Sunday November 29, 2009

CHRISTIAN INITIATION (RCIA): Are you thinking of becoming Catholic? Do you know someone who is interested in the Catholic Church? Any adult or child over the age of 7 is encouraged to call the Faith Formation Office (846-5584) if you’d like more info.

CATHOLICS CAN ALWAYS COME HOME: We invite you to consider renewing your relationship with the Catholic Church. Catholics Can Always Come Home sessions are offered in a non-threatening, non-judgmental support-group type format. The program is led by parishioners who themselves had left the church and have returned. Call 846-5301 or 846-5584.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confession) Sacred Heart, Yarmouth, every Saturday 3:30–4:15pm. St. Jude, Freeport, before Mass.

BAPTISMS: The next Pre-Baptism class will be on Wednesday, January 20th in the Rectory at 7PM. Baptisms may be scheduled by calling Erin at 846-5584.

MARRIAGE: by appointment. Please contact Cherie Piper (846-5584) at least 6 months prior to the wedding date.

VISITING THE SICK: If in a hospital or confined at home, please call the rectory to arrange for a visit, communion and/or Anointing of the Sick.

Sunday: 9:30AM

Weekdays: 8:15AM    Saturday: 4:30PM     Sunday: 8:00 and 11AM

MASSES                 SH - Sacred Heart Church        St.J - St. Jude Church

SH Sat Nov 28 4:30pm Eleanor Dolan by John & Cynthia Gamage

SH Sun Nov 29 8:00am Paul Vanier

St.J Sun Nov 29 9:30am Rella & Abraham Michaud by Evelyn Fraser

SH Sun Nov 29 11:00am For the Parishioners by the Pastor

SH Mon Dec 30 8:15am Walter Bilski by M/M Jeff Gorman

SH Tue Dec 1 8:15am George & Kathleen Rice

SH Wed Dec 2 8:15am Communion Service

SH Thu Dec 3 8:15am Deceased Family & Friends of Elaine Doran

SH Fri Dec 4 8:15am Communion Service

SH Sat Dec 5 4:30pm Sam LaCroix by Doug & Ginny LaCroix

SH Sun Dec 6 8:00am For the Parishioners by the Pastor

St.J Sun Dec 6 9:30am Marie Meier-Asselyn by M/M Edward Twomey

SH Sun Dec 6 11:00am Loved Ones by Sylvia Galarneau

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Rom 10: 9-18; Mt 4: 18-22

Sunday: Bar 5: 1-9; Phil 1: 4-6, 8-11; Lk 3: 1-6

WORSHIP & SPIRITUALITY

Weekly Reflection: God so loved the world he sent his Son. As we prepare for Christmas, consider how you share your love with others. Reflect on how God loves you so deeply and freely. You have not and cannot earn God’s love. Having been loved this way, how can you hold back your love from anyone? During this Advent season, try to learn how to love others better. 

Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; Teach me Your paths.

Advent reflection booklets are available on the tables in the back of the churches.

Prayer Group: Contemplative Prayer Group meets each Tuesday from 9:30 to 11am at Holy Martyrs Church (Falmouth) in the Quiet Room. All are welcome.

Christmas Flowers: If you’d like to make a contribution to Christmas Flowers and Decorations in memory or honor of loved ones, grab one of the Christmas Flower envelopes, fill it out and drop it in the offertory basket. Deadline: Dec. 16th.

The Parish office will be open for limited hours for the two weeks following Thanksgiving as the secretary will be on vacation.

Flu Protocols: The Sign of Peace should be offered without any physical contact — use a verbal greeting, meaningful eye contact, a smile or a bow of the head. The faithful should not hold hands during the Our Father.

Holy Communion: All ministers of Holy Communion must sanitize their hands prior to and after the distribution of Holy Communion. Communion in the hand is encourages, but not mandated. The faithful retain the option of receiving Holy Communion either on the tongue or in the hand. All ministers of Holy Communion are advised to distribute the consecrated hosts with care, being cautious not to touch the tongue or the hand of the communicant. The distribution of the Previous Blood for the faithful is suspended, with the exception of those who must receive from the cup due to medical reasons. The faith of the Church teaches that Christ, whole and entire, is received even under one species.

