PARISH FAMILY OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE�
1400 Main Street ~ Leominster, MA 01453
Parish Office Hours 9AM - 3PM
Monday through Thursday
Parish Office: (978) 342-2978
Religious Ed. Office: (978) 345-7469
Fax: (978) 342-8738
Parish E-Mail [email protected]
Religious Ed. E-mail [email protected]
Parish Web Address
www.ourladylake.org
Parish Staff
Pastor: Father Dennis J. O’Brien
Associate Pastor: Father Carlos Ruiz
Weekend Assistant: Msgr. James Mongelluzzo
Deacon: Timothy Cross
Pastoral Minister: Joan Burns
Religious Ed. Director: Lisa Sciacca
Religious Ed. Grade Coordinators: Elizabeth Rawlinson & Michelle Lutter
Religious Ed. Secretary: Debbie Bronchuk
Parish Office Manager : Tracy Kennedy
Parish Secretary: Kathryn Gravel Administrative Assistant : Wendy Mullin
Facility Manager: Frank Ricardo, Jr. Director of Music: Regie Pineda
Liturgical Celebrations
Lord’s Day Masses: Saturday: 5PM
Sunday: 8AM, 9:45AM, 11:45AM, & 5PM
Daily Mass: 8AM (M, T, W, F)
Communion Service: 8AM (Thursday)
Sacrament of Reconciliation Every Saturday at 4PM and by appointment anytime.
Safe Environment Notice Our parish follows the guidelines of the national charter for the
protection of children and young people approved by the US Bishops
and Dioceses of Worcester policies. Contact Frances Nugent, Victim
Services, at a direct and confidential telephone line: 508-929-4363. Lisa Sciacca is our parish’s Safety Environment Coordinator.
The Works of Mercy
To Feed the Hungry To Give Drink to the Thirsty
To Clothe the Naked To Shelter the Homeless To Care for the Sick
To Visit the Imprisoned To Bury the Dead
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. Luke 3:10, 18
Dorothy Day once said: “Jesus proposed that the works of the Christian are the works of mercy. He laid it down as commands, not counsels, in the twenty fifth chapter of Matthew.” John the Baptist was preaching Matthew 25 in wilderness. Share your food and clothing. Be grateful. Don’t be a whiner. When we follow that design for living, we will begin to do for the least of these, perhaps without even knowing it. We will become channels of mercy and compassion.
Please remember in your prayers: Our parishioners Rita Filiau, Gabrielle Florczyk, Claire Trainque and Maureen Cormier. May they rest in peace and may their families find comfort from their faith in Jesus Christ.
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE LEOMINSTER, MA
DECEMBER 12th - DECEMBER 20th
12th SATURDAY Our Lady of Guadalupe
5:00 PM Phillip Ragusa, 35th Anniversary
Ruth Medeiros, 11th Anniversary
13th SUNDAY Third Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM People of the Par ish
Jeanne Leblanc
9:45 AM Arthur Morr is, 2nd Anniversary
Madeline & Harry Dooley
11:45 AM Irene Lantry, Fir st Anniversary
Dora Wood, First Anniversary
5:00 PM Louise Dion, 13th Anniversary Vernon Holman, Sr., Birthday Remembrance
14th MONDAY Saint John of the Cross 8:00 AM Edmund & Evelyn Sentkowski
Mike & Anne Lockhart
15th TUESDAY 8:00 AM Paul Cormier Louise McAllister 16th WEDNESDAY
8:00 AM 17th THURSDAY 8:00 AM Communion Service 18th FRIDAY 8:00 AM Msgr . Rocco Piccolomini
7:00 PM Spanish Novena (Family Room)
19th SATURDAY 5:00 PM Cheryl Harvey
Diane Barry, 13th Anniversary
20th SUNDAY Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM Emilie Gallant
Lawrence Whelan, 7th Anniversary
9:45 AM Joan Uschold, 2nd Anniversary
People of the Parish
11:45 AM Bernard Chartrand, Birthday Remembrance
Ruth Medeiros, 11th Anniversary
5:00 PM Ker , Felcan, Sobota, and Opavsky.
