FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 20, 2009
On the Way....On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Benedict the XVI, gave this talk, which I would like to share with you as my Christmas message for 2009. May it apply to St. Peter Parish as well.
Dear brothers and sisters!
In the heart of Christian cities, Mary constitutes a sweet and reassuring presence. In her self-effacing style, she gives everyone peace and hope during the happy and sad moments of life. In churches, chapels or the walls of buildings, a painting, mosaic or a statue stand as a reminder of the Mother’s presence, constantly watching over her children. Here too in Piazza di Spagna, Mary stands high, on guard over Rome.
What does Mary tell the city? What does her presence remind us? It reminds us that "where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more (Romans 5:20), as the Apostle Paul wrote. She is the Immaculate Mother who tells people of our time: Do not be afraid, Jesus defeated evil, uprooted it, freeing us from its rule.
When do we need such good deeds? Every day in the newspapers, television and radio, evil is told to us, said again, amplified, so that we get used to the most horrible things, and become desensitized. In a certain way, it poisons us, because the negative is never fully cleansed out of our system but accumulates day after day. The heart hardens and thoughts become gloomy. For this reason, the city needs Mary, whose presence speaks of God, reminds us of Grace’s victory over sin and makes us hope, even in the most humanly difficult situations.
Those who are invisible live, or rather survive, in the city. They make it to the front page of newspapers or the top of TV newscasts—they are exploited until the end, for as long as the news and the images are newsworthy. Few can resist such a perverse mechanism. The city first hides, then exposes them to public scrutiny, without pity, or with false pity. Everyone would like to be accepted as a person and considered as something sacred, because each human story is a sacred story that deserves the utmost respect.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are the city! Each one of us contributes with our lives to its moral climate for better or worse. The border between good and evil runs across everyone’s heart and none of us should feel entitled to judge others. Instead, each one of us must feel duty-bound to improve ourselves. Mass media make us feel like "spectators", as if evil only touched others and that certain things could not happen to us. Instead, we are all "actors" for better or worse, and our behavior influences others.
We often complain about air pollution, that in some parts of the city the air is unbreathable. That is true. Everyone must do his or her part to make the city a cleaner place. However, there is another kind of pollution, which the senses cannot easily perceive, but which is equally dangerous. It is the pollution of the spirit, which makes us smile less, makes us gloomier, less likely to greet one another or look into each other's face . . .
The city has many faces, but sadly collective factors lead us to forget what is behind them. All we see is the surface. People become bodies, and these bodies lose their soul, become faceless objects that can be exchanged and consumed.
Mary Immaculate helps us rediscover and defend what is inside people, because in her there is perfect transparency of soul and body. She is purity in person in the sense that the spirit, soul and body are fully coherent in her and with God’s will. Our Lady teaches us to open up to God’s action and to look at others as He does, starting with the heart, to look upon them with mercy, love, infinite tenderness, especially those who are lonely, scorned or exploited. "Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more."
I want to pay tribute publicly to all those who in silence, in deeds not in words, strive to practice the Evangelical law of love which drives the world forward. There are so many of them even here in Rome. They do not make the headlines. They are men and women of all ages, who realize that it is not worth condemning, complaining or recriminating; that it is better to respond to evil by doing good; to change things; or better, to change people, so as to improve society."
Dear Roman friends and all of you who live in this city! Whilst we are busy in everyday tasks, let us listen to Mary’s voice. Let us hear her silent but pressing appeal. She tells each one of us that wherever sin increases, may grace overflow all the more, first in our hearts, and then in our lives! Thus, the city shall be more beautiful, more Christian and more humane.
