Saint Bernadette Parish

Saint Bernadette Parish
A Roman Catholic Faith Community of the Diocese of Worcester
266 Main Street * Northborough, MA 01532
Pastoral Office 508-393-2838 * Fax 508-393-2718 * Religious Education Office 508-393-7445
School 508-351-9905 * Sisters of St. Anne 508-393-4410 * Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur 508-393-1290
Email Address: [email protected] * Web Address: www.stb-parish.org
Saint Bernadette Parish strives to embody the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as
a prayerful, Orthodox, Eucharistic, Marian, and faith-filled community of believers. We are committed
to teaching the Catholic faith with joy and open arms and hearts, for all are welcome in God’s house. Welcome Home!
Rev. Stephen M. Gemme
Pastor
Deacon George E. O’Connor
Parish Deacon
Sr. Muriel Audette, S.S.A.
Pastoral Assistant
Mrs. Ginny Boland
Administrator of Religious Ed.
Ms. Lori Howard
Director of Youth Ministry
Mrs. Celeste Mikitarian
Parish Secretary
Mrs. Amy Halloran
Holy Baptism &
the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
Contact Sr. Muriel Audette to make
arrangements for Infant Baptisms as
well as for adult Baptism, Eucharist &
Confirmation.
Schedule of Masses
Saturday, Lord’s Day Vigil,
5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Weekdays, 8:30 a.m.
Holy Days, 8:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Pastoral Care of the Sick
Please inform a pastoral staff member
of the needs of those who may be ill,
hospitalized or elderly. We are
privileged to serve the infirm.
Confessions
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
is celebrated on Saturdays, 4:00 p.m.
or contact Father Gemme
Bookkeeper
Mr. Thomas Lowe
Director of Contemporary Choir
Mrs. Kathrine Waters
Director of Adult Choir
Mrs. Priscilla Nardi
Director of Youth Choir
Mrs. Deborah C. O’Neil
School Principal
Christian Marriage
Contact Father Gemme or Deacon
O’Connor for preparation for
Christian marriage and wedding
plans.
First Communion
& Confirmation
Contact Mrs. Boland for registration.
New Parishioners
Contact the Parish Office to register.
Holy Orders
Contact Father Gemme for
information on priesthood
or Deacon O’Connor
for permanent diaconate.
Third Sunday of Advent
Mass Intentions for the Week
Saturday, December 10
5:00 PM
† William Edward Collagan by Patti Mahoney
† Fr. Dennis J. Rocheford by Pat & Gerard Patulak
Sunday, December 11
9:00 AM
† Miranda Faith Berry by Mr. & Mrs. Peter Amato
† Laura Breyfogle by Maureen Walker
11:00 AM † Peter Cook by Ron & Jayne Stokes
† Helen Laquidara by Ron & Jayne Stokes
Monday, December 12
8:30 AM
† Jackie Angers by the family
† Thelma LoPorto by Barbara Audet
Tuesday, December 13
8:30 AM
† Donna Rule by the Litteer Family
† Ann M. Silva
By the Faculty & Staff of St. Bernadette School
Wednesday, December 14
8:30 AM
† Connor Patrick Kane by the family
† Jean Doherty by the Seymour Family
Thursday, December 15
8:30 AM
Our Lady’s Respect for Life Intentions
Friday, December 16
8:30 AM
† Special Intention for Pauline Charbonneau
By MaryAnn MacKoweck
† John Bonina
By St. Bernadette School Faculty & Staff
Saturday, December 17
5:00 PM
† Rose Murray by the family
† Susan O’Keefe by the Halloran Family
Sunday, December 18
9:00 AM
† Laura Breyfogle by a friend
† Robert Hart by a friend
11:00 AM † Hector E. Moineau & Lucy Moineau
by Joseph & Claudette Moineau
Masses, Feasts & Gospels
Sun.
Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28
Third Sunday of Advent
Mon.
Lk.1:26-38
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tues.
Mt. 21:28-32
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr
Wed.
