St. Pius X Church Rev. J. Najim, Pastor 401.596.2535 Ext. 5

Rev. Raymond N. Suriani, Pastor Emeritus 401.596.2535 Ext. 2 - fatherrays.blogspot.com

Rev. Mr. Francis J. Valliere Deacon Assistant, [email protected] TIMES Alcino G. Almeida, Trustee Adele Laudone, Trustee Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM Sunday Masses: 7:00, 8:30, 10:30 AM Mrs. Debra Carey - NOTARY Weekday Masses: PARISH SECRETARY/BOOKKEEPER 401.596.2535 Ext. 2; [email protected] Monday through Friday 7:00 AM,

Saturday 8:00 AM Christine Magowan - NOTARY DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION AND EVANGELIZATION Holy Days: Please consult the bulletin RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF CHILDREN/TEENS 401.596.2535 Ext. 4; [email protected]

ST. PIUS X RECTORY Deacon Francis and Mrs. Donna Valliere 44 Elm Street - Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Office: 401.596.2535 Fax: 401-596-9930 401.596.2232; [email protected] Email: [email protected] website: www.saintpiuswesterly.org

Mr. Richard Stockman DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINSTRY OFFICE HOURS 401.596.2535; [email protected] Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Mr. Tom Burgess Lunch: Noon - 1:00 pm MAINTENANCE/GROUNDS KEEPER FRIDAY: CLOSED 401.596.2535

Sylvia Manfred New to our Parish or just visiting? HOUSEKEEPING Please introduce yourself to the Pastor or stop by the 401.596.2535 Rectory! Parish Registration Forms are located in the

CATHOLIC CHARITY FUND APPEAL vestibule of the church, at the Rectory or on-line at Paula Eagan www.saintpiuswesterly.org CATHOLIC CHARITY PARISH ADMINISTRATOR 401.596.2535 WELCOME To St. Pius X Church.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: CONFESSIONS on Saturdays from 3:30 - 4:30 PM and Wednesday evenings from 5:00 - 5:30 PM. At other times by appointment with the Pastor. of : are held on the third Sunday of each month. Please call the rectory in advance for details. Pastoral Care of the Sick: The Pastor regularly visits the sick and shut-ins in their homes and in the hospital to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and to bring them Holy Communion. New Parishioners: Welcome! Please register with the parish by calling the rectory office. Sacrament of Marriage: Couples planning to marry should contact the Pastor at least one year before the wedding. St. Pius X Church Westerly, Rhode Island

WEEKDAY WEEKEND

Mon - December 16 7:00am Mass Anthony & Mary Ciccio Sat - December 21 5:00 pm Mass Louis E. Lallo, Jr. & FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Family

Tues - December 17 7:00am Mass Cathy Terranova Gilchrist Sun - December 22 7:00 am Mass People of St. Pius X Parish FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Wed - December 18 7:00am Mass Ann Marie & Gary Raiche Sun - December 22 8:30 am Mass George Shallcross III & Thurs - December 19 7:00am Mass Winifred Colosi FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Ellen Rathbun

& Anthony Junie Chiaradio Sun - December 22 10:30 am Mass Pat Tenuta Fri - December 20 7:00am Mass Henry Fiore, Sr. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sat - December 21 8:00am Mass Nunziato Iaconetti The Sanctuary Lamp will burn BLESSED MARY, St. , Priest & December 16-December 22

In Memory of Arthur Ravenelle Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, , in union with the masses said throughout the The Divine Mercy Candle will burn world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners December 16-December 22 everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. For All Holy Souls in Purgatory

“As we enter we will see them, so many of them coming TUESDAY towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they  ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ‐ Aer 7:00am mass will say a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory” ending with Benedicon at 6:00pm.

TUESDAY EVENINGS Bishop Fulton J. Sheen  CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING ‐ First Tuesday of each month 7:00 ‐ 8:30 pm in the church. Next meeng: 1/07/2020.

 RESPECT LIFE GROUP ‐ Next meeting date: 01/14/2019 6:00pm in the All Room New members always welcome!