Thank you, Holy Mother, for this message of hope. Thank you for your silent but eloquent presence in the heart of our city. Immaculate Virgin, Salus Populi Romani, pray for us! Pope Benedict XVI (December 8, 2009)
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24: Masses at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, Mass at 10:00 am
PARISH NURSE: No Parish Nurse on December 25 and January 1. Kathy returns on Friday, January 6, from 7:30-10:00 am.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $6,507
RETIRED RELIGIOUS: $1,215
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: $723
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Fr. Dumont and Fr. Babineau will hear confessions and administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on December 21, Monday evening, at 6:30 pm in Church.
Last weekend, we collected 595 lbs. of food! Our parishioners continue to be very generous and it is greatly appreciated by the NH Food Bank.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: The Gospel today tells of the Virgin Mary, pregnant herself, hurrying off to help her cousin Elizabeth. The model of good stewardship, she who had given herself to bear the Savior, gave her time and love to others as well.
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION: January 1, 2010, is the Feast of the Octave Day of Christmas, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses are:
St. Paul Church - New Year’s Eve, December 31, at 4:00 pm
St. Peter Church - New Year’s Day, January 1, at 10:00 am
CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS
K-3 DISMISSALS this weekend.
NO K-3 DISMISSALS ON THE WEEKENDS OF DECEMBER 27 AND JANUARY 3.
CONFIRMATION I & II: Class on Sunday, January 3. Please attend the 11:00 am Mass, and class will follow until 1:00 pm.
GENERATIONS OF FAITH: Next Session for grades 4-10 and parents is Sunday, January 10, from 4:00-6:00 pm in church.
RETROUVAILLE: Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vy) weekend. If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help you. The next New England Retrouvaille marriage renewal weekends will be held January 15-17, 2010, and April 16-18, 2010. To register for the weekend or for more information, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.
PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS
Dear Lord, bless all families this Christmas. Help us all to remember this season that You chose to come to us as a humble baby. You chose to be part of a family Yourself and came, not to be served, but to serve and one day die for love of those who hated, deserted, and killed You. On this Christmas day, may we always remember amid the joys, family and presents, the reason we have this season: That you, the Eternal Son of God, came to live among us as one of us and as a member of our human family. Amen.
MASS INTENTIONS
Dec. 21, Mon. 7:00 am Jeannette Dallaire by George and Sue Mercier
Dec. 22, Tues. 7:00 am Roland and Theresa Baillargeon by their daughter, Lorraine Drouin
Dec. 23, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
Dec. 24, Thu. 4:00 pm Art Wolfgang (3rd Anniversary) by his niece Helene
Dec. 24, Thu. 7:00 pm For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
Dec. 25, Fri. 10:00 am Louise Laforge (5th Anniversary) by the family
Dec. 26, Sat. 4:00 pm For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
Dec. 27, Sun. 8:00 am Robert Frisella by St. Peter Church Choir
Dec. 27, Sun. 11:00 am Felix Cajes by the Schroeder family
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Micah 5:1-4a
Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
The account of the Visitation reminds us of all the visitors we will have and how we will be visiting others. Sacred Scripture speaks of the obligation to hospitality. We should treat those who come into our homes as if they were Christ visiting our home. We should carry Christ’s love to those whom we visit. We should remember that hospitality should be shown most of all to those who need it most (and not necessarily to those who are the most entertaining).
FROM COACH TOM ZAPORA: St. Peter High School CYO basketball team defeated Seton Black 42-32 in their first game of the season. St. Peter’s was behind 30–25 at the end of the 3rd quarter. St. Peter’s outscored Seton Black 17–2 in the 4th quarter to take the 10 point victory. Alex Zapora was high scorer with 17 points. Nick Ryba had 14 points along with Mike Sienko’s 8 points to help the St. Peter’s cause. Our next game is Dec. 20th at 12:00 pm vs. St. Catherine at Hesser College.
St. Joseph Regional Junior High School Open House: Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 7:00 pm, 460 Pine Street (corner of Bridge Street) Manchester, NH 03104
All 4th, 5th and 6th graders welcome.
For more information or registration packet
please call 624-4811 or e-mail: frstjoe@comcast.net .