26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT Phone: (203) Fax: (203) Visit us on Facebook: StMaryChurchBethel PARISH

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1 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT Phone: (203) Fax: (203) Visit us on Facebook: StMaryChurchBethel PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 9am 3:00 pm, Monday Friday (Closed weekends and Holidays)

2 St. Mary Catholic Church Third Sunday of Advent FATHER COREY S EPISTLE Oplatki Families of Polish, Slovak and Lithuanian background observe this Christmas Eve Tradition. Family members and guests each are handed an oplatek and they each break off a piece from one another and eat it, expressing best wishes and blessings to each other, and asking for forgiveness. This is a tender, touching family celebration of love and forgiveness. The tradition of the Oplatki originated in Poland during Early Christian times. This Christmas Custom began with a simple white wafer, baked from flour and water. The wafers are wonderfully designed to display Christmas images, such as the Nativity. The Oplatki are enjoyed by families, typically right before the Christmas Eve meal. The entire family will gather around the table with the Oplatek. Generally, the eldest member of the family will begin the ritual by breaking off a piece of the wafer and passing it to another family member with a blessing. This blessing can simply consist of what you desire for your loved one in the upcoming year whether it be good health, success, or happiness. The purpose of this act is primarily to express one s unconditional love and forgiveness for each member of his or her family. The significance of the Oplatki Christmas wafer is in that it shadows the Eucharistic meal that Catholics participate in at each Mass. Just as we share in the Eucharist as one family in Christ and receive Christ s love through the Eucharist, the Oplatki allows for one s immediate family to come together and share the love they have for one another. Although this tradition is primarily enjoyed by the human members of the family, even the family pets can partake in this meal. Whereas the wafers are generally white in color, there are colored Oplatki made especially for pets. (Although both colors are edible by people.) Traditionally, this corresponds to the animals that were present at Christ s birth. However, in current times, this can also represent the important role that pets play in the family. The Oplatki tradition is one that is easy and fun to introduce to the family at Christmas time. All it requires is a simple wafer paired with love and affection, and the willingness to share it. This is a heartwarming tradition that will complete your family s time together during the Christmas season. OPLATKI FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: WHAT IS OPLATKI? A: Oplatki are thin wafers, similar to Communion hosts, which measure 5 1/2in. x 2 3/4in. The wafers have four beautiful Christmas images stamped into them. The images include the Nativity, the Star of Bethlehem, or the Holy Family. Each set of wafers comes in an envelope with the Oplatki tradition printed on the back. Q: HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT? A: The authentic Polish pronunciation is O pwaht kee. This is the plural form of the word. One wafer it is called Oplatek (O pwah tek). Q: ARE THERE OTHER NAMES FOR THIS TRADITION? A: Yes, in Lithuania the wafers are part of the Kucios meal and can be called by many names, including: plotkele, paplotelis, or plokstainelis. Depending on where the family is from they may even say kaledaitis. Slovaks call the wafers oblatky. In America the tradition is often called Christmas Wafers. Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE CHRISTMAS WAFERS? A: Just before the Christmas Eve meal (in Polish called Wigilia) the entire family will gather around the table with the Oplatki. Generally, the eldest member of the family will begin the ritual by breaking off a piece of the wafer and passing it to another family member with a blessing. This blessing can simply consist of what you desire for your loved one in the upcoming year whether it be good health, success, or happiness. The wafer is passes from person to person until all have had a piece and all have been given blessings. The purpose of this act is primarily to express ones unconditional love and forgiveness for each member of his or her family. Sunday, 12/17 Monday, 12/18 Tuesday, 12/19 Wednesday, 12/20 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am and 11:30am & 5:30pm Masses 8:30am Kinderword 9:30am RCIA 6:45pm Youth Group Christmas Party 10:30am Grow Truck 5:30pm Little Flowers 8:15 Knights of Columbus 9:30am Prayer Shawl Ministry 6:30pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 7:00pm Prayer Service Recycling Truck