Lk.7:18b-23
Saint John of the Cross, priest and
doctor of the Church
Thurs. Lk. 7:24-30
Advent Weekday
Fri.
Jn. 5:33-36
Advent Weekday
Sat.
Mt. 1:1-17
Late Advent Weekday
Please remember in your prayers …
For healing: William, Kathy, Allison, Hannah, Ed,
Fr. Marteka, Carolyn, Jennifer, Emily, Nicholas, Mike,
Becky, Colleen, Jeanne, Andrew, Jeannette, Susan,
Jason, Erin, Ruth, Joan, Samantha, Marion, Pauline,
Donald, Marie, Yvette, Sandra, Aiden, Helen, Richard, Bill, Alan,
Norma, Andrea, Tyler, Jeanne, Tracy, Sharon, Jane, Barbara, Lynn,
Sr. Joan McDermott, Ann, Peter, Bob, Dawn, Daniel, Arlene, Anna,
Skip, Charlie, Jim, Jeremiah, Jackie, Dick, Hailey, Irene, Sandy,
Georgiana, Valerie, Mary, Kenneth, Jim, Clarice, Francine, Shane,
Lynn, Joanne
For peace of mind and strength: Joan, Karen, Patti, Linda, John,
Joseph, Lisa, Rosie, Joanne, Mary Frances, Jane Paul, Shirley
Please pray for the sick, suffering & shut-in’s of our parish. Keep
them in your daily prayers that when they are physically weak,
they will have the strength of God and His love.
December 11, 2011
From the Pastor ~
Advent is a time to prepare and to repent, and a
time to pray. Our prayer life is extremely important
to maintain and work on. How do you pray? How
often do you pray? Daily prayer in addition to meal
time gives us an opportunity to grow closer to
God. Do we pray for our family our children and the
members of our parish? Each week in the bulletin
there is a section called please remember in your
prayers... and lists the names of those in
need. Please take the time to review these names
and pray for them and for the sick, the suffering, and
shut-ins of our parish. Please pray for all those in
need.
You will also notice in the bulletin times listed for
prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. I ask you to
consider taking one of these open hours and come
and pray with our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
This weekend we will have the collection for the
Retirement Fund for Religious. Last week, Sister
Marguerite Timothy spoke at all the Masses
regarding this appeal. We thank Sister for her
powerful and very personal witness and I ask for
your generous support of the appeal.
This Tuesday Night at 7:00 PM I will be in the parish
church in the confessional to hear confessions. If
you need the sacrament, I encourage you to come
and make a good confession.
This Thursday night and Friday night at 7:00 PM we
invite our parishioners to attend the Christmas Show
at the Saint Bernadette School to be held in the
Charbonneau Center. Please join us for this great
night of Christmas music and cheer.
Next weekend we welcome Deacon Peter Faford
back to our parish. Deacon Peter will speak about
his work in Haiti, how he and others care for over
600 orphans in Haiti and we will take up a collection
to help Deacon Peter in his good work.
It is better to give than to receive, for in giving we
are truly blessed. Thank you for your generous
support of all our social justice efforts here at the
parish.
In Christ,
Fr. Stephen M. Gemme
Week at a Glance
PK, K and Grade 1
Classes for grades Pre-K, K and Grade 1 are10:15-11:15am in
the Pre-school building. December Classes: Dec. 18th
Grade 3 thru Grade 6
All classes for grades 3 thru 6 are 10:15am -11:45am in the
school building. Please enter the building through the glass
doors by the activity center. December Classes: 18th
Grade 7 & 8
Junior High Classes are 10:15am-11:45am in the school building.
December Classes: Dec. 18th
Grades 9 thru 11
High School classes are 6pm-8pm in the school building.
December Classes: Dec. 11th & 18th
High School Penance Service: December 11th at 7:00pm
Upcoming Events:
December 17th Youth Ministry “Extreme Event”
Christmas Festival of Lights ~ “Light of Life”
At The National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette
The Youth Ministry will be taking a bus that will leave
St. Bernadette’s at 6:15pm.
