Blessed Sacrament Church

A RomAn CAtholiC Community in Bolton lAnding, ny… all are welcome !

DECEMBER 13, 2020

This week’s Services and Devotions...

Sunday, December 13 Mass, 10:30 am † Ed Sheridan † Deceased Members of Faller and Horn Families † Pat Van Valkenburgh † Claire La Preto

Tuesday, December 15

Rosary, 9am

Thursday, December 17

Liturgy of the Word w/Communion, 9am

Saturday, December 19 Liturgy of the Word w/Communion, 9am

Sunday, December 20 Mass, 10:30 am † Brendan Moyna † Norman Helmstetter † James J. Herron † Pat Van Valkenburgh

† Denotes Deceased

Parish Life Director: Deacon Joseph T. Tyrrell * Winter Mass schedule is in effect. Priest Associate, Rev. John O’Kane Eucharistic Adoration: First Saturday each month, 9:30-10:30am Location: 7 Goodman Avenue, Bolton Landing Mailing Address: PO Box 266, Bolton Landing NY 12814 Sacrament of Reconciliation: Contact Deacon Joe Tyrrell if you wish to receive this sacrament prior to Sunday Mass. Church Office: 518-644-3861 Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals: All arrangements are made Email: [email protected] through Deacon Joe Tyrrell, our Parish Life Director, Parish Secretary: Dawn Faller, 518-644-3861 (Church Office) including arrangements for a priest, deacon and/or organist.

Music Director: Mike Linke North Country Ministry: Please call 518-623-2829 if you Mass Intentions/Mass Cards: Rita Whitney, 518-338-6858 wish to donate clothing, household goods, or furniture.

Prayer Requests: Pat Nugent, 518-668-2765 Food Pantry: Boxed or canned food, paper products, baby

Pastoral Council: Anne Marie Bell, Liz Burmaster, diapers, and personal hygiene items may be left in the Food Tony Bustamante, Norma Bustamante, J.D. Koch, Pantry Basket in the Church vestibule (no glass, please).

Cheryl Rafferty, Don Rafferty, Elva Ring. Finance Council: Jim Senese, Anne Greene, Ray Bell

Bulletin Editor: Corri Cudmore, [email protected] We at Blessed Sacrament Church, as a community of faith, are guided by the Holy Spirit and the love of the Eucharistic Lord. We are committed to continue the modern day work and example of the North American martyrs to which this parish is dedicated.

Welcome to all on this Third Sunday of Advent! Advent comes to a close in only 11 days! During this next week of Advent, find quiet time to think about true gifts – a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. Remember that the joy we give to others will certainly come back to us.

It is the coming of the Messiah that the entire world awaits, and we learn about who the Messiah is from all of today’s readings. First Reading: I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God Christmas Mass 2020 (Reservations Only) is the joy of my soul. (Is 61:10a) In the Old Testament Because of the limited seating we have in church during reading (from the 6th century B.C.), Isaiah speaks of the pandemic, reservations are required for our the restoration of Jerusalem after the Babylonian Christmas Eve Mass this year. Captivity. These words are the classic description of the work of the Messiah, and still serve today as a The Christmas Eve Mass will be at 6:30pm. guide as to how we can share Jesus’ work in our troubled world. You can make a reservation by calling Dawn at the Psalm: My soul rejoices in my church office during the week at 518 644-3861. Thank you. God. (Is 61:10b) The Responsorial Psalm is the beautiful Magnificat, the Christmas Flowers Envelopes are in Virgin Mary’s joyous prayer the vestibule and in the boxed Offering upon being greeted by her envelopes. The Memorials (for the cousin Elizabeth. We can deceased) and Special Intentions (for pray the Magnificat to the living) offered on the envelopes will describe our own gratitude for Jesus our Messiah. be remembered at our Christmas Vigil Second Reading: May the God of peace make you Mass, and your donation will help to perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, beautify the Church during the Christmas season. The envelopes may be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus be placed in the Mass offering baskets. Thank you! Christ. (1 Thes 5:23) The New Testament reading (from around 50 A.D.) is taken from Saint Paul’s First Dominican Retreat and Conference Center Letter to the Thessalonians, the people of northern is looking to start a VIRTUAL Book Club! Greece. He gives them spiritual guidance, describing Informational meetings will be held basic traits of the Christian then – and in today’s world January 6, 2021, 10 AM & 7 PM. Please as well: Joy, Prayer, and Thanksgiving. register for one of these informational Gospel: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, meetings of which there is no cost. ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” (Jn 1:23) The Subsequent meetings will be $5. Gospel tells us of “a man named John” who made it The first book we will be reading is: clear he was not the Messiah, a prophet, or Elijah Fly While You Still Have Wings by Joyce Rupp. returned. He was here to bring the good news of Jesus Call (518) 393-4169 Monday through Friday, 8:30- Christ. Wow, that’s the same reason we’re here – to 4:30 PM, email [email protected] or visit bring the good news of Christ to those around us. www.dslcny.org to register.

