DOCSLIB.ORG

St. Mary Roman Catholic Church

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
St. Mary Roman Catholic Church St. Mary Roman Catholic Church 32 Pearl St. ~ Claremont, NH 03743 Tel. (603) 542-9518 Fax (603) 542-9614 email ~ [email protected] Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM - 2 PM Websites St. Mary Parish www.stmaryparishnh.org Diocese of Manchester www.catholicnh.org Founded 1823 Sunday ~ December 30, 2018 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Pastor Very Rev. Shawn Therrien, V.G. Parochial Vicar Rev. Arockia Antony, HGN Deacons Rev. Deacon Paul Boucher Rev. Deacon James Wilton Administrative Assistant Mary K. Keating Director of Religious Education Lisa Sweet Music Director Joe Labrecque Academy Headmaster Roxanne Raeside Wilton ADORATION CHAPEL LITURGY SCHEDULE Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Saturday 4:00 PM Thursday ONLY 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 8:00 / 10:30 AM Monday / Wednesday / Friday 7:30 AM Chapel Hours Tuesday 12:10 PM Monday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM No Mass on Thursday Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM MASSES AT OLD ST. MARY CHURCH Thursday 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday Morning Mass at 8:00 AM every week Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (June to October) at Old St. Mary’s Church Saturday 9:00 AM - 12 Noon Sunday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday 3:00 - 3:45 PM Remember the St. Mary Renovation Fund Church is illuminated this week in your Will. in memory of Ina Perron. (603) 542 -2157 www.jp2academynh.org For those of you who attended one of the Christmas Masses at St. Mary Parish, you will recall that Fr. Shawn bestowed upon us all the Apostolic Blessing. This blessing carries with it a plenary indulgence, provided conditions are met by each individual. Please read the article below so you may be certain of obtaining the indulgence. Indulgences - General Conditions The traditional norm for going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, and praying for the intentions of the pope, in order to gain a plenary indulgence, was 8 days before or after doing the prescribed work (counting the day of the work). In the Great Jubilee Year 2000, the Apostolic Penitentiary relaxed this norm to "several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act" (Gift of the Indulgence, General remarks, 5). The question often arises whether this norm of about 20 days applied only to the Great Jubilee Year Indulgence, or whether it remains in effect. In an answer to a question posed by this author, the Apostolic Penitentiary responded that this norm of "about 20 days" remains in effect, since it was contained under the "General remarks on indulgences," and not under those specific to the Jubilee Indulgence. The following "General remarks on Indulgences" from Gift of the Indulgence summarizes, therefore, the usual conditions given in the Church's law: 1. This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints". 2. In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (below, nn. 3, 4), and the performance of certain prescribed works ..... [N.B. The grants of indulgence are contained in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (4th ed., 1999), in special grants of the Holy See, such as for the Year of the Holy Eucharist, and in special grants which bishops may establish for their dioceses.] 3. To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed. [N.B. Thus, one must be a Catholic in communion with the Pope, i.e. not excommunicated or in schism.] 4. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace: —have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin; —have sacramentally confessed their sins; —receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required); —pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. 5. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence. 6. For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work prescribed and the conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even venial sin). 7. Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth. By Colin B. Donovan, STL December 29, 2018—January 6, 2019 WEEKLY OFFERING . Stewardship Giving of Time, Talent and Treasure in gratitude for all of God’s gifts. Sat. Dec 29 Vigil of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Thank you for your generosity! 