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1 The First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2014 Photo: Rupert Ganzer/Flickr. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. MARK 13:33 FIRST READING: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 RESPONSORIAL: Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 GOSPEL: Mark 13:33-37 WHAT S INSIDE: The Road Ahead, 2 God Of This City Tour, 3 Advent Preparation in All Parishes Calendar & Mass Schedule, 10 MATT13CATHOLIC.ORG BULLETIN@MATT13CATHOLIC.ORG Blessed Sacrament Parish St. Mary Parish Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

2 The Road Ahead Rev. Chip Hines Pastor Disciples in Mission is the ambitious diocesan program of pastoral planning and evangelization that has brought us together here in Walpole and Sharon. It is an exciting opportunity for the future of the Catholic Church here and in the whole archdiocese. Many of us are enthusiastic about the opportunities this collaboration offers, mere enthusiasm is not going to get us through the process of Disciples in Mission. Enthusiasm will be needed but it is not going to be the lynchpin of success. Enthusiasm is a tool in our toolbox, but it is not the box itself. Instead the metaphorical box itself is a much bigger concept that involves multiple principles and over the next few years we will be developing our vision and mission for our collaborative based on those principles. It will be a lengthy process, hopefully involving many people, and quite honestly, we are only at the beginning of the journey. To quote from The Lord of the Rings, Home is behind, the world ahead And there are many paths to tread Through shadow, to the edge of night Until the stars are all alight. Perhaps our journey, unlike Frodo s, will be physically easier, but our spiritual toughness could be tested. Certainly we will all be brought out of our comfort zones, but I am excited at the possibilities, and I hope you are too. The staff and the various parish council and board members have been going to training sessions to help us get ready for the road ahead and the priests are also going to different trainings as well. All of this will lead up to an exciting time when we write our pastoral plan that will outline our vision for the parishes and collaborative over the next few years. When that time comes we will all take part, but for now we are over a year away from even creating a draft of the plan. As we enter into the season of Advent I d ask you to make the success of the Matthew 13 Catholic Collaborative a part of your daily prayer. We are on a journey that is new and thrilling and yes, a little bit scary, but the journey of our faith life is not scary. Most of us have been on this journey for some time, but I daresay that this Collaborative is going to shake up that journey a little bit because as Christians we cannot become complacent, sedentary or even comfortable. We must always challenge ourselves, deepening our faith and yes, even studying the faith so we can teach and defend it. Advent is a time of waiting and watching but also a time of preparation. What will you do to prepare yourself this Advent as we embark on the journey of collaboration? How can YOU help? How can we continue to serve you? There are many more questions and we will encounter them as we go along, but I ask you please, continue to pray and give thanks, continue to come to Mass and continue to engage Jesus Christ! He is our life and our everything. Peace. Photo: Jeremy Bronson/Flickr.

3 Happy New Year! A strange greeting in November! While the secular world approaches the month ahead as the end of the year, we as Christians struggle to celebrate a new liturgical year with the beginning of Advent. The Church invites us to look again at the Jesus story as it unfolds in the Scriptures, liturgical seasons, and the events that will affect and shape our individual and collective lives in the year ahead. We are part of an ever spiraling event, caught in the rhythm of time yesterday, today and tomorrow ever spinning forward, ever creating, ever becoming the kingdom of God. We struggle to celebrate a season that seems to be out of sync with the secular world that constantly reminds us of how many shopping days there are left til Christmas. How will you celebrate Advent? Marie Martin, Pastoral Associate God of This City Tour at Blessed Sacrament Parish Join LIFT Ministries and the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults as they bring the