SAINT MATTHEW PARISH MASS SCHEDULE. Rev. Brian Kennedy, CSsR, Pastor

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1 SAINT MATTHEW PARISH 2 Searles Road, Windham, NH Sunday, December 3, 2017 MASS SCHEDULE WEEKENDS IN ST. MATTHEW CHURCH SAT: 4:00 PM SUN: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30AM & 6:00 PM WEEKDAYS AT WARDE HEALTH CTR MON - THUR: 8:30 AM WEEKDAYS IN ST. MATTHEW CHURCH WEDS: 7:00 PM FRI: 8:30 AM HOLY DAYS Contact Parish for Mass Schedule SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SAT: 2:30-3:30 PM or by appointment PARISH windstmatt@comcast.net PARISH WEBSITE stmatthew-nh.org Office: Rel.Ed.: Fax: Rev. Brian Kennedy, CSsR, Pastor Telephone: First Sunday of Advent

2 LITURGY No Time To Wait - Advent Week #1 by Claire McGarry You do not know when the time will come. Mark 13:33 We all know Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. So why is it that most of us feel unprepared when it arrives? With years of experience under our belts, shouldn't we have pushed back the start time for shopping, baking, decorating and wrapping? If we feel so unprepared about a celebration that comes around every year, on the same exact date, how are we going to feel when we unexpectedly come face to face with Our Maker? Overcoming procrastination is the answer. We all know how to properly prepare for Christmas: go to Confession, clean out our souls, make time and room for Christ to be born in our hearts. If we did that during this first week of Advent, we'd feel ready for Christmas, despite the cookies that still need to be baked, or the gifts that still need to be wrapped. We also know how to properly prepare for our judgment day: make amends for our wrongs, and step out in faith to build God's kingdom here on earth. If today we extend a helping hand, stand up for someone who is defenseless, or share our faith with someone who is lost, we'll be good servants, always at the ready for the "lord of the house" to return. Despite the bucket list we've yet to complete, if we spend our days living out God's command to love one another in word and action, we'll always be ready to come face to face with Him, no matter the hour. Questions For Reflection: * Do I wait too long each year to do my Christmas preparations and shopping? What is the down side of that? * Am I waiting until all my own needs are met before I reach out to take care of others? What is the down side of that? To read more reflections by Claire, visit her blog at Mass Intentions For The Week SATURDAY, December 2 4:00 PM Florent Letourneau by Florence Letourneau SUNDAY, December 3 - First Sunday of Advent 7:30 AM Daniel Murphy Jr. by Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Dunn 9:30 AM Mr. & Mrs. Camille Leger by the family 11:30 AM Regis McElhone by Kathy Altott 6:00 PM For all parishioners of St. Matthew DAILY MASS WARDE HEALTH CENTER CHAPEL MONDAY, December 4 8:30 AM Emile Marquis and Rene & Cecilia McGuire by their family TUESDAY, December 5 8:30 AM Sr. Anastasia Smith by friends WEDNESDAY, December 6 8:30 AM Kenneth Parow by Steve & Laurie Johnson 7:00 PM Joe Houle by Denise Guepy & Odile Tolme (church) THURSDAY, December 7 8:30 AM Sr. Eleanor Finn by friends FRIDAY, December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8:30 AM John Vannoni by Alice & Michael Langone (church) 7:00 PM Mary Tolme (living) by Odile Tolme (church) SATURDAY, December 10 * * * * * 4:00 PM Lorraine Matton by her family (Anniversary) SUNDAY, December 11 - Second Sunday of Advent 7:30 AM Denis D Entremont by his mom 9:30 AM Philomena Lovallo by her daughters 11:30 AM Palma Johnson by Laurie & Steve Johnson 6:00 PM For all parishioners of St. Matthew Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come!

