Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative

Transcription

1 Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative Home to St. Mary and St. John the Evangelist Parish Families Parish Offices located at 115 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, (978) (978) fax (978) Just as our Blessed Mother Mary and the Evangelist, called John, came together at the foot of the cross to serve Christ crucified, so also do the parish families bearing their names come together to serve God by serving each other and all who make up the body of The Risen Lord. December 30, 2018

2 Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord! - Responsorial Psalm 84 at St. Mary s Faith Formation Events See Faith Formation Page 6 Grace Notes Rehearsal 8:10-8:40 pm Church 6 pm Music Ministry Team Rehearsal 5:00-5:45 pm Church 11:00 am Music Ministry Rehearsal 7:00 pm Church Music Ministry Rehearsal 6:30 pm Music Room Boy Scout Troop 77 7:00 pm Parish Hall Adoration 3:00-9:00 pm PC Chapel Rosary Makers 10:30 am - 12:00 pm PC Conf Room 2 Rosary 12:00-1:00 pm PC Chapel RCIA 7:00-8:30 pm PC CR 2 Adoration 7:00 am - 9:00 pm PC Chapel Knitting & Crocheting 3:00-5:00 pm PC MR 1&2 Baptism Prep 7:00-8:30 pm PC MR 5 NO 9:00 am Mass: Mass at St. John s this week Catholic Men s Group 7:45-8:45 am PC Conf Room 1 Adoration 9:30 am - 3:00 pm PC Chapel Reconciliation 11:00 am - 12:00 noon Church Music Rehearsals 1:00-4:00 pm Music Room Collaborative Bell Rehearsal 2:30-3:30 pm Loft String Ensemble/Ministry Rehearsal 3:00-4:00 pm Church Anointing of the Sick following 4:00 pm Mass Faith Formation Events See Faith Formation Page 6 Grace Notes Rehearsal 8:10-8:40 pm Church 6 pm Music Ministry Team Rehearsal 5:00-5:45 pm Church Collaborative PPC Meeting 7:00 pm PC Conf Room 1 Volunteers are needed to help continue this long-running, fun charity event. Greater support is critical in keeping this event going and we would like to make it a collaborative effort! The next outing will take place in June as opposed to our usual September date. The main tasks of this volunteer committee are soliciting sponsors, raffle prizes and, of course, golfers! Without help, the ability to keep this long-running event alive and well is threatened. If you d like to volunteer or learn more, contact Paul at (781) or at paulbz28@hotmail.com or Ron at (978) In honor of the New Year s holiday, the parish offices will close at 12:30 pm on Monday, December 31st and reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd. Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God office closures Tuesday, December 31 St. John at 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 1 St. Mary at 7:00 am St. John at 9:00 am St. Mary at 7:00 pm The Hannaford Cause Bag program was launched in October of 2015 and is designed to support local hunger relief organizations through the sale of the reusable The Clergy and Staff would like to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and blessed New Year! St. Mary Table Ministry has been chosen to be a beneficiary of the Hannaford Cause Bag program at the Drum Hill, Chelmsford store! Every time a shopper purchases the Fight Hunger reusable shopping bag (pictured above) at this location during the month of January, 25 will be donated to the St. Mary Table Ministry! So, who and WHAT is this Table Ministry. They are a group of people who plan healthy and delicious meals to feed those who cannot provide for themselves. They partner with 7 other area churches in working alongside the Salvation Army in serving meals to the poor who live among us. Fight Hunger bags. To learn more, please visit us at hannaford.bags4mycause.com or at facebook.com/hhbagprogram.

