Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020

PASTORAL PLAN FOR WORSHIP ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH

The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, issued by Bishop da Cunha, remains in effect until further notice. Those who are most vulnerable and at a greater risk due to age, preexisting health conditions, or in close proximity to vulnerable people are encouraged to remain home at this time. If you or a close loved one show symptoms of illness, please refrain from coming to church.

The weekend Mass schedule here at St. Joan of Arc Church remains unchanged… Saturday at 5:00pm, Sunday at 8:00am and 10:00am. During the week Mass is celebrated Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:00am.

Per state regulations, gatherings cannot exceed 40% of a house of worship’s occupancy capacity. Taking into account social distancing of 6 feet between people or households, means only approximately 3 people in every other pew.

All worshippers enter the church through the Main Entrance. For safety and order, a person will not be able to choose a specific seat. A specially trained group of greeters will assist people to their seats. Once we reach our occupancy limit, we will not be able to admit others. Charity, cooperation and understanding are asked of all.

Everyone entering the church is required to wear a mask or other face covering. Please provide your own masks. While there is hand sanitizer available in the foyer, please consider providing your own, if you can, as supply is limited.

There are receptacles at the entrance of the church in which you may place your contribution to the parish as you enter. On-line giving is encouraged via our parish website. Thank you so much for your support, especially at this extraordinary time.

The offertory procession (bringing up of the bread and wine) and the usual sign of peace have been eliminated. You may offer the sign of peace with a head nod and wave. The holy water fonts at the doors of the church will remain empty, however, we do have a battery operated touchless holy water dispenser just inside the entrance to the church. Simply place your hand under the dispenser to activate the sensor. Missals/hymnals have been removed as it would be difficult to sanitize them. Singing has been eliminated from our worship until further notice.

Holy Communion will be distributed at the usual time during the Mass. Those receiving Communion will approach row by row (keeping the 6 feet safe distancing protocol) and section by section.Please remain at your pew until your row is called. The priest will distribute Communion with sanitized hands while wearing a mask. Communicants may lift their mask just prior to receiving Holy Communion.

Following the Final Blessing, please exit the church by the door closest to your pew maintaining the 6 feet distancing protocol. Upon exiting the church, please refrain from congregating near the doors of the church. After each Mass, the tops of the benches, door handles and other high traffic areas will be sani- tized.

Scheduling for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers will be suspended for the time being. All parish ministries and events will remain suspended until further notice. The church will be closed following each Mass. The Parish Office and Faith Formation Office remain closed.

We encourage all who make the prudent judgement for themselves not to return to church for Mass, to instead participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and view other good quality spiritual programming on Catholic TV, found on your local cable Channel 268 or on EWTN, Channel 56. Mass is televised each Sun- day at 11:00am on Channel 6. You can also view daily Mass on-line at http://www.catholictv.org/masses/ catholictv-mass.

Let us remember one another in prayer especially those most in need of our prayers at this time. Let us commit ourselves to prayer for an end to the covid-19 coronavirus.

Wintery Weather

During the winter months, when the Nauset schools are closed or on delayed start because of snow, the weekday Mass will be canceled, as well. The intention for that day's Mass will be transferred and included with the intention of the next weekday Mass. Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020

