Parish Trustees

John Costigan

Maddie Josephs

Finance Council

Arthur DeBlois, III

John Josephs

Michael Kirwan

David Tente

Pastoral Council

Bethany Bessette

Anthony DeMoura

Patricia Flatley

David Larsen

Sue Leonard

Joseph Moniz

Kathleen Moniz

Charles Moreira

Deacon John Needham

Lee Ann Nunes

Jack Paiva

Ronald Procopio

St. Margaret School Mrs. Lee Ann Nunes, Principal

lnunes@stmargaretsch.org

Phone: 401-434-2338 www.stmargaretsch.org

Reverend Msgr. John J. Darcy, Pastor Reverend Msgr. William J. McCaffrey, Pastor Emeritus

Mr. John F. Needham, Deacon

Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, Secretary & Bulletin Editor

Anthony DeCrescenzo, Parish Financial Manager

Mr. Ronald Procopio, Minister of Music, 529-2250

procopiowcrs@gmail.com

Mrs. Bethany Bessette, Faith Formation, Gr. 1-6, bethanybessette@cox.net

Mr. Charles Moreira, Faith Formation, Gr. 7-10, cmoreira@cox.net

Mrs. Joan Cronin, Children's Liturgy of the Word

St. Margaret Church 1098 Pawtucket Avenue Rumford, RI 02916

Phone: 401-438-3230 Fax: 401-438-4221

Email: office-stmargaretchurch@cox.net

www.stmargaretchurch.org

Office Hours: 9 a.m.—3 p.m. Monday & Tuesday

9 a.m.—1 p.m. Thursday & Friday

Closed on Wednesday

Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. (preceded by praying of the Rosary at 7:30 a.m.)

Baptism: Call the parish office to register for sacramental preparation and monthly baptism.

Reconciliation: Saturday, 4:15-4:45 or by appointment.

Marriage: See a parish priest at least 8-12 months prior to the date of marriage.

Anointing the Sick: Please notify the parish office.

Holy Orders: Please see a parish priest or go to www.catholicpriest.com

Parish Registration: Every family in the parish should be registered. New families (including newly married) should register by completing a parish registration form available at church or online.

Our parish vitality depends on all Catholics registering as parish members.

December 14-20 SATURDAY 5:00 P.M. Memorial Mass for Raymond Garraghan, by family

SUNDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for all parishioners at St. Margaret’s

10:30 A.M. Memorial Mass for Bob Capello, by family

MONDAY 8:00 A.M Mass for all Parishioners at St. Margaret’s

TUESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for the souls in purgatory

WEDNESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for all caregivers

THURSDAY 8:00 A.M 12th Anniversary Mass for Mary Haddad, by family

FRIDAY 8:00 A.M Memorial Mass for John McQueeney Sr., by family

December 21-22 SATURDAY 5:00 P.M. Memorial Mass for Albino Prata Coelho & Maria DeJesus Pina Carvalho, by family

SUNDAY 8:00 A.M. Memorial Mass for John Pacheco, by family

10:30 A.M. Memorial Mass for Tina Calitri, by family

St. Margaret Church Rumford, RI

Looking ahead: Sunday, December 15, The Parish Annual Christmas Concert will be held at 4:00 PM in the church

Friday, December 20th, at 1:30 PM Msgr. Darcy will celebrate Mass at Rumford Towers

Saturday & Sunday, January 18 & 19, the second collection is for Catholic University

Monday, January 20th, the parish office will be closed for Martin Luther King Day

Bishop Tobin has kicked-off the Annual Keep the Heat On Challenge, a program that helps struggling families

with heating assistance who have exhausted all other public and private means to keep their families warm during

the Rhode Island winter. Since 2005, your generous support has provided more than $2.95 million in assistance to

more than 13,000 Rhode Island households in need. If you would like to help local families this winter with a tax-

deductible donation, or, if you know of someone in need of heating assistance, please visit www.heatRI.com or call

401/421-7833 for additional information. You can also make a $10 donation by texting the word HEAT to 27722 or a

$25 donation be texting the word HEATRI to 27722.

