December 8, 2019 2nd Sunday of Advent

What have you done today to make the Church holy?

What have you done today to make the Church welcoming?

Welcome to the Nashoba Catholic Collaborative! If you are visiting us for the first time we wish to welcome you and your family

and hope that you enjoy your visit. If you would like to join either St Mary’s or St Anthony’s Parish (we are still two, separate entities),

there are Registration Forms available in the vestibules of both churches; and on our website, too!

WEEKEND MASS INTENTIONS

2nd Sunday of Advent

Sat, Dec 7, 4PM – Elaine Gendron, r/b The Family

Sun, Dec 8, 8AM – Lorraine Cormier, r/b Eli & Claudette Cormier

9:45AM – Garry Bator, Sr, r/b The Family

11:15AM – Mark Harding, r/b The Family

3rd Sunday of Advent

Sat, Dec 14, 4PM – George, Irene & Roger Hamel, r/b The Family

Sun, Dec 15, 8AM – Mary Heald & Bob Burkart, r/b Murray Heald

9:45AM – Mark H White, r/b The Staff of St Mary’s

11:15AM – Bob, Sr & Mary Gardner, r/b The Family

Mass Intentions - To request a Mass be said for a loved one who has passed away, or for someone who needs our prayers (Special Intention), please contact the Parish Office during the week for booking. All Masses may be offered for one or more persons, if requested by the same person, for the same Mass time, AND no more than two Masses may be booked per month by the same person.

The next available Sundays are in February 2020.

The next available weekdays are in January 2020. The donation is $10 per mass. Please pay at the time of booking.

Prayer List for people who may be ill and wish prayers:

Denise Broussard, Marian “Mimi” Bumann, Joan Clark, Cindy, Calvin Colby , Kevin Cox, Daniel Dall, William Davis, Judy

Dumont, PF, Tina & Walter Forest, Tom Flynn, Lois Glasgow, Christine Hanley, Margaret “Peggy” Jean, Ricky Johnson, Kim, DL, Doris Levesque, Megan Murphy, Carlton Noyes, Lorraine

Paine, Ron Pateech, Jean Patrick, Nancy Peterson, Ron Robillard, Christine Saball, Alma Smith.

If you wish to have a name put on this list, please email: parishoffice@nashobacatholic.org, or call the office. Thank you.

Prayer List for people in the Armed Services. If you wish to

have a name put on this list, please email: parishoffice@nashobacatholic.org

Julia Gardner, Scott Hurley, and Michael Nurenberg

Ongoing – Silent Eucharistic Adoration: Every Wednesday Evening from 7:30 – 8:30PM

The 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesdays are at St. Anthony’s

The 2nd & 4th Wednesdays are at St. Mary’s

There is a Men’s Prayer and Sharing Group that gathers on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month at St Anthony’s Church from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Men from both parishes are invited to attend. For more information, contact Bob Schick at 978-772-2116 or John Sabal at 978-425-5090.

December 8 ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent

In today’s first reading, Isaiah presents a hope-filled picture

of the Kingdom that Christ came to establish. Pray the Our Father each day this week and as you do so, pray for the

grace to notice the glimpses of the kingdom that are spring-ing up around you – acts of welcome, of kindness, of mercy and love.

Mary Iannuzzi is a spiritual companion/director in formation with the Spiritual Director Certification Program at St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center, Boston, MA. She would be happy to accompany you on your spiritual path. One-on-one meetings will take place at St Anthony’s Rectory in Shirley.

Please feel free to call her at 978-391-4359 or email her at maryiannuzzi@comcast.net, to set up an appointment.

St Mary’s HEALTHY HOSPITALITY SUNDAYS

are after the 8:00 & 9:45 Masses!

We offer coffee, teas, hot chocolate, milk and

juices, fruits and pastries. Come and socialize

with your fellow parishioners from both

parishes, and relax!

The Advent Wreath Prayers – at the entrances of our

churches are purple sheets of paper with the Advent Table Prayers for the 4 weeks of Advent. Please help yourself.

1ST

& 3RD

Sundays

St Mary’s Adult Christmas Choir will be rehearsing on December 8 & 22 at 7pm in the Church Choir Loft.

Young adults, aged 12 years and older are welcome. We will be singing on Christmas Eve at the 6pm Mass. Please consider joining and raising your voices to celebrate the birth

of our Savior. Please contact Beth Lewis at elewis@asrsd.org or 978-501-5478, if you are interested.

WEEK DAY MASS INTENTIONS

At 8:30AM at St Anthony’s Church: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri.