Mass Intentions PRAY FOR THE ILL OF THE PARISH WEEK of December 5—December 11 Martin Coughlin, Loretta Stephens, Harry Marcoux, John Keane, Tris Windle, David Cousins, Lynne Saturday 5:00 Daniel DelGizzi Scalia, Alex Podeszwa, Thomas Stone, Nick Bartick, Sunday 8:00 William F. Griffin Pam Hedlund, Len Hedlund, Greg Morongell, Nora Patricia O’Keefe Gould, Edan Pearl, Anne Caruso, John M. Pollard, 10:00 Lew Carrington Peter Cruckshank, Bill Hannon, Ivy Davis, Maddy Monday 8:00 Jim Ulyan Hayes, Clare Stevenson, Joseph Nosari, Vincent 5:00 Father Bob Kemmery Lencvewski, Jeffrey Wolfgang, Joan Ouellette, Bev Tuesday 8:00 Margaret Deegan Sarazin, Tyler Benscoter, Agnes Wolfgang, Fr. Paul 12:00 Our Parish Family Smith, Marilyn Drewes, Ray Castriotta, Julianne Wednesday 8:00 Ann Crossman Sullivan, Robert Grudzina, Marge LaGrassa, Jim Friday 8:00 Sewell Rose Lewis, Joyce Loechner, Frank Salomone, Chad WEEKEND of December 12 and 13 Larivee, Dick Wentworth, Nuvia Downs, Karen Mary McNulty, Olivia Hart, Alex Haas, Patrick Saturday 5:00 Joseph Wignot Devine, Gerry Csaposs, Addie Priess, Frank Sunday 8:00 Father Bob Kemmery McCarthy, Andree Yager, Paul Kascsak, Patty 10:00 Charlie Wolff Camarra, James Manley, Betty Babcock, Thomas

Murphy, Chris Frazier, Melissa K., Baby Lillian NOVEMBER 29 COLLECTION RESULTS—THANK YOU! Thoman, Jessica O., Fran McDonagh, Donna Regular Collection $ 7,938 Hibbert, Margaret Royce, Beth Nixon, Anne O’Brien, Ben McMahon, Gerry Moynihan, Martha ANNUAL PARISH APPEAL—to-date $ 40,540 Moynihan, Richard Paskiewicz, Mary Rodrigues, THIS WEEKEND —2nd Collection — Christmas Flowers Emily Sparks, Stephen Moreau, Paula Madeiro, NEXT WEEKEND—2nd Collection — Retired Religious Paul Brandon, Rita Folger, Gerri DiCristina, Kathleen Kilmer, Marguerite Forren, Mary Pickard, Deepthi Moola, Steve Novick, Ernie T., Eleanor

HOLY DAY Symecko, Hector Pelletier, Bob Cunnane, Evelyn Reidel, Kathleen Paterson, Crystal McCuin, Rose of Austin, Andrew Michael, Cayla Cartier OBLIGATION * * * PRAY FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE FEAST OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IMMACULATE Brandy Nelson, Timothy Horigan, Scott Doucette, CONCEPTION Michael Wilson, David Lucas, Sean Lucas, Peter Civita Shayne, Peter Cabral, Gregory DeLuca, Josh- The Holy Day of the Feast ua Schmitt, Joseph Long, Brad Howard, Thomas of the Immaculate Con- Scudder, Jeffrey Stebbins, Phillip McDonough, Da- ception will be observed vid Wilcox, John Amick, David McDonald, Lt. Ed- with a Vigil Mass on Mon- ward J. Maloney, Andrew Kelley, William James day, December 7, at Miller, David Orloski, Stephen Tammaro, Michael 5 pm, and two Masses on L. Hamilton, Thomas Crawford, Aaron Charette, Tuesday, December 8 at 8 Nicholas McGahey, Edward Prufer, Christian P. am and 12:00 pm. Goodman, Trevor Lafontaine, Connor Lafontaine, Colin Bracken, Michael Bracken

Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020

2020 Annual Parish Appeal ADVENT PENANCE

The Annual Parish Appeal is a long-standing tradi- During the Season of Advent as we prepare for tion here at St. Joan of Arc Parish. Your response the celebration of Christmas, we recall St. John to the Annual Parish Appeal over the years has the Baptist's exhorta- helped us to make various improvements as the tion to, “prepare the needs have arisen and fulfill the multi-faceted mis- way of the Lord”. sion of the parish. Your generosity to St. Joan of Arc Parish helps to support our parish ministries, Local clergy will be outreach and activities as well as maintain the par- available for ish buildings and grounds. the Sacrament of Reconciliation at

It has been said that 2020 is a year unlike any oth- er in living memory. The unexpected covid-19 pan- Church in Wellfleet demic and the shut-down of so many aspects of on Tuesday, Decem- society which followed has brought untold hard- ber 15th from ship, physical illness, economic distress, and emo- 1:00pm to 2:00pm. tional strain to many among us. It was very painful to have to shutter our church especially during Holy Week and Easter. Although contributions to the parish are lower than they were last year, I am profoundly grateful that so many parishioners continued to deliver their budget envelopes or utilize our online giving option through it all. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the health of our community, we made the difficult decision early on to keep our Parish Thrift Shop closed after the order to remain closed was lifted. This led to the inevitable and significant loss of revenue which the Thrift Shop operations normal- ly provide to St. Joan of Arc Parish.