4:00 PM Doris Wolcott (†) Thank you also for those who make up envelopes! By Lorraine Potvin December 23, 2018 Offertory $ 3188.00 Sun. Dec 30 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph St. Vincent de Paul $ 553.00 8:00 AM For the People Christmas Masses $ 2869.00 January Second Collections 10:30 AM Hector, Yvonne, Raymond & Eileen Lefevre and Fuel Jan 5/6 Rita & Leon Cobb (†) Buck-A-Month Jan 12/13 By Perkins Family PLEASE NOTE … All checks are payable to: St. Mary’s Parish. If you would like to put in the memo section what collection it is that is Mon. Dec 31 Vigil of the Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God 5:30 PM For the People fine, just as long as checks are made out to the church! With the exception of St Vincent De Paul and John Paul II Academy: Tue. Jan 1 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God St. Vincent de Paul, payable direct to: St. Vincent de Paul Society. School Donations payable direct to: John Paul II Academy 10:30 AM Michael Beagan (†) By His Wife PRAYER LIST Wed. Jan 2 Sts. Basil & Gregory Nazianzen, Church Doctors Call the parish office to add/continue a person on the prayer list No Mass Jeff Albright Jack Grant Terry McGuire Robert Alflen Val Gregoire Barbara McIntyre Thur. Jan 3 The Most Holy Name of Jesus Doris Allen Jeannine Grenier Sylvia Michaud Julijana Allen Billy Grey Marilyn Michener No Mass Jeffrey Baker David Grey David Montano James Baljak Elizabeth Grey Thomas Moriarty Fri. Jan 4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Jordan Baljak Jacob Grey Kerry Mulvey 9:00 AM John Paul II Academy Mark Baril Brendan Gunning Mary Murphy Linda-Joy Beauregard Marion Hamilton Ronald Nelson Deborah Bedard Bailey Hanson Mary Ouellette Sat. Jan 5 Vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord Janet Blaisdell Hope Haworth Mike Poirier 4:00 PM For the People Carolyn Bouchard Deborah Hemingway Marilyn Prever Joseph Bouchard Anne Houle Phil Prever Sun. Jan 6 The Epiphany of the Lord Carol Braga Gabriel Houle Mary Raymond 8:00 AM All Souls James Bridges Family David Immic Rosemary Richards Gary Bromley Frank Kamp Joey Rittlinger Pauline Buckner Gary Lyle Kingsbury Kim Rounds 10:30 AM Victor and Shirley Hamel William Burr, Jr. Al Kulacz Linda Denis Schneider By Mary K. Keating Sis Corsale Cindy Lacasce Cheryl Shaimas Sarah Davis Bertha Lamarre Christopher Shaimas James DeTore Pearl Landry Andrew St. Pierre Jim Dilts Ray Lemieux Moe St. Pierre READINGS FOR THE WEEK. Claire Doe Merranda Lenahan Mary Sullivan Patti Rivard Dorman Matthew Limoges Christine Synder Mon. Dec 31 1 Jn 2:18-21/Jn 1:1-18 Sr. Paulette Ducharme Carol Logan Michael Villers Tues. Jan 1 Nm 6:22-27/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21 Thomas Eagen Roy Lucier Theresa Viger Wed. Jan 2 1 Jn 2:22-28/Jn 1:19-28 Charles Eastman Peter McCusker Bill Walsh Thurs. Jan 3 1 Jn 2:29—3:6/Jn 1:29-34 Donat Gagne Joseph McElreavy David White Fri. Jan 4 1 Jn 3:7-10/Jn 1:35-42 Alison Gagnon Brayden McEnany Lisa Buckner White Sat. Jan 5 1 Jn 3:11-21/Jn 1:43-51 Sun. Jan 6 Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 If you notice people on the prayer list who may be taken off for whatever reason, please let us know The Pope’s Monthly Prayer Intentions—January 2019 so that we may keep the list updated. Also if you have someone you would like on the prayer list, Young People and the Example of Mary—That please let us know that as well.—Thank you! young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Faith Fact Saint John Paul II Feast Day – October 22
    Faith Fact Saint John Paul II Feast Day – October 22 “Open wide the doors to Christ,” urged John Paul II during the homily at the Mass where he was installed as pope in 1978. Born in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Jozef Wojtyla had lost his mother, father, and older brother before his 21st birthday. Karol’s promising academic career at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. While working in a quarry and a chemical factory, he enrolled in an “underground” seminary in Krakow. Ordained in 1946, he was immediately sent to Rome where he earned a doctorate in theology. Back in Poland, a short assignment as assistant pastor in a rural parish preceded his very fruitful chaplaincy for university students. Soon Fr. Wojtyla earned a doctorate in philosophy and began teaching that subject at Poland’s University of Lublin. Communist officials allowed Wojtyla to be appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958, considering him a relatively harmless intellectual. They could not have been more wrong! Bishop Wojtyla attended all four sessions of Vatican II and contributed especially to its Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Appointed as archbishop of Krakow in 1964, he was named a cardinal three years later. Elected pope in October 1978, he took the name of his short-lived, immediate predecessor. Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. In time, he made pastoral visits to 124 countries, including several with small Christian populations. John Paul II promoted ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, especially the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace in Assisi.