God of This City Tour to the Archdiocese of Boston once again this year over the course of 5 nights. Each night is free to attend and open to all ages. LIFT uses modern elements such as professional lighting and sound, video screens displaying worship imagery and song lyrics, creative environments and the latest in contemporary praise and worship music performed by a live band to enhance the worship experience. They travel to the five regions of the Archdiocese over the five nights from Dec. 1 to 5. This year, Blessed Sacrament Parish is hosting the God of This City tour on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 7-9pm. In addition to praise and worship music, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration, the speaker for the evening will be Liz Cotrupi. Please make plans to attend, especially if you have never experienced LIFT or God of This City before, and start your Advent with a bang. Christmas Mass Schedule Saint Mary s December 24, Christmas Eve 4pm in the Church 4pm in the Auditorium 6pm in the Church December 25, Christmas Day 8am in the Church 11am in the Church Blessed Sacrament December 24, Christmas Eve 4pm in the Church 4pm in the School Midnight Mass in the Church December 25, Christmas Day 10am in the Church 12 Noon in the Church Our Lady of Sorrows December 24, Christmas Eve 5pm in the Church 5pm in O Connell Hall 7pm in the Church December 25, Christmas Day 9am in the Church 11:30 am in the Church Blessed Sacrament School Christmas Bazaar Saturday, December 7, 8am-3pm Join us for a day of pure Christmas fun! Come, bring the family and enjoy some Christmas shopping at Blessed Sacrament School. Over 40 fabulous vendors will be there. (Art! Jewelry! Fudge! Hand-made knits!) Come for an hour or stay for lunch and spend the day. There will be crafts for the kids and plenty to entertain the whole family. This is your chance to see Santa and feel the old-fashioned magic of Christmas! Next Sunday, Dec 7: 5pm Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church Live the Spirit of these Sacred Holy Days of Advent and Christmas Find resources for the whole collaborative at:

4 Blessed Sacrament Parish Ten Diamond Street, Walpole, MA, BlessedSacrament.org Parish Youth Summer Trips Our parish has two youth trips each summer and an info session will be held Dec. 1, 7pm in the school cafeteria for those interested in the trips. One trip goes to the University of Notre Dame for NDVision, a week-long high school retreat/conference to help teens discover their God-given gifts and how they can use them in the world. The week is full of engaging speakers and fun small group games and discussions led by ND students. The other trip is to The Romero Center in Camden, NJ. This week involves direct service to the poor and volunteering at a different agency each day while spending the evenings learning about Catholic Social Teaching through fun activities. We ve had teens participate in the trips multiple summers in a row! Adult chaperones are needed as well. For more info or to sign up for a trip, contact Margaret Manning at youthminister@blessedsacrament.org. Pieta: An Ongoing Support Group for Bereaved Parents Pieta, a support group for parents who have suffered the loss of a child of any age, will be holding their 31st Annual Lighting Service this Sunday, November 30 at 1pm. The service will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church. Parents who have lost a child of any age will come together in prayer, song and support as we light a candle in memory of each child. Photo: Flickr user Sebastian Bergmann. Creative Commons BY-SA-2.0 license. A reception will be held immediately following the service in the Blessed Sacrament school cafeteria. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please call Jo Collari, , Walpole; Pauline Medeiros, , Medfield; Roberta Willard, , Brockton. The Giving Tree Photo: Anna & Michal/Flickr. 4 Each year, due to your generosity, we as a parish reach out to over 800 people at Wrentham Development Center, Walpole Prison, Pine Street Inn, Walpole families in need, St. Vincent de Paul Society, D.O.V.E., parish homebound and area nursing homes. Please take a tag off the tree, purchase the item listed, wrap it (unless otherwise directed) and return by noon on Sunday, December 14 so they can be sorted and delivered in time for Christmas. Please do not wrap gift certificates, checks (put in an envelope) or items for the prison, but leave them in marked boxes under the giving trees.