3 page 3 This year marks the 126th Anniversary of St. John the Evangelist Parish! Est. January 1, 1893 First Mass celebrated in present building on October 20, 1963 Dedicated by His Eminence Richard Cardinal Cushing on November 13, 1963 Rectory & Parish Center built in 1980 New Parish Center built in 2009 Collaborated with St. Mary s in June, 2015 DINE TO DONATE Fund Raiser Saturday, January 12, 2019 Stop into Wendy s anytime on this date and 30% of qualifying sales will be donated to St. John s Faith Formation Program. The required ticket (either paper or electronic image) is available in parish office or on our website. NOTE THE LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT: 436 Chelmsford Street, Lowell St. John s First Friday Nocturnal Adoration will begin THIS Friday, January 4th, following the 9:00 am Mass, and will continue through Saturday morning, concluding with 9:00 am Mass. You can show up at any time. If you would like to commit to an hour, contact Joe at joseph.ricciardi@gmail.com. Usher in the New Year with Midnight Mass Fr. Patrick Alemayo Monday, December 31st, 2018 Praise & Worship Reconciliation Rosary Healing Service Holy Mass December 30th, 2018: Feast of the Holy Family at St. John s Faith Formation Events See Faith Formation Page 7 Children s Liturgy of the Word 8:30 am Mass Coffee and Donuts, following 8:30 am Mass Hall African Liturgy Committee 11:30 am - 1:00 pm OPC Families w/addiction Support Group 7:00 pm Mary Gill African Community Vigil Mass 9:00 pm - 12 midnight Open Music Rehearsal 6:30 pm Church Epiphany Pageant Rehearsal 4:00-5:30 pm Hall God, Pizza and Beer 7:00 pm OPC Charismatic Prayer Group 10:00 am OPC BINGO 6:45 pm (doors open at 3:00 pm) Hall Charismatic Prayer Group 7:00 pm Church Nocturnal Adoration Fri, 9:30 am - Sat, 9:00 am OPC Chapel Epiphany Pageant Rehearsal 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Hall Reconciliation 3:00-3:45 pm Church Faith Formation Events See Faith Formation Page 7 Epiphany Pageant, following 8:30 am Mass Hall African Liturgy Committee 11:30 am - 1:00 pm OPC Godspell Audition 2:00-4:00 pm Church Flocknote is the communications tool that the Collaborative Uses to keep parishioners informed of special Liturgical and/or social events, important last-minute announcements, and communication to specific groups within the parish, such as Faith Formation, Youth Ministry and Eucharistic Adorers. To sign up for Flocknote, contact Christine at ext 214 or christine@chelmsfordcatholic.org Turn page for more

