Holy Family Church 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY Phone: Website:

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1 December 9, 2018 Holy Family Church 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY Phone: Website: PASTOR: IN RESIDENCE: DEACONS: TRUSTEES: SCHOOL BOARD: PARISH STAFF Pastoral Associates: Rev. Steven M. Murray Rev. Leo A. Wiley Rev. Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore Deacon Edward R. Miller Ret. Deacon Michael J. Allan Mrs. Maureen Van Wormer Mr. John Eisenhauer Mr. Michael Ledoux Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC Patrick Bates Christian Formation Director: Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC R.C.I.A. Director: Kathy Allan Business Administrator: Carol Brown Secretary: Organist: Judy Geng Edward Kemp IMMACULATE HEART CENTRAL SCHOOL School Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Robert H. Aucoin School Principal: Mrs. Lynise Lassiter Vice Principal:(7-12): Mr. Geoffrey Andrews Vice Principal (K-6): Mrs. Kari Conklin BAPTISM: Baptisms are generally scheduled on Sunday. Parents must attend a class held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. WEDDINGS: Arrangements should be made six months In advance by calling for an appointment with a priest or deacon. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Confession/Penance - Saturday 4-5 P.M. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Upon Request - Please call Fr. Murray if you are planning on having any surgery and he will be happy to anoint you. Holy Family Church Welcomes Everyone No matter what your present status is in the Catholic Church; no matter your family or marital status; no matter where you are in the practice of faith; no matter what your self image may be; you are invited, welcomed and loved at Holy Family Church.

2 RECTORY OFFICE HOURS Monday, 12:30PM- 4:00PM; Tuesday Thursday, 9:00AM-4:00PM, closed for lunch noon-12:30pm; Friday, 9:00AM-1:00PM. BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS The next class will be Monday, December 10th, at 7PM in McGivney Hall. Please call the Rectory at during business hours to sign up if you are planning on attending this required class. Thank you. Sunday December 9, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:00 Keith James Robbins by His Family 11:00 Ralph Van Wormer by His Family 5:15 Frances McGowan and Deceased Members of the McGowan Family by the Estate of Frances McGowan Monday December 10, 2018 Advent Weekday 9:00 Lucile B. Nadelen by Gary and Ann Charlebois Tuesday December 11, Advent Weekday Saint Damasus I, Pope 9:00 James Cutler by Timmie White 10:00 Daniel McCarthy by Jane Fadden (Summit) Wednesday December 12, 2018 Our Lady of Guadalupe 9:00 Frances McGowan and Deceased Members of the McGowan Family by the Estate of Frances McGowan Thursday December 13, Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr 9:00 For the Intentions of Bill and Florence Heldt Friday December 14, Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church 9:00 Gary Grant by Mary Booth Saturday December 15, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent 5:15 Jane and Sue Grappotte by the Grappotte Family Sunday December 16, THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9:00 Helen Todd by Beverly Shepard 11:00 Peter and Kathleen O Brien by Josephina Burgess 5:15 People of the Parish ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE DEC. 15TH & 16TH 5:15 9:00 Bennett and Carter Pistner, Julian Zikowitz 11:00 Christopher, Nolan and Sarah Hennessey 5:15 THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH Sunday: December 9th 2nd Collection: Retirement Fund for Religious 10:00AM Religious Education for Grades K-8 (Greystone Building) 10:00AM Coffee Hour (Gathering Area) 11:00AM Confirmation Year II Monday: December 10th 7:00PM Baptismal Preparation Class (McGivney Hall) Tuesday: December 11th 10:00AM Mass (Samaritan Summit Village) 6:00PM IMPACT Youth Group for 6-12th graders (Greystone Building) Wednesday: December 12th 10:00AM Legion of Mary (McGivney Hall) Thursday: December 13th 10:00AM Legion of Mary Curia (McGivney Hall) Friday: December 14th INQUIRY If you are interested in the Catholic Faith or know of someone who is, please contact our R.C.I.A. Director Kathy Allan at for an appointment. Second Sunday of Advent Are you following the instruction of St. Paul and seeking knowledge and every kind of perception to discern your vocation in Christ as a priest, deacon or in consecrated life? Talk to Fr. Steven Murray at or Fr. Doug Lucia at / dlucia@rcdony.org or Cathy Russell, the Diocesan Vocation Coordinator at , ext. 1450/crussell@rcdony.org. See us also on Facebook or at Charlotte Rosalie Bartlett Lennon Rose Whitmore Lincoln James Whitmore

