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St. Bartholomew Parish 1180 Greendale Ave. Needham, MA 02492 781-444-3434 Parish Staff Fr. Philip E. Mc Gaugh, Pastor Barbara Dury, Pastoral Associate/Business Manager Debby Deneen, Parish Secretary Marianne Germano, Director of Music Melisa Hughes Director of Youth Formation & Activities Mary Ellen Jennings, Religious Ed. Coordinator, Grades K-6 Priest in Residence Fr. Brian Cronin, C.S.Sp. Weekend Assistant Fr. Dermot Roach, SMA Important Numbers & Addresses Parish Office: 781-444-3434 Fax 781-449-7550 Email: stbartholomew@comcast.net Website: www.stbartholomew-needham.org Prayer Line This is a phone network of people who pray for special intentions. Call 781-444-3434 and leave a message for whom or for what you would like prayers said. Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Monday Saturday: 9:00 a.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays 3:15-3:45 p.m. or by appointment Sacrament of Baptism First Sunday of the month at 12:30 p.m. Please call one month ahead to make an appointment. Sacrament of Matrimony Arrangements must be made at least 6 months prior to the wedding. Please consult the Pastor. Eucharistic Adoration The St. Bartholomew/St. Joseph Cluster gathers every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 pm in St. Joseph s Lower Church. First Saturday Devotion First Saturday of the month following the 9:00 a.m. Mass Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayed immediately following 9:00 am weekday Mass (except when we have a 10 am Funeral Mass) Our Mission is: Mission Statement To be the spiritual and physical focal point of a community joined together and inspired in our thoughts, words and deeds by our Catholic faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. To enrich our spiritual lives through the sacraments, especially daily and Sunday Eucharist, prayer groups, educational opportunities, retreats and other programs. To live Christ through active stewardship by encouraging and enabling each other to contribute our time, talent and means to help others and to promote justice, peace and charity. To develop the bonds within our community through social activities that bring together women, men, young and old to take joy in life and each other. We implement our mission through many programs, and all that we do is intended to develop our faith community and help us to live Christ and the teachings of our Catholic faith. 2
Thanksgiving Day Mass Reflection on the Feast of Christ the King: Do we hear God speaking to us through the words and actions of others? Do we desire to speak of God s wisdom and love to others? Do we see the image of Jesus in the faces of all our brothers and sisters in the world? What we do to or for others is what we do or for Jesus. Jesus is the real king who teaches wisdom, sets the example and saves others. The Feast of Christ the King is the start of the last week in the Church year. Next week we begin the Season of Advent. Now is the time for each of us to ask ourselves how do we wish to let the Lord speak to us during this season of preparation; for the coming of the Lord and the second coming of the Lord. What are the areas of our lives where we would most like help from the Lord? Advent is a wonderful time to patiently wait for the Lord to take the events of our lives to refine us. My prayer is that each of us will experience a renewed sense of hope, vitality, and awe surrounding the coming of the Lord. My hope and prayer is that all of us will pray for each other. Bible Classes will continue the study of the book of Psalms on Monday, Nov. 29th, at 10:00 am in the O Brien Room in the rectory. (There will be no class on Nov. 22nd.)This class is open to anyone who would like to attend. From the study of the Psalms often come very interesting discussions about different aspects of our faith. Catholic Appeal: As the end of the year is approaching, it is important to ask ourselves if we have shared our resources with others as God wishes us to do. It is still not too late to consider a gift to the Catholic Appeal. The Archdiocese has presently reached 75.8% of it s goal. Here at St. Bartholomew Parish, we have pledged $80,335 which is 89.3% of our parish goal. Thank you to all who have contributed. If you have not already contributed, please prayerfully consider this request. On Thursday, November 24th, the Thanksgiving Day Mass is at 8:30 am instead of the usual 9:00 am to accommodate those who will be travelling to family or events. I hope as many people as possible will participate in this Mass to offer thanks to God for the many ways He has blessed all of us. The Second Collection This Weekend is for the Retired Religious Sisters of our Archdiocese. Both in the parishes and the schools many of us and our families have greatly benefited over a long period of time from the efforts of the