Irish priest friend in May That summer Donovan was devastated when her two closest friends were assassinated after walking her home from a movie. In September Donovan took a six-week vacation, visiting her parents in Miami and her boyfriend in London. She also attended a wedding in Ireland and stopped at Maryknoll in New York, where, a friend later told Donovan s parents, she spent several hours in the chapel. She confessed her fear that she might be killed. "When she came out [of the chapel]," Pat Donovan recalled, "the sister said that she was an entirely differ- 15 ent woman. She was ready to go back. She had made her peace with whatever frightening thoughts she had." After visiting Cleveland and Miami again, she returned to El Salvador to pick up the bodies, console the grieving, and lead the poor in prayer. "Life continues with many interruptions," she wrote. "I don t know how the poor survive. People in our positions really have to die to ourselves and our wealth to gain the spirituality of the poor and oppressed." In November, while riding her motor bike, Donovan noticed a U.S. military helicopter following her. The U.S. ambassador denied that U.S. helicopters were in El Salvador, but much to his chagrin, Donovan knew the name and model because her father spent his life helping to build them. On December 2, Donovan and Kazel drove to the airport to meet Ford and Clarke, who were returning from Managua. Two days later their bodies were discovered in a makeshift grave about 15 miles away from the airport. They had been raped and shot at close range. Donovan s face was completely destroyed. She was 27 years old. Jean Donovan and the sisters invite us to enter the world of the poor, share their powerlessness and pain, and risk the consequences of this Christian solidarity. In the face of the poor, broken, and battered people of El Salvador; in the face of the refugees, the homeless, the hungry, and the displaced; even in the face of the enemy, Donovan saw the face of Christ. After such a spiritual encounter, there was no turning back. Christ gave Donovan his spirit of nonviolent love, empowering her to stand with the powerless even unto death. In the end, she knew a peace not of this world.

16 Saint Cecilia Parish, 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, Massachusetts Pizza and a Movie faith & FILM series First Saturday of the Month October June, 6:00 p.m. OCTOBER 6 ROMERO Based on the true story of El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, a conservative bishop who is transformed into a crusader for justice when he witnesses the oppression of the people of El Salvador. NOVEMBER 3 The Manchurian Candidate Could the United States be taken over by a hostile foreign government? A gripping melodrama, but could it really happen? MARCH 2 APRIL 6 Moonrise Kingdom Charming coming-of-age film set in 1965 on an island off the New England coast. Two tweens fall in love and run away together as a storm approaches. The young lovers retreat to an isolated beach they call Moonrise Kingdom, while the scouts, police, and family members launch a search party to retrieve them. Of Gods and Men True story of the seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine who were martyred in They will be beatified on December 8, This film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. DECEMBER 1 The Man Who Invented Christmas Magical but true story of how Charles Dickens dramatized his childhood memories to rescue his career as a novelist and create A Christmas Carol along the way. You ll never say, Bah Humbug! again. MAY 4 la strada Heartbreaking classic by Federico Fellini about a poor waif sold by her mother to be a servant to carnival strong man Anthony Quinn. Set in impoverished Post World War II, it is a masterpiece and one of Pope Francis favorite films. JANUARY 5 The Rider Hard-hitting true story of an injured rodeo rider wondering if he can compete again, and, if he cannot, what he will have to live for. Masterful scenes of South Dakota reservations, and horseback riding. Best movie in the past year -- Roger Ebert FEBRUARY 2 I Am Not Your Negro Searing documentary based on James Baldwin s unfinished memoir. Baldwin uses his personal recollections of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. to create a snapshot of race relations in America. JUNE 1 mudbound American period drama based on the novel of the same name. The film depicts two WWII veterans one black, one white who return to rural Mississippi each to address racism and PTSD in his own way. Brilliant directing and acting. A short discussion will follow the movie. SPONSORED BY THE ADULT FAITH FORMATION COMMISSION

17 PARISH RESOURCES Parish Office & Mailing Address 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA Hours Monday Friday, 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Phone Fax Website Parish Staff Rev. John J. Unni, Pastor Mary Kaye, Pastoral Director of Operations, Colleen Melaugh, Finance Director, Mark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate, Scott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Parish Visibility, John Glynn, Director of College and Youth Ministry, Jeanne Bruno, Chaplain, Pastoral Associate, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach, Timothy Zimmerman, Director of Music and Organist, Lisa Pickering, Events and Facilities Manager, Leah Bennett, Communications and Operations Coordinator, Assisting Clergy Rev. Erick Berrelleza, SJ Rev. Peter Grover, OMV Rev. Peter Gyves, SJ Rev. James Shaughnessy, SJ Schedule for Liturgy Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday 8:00 a.m. Lord s Day Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15, and 6:00 p.m. Holy Days 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Reconciliation The sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation. Baptism for Infants Infant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe in the Parish Office. Faith Formation for Children To register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Scott MacDonald in the Parish Office. Marriage Couples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark Donohoe in the Parish Office at least six months in advance. Care of the Sick To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the Parish Office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies. Order of Christian Funerals The parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church. Please contact the Parish Office for more information. Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Team The CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect. Please contact Lois Flaherty (loisflaherty@gmail.com), Maria Roche (maria.roche15@gmail.com), Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail. com), or Erin Young (erin.t.young@gmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns. The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe environment for children, and recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the narthex and Parish Office, as well as on our website. For Those with Celiac Disease If you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of lowgluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten. Hearing Assistance in Church The church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass. Access for the Disabled Both the church and Parish Pastoral Center are accessible by elevator. Parking There is reduced rate parking for $11.00 at the Hynes Auditorium Garage located on Dalton Street on Sundays until 3:00 p.m. and every evening after 4:00 p.m. Please be sure to ask one of our greeters for a parking validation ticket before leaving the church. There is also reduced rate parking on Sundays only at the Prudential Center South Garage (enter at Huntington Avenue or Dalton Street); up to 4 hours: $14.00, up to 5 hours: $ Joining Our Community We re happy that you re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritual home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighborhoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners from as far afield as Marlborough, Newburyport, and Stow. Please introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday, or fill out a new parishioner form in the narthex.. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia. 17