St. Matthew Parish 19 Dora Lane, Limerick, Maine 04048-3527 Tel. 207-793-2244 website: www.stmatthewlimerick.org Diocese of Portland Diocesan website: www.portlanddiocese.org We welcome you to the Catholic Community of St. Matthew and the celebration of the Eucharist. ST. MATTHEW PARISH STAFF: Very Rev. Philip A. Tracy, V. F. Pastor E-mail address: philip.tracy@portlanddiocese.org Rev. Jack Dickinson, Parochial Vicar E-mail address: jack.dickinson@portlanddiocese.org Deacon Paul Lissandrello, Pastoral Associate E-mail address: paul.lissandrello@portlanddiocese.org Heather Silva, Secretary/Bookkeeper E-mail address: heather.silva@portlanddiocese.org Deacon Paul Lissandrello, P.C.L. Deacon Paul Lissandrello Altar Server Coord. Gail Libby, Music Director, 793-8998 FINANCE COMMISSION: Henry McKeown KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Jon DiCentes, Grand Knight, 247-8875 BIRTHPLACE HELPLINE: Abortion Alternatives/Project Rachel, 1-800-227-3002 WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. WEEKDAY MASSES: 9:00 a.m. - Monday, 8:00 a.m. - Tuesday*, Thursday*, Friday* *Check weekly bulletin for possible time changes. BAPTISMS: Parents who want to have their child(ren) baptized are asked to please call the parish office (793-2244). WEDDINGS: Anyone planning to get married must call the parish office at least SIX MONTHS PRIOR to the proposed wedding date. CONFESSIONS: Saturday at 3:00 p.m., AND ANYTIME BY APPOINTMENT. NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome to St. Matthew Parish. Please fill out the Parish Membership Form below and drop it in the collection basket or mail to the parish office. DOMESTIC ABUSE HOTLINE: 324-1802 or 1-800-239-7298 PROTECTING GOD S CHILDREN: www.portlanddiocese.org/protecting-gods-children We joyfully welcome back to the Church any of our brothers and sisters who may have been away. PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Name Address City Zip Code Phone No. Email Address Check New Registration Updating Info. Change of Address Moving out of Parish
ST. MATTHEW CHURCH TODAY IS THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. THE READINGS BEGIN ON PAGE 25 OF THE MISSALETTE. MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEKEND Saturday 4:00 p.m. Joyce Gentlemen by the Family Sunday 8:00 a.m. Intentions of the Parishioners 10:30 a.m. Thomas Mannion by the Family MASSES FOR THE WEEK Monday 9:00 a.m. Msgr. Robert Lavoie by Constance Cote Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Jesus by Constance Cote MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOVENA Wednesday 8:00 a.m. COMMUNION SERVICE Thursday 8:00 a.m. Rev. Vincent Catpadano by Constance Cote Friday 8:00 a.m. Msgr. Robert Lavoie by Constance Cote MASS INTENTIONS NEXT WEEKEND (Dec. 23 & 24) Saturday 4:00 p.m. Corbett Snyder By the Snyder & Dow Families Sunday 8:00 a.m. Intentions of the Parishioners 10:30 a.m. Anita McKeown, Della Welch & Yvonne Coburn by the McKeown Family CHRISTMAS EVE 4:00 p.m. Intentions of the Pastor 6:30 p.m. Intentions of the Pastor 10:00 p.m. Intentions of the Pastor CHRISTMAS DAY Monday 9:00 a.m. Wayne Hennessey by the Family. CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve 6:30 p.m. Children s Liturgy 10:00 p.m. Evening Mass MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day ADVENT LIGHTING CEREMONY REFRAIN: Christmas is coming, the Church is glad to sing, and let the advent candles brightly burn in a ring. Please include the following priests serving in our diocese in your daily prayers this week: Dec. 17 Rev. Robert Vaillancourt/Rev. Richard Rice Dec. 18 Rev. Mark Nolette/Rev. Edward Clifford Dec. 19 Rev. Reginald Brissette/Rev. Ramundas Bukauskas OFM Dec. 20 Rev. Thomas Lee/Rev. Emile Dube Dec. 21 Rev. Richard Senghas/Rev. John Bacevicius OFM Dec. 22 Rev. Armand Neault/Rev. Dominic Savio HGN Dec. 23 Rev. Andrew Bisson OFM/Msgr. Joseph Goudreau So that the Divine Emmanuel might find in each of their hearts a little cradle scented by purity of His all beautiful and loving Mother. For that, may they be purified in the waves of the Divine Blood of Jesus. Ven. Mother Catherine Aurelia, Foundress Readings for the Week of December 17, 2017 Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Monday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, Friday: LIMERICK John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."- Jn 1:26-27 VOCATION VIEW The One who calls you is faithful. Will you be faithful to His call? If God may be inviting you to be a priest, or consecrated religious, contact Father Seamus Griesbach at 207-773-6471, or write: seamus.griesbach@portlanddiocese.org; Website: www.portlanddiocese/ vocations; Facebook: VocationsME. 11-12, 20-21 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk 21:28]/Lk 1:57-66 Next 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