Seminarian WILMAR RAMOS will be ordained to the Order
of Deacon by Bishop Robert J. McManus on Saturday,
December 19th, 10AM, at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester.
Everyone is invited to attend this joyful celebration.
Father Dennis and Father Carlos will be attending the
ordination and we have room for four additional people in
each of our cars for anyone who would like to attend the
ceremony. Please call the parish office by Tuesday, December
15th, if you would like to attend. Wilmar will serve as a Deacon at the 5PM Mass on Saturday,
December 19th, and preach the homily. Light refreshments
will be served in the parish family center after the Mass.
Third Sunday of Advent
Holy Year of Mercy
Ordination Ceremony
With joy we enter into the Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy, which Pope Francis calls “a special time
for the Church, a time when the witness of believers
might grow stronger and more effective.”
It is reported that a student once asked the famous
anthropologist Margaret Mead, “What is the earliest
sign of civilization in any given culture?” According to the story, the questioner likely expected
Mead to say a tool, a weapon, a piece of pottery, an
artifact of domestic life, etc. Instead the
anthropologist answered: “A healed femur.” (The big
leg bone between the hip and the knee.) A healed
femur shows that someone took care of the injured
person. Someone else had to step in to carry out the
work of hunting and gathering until the individual’s
fractured leg healed. For Mead, “the first sign of
civilization was the evidence of compassion.”
Pope Francis has called for the Extraordinary Jubilee
of Mercy to make that primordial sign of civilization
plain and far reaching in the world again.
Pope Francis tells us that this special Holy Year is a
time “to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our
brothers and sisters, an occasion to open our eyes
and see the misery of the world, the wounds of
others.”
We can do so when we recall how much God looked
upon our own wounds and misery with untellable,
unlimited love and mercy. Then, “touched by
compassion, we also can become compassionate
towards others.”
Let us pray for the grace to be effective signs of the
Father’s mercy throughout this Jubilee Year.
For everyone’s safety, please refer to the local TV
stations during inclement weather. Leominster
school closings and delays will result in the
cancellation of morning Mass.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES MINISTRIES IN ACTION
MEN’S SPIRITUAL STUDY
Meeting this week on Wednesday, DEC 16th,
7PM, in the Cry Room. What chapters or verses in the Bible are special for you that have guided or helped while on your journey home to God? Contact: David La Liberty, 978 537-1134 or
email: [email protected].
BROWN BAG MINISTRY
The next BBM meal prep is DEC 19th for OFH in St.
Joseph’s Hall and our parish Kitchen at 3PM.
Days Inn: JAN 09, FEB 13.
Our Father’s House: DEC 19, JAN 30, APR 23,
MAY 21, JUN 25.
OLL Feast of St. Joseph: MAR 19
Sign up to help through Sign Up Genius. The link is on our website now: www.ourladylake.org.
Advent Series at St. Boniface Contemplative (Centering) Prayer is being offered at St. Boniface. Presented by Nancy Cieri with Fr. William Meninger, OCSO, formally from St Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer. All are welcome!
Last Meeting: December 21st, following the 6:30PM Mass.
Contact Nancy for more information:
[email protected] or 978-582-6983.
Anne LaLiberty has agreed to
coordinate the schedule for our
parish Greeters. More information
to follow. Thank you Anne.
Open Finance Meeting with members
of the Finance Committee this Monday,
December 14th, 7PM. Please forward
any of your questions in advance to Fr.
Dennis or Tracy Kennedy so that we
are prepared to answer them for you. All are welcome.
We will begin to prepare the church for
Christmas at 1PM, Sunday, DEC 20th. We
need a lot of helping hands for about 45
minutes to get everything out of the attic.
We need other people who would be
willing to help decorate the trees in the
lobby and the Church.
