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Schedules

A Few Words from Father Steve

Dear Friends,

For the Third Sunday in Advent, we are reminded to rejoice. This is called Gaudete Sunday, a time set apart for rejoicing. On this Sunday we take a break from wearing purple vestments and wear rose colored ones. When we change to this color it encourages us to continue our preparation and continue to wait and prepare. We want to feel joy about what the birth of our Savior means to us. We think of the journey of Mary and Joseph into Bethlehem, a long, rugged and difficult ride as Mary is about to give birth. She is a young teenaged mother, making her way from Nazareth, her home, with her husband Joseph. We can
hear those familiar words, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.”

Last Thursday, we had a beautiful prayer service for preparing the crèche for our church.Inspired by this, I found myself getting prepared at the rectory. I started with putting up some of the many crèches I have been given over the years and decided this year to display them all. Every one is just as special as the next and each is very different from another. Some of them include ceramic, a Willow tree crèche, a snowman crèche and another from my Hummel collection. Yet you may be like me if you have the nativity set from your childhood. I have my mother’s crèche and the pieces are small and slightly chipped. The color has faded and the angel has a chipped wing but I love this one the most.

I unpacked all my hallmark ornaments. Some of them are handmade snow flakes, shiny icicles, Irish Santas, Fire Fighters, Mickey Mouse, angels, edgewood and religious ones. I didn’t place any on the tree. Since this is my first Christmas here, I invite everyone to come this Sunday afternoon from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm and bring an ornament for the tree. That way you will be a part of my first Christmas and every Christmas to come. All those special ornaments will remind me of when I first met all of you. I am confident the tree will look beautiful especially with those unique ornaments from you, my parish family.

As I prepare to celebrate my First Christmas with you, I appreciate all the joy you have given me especially on this Gaudete Sunday. Together we will “ Prepare for the way of the Lord.” Together at Saint Christine’s, we have been doing so well during this Advent in our Giving Tree, coming to confession, attending Mass, our Advent Prayer Service and our Advent Arts & Crafts night. Thanks to each of you for being a reason for us to rejoice today. We are so
happy to be here.

With Love, Fr. Steve, Buddy, Coco-nut, and Pokey

PAPER RECYCLE BIN - WE ARE NO LONGER RECYCLING PAPER
Please do not deposit any old papers in the recycling bin in the church parking lot.
The company that emptied the bin has gone out of business.
We will no longer recycle paper.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2018
Among the gifts you give this Christmas season, please consider contributing to the special Christmas collection for the health and well-being of the 580 active and senior priests in good standing in our Archdiocese. Amid these difficult times for our Church, our hardworking priests need your support now more than ever. Please take this opportunity to say thank you to all the priests, including our senior priests, who have devoted their lives to our church...and to all of us.
To donate on line, please visit clergytrust.org or you may text the word PRIESTS25 to 20222 to donate $25. (msg and data rates may apply) Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER ENVELOPES
The Christmas season is a time of memories especially of our beloved deceased family and friends. Christmas Flower envelopes for donations in memory of them have been placed at the entrances of the church. Please print clearly the names on the back of the envelope and return the envelope with your donation in the collection basket or to the rectory. You may also make a Christmas Flower donation on our website by clicking the On-Line Giving icon and follow directions on Quick Give. A Novena of Masses in memory of our deceased families and friends will take place at the 9:00 am Mass on Monday, January 7th and continue through Thursday, January 17th.

GRAND ANNUAL COLLECTION - Goal: $100,000 Total Recieved: $75,875
If you have not yet made a contribution, Grand Annual envelopes are available at the doors of the Church. Your envelopes may be placed in the collection baskets or mailed directly to the rectory throughout the year. Each family is asked to contribute $350. However, what one gives is your choice and no one should give beyond their means.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Christmas Eve Concerts
Saint Christine’s Choirs will present two pre-liturgy concerts on Christmas Eve under the direction of Meri-Lee Mafera. The Choristers (Children's Choir) will sing Christmas carols at 5:30 pm and the Adult Choir will sing Christmas songs at 8:20 pm in the church. Please join us for this special musical celebration of the birth of Jesus given by our wonderful and talented Choirs.

Fuel Collection: Envelope Users
Due to a mix up with the second collection envelopes, the Fuel Collection envelope was dated for December 9/10. The actual Fuel Collection will take place on the weekend of February 9th and 10th. The donations we have already received will be added to the collection in February. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

ENVELOPE USERS
Any church envelopes that you want to be included in your 2018 tabulation for income tax purposes must be returned now. Deadline is January 6th. Also please remember to write the amount of your donation on the envelope.

Men’s Group: Calling All Men!
All men of the parish are invited to take part in a parish retreat on January 18th (6 pm - 8 pm) and January 19th (8 am - 5 pm) at Cedar Hill Retreat House in Duxbury. Our theme this year will be Piety - Study - Action. Please join us on our January journey. There are commuter or stay over night options. For further information, please call Norm Shacochis at 781-834-4097.