As people of faith we know that we are called to share the blessings we have received, serve Christ in one another and worship in memory of Him. The Annual Parish Appeal is an opportunity for Have you or anyone close to you ever given thought those who can, to make an additional sacrificial to becoming a Catholic Christian? With a new liturgi- offering to our parish. You may return your gift by cal year coming upon us, perhaps now is a good time mail or simply place it in the collection basket at for inquiry. RCIA is a small, faith-sharing community Mass. Another option is to contribute through our that helps answer such questions and provides a vehi- online giving via our Parish Website cle for either becoming a baptized Catholic adult or www.joanarc.org. being confirmed in the Church. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 508.255.1257 or Father Bill May the Lord abundantly bless you and the parish we in the Rectory at 508.255.0170 for further infor- all love. St. Joan or Arc, pray for us. mation.

Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020

IMPORTANT MESSAGE RE: Expanded access to abortion in Massachusetts

The House and Senate passed the budget amend- ments, respectively #759 and #180, within the last couple of weeks. These amendments allow the follow- ing:

 abortions to be performed under certain circum- stances for the full term of the pregnancy. Abortion at any time, from the moment of conception to birth, is in direct conflict with Catholic teaching and must be opposed.  decrease the age of consent for a young girl to have an abortion to 16 years old. In its simplest terms, a 16 or 17 year old girl would be deprived of the guidance & support of an adult when making and undergoing this life-changing decision.  language in the amendment is nuanced enough that the physician would not be required to use life- supporting equipment for abortions performed after 24 weeks

CALL Governor Baker and tell him to veto this bill!! 617-722-2000 “Be Still” Our reflection and stillness, facilitated by Judy Burt

Walker, continues every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. in SVdP CHRISTMAS the Parish Center. All are welcome. GIVING TREE ST. JOAN OF ARC THRIFT SHOP Annual Christmas Giving Tree. As in the past, the We are happy to announce Giving Tree will be in the that our Thrift Shop has re- vestibule of the church. opened. We are open on Stars may be taken starting Sat., Nov. 28 and must be Mondays and Wednes- returned by Sun., Dec. 13. Stars may be picked up and days from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We CANNOT returned at Mass times: 7:30 – 8:30 am, on Mon., accept donated items until further notice. Tues., Wed., Fri.; Saturday at 5 pm and at Sunday Masses, 8 am and 10 am. Given the uncertainties re- LOCAL IS OPEN sulting from the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, if you are uncomfortable with shopping for a gift, please make a LOCAL volunteers provide lunches and grocery donation and SVdP volunteers will do the shopping. items for TAKE-OUT from the Parish Center each Please make your donation by Dec. 5. Donations may Tuesday. Pick up time is from 11:30-12:30. If you be made at Mass, online https://www.joanarc.org/ are picking up items, please wear face masks, online%20giving.htm (select fund-Christmas Giving bring your own bags, and maintain social distanc- Tree), or mailed to SVdP, 61 Canal Road, Orleans, MA ing. One person at a time is allowed in the center 02653, (checks made out to SVdP). where volunteers distribute meals and groceries immediately inside the doors. Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020

