THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SAINT MARY

Parish Office 68 Court Street, Canton, New York 13617

PHONE: (315) 386-2543 • FAX: (315) 386-8870 www.cantoncatholics.com • catholicrectory@twcny.rr.com

St. Mary’s School 2 Powers Street • (315) 386-3572 • stmarysc@twcny.rr.com • www.stmaryscantonny.com

Sacrament of Baptism – For Children to be Baptized, please call the Rectory to schedule a meeting. Sacrament of Penance – Tuesday from 5:40pm until done, Saturday 3:45—4:45, pm and by appointment.

Marriage – Make arrangements with the Pastor at least six months in advance. Pre-Cana instruction is necessary. Anointing of the Sick – Please advise the parish office of the serious illness or hospitalization of a parishioner.

Communion for shut-ins – Please notify the Rectory if anyone is unable to attend Sunday Mass regularly. *** New Parishioners – Register at the Rectory at any time. ***

December 17, 2017

PARISH STAFF

Rev. Bryan D. Stitt, Pastor • stittamdg@gmail.com

Mr. James M. Snell, Deacon • deaconsnell@gmail.com • (315)262-0491

Mr. Paul J. Schrems, Pastoral Associate for Administration • catholicrectory@twcny.rr.com

Mrs. Amanda Conklin, Campus Ministry • conklina@canton.edu or aconklin@stlawu.edu

Ms. Jamie Burns, Religious Education Coordinator • religioused66@twcny.rr.com

Ms. Terrianne Yanulavich, Child Safety & Victims’ Assistance Coordinator: (518) 483-3261 terrianneyanulavich@yahoo.com

Mrs. Michele Meyers, Principal • smsprincipal@twcny.rr.com

Mrs. Terry Feuka, Administrative Assistant • cantoncatholics@gmail.com

Gabriel Project • (315)244-8232 • Parish Nurse • (315)322-1836 • Surviving Spouse Group • (315)379-1650

Our Sacred Purpose:

Christ-led, Christ-fed,

and Hope-filled

The Diocese of Ogdensburg joyfully

invites the people of the North Country to the journey of faith

through the proclamation of the Gospel,

the celebration of the Eucharist and

the Sacraments, and the loving service of neighbor.

Page 2 December 17, 2017

Pastor’s Corner Today we light the rose colored candle of our Ad-vent wreaths aware of the Lord to “Rejoice.” It’s a taste of Joy in the midst of the heavy period of preparation. Included in all the physical and material preparations, we want to remember charitable and spiritual preparations. Thank you in advance for being generous with the Lord, His Church, and other charities these days. As for spiritual preparations, you’ve also seen the insert that we’ve included for an Examination of Conscience. Please make a good Confession a priority in your plans. Hopefully you received our Christmas mailing this week. If you don’t get it in the next couple days, please call the rectory to check that we have your correct mailing address on file. —Fr. Bryan Stitt

2017 Bishop’s Fund Appeal

We’re currently at (83.4%) $30,745 of our $35,000 Bishop’s Fund goal. And we have had 172 households participate out of our goal of 211. If you would like

to contribute, use the envelopes on the tables at the doors of the church or contact the rectory. Thanks as always for your generous support.

Bottle Drive The dumpster is gone, but you can still help support St. Mary’s School

Bring your cans and bottles to Bessette’s on Gouverneur St.

And simply tell them you are supporting St. Mary’s

Last Chance for Photos If you have yet to schedule a photo session for our parish photo

directory, please don’t miss out. Our last session will be Wednes-day, December 20th from 2-9 PM.

Please call the Rectory to schedule a session.

Planning ahead for Christmas

Mass Schedule This year the 4th Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve- Dec 24th. It is not possible for me to celebrate all of the Sunday morning 4th Sunday of Advent Masses and Christ-mas Eve Masses on the same day. I do not think that many peo-ple will want to go to the 4th Sunday of Advent Mass on Sunday morning and then come back that evening for their Christmas Eve Mass. So, we will be having two (2) anticipation Masses on Saturday, December 23rd for the 4th Sunday of Advent (5pm & 7pm) and only one Mass on Sunday, December the 24th at 9:00 am.

Christmas Masses only after sunset on the 24th, do we start celebrating Christmas. Our schedule will be on Christmas eve: 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 10:00 PM and on Christmas Day 9:00 AM.

Decorating Since we can’t leave all the decorating until after the 4th Sunday of Advent (See above), we’ll be decorating during the week before. Please join us Friday the 22nd at 6:00 PM.

Pageant Rehearsal Set As in year’s past, we’ll have some dressing like the Holy Family, shepherds and magi at the begin-ning of the 4:00 and 6:00 PM Christmas eve Masses, but this year we’re going to simplify the performance component. Hopefully this will allow youth that are visiting at Christmas to participate as well. If your youth wants one of the costumed parts please plan to come for the costume fitting/rehearsal on Saturday, the 23rd at 10:00 AM. All will get a chance to help welcome Jesus at the manger. Contact the office to let us know if your child would like a costume and which Mass you’ll be attending.