4 St. Vincent de Paul St. Mary s Conference - Ray Gatti, President Each year as the Christmas season approaches, our conference asks St. Mary s parishioners to consider making a year-end charitable donation to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Our financial report published annually in the bulletin shows the extent of our work in the parish and how your donations are spent. You can be assured that 100% of your donation provides financial assistance to our needy neighbors. In 2018, we saw a significant increase in requests for rental assistance. Many of these individuals pay a large percentage of their paycheck for rent and do not have much money saved for emergencies. Any loss of income resulting from a lengthy illness, a medical procedure, injury or job loss prevents payment of rent and other bills. We typically receive calls when these individuals just don t know where else to turn for help. With your generosity, and God s guidance, we strive to help those in need during their time of crisis. SVdP also provides them with information about food pantries, food programs, fuel assistance, and social services. Your contributions help us make a difference in people s lives, so we ask for your continued support. You may mail a check made out to St. Mary s SVdP to the parish office or place an envelope to our attention in the weekly collection basket. You may also donate electronically through the Online Giving link found at the bottom of the parish website. We wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and thank you for your generosity. that the celebration of Christmas was banned in Boston from ? Puritan colonists objected to it as a "papist holiday." that even after the ban on Christmas was lifted, it was not widely celebrated by New Englanders in early America? As late as 1850, schools, stores, and governments were open on Christmas Day. that in 1856 Christmas was made a state holiday in Massachusetts? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow remarked "We are in a transition state about Christmas here in New England. The old Puritan feeling prevents it from being a cheerful, hearty holiday; though every year makes it more so." that Christmas Day was declared a federal holiday by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870? welcome to more A. When we answer this question, it is important for us to note that the real presence of Christ is not something that is up for discussion. But what does it mean for us to accept this truth of faith? When we acknowledge this wondrous gift to us, we must realize that it is intended to call forth from us a response. What is our response intended to be? It can be helpful in answering this question to understand what occurs in the transformation of bread and wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ. We must realize though that to our senses the bread and wine appear unchanged, to the eyes of faith, the very substance, the true reality of the sacramental elements through the consecration, have been transformed into something new. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word meaning to give thanks. The Eucharistic prayer then, is a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving, corresponding to Christ s blessing of the bread and wine. In this prayer, which is the high point of the entire celebration, we celebrate and are invited to experience in faith the very mystery of salvation. We are united to Christ s death, resurrection, and ascension and the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. What we pray for is not simply the transformation of bread and wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ. As we enter into this prayer, we are united in heart, mind and voice with the heavenly host crying out to the Father, Holy! Holy! Holy! As the prayer ascends to the Father, He hears the voice of His beloved one, Jesus Christ, and responds. We ask that the Father pour forth the Holy Spirit (epiclesis), so that our human gifts of bread and wine become Christ s Body and Blood. Christ s own words are solemnly said: This is my body this is my blood. And our God responds by sending the Holy Spirit. By the invocation of the Holy Spirit and through the words of Christ, the bread and wine are transformed into the very Body and Blood of Christ. However, we are now not only in the presence of God, but also in the very heart of the eternal God. For the Church, this prayer opens us to eternity, and therefore unites us to Christ s very act of salvation; His self-offering on the cross. We make memory (anamnesis) as Christ commanded us, but in a way that brings the death and resurrection of Christ, and its fruits into our here and now. In making this prayer, we are uniting ourselves to the once and for all sacrifice of Christ. In this one offering of Christ to the Father, with Christ, we empty ourselves of all that is not of God. This is possible because we now pray not only that the gifts of bread and wine be transformed, but that we too, will be transformed into the Body of Christ by the Spirit (epiclesis). Therefore, this prayer not only seeks to make Christ present in the Eucharistic elements, but also to make Christ present in the world through us. As we conclude this prayer we are being prepared to receive Christ s gift of Himself. Like Christ, we must take the gifts the Father has given us in our life and return a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude towards God. This recognition, that all we have comes from the Lord, should fill us with a desire to break open our lives and give ourselves as gift to others, just as Christ does for us in the Eucharist. In that way we become the presence of Christ in the lives of others; we become what we receive the body of Christ.

5 of what s happeningin our Collaborative! Since officially opening the doors of the St. Mary Parish Center for Faith Formation and Evangelization, it has become a hubbub of activity a home to many ministries who make regular use of its space. To name a few. Adoration, Bible Study, Rosary and Rosary Making Groups, Catholic Men s Group, Clergy and Staff Meetings, Knitting and Crocheting and of course, our Faith Formation Classes and the list will continue to grow. We are very blessed to have this space to accommodate our growing needs! As we enter the season of colds, flus and viruses, we encourage parishioners to exercise discretion in shaking hands at the Sign of Peace when they are either recovering from, have been exposed to, or are afraid that they may be coming down with an illness if they have concerns about the strength of their own immune system in resisting disease. A friendly smile, wave and/or slight shake of the head is always an acceptable substitute in wintertime. A Projection Into Our Future Power Sound of NE was onsite, as scheduled, on Monday, December 17th to begin the installation of the projector at St. Mary s. After laying out the details of the project and the equipment, it was discovered that the projector screen was too short it did not cover the entire length of the stained glass window. This will pose potential problems with glare and shadowing, so a new one will have to be ordered. With this being such an important project with far-reaching benefits, we have postponed the installation until after the 1st of the year. Thank you for your understanding. We will keep you posted. Bible Studies at St. Mary s Epic: Early Church A 10-week study beginning February 12, 2019 Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 pm You will be led on a powerful journey through the first 500 years of Church history. You will meet courageous saints, eloquent theologians, ruthless emperors and heroic martyrs. This dynamic program presents the origins of the Faith from a truly Catholic perspective. Registration, with $35 payment, MUST be received January 18, Prophets: Messengers of God s Mercy A 10-week study beginning February 11, 2019 Monday mornings, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon If we consider that God is the Divine Bridegroom and the Church is his Bride, then the prophets can be seen as spiritual marriage counselors. They afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, calling us to return to our covenant relationship with God. They urge us to repentance, warn us of the dangers of sin, and announce the blessings of faithfulness. Their prophetic words speak to us even today, as they draw us closer to our heavenly Bridegroom, and show us how to share him with others. Registration, with $25 payment, MUST be received by January 18, Almost there! Just looking for a few more cast members If you have been considering auditioning, please CONSIDER NO MORE! We have added another audition date January 6th 2:00-4:00 pm St. John Church Audition Details ~ Prepare one song of your choice to sing a cappella, with piano or with CD. Bring sheet music if you would like piano to play along. A CD player will be available. ~ Be prepared to sing the melody of both show tunes; "Prepare Ye" and "Day by Day," accompanied by piano. If you know other songs from Godspell, this is also acceptable. ~ You may be asked to read from the script. Contact St. John's music director Jason Gaudette with any questions jay@chelmsfordcatholic.org