Sign-up in the Gathering Space after Mass
39th Annual March for Life ~ 2012
January 23, 2012
Busses leave St. Bernadette’s Sunday, January 22, following
a 7:00pm Mass, and travel to Washington DC. The March for
Life begins with a rally at noon on Monday, January 23, at the
National Mall.
Bus Fees: $80 per person
Registration deadline: January 9, 2012.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
We invite you to come and spend time with our Lord Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament. Our chapel is open 24
hours - 7 days a week. If you would like to sign
up for a particular hour, please call the parish
office at 508-393-2838.
Sunday, December 11th
Third Sunday of Advent
Mass 9:00am & 11:00am
Classes: Gr. 9-11: 6:00-8:00pm
High School Penance Service 7:00pm
Monday, December 12th
Youth Choir, 6:00pm
Tuesday, December 13th
Adult Confirmation, 7:00pm
Knights of Columbus, 7:00pm
Wednesday, December 14th
Secular Franciscans St. Ann Fraternity Mtg, 7pm
Thursday, December 15th
SBS Christmas Show, Grades 5-8, 7pm
Adult Choir, 6:30pm
Prayer Group, 8:00pm
Friday, December 16th
SBS Christmas Show, Grades 1-4, 7pm
Saturday, December 17th
Confession 4:00pm
Vigil Mass: 5:00pm
Youth Ministry Extreme Event, 6:00pm
Sunday, December 18th
4th Sunday of Advent
Mass 9:00am & 11:00am
Classes: Gr. PK, K & 1: 10:15-11:15am
Gr. 3-8: 10:15-11:45am
Gr. 9-11: 6pm-8pm
13 Reasons to Spend One Hour with Jesus
in The Blessed Sacrament
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hours that need to be filled by an adorer
6.
7.
Monday - 5am
8.
Tuesday - 1pm, 4pm,
Wednesday - 8am, 3pm, 4pm
9.
Thursday - 3pm
Friday - 8am, 4pm
Saturday & Sunday - All are welcome at anytime
During Eucharistic Adoration and through our prayers, we watch
and wait; we remain silent in His presence and open ourselves
to His graces which flow from the Eucharist. Intimacy with the
Lord in Eucharistic Adoration can deepen our awareness of just
how much God loves us and how we respond to that love.
“Let this meeting with Jesus be a time of healing in mind, body,
spirit and heart.”
Vandy Brennan Nies
“Be Still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
10.
11.
12.
13.
You are greatly needed!
This is a personal invitation to you from Jesus.
Jesus is counting on you because the Eucharist is the
center of life.
Your hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will repair
for evils of the world and bring about peace on earth.
Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament
because you are the most important person in the world to
Him!
Jesus wants you to do more than go to Mass on Sunday.
You grow spiritually with each moment you spend with
Jesus.
The best time you spend on earth is with Jesus, your best
friend, in the Blessed Sacrament!
Just as you can’t be exposed to the sun without receiving
its rays, neither can you come to Jesus exposed in the
Blessed Sacrament without receiving the Divine Rays of His
Grace, His Love, His Peace.
If Jesus were actually visible in church, everyone would run
to welcome Him, but He remains hidden in the Sacred Host
under the appearance of Bread, because He is calling us to
faith, that we may come to him in humility.
For Peace in our country.
With transforming mercy, Jesus makes our heart one with
His.
If the Pope himself would give you a special invitation to
visit him in the Vatican, this honor would be nothing in
comparison to the honor and dignity that Jesus Himself
bestows upon you with the invitation of spending one hour
with Him in the Blessed Sacrament.
WE CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO
CELEBRATED THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE ADVENT PENNANCE
SERVICE LAST SUNDAY.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO FILL THEM WITH HIS GRACE.
