Parish Trustees

John Costigan

Maddie Josephs

Finance Council

Arthur DeBlois, III

John Josephs

Michael Kirwan

Laura Loffredo

Patricia Pita

David Tente

Parish Accountant

Leroux, Garceau & Massa

Pastoral Council

Anthony DeMoura

Patricia Flatley

David Larsen

Sue Leonard

Sister Perpetua Lester

Joseph Moniz

Kathleen Moniz

Deacon John Needham

Jack Paiva

Patricia Pita

Ronald Procopio

John Rezendes

Erin Roche

Daniel Seseske

Jessica Walters

St. Margaret School Ms. Lee Ann Nunes, Interim Principal

lnunes@stmargaretsch.org

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

Schedule for Mass and Sacraments

Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon

Monday-Friday: 8:00 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.

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

Reverend Thomas L. Keenan, Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Carl B. Fisette, Priest in Residence

Mr. John F. Needham, Deacon

Rev. Mr. Stephen Battey, Deacon

Mrs. Patricia Pita, Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Laura Loffredo, Part-time Secretary/Bulletin Editor

Mr. Ronald Procopio, Minister of Music, 434-6304; 529-2250

Sister Perpetua Lester, R.S.M., Pastoral Assistant

Ms. Jessica Walters, Religious Education, Gr. 1-6, jwalters.ore@gmail.com

Mr. Daniel Seseske, Religious Education, Gr. 7-11, dseseske.ore@gmail.com

Mrs. Erin Roche, Youth Activities, Erinroche@cox.net Cell: 401-419-7828

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: Weekdays 9 a.m.—3 p.m. (closed Wed.)

December 24—30

SATURDAY 4:00 P.M. Mass for all Parishioners of St. Margaret

6:00 P.M. Mass for all Parishioners of St. Margaret

11:00 P.M. Mass for all Parishioners of St. Margaret

SUNDAY 10:00 A.M. Mass for all Parishioners of St. Margaret

MONDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for peace throughout the world

TUESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for respect for all Human Life

WEDNESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for all the sick of our parish

THURSDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for an increase in Vocations

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

December 31— January 6 SATURDAY 5:00 P.M. Memorial Mass for Daniel Kelley, by family

SUNDAY 10:00 A.M. Anniversary Mass for Edward J. DeMarco, Jr., by family

12:00 Noon Mass for all Parishioners of St. Margaret

MONDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for those who are hungry throughout the world

TUESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for religious freedom throughout the world

WEDNESDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for Catholic schools of our diocese

THURSDAY 8:00 A.M. Mass for Daniel & Mary Fitzpatrick

FRIDAY 9:00 A.M. First Friday Mass with St. Margaret School

January 7—8

SATURDAY 5:00 P.M. Anniversary Mass for Kathleen Cordeiro, by family

SUNDAY 8:00 A.M. 3rd Anniversary Mass for Norman Bisson, by family

10:00 A.M. 2nd Anniversary Mass for Loretta Haugen, by family

12:00 Noon 1st Anniversary Mass for Edward D. Long, by family

St. Margaret Church Rumford, RI

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Announcements

In observance of the Christmas holidays, the parish office will be closed on Monday, December 26, and again on

Monday, January 2.

Please note that there will be no 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 1.

Because of the holiday publication schedule, there will be only one bulletin for Christmas and New Year’s. Weekly

publication of the bulletin will resume on January 8.

We are very grateful to Dave & Diane Larsen for the new outdoor Nativity Scene that graces our church this

Christmas season. We hope you enjoy it!

Msgr. Darcy will be on 24-hour emergency chaplain service at Memorial Hospital on Monday, December 26, from

9:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

St. Margaret Church calendars will be available after Mass on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Please remember in your prayers Anna Laliberte

whose services were held last week.

St. Margaret Parish warmly welcomes

Annie Costa, newly-baptized daughter

of Glen and Laura, to our community of

faith. Congratulations!

The Nativity of the Lord/The Solemnity of Mary

Bread of Life Food Pantry

The Bread of Life Food Pantry needs

volunteers! The pantry is seeking

people to assist those who come to the

pantry on Tuesdays, from 5—7 p.m. If

you are able to help with this important

parish mission, please contact Lynn Botelho (580-3679) or

Cheryl Frazier (523-4410). Thank you!

Our Lady of Fatima Visitation in Your Home

Several families have already registered to host the

Visiting Statue Our Lady of Fatima in their home. This

Visitation will be the source and inspiration for devotion

to Our Lady during this Centennial Year of the

apparitions in Fatima. The Visitation Case will be

picked up after any Sunday Mass, and returned to the

vestibule area, which is on the left when you enter the

front doors of the Church, where the priest and ministers

gather in preparation for Mass. If you and your family

would like to participate, please call the rectory (438-

3230) to reserve the Visiting Statue.

