PONDERING
Last Tuesday, John
Heaney, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Parish in
Over the years we have shared themes, stories
and different ways to hear what the scriptures are saying to us. Our gatherings
keep things fresh, creative and interesting. Trust me when I tell you that many
of the stories you have heard over the years you would have never heard without
our gathering together.
One of the things that always amazes
me is how a quote, insight or story can be buried in one of our resource materials
that is only uncovered years and years later. Here is one from last Tuesday; it
comes from a resource guide called Celebration and it is dated 1978. The quote
is from John XXIII, whose vision and spirit I believe is still alive, if
dormant, in our church. “If we could step outside ourselves, outside our Latin,
our rings, our rules, our protocol, our dignities and grades, and love and feel
love and act out that love, we would see our truth in fullness. All people
would listen.” So easy to say; so difficult to live.
One of the things that makes his quote so powerful is that he lived its message
and all people did listen until his successors put back some of the barriers he
removed.
We are living witnesses to the slow decline of
our church. The signs are all around us. Church is not a priority in many peoples’
lives. Church, the Sacraments, the community at prayer seem to be realities
that are nice if we have the time and more and more we don’t have the time.
All is not bleak. For those who remain an active
part of the church there are many positive signs. Our public worship is
life-giving. More and more people are actively engaged in the life and mission
of the parish. Our children are being taught in an environment of loving
concern. Gone is the fear that was so prevalent in my catholic education.
We are the remnant. If we keep living our faith
the Holy Spirit will change hearts by working through us.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, November 8
5:00 p.m. Robert
Cetenich
Sunday, November 9
8:00 a.m. M.
Rita Brock
John
F. Brock
9:15 a.m. Gerard
DiSchino
Ralph
Pescatore
11:35 a.m. Maximiana
Sanchez
Antonio
Locatelli
Lt.
Carmen DeCubellis
Wednesday, November 12
12:00 p.m. John
and Julia Fressie
Saturday, November 15
5:00 p.m. John
Rial
Gerald
Ward
Vincent
J. Dinapoli
Sunday,
November 16
8:00 a.m. George
McAuliffe
Filomena
Simoes
Felix
LeGoff
9:15 a.m. Florita
Zafra
Candida Rebecca
Matthew
Rebecca
11:35 a.m. Iris
Rugge
VETERAN’S DAY
Tuesday, November 11
Mass
at 9 a.m. at the
BAPTISM
PREPARATION
The next BAPTISM
PREPARATION class is Tuesday, November
11 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Parent preparation is required and
arrangements should be made at least three months prior to the baby’s due date.
If you have any questions or plan to have a child baptized, please call the
office at 783-7459.
Please note: Baptism preparation sessions are held four
times a year (February, May, August, November).
BOOK
OF THE DEAD
During the month of November you are invited to
inscribe the names for your deceased loved ones in our “Book of the Dead.” The
prayers of the entire community will be joined together for our beloved dead.
This book is located in the front of the church next to the Easter candle.
RELIGIOUS
FORMATION
Religious Formation Classes will be held
as scheduled November 9 for classes
Pre-K to 8.
GRADE 5 PARENT REMINDER
Our first parent meeting is Wednesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. in the hall. Parent participation is an important aspect of sacramental preparation, and parents are required to attend all parent meetings unless an older child has participated within the last three years.
CONFIRMATION NOTES
The next Phase I retreat date is scheduled for Monday, November 24, from 4:30 –
8:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
PHASE I & II
The next class will be on Sunday, November 23
at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Narragansett,
from 1 – 2:30 p.m. Val Limar Jansen
will be the featured guest – please
note the change of venue. Any questions
please call the Religious Formation Office 789-0417 or email glardaro@ctkri.org
STEPHEN
MINISTRY MESSAGE
In
the next few days, we will be honoring veterans. Not only the
men and women who have served and have returned home to resume their lives, but
also our deceased veterans who gave their all for our country. For some
of us, the talk will bring sad and disturbing memories. The only way to work
through them is to open up and talk about them, but finding someone who is not
also suffering can be hard. A Stephen Minister can be just that person: listening,
caring for you, and not judging your feelings. Call Carol Hartley (783-4036
or email carolhartley@cox.net) or Larry Bartley (865-7276 or email LJBJR@cox.net)
for more information.
MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
Join us Sunday,
November 9 for our workshop in the
hall from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Instructions and supplies are available.
BIBLE STUDY
The
last bible study meeting for this session is Thursday, November 13 at
7 p.m. in the hall.
TICKETS!
TICKETS! TICKETS!
The 20th
Anniversary Feast of Christ the King Concert will be one night only on Friday,
November 21 at 7 p.m. at the
BOOK FAIR
Our annual Book Fair
will be held November 15/16 after all
masses in the hall. Stop in and see the selection of Catholic reading materials
and gifts from Tally’s, Paulist Press and books by Brother Mickey McGrath.
ADVENT WREATH WORKSHOP
The Advent Wreath Workshop is on Saturday, November 29 at 10 a.m. in the hall. Sign ups are next
weekend, November 15/16 after all
the masses. We will have a limited number of “to go” kits if you cannot attend
that day. Cost of supplies is $10.
NOVEMBER WALL HANGINGS
The bulletin will feature short biographies of the holy men and women wall hangings displayed in the church. Also, thanks to Audrey Bernier, whose name was inadvertently omitted, for her contribution to the project.
ELIZABETH
ANN SETON was born in August, 1774 to an Episcopalian
Family. She became a Catholic in 1805 and started a
DOROTHY
DAY was born in 1897. She became Catholic after her
daughter’s birth and began The Catholic Worker Movement in 1933. Many
historians describe her as the most influential American Catholic of the last
one hundred years.
JOHN
HENRY CARDINAL NEWMAN is considered the most illustrious of
English coverts to the Catholic Church. Cardinal Newman became a Catholic in
1845. He gave lectures on the “Idea of University”, and created the university
system, which is why the Newman Club took his name. Pope Leo elected Newman
Cardinal in 1879 and he died in August 1890.
SAINT
STEPHEN was one of the first of seven deacons in the
early Christian church. Stephen spoke with such wisdom and power, converting
many to Christianity, that the elders of the synagogue
plotted against him, charging that he spoke against Moses and God. He was
attacked by a crowd and stoned to death, becoming the first martyr of the
church.
WORLD
WIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God New England
is December 5 –7.
For more information call Ralph and Jane Becker at 1-800-710-WWME or visit our webpage at www.wwmeMA.org.
YOUTH
The Office for Comprehensive Youth Ministry of the Diocese of
Providence would like to ask that you assist us in praying for the success of
our upcoming 2008 Catholic Youth Mission
Week, November 19 –23, especially
keeping our middle school and high school children close in your prayers – that
they are able to gain a greater understanding and lasting faith from our Youth
Mission, “Our God, The Great I Am.” Would you like your child
to join this opportunity to grow in their faith? For the schedule and more
about this Youth Mission, please visit www.ymcyoprov.org or call 278-4626.
“Do not let anyone treat
you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to
the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your
pure life.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
OPEN
HOUSES
AED/CPR TRAINING AT CHRIST THE
KING
Rick Walsh will conduct an AED/CPR training class on Saturday, December 6
from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for any
parishioners who are interested in being AED and American Heart Association CPR
certified. Call the rectory office (783-7459) to register.
CALENDAR
FOR NOVEMBER 8 – 16
Saturday, November
8
7:30 p.m. International Wine Tasting/Hall
Sunday, November 9
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Make a Difference/Hall
Monday, November 10
7:00 p.m. Liturgy Planning/Hall
7:30 p.m. Parish Council/Library
Tuesday, November
11
Rectory and Religious Formation
Offices Closed/Veteran’s Day
9:00 a.m. Mass/Catholic Center
7:00 p.m. Baptism Preparation/Hall
7:30 p.m. Parish Activities/Library
Wednesday, November
12
7:00 p.m. RCIA/First Reconciliation
Parents Meeting/Hall
7:00 p.m.
Training/Library
7:30 p.m. Social Action/Sunroom
7:30 p.m. Choir
Thursday, November
13
7:00 p.m. Bible Study/Hall
Saturday/Sunday,
November 15 – 16
ANNUAL BOOK FAIR/HALL