1 Parish of the Precious Blood December 24, 2017 www.theppb.org Fourth Sunday of Advent They shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us. The birth of the Messiah gives the church great hope. Although secular celebrations of Christmas ignore the significance of the holy day, the church gives us Advent to help us keep our focus. We reorient our hearts and minds to recall, once again, the mysterious glory of the Incarnation. In these weeks of yuletide preparation, we stop to remind ourselves what it means to be Christian, in case we have begun taking it for granted. To be Christian is to believe that God is truly with us, in the most personal, intimate way imaginable; he is one of us! "They shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" Through the Incarnation, God became human and lived among us to love us, to guide us, to heal us, and to strengthen us. It is the promise of a savior given through the early prophets, a promise that the faithful held dear as they waited. As that most beautiful of all anniversaries approaches, celebrate this season remembering the greatest gift ever given to every person--the gift of a Savior. LPI Publications Inc. Readings for the Week of Dec. 24, 2017 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38 Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 [2a]/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Midnight: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 [Lk 2:11]/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 [3c]/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [12]/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40 Next Sunday: Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 or Sir 3:2-6, 12-14/Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9, [7a, 8a] or Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1]/ Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
2 December 24, 2017 PARISH INFORMATION SANCTUARY Our Priests & Deacon: Holy Rosary Fred Hackett by Wife Natalie & Family Pastor: Rev. David R. Raymond david.raymond@portlanddiocese.org Parochial Vicar: Rev. Nehru Stephen Savayaria nehru.stephen@portlanddiocese.org Parochial Vicar: Rev. Agustin Sebasthiyan Fr. Dave Fr. Steve Fr. Agustin agustin.sebasthiyan@portlanddiocese.org Deacon: Rev. Mr. Carl Joseph Gallagher Sacred Heart Blanche Cowett by Roger & Dolories Morin St. Denis Tony & Troy McDougal by Mom, Sandy & Alex St. Louis Health of Raymond Beaulieu by Velma Labbe St. Mark Glenna Louridas by Her Husband & Children OUR LADY LAMPS Pauline Evans by Cindy, Mary Ellen & Johna carl.gallagher@portlanddiocese.org Parish of the Precious Blood Business Office Hours Caribou Office: 31 Thomas Ave. P.O. Box 625 Caribou, ME 04736 498-2536 or 498-2537 Hours: Mon. -Thurs. 8 AM - 3:30 PM. Fri. 9-12 Closed 12-1 PM for Lunch Presque Isle Office: 6 Roberts St. Presque Isle, ME 04769 768-3671 or 764-8644 Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8 AM 3 PM Closed 12-1 PM for Lunch. Sacramental and Pastoral Care Sacrament of Baptism Please call the Parish Office to register by the first Friday of the month. Sacrament of Marriage Please call the Parish Office six months to one year in advance of the desired date of your wedding. Sacrament of Penance Reconciliation is available 45 mins before Mass or by appointment. Pastoral Ministry to the Sick and Homebound Please call the Parish Office with the name, address and telephone number of the person who is in need. Reney & Helen Theriault by Donna & Charlie Barnes Faith Formation Classes Grades Pre K 5 Sundays ~ 9:30 AM St. Denis Church Hall Fort Fairfield. 9:00 AM St. Louis Church Hall Limestone. 10:00 AM Holy Rosary Parish Center, Caribou. 10:00 AM St. Mary s Faith Formation Center Presque Isle **NO CLASSES DEC. 24th** Parish of the Precious Blood Church Meetings PPB Jr. High & High School Youth Ministry 12:30 2:00 PM at St. Mary s, P.I. Dec. 24: Christmas Break Please check out our music blog for a chance to listen to the songs in advance. https://thereverentmusic.wordpress.com/ *FMI Call Theresa Bonner at 764-0161 Jan. 13 H.O.P.E. 11:00 AM Holy Rosary Parish Center Chairperson ~ Dot Cyr Tel. 493-7709 Jan. 16 Buildings & Grounds 6:00 PM Holy Rosary Parish Center Chairperson ~Rodney Bourgoine Tel. 455-4785 Jan. 23 6:00 PM Jan. 25 6:00 PM Finance Council St. Mary s Conference Room, P.I. Chairperson ~ Mark Bouchard Tel. 498-2237 Pastoral Council Holy Rosary Parish Center, Caribou Chairperson ~ Dr. Jim Savage Tel. 493-3223 ** The Bulletin is available on our website at WWW.THEPPB.ORG on WEDNESDAYS each week for the coming weekend.
WORSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY Saturday, Dec 23: The Fourth Sunday of Advent #868 4:00 PM Holy Rosary ** Bob and Priscilla Foley on 50th Wedding Anniversary 4:00 PM St. Mary ** Richard John Plante by Mom Betty Dunn, Scott & Mike 4:00 PM St. Theresa ** Urban & Ethel Aucoin by Frank, Joan & Family 5:30 PM Sacred Heart ** Richard Martin (1st anniv.) by His Wife Jeannette 6:00 PM St. Catherine ** For the People 6:00 PM St. Joseph ** Blessings for Steven McDowell & Family by Mom Eleanor Grow Sunday, Dec 24: The Fourth Sunday of Advent #868 9:00 AM Holy Rosary ** Patricia Pellerin (2nd anniv.) by Gene & Sharon Ellis 9:00 AM Our Lady ** Deceased Relatives of Earl & Lela 9:00 AM St. Mary ** Paul & Emile Caron by Mike & Cindy Thibodeau & Family 10:30 AM St. Mark ** Repose of all Souls in Purgatory 11:00 AM St. Denis ** Dorothy Cassidy by Sue LeVasseur 11:00 AM St. Louis ** Betty Thibodeau by Sisters Geneva & Loretta Sunday, Dec 24: The Vigil of the Nativity #870 4:00 PM Holy Rosary ** For the Children of the World 4:00 PM St. Denis ** For the Children of the World 4:00 PM St. Mary ** For the Children of the World 4:00 PM St. Theresa ** For World Peace 7:00 PM Our Lady ** Earleen Clark by Loving Husband Marvin 7:00 PM St. Catherine ** For World Peace 7:00 PM St. Joseph ** Gary Dyer, Sr. by Geraldine, Gayle, Gary, Gregg, Geoffrey & Families 7:00 PM St. Louis ** For the Children of the World 9:00 PM Sacred Heart ** Blanche Beaupre by Sacred Heart Ladies of St. Anne Monday, Dec 25: The Nativity of the Lord #873 9:00 AM Holy Rosary ** Rev. Clement D. Thibodeau by Joan Bishop & Family 9:00 AM St. Mary ** Timothy Lamare by Mom & Family Tuesday, Dec 26: 8:30 AM St. Denis ** Edwidge Pelletier O'Donnell by Dick & Andrea Pelletier Wednesday, Dec 27: 8:30 AM Holy Rosary ** Sylvio LaPierre by Andy & Janet LaPierre 8:30 AM St. Mary ** Dale Corbin by Wife Sharon Thursday, Dec 28: 8:30 AM St. Denis ** Winnie Gorman by Mona Lynch 6:00 PM Holy Rosary ** Doug Michaud by Knights of Columbus Council #1870 Friday, Dec 29: 8:30 AM St. Mary ** Bobby Guerrette by Shirley & Don 10:30 AM Caribou Nursing Home ** Alfred Cote by Caribou Knights of Columbus #1870 Saturday, Dec 30: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph #874 4:00 PM Holy Rosary ** Ernest Belanger by Wife Jeannine & Michael 4:00 PM St. Mary ** Raynold Legassie, Sr. by Arleine & Family 4:00 PM St. Theresa ** Perry Fournier by Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Grivois 5:30 PM Sacred Heart ** Blanche 'Mimi' Hebert by Christina, John, Dean & Jack Gibson 6:00 PM St. Catherine ** Robert & Anne McHatten by Anita 6:00 PM St. Joseph ** Intentions of Steven McDowell & Family by Mom Eleanor Grow Sunday, Dec 31: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph #874 9:00 AM Holy Rosary ** Don Winston by Burning Bush Prayer Group 9:00 AM Our Lady ** For the People 9:00 AM St. Mary ** John & Marion Thibodeau by Mike & Cindy Thibodeau & Family 10:30 AM St. Mark ** Clare Hitchcock by the Hitchcock Family 11:00 AM St. Denis ** Real Oakes, Sr. by Garnet & Rita Rochford & Family 11:00 AM St. Louis ** Norman Johndro by His Wife & Family Sunday, Dec 31: Vigil of Mary, The Holy Mother of God #877 6:00 PM St. Catherine ** Doris Chamberlain by Nora & Malcolm Taam 6:00 PM St. Denis ** For the People 6:00 PM St. Mark ** Earleen Clark by Loving Husband Marvin Monday, Jan. 1: Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God #877 9:00 AM Holy Rosary ** Rebecca St. Peter (3rd anniv.) by Mom, Dad, Katherine, Clinton & Todd 9:00 AM St. Mary ** Lillie Ouellette by Peter & Terri Ouellette Prayer & Devotions HOLY ROSARY Thursday 6:30 PM ACTS Women ~ Jan. 4 & 18 7 PM Burning Bush Prayer Group. Friday 9:00-10:00 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, No Benediction. 1st Friday: Mass and Adoration ~ Jan. 5 1st Saturday: 3 PM First Saturday Devotions & Rosary ST. MARY S Tuesday: 1 PM Prayer Group Church basement 2:30 PM Rosary Team Wednesday: 9 AM Rosary making Friday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass when there is no funeral. 