Paul Alfonso
Meghan Litteer
Paulo Borges
Alex Macdonald
Kristina Callahan
Adam Mowry
Ryan Cassery
Tess Murphy
Tyler Clancy
Lana Pacific
Jack Clifford
Lonnie Quirion
James Dacey
Alessandro Rabines
Jake Despres
Grace Rebello
Harrison Dichmann
Analise SanClemente
Malcolm Dichmann
Aidan Shupp
Rachel DiDonato
Cameron Shupp
Alyssa Doane
Angela Sutton
Grace Donfield
Joseph Tomasso
Jonathan Fantasia
Lauren Tran
Megan Garner
Mina Utzschneider
Anton Jayavendra
Outreach
St. Bernadette Outreach is collecting
diapers for local needy families living in
area motels. Families are in great need for
diapers in sizes 5-6, as well as 3 & 4. They can also use
Pull-ups 2t/3t and 4t/5t. We will be collecting diapers
through Sunday December 18th. Any help you can give
would be greatly appreciated.
Christmas Pageant
We are still in need of a few more
shepherds and angels for the
Christmas Pageant on Christmas
Eve. All children in Grades Pre-K thru
Grade 5 who are interested in participating, please signup in the Gathering Space. Rehearsals will take place on
Thursdays, December 15th and 22nd at 5pm. The
Christmas Pageant will take place at the 6pm Mass on
Christmas Eve.
Giving Tree Items
All items for the Giving Tree are to be placed
under the tree by 12 noon on Sunday,
December 11th. Thank you for your generosity!
Haitian Outreach
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Because of the earthquake in January, 2010, the living
conditions, especially for children, have become
increasingly difficult. On December 17th & 18th, Deacon
Peter Faford, Project Manager of Pwoje Espwa (Creole for
Project Hope) will once again, be with us at all of our
Masses to share the amazing accomplishments and
tremendous challenges they now face since that
earthquake. Pwoje Espwa is a miracle that began with a
compassionate priest with a mission to help the poor,
Father Marc Boisvert, from Maine. In 1998 he rented a
small house in Les Cayes, Haiti and filled it with street
boys. Now 13 years later, there are more than 600
orphaned children living on a huge piece of property
outside the city of Les Cayes. Pwoje Espwa feeds, houses,
teaches skills and provides medical care to those orphaned
children. There will be a second collection at all Masses
that weekend to help Father Marc and Deacon Peter
continue this miracle in one of the poorest places on
earth. Thank you for helping the poor in Haiti.
Altar Society Ministry Needs Your Help!
The Altar Society Ministry members are responsible for cleaning
and preparing the church for weekend services. No one is
asked to work beyond his or her capabilities. You can expect to
work in small groups for 2 hours (usually Saturday mornings)
once every 2 months. The ministry is made up of individuals,
couples and families. We hope you will consider
serving in this ministry.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact
Rose or Walter Zydlewski at 508-485-7683.
Thank you to our catechists and classroom aides who
taught our children the sacrament of Reconciliation.
They have given their time, talent and faith generously.
Mrs. Maggie Lellman
Mrs. Marie DiMauro
Mrs. Cheryl Maenhout
Mrs. Lisa DiDonato
Mrs. Annamarie O’Donnell
Mrs. Jen Tomasso
Mrs. Christine Mowry
Mrs. Monica Borges
Knights of Columbus
The December meeting for the
St Augustine Council of the Knights of Columbus
will be held on Tuesday, December 13th at 7PM
at the St Rose Family Life Center
Franciscan Meeting
The monthly meeting of the St. Ann Fraternity of the
Secular Franciscan Order will be held on Wednesday,
December 14th at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall
Advent Women’s Faith Sharing
with Peg Lien
Mondays during Advent at 12:45pm
December 12th and 19th
For more information, contact Peg Lien at
508-393-7180
Fatima Shrine Christmas Lights Display
The Xaverian Missionaries will hold the traditional Christmas
Lights Display beginning on Saturday, November 26th through
Sunday, January 8th, from 5:00pm-9:00pm. On Sunday,
December 4th at 3:00pm there will be a Christmas Concert
performed by the St. Cecilia’s Parish Choir of Ashland, under
the direction of Ms. Lelia Viana. It will be followed by the
Blessing of the Nativity Scene on the Shrine grounds.