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS MORNING PRAYER  KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ‐ Last Wednesday of the Month, at 7:00 pm  Monday, Wednesday thru Saturday aer morning Mass. at the School to pray the Rosary. All are welcome! To learn MONDAY EVENINGS more: www.kofc.org/un/en/membership/join email [email protected]

 Religious Ed. Classes ‐ Grades 1‐8 ‐6:00 ‐ 7:15pm during the school  Adoration Confessions and Rosary ‐ Wednesday evenings 5 ‐ 5:30pm. year. Classes for Grades 1‐7 are held at the School. Classes for Grade 8 are held in the Church Hall. All classes are Monday Evenings. FRIDAY  NOVENA TO ST. JUDE ‐ Monday evenings 7pm.  Divine Mercy Chaplet & Rosary Prayer Group‐ 3:00pm ‐ 3:45pm

 RCIA CLASS ‐ Monday evenings at 7:30pm. Formaon and instrucon prayers for our priests, sick, suffering, conversion & reparaon for sinners your private intenons before Jesus in The Blessed Sacrament. Group under the direcon of Deacon Francis & Donna Valliere ‐ 596‐2232 meets in the front pews of the church in front of the Divine Mercy . email: [email protected]  Nocturnal Adoraon– First Friday ‐ Exposion 8:00pm ‐ Saturday PARISH STEWARDSHIP 7:50am Benedicon. Eucharist Adoraon every First Friday. Next Thank you and God bless you for your continued support and generosity. Nocturnal Adoraon: 01/03/2020. Come spend an hour with Jesus! December 08, 2019…..….$ December 08, 2019…..….$ Weekly Contributions Retirement Fund for Religious Contributions SATURDAY  ROSARY FOR LIFE ‐ 7:30am (before 8:00am Mass) Second PLEASE NOTE! Saturday of each month. Next Rosary For Life is: 01/10/2020. As of January 2, 2020 the Rectory Office Hours will change!  Mary Undoer of Knots Novena & Rosary Prayer Group ‐ Monday - Thursday 8:30am ‐ 9:15am All Saints Room. Last Saturday of the month 8:00am - Noon A Novena Booklet will be provided. No registration necessary. 1:00pm - 4:00pm Next Meeting: December 28. We all have some “knots” in our lives FRIDAYS: CLOSED and Mary can untie them!

Fr. Michael J. Najim St. Pius X December 15, 2019 Third Sunday of Advent Najim’s Notes Christmas Mass

Dear Friends, Schedule I have a confession to make: I dislike this me of year.

Now, let me be clear, on the one hand, I of course love the Christmas Eve spirituality of Advent and Christmas; on the other hand, I strongly Tuesday ~ 12/24/2019 dislike the secularism, the rush, the traffic, the stress of trying to figure out what to buy (even though I don’t do nearly as much as 4:00 pm shopping as I used to). In my mind, this the me of year should be (with the “Posada”) the most peaceful and prayerful as we prepare to celebrate Christmas; but this me of year is always the most hecc and 10:00 pm restless. As I watch television, I cringe as I see commercial aer (“Midnight Mass”) commercial luring us to buy, buy, buy. Christmas Day Do you ever noce that once Thanksgiving comes around, we almost all postpone our plans unl “aer the New Year?” It’s as if Wednesday ~ 12/25/2019 we push the pause buon on our important relaonships. We run 7:00am into our friends while we’re out and about and we inevitably say, 8:30 am “Oh…we have to get together soon. But let’s wait unl aer the 10:30 am New Year year.” Why? Because we all believe we’re too busy. Too busy for what? Too busy for friends? Too busy for family? Too busy Come Let Us Adore Him to focus on the most important aspect of our lives: our relaonships? And why are we too busy? Because we’ve bought into the secular lie that this me of year is…well…just too busy to do anything that will actually contribute to the quality of our lives. This Little Girl Could Be the It’s no wonder why so many people experience loneliness during Church’s Youngest Modern this me of year. : We have about a week and a half unl Christmas. Why not break out of your busyness and actually connect with some friends to Her Inspiring Story enjoy the spirituality of this season. Instead of geng caught up into the buying and wrapping frenzy, take an hour or two out of Ven. Antonietta Meo your week and meet some friends for coffee or a drink. Enjoy me Pray for US! with friends and family by the fireplace or out in town. Let’s stop saying, “I’m too busy,” and let’s actually focus on our relaonships. Antonietta Meo (known as Nennolina) was born December 15, 1930 in , . Because at the end of the day, is there anything more important in At age three, she attended a Catholic School. She was known as a kind and joyful life than our relaonships? child. Upon seeing a poor person, she wanted to give him her money. She was smart and active in games. When Antonietta was only four years old, her parents noticed a And speaking of relaonships, please remember that the most swelling on her left leg. They thought it was just a small injury from one of her falls. important relaonship we ought to be focusing on is our friendship After multiple wrong diagnoses, the doctors said that the swelling was an aggressive with the Lord. Don’t tell Jesus you’re too busy to pray. Spend me form of bone cancer. When she was five, her leg was amputated. She was given an artificial leg and returned to school. During the evenings, her mother would read her each day preparing your heart to celebrate his birthday. the Catechism. During this time she would also write letters to Jesus, Mary and the Miscellaneous: saints. In total she wrote over 100 letters. She placed these letters at the statue of baby Jesus in her room so that He could read them at night. In these letters she told  One of the best gis that you can give for Christmas is to bring Jesus that she had sinned. She also told Him that she offered herself to Him. Her a friend or family member to Mass, especially if it’s been a mother suggested she write a letter to the Mother Superior of the nuns that taught her. while since they’ve aended. She wrote and asked to receive her First Communion early. On Christmas Day of 1936, she received her first communion. In pain and with her artificial leg, she knelt  It’s very touching to see all of the ornaments on our reverently through Mass with her hands folded. In a letter right before this she told “Emmanuel Memory Tree.” This me of year can be Jesus that without His grace she could do nothing. The pain worsened and she could parcularly difficult for those who have lost loved ones. It is no longer sit up in bed. Her tumor was spreading throughout her body. The pain she endured, she offered to Jesus. In a letter she said that she gave her leg to Him. She important to have tangible and visible signs as a reminder of said, “The pain is like fabric, the stronger it is the more value it has.” A few days be- their presence with us. fore her death, she insisted on writing a letter to Jesus. In the letter she asked Him to bless everyone she loved and for grace to bear the pain. She ended with the words,  This laer part of the NFL season is shaping up to be “Your little girl sends you a lot of kisses.” On July 3, 1937, the night of her death, she interesng to say the least. There are a lot of teams in the begged her mother not to cry. She told her that Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus had hunt. The Ravens and 49ers sll look very strong, and the Pats told her that her time had come. Smiling, she took her last breath. She was only six connue to fade. Fr. Ray’s Packers are very much alive, but years old when she died. On December 17, 2007, she was declared Venerable by Benedict XVI. Her life was a witness of sanctity for children who suffer. He said then you have sneaky teams like the Bills and the Vikings. The that she was an example of faith and hope among other Christian virtues. He said to Seahawks are strong too. Any maybe even a team with a losing learn to know her and follow her example. record, like the Cowboys, could end strong. Who knows? It By: Heather Konerman should be fun to watch. Parish Announcements Religious Education for Grades 1-7 Monday Evenings

