Week of September 18, 2016 Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time The Pastor s Musings The Week at a Glance Dear Family in the Lord, I was inundated with requests for the quote from Mother Teresa as well as for the prayer that I shared that I use each morning as part of my Holy Hour. As we all strive for the detachment from the recognition, appreciation, or emotions that can hinder our stepping out or deepening prayer, I hope you find these helpful and I m happy to repeat them below: People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. ~ Mother Teresa Litany of Humility Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled... From the desire of being honored... From the desire of being praised... From the desire of being preferred to others... From the desire of being consulted... From the desire of being approved... From the fear of being humiliated... From the fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes... From the fear of being calumniated... From the fear of being forgotten... From the fear of being ridiculed... From the fear of being wronged... From the fear of being suspected... That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I unnoticed... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. But remember; be careful what you pray for! With you on the journey, Monday, September 19 CERS Group Meeting 7:00 PM (NH LL) Tuesday, September 20 Divine Mercy Study 9:00 AM (SJ H) Divine Mercy Study 6:30 PM (SJ H) Televised Parish Mass 7 PM, Channel 98 Wednesday, September 21 Prayer Cenacle 2:00 PM (SC C) St. Patrick School Update 6:00 PM (SPS) Return Info Night 6:30 PM (SJ H) Thursday, September 22 Exposition/Adoration 8:30AM-7 PM (SC) St. Patrick School Mass 9:30 AM (IC C) Benediction 7:00 PM (SC C) Televised Parish Mass 7 PM, Channel 98 Friday, September 23 Breakfast Group 8:30 AM (SC H) Wedding Rehearsal 4:30 PM (IC C) Italian Class 7:00 PM (EDPC LL) Saturday, September 24 Baptism 10:00 AM (IC C) Wedding Liturgy 1:00 PM (IC C) Rosary 3:30 PM (IC C) Sunday, September 25 Televised Parish Mass 10AM, Channel 98 RCIA 11:30 AM (SC R) Music Ministry Rehearsal 11:45AM (ICC) Choir Practice Spanish Mass 12:30PM (SC) Rosary 1:30 PM (SC C) Spanish Mass 2:00 PM (SC C) Bible Study in Spanish 3:30 PM (SC H) Choice Wine 6:30-8:15 PM (SC H) Bring It Home 5:30-7:30 PM (SPS) We received the email below last week and thought we d share it! Good Afternoon, I am taking this opportunity to thank you for leaving the front doors of Immaculate Conception wide open. What a wonderful and inviting gesture for the Portsmouth community to feel welcomed into our beautiful church that is so rich in Spirit. Thank you Father Gary and your incredibly hard working staff. Sincerely, Mo Killay
Intentions For Holy Mass Monday SEP 19 St. Januarius 8:00AM SC The Homiszak Family, by Maryann Parnell Tuesday SEP 20 St. Andrew Kim Tae, St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and companions 8:00AM SC Patricia Palmer (1 st anniversary), by Kate & Frank Giordano Wednesday SEP 21 St. Matthew 8:00AM SC Pro Populo (For our Parish Family) Thursday Sep 22 Feria (weekday) 8:00AM SC Joseph Parmentola, by wife Anne & Family 9:30AM IC St. Patrick School Mass open to all Friday SEP 23 St. Pius of Pietrelcina 8:00AM SC Irenee Lebel, by his wife Frances Saturday SEP 24 Feria 8:00AM SC Daughters of Charity, by Maryann Parnell Vigil 26 th Sunday of Ordinary Time 4:00PM IC Carol French (3rd anniversary), by her sister Marilyn Chavez Sunday SEP 25 26 th Sunday of Ordinary Time 8:30AM IC Peter Braseth, by the Dufton Family 10:30AM IC Alice Kennedy, by Moira Maloney and Scott Masi 2:00PM SC in Spanish Celebrant s Intention 4:30PM IC Pro Populo (For our Parish Family) To schedule Mass intentions, please call Marilyn Chavez at the St. Catherine office, 436-0344. Morning Prayer All are invited to join the community gathered before the daily Mass, Monday through Saturday, as they pray Lauds (Morning Prayer) from the Liturgy of the Hours at 7:40 AM at our St. Catherine Church. Adoration Day Extended We have resumed our extended hours of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We urge you to carve out time for a weekly appointment with the Lord to look at Him and let Him look at you. The time after communion is so brief, but, coming for adoration can afford us a great opportunity to open our hearts to Jesus who is really and substantially present in the Most Blessed Sacrament! Exposition follows 8:00 AM Mass in our St. Catherine Church and continues until closing Devotions and Benediction at 7:00 PM. (The closing devotions take on various forms depending on the season, feast, or special needs of the time.) Begin a weekly habit on Thursday! 20/20 WINNER$ $25 Winners ~ Week 2 # 54 Christine Randall # 20 Ken McNabb Jubilee Parish Mission Save the Dates! Our reflection of God s generosity to us! Weekend of September 10/11, 2016 Envelopes/EFT $ 14,697.00 Loose $ 1,892.68 Total $ 16,589.68 Last weekend 276 envelope/54 Online Giving users contributed 89 % of our income. Poor Box Donations $ 384.00 Sanctuary Lamps At Immaculate Conception Church, the sanctuary lamp will burn this week in memory of Tuyet Nguyen, as requested by her family. Save these nights October 17 20, at 7:00 PM, Monday Thursday, when we will welcome Fr. Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy for our Parish Mission on Mercy, as we draw close to the conclusion of the Year of Mercy later in November. Fr. Wade is an outstanding preacher and teacher, perhaps familiar to many for the many series and homilies he has offered on EWTN. He was, for a few years, the chaplain of Mother Angelica s Sisters at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. Fr. Wade was ordained in 2000 and is part of a religious community that is dedicated to bringing parish missions all over the country. Plan to invite friends... save these nights now!