Outreach Ministry
Community Meals - The St. Bernadette Outreach Ministry
serves meals at the Trinity Church in Northborough
approximately every six weeks on Wednesday evenings to help
those in need.
Dismas Family Farm - Help prepare and serve a meal to men
who are living and working on a farm as they prepare to go
back into the community. The next Dismas Family Farm meal
will be held December 12.
Our Father’s Table - Approximately every 6-8 weeks we
prepare and serve a meal at a Church in Marlborough to help
those in need. The next meal will be held on December 27.
Food Pantry Collection - The first weekend of every month a
collection is taken up to help stock the local Northborough Food
Pantry that assists those in need in our community.
Interested in helping out? Contact Mary Ellen Duggan at
508-393-1819 or [email protected].
Catholic seminary enrollment up, but numbers seen as only part of story
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In his first months as rector of Theological College in Washington, Father Phillip J. Brown has been
confronting a problem that the national diocesan seminary for the U.S. Catholic Church "has not had for a long time" -- it is
bursting at the seams.
Enrollment is maxed out for the 2011-12 academic year at 90 seminarians. Five of those seminarians are back in their
dioceses this year gaining pastoral experience, but a Sulpician seminarian and five priests from other countries also live there,
bringing the total number of residents to 91 plus faculty members.
"If I had to start with a problem, that's the problem I'd like to have," Father Brown told Catholic News Service. "It's a very
healthy sign, a positive sign for Theological College and for the U.S. priesthood."
The trend of rising seminary enrollment is being duplicated around the country:
-- At the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, 40 new seminarians arrived this year, bringing total enrollment to
186, the highest level since the 1970s.
-- St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., welcomed 30 new graduate-level
seminarians, making its class of 100 seminarians the largest since 1980. The influx forced 24 seminarians and two priests off
campus into leased space at a former convent.
-- In the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., where the St. Pius X diocesan seminary closed in 2004 because of declining enrollment, the
number of seminarians has more than doubled from eight to 17 in the past two years.
Most of the Scranton seminarians are studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where communications
specialist Dan Skalski said enrollment has remained steady over the past five years, or at the Pontifical North American
College in Rome, where a class of 76 "new men" brought enrollment this fall to a full house of 250 seminarians.
In an April report, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University said enrollment was up for those
studying for the priesthood, diaconate and lay ecclesial ministry during the 2010-11 academic year -- the latest for which
statistics were available.
In all, there were 3,608 post-baccalaureate U.S. seminarians last year, a net increase of 125 seminarians, or 4 percent, over
the previous year and the highest number since the early 1990s. More than three-quarters of them were studying for the
diocesan priesthood, while 24 percent intend to be ordained for religious orders.
The trend goes beyond Catholic schools to all seminaries, according to figures from the Association of Theological Schools in
the U.S. and Canada from 2010-11.
The organization that accredits theological schools said 75,431 people were studying for the ministry at 261 institutions during
the last academic year, an increase of .6 percent from the year before.
But Theological College's Father Brown said a rise in enrollment is only part of the story.
"It's not just the numbers but the quality and spirit of the men who are coming," he told CNS.
"I'm tremendously impressed with the quality of the candidates, their zeal," he added. "We're seeing a real renewal of the
priesthood."
Father Brown said the full house has led to "a nice and interesting atmosphere" at Theological College because of the racial
and ethnic diversity of the seminarians, who come from "a wide diversity of backgrounds and from a wide diversity of parts of
the U.S."
Having more applicants than Theological College can accept also benefits some of the seminarians, who might be referred to a
school "better suited to the candidate's academic achievements and aptitudes," he said.
Because its seminarians participate in "an exacting and demanding program" at The Catholic University of America, Father
Brown said, Theological College accepts those candidates considered most likely to succeed in a rigorous academic
environment.
