Sat., Feb 4
7:00 p.m. AA Park Allen Group, Gold Room
Sun., Feb 5
11:00 a.m. Family Liturgy, Church
Tues., Feb 7
9:30 a.m. Praying for the Unborn, Church
3:00 p.m. Community Life Core Meeting, Rectory Conference Room
6:30 p.m. Communications Committee Meeting, Rectory Conference Room
Wed., Feb 8
4:00 p.m. Adoration & Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Church
6:00 p.m. Confirmation Parents Meeting, Rectory Conference Room
Sat., Feb 11
7:00 p.m. AA Park Allen Group, Gold Room
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OPEN PANTRY This week we ask that you please bring Canned Vegetables. Next week we ask that you please bring Cereal.
Please visit openpantry.org to learn more about them. Thank you!
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We ask God to return to eternal life our recently departed friends and relatives.
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A Heartfelt Expression of Gratitude and Love
Now that I have time to reflect on the Christmas Season, and all the decorations and lights have been put away, I find myself feeling so grateful and blessed by all the people who made it possible.
The list is long starting with Miss Kaime, aka Miss “K,” and the 8th grade students from St. Michael’s Academy who helped in bringing all the trees into the church, to all the decorators who volunteered to dress up the trees with lights and bulbs, and by placing poinsettias throughout the church, to the hanging of the red liturgical curtains, wreaths and trees, to the bows on the doors and the candle lights on the window sills, to the display of the Nativity scene, to the pizza and soda we enjoyed, to the cleaning of the church, and of course, to the ringing of the outside bells on Christmas day.
My gratitude is immense. I am thankful to each of you for the love expressed in your effort to make the Church beautiful for the birth of our Savior. I am also grateful to all of you who attended Mass and expressed your love to one another.
And, of course grateful to Father Quynh, the Deacons, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, ushers, children and those in the different ministries who made Christmas possible for someone in need or homeless.
May God bless you throughout the New Year and fill you with His peace, joy, and much love.
Many blessings, Nancy (Sacristan)
Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!
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Family Mass
The next Family Mass is this Sunday February 5th, at 11:00 a.m!
This is a great opportunity for children to take an active part in the Mass and listen to the Word of God. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Join us for coffee and donuts after Mass
Family Mass is the 1st Sunday of the Month, at 11:00 pm
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EAST FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION
2nd Wednesday, February 8th Monthly Meeting
6:30 p.m. at the East Forest Park Library
136 Surrey Road
There will be a presentation of our Tax process by City Assessor, Patrick Y Greenhalgh.
Questions about your Real Estate Tax?
Please join us!
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The Eucharistic Congress
The Eucharistic Congress is coming to Springfield March 4th!
This day is for you!
Young or old, single or with the whole family, involved in your parish or on the edges, you are invited to come learn more about the Eucharist and deepen your love for the gift of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
Reawaken your heart to what is essentially beautiful, good, and true about our faith, and center your life around Christ in the Eucharist.
Come experience amazing speakers, a display of Eucharistic miracles, fellow Catholics from around the diocese, a full convention center of all things Catholic with Catholic ministries and materials, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and Mass with Bishop Byrne.
The Eucharistic Conference, March 4, 2023, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
Pick up a brochure in the church or go to catholiclifeconference.org to register.
Register by Feb 20, 2023, to have lunch included in your registration.
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VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!
Burning of the Palms
Lent is rapidly drawing near.
The Spiritual Life Committee prayerfully requests a volunteering of your time and talent in preparation for the start of Lent with the Burning of the Palms, scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
The Spiritual Life Committee and Community Life Committee seek assistance in a variety of roles for this event. We are grateful for any time you are able to commit to our parish community. Please contact the rectory to be forwarded to the proper committee. Thank you for being a part of our parish family.
Good News. After a COVID hiatus, the Stations of the Cross and the Lenten Sacrificial Meals are back on Fridays during Lent.
Please consider volunteering along with your fellow parishioners.
The meal will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the Stations of the Cross will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Volunteer opportunities include set-up, clean-up, and preparation of meatless soup, salad and bread.
There are sign-up sheets at the parking lot entrance.
Yellow Bows for Easter
Do you know how to make bows?
In preparation for the upcoming Easter, we are looking for a volunteer to make yellow bows for the Easter Wreaths.
Materials will be provided. It may sound premature, but time is flying!
Please see our Sacristan, Nancy.
Please consider sharing your time and talent with our community during Lent. We are grateful for any time you are able to commit with our parish family.
Please contact the rectory to be forwarded to the proper committee.
Thank you for being part of our parish community!
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Lenten Bible Study
No Greater Love
Experience the Unconditional Love Christ Has for You
We often hear about Jesus’ passion and death but imagine experiencing them for the very first time.
In No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion, we are going to walk step-by-step with Jesus on his journey from his agony in the garden to his crucifixion on Calvary.
Along the way, we will unpack the biblical background to these events, the prophecies, and most especially, the ways Jesus is inviting us to walk more closely with him today.
No Greater Love is a five-part Bible study program that will run from Tuesday, February 28, 2023 through March 28, 2023 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm in the Rectory Conference Room
as well as Thursday, March 2, 2023 through March 30, 2023 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm via ZOOM.