    [Show full text]
  • Seven Churches Pilgrimage in Rome... 2021
    Seven Churches Pilgrimage in Rome... 2021 Day 1 Welcome to Italy Day 5 Marian churches: Sanctuary of Divine Love and Basilica of Rome Upon arrival at Rome Airport, we will be greeted by our English St Mary Major speaking tour manager who will be with the group during the entire stay This morning we will drive to the Marian Sanctuary of Divine Love which in Italy. We will board the private deluxe bus and transfer to our hotel. was added by Pope John Paul II for the Great Jubilee of 2000, replacing Following check-in, we will have free time to unpack and relax. If possible, St Sebastian Outside the Walls. Then we will complete the pilgrimage we will celebrate Mass in a local church. Dinner and overnight at our hotel celebrating Mass at Basilica of St Mary Major which is one of the oldest and in Rome (D) most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The basilica contains some the finest artwork and architectural wonders in Day 2 Walking day: from Church of St Maria in Vallicella to St the world such as the ceiling which is a masterpiece of the Renaissance Peter’s Basilica (0,7 miles) and the work of Giuliano da Sangallo. It contains also the painting of the We begin our pilgrimage celebrating Mass at the church of Santa Maria Blessed Mother known as the Salus Populi Romani. In the afternoon we will in Vallicella which is the principal church of the Oratorians, a religious enjoy a Maritozzo tasting. Maritozzo is a bigger pastry stuffed with whipped, congregation of secular priests, founded by St Philip Neri in 1561.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See Incarnationis MysteriumBULL OF INDICTION OF THE GREAT JUBILEE OF THE YEAR 2000 JOHN PAUL BISHOP SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD TO ALL THE FAITHFUL JOURNEYING TOWARDS THE THIRD MILLENNIUM HEALTH AND THE APOSTOLIC BLESSING 1. Contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Church prepares to cross the threshold of the Third Millennium. Never more than at this time do we feel the need to make our own the Apostle's hymn of praise and thanksgiving: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will... For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph 1:3-5, 9-10).These words clearly indicate that in Jesus Christ the history of salvation finds its culmination and ultimate meaning. In him, we have all received grace upon grace (Jn 1:16), having been reconciled with the Father (cf. Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18).The birth of Jesus at Bethlehem is not an event which can be consigned to the past.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE JOHN PAUL II TO THE NEW CARDINALS AT THE ORDINARY PUBLIC CONSISTORY 21 February 1998 “I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed” (1 Pt 5:1). 1. I make my own the words of the Apostle Peter in addressing you, venerable and beloved Brothers whom I have had the joy of making members of the College of Cardinals. These words recall that as “elders” we are fundamentally rooted in the mystery of Christ, the Head and Shepherd. Since we share in the fullness of sacred Orders, we are a sacramental representation of him in the Church and for the Church, and are called to proclaim his Word authoritatively, to repeat his acts of forgiveness and his offer of salvation, and to show his loving concern to the point of giving ourselves totally for the flock (cf. Pastores dabo vobis, n. 15). Today this rootedness in Christ receives a further specification in you, venerable Brothers, since by being raised to the rank of Cardinal, you are called and enabled to undertake an ecclesial service of even greater responsibility, in the closest collaboration with the Bishop of Rome. Therefore, everything that is taking place today in St Peter’s Square is a call to a more demanding service since, as we heard in the Gospel, “whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk 10:44).
    [Show full text]
  • 2Nd Sunday of Advent December 10Th Deacon William Pitocco
    2nd Sunday of Advent December 10th Deacon William Pitocco The Christian Soul Is the Everlasting Jerusalem The first words of today's First Reading are for us: "Comfort, give comfort to my people." That prophecy was directed to "Jerusalem," but in today's Readings we find many different Jerusalem’s, and one is more important than all the rest. A first Jerusalem is the city that was Israel's ancient capital. At the time of Isaiah's prophecy, that city was in ruins, because the Jews, God's Chosen People, had been conquered and exiled by the Babylonians. The prophet is telling those exiles that God has not forgotten about them, that he will bring them home to Jerusalem. And God did bring them back. This wonderful deed from the past can comfort us in our troubles today, reminding us of God's power and goodness. A second Jerusalem is the Jerusalem still to come. Today's Second Reading turns our attention in this direction. It reminds us that Jesus will come again, bringing his Kingdom to fulfillment, and creating a new heaven and a new earth, in which God will wipe away every tear. Our true Shepard, leading us home. Looking forward to that gives us great comfort, because it shows us that our sufferings here on earth have a purpose, and that they will not last forever. In today's Gospel we find a third Jerusalem. John the Baptist addresses his prophecy to "all the inhabitants of Jerusalem," to individual people, like you and me. God's perspective, every Christian soul is a sacred city, a holy Jerusalem.