5 Christmas Card Senders We are looking for 10 people to send about 15 cards each during the Advent and Christmas seasons to people who have lost a loved one this year. We will provide all you need for the mailing. Contact Marie at or mmartin@matt13catholic.org. Plant Workshop Christmas plants for the homebound need to be cellophane wrapped, tied with ribbon and tagged for delivery. Can you give an hour on Friday, December 19 from 1-2:30pm in the community room? Please let Marie know if you are planning to come, so we know there are people to help. Second Collection Next week s second collection will be the monthly Balance the Budget collection, typically held on the first Sunday of each month, and is used to do just that: balance our operating budget. The weekly collection has not kept up with skyrocketing expenses, especially insurance, salaries, and utilities, and so the monthly Balance the Budget collection helps to offset the deficit. Many thanks for your generosity! Remember in Your Prayers We are asked to remember in our prayers all our shut-ins, our unemployed, our sick, our grieving, and our own parish dead. Prayer Line If you have something or someone you would like us to pray for, call the Prayer Line at and a group of prayerful parishioners will add your intentions to their daily prayer. Prayer works! Blessed Sacrament Parish Sung Acclamations During Mass We encourage you to sing your faith each week at Mass, and we welcome your singing of our Eucharistic acclamations in particular! If you attend the 4pm, 8am, or 11am Masses, you can find the music for the Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation, the Amen, and the Lamb of God beginning at #902 in the pew hymnal (Heritage Mass). If you attend the 9:30am Mass, you can find the acclamations in the red booklets in the pews beginning on page 14 (Mass for a New World). Please lift your voices by praising God in song! Newly Baptized at Blessed Sacrament We welcome James Logan Kearney as a newly baptized member of our parish and offer congratulations to his family. Prayers For Our Service Members Zachary Bannon Frank L. Brunetta Peter Conroy Michael McKay Matthew McKay Robert Dunne, Jr. Michael Edwards Caitlin Brunetta Kyle Bradbury Timothy Merrigan Al Goetz Kevin Day Francesco Carpeno(Lamperti) Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for their selfless service to us and our country. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Please remember our military in your prayers. To add or remove a name, call Marie x11. 5

6 Our Lady of Sorrows Parish 59 Cottage Street, Sharon, MA OLOSSharon.org Photo: Eustaquio Santimano/Flickr. Photo: RJP/Flickr. Advent Evening of Prayer We welcome you to attend two Advent Evenings of Prayer on Wednesdays, December 3 and 17, 7:30 8:15pm. Each night will reflect the rhythm of Evening Prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, one of the Church s oldest prayers. Put the rush of our culture and your shopping on hold. Please come and participate in a quiet, reflective space during our season of waiting in anticipation for Christ s birth. If you would like to participate as a reader or member of a small choir, please contact Kathleen Crawford at kathleen3crawford@gmail.com for information about rehearsals. Youth Night Youth Nights is open on Friday, December 12, in O Connell Hall, 7:30 10pm for all middle school students (friends of OLOS middle school students are most welcome to attend too). At Youth Nights there are games and activities (ping pong table, air hockey table, Pictionary, UNO, etc.), free pizza, drinks and snacks, a movie and more. Come and hang out and spend time with friends. Special thanks to all our adult chaperones. For more information about the parish s Youth Ministry program, please visit the Youth Ministry page on the parish s website. Summer Mission Trips Please join us on Sunday, December 7, at 7pm in O Connell Hall to learn about summer mission trips for high school students, middle school students and adults. High School students and adults will travel to Baltimore, June 21-27, 2015, and participate in Young Neighbors in Action global solidarity week co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Middle