Parish Support
DEC 05/06
180 Sunday Envelopes $5,131
27 Make Up Envelopes $ 711
2 Paid Ahead Envelope $ 40
Loose Cash $1,823
SUNDAY COLLECTION $7,705
Monthly Maintenance $ 844
Fuel $ 140
PARISH TITHE
Human Services $ 771
MONTHLY SUMMARY ~ NOVEMBER 2015
November Parish Pay $ 9,368
November (5 weeks) $ 39,864
Total November $ 49,232
Next Weekend’s Celebrants
DECEMBER 19th, Saturday
5:00 PM Msgr . J im Mongelluzzo
DECEMBER 20th, Sunday
8:00 AM Fr . Car los Ruiz
9:45 AM Fr . Dennis O’Br ien
11:45 AM Fr . Car los Ruiz
5:00 PM Fr . Dennis O’Br ien
All parishioners are reminded to park only in
allocated lined spaces. Specifically, on the right hand
side of the entrance driveway, no cars should be
parked in unmarked spaces. The upper portion of this
driveway needs to remain clear of vehicles.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Saint Joseph Bereavement Support Group: If you have suffered the loss of a loved one and are feeling lost, or alone, we may be able to help. We offer a safe and welcoming place in which to discuss issues, and support each other at a very difficult time. It is a free 6-week, faith-
based program with topics pertaining to loss and healing while on your journey. The next group begins Saturday, JAN 9th thru FEB 13th, 3:30PM-5:00PM at Madonna of the Holy Rosary, Fitchburg . To register please call Jerri at 978-345-5416
All are welcome to the Opening Liturgy for the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Diocese of Worcester with Vespers and Eucharistic Adoration on Sunday, DEC 13th, at 4PM at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Bishop McManus will bless and solemnly open the Jubilee Holy Door in the Cathedral as well as designate churches in our diocese for local pilgrimage. A light reception will follow in the cenacle.
DECEMBER 12/13, 2015
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
High School Peer Retreat Team will meet this Sunday, DEC 13th, from 8:15AM-9:30AM in the St. Katherine Drexel Room, M8.
There are no Religious Education Classes this week or
the following weeks. Retreat Team, Kindergarten,
Beginnings and High School I will begin again on JAN
3rd. Classes for Grs. 1-8 will resume January 4th & 5th.
LAST CALL:GINGERBREAD
HOUSES FOR AUCTION Gingerbread houses that were created by our Jr. High students are on display in the parish family center this weekend. Please consider making a bid on these
beautiful creations so you can bring some Christmas spirit into your home! All proceeds will go to fill the shelves of our parish food pantry. The Gingerbread houses will go home to the highest bidders this Sunday, DEC 13th.
Parish bulletin boards that are located at the back of the church have other events that are not listed in the bulletin. Please check them out!
Calling All High School Seniors! Bring your appetite, your talent, and a Christmas tree ornament to help decorate the new rectory this Sunday with Fr. Dennis and Fr. Carlos. Pizza and ice cream sundaes will help to make the evening bright! Come and join us after the 5PM Sunday Mass.
Please RSVP to either Fr. Dennis or Fr. Carlos.
Local TV stations, Channels 4, 5, & 7, will provide the
following detail for inclement weather closures:
Leominster School Closed: No morning Mass, No Religious Education, No Meetings, and the Parish Office will be closed.
Leominster School Delay: No morning Mass, Parish Office will be delayed in opening.
No Religious Services: No Mass. No Religious Classes: No Religious Education. No Evening Activities: No Religious Education or Meetings. Closed: All Church Activities are Cancelled. Our Parish Phone Line will also have information.
ICE CREAM PARTY An ice cream party will be held on
Sunday, JAN 3rd, after the 9:45AM
Mass in St. Joseph’s Hall for all those
children who have completed their
Advent work books. Bring your book with you and
come and join us as we celebrate the Feast of the
Epiphany (Little Christmas).
Pasta with the Pastor Come join us for his event which will be held on
Sunday, JAN 3rd, at 6PM. Please
RSVP to Jess Brown Hare by
DEC 30th at [email protected]
or call her at 978-855-2111.
All college-aged young adults
are welcome to attend.
COME VISIT THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM! Our 3rd Grade children have recreated the town of Bethlehem and the city of Jerusalem. During the Christmas season, come visit their display in the parish family center.
Congratulations to our Confirmation class who
received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Saturday
with Bishop Robert McManus presiding. Please
continue to pray for these 37young adults from our
parish who celebrated this sacrament of commitment.
