The new email for faith formation is faithformmqom@gmail.com. Please add this address to your contact list to make sure emails are sent to your inbox and not your spam folder.
Middle School Christmas Party!
There will be a Christmas party for all children in grades 6-8 at Our Lady of Lourdes on December 19 from 6 - 7:30. Friends are welcome to join! We are looking for a couple of extra volunteers to help with activities and refreshments. RSVP by emailing Patsy Gillespie at: faithformmqom@gmail.com
Nativity Play
We are looking for volunteers to help coordinate the Nativity Play this year. The play will be on December 18 at Saint Kateri using costumes from Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Peter and the set from St. Peters. Use the QR Code belowto join the Facebook group and keep up to date.
Make-Up Sessions for Sacrament Prep
First Communion Prep I and II students can participate in the Nativity Play on December 18 - more information will be forthcoming.
UPCOMING CLASSES
December 11 8:15am St Peter Grades 1-5
5:00pm St Peter Confirmation I & II
December 12 4:45pm OLOL Grades 1-5
December 13 4:45pm St Peter Grades 1-5
December 18 11:00am-3:00pm Saint Kateri
Nativity Play
December 19 6:00pm OLOL
Edge Middle School Christmas Party
Patsy Gillespie
Director of Faith Formation
Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish
(508) 746 - 0663 ext. 206
" For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me" (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
Advent is a season of waiting. The Lord is developing and preparing us through the waiting. Let’s thank Jesus for the season of joy and light ahead, and let’s thank the Lord for the miracles to come. Let’s wrap the Emmanuel in the garment of praise.
Pray
Thank you, Jesus.
We praise your mercy, your love, and your light.
We thank you Jesus for these miracles, for these rays of hope.
We thank you Jesus for our gifts.
Allow me to linger with you,
especially in the season of waiting.
Allow my heart to praise your most holy name,
Emmanuel, God with us.
Amen.
Act
In your prayer time today, put your laundry list, intentions, and needs aside. Allow his name to flood your heart and mind. Repeat his name over and over with a mind of love. Embrace Jesus with praise.
Fr. Joe is going to present the Cheverus Award to Jim Barringtonon Sunday, December 18th at the 10:00am Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The oval-shaped, silver medal bears the image of Bishop Jean-Louis Anne Magdelaine Lefebvre de Cheverus. On the reverse side is Bishop Cheverus’ coat of arms and episcopal motto “diligamus nos invicem” (let us love one another).
Bishop Cheverus was the founding Bishop of Boston and led the diocese from 1808 until his return to France in 1824. He died in 1836 as the archbishop of Bordeaux.
The medal recipients -- who include laypeople, religious and deacons -- are chosen for their service to the Church and God’s people. Most recipients are nominated by their pastor, forwarded by their area vicar and approved by their regional bishop and Cardinal O’Malley. Some recipients are personally selected by Cardinal O’Malley.
Congratulations Jim! There will be a reception following the Mass for anyone who would like to attend.
Spotlight on Medjugorje Trip
Day 4:
We started the day with Mass after breakfast at St James Church. We climbed Apparition Hill and spent time in prayer. We had an incredible group who helped each other with such love and grace. We were blessed to experience the Miracle of the Sun while on Apparition Hill. The Sun danced in the sky with bright colors, it was amazing. We also visited Cernacolo where we heard testimony from the residents and left prayers.
Ultreya Invitation
Come to Mary Queen of Martyrs Ultreya at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church,
126 So. Meadow Road, W Plymouth
on January 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Cursillistas & ALL interested in learning about Cursillo are welcome!
Mass, small group sharing & refreshments/fellowship.
Snacks to share if the Spirit moves you!
Any questions call Patti & John DeAngelo (617) 678-4306
Our Ultreya schedule at St Kateri Church is:
2023: Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 16, May 21 (Sundays at 5:00 p.m.)
2022/2023 Cursillo Retreats @Holy Cross Retreat House :
Men’s: Feb. 2 - 5, 2023 & March 23 - 26, 2023
Women’s: Nov. 17 - 20, 2022
Feb. 23 - 26, 2023 & April 20 - 23, 2023
Grand Annual:
Most years parishes have Grand Annual Collections for various projects that need attention and funding. Since we have become one parish, it seems most equitable that our drive this year will help pay for the plowing and sanding expenses at all three of our churches. I have hoped that we could buy our own vehicle for this year but that is not possible at this time. If someone working could donate $100.00 that would be so helpful. Those on fixed incomes, please give whatever you can. I will be grateful to whatever is given. I want to wish you a Blessed Advent.