During the month of January, our budget company and Faith Direct (for those giving electronically) will send registered

parishioners a Contribution Statement for 2019. Parishioners who have children enrolled in St. Margaret School and receive the parish tuition rate should review this statement carefully to be sure your contribution is correct and meets the guideline for

reduced tuition rate. If you need to bring your contribution up-to-date for 2019, please be sure it is clearly marked “2019 Church Support” and send it directly to the parish office to be recorded.

January 10-11, 2020 Our Lady of Providence is hosting its annual overnight retreat for men who are seniors in high school and

older. The retreat director this year will be our pastor, Monsignor John Darcy. If you are discerning a vocation to the

priesthood, or know of a man who you think would appreciate an invitation, please contact Fr. Brian Morris at the Office of

Vocations by phone at (401) 331-1316, by email at rev.brian.morris@gmail.com, or visit CatholicPriest.com.

December 21-22 Eucharistic Ministers Lectors Altar Servers Greeters

5:00 PM Joe & Karen Klucznik, Gail McGowan, Matthew Lloyd, Christopher DePina, Sam DeMoura, Megan McDaniels,

Beth Durand, Pat Henry

8:00 AM John Costigan, Dottie Reposa, Maddie Josephs, Ryan Cronin, Jack & Ellie Cordischi, Ann Apuzzo, Anne Conlon

10:30 AM Bill & Kate Simpson, Alex Pease, Meghan & Matt Cabral, Addie Bessette, Hunter Dubois, Matt Sullivan,

Yvonne Faille, Kathy & Joe Moniz

PARISH PROTOCOL DURING THE COLD AND FLU SEASON (Advent to Holy Week)

This seems an appropriate time to suspend the reception of the chalice at Mass as we enter the cold and flu season. If you

have a bad cold or flu, you are dispensed from the Sunday Mass obligation. Also, simply acknowledge people at Mass

with a friendly nod or gesture if you have a cold. Hand disinfectant is available at all the doors of the church. Stay well!

The Third Sunday of Advent

St. Margaret Parish Ministries

FAITH FORMATION INFORMATION

Grades 1-8:

Classes: December: 15

January: 5, 12

The next sessions for Confirmation I candidates will be on

either Sunday, February 23rd following the 10:30 AM Mass

or Tuesday evening, February 25th at 6:30 PM. Candidates

need to only attend one of the sessions.

All paperwork in their packets, including Sponsor

Certificates, is due at the April session. Please email

Mr. Moreira with any questions.

Reminder: Parents or sponsors are most welcome at any of

the sessions to learn about our program and assist the

candidate in his or her formation.

Candidates are also reminded to attend their assigned Mass

in which they are assisting in the various liturgical roles.

Also, please remember to sign in when attending

Mass at St. Margaret’s.

ST. MARGARET SCHOOL NEWS

Student Council will be collecting baby

clothes, diapers, wipes, powder, formula,

bottles, etc. to be donated to the mothers

and babies of Gabriel’s Call. They are

accepting donations from Nov. 25th

through Dec. 17th.

The School Office hours: Monday thru Friday

7:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Interested in enrolling in St. Margaret School, call the

office for information (434-2338).

Outreach Ministry

If you have a homebound family member or parishioner

friend who cannot make it to church, please call the parish

office; we can arrange to have cards sent to our homebound

parishioners to let them know we are thinking and praying

for them, and we can arrange for Mr. Moreira, our Pastoral

Minister, a priest or deacon to visit and bring communion.

Please also let us know of any parishioners who may be

hospitalized or recovering from surgery in a rehab facility

and would like a visit from the parish.

St. Margaret Parish Christmas Concert and

Pageant

Join us today,

December 15th at 4:00 PM, in the church.

Proceeds from a collection will benefit the

‘Keep the Heat On,’ a heating assistance

program of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. This annual concert has

become a holiday tradition for many,

so plan to arrive early!

