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Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saint Paul Parish Hamilton/Wenham December 18, 2016
Joseph’s Dream Gaetano Gandolfi (1734-1802)
Eucharistic Adoration Every Saturday from 10:30 am until 3:00 pm
in the chapel.
Sacraments Baptism:
Usually the second Sunday of the month at 11:30 am.
An instruction for parents and sponsors is held usually the
First Friday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Church Hall.
Contact the Rectory to make arrangements.
Confession: Saturday from 3:45 – 4:15 pm in the
Penance Room with special times during Advent and Lent.
Matrimony : Contact the Rectory to receive information.
A preparation period of at least six months must be allowed.
Couples are required to attend a Matrimony Preparation
Program during this time.
Pastoral Visitation: The Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick
can be brought to our parishioners confined to their homes.
Also, a friendship visit can be made to parishioners.
Kindly contact the Rectory.
Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life: If you feel called to consider a vocation to the priesthood or
religious life, please speak to the pastor. You are invited to see the
Archdiocesan website: www.bostoncatholic.org. We are all asked to support and pray for vocations.
Wills and Bequests: They have been very helpful to
Saint Paul’s Parish over the years and we hope they will continue
to assist the parish in its good works now and in the future.
Kindly speak to the pastor and/or Parish Office so that we may
answer any question and provide guidance if you desire. Your
consideration of a bequest upon death to the parish is very much
appreciated.
50 Union Street Hamilton, MA 01982
978-468-2337
Website: www.churchofsaintpaul.net
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 978-468-6538
Pastor Reverend Michael Lawlor
Welcome to all new parishioners! Please introduce yourself after Mass or at the Office.
Weekend Assistant Reverend Dennis Dever
Music Director Joseph Cipoletta [email protected]
Parish Secretary Lucy Cronan
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (978) 468-3617
P.R.E.P Grades 1 - 5 Jeanne Abbott [email protected]
S.P.Y.M [email protected] Debra Brown Grades 6-8 Scott Smith Grades 9-10
Religious Education Office is located in the Parish Hall.
There is an elevator for handicapped access
to the church located in the rear of the building.
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Saturday 4:30 pm
Sunday 8:00 am, 10:15 am, 5:30 pm
Weekdays 9:00 am, except Thursdays
Mass Schedule Parish Offices
Parish Staff
SAINT PAUL CHURCH HAMILTON / WENHAM
A Big Thank YOU
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ADVENT: PREPARATION FOR GLORY
Dear Friends:
Apart from the Masses on the four Sundays in Advent, the weeks before Christmas can seem especially rushed. The liturgies for the Advent Sundays help us to recall the long wait in salvation history for the Promised Messiah. The centuries must have seemed beyond length, but the prophets of the Old Testament were always faithful in bringing the message of God to His holy people. The times were tumultuous and even rebellious. The temple was destroyed by a foreign invader and the people of Israel were transported to Babylon, which is present day Iraq. There was much trial and heartache amidst wayward hearts, but God never forgot His people and His promise. Jeremiah would speak of hope even amidst despair. Their captivity
would end and their homeland would be restored, and in the fullness of time the Son of God would be born in Bethlehem.
You and I await fully the meeting Christ when in death we go before Him. We are very blessed because, unlike the People of God in the Old Testament, we encounter and meet Christ in the sacraments…seven channels of extraordinary grace. So Christ is with us and we are with Him. The fullness of His presence will take place in the kingdom of heaven. We await our place at the banquet in the kingdom even as we now participate in the banquet of the Eucharist faithfully until he comes in glory.
Advent allows us to see the necessity of the rebirth of Christ in our lives. How can we make Christ more fully present? G.K. Chesterton, noted Catholic author, was jovial by nature and never took himself too seriously. He would quip that he would write with his pencil and cigar. Of all the Christian virtues it was Chesterton’s belief that humility was the most important. One answer to the question posed is that we allow for the rebirth of Christ in our lives through the practice of humility.
We may consider the personal application of the virtue of humility in two ways. First, to facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit, examine the source of the weakness and predominant sinfulness in our lives. This is not to leave us discouraged, but rather to bring us hope. Moses is looked upon in scripture as being the meekest of all men. This was not always the case. Earlier in his life he murdered an Egyptian in a fit of rage. Later, coming from Mt. Sinai with the tablets of the Ten Commandments he finds his people worshipping the golden bull. Again, in rage he smashes the tablets upon the rock. This was not a meek man! However, he used his weakness and transformed it into his strength. This is humility. Just as in the physical order scarred tissue can become the strongest of all skin so, too, in the spiritual order our weakness can be transformed into our strength. The grace of the Holy Spirit will assist us…for wherever sin abounds, grace far surpasses. What a veritable revolution this would be for each of us! This is ultimately realized when, through humility, we prepare to receive the healing of Christ in a regular fervent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. An excellent way of allowing the rebirth of Christ in our lives is to receive the Sacrament of Confession this Advent.