Christmas is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an ‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. ~Pope Saint John Paul II~ Today is called Gaudete Sunday, reflecting Inspiration for the Week the opening words of the Introit or Entrance Antiphon: Gaudete in Domino semper, or What gives you joy? Joy is discovered when we connect Rejoice in the Lord always. with something or someone very deeply and experience Since Advent is a penitential season of a dimension of ourselves that material or secular preparation, the liturgical colors usually are purple. But not today! Today we rejoice that we are halfway possessions cannot bring. Joy is stumbled upon when we toward Christmas! Consequently, the priest may wear rose see our newly born child for the first time, get caught up vestments to signify our joy. Also, the third candle of the in the vastness of a mountain landscape, and are led out Advent wreath is traditionally rose-colored. into infinity gazing at an ocean’s horizon, or being During his Gaudete Sunday homily in 2014, Pope Francis reminded everyone that the day is a “Sunday of lovingly present with someone when they are vulnerable Joy.” Instead of fretting about all we still have to do to and in need. Joy is a profound experience that in its prepare for Christmas, the Pope encouraged us instead to uniqueness grounds us in ultimate truth. Did you know think about all the good things life has given us. that all authentic, profound, and memorable moments of HERE ARE TWO WAYS to remember at Christmas those joy mirror the eternal joy we desire from God? We can special people on your gift list who “have everything”: have glimpses of this eternal Divine joy as we embark • Make a donation to a good cause in their name, especially if upon our earthly journey, mirrored in our human they have a special charity that means a lot to them. connections with joy, but experienced directly during • Give a spiritual gift of Rosaries or a Novena or Masses. moments of deep prayer. God is the joy of my soul. Turn your Christmas card into a “spiritual bouquet” card Ponder those intense words! You will know moments of and, if you prayed for a particular intention, be sure to true and real joy by paying attention to your response to include that in your card. the experience. You will find yourself rejoicing and saying thank you. ©LPi Family A blessing for your Christmas tree: This tree once stood dark and empty Corner in a cold world. Now it shines brightly Some ideas on how to celebrate Christmas as a Catholic… with lights and ornaments! Its new glory reflects the beauty that God *Be Sure your Nativity display has a prominent brought to earth when “the Word was spot in your home.

made flesh and dwelt among us.” *Keep Christ in Christmas by sending religious With great joy we stand as a family Christmas cards

around our Christmas tree to *Teach your children the reason we celebrate Christmas celebrate the glory of Christmas. Amen. *Plan a project of good will that would bring joy to somebody this Christmas

If you're worried and you can't sleep *Find a special time to read the Christmas story : Just count your blessings instead of sheep Luke 1:5-56 through 1:1-20 -Irving Berlin, White Christmas-

This week, light three candles (including the pink candle) and pray together: Dear Lord, Our Diocesan Appeal, formerly The Bishop’s Appeal, During the next two weeks, help us to is underway! treasure the true meaning of Mailings have been sent to parishioners with full details. Christmas with family and friends, You can also contact the rectory or go to and not get caught up in the commercial, material www.diocesanappeal.org to donate or make a pledge. demands of this holy season. Amen. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Please pray for those who are sick or homebound, especially: Francesca Adamo, Debra Andersen, Dr. Richard Aulicino, Mary Jane Beaulieu, Betty Berke, Linda Berry, Ann Marie Bottazzi, Jean Bureau, Matt Bury, Fibio Cardenas, Nicholas Clesceri, Don Colton, Father Paul Cox, Jennifer Darling, Claudia Daubney, Pat Doyle, Ed Faetz, Barbara Field, Pat Flynn, Cate Foy, Gwen Fronk, Doug Goettsche, Donna Graham, Jean Hall, M. Hayes, Scott Hayes, Pat Helmstetter, John Hopkins, Ethan Horstmyer, Bill Manion, Judy Mari, Donald and Lucille Maxwell, Frank McDonald, Gary McLaughlin, Juanita Morch, Geri Mastrodominco, Sherman Parker, Bill Phelan, Dennis Ring, Joel Rivera, Stefanie Rozell, Ron Shelli, Lynne Smith, Katie Speicher, Janet Tinker, Sue Vanderpuy and Father Peter Young (Contact Pat Nugent for any changes to our prayer list. 518-668-2765)