Parish News Office Consolidation As of Monday, September 26 th, all of our parish staff will be working out of our office facility, the Eileen Daly Pastoral Center located at 2075 Lafayette Road, and we will be closing the one office that was still being operated at the former St. Catherine rectory. For booking Mass intentions or requesting certificates, etc. from Marilyn, you can simply contact her at the Pastoral Center. This move will help us further cut costs in utilities by eliminating unnecessary multiplication of facilities. NH Catholic Charities will continue to rent space in the Woodbury Avenue building for their counselling office two days a week. The income of that rental will help minimize costs for us with regard to that facility. So, please note, that after September 26th no one should go to that facility for parish needs. (This is a temporary measure to help further cut expenses as we explore options/plans for the future office space along with hall and meeting rooms, as discussed as the parish meeting last June.) Recently Baptized We warmly welcome Gabriel Yahnian, who was given new life through water and the Holy Spirit in our Parish Community! To his parents and godparents we extend our congratulations and prayerful support as they live out the commitment they made to be the first teachers of these children in the ways of faith. In the words of the Rite, may they be the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith in what they say and do. Wedding Bells! Next Saturday, Katie May & James Chambers will pledge life and love in the sacrament of Marriage in our Immaculate Conception Church. We extend our congratulations and prayerful best wishes to them! May He who brought you together bless you in abundance in the years ahead as you live out this wonderful vocation. Called Home to the Lord We remember in prayer the repose of the soul of Ada Pesaresi, whose Funeral Mass was recently celebrated in our parish. To her family we extend our heartfelt sympathy and prayerful support as well. Substitute Teachers Needed! St. Patrick School is in need of substitute teachers for the 2016-2017 school year. If interested, please contact Julie O'Hara at the front office 603-436-0739 for more information. Readers Wanted! St. Patrick School is looking for volunteer readers for our library program on Monday afternoons, roughly 1 2:30 PM. It would be wonderful if a couple of readers could commit to coming in once a week. Please call the school at 436-0739 to say you ll share your love for reading with our students! St. Patrick School Update Hope for Tomorrow Foundation will be providing an update of the future of St. Patrick School on Wednesday, September 21 st, at 6:00 PM, in the school library. Shoot for the Stars Auction! St. Patrick School will hold its 11 th annual Shoot for the Stars Auction on Friday, October 28 th. If your company would like to sponsor the auction or donate an item/gift certificate for our live or silent auction, please contact Jennifer Marin at jmarin@stpatsportsmouth.org. Tickets will be on sale soon!! All parishioners are welcome to join us for a fun night out while supporting our catholic school. Traveling Vocation Icon This week, the Molda Family will receive the Icon of Jesus Knocking at the Door into their home and intercede in a special way for Sr. Jacinta Pio, Joe, Mike, and all in formation, for those discerning, and for vocations to rise up from our community. Casino Trip Corpus Christi Parish will be sponsoring a bus trip to Foxwood Casino in Connecticut on Friday, November 4 th. To sign up, call Marilyn Chavez at 436-0344. The cost is just $35.00 per person (non-refundable) and includes a surprise package when you arrive. Call soon to reserve a spot! Bereavement Support Group Catholic Charities NH, in conjunction with St. Theresa Parish in Rye Beach, will host a Bereavement Support Group. The group will meet for 10 Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM from October 4th to December 13th. The meetings will be held at St. Theresa Church Hall located at the back of the Church on 820 Central Road in Rye Beach. Please preregister by calling Sr. Helene at NH Catholic Charities 603-332-7701. There is no fee for participating, but participants may wish to make a donation toward the cost of books. Thinking about Baptism? Since its first days, the Church has been entrusted with baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching what the Lord Jesus had taught his disciples. When parents present their child for Baptism, they are asking the Church to receive their child as a member of the Body of Christ here on earth. If you are thinking about baptism for your child, contact Roxanne Raeside Wilton at evangelize.ccnh@gmail.com or call 603-436-4555. X24. Interested in exploring the Catholic Faith? Join us sessions begin today! Sunday, September 18th 11:45 AM 12:45 PM Nazareth House (former rectory at St. Catherine Church on Woodbury Ave) If you or someone you know is interested in exploring the possibility of becoming Catholic, come and see what it s all about!
