First Sunday of Advent Corpus Christi Parish December 2 2018
Corpus Christi Parish 70 Pleasant St., Waterville ME 04901 Business Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00AM - 4:00PM Fri 8:00AM - Noon Phone: 872-2281 Fax: 877-0675 Email: ccmoffice@gwi.net Website: www.corpuschristimaine.org Rev. Daniel J. Baillargeon, Pastor Rev. Patrick Finn, Parochial Vicar The Week Ahead Sun., Dec. 2 8:30AM SJ RCIA 10:00AM SJ RCIA Rite of Election 10:00AM ND Coffee Hour 5:00PM SJ AA Meeting Mon., Dec. 3 9:00AM SJS Hands of God 9:30AM Eric s Restaurant Elders Coffee 2:00PM ND Prayer Group 7:00PM SH KC #13486 Meeting Tues., Dec. 4 7:00PM FFC Al-Anon Fri., Dec. 7 7:00AM SJ Adoration & Confession 4:00PM SJS St. John School Christmas Fair 6:00PM SJ Vigil Mass - Immaculate Conception Sat., Dec. 8 9:00AM ND Mass - Immaculate Conception 9:00AM SJS St. John School Christmas Fair Sun., Dec. 9 8:30AM SJ RCIA 8:00AM ND KC Breakfast 11:30AM ND Blessing of Creches 5:00PM SJ AA Meeting The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, is one of the most Catholic, most mysterious, and most misunderstood Catholic dogmas. The Immaculate Conception has nothing to do with the conceiving of Jesus within the womb of Mary even though the Gospel reading at Mass that day is the account of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she was to be the Mother of Jesus. It s within the text of that Gospel that we get the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception means that from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Ann, Mary was kept free from original sin. The Immaculate Conception is about Mary s conception in her mother s womb. The Incarnation, refers to Jesus conception in his mother s womb. Parish Masses for the Immaculate Conception Fri., Dec. 7 6PM St. John Sat., Dec. 8 9AM Notre Dame Parish Information Mass Times & Intentions MONDAY Dec. 3, 2018 8:00 AM SJ Gerald Letourneau by the family TUESDAY Dec. 4, 2018 12:15 PM ND Jean Hamel by Julie Carpenter WEDNESDAY Dec. 5, 2018 8:00 AM SJ Yvonne Raymond by daughter, Rita Dorrington THURSDAY Dec. 6, 2018 12:15 PM ND Sylvia Labbe by sister, Frances Plante FRIDAY Dec. 7, 2018 8:00 AM SJ Clement Boulette by Maurice and Barbara Bard Immaculate Conception, Saturday, December 8, 2018 FRIDAY Dec. 7, 2018 6:00 PM SJ Kevin Scully (1st Ann.) by a Parishioner SATURDAY Dec. 8, 2018 9:00 AM ND Carl Cote by Junior, Lucy and Carmen SATURDAY Dec. 8, 2018 4:00 PM ND Fernand Labbe by her family 4:00 PM SJ Gerard Bilodeau by his family 6:00 PM ND Bridgett Plante by Emily and John Alden SUNDAY Dec. 9, 2018 7:30 AM SJ Maisie Knowles by grandparents, John and Shirley McQuillan 9:00 AM ND Arthur Gagne by wife and family 10:00 AM SJ Parishioners of Corpus Christi Parish 10:30 AM ND Walter White by daughter Bernadette and Barry Puiia 4:30 PM CC NO MASS Please remember in your prayers Cecile Couture, died Nov. 17, funeral Nov. 28 Stanley Mathieu, died Nov. 24, funeral Nov. 30 Dorothy Turmelle, died Nov. 22, funeral Dec.1 Roxie Clement, died Nov. 23, funeral Dec. 1 Keep in Your Prayers Please remember Sheila McCarthy, Ricardo, Debbie Chessa, Mike Buck, John Dore May God s healing touch come down upon our brothers and sisters in faith. Please call the Parish Office to be included in our Prayer Line. Sanctuary Candle In thanksgiving by a parishioner (SJ) Calling all Snowbirds Before you leave for the winter please contact the Parish Office with the dates that you plan to be away so we can put your envelopes on hold. See you in the spring!
