Divine Mercy Parish 12 Church Street Peterborough, NH 03458 Pastor: Rev. Michael Taylor Email: rev.m.taylor@comcast.net Deacon: Rev. Mr. Dennis Marquis Dc. Dennis Email: deacondennismarquis@gmail.com RCIA Coordinator: Joy Davis Tel: (603) 831-0508 Director of Religious Education Jackie Capes (603) 547-8607 Church Office: (603) 924-7647 Email: divinemercynh@comcast.net Website: www.divinemercynh.org PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm MASS SCHEDULE: Saturday at 5:00 pm Sunday at 8:00 am, & 10:30 am Weekday Mass: Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. at 8:30 am. RECONCILIATION: Thursday 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm BAPTISMS: Please call the Office to schedule. MARRIAGES: Please call the Office six months prior to the wedding date. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist - June 24, 2018
Page 2 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist June 24, 2018 The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Tiny fingers and toes. A little yawn. A loud cry. An infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. "What will this child be?" It is a question every parent asks time and time again. As first steps are taken, as personalities emerge, as a child shows interest in reading or drawing or climbing, the question is on our lips. "What will this child be?" This question is asked as John the Baptist is born. Will he be a priest like his father? Does his strange, unexpected name signal a departure from that inheritance? Could Elizabeth and Zechariah ever have predicted what would be? Under the tutelage of his priestly father, John "became strong in spirit." As an adult, John would retreat into the desert to preach repentance. He would attract a large following and eventually attract the attention of the rulers of the day. He would point out the adulterous ways of King Herod and would find himself in prison. Eventually, he would be beheaded. But today, he is a child, an infant newly born. On this special feast, we're reminded of the great humility required of parents. The character formation, the discipline and encouragement, the violin lessons and soccer practices, every parental effort is subjected to the decisions of the child themselves. Even children on a sure track by high school graduation transform under life's circumstances. Entrusting our children to God can be incredibly intimidating. "What will this child be," especially when that transformation lies outside of my control? John the Baptist's story might not have ended as his parents imagined. But he is celebrated as the greatest of the prophets, as the one who prepared the way for the Messiah. Here is the hope of all Christian parents -- that our children would be raised in such a way that when people meet them, they meet Jesus Christ. The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Isaiah 49:1-6 Inner Doubts Everyone who works hard has moments of wondering, Was it worth it? It s a frightening question to face. We put a lot of effort into school, work, family, and interests. They all demand a lot of time, attention, and detail. Sometimes the rewards are obvious, but other times they are not. At some point a hard worker will wonder, Was it worth it? Even John the Baptist faced that question. After preaching, baptizing, gathering disciples, announcing Jesus, and baptizing him at the Jordan, John continued his ministry until he was arrested. Then he had doubts. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if he really was the Messiah. In prison, cut off from his work and the people who loved him, John wondered, Was it worth it? Long before this, the prophet Isaiah felt the same way. The LORD called me from birth, he says. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. Isaiah heard God say, You are my servant, but still the doubts came. I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength. Now, both Isaiah and John the Baptist are remembered as tremendous prophets in religious history, but that was not always clear to them at the time. We will have our doubts, but if we are servants of God, we will be a light to the nations.
Page 3 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist Peterborough, NH Readings for the Week of June 24, 2018 Sunday: Vigil: Jer 1:4-10/Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17 [6b]/1 Pt 1:8-12/Lk 1:5-17 Day: Is 49:1-6/Ps 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15 [14a]/ Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 Monday: 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18/Ps 60:3, 4-5, 12-13 [7b]/Mt 7:1-5 Tuesday: 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36/ Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11 [cf. 9d]/ Mt 7:6, 12-14 Wednesday: 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3/Ps 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40 [33a]/Mt 7:15-20 Thursday: 2 Kgs 24:8-17/Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9 [9]/ Mt 7:21-29 Friday: Day: Acts 12:1-11/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [5b]/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19 Do This In Memory Of Me! Mon., June 25-8:30 am - Vincent Girnius Tues., June 26-8:30 am - Pat Gower by Norm & Chun Wed., June 27 - No Mass Thurs., June 28-8:30 am - Jadwega & Konstantanty Koziell by the family Fri., Sat., June 29-8:30 am - Yolanda Taylor June 30-5:00 pm - All our parishioners Sun., July 01-8:00 am - For the Healing of Chloe & Ashley Debelis -10:30 am - Kathy Russell by Peggy Buttrick Saturday: Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19/Ps 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21 [19b]/Mt 8:5-17 Next Sunday: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24/Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 [2a]/2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15/Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43 SANCTUARY LAMP MEMORIALS The sanctuary lamp will burn this week in loving memory of: June 24-30 Kathleen Kereazis To schedule Masses or have a Sanctuary Lamp burned in memory of a loved one please call the office at (603) 924-7647. Eucharistic Adoration Thursday Evening 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm We cannot live, we cannot look at the truth about ourselves without letting ourselves be looked at and generated by Christ in daily Eucharistic Adoration. - Pope Benedict XVI Please come and experience the love of God in Eucharistic Adoration. This time is the best time to have an intimate conversation with the Lord. Confession will also be available for those who want a new beginning with the Lord and be freed from any sinfulness. June 24, 2018
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist Today I would like to share with you an update of the parish life here at Divine Mercy Parish. First, after several years of dedicated service our Custodian Ray Wesoly has decided to retire. Although he will be enjoying fishing and other events around his home, he will continue to share his talents with us playing the Guitar at the Sunday 8:00 am Mass. We wish him well in his retirement. Taking his place, we have hired Jim Marcella to take care of the cleanliness and maintenance of our Church. Welcome aboard Jim. Second, our Women s Guild continues to work tirelessly providing for the needs of the Parish. They do a wonderful job providing bereavement meals for the many families who are struggling with the loss of a loved one. The woman Guild has also been very generous in the financial support of our parish donating $2,000 dollars for our teens to attend Steubenville Youth Conference, $1,200 for new personalized hearing aide receivers to assist those who are having difficulty hearing the words of the Mass, $1,750 to provide free access for families to access Faith Education materials on the internet, as well as financial support to our youth choir to repair the hand bells and enabling them to experience a music conference. These are just a few examples of the many wonderful things the woman guild does for our parish. Please thank them. Last, but certainly not lest, many thanks to the hard work of the many committees that keep us going and each and everyone of you for your strong faith and love of God. Because of your Love of God, Adoration is over 40 strong in attendance, Mass attendance is over 530 and growing, Baptisms and Weddings are up, Religious Ed is striving and the youth group is growing. Job well done! Let us continue to work together for the Lord. June 24, 2018
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist III. Maria Licitra & Zachary Medeiros I. Alexcina Leel & Carl Rousseau Jr. Meetings this week Wednesday-June 27th at 7 pm -Finance Council Vacation Bible School August 6-10, 2018 from 9 AM Noon Collection for the Weekend of June 16 & 17, 2018. Envelopes (170) $ 5,040.95 Loose $ 826.00 Total $ 5,866.95 This weeks second collection is for the Works of the Holy Father June 24, 2018
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