NOVEMBER 27, 2016 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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NOVEMBER 27, 2016 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
PARISH LAY LEADERSHIP
Finance Council Chairs….Kimberly Schoolcraft, Matthew Barnes
Parish Pastoral Council Chair..………………Kathleen Harrington
Rel Ed Advisory Committee ...Melissa Moriarty, Suzanne Harlow
RCIA ……………………………Ray Breton, Rosemary Thresher
Bible Study………………………………………...... Sue Fratini
Adult Education………………………..Mary Federici, Bob Stack
PARISH ORGANIZATIONS/PROGRAMS
Rosary Sodality……………..………Nancy Garen/Ursula Tuohey
Social Justice………………….…………….Andrea Cook-Hewitt
Just Faith…………………………………Pat Mack, Karen Scahill
St. Joseph’s Workers………………………………………Fr. Dan
Men’s Ministry Group………………………...Deacon Paul Briere
Women’s Ministry Group..……………………..…..Mary Federici
Youth Group (JPII Crew)………………….………Lisa Laferriere
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Cursillo Movement ……………………….………...Karen Scahill
Schoenstatt Movement .……………..……….…Diane Czerwiecki
Boy Scout Troop 821 …………………..………………..Joe Muto
Girl Scout Troops…………………….……..……....Pat O’Connor
Knights of Columbus………………………………Greg Perreault
PARISH MINISTRIES
Altar Server Scheduling……………………..……… Cindy Monti
Altar Server Training……………………………….Jim O’Connor
Baptismal Prep……………………………..…… Lou Mastroianni
Children’s Liturgy of the Word……………….……….Sue Fratini
Eucharistic Ministers/Readers, Scheduling ...... ……Beth Modlish
Homebound/Pastoral Care Ministry…………...... Mary Federici
Music Ministry – Adult & Youth Choir……………Melanie Peetz
Contemporary Music Group (Psalm 33).………………Tom Fucci
Sacristans.…………………..……..Irene King, Phyllis Chlastawa,
Jim O’Connor, Irene Breton, Karen Scahill
Soup Kitchen……………… …..... Marcia Daly, Sandy O’Connor
Take & Eat Ministry……..…………………………Cheryl Wood
Wedding Coordinator………………………….…..Donna Whelan
Wedding Team……...…Kathy Harrington, Gina Broderick,
Christina Straney, Tina Broderick
Prayer Line………………..Pauline, 862-3885 or Diane, 568-9754
OFFICE HOURS
The Parish Office is located at the Parish Center. Entrance is across from the Mary Garden. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-2:00PM. Sue is available to greet and assist you.
NEW PARISHIONERS
We warmly welcome new members to join our parish. Please fill out a registration card on the tables in the church and place in the collection basket. Registration and active participation is necessary for Religious Education and letters of eligibility for godparents and sponsors, as well as Catholic School Parish Subsidy.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
The Sacrament is celebrated monthly. Please call the Office to arrange. At least one Godparent must be a Confirmed, active parishioner in their parish, attending Mass weekly.
SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
The Sacrament of Marriage is planned by an initial meeting with a priest or deacon, at least 6 months in advance. Be sure to contact the church BEFORE committing to date or venue with a deposit.
SACRAMENT OF THE SICK
The Sacrament of the Sick is administered by a priest, when requested. Pastoral care to the hospitalized sick and homebound is provided by the pastoral staff, and trained parishioners.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
The Sacrament with Confession is celebrated each Saturday after the 8:00 am Mass, and from 3:15- 3:45 pm, as well as by appointment.
HOSPITAL VISITS
If anyone has a hospital stay, please have a family member call the parish and indicate whether the parishioner would like to have a visit, or if they would like their name mentioned at Mass during the Prayers of the Faithful.
HEARING ASSISTED DEVICES
Hearing Assisted Devices are located near the American Flag at the back of the church.