St. Gabriel’s Call at St. Patrick’s: A special workshop consisting of an overview of the diocesan outreach ministry for women during and beyond pregnancy will be offered on Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s, 244 Smith Street, Providence. The agenda will include how you can help mom and baby and enrich

their lives by mentoring, providing material needs, parenting and cooking skills. This workshop will be offered in English and Spanish. For more information and to RSVP

please call 278-2518 or 421-7070.

St. Margaret School would like to get in touch

with our alumni from 1960 to 2000.

Please reach out to St Margaret School Alumni Office by

signing on at stmargaretsch.org. Once you sign on to the

school site, click on the alumni button and give us your

contact information. Our hope is that St Margaret School

alumni can re-connect with classmates and friends.

Weekend and Daily Mass Intentions

With the approach of the new year, please

consider remembering your loved ones with

the beautiful gift of having a memorial mass

celebrated for them. Please feel free to call

the parish office to reserve a mass date.

December 15, 2019

Sincere thanks to all who continue regular financial

support for St. Margaret Parish.

.

Automate your Giving!

Would you like to simplify your life? Join the many parishioners

who have automated their giving using Faith Direct. Enroll online

today at www.faithdirect.net. Our church code is RI118. Don’t have

access to the internet? Pick up paper enrollment form at the church

entrance or stop by the parish office during office hours.

The Bread of Life Food Pantry Located at

Newman Congregational Church

The Pantry is open the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

The food pantry is a collaborative effort sponsored by Saint

Margaret’s and 5 other Christian congregations in East Providence.

For more information, call 401-434-4742.

Upcoming Pantry Hours: December 17 (not the 24) from 5 to 7PM

January 14, 28, from 5to 7PM

The Pantry is open the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

In the event of bad weather, the pantry will not open as

scheduled if the East Providence schools are dismissed early

or are closed for the day. For more information, call 401-434-4742.

Thank you for your support!

WELCOME TO ST. MARGARET CHURCH

On-Line Registration for the parish

is now available.

Please go to the Parish website,

www.stmargaretchurch.org under the tab

labeled “About”. You will find the

registration form that can be filled out on-line

and sent directly to the Parish Office.

Wknd of Dec. 7&8 2018 2019

# of budgets used 233 197

Checks, envelopes $6,330.00 $4,524.00

Loose 609.00 $1,611.00

# EFT participants 131 137

Faith Direct—EFT $2,412.00 $3,460.35

TOTAL OFFERTORY $9,351.00 $9,595.35

Retired Religious $2,236.00 $1,746.00

December 15, 2019

A word of thanks to the PTO who worked so hard on the

Breakfast with St. Nick and Christmas Bazaar. The Conlon Family

(of many generations) processed the Giving Tree Gifts with

lightning speed. Thanks to everyone who made last

weekend such a great parish event.

You can see, hear, and feel the growing anticipation of the

season! The candles are in the windows of the rectory on this

Gaudate (Rejoice) Sunday. The rose candle is lit on the Advent

wreath, for the day draws near.

If I had to subtitle the Gospel for this weekend, it would

be: “Well, what did you expect?” What would you expect of

John the Baptist in today’s world: a man wearing designer

clothes, smoking or vaping, and listening to Pandora© on his

iPad while living in the a high-tech air conditioned residence

in the desert? No, I would expect more of a wild-eyed man,

with long matted hair, and loosely clad in a ragtag camel

skin. His voice would be excited, manic, and even explosive!

John was filled with the Spirit of God...and he also knew his

days were numbered! (Remember now, today‘s passage

recounts an historic event thirty years after Jesus’ birth!)

The imprisoned John the Baptist sends his own followers to

ask Jesus if He is INDEED the one Israel was expecting. Jesus

answers with the words of the prophet, Isaiah (35:5-6), which

is today’s First Reading. The comment about the greatness of

John the Baptist is visually presented in the icons of the

Orthodox Church. When the Christ is depicted with the

prophets of the Old Testament, John is always closest to

Him...and, most significantly, only John’s hand pierces the

nimbus or halo of glory around Jesus as He lifts Adam and Eve

from the grave (John is on the left). Yes, Jesus is the one we

await.

COME, LORD JESUS, DO NOT DELAY!

Celebrate the Light!

~ Monsignor Darcy