6 St. Mary Faith Formation Program Heather Hannaway Director of Faith Formation Courtney Callanan Coordinator of Grades 7-10 Elaine Kindler Faith Formation Office Manager class schedule Grade K 9:30-10:30 am Parish Center Grade 1 9:15-10:45 am Parish Hall Grade 3 9:15-10:45 am Parish Center 10:14 FAITH FORMATION CLASSES WILL RESUME NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2019 GRADE 2 Grade 5 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Parish Center Grade 8 2:15-3:45 pm Parish Hall Confirmation II 4:00-5:45 pm Parish Hall Mock Reconciliation Sunday, January 6th 12:15-1:45 pm We are in DESPERATE need of adult volunteers to help as small group leaders for our Confirmation retreats to lead groups of eight teens. We provide everything you need and are there to support group leaders the whole time. Retreats are held on January 12th and February 2nd from 1:00-9:00 pm. Contact Courtney today! Happy New Year, but Wait! It s still Christmas!!!! The Origins of The Twelve Days of Christmas Catholics in England, during the period from 1558 to 1829 (when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England), were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law private or public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic. The Twelve Days of Christmas was written in England as one of the catechism songs to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged, drawn and quartered, or shortened by a head. The song's gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The true love mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, but to God Himself. The me who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem. The other symbols mean the following: 2 turtle doves: the old and new testaments 3 French hens: faith, hope, and charity (the theological virtues) 4 calling birds: the four gospels and/or the four evangelists 5 golden rings: the first five books of the old testament 6 geese a-laying: the six days of creation 7 swans a-swimming: the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and/or the seven sacraments 8 maids a-milking: the eight beatitudes 9 ladies dancing: the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit 10 lords a-leaping: the ten commandments 11 pipers piping: the eleven faithful apostles 12 drummers drumming: the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed 1I believe in, the Father the Almighty, 2 of heaven and earth. 3 I believe in, His only Son, our Lord, 4 who was ; 5, suffered under Pontius Pilate, 6 was. He descended to the dead. 7 On the third day he again in fulfillment of the scripture. 8 He will in glory to judge the living and the dead. 9, 10, the forgiveness of sins and.

7 St. John Faith Formation Program Fran Anderson Director of Faith Formation Courtney Callanan Confirmation Coordinator Lynn Anne LaDuke Administrative Assistant Due to the Christmas Season, coupled with School Vacation, Faith Formation Classes will be on break from December 23rd - January5th. Classes will resume Sunday, January 6th with attendance at the Epiphany Pageant. FIRST RECONCILIATION... All second grade students who are preparing for their First Communion are asked to register for one of these dates: January 19th, 26th and February 2nd, 9th We will meet in the church at 2:00 pm. If you have not yet registered, contact Fran today! REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Wednesday, January 2nd 4:00 pm Saturday, January 5th (dress rehearsal) 9 am -12 noon PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE Sunday, January 6th following 8:30 am Mass... is what was raised through the Silent Auction. Thank you to EVERYONE who supported this event through the donation of, or bidding on, items. Every year we need YOU for this event to be successful, and in your usual generous fashion, you come through. THANK YOU! Also congratulations to all our winners! If you have not yet picked up your item, please stop by the parish office to do so. We are in DESPERATE need of adult volunteers to help as small group 10:14 leaders for our Confirmation retreats to lead groups of eight teens. We provide everything you need and are there to support group leaders the whole time. Retreats are held on January 12th and February 2nd from 1:00-9:00 pm. Contact Courtney today! The Feast of the Holy Family is not just about the Holy Family, but about our own families too. The main purpose of the Feast is to present the Holy Family as the model for all Christian families, and for domestic life in general. Our family life becomes sanctified when we live the life of the Church within our homes. This is called the "domestic church" or the "church in miniature." St. John Chrysostom urged all Christians to make each home a "family church," and in doing so, we sanctify the family unit. Just how does one live out the Church in the family? The best way is by making Christ the center of family and individual life. Ways to do this include: reading scripture regularly, praying daily, attending Mass at least on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, imitating the actions of the Holy Family, going to confession frequently, and so forth, all done together as a family unit. St. Paul provides advice on family life in Colossians 3:12-21: The Holy Family feast is a good time to remember the family unit and pray for our human and spiritual families. We also may take this feast to reflect on the value and sanctity of the family unit, and to evaluate our own family life. What ways may it be improved? What would Jesus, Mary, and Joseph do? Finally, we can use this feast to ask ourselves what we are doing to promote the family within our own cultures, neighborhoods, and communities.