3 St. Mary Catholic Church December 17, 2017 FATHER COREY S EPISTLE Q: WHY ARE SOME WAFERS WHITE AND SOME PINK? A: Although this tradition is primarily enjoyed by the human members of the family, even the family pets can partake in this meal. The Pink Oplatki is made especially for pets. Traditionally, this corresponds to the animals that were present at Christ's birth. However, in current times, this can also represent the important role that pets play in the family. Q: HOW DID THIS TRADITION START? A: The tradition of the Oplatki originated in Poland during Early Christian times. This Christmas Custom began with a simple white wafer, baked from flour and water. The wafers are wonderfully designed to display Christmas images, such as the Nativity. The Tradition is popular throughout eastern Europe, including Lithuania and Slovakia. Q: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE? A: The word Bethlehem means "House of Bread." The breaking of the bread is a sign of charity, unity, and friendship. The Oplatki Christmas wafers also remind us of the Eucharistic meal that Catholics participate in at each Mass. Just as we share in the Eucharist as one family in Christ and receive Christ's love through the Eucharist, the Oplatki allows for one's immediate family to come together and share the love they have for one another. Q: OUR FAMILY ISN'T POLISH CAN WE STILL HAVE OPLATKI? A: YES! This tradition can become a part of every family's Christmas traditions! Q: I LIVE FAR AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, WHAT CAN I DO? A: Many families purchase Oplatki and include the wafers in Christmas cards to family members in distant locations. The tradition can easily be shared in this way with anyone around the world! Q: WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF THE OPLATKI WAFERS? A: Oplatki wafers stay fresh for a long time. It is safe to store the oplatki for several months, preferably in a sealed container. Advent meditation: As the calendar year draws to a close, family schedules and personal agendas fill with meetings, programs, parties, and annual obligations. The carol "Silent Night" could not have been written at the end of the twentieth century, when its title evokes the peace and stillness modern women and men can only imagine. Yet this busiest time of year calls us to draw close to others, above all to God, who became flesh and lived with us. Contemplation and carpooling?! Meditation and manic shopping?! How do we carve out moments of quiet when we open ourselves to God's presence? Perhaps we have to lower our sights from hours spent around hearths and lengthy readings or litanies. Between traffic jams and parking lot crushes, scribbling holiday notes and decking our halls, there may still be ten minutes or even five when the family (which may mean something as informal as those who share meals and lodging) can sit quietly around the lighted Advent wreath. Once a day, once a week, or perhaps only once during the Season of Preparation. Another Advent meditation: John's disciples said to Jesus, "Are you 'He who is to come' or do we look for another?" In reply, Jesus said: "Tell John what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, and the poor have good news preached to them..."(lk. 3:10 Third Week of Advent) O Jesus, I rejoice at the signs that say you are near. Your power is everywhere if I could see it. Yet my eyes often see only darkness and what has yet to be done. I believe in you, yet when I look around evil seems so strong and goodness so weak. If you have come, why is there still so much suffering and why do the poor still despair? Where are your miracles today? Your grace, O Lord, is more fruitful in my world than I imagine. I know your power is everywhere around me, if I could only see it. Show me today where the blind see and cripples walk. Make my vision sharper than it is. Thursday, 12/21 Friday, 12/22 Saturday, 12/23 Sunday, 12/24 7:00pm Confessions 7:00pm Adult Choir 4:00pm Confessions 8:00am Mass 8:30am Confessions 8:30am Men s Ministry 4:00pm Confessions 5:30pm Mass 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am and 11:30am Masses in the Gym 9:30am RCIA 4:00pm, 6:00pm & 10:00pm Christmas Vigil Masses in the Church