sisters. Now in their moments of need they need our help. Please be as generous as your means allow. Advent Prayer: During the Season of Advent Morning Prayer will be prayed every Tuesday morning at 8:45 am, just before the 9:00 am Mass. Please plan on joining us the prayer and Mass during the Advent Season. Advent Confessions: The Light is On - During the Season of Advent, Confessions will be heard each Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:00 pm, with the exception of December 8th which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On that evening Confession will be heard from 6:30-7:15 pm and then from the conclusion of the 7:30 pm Mass until 8:30 pm. This is a continuation of the Lenten program for hearing confessions which was very well received. Please take advantage of this opportunity. Discernment Retreats for men interested in learning more about the vocation to the Priesthood will take place on Friday, Feb. 11, at Blessed John XXIII Seminary for men age 40 and older. From Friday, Feb. 11, to Sunday, Feb. 13, will take place at Connors Family Retreat Center in Dover, MA and at St. John s Seminary in Brighton for men ages 18-40. If anyone is interested, please speak with Fr. Phil. Sr. Julie sends her heartfelt thanks for your continued prayers for her health. The Daughters of St. Paul will be joining us on the weekend of Dec. 4 & 5 to present some of their books and religious articles for anyone who wishes to purchase them. Recommended Readings: Advent and Christmas with Thomas Merton by Liguori Publications, Liguori, Missouri, 2002. Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas: Waiting in Joyful Hope 2010-2011 by Bishop Robert E. Morneau, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota 2010. Please. THE DEADLINE FOR BULLETIN CONTENT IS NOON ON MONDAY...Thank you! 3
Saturday November 20 4:00 pm The McCarthy and Igo Families Sunday November 21 8:00 am Alice & Urban Belval 9:45 am Marian Fahey 11:30 am James Fleming - 2nd Anniversary Monday November 22 9:00 am John Campbell and Family Tuesday November 23 9:00 am The Gillis & Thissell Families Wednesday November 24 9:00 am Leo & Mary Lou Casey Thursday November 25 8:30 am In Thanksgiving For All Our Blessings Friday November 26 9:00 am The Chisholm and Lydon Families Saturday November 27 9:00 am Paul & Dorothy Connolly Saturday November 27 4:00 pm Jane Marie McDonald Sunday November 28 8:00 am Susan L. Zajonc 9:45 am Thomas & Mary Burke 11:30 am John Stephen Reardon Youth Choir The next Youth Choir rehearsal will be this Sunday, November 21st from 5-6 PM in the church. New members are always welcome. As of November 15th, the amount contributed to the Grand Annual Collection is $35,986.68 Thank you for your continued generosity. Thanksgiving Day Dinner St. Bartholomew s Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 12:30 pm in the O Brien Room in the rectory. The book to be read for that day is Shannon by Frank Delaney. Prayer Group: The G.I.F.T. prayer group or Growing in Faith Together will meet next on Wednesday, Dec. 1st, at 10:00 am (following the 9:00 am Mass.) We will gather in the O Brien Room in the rectory. We welcome any and all to join us. Any questions, please call Kathy Reilly at 781-444-0862. The Rotary Club of Needham and The Needham Community Council invite everyone to the Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 25th. Doors open at 11:30 am and the meal is served at 12 Noon at the Masonic Hall, 1101 Highland Ave. Please call the Community Council at 781-444-2415 if you would like to attend. The dinner is free to one and all; and free transportation is available. There is also a need for volunteers to assist in delivering the take-out meals and to pick up those residents who are not able to drive to the event. Call the Community Council at the above number if you can volunteer. Adult Choir The Adult Choir will have rehearsal on Thursday, Dec. 2nd, at 7:30 pm. We welcome new members. If you have any questions, please call Marianne Germano at 781-326-3670. Kids...and big people too! The Daughters of St. Paul invite you to meet St. Nicholas on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 am-5 pm at their store on Rt. 1 in Dedham. Bring your camera! Visit Baby Jesus in the manger. There will be storytelling, raffles, hourly door prizes, homemade holiday chocolates by Mary Pothier. St. Nicholas will be there from 10:30 am-4:00 pm. If you have any questions, call the store at 781-326-5385 or online at www.pauline.org. 4