PARISH FINANCES Amount needed weekly to operate parish $ 3,900.00 Offertory 12/10/17 $ 2,293.00 DECEMBER OFFERTORY AS OF 12/10/17 $ 5,416.00 Immaculate Conception collection 12/8/17 $ 675.00 Retired Religious Collection 12/10/17 $ 1,396.00 WHAT SHALL I BRING TO THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHEN I COME TO WORSHIP HIM? - Micah 6:6 IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM PROTECTING GOD S CHILDREN In the interest of children s safety, we ask that children not be allowed to leave Mass to use the restrooms downstairs, unless they are accompanied by an adult. Because we are a public building, doors are required to be unlocked, allowing entrance to all. The Knights of Columbus will sponsor BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Sunday Dec. 17, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the parish hall. Families are invited to come and enjoy eggs, sausage, ham, pancakes, doughnut holes, milk, juice and coffee. Prices: Adults $6.00; Children 5-12 $3.00 Children 4 and under are free. Bring your cameras to snap a picture of your child with Santa. THE RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE is conducting a collection of baby items for Christmas for the mothers who go for help and support to Mother Seton House in Fryeburg and Saint Andre's Home in Biddeford. The collection will be this week-end. Please bring your donations of baby washes, shampoos, lotions, powders, diapers, infant clothing, blankets, and toys. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Pastor s Pondering This weekend we reach the third Sunday of Advent. With the fourth Sunday of Advent also being Christmas Eve, there is an urgency that we make the most of our remaining Advent journey. Reflect on what Bishop Robert Barron has to say about this weekend in his pamphlet, Advent Reflections. Today marks Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing. How many of us spontaneously associate God with Joy? In one sense, it is part of the tragedy of sin that we don t. in our alienation from God, we experience him as judge, as distant and demanding. But God s whole business is joy. He is a communion, a community of joy in his own inner life. He created everything as a joyous act of self-communication and seeks, above all, to share his joy with us. Our readings for this Gaudete Sunday contain a treasure trove of hints and recommendations in regard to being joyful. The first key to joy is allowing the Holy Spirit to live in you. The Spirit is the love that connects the Father and the Son. So pray for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which gives you fervor and a sense of mission and divine purpose. The second key to joy is allowing Christ to clean out the spirits of jealousy, hatred, violence and selfabsorption from your life. Will the work be a tad painful? Of course, but it is the necessary preparation for happiness. When we do this, we realize something of great importance: God s joy will produce joy in us. Listen to what the prophet Zephaniah says: He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals (3:17) What a wonderful co-inherence of divine and human joy that we celebrate in this third week of Advent! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: There will be a dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a meeting on Thursday, December 21. OFFICE CLOSED: The parish office will be close on Dec. 25th and 26th in observance of the Christmas holiday. Ooops! Has This Ever Happened to You? The ushers come forward to begin the Offertory collection process. You lean over and ask your spouse if she has the envelope? She replies that she left it on the table for you to put in your pocket. Ooops! No envelope to give this week! In the rush of getting off to church, we all forget the envelope once in a while. Check out an easier way to give. Go to http:// www.stmatthewlimerick.org/ and click on Online Giving. It s simple! It s safe! And it keeps God at the top of your giving list this Christmas season! THE MATTHEW 25 COMMITTEE continues to collect aluminum tabs off soda and other cans to benefit Portland s Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home for families of children with serious illnesses, who are undergoing treatment at nearby medical facilities. Please be mindful of this worthy effort when you have holiday social gatherings. There is a container for your donated tabs in the Narthex. College Bible Study: Winter Series Are you home for the holidays and looking for an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new friends and grow in your relationship with Christ? We are offering a 3-week study from FOCUS called Ignite. The study will meet on Thursday nights at 7pm: Dec 28, Jan 4, and Jan 11. Please contact Catherine Gallerizzo at (207) 847-6890 or (240) 246-4315 (texting ok) to sign up or for more details. You can also email her at catherine.gallerizzo@portlanddiocese.org On Friday evening, December 22 nd, Bishop Deeley will preside at a mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. During this mass, Alex Boucher, a seminarian from Good Shepherd Parish in the Biddeford/Saco area, and the seminarian who was at St. Therese for the summer will receive the rite of candidacy. This rite is one of the steps towards ordination to the priesthood. The mass begins at 5pm and all are welcomed. Christmas masses are traditionally well attended. This a tremendous opportunity for each of us to show hospitality to visitors coming home for the holidays, or parishioners who only attend mass a few times a year. Please be welcoming to all by helping to make space for people to sit, consider car pooling to ease congestion in the parking lots, and participate enthusiastically in singing the familiar Christmas hymns. This past week, the students in our sacramental preparation two classes experienced the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time. There were many smiles and relieved young people as they did something for the first time, and received the fullness of God s love. If it has been a while since you have experienced God s healing love in the sacrament, consider attending one of the extra times for reconciliation this week. CONFESSIONS: Dec. 18 6-7 pm Notre Dame Church, Springvale Dec. 19 8:30-9:30 am & 4-6 pm St. Matthew, Limerick Dec. 20 5-7 pm Notre Dame Church, Springvale Dec. 21 8:30-9:30 am & 6-7 pm St. Matthew, Limerick.