4 FATHER COREY S EPISTLE Do you know the origins of the Christmas Stocking? The tradition of the Christmas stockings began by a story told since ancient time about a kind noble man who had three daughters. The wife of the nobleman expired and the daughters and their father were left in a state of sorrow. The daughters had to do all the work in the house. When the daughters became young and eligible for marriage, the poor father could not afford to give the huge dowries to their husbands. One evening the daughters, after washing their stockings hung them near the fire place to be dried. Santa Claus being moved by the plight of the daughters came in and put in three bags of gold one in each of the stocking hanging by the chimney. The next morning the family noticed the gold bags and the nobleman had enough for his daughter s marriage. The daughters got married and they lived happily ever after. Since then children have been hanging Christmas stockings. Mistletoe was used by Druid priests 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the cold months of winter. The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward off evil spirits. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace. Scandinavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it may be from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year. The Parish Office will be closed from Noon on Fri., December 22nd until 9:00am on Tues., January 2nd. Join us for our next meeting of the LITTLE FLOWERS GIRLS CLUB on Monday, Dec., 18 at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall. The Little Flowers is a fun, flexible and Faithfilled Catholic Club for girls ages 5 and up and their Moms. Any questions, call Mary at The next meetings of our PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY are on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 9:30am or 6:30pm in the Notre Dame Center. Whether you are a beginner or a professional stitcher, we would love to have you join us in this caring ministry. For more information or if you or someone you know would like the comfort of a prayer shawl, please call Mary at (203) WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYER SERVICE On Wednesday nights, join us for quiet prayer at 7:00pm in the Notre Dame Center Chapel for our own personal intentions and for the whole world. Our next meeting of the St. Mary MEN'S MINISTRY group will be on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8:30am in the Parish Hall. For more information, Craig DeFreese at acdefreese@snet.net or Eric Keener at stmarys06801@gmail.com. CHRISTMAS FLOWER DONATION If you wish to donate toward flowers for the Church in memory of loved ones, please put your donation along with the names in an envelope in the basket or bring it to the Rectory. Offertory for the weekend of December 9/10 Collection: $10, On Line Giving: $3,930.00

5 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Fourth Sunday of Advent Schedule (All masses will be in the School Gym) Saturday, December 23: 5:30pm Sunday, December 24: 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am Sunday, December 24: Christmas Mass Schedule (All masses will be in the Church) 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 10:00pm Monday, December 25 : 7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am Please note, there is a limited number of parking spaces in our lot. There is no parking allowed on Route 302, but we have not been told that parking is illegal on side streets. Christmas Confession Schedule (All Confessions will be in the Notre Dame Center) Thu., Dec. 21: 7:00-8:00pm Fri., Dec. 22: 4:00-5:00pm Sat., Dec. 23: 8:30-9:30am 4:00-5:00pm Monday, Jan. 1: New Year s Day Mass Schedule 9:00am, 11:00am

6 Religious Ed Office hours Mon., Tues., Wed., and Thurs. 9:30am- 2pm (203) The Religious Ed Office will close December 20th and reopen January 2nd for Christmas break. ATTN: ALL 8TH GRADERS! The Confirmation Commitment Mass is on Sunday, Jan. 7th at 5:30pm. All Confirmation candidates are required to attend. Parents and/or sponsors must also attend with their candidate. The 2nd presentation in our Confirmation Enrichment series will follow immediately after the Mass until 8:30pm in the Church. The theme for this evening is Gifted. REGISTRATION has begun for the School Year. You can download the Religious Education Registration forms from our website stmarybethel.org and return them to the Religious Ed office. RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS RCIA is here at St. Mary s! The RCIA program prepares candidates to be received as members of the Catholic Church. Potential candidates are often found among family members of our Parish Community. Our RCIA program meets Sundays after the 8:30am Mass. If you or someone you know is interested and has not reached out, please contact the Parish Office at Are you interested in SUBSTITUTE TEACHING at St. Mary School? If so, please contact Mr. Viceroy for more information at St. Mary School is seeking an adult interested in forming a MOCK TRIAL team at the school. Please contact Mr. Viceroy at GViceroy@StMaryBethelCT.org for more information. Students will be attending 9AM MASS on Friday, December 22nd. All are welcome to join us. NO CLASSES the week of Monday, December 25th. Classes will resume Tuesday, January 2nd. A Happy & Blessed Christmas to all! Attention all holiday shoppers: Season's Greetings, we've just partnered with SHUTTERFLY to raise effortless funds for St. Mary School! Before you order your Christmas cards, photo books, prints and gifts this year, make sure you're shopping sms.shutterflystorefront.com. Every order placed here automatically generates a 13% (of purchase price) donation to SMS, which means you can make a big impact here at school just by remembering to use this link. Spread the word to parents, teachers, friends and family, anyone can shop through our custom URL for Shutterfly and Tiny Prints. Don't miss this easy opportunity to support our school. Thank you for thinking of St. Mary School this Christmas season! Support St. Mary School when you shop this holiday season... It's easy! It's automatic! Whether you're just starting your holiday shopping or you re almost done, the AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to our school. So far this school year, friends and family in the St. Mary's community have raised over $225 by using this link to shop on Amazon. Start here and the items you buy will also become a gift to SMS. The more, the merrier! Thanks for your support! SMS ANNUAL FUND: Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? A gift to St. Mary School s Annual Fund will keep "Christ in Christmas. We invite you to visit for more information. Many companies match contributions that their employees make to non profit institutions such as St. Mary School. Most matches are on a 1:1 basis, but some companies match 2:1 or 3:1. Upon making your own gift, you may request your company to match it. Matching gift forms are usually available in your company s human resources office or please contact Robin Taylor at RTaylor@stmarybethelct.org REGISTRATION for students entering Pre school through Grade 8 is ongoing. Please call the school at or our Director of Enrollment, Linda Garvey at lgarvey@stmarybethelct.org for information. You can also visit our website at for school and registration information. Like us on Facebook at StMaryChurchBethel and follow us on