CHRISTIAN INITIAtION (rcia)

Are you thinking of becoming Catholic? Do you know someone who is interested in the Catholic Church? The RCIA is meeting on Monday evenings at 6pm at Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth. Our cluster has begun a shared program in order to provide a richer sharing of the faith.

Dec. 11^th at St. Gregory’s Parish, Gray  6:30pm - 8pm

Parishioners of all ages are invited to become part of the Christmas story. You will actually feel, taste, hear, and smell what life was like during this miraculous time. An excited group of shepherds will lead groups of guests to the stable, where you can interact with a very special -- but weary -- couple and their newborn. This isn't your typical "living Nativity" because guests will talk with Joseph and Mary, ask them what it was like to stay in a stable, and discover that God used regular people to fulfill his promise. What a remarkable reminder of God's amazing love for us! FMI - email judy.dominick@portlanddiocese.org

Donations to Native American Communities of Maine: Our parish is making donations to the churches which minister to Penobscot and Passamaquoddy communities in Maine. Based on two percent of the October offertory, we are designating a total of $615 among three groups - the Churches of St. Ann at Indian Island, Perry and Peter Dana Point. These churches are now administered through two Clusters - the Parish of the Resurrection in Old Town and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Calais

The sisters of Transfiguration Hermitage will be holding their annual pre-holiday bake sale before and after all the masses at Sacred Heart during the weekend of Dec 12 & 13. Stock up for Christmas now, for yourself and for others. We'll have all the usual items, including Sr B's chicken & veggie pie; plus our famous brandy-rich Christmas fruitcake, our Christmas stollen, six kinds of cookies, and lots of jams, hot sauce, and herbal vinegars that make great stocking-stuffers. Help support contemplative life here in Maine and at the same time you can check off your gift list!

An Extra Christmas Card: When preparing for Christmas, take one card and send it to a wounded soldier at Walter Reed Medical Center. If everyone sends one card, think of how many greetings would reach these special people who have sacrificed so much. When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue,NW

Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Christmas Giving Trees: The Giving Trees have been set up at St. Jude and Sacred Heart Churches. They include tags with suggestions for gifts which you might offer to individuals and families. The lists will come from Freeport Community Services, Long Creek Youth Development Center and Catholic Charities of Portland (refugee - immigrant families). At St. Jude, there is also the Christmas Stockings for residents of our nursing homes. Please consider selecting a tag. Or parishioners may choose to make a cash donation in lieu of a gift and the money will be used to purchase the more expensive items.

Christmas Flowers: If you’d like to make a contribution to Christmas Flowers and Decorations in memory or honor of loved ones, grab one of the Christmas Flower envelopes, fill it out and drop it in the offertory basket. The deadline is Dec. 16th.

Fruitcakes are going fast! Sister Bernadette's famous English style, brandy soaked fruitcakes are a very hot item this time of year. They make wonderful gifts and are a delicious addition to anyone's Christmas feast. To help members of the parish avoid shipping, (and the possibility of their being sold out), Judith and Bill Eycleshymer have agreed to make these wonderful cakes available here in Yarmouth. Call 846-1287 to arrange to purchase one or several. They are 2 lbs each and cost $22.00. A bargain for the real thing.

WE INVITE YOU!

........to help

........to make a donation at the Sacred Heart Christmas Fair Haiti Table!

........to see the drawings of the Meyer children...5, 6, 7 year olds... who

          want  to thank their friends at Sacred Heart Parish.

........to get your own bell decoration as a memento!