6:00 pm to 7:15 pm Novena To St. Jude Novena Mon December 16 at Former St. Pius X School Patron Saint of the impossible 7:00pm in the Church Grade 8 Monday Evenings 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm Religious Education: CCD Monday December 16 In The CHURCH HALL 6:00pm‐7:15pm

Eucharistic Adoration: Tues December 17 7:30am— 6:00pm with Benediction

Christine Magowan Confessions and Devotions: Wed December 18 Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization 5:00pm ‐ 5:30pm 401-596-2535, ext. 105 or [email protected]

Would you consider visiting with God’s blessings upon the newly Baptized In Christ Jesus for one hour a

December 15, 2019 week? There are currently Claire Judith Federico open slots on Friday, Saturday, ———————— Sunday and Monday from Brooks Peter Hash midnight to 1am. If you are able to cover one of those GOD IS WITH YOU nights, please call John Sistare

We too ache for God’s healing and peace. We @ 401-322-1138 or email wait for God to break into our lives with [email protected]. love. Who among us has not at times felt weak, feeble, afraid? Take heart, you are not alone. God is with you. God is ready to save us from the darkness of and lead us to joy in the presence of God’s mercy. This is the message of Advent, and of the whole of the gospel: God desires so deeply to be with us ADORERS STILL NEEDED!! that God came to be one with us in Jesus TUESDAY’S 4pm - 5pm Christ. St. Pius X Church

Please call the Rectory at 596-2535

THANK YOU AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU!

Did you know that…

Many of the couples that are taught wish they had known about NFP sooner?

Darren & Robin Blier 596-9582 or Pete & Lora Brodeur 596-3443 www.ccli.org

Find us at: www.saintpiuswesterly.org [email protected] @stpiusxri Follow us on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM Like us on FACEBOOK Fr. Najim’s Homilies can be found in podcast Search “Fr. Michael Najim Podcast” and click the links!

Fr. Ray’s Blog and Homilies frrayshomilies.podbean.com and fatherrays.blogspot.com