Children and Youth Religious Education Classes: Classes on Monday, Nov. 22nd, are for grades K-6 only. Thanksgiving Bread: All 4 th grade students will be packaging Thanksgiving bread to be distributed at the Mass on Thanksgiving that is shared among families, a symbol of our abundant blessings and our unity. Family Faith Night To serve others as a family, building relationships, compassion & living out our faith. At our first Family Faith Night, the kids were moved to respond to global hunger through prayer and action using their talents to raise money for Heifer International. We will have a gathering on Monday, Dec. 6 th, at 5:00 pm to prepare for the fundraiser on Dec 12 th pizza, cookies & drinks will be served to sustain our Good Samaritans! 7 th 10 th Service Calendar As a reflection of our lived faith, all students in the 7 th 10 th grade program are expected to serve others in a prayerful, reflective and deliberate way. We offer opportunities to serve others as a group as well as ways to participate in the life of the parish, and guidelines for engaging prayerfully in service done outside the parish. The calendar was distributed to all students on Monday, Nov 1 st,and is posted online at www.stbartholomew-needham.org/children_and_youth/ religious-education Please contact Melisa to join us for the first group activity serving dinner to the homeless at Pine St. Inn on Tuesday, November 23 rd. We will meet in the parking lot of St. Bart s at 4pm, drive in together and be back in Needham by 7pm. New Catholic Radio Station On Nov. 1st, Boston s New Catholic Radio Station debuted. It is dedicated to Mary Queen of Martyrs, with the call letters WQOM. You can listen at 1060AM or online at WQOM.org. We also mention that CatholicTV programs can be seen on Comcast 238, Verizon 298, RCN 85 and at CatholicTV.com CYO Basketball Opening Mass All players and families are invited to join CYO league for a special Mass with Cardinal Sean at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on Sunday Dec 5th at 3pm. Please R.S.V.P. to Brian stbartsbball@gmail.com STEWARDSHIP: A WAY OF LIFE Sharing: Time Talent Treasure ALL SAINTS OUR FAMILIES ALL SOULS OUR FRIENDS The Church in its wisdom designates November as remembrance month. We have come to the end of the church calendar year. The new calendar year begins next week with the start of Advent and the celebration of new life ---the birth of the Christ child. But for now, we are asked to pause, remember, and pray for all those who came before us. Recently, our parish has experienced several funerals only days apart. In these ceremonies we recognized how loved these people were by families and friends. We prayed for these departed souls and also smiled and laughed during the remembrances shared by families members as they spoke so lovingly of the person who lay before us. Some of our departed friends suffered for a long time and others did not. But none died without their faith and love for our Lord to the end. This gives great comfort to the dying and to their care givers. This is what we believe. We are born in the His likeness; we are taught how to live in His Words; and we will die with His comfort and love on our final journey. Today s Gospel speaks of the criminal who died on the cross next to Jesus, saying Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied to him, Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. May all of our friends and family be in Paradise this day. Honoring and praying for the dead are essential ingredients in our spiritual life. From them, as we remember, we can learn much. The value of life and how to live a life are examples set forth by all who have come before us---sinners and saints alike. We pray for those we know and have loved. And in turn, they will continue to pray for us in our earthly struggles. No one ever knows the length of his/her life, save Jesus. Honor life and live it to the fullest in His Name. November can be dreary with its lost colors in nature. But it can have the brightest moon and most spectacular sunrises and sunsets, if only we look up. In giving us the darkness, we can pause longer and appreciate the light even more. It may not be the warmest month on our skin, but it should be the warmest month in our hearts, if only we remember. Stewardship Questions: Kathy Reilly 781-444-0862 E-mail: kreilly15@yahoo.com If anyone needs a ride to a church service or wishes a home Communion visit, please contact me. 5
JUST DO ONE THING This weekend is the annual collection for the retired Sisters of the Archdiocese of Boston. This weekend provides those of us who were served by the dedicated Sisters of the Archdiocese of Boston the opportunity to reflect on the rich history and significant contributions made by these selfless women who serve and have served the Archdiocese of Boston for so many years. Over the years, many institutions within the Archdiocese: hospitals, colleges, elementary and high schools, social service agencies were built or staffed primarily by these Sisters. The impact they have had on the development of Catholic education and healthcare is incalculable. Generations have been educated and cared for by the Sisters. Do you know that for many years the Sisters received minimal compensation with no provision