3 FAMILY Give Back this Holiday Season Please consider sharing your blessings through our Giving Tree Program. THANK YOU! To all those who took one or more tags to purchase gifts for those in need this holiday season. We could not do it without you! And we are always amazed by the tremendous generosity of our parishioners! Please return your unwrapped gifts with TAG attached no later than December 14th. (only the pink stocking gifts should be wrapped) We also appreciate wrapping paper, bows, tags and tape to give to the families) Gifts can be dropped at the parish office or in the church! Thank you!!! FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION We will have Masses in St. Matthew Church for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, December 8th at 8:30am and again at 7:00pm. This is a holy day of Obligation. Responsorial Psalm Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE NEXT Sunday, December 10th 2:00pm at St. Matthew Church Prepare for the Christmas Season by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent! Area priests will be available for Confession. We encourage all to take part in this celebration. Worldwide Marriage Encounter Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter; we are all the work of your hands. As we begin the waiting of advent, let us strive to become the work of his hands by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Weekends are Jan 19-21, 2018 in South Kingstown, RI and Mar 9-11, 2018 in Duxbury, MA. For more information, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at or visit them at Join us for our Evening Advent Series! Mark your calendars for each Wednesday during Advent! This Wednesday, December 6th at 6:30pm. There will be a weekly theme, Peace, Joy, Hope and Love. There will be a reflection about the theme, followed by Mass, and an interactive Homily. Join us for this time of serenity in quiet preparation this Advent season away from the hustle and bustle and grow closer to our Savior! BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP Rockingham VNA & Hospice will be offering Bereavement Support Groups that meet once a week for 6 weeks during January and February. A Monday afternoon group (January 15 February 26) and a Thursday evening group (January 11 February 15) are planned. These groups are free to the public, but must have 4 registered participants for each group (with a maximum of 8 participants). The afternoon group will meet at the Epping Regional Health Center on Route 125 and the evening group(s) will be held at the offices of RVNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Road in Exeter. For more information and to register, please call Molly Brewer at Come one, Come all! Caroling Event! Be sure to mark your calendar and join us for our famous Caroling event! We need your spirit! We need your voices! Come help spread joy and cheer this holy season of Advent to those who are shut-in! Friday, December 8th at 5:30pm beginning at the Parish Center Hall, then out Caroling! At the conclusion, we ll come back for Mass for the holy day, then warm up with cocoa, cookies and fellowship! All are welcome!!!

4 CATECHESIS Christmas Pageant The Birth of Jesus Our pageant will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 16th at 4:00pm Mass. Mark your calendars, you won t want to miss this beautiful rendition of the Nativity by the children of our parish! If someone has a baby/doll cradle we can borrow, please contact Peg at x19 HONOR ROLL Monday: St. John Damascene Wednesday: St. Nicholas, Bishop Thursday: St. Ambrose Friday: The Immaculate Conception Saturday: St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin 2017 ADVENT CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROJECTS GRADES K - 5 Memo to families and catechists Dec. 3 rd & 10 th, our students are invited to participate in an Advent/Christmas service opportunity. In the spirit of the season, the Gospel message, and the corporal works of mercy, we will be collecting various items for those most in need. The following class days will be focused on these communities/ministries: SUNDAY MORNING 8:15 & 11:00 Children Feeding Children Dec. 3 & 10 We will be collecting non-perishable food items such as peanut butter and jelly, tuna fish, fluff, cereal, juice boxes, and snacks to help stock the shelves at local food pantries. MONDAY 4:15 Caring for God s Creatures Dec. 4 & 11 We will collect wish-list items for the Salem Animal Rescue League (SARL). These can be dog and cat food, treats, and toys; kitty litter; clean & gently used sheets, blankets, and towels; collars and leashes. WEDNESDAY 4:15 Clothing the Naked Dec. 6 & 13 We will collect new children s and adults hats, socks, mittens, and gloves for the poor. HOME SCHOOL Grades K, 1, 3, 4 & 5 Derry Birthright Collection Dec. 5 th We will collect baby items for Derry Birthright diapers, wipes, bottles, outfits, and toys. All items will be collected during these two (2) weeks and will be delivered over the Christmas holidays. Thank you very much for your continued support!! UPCOMING CLASS SCHEDULE: Classes for Grades K - 5 resume the week of December 3rd; Sun. Dec. 3rd 8:15am K-5 Classes 11:00am K-5 Classes Mon. Dec. 4th 4:15pm K-5 Classes Tues., Dec. 5th 6:15pm Homeschool Weds., Dec. 6th 4:15pm K-5 Classes Classes for Grades Year I and Year II resume January 31/February 3 with the Souper Bowl of Service! Gospel For All Ages "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come." On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus gives us a wakeup call. This is no time for slumber. Now is the time to be on our toes, alert, attentive, ready. But for what? For the coming of "the Lord of the house." During Advent, the Church does her best to help us get ready for the second coming of Christ. We don't know precisely when he will return, but we know that he will. And the fact is, even if it doesn't happen in our lifetime, each and every one of us will still have to face the Lord at an unknown hour-namely, the hour of our death. So let us be prepared! Let us be on the watch for anything that would threaten this most important of all encounters. We want to recognize the Lord as a friend and master, so that on seeing him we don't cower in fear at his awesome power and strength. Instead, we hope to rejoice in finally being able to behold him face-to-face. This of course is the result of a healthy and holy relationship with Christ. To nurture such a relationship this Advent season the Church urges us to recommit to a life of prayer, worthy reception of the sacraments, and a commitment to following God's loving laws through a life of virtue. With these priorities in order, we can wait for the second coming with joyful anticipation, just as we joyfully await the celebration of Christmas. During these weeks as we prepare our homes for the festive holiday season, may we also set aside some time and effort to prepare our hearts. Then, not only will we appreciate the yuletide wonders around us, but we can also look forward to the eternal wonders that lie in store. Life Question: What can we do this Advent to prepare our hearts for the hour that Christ comes?