3 ACTIVITIES AHEAD IN OUR PARISH PENNIES FROM HEAVEN The Knights of Columbus will be at the doors of the Church after Masses the weekend of December 15th and 16th collecting for our Seminarians. Thank you in advance for your support. BASKET SPIRIT will be Sunday, December 16th at noon for CONFIRMATION YEAR II. THE LIGHT IS ON FOR YOU! Confessions will be heard in all city Catholic Churches Wednesday, December 19th, 7:00PM-8:00PM. YOUNG ADULT GROUP Please join the Young Adult Group (ages 18-39) on Thursday, December 20th, 6:30PM at Holy Family s Rectory for dinner and discussion. To RSVP or for any questions, please Fr. Steve at frsteve@twcny.rr.com. YOU MAY DROP OFF NEW AND USED DONA- TIONS TO THE COLD WEATHER DRIVE SUCH AS COATS, MITTENS, SCARVES, HATS AND BOOTS IN THE BOXES IN THE CHURCH AND WE WILL DE- LIVER ALL THE ITEMS TO THE WATERTOWN UR- BAN MISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND SUPPORT TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE. ALTAR AND ROSARY NEWZBITES THE ANGELA DAVIES, SHARE THE WARMTH WITH SENIORS PROJECT is under way. Your donations of lap robes, slip-proof slipper sox and tote bags for wheelchairs or walkers are being accepted at the rectory during business hours. Tote bags for wheelchairs and walkers may be purchased, or use your crafty skills to create one. Keep in mind that buttons and other fasteners may pose difficulty for many who have arthritis. These special gifts will be distributed to our parish shut-ins just before Christmas. Thank you for not forgetting those who are not able to be out and about. DECEMBER 9: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readings: Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/Lk 3:1-6 Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. This is the call of John the Baptist to the people of his own time and to us. Prepare the way: Jesus won't force himself on us. We must open our heart and homes to him. Sometimes we put up roadblocks to his coming, without even being aware that we are keeping Jesus at arm s length. We live in a noisy world with a lot of distractions and long to do lists, especially this time of year. Can you schedule fifteen minutes a day to focus on preparing for Christ's coming? Perhaps just spend a few minutes a day in silence to read the Gospel of the day and inviting Jesus to enter your daily life. He is our salvation. ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OUR PARISH OUR MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST PRAYER GROUP Thursday, December 13th, 6:30PM-8:00PM, Msgr. Sechi Hall at St. Anthony s Church. Come Join us for song, praise and worship. Any questions, please contact Lourdes Hough at all are welcome. PENANCE SERVICE December 16th, 1:00PM at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, 320 W. Lynde Street, Watertown. YOUTH BUSES FOR LIFE: Pilgrimage to the March for Life REGISTRATION UPDATE: There are still seats on the Western Bus leaving from IHC. Registration has begun for the 2019 Youth Buses for Life high school pilgrimage to the DC March for Life. The itinerary has been updated to include the "Life is Very Good" Mass and Rally for Life sponsored by the Archdiocese of Arlington and The Students for Life National Conference. Registration and updated itinerary are online at more information, please contact the Respect Life Office OUR PARISH SCHOOL NEWS ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME! IHC is currently accepting nominations for our Athletic Hall of Fame. Please visit ihcschool.org for nomination form or to submit online. The deadline to nominate is December 10th. Any questions please contact mike.delaney@ihcschools.org. SCHEDULE FOR THE IHC MYSTERY PLAYERS Sunday, December 9th St. Cecilia s Adams at 6:30PM Sunday, December 16th Holy Family. Watertown at 7:15PM Through the use of special lighting, pantomime and liturgical readings, this group of High School seniors and adults presents a moving, dramatic meditation that promises to be the highlight of our Advent Season. This group has travelled extensively in New York State and in surrounding states plus Canada. We strongly encourage everyone to attend this unique and powerful prayer. You re Invited to IHC s Christmas Program! Join IHC for it s fabulous performance to get you in the Christmas spirit on Wednesday, Dec. 12th, 6:30PM for the Intermediate Program at 733 S. Massey Street. It s the most wonderful time of the year!!