"As the numbers seem to be increasing for all major seminaries, it's easier to have a more cooperative relationship" among the
schools, so that seminarians end up at the seminary that will benefit them the most, he added.
But he said those at Theological College never lose sight of the fact that "our goal is not to produce academicians or
intellectuals but to provide good pastors for parishes."
Contributing to this story was Julie Asher.
Welcome to St. Bernadette Parish
Thank you for joining us in the celebration of the
Mass! It is our sincere wish to welcome you to
our parish. If you are new to our parish or to the
Catholic faith, we are honored to have you with
us. Registration packets are available in the
Gathering Space of the Church and at the
Pastoral Center Office or by calling 508-393-2838.
Please feel free to ask any questions about our
Church.
Frequently, those seeking to celebrate Marriage, Baptism or
serve as sponsors for Confirmation or Baptism request a letter
stating that they are active parishioners. To receive such a letter
one must be registered in the parish, attend Mass regularly and
be committed to stewardship of time, talent & treasure. One
means of verifying participation is through the use of parish
offertory envelopes. If you choose not to participate in the
support of the parish, or are unable to contribute at this time,
please note your prayerful support on your envelope and place
it in the weekly offertory. We will then be aware of your
continued participation, and you will not be noted as “inactive”
on our roster. To request envelopes, contact the parish office at
508-393-2838.
Offertory Collection
Week of December 4, 2011
Offertory Commitment:
Loose:
$10,288.25
$210.00
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Liturgical Roles - December 17 & 18
Lector
5:00 p.m. Sr. Muriel
9:00 a.m. M. Herlihy
11:00 a.m. M. Maguire
EMC
Servers
Deacon George
M. Darmiento
L. Griffin
K. Lambert
J. Winning
D. Parent
M. Parent
C. Lambert
Deacon George
P. Amato
B. Breyfogle
R. Vigeant
W. Wojcik
E. Rodriguez
Y. Herlihy
M. Driscoll
P. Reuter
M. Curtis
N. Martel
J. Parisi
R. Stokes
T. Reuter
L. Allor
G. DiBenedetto
Altar Society Ministry - December 17
M. Walker
J. Foster
Bulletin Information:
Please email all bulletin information
to [email protected] or drop
it off to the Pastoral Center office no later
than Friday of the prior week. Thank You.
D. Pirie
Parish Ministry Leaders
Altar Servers
Chuck Dinovo
508-366-5288
Altar Society
Walter & Rose Zydlewski
508-485-7683
Art & Environment
Anne Wall
508-393-3042
Baptism Preparation
Sr. Muriel Audette
508-393-2838
Bereavement
Mary Jane Pierson
Sr. Muriel Audette
508-393-2766
508-393-2838
Coffee Hour
Marie LeBlanc
508-836-4490
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
Deacon George O’Connor
508-393-3431
Knights of Columbus
St. Augustine Council #5724
Ken Foster, (Grand Knight)
508-393-7582
Parish Finance
Amy Halloran
508-393-2838
Lectors
Horace Turner
508-393-5340
Marriage Ministry
Deacon George &
Joyce O’Connor
508-393-3431
Mom’s Group
Cristina Phaneuf
978-562-0333
Music Ministry
Contemporary Choir
Tom Lowe
508-393-8113
Adult Choir
Kathrine Waters
Youth Choir
Priscilla Nardi
508-485-2705
Outreach
Mary Ellen Duggan
508-393-1819
Eucharistic Adoration
Sr. Muriel Audette
Celeste Mikitarian
508-393-2838
508-393-2838
Prayer Group
Marianne Kearney
508-351-6099
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Mary Anne Curtis
508-393-6751
Respect for Life
Evelyn & Russ Lindquist
Lee Crowley
508-393-9199
508-887-1064
R.C.I.A.
Sr. Muriel Audette
508-393-2838
Women’s Faith Sharing
Peg Lien
Sr. Muriel Audette
508-393-7180
508-393-2838
Youth Ministry
Lori Howard
508-393-2838
508-393-6484