for retirement? An annual stipend of $300 per year was common up until the early 1960 s. In some instances they received no compensation at all. And now some thirty or forty years later these Sisters, who gave their lives in service to the people of the Archdiocese of Boston, are now retired and need your financial support if they are to be able to live their later years in dignity. Retired is really not an accurate term because Religious Sisters never really retire. Religious communities exist for Mission. They want to serve. Many Sisters continue to work well past the age of 65 in compensated ministries. Others, for as long as they are physically able, visit the sick, tutor children and continue their ministry as volunteers. Even when illness or advanced age keeps them from being as active as they would like, their ministry of prayer never ends. Sister Julie Connolly served the parish of St. Bartholomew and its parishioners faithfully for over 30 years. As she continues her brave fight against cancer and we remember her in our prayers be assured that she is praying for all of us as well. But now, in the face of an ever aging population and a decrease in new vocations to the religious life, the religious communities of women face serious financial shortfalls for care of their elderly members. Are you aware that the religious communities receive no support from the Church and must provide for their own retirement costs? Religious were not even permitted to enter the Social Security System until 1972. The average benefit for a religious today is less than $4,500 while the average cost to care for a Sister over the age of 70 is $35,000. This weekend is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the many ways that our lives have been touched by these dedicated and faith-filled women, savor our favorite memories (like the day I accidentally locked Sr. Eucharista in the supply closet during English class), and most importantly take this opportunity to say THANK YOU. If you do one thing this week contribute, as generously as your means allow, to the special collection to benefit the retired Sisters of the Archdiocese of Boston. ~Barbara Dury My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my church to be. SURVEY COMING Beginning December 5th, we will be conducting a survey, the first in many years. As we plan for the future, we need to hear from you about what St. Bart s does right and what we can do better to achieve our mission. Please participate. 6
Advent Wreaths, Candles, Prayers & Advent Calendars on sale after all Masses Nov. 21 st and Nov 28 th Wreath Sets $12.00 (Incl. metal frame, artificial greenery, advent candles & prayers/instructions) Candles only $4.00 Advent Calendar with biblical scene and verse $2.00 Advent Prayer pamphlet $1.00 Save the Date!!! St. Bart s Pancake Breakfast with Santa Sunday, Dec. 12 th, Following the 8:00 am and 9:45 am Masses Free pancake breakfast, pictures & visit with Santa, crafts, face painting Every week in our parish gym there is a group of guys who play basketball later in the evening. Known as the over the hill gang, many of these players were once high school and college standouts. Just like when they were kids, but now huffing and puffing their way up and down the court at 10 o clock at night, they mimic the basketball stars of yesterday and today while providing a broadcaster s analysis as they dribble, shoot and score! We never seem to outgrow our heroes and idols. We need good role models. They show us that something is possible, good things can be achieved, and success is possible for those who persevere and work toward their goals. When our idol or hero fails, it is difficult because his failure reminds us that we too can fail. As the Latin proverb says, The corruption of the best is the worst. Point out great role models to your kids. Talk about people who make a difference, who are selfless and caring and generous and kind. Teach them who the good folks are so they can be just like them. Help them notice the good people in your neighborhood and in your parish. Tell them the stories of relatives and friends who made a difference. Ask them who their heroes are and who they would want to be like. And don t forget to include Jesus and the saints. One day they will look back and imitate what they have been taught. ~James Gaffney, 2010 Karides Lic. to St. George Publishing Project Rachel Do you know someone who is carrying grief and sorrow over past abortions? Project Rachel is the post-abortion ministry of the Catholic Church to help those dealing with the pain of abortion. Project Rachel will offer a Come to the Waters post abortion healing retreat on Saturday, December 4 from 9:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Location is confidential. For more information and registration, contact Project Rachel at 508.651.3100 or help@projectrachelboston.com. 7