This is different. This is an appeal for donations to rebuild the church in Meyer. Dismantling the old church and excavating a new foundation has already begun with $30,000 from our parish and the Haiti Diocese of Jacmel. The whole project will cost over $100,000. Our parish (especially the Social Justice & Peace Commission) is trying to find a mechanism for raising funds -- an effort which is compatible with our diocesan Capital Campaign. There are constraints at this time; however, we would like to offer the Meyer parish additional money in early 2010 so that the project can move forward. Building a church in Haiti may seen like a worthwhile effort to you in this holiday season and the new year. You may want to support it with a special donation. We hope so.

Church Support to Schools (Mittens, Caps and Scarves)

Volunteers for Yarmouth Food Pantry: A plan is underway to expand the food pantry at First Parish Church in Yarmouth. This is the pantry which parishioners of Sacred Heart Church support through “brown bag” appeals. It is the place which we recommend to people who are looking for help. Food and basic necessities are given to anyone in need and no church affiliation is required. First Parish is located at 116 Main Street, Yarmouth.

In October, First Parish will expand its assistance. The pantry is located in the basement of First Parish in the part of the building which was renovated in the past year. Access to the pantry will be from Storer Street which is at the rear. The pantry will now be supplied by Wayside Food Rescue on a quarterly basis. This will mean a larger amount of canned goods, fresh food and even frozen meat. Local appeals and donations will still remain crucial to help the increasing number of people who depend on this service. In early November, Sacred Heart Church will hold its own “brown bag” appeal for the pantry.

Specifics for volunteering: Pantry hours: Tuesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. to noon;Wednesday evening 5:00 -7:00.  It is possible that help will be needed occasionally for stocking the pantry and storing food. Volunteers are needed when customers come to the pantry.  They would be responsible for greeting, signing them in, and restocking the shelves from the storage area. Contact First Parish Church for more specific information about volunteering at 846-3773.

Clothing Donations: The fall season may be an occasion for parishioners to offer extra clothing to those in need. Please consider the following possibilities.

St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen: The daily food service at the Cathedral in Portland expands each Friday in Guild Hall to offer clothing to those who need help. The most useful items are practical men’s clothing in good condition: sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, sweaters, jackets and items which provide warmth. St. Vincent is a place where blankets and comforters, towels and washcloths can be donated if they are in good condition. The kitchen is open at mid-day (11:30 a.m. - 1 :00 p.m.) and donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday at the soup kitchen.

Clothing with resale value: This category of clothing can be donated directly to non-profit groups. Parishioners can consider the following:

Good Cause Thrift Shop is located at 16 Forest Avenue in Portland, and is associated with charitable work of the Sisters of Mercy. It sells useable donated items, such as clothing, furniture, small electrical items, kitchen utensils, and other wares.  Contact - 207-772-4903.

The Community Thrift Shop at Freeport Community Services is located at 53 Depot St, Freeport, ME 04032-1560, telephone (207) 865-3985.

Goodwill and Salvation Army: clothing and household items can be placed in designated bins or at the various stores in our area.

Volunteers for the Good Shepherd Food Bank: An appeal is being made by the Food Bank for people to help at its Auburn facility. There is a serious need for additional volunteers.

If you think that you can help, contact Lou Ann Bachelder at 207-782-3554. Email ibachelder@gsfb.org. The Good Shepherd Food-Bank is located a3121 Hotel Road, near Auburn.

Pennies From Heaven?

Nope…..pennies from You! Every time you use GoodSearch.com as your search engine, Sacred Heart Parish receives a penny. It doesn’t sound like much but if everyone uses GoodSearch as their computer home page these pennies add up very fast. With a few people’s help we have raised a few dollars. Thank you! Just imagine how many pennies we can collect if everyone who uses a computer helps out. Did you know that you can also GoodSHOP? Many top retailers such as Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy participate in this program and will donate a percentage of the amount purchased to Sacred Heart Parish. To get started, go to you internet page and click on the Tools Tab. Click on Internet Options. In the General Tab Home page address type in http://goodsearch.com and press apply and then the OK button. Click on the Home page button and the GoodSearch powered by Yahoo has become your new homepage. Now just type Sacred Heart Parish (Yarmouth, ME) under “Who do you GoodSearch for” verify and you are all set. A Big Thank You for your support!