8 Collaborative Youth Ministry Program Courtney Callanan, Youth Minister ext 227 Both of our Summer 2019 trips are open to incoming freshmen through graduated seniors! This summer, we gather together to celebrate our call to be radiant followers of Christ. We will love as He loved, serve as He served, and boldly put our faith into action. James 1:22 reminds us that we are to be doers of the word and not merely hearers. By letting our light shine bright and being witnesses for Christ, we recognize that we are designed in His image and, as a result, equipped for greatness. We are called to illuminate our Catholic faith in our lives and the lives of others through our words and deeds. Each of us can be a source of light to a darkened world when we lead with love and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, for He assured us in John 8:12 when He said, I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. July 21-26, 2019 in North Haledon, NJ Deadline to sign up: February 2, 2019 $475 ($90 non-refundable deposit due at registration) COR UNUM CALENDAR January 25th RSVP by Friday, January 11th February 20th RSVP by Wednesday, February 6th March 22nd RSVP by Friday, March 8th April 26th RSVP by Friday, April 12th At the core of our being is a desire for meaningful connection and authentic relationship. We long to love and be loved, but how often do we just feel lonely? As we search for ways to escape these feelings of isolation, there comes a small, quiet whisper that pierces through to the depths of our heart:. This summer, over 50,000 Catholic teens across North America will attend 1 of 24 Steubenville Youth Conferences to encounter the God who calls us His sons and daughters. Come and experience His overwhelming love for you. July 12-14, 2019 at UMass Lowell Deadline to sign up: February 2, 2019 $275 ($50 non-refundable deposit due at registration) Cor Unum Meal Center serves breakfast and dinner 7 days a week to those in need. The center is committed to the truth that no man, woman or child should ever go hungry and should be treated with dignity. On the fourth Friday of each month, we look for 5-7 youth and 1 adult who are willing and able to volunteer and represent our Collaborative. Sign up by contacting Barbara at dwsmiths@comcast.net or (978) We meet in St. John s parking lot at 3:15 pm and arrive back to the same location by 7:30 pm. Don t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ~ 1Timothy 4:-12 If you have not yet taken a copy of The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity by Matthew Kelly, please do so today. This is a gift from the staff and clergy to the families of our Collaborative. Please find them on tables in both churches. Enjoy! New to the collaborative? We warmly welcome all new parishioners to our family! Please complete a registration form by contacting us in the parish office, or by visiting our parish websites