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WITH THE NEW CARDINALS HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II Thursday, 22 February 2001 Feast of Saint Peter's Chair 1. "'Who do you say that I am?'. Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (Mt 16: 15-16). This conversation between Christ and his disciples, which we have just heard again, is always relevant to the life of the Church and of Christians. At every moment in her history, especially those which are the most decisive, Jesus questions his followers and, after asking them what "people" think of him, he narrows the field and asks them: "But who do you say that I am?". We heard this question echoing in the background throughout the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. And every day the Church has ceaselessly replied in a unanimous profession of faith: "You are the Christ, the Saviour of the world, yesterday, today and for ever". A universal answer, in which the voices of the Pastors and faithful of the whole People of God are one with the voice of Peter's Successor. 2. One solemn confession of faith: You are the Christ! This confession of faith is the great gift which the Church offers the world at the beginning of the third millennium, as she ventures upon the "vast ocean" that lies before her (cf. Novo millennium ineunte, n. 58). Today's celebration highlights the role of Peter and his Successors in steering the barque of the Church across this "ocean". It is therefore very significant that at this liturgical celebration the College of Cardinals is beside the Pope together with the new Cardinals created yesterday at the first Consistory since the Great Jubilee.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of a Holy Door by Archbishop Piero Marini
    THE HISTORY OF A HOLY DOOR BY ARCHBISHOP PIERO MARINI Excerpts from “The Opening of the Holy Door of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,” an article by Archbishop Piero Marini, Titular Bishop of Martirano and former Papal Master of Liturgical Celebrations. Vatican City, December 1, 1999 THE RITE OF THE OPENING OF THE DOOR IN TRADITION ... According to the description given in 1450 by Giovanni Ruccellai of Viterbo, it was Pope Martin V who in 1423, at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, opened the Holy Door for the first time in the history of the Jubilee. In those days, Holy Years were celebrated every 33 years. In the Vatican Basilica the opening of the Holy Door is first mentioned at Christmas 1499. On that occasion Pope Alexander VI desired the Holy Door to be opened not only at Saint John Lateran but in the other Roman Basilicas as well: Saint Peter’s, Saint Mary Major and Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls. A small door, probably a service door in the left part of the facade of Saint Peter’s Basilica, was then enlarged and turned into a Holy Door, in the same location where it is found today. This involved the destruction of a chapel decorated with mosaics located inside the Basilica and which had been dedicated by Pope John VII to the Mother of God. The Pope also desired the norms of the Ceremoniale of the Holy Year, left vague by his predecessors, to be more clearly defined, particularly the rite of the opening and closing of the Holy Door.
    [Show full text]
  • 2007 Sesquicentennial Jubilee Year See This Week’S Editorial
    50¢ January 7, 2007 Volume 81, No. 1 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend TTODAYODAY’’SS CCATHOLICATHOLIC Why did I get this paper? 2007 Sesquicentennial Jubilee Year See this week’s editorial et this year be a year of joy. Jubilee refers to for the answer Ljubilation, a time of joy and thanksgiving for the Page 17 graces and blessings God has given to this diocese over 150 years. We should greet the year with humility. This is always the right stance before God as Mary has shown us. Pastoral letter Like her, we also pray that the word of God may penetrate hearts during this year. This will happen if Bishop D’Arcy releases we make it a year of prayer and thanksgiving; a year of repentance and openness to the Holy Spirit. his jubilee vision It is a time to lay a foundation for the future so Pages 3-5 those who come after us in this holy place will be blessed. It is a year to give thanks for all that has happened. It is a year to strengthen our communion with our bishop and, through him, with the Bishop of Rome, Remembering the Successor of Peter. It is a year to reach out to those President Ford See jubilee who have left the practice of their calendar of faith. It is a year to greet other Known as a healer to a events Christians who are not in full com- wounded nation munion with us and to pray for the PAGES 11-15 restoration of that communion.
