St. George Monthly E-Newsletter
Saint George
Church
40 Brattle St.
Worcester MA 01606
508-853-0183
www.saintgeo.com
Family
Rituals and Traditions
Think back to the holidays of your youth. What was your fondest Advent/Christmas
memory? Perhaps it was hanging a special ornament on the tree, baking your
grandmother's sugar cookie recipe or leaving carrots on the table for Santa's
reindeer? Whatever it was, most likely it was an activity your family did every
year. Your cherished memories were created by the traditions unique to you and
your family. Rituals and traditions give birth to our family histories. They
highlight relationships with loved ones and allow us to keep the memory of those
who have passed away alive in our hearts. There's something reassuring
about family traditions. In a world where nearly everything is disposable,
traditions remind us that some things are meant to last. We'd love to have you
share your family traditions with us for our
Advent/Christmas Resource page. Email them to
ruthviens@charter.net.
SHORTCUT TO THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
The Gospel of Luke has twenty four
chapters. Read one chapter a day during December to help put your focus on the
birth, life and promise of Christ.
ADVENT
BIBLE STUDY WITH FR. RON
WORCESTER
YOUTH COALITION FOR LIFE EVENT
Saturday,
December 5
4:00 to 7:00 pm
St. Paul's Cathedral, Worcester
The Worcester Youth Coalition For Life will be holding a “Stand Up” event
for youth (ages 12-25) in the Worcester area to come together to pray for
renewed respect for human life, be educated in pro-life topics and to meet other
youth involved in the cause. It will include a Pro-Life youth Mass, music, guest
speaker, and a pizza social. Laura Ricketts, military wife and mother of four,
will be speaking on the topic “Abortion: Symbol and Symptom”. The Worcester
Youth Coalition For Life consists of parish, high school and college groups in
the Worcester area who work together to help bring about respect for all human
life, from conception to natural death.. All are welcome to attend! For more
information, contact Kate Ulibarri at 508-762-0024 or email:
stpaulyouth33@yahoo.com.
Help Stock the Pantries for Christmas!!
HEALING SERVICE UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF
ST. NICHOLAS
Sunday, December 6
at 2 pm
Cathedral of St. Paul, Chatham and High Streets, Worcester
Join in prayer with Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester as we
beseech St. Nicholas for the protection and healing of children and adults who
have been impacted in any way by abuse. Let Advent prepare you for Christmas.
Sponsored by Office for Healing and Prevention and Office of Marriage and
Family, Diocese of Worcester.
FEAST OF SAINT
NICHOLAS
PIETA MASS FOR BEREAVED FAMILIES
Monday December
7
St. George Church, Brattle Street Worcester
7:00 pm
The Pieta Support Group for Bereaved Parents
will host their annual “Mass to Honor and Remember our Children”.
ADVENT PRAYER WITH SPEAKERS
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Return
Giving Tree Gifts
December 12/13
Watch for
more information in the bulletin
ANNUAL WOMEN'S GUILD RAFFLE
CAROLING
The Youth Group will be Christmas Caroling at Colony Retirement home on December
13th (5:30 pm). All parishioners are welcome!
GIFT WRAPPING
GRANDPARENT
PRAYER GROUP
Friday, December 18
11:00 am in the Church
All grandparents are welcome to come and pray for the safety and well-being of
their grandchildren. If there is a funeral the group meets in the Conference
Room or Parish Center. During the winter season if the weather is icy or snowy
the group is cancelled. Please call Ruth Viens
508-852-5658 in the event of bad
weather to find out if the group is meeting.
BOOK DISCUSSION
The next book discussion group will meet on Monday, December 28
at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room. We will start with pizza and then discuss the
book An Adult Christ at Christmas by Raymond E. Brown. All are welcome. For more
information contact Eileen Charbonneau at 508-853-1739.
|
Christmas Schedule 2009 Evening of Quiet
Reflection Vigil Feast of the
Nativity of the Lord New Year's Schedule 2010 Vigil - December 31 Feast of Mary,
Mother of the Lord |
WEB SITES WORTH A CLICK
BE
FREE: DAILY MEDITATIONS FOR ADVENT
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS
INTERACTIVE (USCCB)
LASALETTE SHRINE IN ATTLEBORO MA
THE HANDBOOK FOR CATHOLIC MOMS
CELEBRATE ADVENT from OSV 4 Me
Advent:
easy, fun, and spiritual ways to celebrate - Catholic Digest
CHRISTMAS JARS
A Christmas jar can be any jar -
pickle jar, peanut butter jar, to collect your spare change in each day. (Click
on the link). Then when it is full, carefully consider someone to give it
to anonymously. Last year I designed labels for a Christmas Jar (see photo
below). For anyone interested in having one of these they are available for
$5/each. Email
ruthviens@charter.net.
VOLUNTEER CANTORS NEEDED
If you would like to share your
musical gift and be a cantor, please call Michael Lizotte at 978-563-1758 or see
him in the choir loft after any weekend Mass. It would be helpful if you have a
basic knowledge of reading music.
FAMILY
MINISTRY ADVENT RESOURCES
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL
There is an
urgent need for committed adorers of the Blessed Sacrament in our Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at St. George's. There is also a need for
substitutes who can fill in. We invite you to come and spend an hour in the
presence of the Holy Eucharist. The Adoration Chapel is located on the first
floor of our Parish Center and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call
Deacon Archibald at 508-847-3710 or 508-853-8169.
St.
George's is once again the Cat's Meow!
Last year a replica of the church was
created by the Cat's meow Company. Two dozen were recently re-ordered and are on
sale for $25. They are available at the rectory during hours (Monday through
Thursday 9am to 5 pm). Please call Joan at the church office 508-853-0183 if you
are interested. All proceeds benefit the parish.
UPCOMING....
March for Life
January 22,
2010
March for Life bus trip information is now available! Individuals and parish
or school groups planning to attend the January 22 event can find information
and download registration forms at the diocesan website:
www.worcesterdiocese.org/respectlife.
WHERE IS GOD?
A couple had two little boys who were always getting into trouble. Their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their village, their sons were probably involved. The boys' mother heard than an elder in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her sons. The elder agreed, but asked to see them separately.
So, the mother sent her youngest son first, in the morning. The elder, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?" The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response. So the elder repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!? Again the wide-eyed boy made no attempt to answer. The elder raised his voice and bellowed "WHERE IS GOD!?" The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into a closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him hiding, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time. God is missing, and they think WE did it!"
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