9 Here to Serve You... Reverend Brian Mahoney ext 215 Reverend Tom Corcoran ext 218 Reverend Arnold Colletti ext 221 Francis X. Burke ext 224 Fran Anderson ext 212 Courtney Callanan ext 227 Paul Firicano ext 220 Donna Gambon ext 248 Jason Gaudette ext 234 Heather Hannaway ext 226 Dan Heider ext 213 Elaine Kindler ext 216 Lynn Anne LaDuke ext 240 Marlene Mendez ext 249 Rae Russo ext 236 Tina Sousa ext 219 Christine Trznadel ext 214 John Anthony Volpe ext 222 Bob Webb ext 211 Stephen Webber ext 231 In order to promote communication and transparency throughout the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative, you are encouraged to forward any comments and concerns you may have directly to the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils. COLLABORATIVE PARISH COUNCIL Parish council matters can be sent to: or / , ext 145. Current Council Members are... St. John Members Angela McMaster (co-chair) Mike Condor Scott Davidson Julie Seitter Ellen St. George Beth Jacavanco Augustine Tweneh Ray Wagner (secretary) St. Mary Members Cliff Mann (co-chair) Laura Conte Rob Donnelly Karen Drake Peter Lando (co-chair) Lori McDonald Alma (Chicki) Rigazio Paul Therrien St Mary Youth: Jessica Hagg, Matt Larson St John Youth: Delaney Schiefen ST. JOHN FINANCE COUNCIL Finance matters concerning St. John s can be sent to: SJFinanceCouncil@chelmsfordcatholic.org or , ext 146. Current Council Members are John Bagni Paul Brzezenski Jeff Brown Celeste Dunn Jerry Wright ST. MARY FINANCE COUNCIL Finance matters concerning St. Mary s can be sent to: SM.FC@chelmsfordcatholic.org or ext147. Current Council Members are... Armand DiLando William Donohue Lauren Desforge Gerard Jarasitis Ted Powers If you would like to submit a notice for the bulletin, please submit it no later than 12 NOON, TWO Fridays prior to the weekend in which you want it published. Submittals should be forwarded to christine@chelmsfordcatholic.org or via US Mail to the Parish Offices at 115 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford, MA, 01863, ATTN Christine. We will do our very best to accommodate your request.

10 and now a word from Our Pastor

11 page 11 December 30th, 2018: Feast of The Holy Family FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF ST. MARY FAITH FORMATION HEATHER HANNAWAY Remember to smell your baby s head! I recently saw a sign that said. Remember to smell your baby s head! If you ve ever had that sweet moment of pure bliss inhaling the smell of a newborn s head, you get it. It is like no other smell in the world and it is gone so quickly. With every one of my babies, the awareness of how fast that sweet moment would pass pressed on my heart. I wanted time to take in the profound glory of God I held in my arms. It seemed very relevant that the sign would be sitting on that store shelf during Advent. I tend to dwell more on the King of Justice coming at the end of time, and whether he will recognize me as his own when he gets here, than on the sweet hope of the newborn king coming into the world; that is until midnight of Christmas Eve, and then I am lost in the wonder of that newborn babe. I got to experience that midnight moment a little earlier this year. On Gaudete Sunday, a beautiful 2 nd grade boy came into class proudly carrying in the crook of one arm, his tiny newborn brother. He was so confident in his role as the protective big brother that my heart clutched when I looked down and saw his proud smile and the way he swaggered a little when he came up to the table to show me. The family was engulfed in the radiance of the miracle of the tiny new life that God had blessed them with, and for a moment, everyone shared in the wonder and awe. I m a bit obsessed with the O Antiphons, I never put baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve and I would rather not give or get gifts until after Christmas day. For me it is not just about fully celebrating Advent as it is wanting the peace, hope and love, that is the miracle of the newborn king, to last throughout the entire season of Christmas, not just until December 26 th. I want to linger and smell baby Jesus head every day of the season. I want to immerse myself in the miracle of His birth and the gifts His coming brought to the world, and ponder what gift I can give to Him this year that will honor Him, what gifts can I give to the those I love, those in need, those in despair, those suffering, those who are lost, those who are alone and those most in need of His mercy. I need every day in the season of Christmas to ponder the miracle of His birth, the wonder of His love, and to rest for a moment in His hope and peace. I won t have it rushed away. Take time to remember to smell baby Jesus head. To linger in His glory, wonder in His love and get lost in the awe that is the newborn king laying in the manger. Allow the Christmas season to be more than a flurry of a day, and let it unroll as the season of peace, hope and love, and possibly new life, is intended to be. The other side to the Christmas Story The details of the Christmas story are as dear to us as they are familiar. In songs and carols, greeting cards, paintings, stories, plays and movies, the events and scenes of how Jesus was born and under what circumstances have been memorialized and captured with charming appeal. But, in reality for Mary and Joseph, the many particulars that we ve grown accustomed to like traveling to Bethlehem, no room in the inn, laid in a manger, were anything but charming. They were real hardships and even sufferings for this young man and woman who were chosen by God to welcome the Savior of the world and to be His Mother and foster-father. The details of the Lord s birth were not the unhappy outcome of chance, nor poor planning on God s part, or worse yet, the result of divine cruelty on Mary and Joseph. The work of the Incarnation was (and is) all part of a mysterious Wisdom, that is at the same time, a revelation of love and of mercy. Divine Love and Divine Mercy. God chose these hardships and details for a reason. He could have just as easily (since he s God!), made Jesus be born in the palace of a King, as might seem more fitting to us since he is, after all, the Son of God. But He didn t, and while there are several reasons for this wisdom, there s one reason that s especially important for us to take to heart, to think about, and even pray about. It is that God manifests his power and his mercy in circumstances that seem the least compatible to welcome them. In other words, the more things seem impossible and without solutions, the more God can turn them around for our good and his glory. Jesus came as powerless as could be, since babies are as vulnerable and fragile as anything. But this seemingly powerless baby was the all-powerful God who came to save us. Many people have things in their lives that render them powerless. These could be sufferings, personal sins, those of others, addictions, bad choices which we can t get out from under; the list goes on and on. Jesus didn t come for the magic of a Hallmark card, a Disney movie, or a Charles Dickens story. He came, born in a cave among animals, for those who were (and are) poor and needy and in some way desperate for help (spiritual, moral, emotional or physical). And when we are powerless, the little Jesus can become our power; He can fix what we can t. But let s not forget another important element to the story. God s glory shone all around, and the angels sang Glory to God in the highest. In fact, these two things aren t at odds- God s glory and our poverty. It s precisely in our need that God s glory can be manifest, in our sins that he will make the angels sing, and in the least likely of circumstances that his plan for us can be worked out.

