Saint Margaret Mary Parish

Saint Margaret Mary Parish
845 High Street, P.O. Box 386
Westwood, MA 02090-0386
Office 781-326-1071 Fax 781-329-1879
PARISH STAFF
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Saturday :
Sunday :
Weekdays:
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4:30 PM
8:30 AM & 11:00 AM
9:00 AM - Mon., Thurs., Fri.
MORNING PRAYER WITH HOLY COMMUNION:
Tue. & Sat. 9:00 AM
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: As announced
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: 3:45 - 4:15 PM - Saturday
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: www.saintmmparish.org
: Info@saintmmparish.org
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: Second Sunday of the month at 1:00 P.M.
Bap sm instruc on required. Contact the office.
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and, or, a pastoral visit to a
homebound/sick person: Contact the office.
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advance.
: stmmprayers@yahoo.com
Please contact us at least six months in
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:
Rev. Stephen J. Linehan - Ext. 103
S.Linehan@saintmmparish.org
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: Rev. Mr. Joseph E. Holderried
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Karlene Duffy, Director - Ext. 101
K.Duffy@saintmmparish.org
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Denise Ra ery - Ext. 102
D.Ra ery@saintmmparish.org
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Mark Nemeskal - Ext. 111
nemeskal@verizon.net
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Jacqueline Kerr—Ext. 100
J.Kerr@saintmmparish.org
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Chris ne Harkins - Ext. 100
C.Harkins@saintmmparish.org
“We strive to be a faith filled community living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradi on.
We are commi ed to loving God through par cipa on in the sacramental life of the Church.
We pray and grow together suppor ng and caring for all.”
THE PASTORS PAGE
DearParishioners,
Atsomepointinlife,manylookforencouragement,
inspirationandsupportastheyfacethechallengeslife
brings.Thereisnoagelimitonwhenwereachthat
point...Itcanhappenwhenweareyoungandnotso
young!Whatarethechallenges?Whydopeoplehaveto
suffer...whymustwedie...howdoIhandlefailure–or
success,howdowedealwithillness,injury,heartache?
Yes,allthe“slingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune...”
Godhelpmeplease...Itcanbealonglist!Ourlife
togetherinfaithhereatSaintMargaretMarydirectsusto
anumberofsources...Twostandout:thebible/The
Word of the Lordandtheexperienceofthecommunity–
theChurch–thatwecalltradition...Thereareother
sources...butthesestandoutforus!Othersincludethe
bestoflearningfromthesciences,philosophyandthe
arts,etc.
OurHolyFather,PopeFrancis,inarecenttriptoAfrica
sharedtheinsightthatwecanalsolearnfromthosewho
strugglewithpoverty,the poorthemselves!Heseesin
thepooradeterminationtoclingtothebestintheGospel
andremainsteadfastinfaith...Ihaveseenarealdignity,
alongwithfearandhope,inpeoplewhostrugglewith
illness,aging,thelossofachild,thelossofajob,theloss
ofahome...God,weneedeachother!Istillhavethe
memoryofhavingseen‐asaboyofabout9–asIwalked
withmygrandfatheronacold,lateautumnday,infront
ofanabandonedLeopold‐MorsestoreinScollaySquare
Boston...anelderlywomanwrappedinoldblankets
sellingpencilsandapples.That’sallgonenow...the
Leopold‐Morsestore,ScollaySquare,theoldwoman...
(BostonCityHallsitsonthesitetoday.)Thatwasalong
timeago...buttheimagestilllingers...Myworkasa
priesttodayisnotunconnectedtotheresponseIwanted
tomakethatdaysolongago...
Makenomistakeaboutitpoverty,illness,diseaseand
oppressionarecrushing...Isuspectthatevensomeofus
heremayhaveevenliveditatonepoint...andcertainly
witnessedit.Itisclear.OurCatholicfaithcallsus...the
Gospelmessage...todoallwecantohelprelievethat
suffering...andevenpreventit!
Thistimeoftheyear...andthisweekendinparticular
affordsusseveralopportunitiestorespondto
challenges–ifnotinourmidst–verymuchnearby.