7 AROUND THE DIOCESE Our next meeting is on Mon., Dec. 18 at 8:15pm in the Parish Hall. We will say the Rosary at 7:45pm in the Church. If you are at least 18 years of age and think you may be interested in joining our ranks, contact Grand Knight Tony Iorfino at (203) or ST. MARY ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN $150,000 $140,000 $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $10,000 We are very grateful for the generosity shown by so many to our Annual Collection. If you have not yet had the opportunity to return your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible. Every gift is welcomed and appreciated! Thank You! Thank you for your generosity!!! DEFENDING OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Pope Francis has warned, When a sick person is not placed at the center and considered in their dignity, attitudes arise which can even lead to profiteering on other people s misfortunes. The growing health poverty among the poorest segments of the population is due precisely to the difficulty of access to care... Let us pray that in transforming the HHS federal mandate, religious rights of the Catholic Church will be safeguarded. BROTHERHOOD IN ACTION CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE Thank you for your generosity with our Thanksgiving food drive. We are now collecting nonperishable donations for Christmas! For more info, call Leo Gallagher at Please be as generous as you can as our food supplies are very low and demand is great! Monetary donations may be sent to: Brotherhood in Action, P.O. Box 582, Bethel, Ct Bishop Caggiano and the Diocesan Youth Choir for the annual ARISE AND SHINE CHRISTMAS CONCERT at the Regina Quick Center on the campus of Fairfield University at 7:00 p.m. on December 17, Tickets are general admission and are available online and at the box office for $20. Please visit the diocesan website bridgeportdiocese.com for more information. The St. Mary team at the DOROTHY DAY HOMELESS SHELTER in Danbury is in great need of a couple more men who would be willing to stay with the homeless at the shelter only about six times per year. If you feel called to this great way of serving the Lord by serving others, please call Mike Roberts at or him StmaryDD@gmail.com.