12 The Financial Page Fiscal Year 2019 runs from July 1, June 30, 2019 Paul Firicano, Collaborative Business Manager pfiricano@chelmsfordcatholic.org Due to an early submittal to the printer because of the Christmas Holiday, the collection figures for the weekends of December 22nd/23rd and 29th/30th will be published in the January 5th/6th bulletin. St. Mary St. John as of December 16th, 2018 as of December 16th, 2018 as of Dec 17, 2017 as of Dec 16, END-OF-YEAR DONATIONS as of Dec 17, 2017 as of Dec 16, 2018 If you are planning on a year-end tax deductable gift to either St. Mary s or St. John s, please do so by TOMORROW, December 31st. Anything received by this date will be appropriately dated to be included with your 2018 contributions. If you have any questions, contact Paul Firicano. Thank you for your continued generosity. We are sharing this important notice as we have had a couple of parishioners who have experienced this scam in the form of a fake from Fr. Brian. If you receive such an as described below, please 1. IGNORE, then 2. report it to the Parish Office. Thank you. IMPORTANT NOTICE PHISHING S and itunes CARDS The Archdiocese of Boston IT Department has noted an unusual increase in the number of phishing reports impacting parishes. Phishing is an attempt by fraudsters to (1) have you transfer money, (2) make a purchase, e.g., itunes cards, or (3) reveal personal information. This current spate of phishing s is most likely related to a hacked account where the contacts are now being used to target parishes. Note the following excerpts from a recent example: 1st to parish staff or parishioner Hello. How are you? I need a favor from you. me back when you get this message. Many Blessings, 2nd to parish staff or parishioner Good to hear from you, I need you to get an itunes gift card for some patients going through cancer in the hospital and i promised each patient but i can't do this right now. I'm currently busy in a pastoral meeting. Can you get it from any store around you? I will pay back as soon as i get back. Let me know if you can get it now. Note, that some recipients of these s have gone through the process of purchasing itunes cards and have provided the codes on the cards to the fraudsters who have then used them to make purchases. We have had reports that these s have also gone to parishioners who have fallen for this scam.