school students and adults will travel to Springfield, MA July 20-24, 2015, and participate in Just 5 Days. Please join us on December 7 to learn what an incredible experience it is to serve God and one another for 1 whole week during the summer. For questions, please contact Kerry Payson in the Youth Ministry office at or at kpayson@olossharon.org. Coffee Hour This week s Coffee Hour is being hosted by the Staff. Please join us in O Connell Hall after the 8:30 am Sunday liturgy or before the 10:45 am liturgy for refreshments in a relaxed, social atmosphere with family, friends and other parishioners. All are welcome. 6

7 My Brother s Keeper Youth Ministry service trip to volunteer at My Brother s Keeper in Easton wrapping Christmas presents for families in need will be held on Thursday, December 11. We will meet as a group at OLOS church parking lot at 3:30pm and travel together to My Brother s Keeper. Parents can plan to pick-up their children at OLOS at 6:30pm at the church parking lot (or in the Bullock Center if it is cold outside). Special thanks to all our adult chaperones and drivers. To find out more about My Brother s Keeper, please visit their website, For more information about where the Youth Ministry program volunteers throughout the year, please visit the Youth Ministry page on the parish s website. Gifts for Evelyn House Needed by Dec. 7 The annual Christmas Party for the residents of Evelyn House will be December 14. If you took a tag from the Giving Tree to contribute a gift to the party, please return the gift on or before December 7. Evelyn House is a transitional shelter in Stoughton for 16+ families that is managed by Father Bill s & Main- Spring. Thank you in advance for helping to make Christmas special for these families. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Mason at or Mary Alice Dowdell at Advent and Christmas Choir Rehearsal Schedule Adults Sunday, December 7, 14, 21, 9:30am Tuesday, December 9, 16, 23, 7:30pm Youth, Ages 6-17 Sunday, Dec. 7, 14, 21, 11:30am Tuesday, Dec. 9, 16, 23, 6:30pm Prayers for the Sick Instrumentalists Tuesday, December 9, 16, 23, 5:45pm Meet in the Chancel. Contact Judith Lowe with question at jlowe@olossharon.org Elsie Barnor, Jody Thomas, Maura O Toole, Anthony Venti, Ed Walsh, Melina Diaz, Lorraine Thomas, Joe Mason, Maureen Irvine, Bryna Stock, Mark Kincaid, Phyllis Smalley, Ricardo Balarezo, Bob Naughton, Sue Hayna, Gonzalo Perez, Stacey Siegal, Ann Marie McGrath, Lucille Blain Salhany, Raquel Balarezo, Jimmy Testa, Thelma Sirkin, Sandra Bolton-Mason, Bruce Smith, Mary Fitzgerald, Neil Cronin, William Trainor, Carol Nagobads, George Brown, Atticus Venti, Noah Bartell, Pam Bailey, Sister Anna V. Oncia, Gertie DiLoreto, Colin O Brien, Donna Prado, Sherril White, Karen Trudeau, Maureen Giacchino, Kay & Richard Donati, Annanette Harper, Kathy Totino, Jessica Davis, Howie Moore, Mary Anne Harris, Jeanette Carey, Carin Soulavy, Betty Clarkin, Matt Canuel, Tish Blain, William and Joseph Rooney, Marie-Louise Jouet, Diane D Geralamo, Florence Zadrozny Prayers for the Deceased George K. Rodecker Collection The average cost to run the parish is $11,732 per week and our expectation is that 69% ($8,095) will come from the weekly offertory. Last week, the parishioners contributed $6,200. This includes the average of our electronic giving. Today s Music Gathering Song: G3 #423 Awake, Awake Responsorial Psalm: G3 #84 Psalm 122 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord Communion Song: G3 #937 Now In This Banquet Sending Forth Song: G3 #401 O Come, Divine Messiah Today s Readings: Page 992 Daily Mass Readings: Mon, Dec 1: Is. 2:1-5; Matt 8:5-11 Tues, Dec 2: Is. 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24 Wed, Dec 3: Is. 25:6-10a; Matt 15:29-37 Thurs, Dec 4: Is. 26:1-6; Matt 7:21, Fri, Dec 5: Is. 29:17-24; Matt 9:27-31 Sat, Dec 6: Is. 30: ; Matt 9:35-10:1, 5a, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