PleasewelcometwoLittleSistersofthePoor,Sister
MaryVincentandSisterRosemaryJeannewhowillask
foryourprayers,helpinghandsand inancialsupport
andtellyoutheirstoryandtheirmissiontotheelderly
poor.Thisisthe irsttimetheLittleSisters...haveever
cometo“beg”atSaintMargaretMaryParish.Ihave
seentheresultsoftheirwork...notjustnearbybutinmy
serviceintheNavyyearsago...andevenonmyrecent
vacation...Pleasehelpthemasbestyoucantoday,
tomorroworwhenever!
Youdonatedsome90coatsoverthepastfewweeksfor
thosewhowillbecoldthiswinter!Thankyou.God
blessyou!Some35familiessigneduptoprovidegifts
for kids...Theopportunitiesarestillthere...Seebelowfor
details.TheGiving Treeisinthecornerwith
“ornaments”andrequestsforgiftsforapproximately45
childrenwhohaveless...Nextweekend...wewillreach
outtowomeninjail...whooftenreceivenothingat
Christmas...Lifeisverymuchcontrolledinjail...You
cangivethegiftofsocks...Yes!Socks!Seethebulletin
below.
Ihavecometorealizethatneedsofthepoorand
sufferingaretrulyendless...Theconstantbarrageof
demandsdoesnotdetermefromdoingwhatIcan,and
encouragingotherstofollowsuit...Icanonlydothe
bestIcan...Ichoosetodosomething...Theprojectswe
undertake,Ijudgeareworthwhile.IhavelearnedthatI
getfarmorethanIgive...Interestinglyenough,the
moreIgivethemoreIwanttogive...notjustinmoney...
butintime,inlove,inmercy...incompassion.
ThosewithwhomIhavesharedhavetaughtmemuch:I
havelearnedtosharebetterandmore...Ihavelearned
patience,compassion,thevalueofjustlistening...not
holdinggrudges,sharinghowIhavebeenforgiven,and
sayingandmeaningIunderstand...
OLorddelivermefrommediocrityinmyfaithand
actions.HelpmetonottodosomuchthatIdon’tnotice
whatIreallyneedtodo.AMEN
IhopeallaregettingreadyforChristmas...andthatlife
isnottoobusy.
Godblessyou.
YourPastor,
Fr.Linehan
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St. Margaret Mary Parish
Office of Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Good Samaritan Craft Guild
December 9th Meeting
First Penance Retreat: This week 2nd grade students
will ask an adult in their life to become his/her
“Penance Prayer Partner”. A retreat for these 2nd
graders and their prayer partner or a parent will take
place on Sunday, December 6th at 12:30 PM It will
last about 1 hour, 10 minutes.
There will be a meeting of the Good Samaritan Craft
Guild on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 3:00 PM
in the Parish Office Meeting Room.
All are welcome to participate in this ministry of making prayer
shawls, baby blankets and other items for various
hospitals, nursing homes and our own homebound
Parishioners. Please contact Marney Barrett at
marneycpa@verizon.net with any questions or
call 508-359-4218.
Bridge Mass: The idea is to keep the dignity and
sanctity of Mass but to use the Lectionary for Masses
with Children to help our younger parishioners to
better understand the Word of God. The Bridge Mass
also provides an opportunity to involve younger persons in the liturgy. Special thanks to those who proclaimed the Word, welcomed parishioners, served Fr.
Linehan in the sanctuary, and brought forth the gifts.
First Penance: The Sacrament of Forgiveness will be
celebrated on Saturday, December 12th at 11:00 AM
for all 2nd graders, their prayer partners and
families.
First Communion retreat: May 1st at 12:30 PM
First Communion: May 7th (10:00 AM & 1:00 PM)
Confirmation retreats: (candidates must attend
one) April 8th & April 15th (5:00 PM -10:00 PM)
Confirmation rehearsal: May 13th at 6:00 PM
Confirmation: May 15th at 2:00 PM
May Procession/Second Communion reception:
May 8th at 11:00 AM
All 2015-2016 schedules
can be found on our parish website.
Update from the Social Justice Committee
Coat Drive Completed!