40 Days for Life The Fall campaign for 40 Days for Life will run from September 28 to November 6. Every state is participating in the campaign this year, along with other countries. In our area, local churches gather on the sidewalk before the Lovering Health Center in Greenland to pray for the end of abortion. Various local parishes are given a day as their day for presence and prayer. Our day is Monday. Bring a friend. Make a sacrifice. To sign up for a time slot, please visit www.40daysforlife/greenland. For information, call our area team leader, Jackie McCoy, at 603-531-1662; Joe Gagnon at 603-373-0094; or visit the information table in the back of our Immaculate Conception Church. Fr. Gary will offer a reflection and lead the prayers at a Kickoff Rally at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 25 th. We will gather in the parking lot of the Greenland Town Offices, next door to the Lovering Center, at 575 Portsmouth Avenue, Greenland. Following Pope Francis Mission Portsmouth Catholic SHARE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to School Woes / Excitement After a fun summer, most kids are not excited about going back to school. At the same time, these same kids love returning to school with some new clothes. SHARE wanted to make sure that more children started school with the same fresh-start feeling. We assisted 36 needy families to purchase new clothes for their school-age children. SHARE spent $7000+, which made going back to school a more positive experience for over 72 children. Thank you to all who continue to support our mission. Ministerium Hosts Face the Fear. Feed the Soul Pot-luck Conversation September 18 Over the past year, community members of various faiths and convictions have found an opportunity to gather together in the face of soul-stirring events, from a Portsmouth 9/11 memorial to a candlelight vigil after the terrorist attacks in Paris. Although organized by Ministerium Seacoast Interfaith Clergy Association, a fellowship of 34 clergy serving organizations on the Seacoast, these events were not strictly religious. They gave members of the community who wanted to speak a place for their voices; and for those who wanted to participate by listening with open minds, a place to do so. Ministerium is hosting a pot-luck supper to expand that conversation and that opportunity to listen. The event is scheduled for TODAY, September 18, 5 to 7 PM in the Granite State Room in the Memorial Union Building at UNH in Durham. The event is free. Participants are asked to bring a pot-luck dish and an open mind. Pot luck contributions might follow the following guidelines, based on the first letter of a last name: A-E main course (vegetarian & non-); F-J salad; K-P bread; Q-U dessert; V-Z beverages (water, ice tea, soft drinks, lemonade). This gathering is intended to bring people of different beliefs and perspectives together so that we can all be better informed and learn more about each other and our beliefs. ~ Carol Jacques-Dow Corpus Christi Parish Pastoral Minister FMI, visit www.facebook.com/seacoastclergy/ If you are a practicing Catholic who, for one reason or another, never received the Sacrament of Confirmation and would like to, we invite you to take part in a threepart program of reflection/ enrichment which will enable you to be confirmed in our Diocesan Adult Confirmation Liturgy on Sunday, October 30th, at 2:00 PM at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. Sessions will be held at 6:30 PM in our parish office building, next to St. James Church, on three consecutive Wednesdays: September 28, October 5, October 12. For details, contact our Faith Formation director, Brenda Stinson, at 436-4555 or faithformdir.ccnh@gmail.com. Divine Mercy Study Experience a breathtaking film journey that combines history, Scripture, prophecy, and personal sacrifice to show God s merciful desire for you. Divine Mercy In The Second Greatest Story Ever Told is a dramatic 10-session film journey featuring the renowned Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC. With his characteristic skill and lucid style, Fr. Gaitley interweaves the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appearance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of St. John Paul II into a tapestry of wonder and beauty. Don t miss this fascinating study! Begins this week! Session Dates: Tuesdays Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11, 25 Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Dec. 6 Time Options:` 9-10:30 AM or 6:30 8 PM Location: St. James Church Hall --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It s not too late! Register at the door!