5 YOUTH SAVE THE DATE! YOUTH MINISTRY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION W/ ZACH! WEDNESDAY, December 27th! We invite our parish youth to take part in Christmas festivities and fun as we welcome back our Youth Ministry Intern, Zach! Mark your calendar and join us! After eating dinner with kids at Manchester s Kid s Café this past Thursday, the Cross Fit crew managed to survive a seriously wicked game of dodgeball. Not pictured: our adult volunteers who knew better than to enter the game! #sittingtargets Sponsors for Year I - on retreat having a great time! You are invited... St. Joseph Regional Catholic School in Salem, NH invites your family to enjoy some Christmas cheer with us at these fun, free, family events: 6-7:30 pm: School Celebration ~ Cocoa, cookies & concert by Jedlie! 10 am & 6:30 pm: Our beloved Christmas Show, performed by our students From St. Andrew Church in Virginia "Make a blanket for the homeless" project. Our parish high school youth group completed 9 blankets and we sent several more home with individuals to complete and return. It was a fabulous evening and the teens were full of energy and enthusiasm for this project. Thank you for donating the fleece! I also gave a bolt to one of our elementary school aides who has a "Blanket Buddies" after school club, where they make blankets and quilts for a local shelter. She was thrilled to receive such a large donation! St. Joseph School is located at 40 Main Street, Salem directly behind St. Joseph Catholic Church. Join us! Pope Francis Tweeted this on November 23rd At the end of time, when the Lord comes to meet us, our joy will be immense. We live in anticipation of this encounter! Follow Pope Francis on

6 Readings for the Week of December 3, 2017 Sunday: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7/Ps 80:2-3, 15-19/ 1 Cor 1:3-9/Mk 13:33-37 Monday: Is 2:1-5/Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6/Ps 118:1,8-9, /Mt 7:21, Friday: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4/Eph 1:3-6,11-12/ Lk 1:26-38 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 [cf. Is 30:18d]/Mt 9:35--10:1, 5a, 6-8 Next Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, [8]/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8 OUTREACH SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR GIFT WRAPPING EVENT! During all the Masses on Dec. 16th & 17th, Dec. 20th and Dec. 23rd & 24th we invite you to bring your gifts to our team of Elves who will wrap them for you while you attend Mass! This is a fundraising event for a special new ministry for families we hope to offer! Donations will be gladly accepted! Our Lady of Hope House of Prayer Retreats Contemplative Weekends January 19-21, 2018 February 16-18, 2018 Come away for a while and BE STILL! A precious time of silence to be alone with your God. Cost is $140 for weekend. (Includes $30 for registration) Our Lady of Hope House of Prayer, 400 Temple Road, New Ipswich, NH. Contact: Sisters Rita Pay or Suzanne Rivard, p.m. at or olhope1@yahoo.com for more information or to register. DR 10 - Donation Needs! February 15 - March 2, 2018 Can you help with any of our needs? Donations can be dropped in the gathering space at church or by the parish office! We are going to need a record number of suitcases and duffle bags! Suitcases both full size and carry-on to carry donations Duffle bags large to carry donations Donations Material Goods 1. Working laptops and tablets 2. Plates and bowls lightweight, durable (like Corelle, melamine, or enamelware not plastic) for families in Pomito 3. Luci Lights inflatable solar lights, available online 4. Shorts, pants, shirts for teenage boys new or gently used (SMALL/MED PREFERRED) 5. New twin size sheet sets for our mission house in Las Matas 6. New bath towels for our mission house in Las Matas 7. Seeds: onion, beets, cilantro, watermelon, eggplant, carrots, lettuce 8. Sneakers of all sizes in very good condition 9. Flip flops of all sizes new *Donations Financial You can purchase a 100 meter roll of 25 mm polyethylene tubing for $125*. We will be using 120 rolls for 4 village aqueducts on this trip: Orqueta, Botoncito, Pomito, and Llanadita. VOCATION AWARENESS Father, we are the work of Your hands. Is God s work in you to be of service to Him as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life? Call Father Matthew Mason (603) , or write: mmason@rcbm.org. SACRIFICIAL GIVING Sacrificial Offering for Nov. 25 & 26 $ 9, Sacrificial Offering for Nov. 18 & 19 $10, God bless you for your faithful & generous support! Next weekend is our annual collection for the Religious Retirement Fund. Please pray about making a generous gift to support our aging religious who have served so faithfully!