Sunday by Sunday First Sunday of Advent ADVENT ABCs If motivation is the key to success, then the season of Advent starts our liturgical year out right by focusing our attention on the ultimate reason for our hope and all we do as Christians. The first reading and the Gospel reassure us that the Messiah will cover the earth in justice at the end of time. This may be a frightening prospect to those who are blameworthy, but to the Lord s holy ones it is a reason to stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand (Luke 21:28). The scriptures also reveal the ABCs of arriving at our goal. In the full text of today s psalm each verse starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet from A to Z. That made it easy to learn by heart the psalm s instruction on following God s way of faithful love. Today s New Testament scriptures also instruct us in what we must do to be blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3:13). COME, LORD JESUS! We are to be vigilant, expecting Christ to come into our lives at every moment. We are to abound in love for one another, working constantly for the coming of Christ s love into our relationships and communities. And we are to stand erect and pray without fear for the coming of the end of time, when the Lord Jesus will come bringing perfect justice and peace. Christians in the first centuries of the church prayed the acclamation, Come, Lord Jesus! The Advent season invites us to enter into this spirit of hopeful expectation for the advent of Christ s reign. During this season of Advent we remember Jesus first coming in time, we anticipate Christ s coming at the end of time, and we pray with hopeful expectation for our lives right now: Come, Lord Jesus! Copyright 2006, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Today s Readings Jeremiah 33:14-16 - Restoration of Jerusalem 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 - Plea for growth in holiness Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Question for Adults: What have been the strengths of your prayer life? What habit of prayer could you strengthen during this Advent season? Question for Kids: What prayers will you say each day and each week during Advent? Copyright 2017 The Pastoral Center. All rights reserved. Did you know that we offer Electronic Transfer? Electronic Transfer allows you to have your offertory taken directly from your bank account on a monthly basis. This is a safe and convenient means of making your weekly contributions to the parish without having the worry of writing checks and scrambling for your envelopes each week. For more information, call Deb Hebert at the parish office at 872-2281 or visit www.corpuschristimaine.org and select the Gifts and Offertory link under the About Our Parish tab to download a copy of the form. Forms may be mailed to the Parish Office or placed in the offertory baskets at any of our churches. Stewardship of Treasure Offertory for Nov. 18 - $15,366.48 Offertory for Nov. 25 - $13,483.88 Average offertory to date - $15,882.88 The budget is based on a weekly average offertory of $16,257.37 per week. 2nd Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development - $3,767.90 Thank you for your continued support of our parish. Prayer of the Week Prayer for the First Week of Advent - Hope Heavenly Father, your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us, a great sign of your love. Guide us as we strive to walk in that love this Advent. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, bring us closer to your son. Give us the grace and strength we need every day. Help us to always trust in you. Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you. Come and dispel the darkness of our world with the light of your love. Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.
In Our Parish and Diocese ELEMENTARY FAITH FORMATION Classes are held at the Faith Formation Center attached to St. John Catholic School, September-May. Faith Formation Schedule Grades K-5 Grades K-5 Sunday 8:30-9:45AM Monday 3:30-4:45PM Faith Formation Center Faith Formation Center Dec. 2, 9, 16 Dec. 3, 10, 17 Junior High Ministry Sunday 6:00-8:00PM Faith Formation Center Dec. 2, 16 Sacramental Prep Parent Meeting Rescheduled Mon., Dec. 10 6PM Notre Dame Hall For all parents of students in grades 1 & 2 who want their children included in our Sacramental Preparation Process. Questions - contact Kim Suttie 872-2281. HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY Sunday Evenings 6:00-8:00PM Youth Ministry Room on the 2nd Floor at St. John School (enter by the Grotto) High School Students: join us for food, fun and faith. Come as often as you can, or only come once in a while. Parish Advent Opportunities Advent Breakfast for Men Wednesdays, December 5, 12, & 19 6:30-7:30AM Notre Dame Hall Advent Evening Holy Hours Eucharistic Adoration, Advent Chants, Reconciliation, Night Prayer Wednesdays, December 5, 12, & 19 5:30-6:30PM Notre Dame Church The Stations of the Crib From Advent to the Epiphany Advent Evening of Prayer Tuesday, December 11 6:00PM St. John Church The Light is On For You Opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation Tues., Dec. 18 1-2PM Notre Dame Wed., Dec. 19 5:30-6:30PM Notre Dame Thurs., Dec. 20 1-2PM Notre Dame Fri., Dec. 21 7:00-7:45AM St. John Upcoming Sessions: Dec. 2: Advent session Dec. 9: Christmas Party Dec. 16: (Snow