September 18, 2016 Corpus Christi Parish Portsmouth, NH Upcoming Fall Events For more information or to register for either of the programs below, please contact Roxanne Raeside Wilton at 603-436-4555, extension 24. Community Postings Return How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church You're worried about your child. He's stopped going to Mass. Maybe she's found another religion. Maybe he's rejected God. Maybe she just doesn't care anymore. Whatever the case... You want your child to return to the Church. You need a game plan! It's time to stop waiting and just hoping for the best. You need proven tools and strategies to draw your child back to the Church. Information Night: Wednesday, September 21 St. James Church Hall at 6:30 PM A mini-series Saturdays: October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 December 3 9:00-11:00 AM St. Catherine Church Hall Join us this fall to explore the lives of five of the Bible's best-known femme fatales. From Eve to Delilah, each woman's story and struggles come to life. Divided into five independent gatherings, the Bad Girls of the Bible series offers a fresh way to engage with the truths found in Bible. For more information or to register, please contact Lisa Bald at 207-337-0934 Sponsored by the Women s Ministry Shroud of Turin Talk and Replica The Shroud of Turin Talk and Replica is coming to Sacred Heart Church in Laconia on Sunday, September 25th, at 1:30 PM. One of the greatest mysteries of our time, the Shroud of Turin continues to amaze and baffle scientists, doctors, historians, artists and theologians. Scientists cannot explain the source of the image which contains photographic and 3-D properties on a cloth centuries old. Bill Wingard, a speaker for the Shroud, will present the case for authenticity, and you can be the judge. Come see a full size replica of the Shroud and the photographic negative images that sparked an explosion of scientific interest and debate over a century ago and continues to today. What message does the Shroud have for us? Host Families Needed St. Thomas Aquinas High School, in partnership with UTP High Schools, is seeking safe and supportive homes for our international students arriving January 2017. UTP takes a hands-on approach to assisting students and their host families, with a dedicated Student Services Team on-site daily. Stipend is $750 per month, per student, or $850 per month, per student if transportation to and from school is provided. There will be a Host Family Information Session held on Wednesday, September 21st, at 6:30 PM in the Media Center at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover. FMI, contact Arielle Mercier at arielle@utphighschools.com or 603-425-8310. Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them Divine Mercy Shrine Day Trip St Mary Parish of Rochester cordially invites you to take a trip to The Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA on October 1st. The cost is $65.00. Pick up points will be at St. Mary in Rochester at 7:00AM and St. Catherine in Portsmouth at 8:00 AM. For more information, please contact Cathy Kovalik at 207-457-1928. Please note: Corpus Christi Parish had originally planned to sponsor a similar trip, but it has been cancelled. Find Your Purpose, Feed Your Soul! A powerful Catholic study for women is coming to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish (OLMM) in Hampton. In Johnette Benkovic s Women of Grace Foundational Study, you ll embark on a journey of discovery and transformation, as you explore the great call and gift of your femininity. Along the way, each week you will meet two great women saints, receive wisdom from Holy Mother Church, unpack the life-changing wisdom of Holy Scripture, and discover how the Blessed Virgin Mary is the exemplar of discipleship and the pathway to Her Son, Jesus Christ, and the heart of the Father. All sessions will be held at OLMM Marian Hall in Hampton. You have the choice of morning or evening sessions: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 PM for 10 weeks beginning 9/27 Wednesdays, 10 AM-12 noon for 10 weeks beginning 9/28 Cost is $40.00 for materials (financial assistance available if needed). Registration is required. To register, please contact Kathy Allen at 603-957-0048 or kallen77@gmail.com. Come to a Parish Mission in Hampton Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Hampton invites you to their Parish Mission, September 26th-28th, at 7 P.M. Come join Deacons Eddie Ensley and Robert Herrmann on a contemplative journey learn to pray as Jesus and the early Christians prayed and you will find rest for your souls. Since 1978, Deacons Eddie and Robert have lived a religious lifestyle of prayer, study, and teaching Catholic spirituality with the guidance of their bishop and diocese. Finding Inner Peace topics include: First Night: Finding Inner Peace Making peace with the past Second Night: Making Peace by letting go of Fear and Anxiety Third Night: Forgiveness and Making Peace with One Another