The Coat Drive was a great success! The congregation donated 89 Coats to be cleaned and distributed to
support those in need. The Congregation donated down
coats, dress coats, children’s coats and snow suits. Several were new with tags on them.
Thank you for your generosity.
Gifts for Kids Delivery Update:
35 families signed up to purchase Christmas presents for
a young person from a local family in need. REMINDER:
Return the purchases to the basement of St. Margaret
Mary Church on December 11, from 4-6 PM. Gifts
must be placed in a large bag with gift wrapping materials
in the bag if possible and tagged on the outside and inside with the number and name of the recipient. If you
have any questions or want to participate, please contact
Erin Fitzgerald at fitzgeralder@thayer.org or call her between 4-9 PM at 781-915-7923.
Giving Tree Going up this Weekend Dec 5-6:
Please select an ornament from the tree this weekend,
and return the gift wrapped with the ornament attached
by December 20, 2015. These gifts are donated to
students in need who attend the Mission Grammar
School in Roxbury. The school Principal has also expressed a need for copy paper and Staples Gift
Cards for ink purchases.
Socks for Women in Prison Fund Raiser Dec 13-14:
Monday Night Rosary
At 8:10 PM on Monday nights we gather to pray for
all families and for peace. We ask, through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, for peace in
our hearts, our homes, our communities and our
world. Our prayers include the Rosary, scripture,
poetry, music and more. You need not know the
Rosary to join us. Prayer sheets and rosary beads
are provided. All are welcome.
The Parish is donating white crew socks to the women
prisoners at Framingham Correctional Facility. For many
of these 800 women these socks will be their only Christmas gift. We are seeking monetary donations for the
socks on the Weekend of Dec 13-14. We were able to
purchase the socks at a significant discount ($10.00 for 6
pairs of socks). We appreciate any donation that you
can provide.
We truly appreciate your generosity in supporting these
charitable efforts this season.
Any questions or desire to participate in the Social Justice
Committee?
Please contact Cindy Senerchia csenerchia@verizon.net
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Everyday Stewardship
A note from the Director of Music and Liturgy:
Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God, as we await the advent of
Christ your Son, so that, when He comes and knocks,
He may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
I offer this prayer for all of us as a parish family as we celebrate the
Second Sunday of Advent, keeping in mind the refrain from our Communion antiphon today, “Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the
heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God”
I will be employing the Communion antiphons for Advent, composed
by my good friend and colleague, Richard J. Clark. Richard is Director
of Music and organist at Saint Cecelia’s Parish in Boston and a noted
and prolific composer of sacred music. Additionally, he serves as
organist at Saint Mary’s chapel at Boston College.
These antiphons use the “proper” text called for in the Roman Missal
and are thus, “proper” for that particular day. These settings were
recently published and so I am very pleased to offer them for their
intended use during the four Sundays of Advent. Richard is hard at
work on a set of Communion antiphons for Lent and so I await those
most eagerly.
Even though some people seem to live graced lives with
little struggle, the truth is we all have struggles in life.
Financial problems, health issues, emotions of fear and
inadequacy, and even twists of fate are part of the human condition. The fact is that we are imperfect beings
living in an imperfect world.
But there is the One that came into the world to fill the
valleys and lower the mountains. He makes winding
roads straight and rough roads smooth again. In fact, he
makes new again that which was created at the beginning of time but then fell into disarray due to our sin. He
is Jesus, and he not only makes all things new, he provides glimpses of perfection in our imperfect world.
With all that we have been given as gift, the greatest gift
was the Incarnation, God made man. Through the birth
of a baby, our reality was altered in this world forever,
and a hope for life eternal with our God was possible.
And now, we are called to spend our days as cocreators with God, cultivating all that has been given to
us so the good work begun in us may be drawn near to
completion. Paul's words to the Philippians is for all good
stewards: "And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every
kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that
you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God." We are
imperfect beings in an imperfect world, but the One who
makes all things perfect is doing great things in us.