God Bless you all,
Fr. Joe
Spotlight on Advent
Little Blue Books for the Advent/Christmas Season 2022
Our parish is distributing the Little Blue Books for the Advent/Christmas Season beginning the weekend of November 26/27. Please take a copy with you as you leave Mass.
Six minutes a day. That’s what you’re asked to give during these next 43 days – the 26 days of the Advent season, and the 17 days of the Christmas season. Each 24-hour day has 240 “six minute” packages. During the Advent and Christmas seasons, you’re asked to give one of those to the Lord.
Reflections begin November 27, 2022, end January 9, 2023. Reflections will be based on the First reading for daily Mass.
Six minutes. That's within reach. And it pays big returns.
(Taken from the Little Blue Book)
The Story of Saint Nicholas
Newly Baptized at Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish
The Weekly Gospel
Matthew 11:2-11
Cleaning Up Your Spiritual House
This week’s Gospel is urgent: be prepared for Jesus.
It’s easy to forget about Jesus’ coming with the busyness of life, but this week’s Gospel reveals how being ready for Jesus is the most important thing we can do.
Today, Allen shows us how we can be ready to welcome Jesus, as well as two ways to know if you’re on the right path.
We are people of faith, called to live the Gospel!
DIAPER PANTRY
Thanks to your support, our parish Diaper Pantry continues to keep area babies in need clean and dry. Babies average about 7 changes per day; in her first year, a baby will require approximately 2,500 diapers, and many families have more than one child in diapers at once. The need is great, and we thank you for your generous response!
Diaper donations can be dropped off at the entrances of our three churches before or after Mass, during regular Diaper Pantry hours at St. Kateri, or at the church offices during open hours (St. Kateri: Monday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Our Lady of Lourdes: Tuesday and Friday 8:30 – 12:30 p.m.; St. Peter: Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
During this season of Advent, we think in a special way about babies in need, and those who came to the aid of our Lord Jesus. We are so grateful to have the resources, through the generosity of you, our parishioners, to help local families with newborns, babies, and toddlers! The need is great, and we thank you for your generous response!
Diaper Pantry Hours
The 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month
9:30–11:00 am at the
Saint Kateri Parish Office
Diapers needed this week:
SIZE 4 and 6
We also need baby wipes.
DID YOU KNOW…
The World Health Organization reports 844 million people don't have access to safe water. About 2.3 billion people are living without access to improved sanitation. That means 1 in 9 people on the planet don't have clean water close to home. One in 3 don't have a decent toilet. As Pope Francis noted at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in February 2018, “The right to water is essential for the survival of persons and decisive for the future of humanity.”
What can we do? The Just Faith Program “Sacred Water: Oceans and Ecosystems” will be offered in our parish via Zoom in February and March. Watch for more details available soon!
THIS WEEK’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Jesus knows well the pain of not being welcomed and how hard it is not to have a place to lay one’s head. May our hearts not be closed as they were in the homes of Bethlehem.”
~Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi (2017)
HOLY HOUR
SUNDAY,
December 18, 2022
Please join us at a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration on
Sunday, December 18, from 3pm to 4pm at St. Peter’s Church.
This very special Holy Hour will be dedicated to an increase in vocations. Although we hold this request in our daily prayers, there is a special grace in spending time with Our Lord and asking him to send more workers into the harvest.
Prayer Requests
There is NOW a link on our Mary, Queen of Martyrs website available for prayer requests. Please click on the link and you may write out your request.
There is also a Book of Intentions available at each of our churches. You may write your prayer intention directly in the book.
There are prayer angels in our parish community praying for all the intentions and ALL intentions are remembered at all the Masses in our parish community!
Pope St. John XXIII launches podcast for men discerning priesthood
WESTON -- Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary is trying a new way to reach their demographic. Capitalizing on the popularity of podcasts, the seminary has launched its own podcast to discuss different aspects of discernment and priestly formation for men who discover their vocation to the priesthood later in life.
The St. Francis Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, parishes, and institutions to live our faith by protecting God’s Creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the harshest impacts of global climate change. We pledge to:
PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
ASSESS how we as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.
Learn more about the pledge at www.CatholicClimateCovenant.org.
Pope enlists a willing warrior to spread the message of 'Laudato Si''
Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis is getting more non-Catholics to do his work.
The latest is Nicolas Brown, who directed "The Letter: A Message for Our Earth," a documentary on the pope's 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home."
The 90-minute film will air Wednesday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. EST on PBS (check local listings). But for those who can't wait that long, the documentary is already on YouTube, which helped produce it.