DECEMBER 17, 2017 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:: Envelopes are now available on the carts in the narthex if you would like to contribute toward our Christmas flowers, in memory of a loved one. MITTEN GIVING TREE: The Food Pantry is asking for mittens and hats to fill their Mitten Giving Tree. If you knit, crochet, or would like to purchase new ones, to help keep hands and heads warm during the winter months, we would be most grateful. Items may be left in the narthex. Thank you. During December every Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag sold at the Hannaford store location at 20 Sokokis Trail, East Waterboro ME Will generate a $.25 donation during the month of December to support St. Matthew's Food Pantry! Hannaford Fight Hunger bags with the message This bag helped feed someone in need can be found on the reusable bag rack and at various registers. Advent Section on the Diocesan Website A special Advent section has been created on the Diocese of Portland s website and will be updated throughout the month with new material. The section includes many useful features and resources including a variety of prayers, blessings, and reflections; downloadable and interactive calendars; and event listings for the diocese. http://www.portlanddiocese.org/advent The Presence Radio Network Sunday, December 17, 2017 Patrick Madrid returns to the airwaves in Maine weekdays at 11am Beginning December 18 th The Patrick Madrid Show returns to The Presence Radio Network. Patrick is your source for the latest in current events and contemporary issues. Join him for compelling insights, lively conversations, and encouragement for your day! The Presence Radio is your listener-supported Catholic radio. 106.7 FM in Greater Portland, 90.3 FM in Greater Bangor, 89.7 FM Mid-Coast, 89.5 FM Augusta, 97.5 Fort Kent, 1390AM Northern Maine, 105.7 FM in Springvale & Sanford Listen online www.thepresenceradio.org, Download the free Presence Radio Smartphone app or dial 605-475-8037 and listen on your cell phone or T-Mobile users dial 360-398-4479 Grades K - 8 Dec. 17 Breakfast with Santa Dec. 24 NO Class Dec. 31 NO Class Grade 9-12 Dec. 17 Session 6:00-7:30 p.m. Dec. 24 NO Session Dec. 31 NO Session
DECEMBER 17, 2017 NEXT WEEK DECEMBER 23RD & 24TH MINISTRY SCHEDULE EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION Saturday 4:00 p.m. Henry McKeown (H-B) Mary Ross (H-C) Danny Bright (H-O) Irene DesVergnes (B-O) Sunday 8:00 a.m. Claire DiBiase (H-B) Ed DiBiase (H-C) MINISTER NEEDED (H-O) MINISTER NEEDED (B-O) 10:30 a.m. Linda Dumont (H-B) Fred St. Laurent (H-C) Joan St. Laurent (H-O) Mary Langlois (B-O) LECTORS & ALTAR SERVERS Saturday 4:00 p.m. Sandra Snyder (L) Parker Dow (C) Cameron Turgeon (1) Haley Black (2) Sunday 8:00 a.m. Jerry Cote (L) Jacob Piela (C) Zachary Piela (1) Andrew Thompson (2) 10:30 a.m. Cathy Dube (L) Daniella Niedermeyer (C) Isabella Silva (1) Lydia Niedermeyer (2) USHERS Saturday 4:00 p.m. Carmen LePage Janet Bright Craig Theriault Fred Ross Sunday 8:00 a.m. Jack Guzman Gerry Provencher Richard Rheault Larry Hackett 10:30 a.m. Jason Silva Barbara Britten NO CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD CHRISTMAS & CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24TH & 25TH MINISTRY SCHEDULE EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION Sunday 4:00 p.m. Mary Davichick (H-B) Sandra Snyder (H-C) Karen Miliano (H-O) Laura May (B-O) 6:30 p.m. Mary Ross (H-B) Debbie Francis (H-C) Mark Francis (H-O) Carol Webb (B-O) 10:00 p.m. Linda Lanoue (H-B) Mary Langlois (H-C) MINISTER NEEDED (H-O) MINISTER NEEDED (B-O) Monday 9:00 a.m. Elaine Roberge (H-B) MINISTER NEEDED (H-C) Ed DiBiase (H-O) Claire DiBiase (B-O) LECTORS & ALTAR SERVERS Sunday 4:00 p.m. Cecile LePage (L) SERVER NEEDED (C) Haley Black (1) SERVER NEEDED (2) 6:30 p.m. Kate Howard (L) Isabella Silva (C) Joe Osei (1) Jamal Osei (2) 10:00 p.m. George Duranleau (L) Theo LaFreniere (C) Brendan Fedrizzi (1) Aidan Fedrizzi (2) Monday 9:00 a.m. Frank Amoroso (L) Zachary Piela (C) Andrew Thompson (1) Jacob Piela (2) USHERS Sunday 4:00 p.m. Carmen LePage Craig Theriault Barbara Britten Joanne Bargioni 6:30 p.m. Fred Ross Jason Silva Richard Sevigny 10:00 p.m. Paul Cote Joe Estrella Monday 9:00 a.m. Art Roberge Jack Guzman