8 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK SAT., DECEMBER 16 5:30 + Helen Legotte Fitzgerald Isabel Pasqualone SUN., DECEMBER 17 7:00 + Patricia N. Allen The Allen Family 8:30 + Thomas Hauser Stephanie McNamara 10:00 + Rose D Ambrosio Maturo & Andrew D Ambrosio Children 11:30 + John Maher Gina & Dan Ippolito 5:30 + Dawn Marie Rekasz Mejia Julie & Will Doerner MON., DECEMBER 18 6:30 + Cathryn Z. Costello 9:00 + Maureen Wright Josephine & Richard Hansen TUES., DECEMBER 19 6:30 + Souls in Purgatory Marie 9:00 + Ruth & Vincent O Rourke Grace O Rourke WED., DECEMBER 20 6:30 Father Corey Piccinino (Blessings) St. Mary School 9:00 + Alfonso Arboleda Family THU., DECEMBER 21 6:30 + Gregory Willmott Mom & Dad 9:00 + The DeAngelo Family Edith Jaccarino FRI., DECEMBER 22 6:30 Joan Troy (Blessings) Marie Miller 9:00 + Flora Mazzucco The Cassaniti Family SAT., DECEMBER 23 8:00 + Eleanor Dugan (15th Anniv.) Family 5:30 + Dot Hurgin (Anniv.) Daughter Jeanne SUN., DECEMBER 24 7:00 + Mary Papp Pat & Richard Kuhn 8:30 + Robert Nelson, Sr. Family 10:00 + Michael Shanley & Hugh Greco Family 11:30 Parishioners of St. Mary CHRISTMAS EVE SUN., DEC. 24 4:00pm 6:00pm 10:00pm READINGS FOR THE WEEK Mon.: Jer 23:5 8; Ps 72:1 2, 12 13, 18 19; Mt 1:18 25 Tues.: Jgs 13:2 7, 24 25a; Ps 71:3 4a, 5 6ab, 16 17; Lk 1:5 25 Wed.: Is 7:10 14; Ps 24:1 4ab, 5 6; Lk 1:26 38 Thur: Sg 2:8 14 or Zep 3:14 18a; Ps 33:2 3, 11 12, 20 21; Lk 1:39 45 Fri.: 1 Sm 1:24 28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4 8abcd; Lk 1:46 56 Sat.: Mal 3:1 4, 23 24; Ps 25:4 5ab, 8 10, 14; Lk 1:57 66 Sun.: 2 Sm 7:1 5, 8b 12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2 5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25 27; Lk 1:26 38 STAFF MASS SCHEDULE Monday Friday: 6:30 & 9:00am Saturday: 8:00am & 5:30pm (Vigil Mass) Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30am & 5:30pm RECONCILIATION Saturday: 4:00 5:00pm Father Corey V. Piccinino, Pastor Father Robert Wolfe, Parochial Vicar Father Philip Phan, Parochial Vicar Deacon John DeRoin Kate Fitzgerald, Parish Secretary & Bulletin Editor Peggy Gavin, Parish Secretary Julie Doerner, Business Manager Paul Orsino, Property Manager ST. MARY SCHOOL ( ) Greg Viceroy, Principal RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Mary Ferri, Director ( ) Maggie Kent, Secretary RCIA (203) : Call if you are interested in becoming a Catholic or completing your initiation as a Catholic with Confirmation and/or Eucharist. YOUTH MINISTRY (203) MUSIC MINISTRY Michael Ferrari, Music Director Elizabeth Barnes, Choir Director Karen Mattera, Children s Choir FINANCE COMMITTEE ( ): Bob Kozlowski, Chairman BAPTISMS: Most Sundays at 12:45pm. Please call the Rectory at least six weeks in advance to schedule your Baptism and to sign up for the New Baptism Class that is required for both parents and Godparents. These classes are offered on the first Sunday of each month. Anyone requesting a Sponsorship form must be a currently registered and practicing Catholic, and they must attend one of the New Baptism Classes to receive it. There is a 3 month waiting period for a sponsorship form for the newly registered. The Catholic requirements for a Godparent/Sponsor are: you must be at least 16 years old; received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church; attend Mass regularly on Sundays and on Holy Days of Obligation; receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion regularly; sincerely try to follow the moral teaching of the Catholic Church; and if married, were married in the Catholic Church. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARRIAGE: All couples must meet with a parish clergyman at least six (6) months before the marriage is to be celebrated. PASTORAL CARE AT DANBURY HOSPITAL: Prior to Your Hospitalization: You or a family member should notify the Rectory. HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE SICK: To any of those who are homebound or hospitalized and interested in having a visit by a priest, please contact the parish office. Anyone interested in serving in this ministry, please call Father Philip at PRAYER LINE: If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please call our Prayer Line. Our team leaders are Maggie Kent ( ) and Deana Chamberlin ( ).

9 CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS St. Mary Church # Dodgingtown Road Bethel, CT TELEPHONE CONTACT PERSON Kate Fitzgerald SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2007 Adobe Acrobat DC Windows 10 TRANSMISSION TIME Thursday 9:00 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION December 17, 2017 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 9