Reading the Road gaze on the stars, on the beauty that is beyond our Award-winning foreign affairs columnist for The reach – and yet somehow within our grasp. The de- New York Times, Tom Friedman, once wrote an ar- sert is where our soul finds room to expand – where ticle from a little village in Botswana where there we can remember that for which our heart yearns. were no paved roads; phones; internet connec- This Advent let us be awake and attentive to the tions; televisions; or newspaper deliveries. Yet signs of God’s Presence all around us. May our foot- each morning Friedman discovered that he could prints speak of that Holy Presence at every turn of ‘read’ the news right outside his tent. The wetlands the road! There is a lot of geography to cover, if we were bisected by hippo trails – the narrow roads wish to prepare the way of the Lord – but it is possi- made from the pure white desert sand, were ble because God is already working on it – and so marked by animal and insect tracks. His guide must we! would lean out of the jeep and study the daily Reflection by Judy Burt Walker ‘road signs’: lions on the stride – their paw prints Director of Faith Formation abnormally deep and far apart; hyena tracks

marked by little indentations – water splashing off their feet from the nearby watering hole; the car- Faith Formation Family eResources cass of a small antelope – obviously a kill – dragged off to the side in the brush. Every mile held a differ- Our weekly eResource lessons continue this Thurs- ent ‘news event’. day, December 10th. The eResources for the month of December are going to be tailored to the “If you spend enough time in nature and allow Advent Season. They may be a little different from yourself to slow down sufficiently to let your senses work, you will start to sense the meanings in the the “Faith Stories” you have been receiving. The sand, the grasses, the bushes, the trees, the sounds goal is to use these handouts to guide you in cre- of the creatures – and the habits of the animals ating a quiet space to reflect and prepare for Em- with which you are sharing that space,” wrote manuel: God with Us. Friedman. The geography of the desert has much to teach those who are alert and awake enough to If you have not received emails, please check your read its signs. “Spam” or “Junk” mailboxes. Any concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s catechist or the Faith John the Baptist is a guide who offers us an apt im- Formation Office at 508.255.1257. age of how to create a spiritual highway in the un- likely terrain of the desert – of how to fill in pot- Advent: God with Us holes caused by hatred, and self-serving pettiness – of ways to build bridges across breaches that have (Meditations adapted from Richard Rohr’s Preparing for Christmas) created separation and distrust – of tools to help straighten tortured pathways of confusion and Advent marks four weeks of preparation for Christ- twisted truths. After the path is cleared we are mas. Just as we prepare our “outer” space with offered the building material! We are to pave this lights and trees and gifts – we also prepare our road with kindness, mercy, and compassion, so “inner” space through prayer and meditation and that everyone might be able to read the signs of reflection. This offers an opportunity for our hearts God’s goodness and presence along the daily paths to become a “manger” in which comes to we travel. rest. Look on the St. Joan of Arc website for a The desert is the antithesis of our modern culture. weekly reflection. Far from city lights, the desert allows us to fix our

Pastor’s Corner

Dear parishioners and friends,

This week we observe the Solemnity of the of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses for the holy day will be celebrated here at St. Joan of Arc Church on December 7th at 5:00pm and on December 8th at 8:00am and 12:00 noon.

Many among us have been disturbed by the increase in attacks on houses of worship and religious stat- ues this year. Although we do not want to magnify these incidents out of proportion, it is important to acknowledge the reality of our own place and time. I decided to include with this a photo of an image of Our Lady destroyed during a street protest. Let us pray for those whose hearts are so hardened and that the Lord, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, will heal us all in whatever way we need to be healed.

Also, I have attached with this excerpts from a December 7, 2016 article by Gretchen Filz that appeared in Catholic Company Magazine. In this article she explains the special place this solemnity has in the Church and in our country.

I continue to pray that the blessed Seasons of Advent and Christmas may fill your hearts with the peace, joy and love that only Christ can give. May the Lord abundantly bless you and your loved ones throughout this special time of year.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father William M. Rodrigues

National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

"The United States of America is indeed the land of Mary Immaculate." The United States Bishops, in the year 1846, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception as the patroness of the United States of America. This is why we have the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Here are the words of the bishops' decree on May 13, 1846:

"With enthusiastic acclaim and with unanimous approval and consent, the Fathers [of the Baltimore Council] have chosen the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, as the Patroness of the United States of America."