9 AM Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests. Saturday: 2:30 PM First Saturday Devotions & Rosary ST. DENIS Every other Tues. 2-4 PM Rosary Making at the K. of C. Hall. Wednesday: 10 AM St. Denis Rectory, Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests. Thursday: 9 AM Faith Sharing Friday: 3 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet Saturday: 1 PM Adoration Sunday: 10:15 AM Rosary ST. MARK S Monday: 8:00 AM Rosary when there is an 8:30 Mass. Friday: 8:30 AM Rosary. OUR LADY OF THE LAKE Sunday: 8:15 AM Rosary before Mass Tuesday: 6:30 PM Rosary SACRED HEART Weds: 10 AM Rosary 3 Bulletin Memorials DALE CORBIN & MICHAEL POISSON by Sharon Corbin & Family CECILE BERUBE by Loving Husband Fred & Family LAWRENCE, HILDA & PATRICIA BOSSE by Jim & Nancy Chandler BARRY & PEARLE SOUCY by Nancy, Whitney & Brandon KENNETH G. MURCHISON, SR. by the Murchison Family CONRAD CARON by His Wife & Children MARK D. LeBLANC DORIS MARTIN by Mom, Dad & Family LINDA PAGE by Husband Norman & Family GILBERT GUERRETTE by his Loving Wife & Family LIONEL BLANCHETTE & RAYMOND BLANCHETTE by Doris & Children NORMAN WATSON by Wife & Children SHAWN BERNARD by His Dad Charles DAVID L. CALDON (10TH Anniv) by His Family CLIFF MARTIN by His Wife, Children & Their Families
4 Dear Friends, Behold, I bring you news of great joy. This day a savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This is the message the angel delivered to the shepherds on that first Christmas night. The same marvelous greeting is heralded to us too. Let us open our minds and hearts to receive Him with rejoicing. God inserted Himself in our human journey. During the coming year let us ask the Christ Child to help us insert ourselves into the lives of our brothers and sisters. May we all be given the grace to keep our eyes and hearts on our mission rooted in the message of the angel. Let us pray that the message may penetrate the darkness of poverty in our world and lead all peoples to the light of justice and reconciliation in the coming year. Let us pray especially for families separated by war, for those in our parish who are grieving or broken by human failings. My prayer for each one of you is that the Good News of Christ s birth, brings joy, love, hope and peace into your hearts and homes. I extend my peace to you in thanksgiving for your prayers, support, cards and gifts. I am grateful to you all for joining me on the mission to build the Kingdom of God in our time and place. Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year to you and your families. Fr. Dave FAITH FORMATION & YOUTH MINISTRY Making Disciples of All Children" We are all here on Earth to spread God s Good News. How are we to do this? The Parish of the Precious Blood Youth Ministry is currently raising money in order to send teens to events such as EPIC, LEAD, Steubenville Conferences, and World Youth Day where they can encounter Christ in a personal way, spend time with other Catholic teens, and to come back to our Parish with new knowledge of their faith and an ability to spread the Good News with their communities. You have the opportunity to invest in and nurture their spiritual journey. Help us to invest in the whole child by making a donation. See donation amounts and payment form in your pew or by contacting the Parish Office at 498-2536. Thank you! H.O.P.E. SOCIAL ACTION CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE SOUP KITCHEN The Bread of Life Soup Kitchen will serve Christmas Dinner Monday, Dec. 25th from 1:30 PM 4:00 PM. The Bread of Life Soup Kitchen is located at 62 Collins St. in Caribou. Join us for our Christmas celebration. CHURCH & FAMILY LIFE The Word Among Us The parish will no longer be offering the Word Among Us as a freebie. If you would like to continue receiving this at the discounted price of $20 a year- compared to $71.40 - please call St. Mary s rectory and ask for your name and contact number to be added to the list. When it s time to order, we will call and ask you to prepay for the year ($20) and will notify you when your copy comes in. If you know of someone not able to come to Mass, but would like to order, please have them call us. Praying that your journey to meet the Christ child will open your heart to receive God s blessings! 50th Wedding Anniversary: Congratulations to Robert & Priscilla Foley of Caribou who will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary by renewing their vows at Holy Rosary Church, Saturday, December 23rd. Our prayers and best wishes for many more happy years together.