The Diocesan Family Life Office is pleased to announce an exciting new ministry that will bring hope and heal-ing to those who have experienced the pain and loneli-ness of a broken marriage.

Surviving Divorce features twelve video presentations that cov-er topics such as shock and grief, anger and forgiveness, money issues, dealing with children and a former spouse, and annul-ment and remarriage. This program is for the newly separate and divorced and those still struggling with issues many years later. It will help them find answers to their questions, restore their hope, and begin authentic healing.

The twelve-week program begins on January 25th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at St. Mary’s Church in Canton and will meet weekly in the sacristy. The cost of the program for participants includes the Surviving Divorce Personal Guide and all program materials is $25. For more information or to register, please call Steve Tar-taglia at 315-393-2920 or go to http://www.rcdony.org/family-life/surviving-divorce-support-group.html.

Christmas Collection

The Diocese of Ogdensburg’s Retirement Plan for Priests has long been supported by parish contributions from its annual Christmas Collection. Currently 40 retired priests, and 8 active priests age 70 and older, are expected to receive pension benefits of $892,000 in 2017-18. Also 100% of the cost of health insur-ance premiums for retired priests is paid by the Plan. Say thank you to your pastor and all priests of the diocese through a gener-ous contribution to our Christmas Collection.

Confession Plans

Regular times—Confessions are heard each Tuesday at 5:40 PM and each Saturday from 3:45-4:45 in the chapel (Please use the entrance from the parking lot between the church, school, and rectory.)

Day of Mercy—Confessions will be heard from 6:00 AM until 10:00 PM on Tuesday, December 19th in the chapel. Fr. Jack Downs will be in the confessional from 9:00 AM-noon Fr. Andrew Amyot will be there from 4:00 to 5:15 Fr. Steve Rocker will be there from 5:15 to 6:30 Fr. Bryan Stitt will be there the remainder of the hours.

Other days/locations This Sunday (the 10th) at Notre Dame in Ogdensburg at 1:00 PM Potsdam at St. Mary’s on Saturday the 23rd from 12:30 to 2:00 Colton at St. Patrick’s on Saturday the 23rd from 5:00 to 6:00

Page 5 December 17, 2017

Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. O dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and

strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to

acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.

Shirley Ames Lori Ashley Jean Baycura

John Bessette Keith (Sam) Bisonette Sarah Bogart

Timothy Bogart Sue Briggs Camille Brown

Donald “Joe” Burnham Shirley Burns David Butler

Peggy Cashman Jana & Jeremy Cassler Joan Clarke

Steve Connelly Jenny Cook Scarlett Friot

Debbie Gainey Gordon C. Gladden Jeri Gorman

Mike Gorman Darren Greenwood Patricia Hayden

Ginny & Butch Hotzler Garrett Hughes Eugenia Jusiak

Barbara Kelly Dan Kinsley Irene Krencesk

Shirley LaMendola Danny Law Chubby LeRoux

Laura Lombard Leward and Betty Lucia Arlene Maroney

Paul Marsh Margaret McDonald Stephanie McKeel

Eric Mende Barbara Moritz Joel Rivera

Eric Roach Matilda Mary Smith Cheryl Sopos

John Steiger Karen Stever Natalie teRiele

Ethel Thomas Dorie Thompson Linda Trill

Lynn Watson Jeffrey White Meggan Whiteford

Eric Whitmarsh

St. Mary’s School in Can-ton held their first “Senior Tea”, an oppor-tunity for students and seniors to interact. The theme was classic litera-ture and both groups

enjoyed sharing their memories and thoughts on well-known books. Pictured are students Lois Blewett and Ben Hill with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Howard.

Turkey Hot Lunch—Dec. 19

Classroom Parties—Dec. 20

Winter Recess will start on :

Friday December 22 and classes will resume January 3, 2018.

Principal’s Corner

Are you gluten-intolerant or do you have Celiac Disease? We offer low-gluten hosts at all Masses. Present yourself to receive Communion from the celebrant and indi-cate that you need a low-gluten host.

What did he say?

There are hearing assistance devices available if you need them. Please see an usher or greeter if you would like to use one during Mass or find a headset on the shelf near the baptismal font.

Many blessings on your exams, and have a great winter break! See you next year!

Campus Corner

Looking for Catholic Christmas gifts? Any purchases you make when linking to “The Catholic Store” from our website cantoncatholics.com gives a 12% donation right back to the parish. You’ll find the link on the lower right side of our homepage.

Liturgical Ministers (Lectors, Greeters, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Min-isters of Holy Communion)

We will be setting up the 2018 Jan. to June schedule. Please let Terry know of any changes you would like

to make for that time (vacation, holidays, etc.). (315)386-3572

Those of you who signed up to begin these ministries, thank you for doing so. Our trainings will be held shortly.

