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(Updated 10/12/2019)

Confessions:
Saturday 4 to 4:45 PM (church)

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Week's Bulletin 

A Few Words From Fr. Steve

Dear Friends,
I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it was to climb those steps to the sanctuary last weekend. As I reflect upon the events of that day, there are several things that come to mind. Before that, I didn't have much stamina, was sore from having surgery; and also had some amount of fear that I might end up in the hospital again. After months of exercise, education, and support I have regained much of my strength and endurance. This is especially true over the last couple of weeks. I still have some days where I don't feel as well as others, but overall, I'm feeling pretty good.

One of the most important helps is encouragement. As I suffered with my ankle, I realized I had been surrounded by a bunch of unicorns. Just as a group of fish are called a school, a group of birds are a flock and a group of cows are a herd; there is a special term for a group of unicorns. Two or more unicorns are called a blessing". It was crucial to my recovery that I had support and encouragement from others. The staff was fantastic, not only in their knowledge, but also in their ability to encourage me to keep on trying. I am forever grateful to my brother priests. Truly, I felt the song, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother “ in my heart as they carried me. Much of the encouragement that I felt came from you, the people of the parish that I love who always made sure I was okay. Thank you for so many cards and prayers. You really are unicorns... a true blessing to me in my recovery and in my life.

One important part of rehab is to remember this isn't the end of recovery, but a new beginning. While I have gained back much of my strength and endurance, I still have a way to go. I want to build upon that which I have learned and the recovery that I have experienced, so that I can be stronger and healthier. This is just as true, spiritually, as it is physically. This reminds me that St. Paul tells us in Colossians, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." Whether we are speaking of physical or spiritual health, we need to continue to grow in strength or risk going back to where we were.

In many ways, my experience of rehab is like that of discipleship. We need practice, encouragement, and learning. To move forward, we also need to keep asking the question, "What's next?" With all that has happened, it's hard for me to believe that the leaves will soon be turning various colors. It seems like just yesterday we were complaining about the summer heat. Somehow, we manage to adjust and change like the seasons. I find that as I get older two things happen. First, the seasons seem to come and go faster. It feels like it was only yesterday when we were looking forward to warmer temperatures.

Second, I fail to fully embrace some of the seasonal changes that take place. Reality is that we cannot avoid all changes. We might be able to compensate or avoid change for a period of time, but the changes will eventually take place anyway. Just as the leaves will turn amazing colors, they will eventually drop to the ground. It's that way in the church. Sometimes changes are thrust upon us, simply because our world has changed. A great example is the use of electronics in our lives. I'm old enough to remember rotary telephones, and when we all shared that one phone. Imagine!! I wouldn't want to go back to those days, but I know some people who resisted those changes as much as they could. Eventually, we all need to modernize to new technology.

What really scares me, isn't that change will come to the Church, my ministry and my life. Because change will come. What sometimes terrifies me is that I won't be either willing or able to make the adjustments needed to embrace the changes as they happen. In those moments of change, I have found Reinhold Niebuhr's "Serenity Prayer" to be helpful. Perhaps you can find help in it as well. The shorter version goes like this,

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

Love, Father Steve

APPLE PICKING :- ( Do to a low interest, we are sorry to inform you we had to cancel the event. ) -:

GRAND ANNUAL COLLECTION 2019 Goal: $100,000  |  Total Received: 72,420 Your Grand Annual envelopes may be placed in the collections baskets or mailed directly to the rectory throughout the year. Funds from this collection help to pay our weekly bills. Each family is asked to contribute $400. However, what one gives is your choice and no one should give beyond their means. If you did not receive an envelope in the mail, you will find envelopes on the ushers’ tables next weekend. Thank you for your generosity and support of our Parish Family. God bless you. Father Steve

PLEASE WATCH OUR FOR OUR CHILDREN WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARISH PARKING LOT!!

There will be no CCD classes this Sunday, October 13th and Monday, October 14th due to the Columbus Day holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, October 15th

The CCD Office is open Monday afternoons from 1 - 4 pm and Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Teachers Still Needed: We still need teachers for afternoon and evening classes (see below). Please consider sharing your faith and time with the children of Saint Christine’s Parish. Contact the CCD Office at 781-837-0088 if you can help.

Classes meet from 6:30 - 7:30 pm.
Grade 6 - 2 teachers - Wednesday
Grade 7 - 1 teachers - Tuesday

Our Pre-School and Kindergarten classes meet on Sunday mornings from 8:50 to 9:45 am in the parish hall.

Confirmation Classes
Grade 10 Sunday, Oct. 20th 4:30 pm hall
Grade 9 Sunday, Oct. 14th 4:30 pm hall
Grade 10: Rock Masses will be celebrated at 6:00 pm on Sunday, October 20th. All parishioners are invited.

Protecting God’s Children - Virtus Program
All adults 18 years of age or older who volunteer at Saint Christine’s Parish in any ministry must attend the mandated child abuse prevention one time only training. Class will be offered at:
St. Christine’s - Thursday, October 24th 7 - 9 pm hall
Assumption - Monday, Oct. 28th 6:30 -8 :30 pm hall
Please contact the CCD office at 781-837-0088 to make arrangements to attend this class.

Click on the Weekly Bulletin link above to read all CCD Announcements.

REFLECTION: How can I strengthen my patience? How does faith help?

BULLETIN SUPPORTERS: We sincerely thank all of our advertisers who have placed ads in our bulletin. Please support the businesses that advertise in our parish bulletin as their ads help to defray the cost of the bulletin.

Saint Christine’s now has a Facebook page. We will use the Face Book page to post parish news, events, CCD cancellations, photos and more but we need your help. Visit www.facebook.com/stchristinesmarshfield and “LIKE” our page to help spread the word. We’re new to Facebook so please bear with us as we get up to speed with social media. You can also link to our Facebook page whereever you see the Facebook logo on our site.

Read the Complete Bulletin for all Parish News

CCD & PARKING LOT REMINDER!!
Please exercise extreme caution in our church parking lot while dropping off and picking up children from classes. Please drive slowly in the parking lot and refrain from using cell phones. Children move quickly and your full attention is needed.

REMINDER: The Marshfield Fire Department has requested that our parishioners refrain from parking in front of the church as it prevents their access in times of emergency.

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.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LECTORS, ALTAR SERVERS
Please check your schedules to see if/when you are assigned. If you unable to serve your assigned Mass, it is important that you call a substitute to serve for you.

CCD CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER
If classes are cancelled due to weather, notification will be available on Channels 5, and 7. Please tune into these stations or log onto their websites. Additionally, cancellations will be announced on WATD radio (95.9). Please note that if Marshfield Schools are closed, Saint Christine’s CCD classes are also cancelled.

All children in Grades 1 through 3 must have a parent or another adult accompany them to and from class each week. Parents must sign children out before they are released from their class.