LOW-GLUTEN HOSTS
Low-Gluten Hosts are available at Communion time in the Chapel
MASS SCHEDULE & DEVOTIONS
Sat 11/26 3:15-3:45PM CONFESSIONS (Chapel)
4:00PM +Frank Grimaldi
Birthday Remembrance
r/b his daughter Jean and Family
Sun 11/27 7:00AM +Dario Masciadrelli
1st Anniversary Remembrance
r/b Kathleen Harrington
8:30AM +Ralph & Monique Campbell
Anniversary Remembrance
r/b Bruce & Donna Campbell
11:00AM +Brian Lariviere
Birthday Remembrance
r/b his Mom, Dad and Family
Mon 11/28 7:00AM +Michael & Bernice Kwosz
Wedding Anniversary Remembrance
r/b their Family
Tue 11/29 7:00AM + Dario Masciadrelli
1st Anniversary Remembrance
r/b his wife Lorraine & Family
Wed 11/30 7:00AM +Deacon Raymond Roderique
2nd Anniversary Remembrance
r/b his sisters Doris & Theresa
Thurs 12/1 7:00AM Communion Service
Fri 12/2 7:00AM Communion Service
Sat 12/3 8:00AM + Evelyn Stevens
r/b Paul & Louise Stevens
3:15-3:45PM CONFESSIONS (Chapel)
4:00PM +Alfred Tremblay
Anniversary Remembrance
r/b Irene Tremblay
Sun 12/4 7:00AM +Edward & Irene Sienkiewicz
r/b their Children
8:30AM +Edward and Kajetan Adamites
and Bridget Gelgut
r/b the Adamites and Gelgut Family
11:00AM +Raymond & Cecile Leger
r/b Lisa & Gary
PRAYER-LINE
To request prayers for yourself or a loved one, please call Pauline at 862-3885 or Diane at 568-9754.
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NOVEMBER 27, 2016 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
FROM FR. DAN’S DESK…
Last Saturday our parish celebrated a wonderful event in the Ordination of Seminarian Barrent Pease to the Permanent Diaconate! I was sorry that I was not able to attend the Ordination as I did make that short visit to Rome last week. That trip had been planned before Barrent’s Ordination date was set. More about the trip later, but I personally want to congratulate Barrent and thank all those in the parish who helped to make his celebration such a special day! We congratulate Barrent and continue to keep him in our prayers as he prepares for Priesthood Ordination in June of 2017!
And last weekend we concluded our celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the showing of the Documentary Film – “The Original Image of Divine Mercy”. It was the first time we used our new projection system in the church and it all went off without a hitch! 14 showings of the film in both Spanish and English to people from all over our Diocese! As I write this, an opportunity is coming our way to host the Director of the film – Daniel DaSilva who is in New York, for a visit to our church on Saturday evening for a “meet and greet” and to introduce the film and what was involved with its making. What great opportunity for us! My thanks to Kathy Harrington, Chair of our Pastoral Council for doing most of the work to get this film to our parish, and to get Daniel DaSilva to come, and thanks to the Combined Committee of the Pastoral Council and the Evangelization Committee for hosting and helping us to put on another successful event during this amazing year of evangelization! Also special thanks to Tom Layman for being the “movie master” throughout the 5 days – setting up the movie and trouble-shooting any problems! Thanks Tom!
A special “shout out” to Ron and Linda Gerlip who visited all 9 Holy Door locations throughout our Diocese over this past year! That’s a great accomplishment and an opportunity to receive all the Graces offered!
Special thanks also to the Schoenstatt Girls Youth Group who brought the “replica” of the Holy Doors in Rome to our parish two weeks ago. I was so impressed by the work that was put into that display by the girls and their leaders! You can read more about the Schoenstatt Girls Youth Group elsewhere in this bulletin, and perhaps other girls in our Parish might like to join this very special group of faithful young women!
Advent is upon us! And as always the Advent Season is so short, as so many of us begin early to anticipate Christmas in the weeks ahead. This week we have an opportunity before too much gets going, to reflect a little on the Advent Season before all the hype of Christmas begins! This Thursday December 1 from 6:00-8:00 PM we will have an Advent Evening of Reflection with a Full Supper for all men and women of the parish. Some years we have had a separate evening of reflection for men or women, but this year we are combining into this one evening. And our speaker will be Fr. Dan Lanahan, OFM. Fr. Lanahan offered an Advent Program here a few years ago that was very well attended. His topic will combine the Advent Season with a reflection on Pope Francis and his teaching in our Church today. There will be an initial talk, supper, and then a closing talk. We will have a “full” supper offered that evening and there is no charge, but I do ask, since I will be involved in cooking that supper, that you let us know if you are attending for food preparation purposes! The flyer was in the bulletin last week and is also near the bulletins this week. If you did not pick one up, simply call Sue in the Office at 562-3450 or email her at and let her know you will attend and how many.