The choice of Our Lady in her Immaculate Conception as Patroness of the United States was approved by Pius IX on Feb. 7, 1847.

What is interesting is that the American Bishops chose this title of Mary as the patroness of the United States, requesting special permission from the Holy Father to do so, before the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary became infallible dogma for the universal Church.

In fact, this request of the U.S. bishops to the to promote or claim this title of Our Lady may have been a significant contributing factor to the later declaration of the dogma.

On Dec. 8, 1854, eight years after the American bishops chose Mary Immaculate as their patroness, Pope Pius IX solemnly declared the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be an article of faith in his Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus.

Even more interestingly, the flagship of ' expedition to the New World, the Santa Maria, had a full name of Santa Maria de la Inmaculada Concepcion (Holy Mary of the Immaculate Con- ception). The other ships, the Niña (little girl) and the Pinta (painted one) foreshadows Our Lady of Gua- dalupe, the first in the New World.

The day that Columbus claimed the for the Spanish crown, , 1492 (), was a major Marian feast day in —Our Lady of the Pillar. This title of Our Lady corresponds to the first-ever Marian apparition, which took place in Spain in 40 A.D., as well as the first-ever church dedi- cated to Our Lady.

Here are more interesting facts connecting the United States to Mary Immaculate:

 The first American church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1584.  In 1644 Pope Innocent X declared the feast of the Conception of Mary to be a holy day of obligation in Spanish territories, which included those in the Americas.  The portion of the American frontier called "Our Spanish Borderlands" (Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California) was placed under the of Mary Immaculate in 1760 by Pope Clement XIII.  Bishop Carroll, the first American bishop, chose the Virgin Mary as the patroness of America's first diocese—Baltimore—in 1791.

The United States of America has undoubtedly been placed into the hands and heart of Mary Immacu- late from its very foundation, and it is to her that we should turn for all our nation's needs. The Decem- ber 8th feast of the Immaculate Conception has the rank of a Solemnity and a Holy Day of Obligation for American Catholics.

Here is a beautiful portion of the papal document Ineffabilis Deus which defined Mary's Immaculate Conception as dogma for the universal Church on Dec. 8, 1854:

Our soul overflows with joy and our tongue with exultation. We give, and we shall continue to give, the humblest and deepest thanks to Jesus Christ, our Lord, because through his singular grace he has grant- ed to us, unworthy though we be, to decree and offer this honor and glory and praise to his most holy Mother.

All our hope do we repose in the most Blessed Virgin — in the all fair and immaculate one who has crushed the poisonous head of the most cruel serpent and brought salvation to the world: in her who is the glory of the prophets and apostles, the honor of the , the crown and joy of all the saints; in her who is the safest refuge and the most trustworthy helper of all who are in danger; in her who, with her only-begotten Son, is the most powerful and Conciliatrix in the whole world; in her who is the most excellent glory, ornament, and impregnable stronghold of the holy Church; in her who has de- stroyed all heresies and snatched the faithful people and nations from all kinds of direst calamities; in her do we hope who has delivered us from so many threatening dangers.

We have, therefore, a very certain hope and complete confidence that the most Blessed Virgin will ensure by her most powerful patronage that all difficulties be removed and all errors dissipated, so that our Holy Mother the may flourish daily more and more throughout all the nations and countries, and may reign "from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth," and may enjoy genuine peace, tranquility and liberty.

We are firm in our confidence that she will obtain pardon for the sinner, health for the sick, strength of heart for the weak, consolation for the afflicted, help for those in danger; that she will remove spiritual blindness from all who are in error, so that they may return to the path of truth and justice, and that here may be one flock and one shepherd.

Let all the children of the Catholic Church, who are so very dear to us, hear these words of ours. With a still more ardent zeal for piety, religion and love, let them continue to venerate, invoke and pray to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, conceived without original sin.

Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficul- ties, needs, doubts and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protec- tion, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless.

Because, while bearing toward us a truly motherly affection and having in her care the work of our salva- tion, she is solicitous about the whole human race. And since she has been appointed by God to be the and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most effica- cious manner. What she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard.

Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!