The Next Baptism Preparation Session

will be held on Mon., Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. in the

Community Room. Parents should be

registered parish members and committed

to sharing their Catholic faith and its

practices with their growing family.

Godparent or Confirmation Sponsor Form: Have you

been asked to be a godparent or confirmation sponsor? If

you have, please know that you will be required to be a

registered parishioner of Saint Margaret Church for six

months before we can issue a “letter in good standing” as

required for sponsors to indicate they are striving to

practice their faith by regular worship, as well as by being

in good canonical standing and living lives consistent

with Gospel values.

Are you A Registered Member? We want to welcome

you and invite you to join us as registered members of St.

Margaret Parish. Our parish life and vitality depend on

all who register and participate in growing parish

services, activities and outreach.

St. Margaret Parish Ministries

St. Margaret School will observe Christmas vacation

from Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2.

Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 3.

During the Christmas holiday, painting of hallways

and classrooms will take place throughout the school,

thanks to the support of several generous parishioners.

The school will be bright and welcoming when the

students return from Christmas break.

The school-wide Spelling Bee will be held at on

Tuesday, January 3 at 1:30 p.m. in McCaffrey Hall.

Winners from Grades 4—8 will compete to represent St.

Margaret School at the Diocesan Spelling Bee.

On Friday, January 6, faculty, staff and students of St.

Margaret School will attend First Friday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

All are welcome to attend and worship with the parish

schoolchildren.

A Joyous Christmas to All!

December 25, 2016—January 1, 2017

At Christmas Masses, there will be two collections: the regular Sunday offertory and the Christmas Collection, which will be taken in support of St. Margaret Church and parish ministries. The Christmas collection does not go to the parish clergy.

Thanks to all who continue regular financial support for St. Margaret Parish.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Diocesan Office of Faith Formation will be hosting a

four-session Confirmation preparation course for adult

Catholics who are in need of, and desire to receive, the

Sacrament of Confirmation. The Confirmation preparation

program will be held on four consecutive Mondays from

March 13—April 3, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Office of Faith

Formation.

All those interested must be registered for the program

by their pastor. If you are interested in the Rite of Christian

Initation of Adults (RCIA) and would like to participate in

this diocesan program, please contact the rectory (401-438-

3230) no later than February 24. Registration will be closed

as of March 1, and all necessary paperwork must be

submitted by then.

Those completing the program will arrange to receive the

Sacrament of Confirmation with their individual parishes.

Wknd of Dec. 17/18, 2016 2015 2016

# of budgets used 250 260

Checks, envelopes $4,768.50 $5,876.00

Loose 532.00 558.00

Children’s envelopes 14.00

# EFT participants 126 133

Faith Direct—EFT 2,268.75 2,556.88

TOTAL OFFERTORY $7,583.25 $8,990.88

2016 Parish “Annual Collection”

This very important collection continues thru the month of December. The participation of all parishioners is essential for the success of this effort. By your generous support, we are able to keep up with major capital improvements. Thank you for your support.

2016 Goal: $75,000 Gifts-To-Date: 62,885

December 25, 2016—January 1, 2017

The Pastor’s Page

A blessed Christmas Season to

you! The wonderful celebration of

the Nativity enlivens our world,

our Church, our parish, our families, and our souls! God is

with us. . .and so we celebrate! Our celebration of the Holy

Family reinforces the family as “the little Church” where

the faith is first received in Baptism, nurtured by the love of

family, and shared with our parish, friends and community.

The kindness of the parish with the Giving Tree

opportunity was overwhelming. We’ve learned our lessons

well. . .that to give is to reflect the love of the Father who

sent His gift, Jesus to save us. Thank you, too for your

cards and generous gifts to me during this holy season.

The Christmas season begins with the Nativity and

continues through January 15, the Baptism of the Lord.

Keep those trees lit (and watered!), light the window

candles, and spend time with your family and friends. I

don’t know about you, but rather than run around “to get

something” for someone, I’d much rather be with the

people I care about during Christmas, sharing the gift of

Christ, the Light of the World.

This light was shown first to the poor shepherds,

then to the people of Bethlehem, then to King Herod and

lastly, to the Wise Men of the East. The astrologers

followed a star. We celebrate their arrival in Bethlehem on

the Feast of the Epiphany, January 8. The Greek word

means “manifestation or unveiling.” Christ is manifested,

unveiled to the non-Jewish world. It’s a beautiful feast and

our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Church exchange

gifts on that day.

Finally, our Christmas Season concludes with the

Lord being baptized in the Jordan by his cousin, John the

Baptist. John, the chosen messenger of the Messiah, will

point out who Jesus is, and thus fulfill his mission. The

public ministry of Jesus will begin. . .and we continue to

follow Him in faith, in hope and always in love.

A blessed Christmas Season to all!

~Msgr. Darcy