4 Note From the Pope, In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis concluded his reflections on the Ten Commandments. SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHISIS IN ENGLISH Dear brothers and sisters, In this, our final catechesis on the Ten Commandments, we reflect on how, in the light of Christ, the Decalogue should be seen not as a series of rules, but rather the guide to an authentic human life that comes to fulfillment in the love, joy and peace born of obedience to the Father s will. Our Lord came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. The Holy Spirit, by enabling us to live a new life in Christ, takes away our hearts of flesh and opens them to the holy desire to abandon sin and to be conformed to Jesus own heart, his love and his desires. The Ten Commandments invite us first to enter into a faithful and loving relationship with God our Father, to reject every false idol that enslaves us, and to find our authentic rest in the freedom of Christ and the Holy Spirit. They then teach us how to live redeemed lives, marked by fidelity, integrity and honesty towards our neighbor. The commandments show us the face of Christ and open the door to the new life of grace; by accepting God s offer of saving love, we find our true selves and the source of a joy that will never end. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lord s blessings of joy and peace. God bless you! NEXT SUNDAY S READINGS Zephaniah 3:14-18a (Ps) Isaiah 12:2-6 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18 Rejoice in the Lord always (2)! Great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel, a mighty savior (1, Ps). It is he whom John foretold; it is he who will baptize in the Holy Spirit (3). OUR TITHING PARISH FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT This Year $ 9, Last Year $ 9, Youth $ Electronic Giving (November) $ 3, Thank you for your continued generosity! CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE Total Pledges and One Time Gift $414,000 Total Participating Households 175 Let s keep up the good work! Our goal is $ Note From the Pastor, The Season of Advent is upon us. The word advent comes from the Latin adventus meaning coming. We are anticipating the coming of Christ just as the Israelites waited patiently for the coming of the Messiah. We are to place ourselves in the sandals of Isreal learning from their journey. Through the trials and sorrows, the valley of tears, they persisted even though they suffered under bad leaders and bad shepherds. And the Messiah arrived 2000 years ago. So that is the history we must recall in order to be able to focus ourselves for the future. For Christ promised he would return. We can learn from the history of Isreal in order to face our future with hope and joy despite facing similar challenges. Because, despite the difficulties and failures of Isreal, the Messiah did come. So Christ will overcome our failures and will come again to transform our world into a Kingdom of Peace and Justice. During this special time, let us be aware of the Lord s Presence moving our hearts toward a future full of faith, hope and love. I thank you for the tremendous generosity you are showing when you recognize the needs of those who struggle in so many ways this holiday season. The Lord always blesses the generous heart. Fr. Steve PARISH NURSES NOTES There will be a Parkinson s Social Support Group on Thursday, December 13th, 4:00PM-6:00PM in the Community Room at the Flower Memorial Library. Refreshments will be served. If you or someone you know has Parkinson s, please join us for encouragement, support and friendship. Come hear the stories of others experiencing Parkinson's and share your own. This support group is open to all ages, especially those with young onset (diagnosed at ages 25-50). You are not alone on your journey. Please join us on Thursday, December 13th.

5 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: As you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ who is the Light of the world, consider ways that YOU might bring the light of His love to others. In the words of Pope Francis, Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all always with great respect and gratitude. Suggestion: In gratitude for the gift of light, purchase LED lights for your decorations and around your home. This will be a drawdown on your electric bill and benefit all of life on the planet by reducing your carbon output. For more info. see: Drawdown ed. Paul Hawken

6 PLANNED GIVING: MEMORARE LEGACY SOCIETY: Have you already or have been thinking about leaving a legacy by designating a portion of your assets to pass at death to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, your parish or school or diocesan program or organization? The Memorare Legacy Society honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of those who have chosen to leave a legacy to the Diocese of Ogdensburg through estate or deferred gifts. Members of this society are those who have informed the Diocese of a planned gift that, in the future, will benefit the Diocese of Ogdensburg or any of its parishes or programs. This ensures a continuous commitment of care to their Church, to the Church s vision and to the charitable works that flow from her missions through their thoughtful planned gift. For more information on the Memorare Legacy Society, contact: Scott Lalone, Executive Director, Development Office , slalone@rcdony.org.