WELCOME If you are alienated or upset, we welcome you lovingly. If you are in need of forgiveness, Jesus forgives you completely—with unconditional love. If you have been hurt by the Church, we are truly sorry. If you are angry, Jesus offers you peace. If life has become burdensome, we are here to support you. We are happy you are here and want you to stay. We would like to share our lives with you. Come join us each week so we can worship God together.

Parish Staff Mass Schedule

Rev. Richard T. Conway–Parish Priest Saturday 4:00 pm [email protected] Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am Amanda Roberts – Faith Formation Director [email protected] Weekdays as announced Irene Bonner – Business Manager [email protected] Parish Office Joe Galluzzo – RCIA Coordinator [email protected]; 978-682-6595 978-683-8922 Yvonne Gobis – Liturgical Music Coordinator Fax: 978-689-8878 [email protected]; 978-452-0831 Office Hours: T-F, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance. Participation in both a parish and a dioce- san preparation is required of all couples.

RCIA Adults interested in baptism or joining the Church should contact Joe Galluzzo at 978-682-6595 or [email protected].

Anointing and Pastoral Care of the Sick Please contact the Parish Office when a parishioner is seriously ill or goes into the hospital. Staff and Communion Ministers bring communion to those who are infirm. Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated com- munally in the spring and the fall.

Baptism Celebrated regularly at Sunday Eucharist. Mandatory parent preparation sessions are held at church every other month. Please contact the Parish Office four months in advance of the intended Baptism date.

A Stewardship Parish

Building a Catholic community of commitment, passion and love Celebrating our faith through dynamic liturgy and a rich sacramental life Welcoming all into the warmth of our parish family Sharing the gifts God entrusted to us Striving to learn, live and share our faith

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FROM FATHER RICK Dear Friends,

RECTORY OPEN HOUSE Our annual Christmas Open House will be this Sunday afternoon, December 16, from 12:00 noon (following 11:00 am Mass) to 6:00 pm. Please plan on joining us.

CHRISTMAS SEASON MASS SCHEDULE As we continue the Advent season, it is time to look forward to Christmas, which this year falls on a Tuesday. The Mass schedule will be:

Christmas Eve Monday, December 24 4:00 pm—Women’s Choir (4:00 pm Mass begins when Church is full) 6:00 pm—Youth Choir 12:00 am Midnight—Adult Choir

Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25 10:00 am—Cantor & Organ

Feast of the Holy Family Saturday, December 29—4:00 pm Sunday, December 30—10:00 am (note one Mass only on Sunday, 12/30)

Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God New Years Eve: Monday, December 31—5:30 pm New Years Day: Tuesday, January 1—10:00 am

Solemnity of the Epiphany Saturday, January 5—4:00 pm Sunday, January 6—9:00 & 11:00 am

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Saturday, January 12—4:00 pm Sunday, January 13—9:00 & 11:00 am

End of the Christmas Season and Beginning of Ordinary Time

I wish you God’s peace, Fr. Rick

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Stewardship Reflection Christmas Collection Clergy Benefit Trust “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests A reminder that our only collection at all our known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Christmas Masses will be to support the re- tirement, medical and financial needs of St. Paul reminds us that our God is an abundant priests of the Archdiocese of Boston. On be- God, the ultimate giver of gifts. He promises to half of all our priests, thank you in advance give us all that we need. When we trust that for your generosity. Please visit God will take care of us, it is easier for us to www.careforseniorpriests.org for more infor- share what we have been given. mation about the fund.

Money Matters On the weekend of December 8/9 Weekly donations: $3,913.25 Parish Community Prayer Intentions

Archdiocesan Discernment In your daily prayer this week please include these Retreats for Men people, who are either anticipating a medical proce- dure or recovering from an illness or accident Friday, February 8, to Saturday, February 9, 2013 Blessed John XXIII Seminary for men aged 40 and older The names in the Parish Community Prayer Intention list are not included in the Friday, February 8, to Sunday, February 10, 2013 web version of the bulletin in order to Connors Family Retreat Center in Dover, MA, and maintain the privacy of those individuals. St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA for men ages 18-40 years

While on these retreats, led by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the men who attend have the opportunity to experience seminary life, pray and reflect upon the priesthood, meet other men like themselves and discern God’s call in their lives. If you are interested, please pick up one of the registration forms in the Gathering Space.