Congratulations to our eighth graders
for planning and assisting at our
annual teaching Mass last Monday.
You all did a GREAT job!
Special Thanks to all those who baked, donated
supplies, helped with dressing and prompting, and
served refreshments for our Christmas pageants! Once
again, our children remind us that Jesus is the Reason
for the Season!
The High School Youth Group would like to thank all of you who purchased our poinsettia and cyclamen plants last weekend. Through your generosity we
raised over $660 to help fund Youth Group activities and provide scholarships for the Steubenville East Youth Conference. The Youth Group is tithing $132 of this money to Kylee’s Kare Kits for Kidz. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous,
ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation
for the future, so as to win the life that is true life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NAB).
DECEMBER 12/13, 2015
Christmas Giving Tree
All gifts are due this weekend. Please return all gifts “unwrapped” and
with their tag attached by 12 Noon, this
Sunday. As always, your generosity is
appreciated and will make someone’s
Christmas special.
THIS WEEK’S PARISH EVENTS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12th
08:00 AM North Leominster Little League Mtg
09:00 AM Bethlehem Village Set Up
09:00 AM Baptismal Prep.
03:00 PM Brown Bag Ministry, Days Inn
07:30 PM AA Meeting
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13th
08:15 AM Peer Retreat Team Meeting
12:30 PM Kylee’s Kids Christmas Wrap
02:30 PM Teen Music Ministry Practice
03:00 PM Partners with Pilgrims on the Journey
06:30 PM Teens Decorating Rectory
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14th
No Religious Ed Classes
06:00 PM Respect Life Meeting
07:00 PM Open Finance Meeting
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15th
No Religious Ed Classes
06:30 PM Pastoral Council Meeting
07:30 PM RCIA Classes
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th
06:00 PM Cub Scouts Pack 3 Meeting
07:00 PM 12 Steps Meeting
07:00 PM Adult Folk Group Practice
07:00 PM Men’s Spiritual Study
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th 09:00 AM Dominoes
01:00 PM Prayer Shawl
07:00 PM BSA Troop 12 Meeting
07:00 PM Adult Choir Practice
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18th
04:15 PM Choir of Angels Practice
07:00 PM Spanish Novena with Fr. Carlos
07:30 PM Al-Anon Meeting
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19th
10:00 AM Ordination of Wilmar Ramos
01:00 PM Stamp Club Meeting
03:00 PM Brown Bag Ministry, OFH
05:00 PM Mass with Deacon Wilmar Ramos,
reception to follow.
07:30 PM AA Meeting
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20th
No Religious Education Classes
11:00 AM Teen Music Ministry Practice
01:00 PM Decorating the Church
03:00 PM Partners with Pilgrims on the Journey.
Aging religious need your help this weekend! There
are more than 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers,
and religious order priests. These religious worked
tirelessly in Catholic schools, hospitals, and agencies,
usually for little to no pay. As a result, many religious
communities lack adequate savings for retirement and
eldercare.
Your gift for the Retirement Fund for Religious offers
vital financial assistance to help meet day-to-day needs
for needed medications, nursing care, and more. For
all that elder religious have done for us, please give as
generously as you can when the basket is passed for a
second time today for the Retirement Fund for the
Religious.
Christmas Mass Schedule 2015
DEC 24th, Christmas Eve 4:00 PM Mass (3:15 PM Adult Folk Group Music Prelude)
6:30 PM Mass (6:15 PM Choir of Angels Music Prelude)
10:30 PM Mass (10:00 PM Adult Choir Music Prelude)
No Midnight Mass
DEC 25th, Christmas Day 10:00 AM Mass
Fr. Dennis to celebrate the 4PM & 6:30PM Masses
Fr. Carlos to celebrate the 10:30PM & 10AM Masses
FEBRUARY RAFFLE CALENDAR
We will be running our February Calendar Raffle again this year to supplement the church’s budget. In case you are looking for a “stocking stuffer” this Christmas, calendar raffle chances are available at the church entrances now. In January, calendar raffle chances and information on the raffle will be mailed to all parishioners but you can start early if you would like! Donation cost is $10 per chance.
Second Collection This Weekend