THIRD SUNDAY OF December 15, 2019 ADVENT

Congratulations to our St. Pius X Parish Bazaar St. Pius X Giving Tree – Christmas 2019 Basket Raffle Winners: A very special “Thank You” to all of you who gave so generously to our Viva Italiano (2 baskets) Mary Rathbun, Diane McCarthy “2019 Giving Tree”. The organizations truly appreciate every gift they received. Sippin’ & Smokes Drew Johnson We had 500 tags, on the tree, that helped those less fortunate enjoy a Enders: Time to Reflect Sheila Banker wonderful Christmas. Each year you, the St. Pius X Parishioners, continue to Treasure Tree Gina Laudone demonstrate the true meaning of compassion and concerns for those less Pamper Yourself Nancy Capalbo fortunate in our community. Peace, happiness and many blessings to you all Instapot Sage Sylvestre at St. Pius X Church, a parish family that goes above and beyond helping our Kitchen Basket Faith McDonald neighbors. Play Time for Tots Suzanne Giorno A tremendous “Thank You” to all the volunteers who gave of their time, effort Comfort & Care Laura Matthewson and support either by making tags (ornaments) and/or sorting the gift certifi- Fun & Games (2 baskets) Melissa Smith, Marielle Kearsch cates and presents. This could not have been done without each one of you Chocolate Sage Sylvestre and is appreciated more than I can express in words. Coffee, Tea & Crumpets Tom Gingerella Café Italiano Karen Fortune A thank you to Tom Burgess who year after year puts up our “Special Tree”. Playing in the Dirt Rachel Greaves We also owe a special thanks to Deb Carey for making sure the notices are Paws & Claws Carolyn Bessette added to the bulletin in a timely manner; and last but not least a huge thank you to Christine Magowan for her assistance and being able to meet at the school for our volunteers meeting.

Again, I thank you all and that your Christmas will be a merry one and you will have a healthy happy New Year filled with many blessings.

Emmanuel Memory Tree God Bless each and every one of you, Susan Brocato Advent is a time of hopeful anticipation of the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But it can also be a time of sadness for those of us who have lost loved ones. Anyone mourning the loss of a loved one this ST. ’S CALL Christmas is invited to hang an ornament on our “Emmanuel Memory Tree” in the vestibule. You may contribute your own St. Gabriel’s Call at St. Patrick’s: A special ornament or write the name of your dearly workshop consisting of an overview of the diocesan departed on an ornament provided in the basket outreach ministry for women during and beyond beside the tree. pregnancy will be offered on Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Dear Fellow Parishioners, The DKF Pregnancy Center… Patrick’s, 244 Smith Street, Providence. The agenda ... is presently reorganizing and is temporarily closed. An will include how you can help mom and baby and Advisory Council has been formed by the local Pastors to help enrich their lives by mentoring, providing material refocus the mission of the Center, find a new Director, and needs, parenting and cooking skills. This workshop idenfy a permanent locaon. We are working to reopen the will be offered in English and Spanish. Center as soon as possible. If you have the inspiraon to take a For more information and to RSVP please call leadership role, have experience in real estate or know of 278-2518 or 421-7070. possible locaons, or would like to assist as a volunteer with the Center in the future, please contact [email protected] or January 10-11, 2020 Our Lady of Providence is hosting give your name to your Parish Office Secretary. We will contact its annual overnight retreat for men who are seniors in you as we move forward in the planning. We are extremely grateful to all those who have volunteered at the Center in the high school and older. The retreat director this year will past, most especially to Deb Fallacaro, Val Sistare, and be Monsignor John Darcy, pastor of St. Margaret’s Monica DiIorio who served as the previous Directors and to Kiki Lamer for her leadership in the Center's originaon. Church in Rumford. If you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood, or know of a man who you think would A Big Thank YOU! appreciate an invitation, please contact Fr. Brian Morris at

To our Housekeeping Crew, who took time out of your the Office of Vocations by phone at (401) 331-1316, by busy Saturday to help with the pre-holiday cleaning: email at [email protected], or visit THANK YOU!! Please be on the look out for our pre-Easter cleaning CatholicPriest.com. 2020. Please consider joining us! Mary Haggerty McGowan Consider McQUADE’S Berkshire Hathaway Remembering ACE HARDWARE Home Services Your Parish in 105 Franklin Street 860-899-4060 Your Will. (Mill Pond Plaza) For All Your Real Estate Needs in CT & RI For further information, Westerly, RI 02891 [email protected] please call the Parish Office. 401-596-0302 THE PIZZA LADY TOSCANO’S Pizza • Grinders Take Outs & Delivery Brian or Sally, coordinators MEN’S SHOP Fridays: Fish & Chips an Official Travel Formal Wear & Fine Clothing 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM Agency of Apostleship 860.399.1785 of the Sea-USA 9 Canal St. 599-1113 CST 2117990-70 50 Liberty St. • Pawcatuck www.CatholicCruisesAndTours.com 596-2584 Vision Care of Westerly R. RIVERA, M.D. 45 Wells St., Suite 2020 Eye Physician & Surgeon 596-4959 Comprehensive Eye care for the Entire Family Optical Shop 596-3990 Glasses, Contacts, Cataracts, Laser Surgery Most Insurances Accepted Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Diabetes

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