Once again our parishioner - Shirley Mason, and I are grateful for the support you gave to the USO Christmas Stocking Collection. It was a complete success! Not to rest on our laurels, Fr. Jim Longe has asked us to consider making “Home-Made” Christmas Cards for the service men and women on his base in San Antonio who will be deployed after the holidays, but who will be spending Christmas on the base. Fr. Jim is asking that the cards not be store-bought but be home made with cutouts from magazine, with creativity like glitter or colored markers, stickers, etc., along with a personal message. If you are able to make a card or two, please place them each in an envelope and place the envelopes in the box in the Gathering Space by December 13, and Shirley will get them shipped to Fr. Jim!
I understand that a Community and Veterans project is now under way to raise funds for the purchase and installation of signs along Route 202, from Holyoke to Southwick. This route will be designated as the Westfield Purple Heart Trail honoring the many men and women who served their country and were awarded this medal. We are looking for donors who will help with this undertaking. Persons and businesses who donate will be acknowledged in writing as well as named on a plaque to be hung in City Hall. Donation can be made out to the American Legion 454, Post Office Box # 367, Westfield, Massachusetts, 01086, USA. (Purple Heart Trail). Donations are tax deductible. For more information, please call Mary O’Connell, at, 413-218-4344, email, , or Don Wielgus, at 568-7767, email, .
Please try to take some time to “prepare” this Advent, for this Christmas Season and its true meaning, so that we all can welcome the Savior into the world with un-busied, less frantic and more joyful hearts! Come Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace!
God Bless, Fr. Dan
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NOVEMBER 27, 2016 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SANCTUARY CANDLE
Is burning this week in loving memory of
+DEACON RAYMOND RODERIQUE
2ND ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE
requested by his sisters Doris and Theresa
MARY GARDEN CANDLE
Is burning this week in loving memory of
+WILLIAM H. TELLA
requested by the Religious Education
Children and Teachers
CHRISTMAS WREATH SALE
Our Youth Group will once again be selling beautiful Christmas wreaths after all Masses this weekend. The cost will remain $10 per wreath or $12 with a bow. Thank you for as always for your support.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION
The St Vincent de Paul Society will be holding a standout collection on this weekend. We serve the poor of Westfield who are in need of emergency assistance. In addition to our food pantry, we help people with fuel and rental expenses. We try to be the hands of Christ in ministering to the needs of the poor in our community. Thank you for your support.
GIVING TREE
Next weekend, December 3 & 4 our Giving Tree with “angel” tags will be in the Gathering Space. We invite you to select an “angel” and return your wrapped gift - with the angel tag taped on - the following weekend, December 10 & 11 and place it under the tree. Thanks!
HOLY LAND
Land of Peace is a nonprofit organization representing
Jerusalem Christian Families, scheduled to visit our parish December 3 & 4 to sell religious articles from the Holy Land. Land of Peace is a nonprofit organization with the mission of helping and supporting Christian families in the Holy Land through the Patriarch of Jerusalem. When anyone purchases handmade arts they help our mission and help the Christians in the Holy Land. In 1920 the Christian population in the Holy Land was 80%; today it is less than 2%. With the parish support and the parishioner’s generosity we are able to help our brothers and sisters to live in Jesus’ land of birth.
LAND OF PEACE’S GOAL IS TO BUILD A CHARITY HOSPITAL IN THE HOLY LAND
To donate on line and for more information please visit our website: www.landofpeace.org.
ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION
All men and women of the parish are invited to an evening with Fr. Dan Lanahan, OFM, who will speak on “Pope Francis: A Vision for Todays’ Church” on Thursday, December 1 from 6-8pm in the Parish Center. The evening will include supper. Please call or email the Parish Office to register by Wednesday November 30.
DECEMBER ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration will be held Thursday, December 1st. Adoration commences after the 7:00AM service and ends at 8:00PM. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first moment of her conception, by a singular privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior and hers, was preserved from all stain of original sin. This age-old belief of the Church was defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 as an article of revealed truth.
Mary was in need of redemption and she was indeed redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. The manner of Mary’s redemption, however, was unique. Instead of being freed from original sin after having contracted it, she was preserved from contracting it. This was a most fitting favor for the Mother of the Redeemer.
Pope Francis’ intentions for December: that the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of goodness,
show your true love toward us.
Let the flame of your Heart,
O Mary, descend on all people.
We love you so much.
Impress true love in our hearts
so that we may have a continuous desire for you.
O Mary, gentle and humble of heart,
remember us when we are in sin.
You know that all men sin.
Give us by means of your Immaculate Heart,
spiritual health.
Let us see the goodness of your motherly heart
and may we be converted
by means of the flame of your Heart.
Amen.