5 Group Meeting Location Day Time Contact Telephone ACTS Women Parish Center - Jan. 4 & 18 2nd & 4th Thurs. 6:30 PM Cindy Blanchette 498-2175 Baptismal Prep. Parish Center - Jan. 17 3rd Weds. of month 7:00 PM Janet Beckwith 498-2536 Baptismal Prep. St. Mary s, P.I. As Needed 6:00 PM Hilary Blanchard 712-9408 Blanket Ministry Parish Center Mondays 12 PM-3 PM Ruth Gahagan 492-1960 Burning Bush Prayer Group Prayer Room, Caribou Thursdays 6:30 PM Yvette Legassie 498-3675 Catholic Golden Age Parish Center Jan. 14 Second Sun. of month 2:00 PM Bob Foley 492-2032 Catholic Mom s Connect Parish Center 1st & 3rd Thurs of month 6:00 PM Keren Morin 231-0131 Church & Family Life Parish Center - Even Months 6:00 PM Sue Dugal 325-8877 Daughters of Isabella Parish Center, Caribou 1st Tues. of month except July & Aug. 6:00 PM Elaine Haines 496-5831 Daughters of Isabella K. of C. Hall Ft. Fairfield 2nd Weds. of month 6:00 PM Annette Hull 476-5039 Daughters of Isabella K. of C. Hall, P.I. 2nd Thurs. of month 6:30 PM Cheryl Demerchant 768-1587 H.O.P.E. Social Action Parish Center - Jan. 13 11 AM 3rd Tues. of month 4:00 PM Dot Cyr 493-7709 JH/HS Youth Ministry Presque Isle Sundays 12:30-2:00 PM Theresa Bonner 764-0161 K. of C. #1753 K. of C. Hall, Ft. Fairfield Thursdays 5:30 PM Sean Bernard Tony Levesque 227-0822 473-7338 K. of C. #1870 K. of C. Hall, Caribou 2nd Weds. of month 6:00 PM Todd Pelletier 227-5105 K. of C. #2524 K. of C. Hall, P.I. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Tues. 7:00 PM Dan Lalonde 325-9137 K. of C. #2851 St. Louis, Limestone 1st & 3rd Tues. 6:00 PM James Pelkey 325-2099 K. of C. 4th Degree #350 K. of C. Hall, Ft. Fairfield 2nd Tues. of month 5:30 PM Dave Armstrong 472-6000 Ladies of St. Anne Holy Rosary 2nd Tues. of month 6:30 PM Joan Bishop 498-6655 Ladies of St. Anne St. Louis, Limestone 3rd Tues. of month 6:30 PM Norma Lambrecht 325-4796 Ladies of St. Anne Sacred Heart, N. Caribou 4th Tues. of month 6:30 PM Leona St. Peter 498-8225 Our Lady of Snows Sodality St. Mark, Ashland Weds., Sept. Dec. 6:30 PM Mary Ellen Chasse 435-6649 PPB Bldgs & Grounds Parish Center Jan. 16 Bi-monthly - 3rd Tues. 6:00 PM Rodney Bourgoine 455-4785 PPB Cemetery Council Parish Center Feb. 2 5 times per year 5:30 PM Michael Tardif 492-2614 PPB Finance Council St. Mary, P.I. Jan. 23 Last Tues. of month 6:00 PM Mark Bouchard 498-2237 PPB Pastoral Council Holy Rosary Jan. 25 4th Thurs. 6:00 PM Dr. James Savage 493-3223 Prayer Shawl Ministry Parish Center 2nd Sat.. of month 9:00 AM Dot Cyr Judy Snell 493-7709 / 895-3549 493-4443 That Man Is You Parish Center Weekly Saturdays 6:30-8:00 AM Jon Langley 551-7833 TOPS-Take Off Pounds Sensibly Parish Center Weekly Thursdays 4:00-6:00 PM Bob Foley 492-2032 RCIA Holy Rosary, Caribou Sunday after Mass 10:00 AM Tom Goetz 896-5675 RCIA St. Denis, Ft. Fairfield Friday 6:30 PM Todd Ellis 551-4696 RCIA St. Louis, Limestone Sunday 9:00 AM Helen Bubar 476-5783 RCIA St. Mary, P.I. Sunday 10:00 AM Hilary Blanchard 712-9408 Women s Bible Study Baker Residence 1st & 3rd Tues. 2:00 PM Barbara Baker 435-9009 Women s Bible Study Parish Center Mondays 6:15 PM Julie Cook 493-1244 Worship & Spirituality St. Mary, P.I. - Jan. 9 Monthly - 2nd Tues. 6:00 PM Lynn Pelli 551-7072
Parish Financial Stewardship 6 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY Upcoming Second Collections Dec. 24 H.O.P.E. Assistance Fund Dec. 31 Faith Formation