date for Party) Movie night. SENIOR MINISTRY Ministry to, for and by our Corpus Christi Senior Parishioners Senior Club 2nd Tuesday of the month after the 12:15PM Mass. Gather in the hall at Notre Dame for coffee, tea & cookies. Tues., Dec. 11 - Sr Lorraine Rioux - Grief and Loss. Tues., Jan. 8 - John Nale, Esq. - Elder Law. Tues., Feb. 12 - Chief Shawn O Leary, Winslow Police - Avoiding Scams. Funded by a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Elders Coffee & Camaraderie All elders are invited to gather for coffee at Eric s Restaurant on the 1st Monday of every month at 9:30AM. The next gathering is Dec. 3. Please RSVP to Pat O Keefe, 872-7094 so Eric s can be ready for the group. Masses and Holy Days Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Masses Fri., Dec. 7 6:00PM St. John Sat., Dec. 8 9:00AM Notre Dame Christmas Mass Schedule Mon., Dec. 24 - The Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord 4:00PM at Notre Dame 4:00PM at St. John 6:00PM at Notre Dame 10:00PM at St. John Tues., Dec. 25 - The Nativity of the Lord 7:30AM at St. John 9:00AM at Notre Dame Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Tues., Jan. 1 - Masses 8:00AM St. John 12:15PM Notre Dame
In Our Parish and Diocese Eucharistic Adoration Prepare the Way of the Lord Schedule an hour or half-hour of adoration at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (101 Silver St., Waterville). Choose a time between 8AM and 5PM any day of the four weeks of Advent. Call Sr. Kay Kay at 872-7072 to add your time and name to the program. It will provide an oasis of peace during the busyness of Christmas Preparations. St. Joseph Center 80 Garland Rd., Winslow Advent Gospel Reflections Mondays Dec. 3, 10 and 17 from 10-11am Join us as we break open the beauty and challenge of the Sunday Gospel readings for Advent in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Guided by Sr. Claudette Poulin CSJ. Participation is free and no registration is necessary. Come as you are! For more information call 873-4512 or email CSJsofLyon.Maine@gmail.com You Were Strangers Once: What the Church Says about Migrants and Asylum Seekers Wednesday, Dec. 5, 6:30-8pm Come share your questions, hear first-hand stories about what is really happening, and reflect on these in the light of Catholic teaching and practice. Guided by Sr. Judy Donovan CSJ. Participation is free but registration IS necessary by Fri., Nov. 30. To register call 873-4512 or email CSJsofLyon.Maine@gmail.com Spanish Mass at St. John An invitation is extended to those who speak Spanish in the Kennebec Valley area that Fr. Frank Morin will begin to celebrate Mass at 11:30AM in Spanish on Dec. 9 at St. John Church. This will occur every second and fourth Sunday of each month. All are invited! Misa en Español Con mucho agrado anunciamos a nuestra comunidad Latina, que el Padre Frank Morin estará oficiando una Misa en Español cada 2do y 4to Domingo de cada mes (comenzando el Domingo 9 de Diciembre de 2018) en la Iglesia St. John the Baptist, Winslow ( 26 Monument St, Winslow, Maine 04901) a las 11:30 am. Los esperamos!! Sew for a Cause Do you want to make a difference in someone s life? You don t need to know how to sew. If you can cut, iron, sort, and/or make phone calls come and join us! We will be making lap quilts and pillowcases to donate. Thurs., Dec. 13 10AM-4PM - come for part or the whole day St. Bridget Center - 864 Main St. Vassalboro Vocations My kingdom is not from this world. Are you being called to proclaim the glorious reign of Christ the King as a priest, sister or brother? Contact: Fr. Seamus Griesbach: 207-773-6471 Email: seamus.griesbach@portlanddiocese.org Website: www.portlanddiocese/vocations Blessing of Creches All are invited to join the Fraternity after the 10:30AM Mass at Notre Dame on Dec. 9 for a "Celebration of the Creches. Bring your Creche for display or a blessing. Saint Francis is considered the founder/creator of the living creche tradition. Soup and bread and other refreshments will be provided. The regular monthly meeting will be held afterwards. Lend a Helping Hand and a Smile! Many seniors find themselves homebound and alone. Warm a senior s life by investing a few hours a week to an isolated senior through a friendly visit, a ride to the grocery store, or a phone call. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in the Kennebec Valley or are a senior in need please contact the SEARCH program - Lynn Kidd 530-0137 or lkidd@ccmaine.org. SEARCH: Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage & Hope Honor Your Loved Ones at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery! It s time to order your Christmas Wreaths. The Cemetery staff will place the beautiful 22 wreath on the lot for you. The standard wreath with a red bow is $25.00 and the deluxe wreath with a red bow, cones and berries is $35.00. The wreaths will be placed on the lots after Thanksgiving and picked up in the spring. Mail the order form below along with your check made payable to: St. Francis Catholic Cemetery PO Box 575 Waterville, Me 04903-0575 Order Form The following information MUST be included with order Name: Address: Phone: Wreath to be placed on the following lot: Deceased Name: Section: Lot # We can help you identify Section/Lot by phone if necessary at 872-2770 Check wreath type: ( ) STANDARD ( ) DELUXE All orders must be received by December 15th.