13 Liturgical MinisterTraining As one accepts a role of ministry for liturgy, he/she must understand the privilege and responsibility attached to their ministry. The role is to be fulfilled with all due reverence and dignity warranted in serving Christ. When embracing a role for liturgy, one embraces the commitment to dependability, time for preparation each time he/ she serves, and time for ongoing development and enrichment. Fr. Brian will be presenting a 5-week training session in order to assist and inspire us to be at our best in the Liturgical roles God has called us to. This training is mandatory for all current ministers. Wednesday, January 9th at 6:30 pm St. Mary s Saturday, January 12th at 11:00 am St. John s EMHC Presentation on Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 pm St. Mary s LECTOR Presentation on Saturday, January 19th at 11:00 am St. John s LECTOR Presentation on Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30 pm St. Mary s EMHC Presentation on Saturday, January 26th at 11:00 am St. John s St. Mary LECTORS: Wednesday, January 30th at 6:30 pm St. John LECTORS: Saturday, February 2nd at 11:00 am St. Mary EMHC s: Wednesday, February 6th at 6:30 pm St. Mary SACRISTANS: Wednesday, February 6th at 7:30 pm St. John EMHC s: Saturday, February 9th at 11:00 am St. John SACRISTANS: Saturday, February 9th at 12:00 noon

14 SAT, DEC 29 SUN, DEC 30 FRI, JAN 4 SAT, JAN 5 SUN, JAN 6 If you would like to request that a Mass be celebrated for a specific intention or person, please call the parish office. A donation of $10 per Mass intention is requested to be made at the time that you schedule your intention. St. John SAT, DEC 29 4:00 pm: Arpad Nagy: 1st Anniversary SUN, DEC 30 8:30 am: Hannah and John Harrington: Memorial 10:30 am: Curran, Belkin, Johnson and Finlay Families 5:00 pm: For the People of the Parish THUR, JAN 3 9:00 am: David Soracco: 14th Anniversary SAT, JAN 5 4:00 pm: For the People of the Parish SUN, JAN 6 10:30 am: J Edward Clancy and William & Marie O Connell, and William O Connell Jr St. Mary 4:00 pm: William B. Watt: 1st Anniversary 7:00 am: For the People of the Parish 11:00 am: Andrew Kehoe: 30th Anniversary 6:00 pm: Joseph Anthony Webb: Memorial 7:00 am: Nora Venning: 11th Anniversary 4:00 pm: For the People of the Parish 7:00 am: Marguerite Farley: Memorial 9:00 am: Lillian Stott: 18th Anniversary 6:00 pm: Kathy Nisco: 40th Anniversary St. Mary Memorial Altar Flowers Parishioners are invited to donate a floral arrangement, to be displayed on the altar in memory of, or in honor of, a loved one. If you would like to donate altar flowers, please call Tina at ext 219. The requested donation for an arrangement is $40, and includes an acknowledgement in the bulletin. St John Rose for Life Someone special you d like to honor? You can do that by having a rose placed before Our Lady of Fatima s statue for one week. We will publish your intention in the bulletin. To book a Rose for Life, contact the parish office. The suggested offering for a rose is $5.00. Nora May Pereira To book a Rose For Life, contact the Parish Offices Rose Donated by Mahoney s Garden Center A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

15 ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY OPEN HOUSE EVENTS MIDDLE SCHOOL Jan. 5, 10am Feb. 7, 6pm PROJECT BASED CURRICULUM STUDENT CENTERED INSTRUCTION COLLEGE FOCUSED ACADEMICS HIGH SCHOOL Apply Online: innovationcharter.org/apply Nov. 4, 1pm Jan. 16, 6pm 72 Tyng Rd, Tyngsboro, MA IACS is a public school for students in grades Applications may only be completed by Massachusetts residents. IACS does not discriminate on any basis. Admissions policies adhere to all state and federal regulations including public School Regulation 603CMR 26.00, 603CMR 1.05 and MGL c71/89 which states in part: Charter schools shall be open to all students on a space available basis and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, ages, ancestry, athletic performance, special needs, and proficiency in English language or academic achievement. 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