In Service Cpl Chris Carey, USMC, SFC John B. Nicholas, USA, Captain Jack Webb, USMC, Matthew Cibery USN, SPC Jean-Paul Fitz- patrick, USA, SPC Vincent Amasula, USA, LCDR Paul Giguere, USN, 1st Lt. Stephen Draheim, USA, Col. James Coffey, USAF, Lyle Shackelford, Pvt. Alexander Sabu, USA, Gen’l. R. Steve Whitcomb, USA, Col. Brian P. Bedell, USA, Capt. Lauren Whitcomb, USA, BG Patrick J. Donahue, USA, BG Brian P. Donahue, USA, Cpt. Michael McGaffigan, USA, Steve Comstock, Pilot, USN, Lt. Jesse Salisbury, USAF, Sgt. Maureen Galvin, USA, SpOps, Lt. Commander Kevin B. O’Brien, USN, Miko Belonia, Maj. Tony Hoffman, USA, Maj. Ross Coffman, USA, Maj. Garth Howe, USA, Chief Warrant Officer II Michael Morris, USA, Captain Matthew Mancini, USA, Sgt. Ellen Barnes O’Connor, USA, Pvt. Adam James Mazza, USA, Pvt. Joseph D. Gagnon, USM, LCDR Chris Stopyra, USN

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Question of the Week Third Sunday of Advent

Listen to Today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 3:10-18) As you hear this reading, what words or phrases strike you? What in this reading touches your Saturday, December 15 heart? What lingers in your memory? Vigil, Third Sunday of Advent Look into Your Life 4:00 pm: Saverio and Alexander Caggiano, Question for Adults: How can you live the promise Maria and Antonio Caggiano of your Baptism each day?

Sunday, December 16 Question for Youth: What do you remember from Third Sunday of Advent stories about your Baptism? What does your Bap- 9:00 am: Claire Pierro tism mean to you now? 11:00 am: Eric Begg; **Pat & Fran Palma Renewal of Question for Children: Why is it so important to keep Marriage Vows (60 years) promises which you have made?

Wednesday, December 19 Late Advent Weekday “Rejoice 6:00 pm: William Kurkul, Sr. in the Lord Thursday, December 20 always. Late Advent Weekday I shall say

12:10 pm it again: rejoice!” Friday, December 21 Late Advent Weekday; St. Peter Canisius, —Luke 3:10-18 priest and doctor of the Church

12:10 pm Readings for the week of December 16, 2012

Saturday, December 22 Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 Vigil, Fourth Sunday of Advent Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17 4:00 pm: People of the Parish Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25 Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Sunday, December 23 Thursday: Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 Fourth Sunday of Advent Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a;

9:00 am: Mary Correnti Lk 1:39-45 11:00 am: Carol Shwetz Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56 Next Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

Christmas Flower Envelopes Think about taking some time with the weekly read- ings—you can find them online in audio and text at are available on the tables in www.usccb.org/bible. This link is always on the St. the vestibule. You may return Robert’s homepage, too. Print them out, download a pod- cast, listen while you walk or drive, or take a few minutes them in the collection basket to read and see how it all fits together between Sundays! or to the parish office.

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This Week in Our Parish Bread & Roses

Sunday, December 16 Food Drop Off 9:00-11:00 AM Bread & Roses Food Collection, this Weekend! Driscoll Hall 12:00-6:00 PM Christmas Open House, Rectory Drop off your donations 5:00-7:00 PM Youth Group Cookie Swap, by 11:00 am on Sunday! Seton Room

‘Twas the week before Christmas at Bread & Roses Wednesday, December 19 6:00 PM Advent Weekday Mass, Church Hospitality House; 7:30 PM Women’s Schola Rehearsal, Church People were gathering—friends, family, & spouse; 7:30 PM Knights of Columbus Meeting, The plates were all set on the table with care, Driscoll Hall In hopes that St. Robert’s soon would be there.