8 St. Mary Parish 176 Washington St, East Walpole, MA StMaryWalpole.com Photo: Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP/Flickr. Christmas Pops Concert Please join us to enjoy the Parkway Concert Orchestra s annual Christmas Pops Concert, which will be presented on Sunday, December 7, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary s Parish Center Auditorium. Geneviève Leclair conducts the 50-piece non-profit orchestra in classical and pops Christmas favorites for the entire family, including Christmas Eve Suite by Rimsky-Korsakov, Christmas at the Movies, A Canadian Brass Christmas and Holst s In the Bleak Midwinter. Tickets are a $5 donation to benefit the St. Mary Service Recognition Award Fund. Call Karen Connors, , or Jacqueline Gordon, , to reserve your tickets. First Friday, December 5 On the first Friday of each month, the Blessed Sacrament is solemnly exposed on our altar following the 8am Mass until 12 noon, at which time Benediction is given. This is an excellent time to meditate and pray quietly in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Please sign the roster at the doors of the church to indicate the time during which you will be present. The Blessed Sacrament should not be exposed if no one is present in the church. Photo: Peter Cowley/Flickr. Third Grade Nativity Play On Sunday, December 21 the 3rd grade Religious Education students will present a Nativity Play in celebration of the Christmas season. We invite you and your families to attend. The play will take begin at 10 am. It lasts approximately 25 minutes and will be followed by a reception. For all third grade families, please have the children arrive at the CCD building early at 8:30 am the morning of the play. Any questions, please contact Kerry Pitman at 508/ or Kerry_pitman@yahoo.com. Attention, Lectors Please pick up your new workbooks in the Sacristy or at the Rectory. 8

9 Year II Confirmation Retreat Our Year II Confirmation Students will be on retreat Sunday, December 7 at the Miramar Retreat Center in Duxbury. We ask you to pray for our students as they take this time to discern where God is leading them and prepare for the Sacrament. Witness to Life Please join in the 42nd Annual National March for Life, January We are looking to take a middle school and high school group from St. Mary s Parish. If you are interested in attending or have questions regarding this unique pilgrimage sponsored by the Office for Lifelong Faith Formation & Parish Support. Please check out the website at or contact Karen Brady at or kbrady@stmarywalpole.com. A meeting will be held the first week of December for anyone interested. Check the parish web site or contact Karen for meeting details. St. Mary Parish Save the Date: Collaborative Lenten Mission Our 2015 Mathew 13 Collaborative Lenten Mission will be held next year on March 22, 23, and 24. This Mission will be lead by Fr. Bill Brown OMV. Fr. Brown is an engaging speaker who has led many Missions in the greater Boston area. He is currently the Advancement Director for Mission and Apostolate for the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in the United States. So please mark your calendar and plan to join us as we experience spiritual renewal and rekindle divine connection through scripture, prayer, music and ritual. Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Monday, Dec. 1, 9am: Cynthia Fox Prayers for the Deceased: George K. Rodecker Advent Journey with Mary and with Your Family Holy Cross Family Ministries and Children s Rosary are joining together for a special family event. During the time before Christmas families are focused on shopping, on the material preparations for Christmas and life can be stressful. Little time is spent on preparing our hearts to receive Jesus into our family celebrations. We invite you to take a few moments and share some time in prayer with other families, as we focus on the true meaning of Christmas. All are welcome to the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street, North Easton, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2-4pm for an afternoon of activities, including a Family Advent Wreath Prayer; a movie on the life of Servant of God Patrick Peyton; a discussion of why we ask saints to help us in life; a reflection on what Mary teaches us about the birth of her Son, Jesus; a children s Rosary; and refreshments. For more information, contact