Second, attempt to see the good in others. All too often we are quick to criticize one another. Be slow to form negative judgments with others and be more zealous in extricating the negativity in ourselves.
The virtue of humility grants to us a great trust and dependence upon God. The human person is in need of this trust. Self-sufficiency does not allow for genuine growth in holiness. Only a humble dependence upon God will grant sufficient grace to eradicate our predominate fault and allow us to be more gracious and gentle in our conduct toward others.
As busy as the weeks before Christmas will be, may we strive to leave room for the real meaning of Advent. It brings us hope for what we can be through the help of Christ’s grace. Let us allow Christ to catch up with us and have a rebirth in our lives.
Father Michael Lawlor
Pastor
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, December 17 4:30: Milton Keiley
Sunday, December 18 8:00: Parishioners of St. Paul 10:15: Joan Monbourquette 5:30: Mildred LeBlanc
Monday, December 19 9:00: Maureen Carr
Tuesday, December 20 9:00: Msgr. Paul McManus Wednesday, December 21 9:00: John Conway
Friday, December 23 9:00: Beverly Thibeault
Saturday, December 24 4:00 with pagaent, 6:00, 10:00: Christmas Vigil Mass
Sunday, December 25 8:00 & 10:15: Christmas Day Mass
There is no 5:30 Mass.
Special Confession Time for Christmas Monday, December 19, 7:00-8:00 PM
The reception of Sacrament of Penance is a great spiritual preparation for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the
Nativity of the Lord. Also, Regular Confession time is Saturdays
from 3:45 - 4:15 pm
Offertory Christmas Collection This Christmas, the collection will once again benefit the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust which cares for the needs of our priest. Our priests are always there for us; they share Christ’s good news, perform good works, and build communities of good faith.
Your gift helps priests through these services:
• Medical and dental care for all priests • Support and care from a staff nurse • Stipends and housing allowances for
senior priests • Respite care for priests recovering from
surgery or illness • Support and maintenance of Regina Cleri
residence center in Boston • Stipends for priests on disability or health
leave • Retreat allowances for senior priests
All are welcome to learn more and make a gift online at clergytrust.org. And don’t forget to find the Trust on Facebook by searching “@ClergyTrust.” Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. Additional Christmas
envelopes are available at the doors of the church.
The Nativity of the Lord Christmas Schedule
Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24
4:00 pm (pageant), 6:00 pm, 10:00 pm Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25 8:00 am & 10:15 am
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Vigil Mass: Saturday, December 31 at 4:30 pm
Holy Day: Sunday, January 1 at 8:00 am & 10:15
Please note: There is no 5:30 Mass
OUR UPCOMING SOLEMNITIES
Our Giving Tree and Catholic Charity
Healthy Family Program this year has
been a huge success, due to all of our
wonderful families and parishioners
at St. Paul’s. We are helping so many
struggling individuals and families at
Catholic Charities with necessities
and also gifts for their children.
This would not happen without your
generosity.
Our Ziplock Bag program is ongoing
and is so helpful to the folks who are
in homeless shelters and need basic
hygiene products.
The Wellspring Program in Gloucester
is also benfiting from the many toys
that you have given to us. So, con-
gratulations to our many wonderful,
caring parishioners for helping so
many worthwhile programs this
Christmas Season.
Blessings to all!
Jeanne, Debra and Scott
DECEMBER 18, 2016
5
End of Year Giving to the Parish
Don’t Forget – gifts to Saint Paul Parish are tax deductible. If you are considering making a tax-deductible gift before the end of the year, consider St. Paul Parish. We appreciate the generosity of our parishioners, and we offer online giving, a safe and secure way for you to contribute via the web. Please visit ParishPay.com to make your gift today.
End-of-Year Giving of Appreciated Securities For some people, the opportunity to support St. Paul Parish is an important consideration at the end of the tax year. Gifts of appreciated securities are a great way to help the parish, and can offer tax benefits to the donor. For information on making a transfer of securities, which is very easy, please call the parish office for assistance. Thank you.
Parishioners Pray for the Seminarians There are posters of our Boston seminarians at both entrances of the church. We are inviting our parishioners to choose one of those seminarians. During the school year you and your family can pray for them. We need to both support and pray for voca-tions to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life, so that our church can be served for years to come. Thank you and if you wish, please write to your chosen seminarian at and mention you have him in your prayers.