Thursday, December 20 12:10 PM Advent Weekday Mass, Church St. Robert’s is responsible for meal preparation for the 5:30 PM Youth Choir Practice, Church Bread & Roses Hospitality House in Lawrence once per 6:30 PM Scouts, Driscoll Hall month all year. Our next food collection date is this Sun- 7:00 PM Youth Cantor Practice, Church day, December 16. It’s as easy as adding an item to the 7:30 PM Adult Choir Practice, Church

grocery list and dropping off in Driscoll Hall when you

Friday, December 21 come to Mass! 12:10 PM Advent Weekday Mass, Church What do we need every month? We supply food to feed 150 people a nutritious, hot meal of tacos and salad. That’s a lot of food and every donation—no matter how small—helps! Here’s what we need:

 Cooked ground beef (50+ pounds)  Tortillas (20 packages of 8-inch (medium) size)  Shredded cheese (30 pounds) Youth Group  Salsa (6 large jugs or equivalent) 5th Annual Sunday  Taco seasoning (25-30 packets) Christmas December 16  Lettuce (16 heads) Cookie Swap Seton Room 5:00-7:00 pm  Cucumbers (15)  Tomatoes (48 medium/large)

It’s easy—just drop off food donations when you come to Mass next weekend. Non-perishables can be left in the bin in the vestibule of the church. Perishable Fun—Fellowship—Cookies—Pizza!! items are collected in the Driscoll Hall kitchen on Sun-

THAT’S THIS SUNDAY—DON’T MISS OUT! day morning—before the 9:00 am Mass and again be- tween 10:00 and 11:00 am. There is a sign up sheet for Bring a dozen cookies to swap—nut free best but if food donations in the vestibule but even if you forget to not, please attach note. RSVP to [email protected]. sign up, you are still welcome to contribute!

Questions? For more information, contact Marian & Keep well to the grace of the moment… David Magnan at [email protected] or 978-683- do your best and leave the rest to God. 8969, or Lisa Lattari at [email protected] or 978- —Elizabeth Ann Seton 749-3736. Thank you for your continuing generosity!

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Year of Faith 2012—2013 By now you have seen references to the Year of Faith, either here at St. Robert’s or elsewhere, but may still be wondering what it is. Pope Benedict XVI called for a year of renewal in the Church, beginning with the 50th anniversary of Vatican II in October 2012 and continuing through the feast of Christ the King in November 2013. It is a chance to carry forward the work of the Holy Spirit that inspired Vatican II and to continue the renewal so needed in our own faith lives and in

the life of the Church.

Have you checked out the parish Year of Faith website yet? Start out by learning a little more about Vatican II, if you want to, including links to all the original documents. Then check out the four main sections: Saints & Heroes, Sto- ries of Faith, Faith in Action, and Liturgy & Prayer. Every month we will focus on four new topics in each of the four main subject areas. Look for new content in one area every Sunday.

New this week—get to know Thomas Merton. Trappist monk, writer, social activist—these are just some of the fac- ets of this great teacher and spiritual companion. His candid struggles as well as his unbounded joy in his faith, shared so beautifully and directly in his books and journals, are an inspiration to anyone trying to find their way on the spiritual path. Learn more in the Saints & Heroes section of the Year of Faith website this week.

Vatican II—did you know? “Pope John XIII saw the two-fold purpose of the Council to be an updating of the Church and a work of Christian Unity.” —Xavier Rynne

Xavier Rynne was the pseudonym of Fr. Francis X. Murphy, a Redemptorist priest who provided The New Yorker with an insider's view of the at a time when the Council's deliberations were supposed to be se- cret. While he kept his identity officially under wraps for decades, it was widely known that Murphy was the author of the articles (and he did openly admit to his authorship later). Google him to learn more!

Christmas Can Still Change the World Give the gift of life

this Christmas!

Thursday, December 20, 1:30-7:00 pm

Andover Town House, 20 Main Street, Andover

Saturday, December 22, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Worship Fully—Spend Less—Give More—Love All North Reading Moose Lodge www.adventconspiracy.org 140 North Street, North Reading

Wednesday, December 26, 2:00-7:00 pm Advent Penance Service Good Samaritan Lodge, 110 Haven Street, Reading Monday, December 17, 7:00 pm St. Michael Parish, Andover The need is constant. The gratification is instant.