The Children’s and Junior Choirs here at Saint Margaret Mary Parish
have surpassed the 40-member mark between the two groups. The
Junior Choir provided the music at last Sunday’s CYO Mass. They
will be the choir leading our December “Bridge” Mass this weekend at
8:30 am. There is a palpable energy emerging with the enthusiastic
response of the young people here at Saint Margaret Mary’s. I am
especially grateful this Advent season to have the able assistance of
Sue Bertone and Jennifer Crummet (Children’s Choir), and Sheila
Matthews (Junior Choir). Without these three women, there would be
no children’s choirs. Please speak with them or me if you have a child
interested in joining us. It is NEVER too late to join either ensemble. If
you like to sing and are able to attend a weekly rehearsal: Wednesdays for Junior Choir; Thursdays for Children’s Choir, then please
consider being part of the Children’s Music Ministry here in Westwood. Of course, the adult choir is always seeking new members to
add to the “Joyful Noise” made at the 11:00 Mass each week. Please
contact me if interested in any of these musical options.
Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS—© Liturgical Publications Inc
God’s Blessings always,
Second grade families—please remember we are preparing for First Penance. Please contact the Religious Educaon Office if you have any ques ons.
Mark Nemeskal,
Director of Music and Liturgy
First Penance Retreat: Sunday, December 6th at 12:30 PM
First Penance
First Penance:
Saturday, December 12th at 11:00 AM
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Liturgies for the Week
Dec. 5 Saturday
9:00 AM Morning Prayer
4:30 PM Fred Leonard III
Dec. 6 Sunday
8:30 AM Children/Family Mass
11:00 AM Ralph Bogue
Dec. 7 Monday
9:00
AM Mass
Dec. 8 Tuesday
9:00
7:00
Dec. 10 Thursday
Ministers’ Schedule for December 12—13
Saturday, December 12
4:30 PM
Priest
Fr. Linehan
Lector
Dick Toland
Eucharistic Minister
AM Holy Day
PM Immaculate Concep on
Peter Meade, Chuck Spiegel &
Michael Stallings
Principal
Trish MacDonald & Mil Reissfelder
9:00
AM Mass
Special
Bill McDonough
** EM Needed **
Dec. 11 Friday
9:00
AM Chris Butler
Altar Servers
Evan Plecinoga & Michael Stallings
** Altar Server Needed **
Dec. 12 Saturday
9:00
4:30
AM Morning Prayer
PM Chet Pawlowski
25th Anniversary
Sunday, December 13
8:30 AM
Priest
Fr. Clifford
Lector
Bob Reissfelder
Eucharistic Minister
Tom Daly, Chip Sterling &
Mary Kiley
Principal
Lois & Ken Foscaldo
Altar Servers
Chas Sterling, Rowan &
Conor Sterling
Sunday, December 13
11:00 AM
Priest
Fr. Linehan
Lector
Steve Whelan
Eucharistic Minister
Deacon Holderried, Carole Winslow
Ann Delaney Lendrum
Principal
Mark Donovan & Michael Walsh
Altar Servers
Kathryn & Sean Lendrum
** 1 Altar Server Needed**
Dec. 13 Sunday
8:30 AM Buddy Godby
11:00 AM Ma hew Michael Cox
Holy Day of Obligation
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday, December 8th, 2015
Masses at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 8th, is a Holy Day of Obligation to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please join us at either the 9:00 AM. Mass or the 7:00 PM Mass.
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Sharing the Gospel
When Mary visited Elizabeth, Mary had wonderful news to
share. Jesus was coming into the world. You have good
news to share about Jesus, too. The next time you visit a
friend, gently share how happy you are that Jesus came to
save you.
Prayer
God, help me to share the good news about Jesus when I
visit my friends.
Something to Draw
Draw a picture of yourself telling a friend about Jesus.
Mission for the Week
Say a special prayer for missionary families. People all
around the world need Jesus.
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CHRISTMAS FLOWERS AND MUSIC DONATIONS
As we prepare for Christmas, we will be accep ng dona ons to make the Christmas celebra ons even more special with lovely
flowers and special music. There are envelopes in the entranceways of the Church or you may use this form. All memorial
names will be included in a list on Christmas Day. Please have all dona ons in by Friday, December 20, 2015.
Christmas Flowers & Music Dona on
Amount: $___________
In Memory of: (please print)
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
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