Mary at amamaral@verizon.net St. Mary Parish Saturday, Nov. 29, 4pm: Frank & Robert Macomber Sunday, Nov. 30, 11:30am: Edwin J. Ryan Monday, Dec. 1, 8am: Thomas Fennessey Saturday, Dec. 6, 4pm: John & Grace Daly Birthday Party for Baby Jesus Come to a party for Baby Jesus on Dec. 6, 10:30am-3:30pm! Meet St. Nicholas, take pictures in costume with Baby Jesus (costumes provided; bring your camera), enjoy games and eat cake. Sponsored by the Daughters of St. Paul, the event will take place at Pauline Books & Media, 885 Providence Highway, Route 1, Dedham. For more info call Weekly Mass Intentions Blessed Sacrament Parish Saturday, Nov. 29, 4pm: John Connolly Sunday, Nov. 30, Sanctuary Lamp : Edward Benedetti Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9am: Bernard McGovern, Sr. Friday, Dec. 5, 9am: Paul J. Sullivan Saturday, Dec. 6, 9am: Roger P. Farren, Sr. Saturday, Dec. 6, 4pm: Joseph Gravina 9

10 Sunday, Nov. 30 8:30am OLOS Coffee Hour 1pm BSP Pieta Annual Mass Monday, Dec. 1 10:30am BSP Ignatius Bible Study Group 2pm OLOS Mass at Epoch Center 5pm OLOS Eucharistic Adoration 7pm BSP Youth Summer Trip Info Session 7pm OLOS Confirmation I 7:30pm STM Adult Choir Practice Tuesday, Dec. 2 9:30am BSP Revelation Bible Study Group 4pm STM Children s Choir Practice 7pm BSP God of This City Tour 7pm OLOS Boy Scouts 7:30pm BSP Baptismal Prep Matthew13 Sunday Mass Times Saturday Vigil: 4:00pm Blessed Sacrament & St. Mary 4:30pm Our Lady of Sorrows Sunday: 7:30am St. Mary 8:00am Blessed Sacrament 8:30am Our Lady of Sorrows 9:00am St. Mary 9:30am Blessed Sacrament 10:45am Our Lady of Sorrows 11:00am Blessed Sacrament 11:30am St. Mary Web sites school.blessedsacrament.org Social Media Facebook.com/blessedsacramentwalpolema Facebook.com/stmarywalpole Facebook.com/olosparish Twitter.com/BSPWalpole Twitter.com/OLOSParish Twitter.com/StMaryWalpole 10 Weekly Events Calendar Wednesday, Dec. 3 9:30am BSP Morning Prayer Group 10am OLOS Bible Study 4pm BSP Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 6:30pm BSP Pieta Bereaved Parents Group 6:30pm STM Adult Bible Study 7:15pm BSP Parish Pastoral Council Meeting 7:30pm OLOS Advent Evening of Prayer Thursday, Dec. 4 9:45am BSP Praying the Scriptures 4:15pm BSPChildren s Choir Rehearsal 5pm BSP Youth Choir Rehearsal 6pm BSP Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7pm BSP Adult Choir Rehearsal 7pm BSP Beloved Community 7pm STM Finance Committee Meeting Friday, Dec. 5 8am STM Eucharistic Adoration 10am OLOS Rosary Saturday, Dec. 6 8am BSS Christmas Bazaar 11am BSP First Reconciliation 1:30pm BSP First Reconciliation MATT13CATHOLIC.ORG Collaborative Staff Rev. George Chip Hines, Pastor Rev. Vincent Doolan, Parochial Vicar Rev. Joseph Diem, Parochial Vicar Marie Martin, Pastoral Associate Martin Murphy, Director of Finance & Operations Domenico Bettinelli, Director of Communications Margaret Kelly, Assistant to the Pastor James Spillman, School Principal Blessed Sacrament Parish Dcn. Reynold G. Spadoni, Permanent Deacon AnneMarie Dion, Coordinator of Faith Formation Margaret Manning, Confirmation/Youth Ministry Dr. Erica Johnson, Director of Pastoral Music Susan Glancy, Director of Youth Music Jeanette Penza, Finance Manager Lee Smolinsky, Office Manager Mike Lamperti, Facilities Manager BSP Blessed Sacrament Parish BSS Blessed Sacrament School OLOS Our Lady of Sorrows Parish STM St. Mary Parish Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Dcn. Michael Iwanowicz, Senior Deacon Fabiola Aguilera, Volunteer & Social Coordinator Mary Herx-Morrill, Coordinator of Faith Formation Kerry Payson, Youth Ministry Director Judith Lowe, Director of Music Claire Ramsbottom, Staff Associate Deborah Lafleur, Administrative Assistant for Pastoral Staff & Special Projects Christine Muldoon, Administrator Larry Seggelin, Maintenance Coordinator St. Mary Parish Karen Brady, Religious Education Director Kerry Pitman, Office Staff Pat Chitvanni, Office Staff Ray Lane, Facilities Staff Tom Whearty, Facilities Staff For Collaborative Staff contact information, visit For Parish Staff contact information, visit the parish web sites listed previously.

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