Penance service begins at 7:00 pm, followed by Please give! Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an individual celebrations of the Sacrament of Recon- appointment or go to www.redcrossblood.org for ciliation. more information.

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Saint of the Week Blessed Elisha of St. Clement, Religious – 1901 - 1927

Born Theodora Fracasso in Bari, on January 17, 1901, this saint knew from a very early age that she was called to be a nun. In a vision, the young girl, about four years old at the time, saw a beautiful lady walking among the flowers in a garden and then disappearing in a bright ray of light. Theodora’s mother explained the vision to her. The child decided then that she was being called to become a nun and devoted her young life to preparation for that calling.

Sent to a school run by nuns, Theodora continued to grow in faith. The night before she was to make her First Commun- ion, she had a vision of St. Teresa of Jesus (St. Teresa of Avila) who told her that she would become a nun just as Teresa had. In later years, Theodora joined her friends in groups to study Scripture, the lives of the saints, and one that she especially liked, The Story of a Soul, the autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Introduced by the priest who was her spiritual director to the Third Order Dominicans, Theodora was accepted as a nov- ice in 1914 notwithstanding her young age. Through the years of World War I, she worked as a catechist and to provide support in whatever way she was able to those around her.

A few years later in 1918, another priest, Fr. Di Gioia, who had become her confessor, suggested that she enter a con- vent in Bari, the Carmel of St. Joseph. Together with a friend, Clare Bellomo, Theodora visited the convent in December, 1918 where she and her friend both felt that this was the order they were being called to. Under the guidance of Fr. Di Gioia, the two girls spent the year 1919 in intense preparation for entry into the Carmel of St. Joseph. Entering the con- vent in the Spring of 1920, Theodora took the name Elisha of St. Clement. Besides St. Teresa of Jesus, she also chose St. Thérèse of Lisieux as a model, citing her “little way of spiritual childhood where I felt called by the Lord.” Her final vows were taken in February 1925.

Sister Elisha’s life in the convent was never easy, but she persevered in each of the roles to which she was assigned. The Mother Superior, who recognized the holiness of this young sister as a novice, placed her at the boarding school for girls run by the convent where she taught embroidery. The headmistress of the school was less understanding and felt that Elisha, who showed her love for her students, was too lenient with the girls. Of strict disposition and lacking the skills to deal with people in any other than an authoritarian manner, the headmistress found fault with most of Elisha’s actions. Eventually transferred back to the convent, Sister Elisha continued her prayerful and loving life. The Mother Superior appointed her as sacristan of the convent, but in January 1927, Elisha suffered a severe bout of influenza which led to frequent headaches and illnesses. All of this suffering the sister accepted without complaint and even refused to take medicine.

In December 1927, Elisha again suffered a severe illness and fever which was presumed to be just another episode in the series. Only on Christmas Eve was a doctor called in to see her. In his judgment, her condition was not serious. The next morning, her condition having worsened overnight, two doctors came to see her and stated that her condition was irreversible. She died at noon on Christmas Day, fulfilling a prediction that she had made sometime earlier that she would die on a feast day.

Blessed Elisha of St. Clement was beatified on March 18, 2006.

Elisha of St. Clement's message today: This saint discerned her vocation very early in life, something that most of us cannot do. But, at whatever stage of our life we choose a calling, it should be done with prayer and good judgment.

 If you have yet to choose where you are going with your life, ask Blessed Elisha to pray for you.

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SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Micah 5:1-4a

Thus says the LORD: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 10:5-10

Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will, ”we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zecha- riah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Eliza- beth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Copyright 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, re- cording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Blue Christmas Service West Parish Church 129 Reservation Road, Andover

Sunday, December 16, 4:00 pm

West Parish Church will hold a Blue Christmas Service for those who find Christmas to be a diffi- cult time of year. Service includes music, readings, meditation, candles and preparation. All are wel- come. Handicap accessible.

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” —Bertrand Russell

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