For more information visit ascensionpress.com, or to register contact Mary Hart at (413)455-4778 or maryhart.avon@yahoo.com.
No Greater Love is a biblical pilgrimage that reveals Christ’s amazing love for us.
Best-selling author Edward Sri guides you through the last hours of Christ’s life.
Every step of the way, Old Testament prophecies, messianic expectations, biblical symbolism, and historical context shed light on the mystery of Christ’s suffering and death.
Experience a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s immeasurable and unconditional love for you—grow closer to Jesus than you ever have before.
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COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Polish Junior League of Massachusets is acceptng applicatons for scholarships for college students of Polish heritage.
Application information and forms may be obtained at www.polishjuniorleaguema.org/applicatons. Deadline for receipt of application materials is May 1, 2023
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Cursillo
What is it? “Cursillo,” (kur-see-yo) means short course in Christianity.
The intention of the Cursillo Movement isto give each person a renewed spirituality and a clearer understanding of how Christ can work through them.
To learn more about this vital and active lay movement in the Diocese of Springfield, contact The Cursillo Movement of Western MA @ precursillowma@gmail.com
or visit our website: www.cursillowmass.net
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Faith Formation
Registration for Faith Formation Classes is ongoing. If you haven’t registered your children yet, please email: hcc.cathy@gmail.com or call 4 13-372-6239.
CONFIRMATION
If you child is in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, they are eligible to make their Confirmation. For further information, please contact Cathy Daniel at hcc.cathy@gmail.com or call 413-372-6239.
FIRST COMMUNION
If your child is in the 2nd grade and you wish them to make their First Communion, please contact Cathy Daniel at hcc.cathy@gmail.com or call 413-372-6239
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Winter Closing Advisory
If the Springfield Schools are closed, the Rectory and Parish will be closed.
Adoration
If the Springfield Schools are closed, there will be no Adoration. If the weather is in doubt on Wednesdays, please call Kathy at 413-575-5163 before 3:15 p.m. to see if Adoration will be held.
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U.S. AIR FORCE:
Staff Sergeant Alexander Henle and
Staff Sergeant Samuel B. Park
U.S. ARMY:
SPC Gabriel Childs MP
First Lt. Alexander Nappi, OCS,
Chief Warrant Officer -4 Nicholas S. Penna, and
Private First Class, Trevor Bajek
U.S. MARINE CORPS:
Lance Corporal Dominic Bushway,
Sergeant Christopher Bouchie,
Private Vincent Manning, and
Corporal Dakota Wood,
U.S. NAVY:
Sailor Austin Ray Allaire and Ensign Joshua Lausier
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
First Lt. Jonathan Edward Moll
If you have someone, family or friend, who is currently in
the military, please call the rectory with the proper spelling
of each person’s name. As space allows in the bulletin, we
will ask for prayers for those who are serving our country.
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Electronic Giving Available
With our electronic giving program, you can easily set up a recurring giving schedule or make one-time contributions. We encourage you to set up a schedule of recurring contributions. It’s convenient for you and provides much-needed consistency for our church. If you are currently giving on a weekly basis, you will no long need to write out 52 checks a year or prepare 52 envelopes. Even when travel, illness or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, our church will continue to receive your contribution on a uninterrupted basis.
Please contact Kate or Anne at the rectory, 413-783-4111, with any questions or to sign up for Vanco. Smartphone savvy? Just click the QR code below!
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ASSISTANT SACRISTANS NEEDED
Your willingness to serve as an Assistant Sacristan reflects not only a response to your Baptismal call to serve the people of God, but a commitment to Christ as you share in the sacramental, teaching and leading aspects of the church. Your attentiveness to detail and flexibility during the celebration is a further indication of your commitment to this important ministry which enables and prepares for all other liturgical ministries.
If this sounds like You and would like to know specifics, please give Nancy, the Sacristan, a call at 413-575-4216.
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GREETERS NEEDED!
Volunteers to assist in welcoming parishioners!
What a great way to meet new people in the parish! Individuals, couples, and families are all welcome! The only thing needed is a smile!
Please contact Jim Maiolo at 413-374-1548 or James_Maiolo@hotmail.com.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Do you know someone who would appreciate a reminder that they are not alone during a difficult time and would appreciate a prayer shawl?
Please call Marie Alice Lavallee at 413-783-0341.
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If you have received First Holy Communion and are in the 3rd or 4th grade or above, you are eligible to become an Altar Server. If you are a former Junior or Adult Server, we welcome you to be part of this ministry. All Altar Servers will be trained.
Please contact Cathy Daniel at 413-372-6239
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Prayer for Enlivening Our Parish
Below is a link to the "Enlivening Our Parish" prayer that we pray at the beginning of each Mass. Copies of this prayer are once again available in the pews, as are the readings for Mass. I am including a link for the PDF copy of it in this issue, and future issues of, the "Chronicle". You can view it on your phone or mobile device when needed if you don't have access to a printer.
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“It's better to light a candle, than curse the darkness.”
– The Christophers
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