    [Show full text]
  • Jubilee 2000 This Issue of the Criterion Contains a Many As 40,000 People
    Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Christmas Shopping Guide . 17 Editorial. 4 From the Archives. 25 TheCriterion Question Corner . 11 Criterion Sunday & Daily Readings. 11 Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 www.archindy.org November 26, 1999 Vol. XXXVIII, No. 9 50¢ Jubilee 2000 This issue of The Criterion contains a many as 40,000 people. guide to the Great Jubilee 2000 Archbishop Daniel M. and archdiocesan jubilee Buechlein, at least 20 other events for the next year that bishops and several arch- readers can pull out and diocesan priests will con- keep. firm more than 2,500 The section, which youth and adults at the begins on page 13, Mass. gives information about The jubilee guide also a special Mass that will contains schedules for be held Sept. 16, 2000, special senior citizen and at the RCA Dome in young adult Masses for the Indianapolis. The Mass is next year as well as infor- being called Celebration in mation about the jubilee indul- Photo by Margaret Nelson the Spirit of Hope: The Great gence and a list of indulgence Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein sealed one of the doors of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Jubilee and is expected to draw as churches throughout the archdiocese. † Indianapolis last Sunday. The Holy Door will be opened Dec. 24 to start the Great Jubilee. Friends forever Bishops address many issues at annual meeting WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. Catholic bishops ended their last general meeting of the millennium Nov. 18 with the approval of a flurry of documents on topics as narrow as bishops’ pension ben- efits and as broad as the new millennium itself.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See LETTER OF JOHN PAUL II TO CARDINAL ROGER ETCHEGARAY ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE VOLUME "L'INQUISIZIONE" To my Venerable Brother Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, former President of the Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 1. I receive with deep appreciation the volume containing the Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Inquisition, organized at the Vatican from 29-31 October 1998 by the Historical- Theological Commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. This Symposium answered the desire I expressed in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennium Adveniente: "...it is appropriate that... the Church should become more fully conscious of the sinfulness of her children, recalling all those times in history when they departed from the spirit of Christ and his Gospel and, instead of offering to the world the witness of a life inspired by the values of faith, indulged in ways of thinking and acting which were truly forms of counter-witness and scandal" (n. 33). In public opinion, the image of the Inquisition is as it were the symbol of such counter-witness and scandal. How faithful to reality is this image? Before asking for forgiveness it is necessary to have exact knowledge of the facts and to put shortcomings with regard to what the Gospel requires in the context where they are effectively found. This is the reason why the Committee has consulted historians whose scientific competence is universally recognized. 2. For theologians, the irreplaceable contribution of historians contains an invitation to reflect on the conditions and life of the People of God on its way through history.
    [Show full text]
  • Address of John Paul Ii to the Members of the Curia, of the Papal Household and of the Vicariate of Rome
    ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CURIA, OF THE PAPAL HOUSEHOLD AND OF THE VICARIATE OF ROME Saturday, 22 December 2001 1. Prope est iam Dominus. Venite adoremus! I welcome you with these words from the Advent liturgy and greet you cordially, Your Eminences, venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the priesthood, religious and lay people, members of the Roman Curia and the Vicariate of Rome. I thank Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Dean of the College of Cardinals, for the good wishes he has addressed to me on your behalf, and I tell you all how pleased I am to meet you for this traditional family event. Our meeting expresses well the sense of deep communion with the Successor of Peter that enlivens and sustains your work. I am grateful to you for your devotion to the Apostolic See and for the generous commitment with which you share every day, in different ways, in my concern to carry out the ministerium petrinum entrusted to me. To you all, my heartfelt thanks! The Lord's birth is at hand. Come let us adore him! Filled with wonder ever new, we approach the mystery of the birth of Christ whose human face shines with God's tenderness. Yes, God truly loves us! He did not forget men and women or leave them powerless and alone but sent his Son to put on their human flesh, to save them from the emptiness of sin and desperation. "To all who received him ... he gave power to become children of God", says the Apostle John (Jn 1,12).
    [Show full text]
  • Why a Jubilee Year of Mercy?
    Please join us in celebrating the Year of Mercy Prayer of Pope Francis for the December 8, 2015—November 20, 2016 Jubilee Some of our Year of Mercy offerings include: Exposition & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be At St Bridget’s: the last Wednesday of the month, 5pm-6:30pm merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us At St Mary’s: the first Friday of the month, 7am-8pm that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face Bible Study on Mercy: Thursdays 9:45-11:45AM and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed “Encountering the God of Mercy” Opportunities throughout the Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by year for people in various places in life to come together to experi- money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking ence the mercy of God amidst the struggles in life. The gatherings happiness only in created things; made Peter weep will take place on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. The initial lineup after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the includes: repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each January 21: Encountering the God of Mercy in Bereavement one of us, the words that you spoke to the January 28: Encountering the God of Mercy in Cancer Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” February 4: Encountering the God of Mercy in Broken Relation- You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of ships the God who manifests his power above all by February 11: Encountering the God of Mercy in Loneliness forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your Future gatherings include finding mercy amidst: depression, addiction, Jubilee Year of Mercy visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
    [Show full text]