Mon, Dec 9 – Jake Diemert & Amy Martone, r/b Jean Diemert

Tue, Dec 10 – The Deceased Family Members of Chet & Jane Pauley

Thu, Dec 12 – Special Intention, r/b The Bradshaw Family

Fri, Dec 13 – Robert Loya, r/b Matt & Theresa Richards

Mon, Dec 16 – Henry Gendron, r/b The Family

Tue, Dec 17 – Phil & Danny Draleau, r/b The Family

Thu, Dec 19 – Adriana & Kari Medina, r/b Isabel Chesak

Fri, Dec 20 – Donald & William DeLaite, r/b The Family

St Mary’s Thrift Store! OPEN Saturdays ONLY 9-3. Donations only accepted until 2pm

Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/StMaryCCThriftshop/ We need more volunteers to help unpack, organize, price and sell items. Any hours that you can spare would be most helpful. This is a great opportunity for those who need Community Service.

For more info contact Mr. Knight at 978-425-5420

We will be open the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Starting in December: everything will be 50% off!

St Mary’s 2nd Collection:

Dec 8 – Immaculate Conception

Christmas Flower Donations may be given at any time.

There are envelopes on the two tables at the entrance.

Dec 15 – Maintenance

Dec 22 – Utilities

Dec 25 – Clergy Health & Retirement

St. Anthony’s 2nd Collection:

Dec 1 – Parish Support Dec 8 – Immaculate Conception

Christmas Flower envelopes may be given at any time. Dec 25 – Clergy Health & Retirement

ST MARY FATIMA CLUB The next drawing will be Mon, Dec 16

We wish everyone born in December a Happy Birthday! We wish all couples married in December a Happy Anniversary!

Nashoba Catholic Youth Group Meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 7-9pm.

Facilitated by Joe Leone: cccoach11@gmail.com and

Julie Murray: matta.julie@gmail.com

The LEAPING FLEES For Church Music Ukulele Club is at the Page Hilltop Elementary School, 141 Washington St, Ayer, every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30, and is open to Lura White and Page Hilltop students. If interested, please contact Mr. Mick Paré at 978-235-5304.

PLEASE USE!

NASHOBA CATHOLIC FAITH FORMATION Contact Donna Vaira at 978-772-7474

We still need Substitute Teachers! Please call Donna at the number above.

Important notice regarding ALL PARISH Collections:

It is VERY IMPORTANT to use the yellow envelopes, PLEASE. Our parishes’ finances are NOT COMBINED.

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE CHECKS OUT TO NASHOBA VALLEY

CATHOLIC COLLABORATIVE. There is NO SUCH ACCOUNT.

The Christmas Pageant at St

Mary’s Church will take place on Sun, Dec 15 at 9:15am.

Everyone is invited to celebrate with the children and all children

are encouraged to participate.

Upcoming FF Events Breakfast With Santa! Sat, Dec 14 at St Anthony’s Hall, 8:30 – 11am.

There will not be any classes Dec 22 & 23 and Dec 29 & 30. Classes resume Sun, Jan 5 at 9am and Mon, Jan 6 at 6:30pm

Jesus, bright morning star, during this season of parties and family gatherings, help me remember what it means to welcome others as you have welcomed me into your family of faith. I come to you just as I am, complete with my weaknesses, my opinions and biases. And yet you gather me into your arms and accept me. Give me the same openness, love and gratitude for all who enter under my roof during Advent. I am far from perfect, but I pray with confidence that you will guide me to thy perfect light. Amen

Grand Annual (Amount deposited as of 12/2/19.)

St Mary = $22,298.00 St Anthony = $18,147.00

Thank you to all who have given thus far. Grand Annual

donations will be accepted all through November and

December. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

ANNUAL CONCERT WEEKEND IN AYER AT THE TOWN HALL December 14 & 15, 2019

Sat, Dec 14 at 2pm – Holiday Concert and Sing-Along Nashoba Valley Concert Band & Ayer-Shirley Middle School

Chorus in the Great Hall on the 2nd floor.

Sun, Dec 15 at 2pm - Tuba Christmas Concert Tuba Players from all over New England playing traditional

Christmas carols, in the Great Hall on the 2nd floor.

Both events are free and open to the public. Families welcome. The Town Hall is handicapped accessible.

Welcome!

The Christian Communities of St Mary’s and St Anthony’s welcomes

Emily Marie Maribito, Michael Joseph Rego III, and

Katherine Grace Wilson, To our family of faith.

Both of our churches have a Giving

Tree, BUT they are supporting TWO

DIFFERENT places! So PLEASE

make note of which parish is on

the tag(s) & return the gifts,

UNWRAPPED with the TAG

SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE

GIFT, to the correct parish by

Dec 15!!! Thank you!

NEW OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 9 AM TO 1 PM.

NEW WEBSITE www.nashobacatholic.org

NEW EMAIL: parishoffice@nashobacatholic.org

ADVENT RETREAT Waiting: Who? Why? Herod/Humility Anna/Simplicity

Monday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 17 at 6:30pm at St Anthony’s Parish Hall.

Facilitated by Fr D and S. Joan.