Saint John’s Seminary 1 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135
or Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary 558 South Avenue, Weston, MA 02493
It is with great joy that we welcome into the family of St. Paul’s the newly baptized:
Lucy Patricia Brennan Eila Elizabeth Ganley
Caroline Francis Kerwin James Timothy McGill
Julia Katherine Puopolo John Timothy Puopolo
William George Rainville
Please keep them in your prayers.
Christmas Envelopes There are additional Christmas envelopes at the doorways of the church for your convenience. Please be sure to include your name and address on the envelope for tax purposes. Thank you.
Please include the following in your prayers throughout the week:
Jennifer Arapoff, Michelle Broderick, Jean Buckley, Myles Burke, Joan and John Cronan, Marion Dempsey, Grace Ferreira, Paul
Ferriera, Ben Hutchinson, Samuel Laforme, Eileen Malala, Cecile Nickola, Karla Pippins, Muchael D. Ryus, Sharon Short, Adriana Swanson, Christopher Tarzia, Jennifer Todd, Kathleen Tuscano, Nancy Walsh, Tanner Watson and for all our parishioners who are sick, for our homebound parishioners and those confined to nursing facilities and hospital, as well as, the sick and the suffering known only to God.
Please pray for our troops, including Greg Cohan that they are kept out of harm’s way and return home safely to their families.
Please see the sign up sheets for Lectors, Ushers, and Eucharistic Ministers for Christmas Masses. We are especially in need of Ushers for the 4:00 pageant Mass on Christmas Eve. The sheets are posted in the Usher’s Room located off the vestibule at the Union Street entrance. Your consideration to assist us is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
DECEMBER 18, 2016
6
Eucharistic Adorers are needed! Saturday Parish Eucharistic
Adoration 12:00 Noon to 3:00 pm
(until time slots are filled.) Please join us.
Perhaps you would consider starting a new tradition? We need your presence for our Eucharistic Adoration program which involves parishioners who volunteer to spend time on Saturdays in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
Weekly Reflection One/8 (Grades 9 & 10)
by Scott Smith
Students, Advent is a time of “expectation”. We look forward to time with family, good food, exchanging of gifts, and the happiness that comes with Christmas. But these four weeks are also a time of preparing for the arrival of Jesus and reflecting on how to structure our lives to meet Jesus’ “expectations”. During this time of reflection, I of-ten think about those people that I look up to and admire. Having people to look up to are important to us—they inspire us and offer us an ideal, a goal, a code of conduct against which we aspire to achieve and emulate. There are two people that come to mind today that I wanted to talk about—my grandfather and John the Baptist.
In addition to looking up to my grandfather, today’s Gospel gives us a story of one of the greatest prophets that I look up to, which is John the Baptist. John saw from a distance what Jesus would accomplish through his death on the cross – our re-demption from bondage to sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughters of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, in speaking with John’s disciples in today’s Gospel, talks about how great John was.
He analogized John as the faithful witness and friend of the bridegroom who pointed others to the coming of the Messiah in their midst. He also contrasted John with the image of a reed shaken by the wind. Unlike a reed which is weak and spine-less and can be easily crushed or bruised, John stood as a pillar of strength and truth in the face of opposition and persecu-tion. But in finishing the thought, Jesus said something rather surprising:
“Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”;
How do we see ourselves and our response to Jesus in light of this statement? I mean, John was a great man and if he is least in the Kingdom of Heaven, we certainly have a long road to climb, don’t we? For me, I don’t despair, but rather focus on what I believe are two key lessons from this Gospel passage.
First, Jesus’ statement is a reminder that a truly “great” person is measured by the divine and not a human standard. It is, in other words, the richness of spirit that we should seek and the riches of the material world. Second, it is a challenge in hu-mility. The truth is that we have much to learn, and the more mature we are in our faith, the more we can see our need to continue to grow. And how do we best mature of faith? We live it! And I am motivated to live that faith by the example set by my grandfather and John.
Please spend some time this week talking to your parents about their memories of their grandparents—I think you will find that your great-grandparents exuded many great qualities and your parents will have great memories of them. When you are having this discussion, you can also talk about other people that you look up to and whether you feel you are making them proud by living your life according to Jesus’ expectations.
Remember—you mature your faith by living it! Have a great week. God Bless, Mr. Smith
We Welcome New Members to the Church of Saint Paul
If you are new to our parish, we wish to welcome you and hope that you find St. Paul’s to be a warm and caring community. To register as a member
of our parish, please call the rectory office at 978-468-
A Reminder to Parents...While at St. Paul, children should never go to the restroom alone. We are happy that you feel so safe
here, but please remember that we are in a building that is wide open and has multiple entrances. For the safety of our children, please do not allow them to wander unsupervised and please do not ever allow them to go the restroom unaccompanied by a parent.
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