Daily Mass Time Change Our times for Masses on Mondays, Wednes-days and Fridays have changed. Instead of offering Mass at 8:30 AM, we are starting at 8:10 AM. This will help accommodate the schedule of the school children who join us

once a week and hopefully some of our parishioners trying to get to work in the morning.

Help is needed to prepare, cook and de-

liver Christmas meals to those in need in our community. Monetary donations to assist in this project will be taken at the rectory. Sign-up sheets are in the back of church.

Please call Dan Sweeney at 315-854-4253 for information, or John Beaudette at 315-

385-5235 to sign up.

Religious give thanks.

A religious sister writes, "When we see the generous response of so many thousands of persons in order to help us, religious men and women, we are left speechless.” Senior sis-ters, brothers, and religious order priests across the country send heartfelt thanks and prayers for your donation to last week’s retire-ment Fund for Religious collection. Thank you for your support!

Parish Office Hours

The week of Christmas, the Offices will only be open on Wednes-day, December 27th.

Readings for Sunday December 17: Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Readings for Sunday December 24: Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38

The church Sanctuary Lamp will burn this week in memory of

Don Wilson by

Judy & Family If you desire to have the Vigil Lamp lit for a loved one or for your

intention, please contact the Rectory.

December 16 and December 17, 2017 Sat. 5:00 pm

Lectors: Edd White, Bernie Proulx

Eucharist: Lisa Guccione, Freda Michaud, Joan Pope,

Pat Furgal

Altar Servers: (Need)

Greeter: Mary Thivierge

Sun. 9:00 am

Lectors: Mel Schrems

Eucharist: Barb teRiele, Virginia Burwell, Judy Bailey, Paul Schrems

Greeters: Helen Dominy

Altar Servers: Gavin Thompson

Sun. 11:15 am

Lector: Judy Rasmussen

Eucharist: Mark Dalton, Don Rasmussen

Altar Servers: James Bailey

Greeter: (need)

December 23 and December 24, 2017 Sat. 5:00 pm

Lectors: Brad Mintener

Eucharist: Sandra Bartlett, Michael Christy,

Brenda Sanderson

Altar Servers: Gabe Ballard

Greeter: (need)

Sat. 7:00 pm

Lectors: sign up in church

Eucharist: sign up in church

Altar Servers: sign up in church

Greeter: sign up in church

Sun. 9:00 am 4th Sunday of Advent

Lector: Norma Jean Lapoint, Virginia Burwell

Eucharist: Pam Neal, Shelly Roiger, Cheryl Curry,

Helen Dominy

Altar Servers: Zadok Roiger, Joseph Roiger

Greeter: Maureen Howard

Sun. 4:00 pm sign up in church

Sun. 6:00 pm sign up in church

Sun. 10:00 pm sign up in church

Mon. 9:00 am Christmas Day

Lector, Eucharist, Altar Server sign up in church

Greeter

Monday, Dec. 18: Late Advent Weekday

8:10 am Mass Howard & Rita Shannon by the Estate

Tuesday, Dec. 19: Late Advent Weekday

4:00 pm Holy Hour for Vocations

5:10 pm Mass Elizabeth Raymond by Tim Pope

5:40 pm+ Confessions

Wednesday, Dec. 20: Late Advent Weekday

10:30 am (Maplewood) Grace Creighton-

Casselman & Marie E. Creighton by Suzanne & Daniel Smith

Thursday, Dec. 21: Late Advent Weekday/St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church

5:10 pm Mass All Souls by Parishioners

Friday, Dec. 22: Late Advent Weekday

8:10 am Mass Margaret Landers by Judy Wilson and Family

Saturday, Dec. 23: Advent Weekday

No Morning Mass

3:45-4:45 pm Confessions

Vigil: Fourth Sunday of Advent

5:00 pm Mass Don Wilson by Judy Wilson & Family

7:00 pm Mass Frances Ann Empie by Daughter, Mary

Sunday, Dec. 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent

9:00 am Mass For the People of the Parish

Week of December 9th & 10th 2016 2017____

Envelopes $6,693.00 $6,476.00

Plate $885.15 $731.93

Children’s Envelopes $0 $12.25

Christmas Flowers $160.00 $290.00

Immaculate Conception $1,257.00 $1,536.00

Religious Retirement $3,008.25 $3,294.50

Campaign for Human Dev. $0 $1.00

Total $12,341.68

Thank you for your support and generosity each and every week! Please continue to remember how important your weekly offering is to the

life of our parish!

MASS & PARISH SCHEDULE

Sunday, Dec. 24: Vigil of The Nativity of the Lord

4:00 pm Mass Myrtle & Harold Burke & Family by Judy Wilson & Family

6:00 pm Mass Furgal & Sears Families by The Furgal

Family

10:00 pm Mass For the People of the Parish

Monday, Dec. 25: The Nativity of the Lord

9:00 am Mass Deceased Members of the Stitt Family by Fr. Bryan Stitt