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Parish Communities St. Mary & St. Philip Benizi Pastor: Rev. Leo LeBlanc x24 • [email protected] The Epiphany of the Lord
Parish Communities St. Mary & St. Philip Benizi
Pastor: Rev. Leo LeBlanc x24 • [email protected]
The Epiphany of the Lord
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St. Philip & St. Mary Parishes of Grafton
St. Philip & St Mary
St Philip (Mass @ 9am on Sunday) January 3 – Deceased Members of St. Philip and St. Mary January 10 – Months Mind for Jay Swett January 17 – For the Holy Souls in Purgatory
To request a Mass Intention, please call Jill Sullivan (ext. 10) or Lisa Stewart (ext. 11) at St. Mary’s Parish Office at 508-839-3993.
Special Collections in January:
Catholic University
January 3rd
Catholic Home Missions January 31
St. Mary January 2, Saturday: 4:00pm – For Parishioners of St. Mary and St. Philip January 3, Sunday: 7:30am – Memorial William Cournoyer and Michelle Foley by the Family 10:30am – For the Holy Souls in Purgatory Monday – 8:00am Mass Tuesday – 12:00pm Mass Wednesday – 3:00pm Mass Thursday – 8:00am Mass January 9, Saturday: 4:00pm – For the Holy Souls in Purgatory January 10, Sunday: 7:30am – For Living and De-ceased Members of St. Mary and St. Philip 10:30am – For Living and Deceased Members of St. Mary and St. Philip
Sunday Offertory
Past collections will be posted in next
weekend’s bulletin.
Please be assured that all Mass intentions will be of-
fered up by Fr. Leo on your loved ones behalf. We have listed the dates below so please remember
them in your prayers.
Welcome to St. Mary & St. Philip Parishes!
Please visit our website for all the upcoming events. If you would like a bulletin sent home, please call St. Mary’s parish office. Please visit our website to sign up for attendance at Mass and latest details on our parishes: stmarysgrafton.org or stphilipsgrafton.org Please sign up for Flocknote on our website for con-tinuous updates on your phone or email. You can find us on Facebook at: stmary.stphilip.of.grafton.ma You will find our recorded weekly Mass on your local ca-ble channels at 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM daily on Channel 191 for Charter or Channel 34 for Verizon. Our mailing address and phone numbers: St. Mary Office - 508-839-3993 17 Waterville St., N. Grafton, MA 01536
St. Philip Office – 508-839-3325 12 West St., Grafton, MA 01519
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is Offered at the Following Times/Places:
Tuesday afternoons after Mass at 12:45—1:30pm in the Rectory with proper social distancing and masks. Upon arrival, please ring doorbell at rectory back door.
Saturday afternoons at 2:45-3:30pm in the upper parking lot.
Both the penitent and Priest will remain in their cars during this sacrament.
By appointment – Call or text Fr. Leo at (508) 450-0281 to schedule.
Please go to our website at https://stmarysgrafton.org/news/confession for more details.
https://stmarysgrafton.org/news/confession
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WELCOMING GOD IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
Perhaps not too many of us look back to this past year with nostalgia, yet what can we learn from 2020? History can be helpful for us to live in the present only if we are willing to learn what it can teach us. Other-wise, we are condemned to repeat the same mistakes and not build on the good things we have learned. None of us knew, not even our world leaders, what we were facing and the extent of this pandemic. Was 2020 a curse? The answer depends on where your faith and mine stand. It was a curse to those who held on to “life-as-usual.” It was a blessing to those who practiced surrender to God in Mystery. This is not to say it has been easy for any of us. As Cardinal Sarah said in the early part of the pandemic: “The great illusion of a material world that thought itself all-powerful seems to have collapsed. A micro-scopic virus has brought this world to its knees.” 2020 was a reawakening. For those whose hearts were set on “business as usual,” it was a rude awakening. In fact, many world leaders were in denial about the severity of this virus. And sadly, some are still in partial denial, though they have been forced to deal with the reality of this pandemic. For those who have chosen to awaken, this pandemic has become an opportunity to be responsible and prudent, that is, an opportunity to accept the ability to respond. We might ask, however, “an ability to re-spond to what?” The invitation is to respond to Life-as-it-is,” and NOT “life-as-the-world-dictates.” We are now entering into the Year of Grace, 2021. As Catholics, we do so by celebrating the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. Also our holy father Pope Francis declared on December 8 to be the year of St. Joseph. Let us make this a holy Year of Grace by submitting our desires and plans to the Christ-Child, who although is totally helpless as a human being, nevertheless is the Mighty God become flesh. He shows us the way to the Father by not only embracing our humanity, giving up the privileges of his divinity, but he also embraces our dire poverty. The Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany come bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, symbolic of their heart, their prayer and their sacrifice. They are willing to give this God-Child these precious gifts because they are true seekers of God. Are we willing like them to be pilgrims who gladly go on the journey that will demand from us, inconveniences, hardships, lonely hours in the deserts that we travel in order to get our priorities straight? Will you and I dare to hope that journeying through the year of 2021 with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will be led to a deeper prayer life and a more solid faith? Jesus, as the Mercy of God, is drawn to our sinful humanity, and takes us by the hand, especially in the sacraments he has given us. Perhaps the first part of our journey is to have an honest self-examination of conscience where we do not try to figure out how we have messed up, but where we allow Jesus through his own words to reveal to us our sins, that is, to reveal to us how we have veered away from our course toward the heart of God. God knows what He is about. How much do we dare to trust God and His will and plan for us in 2021?
Fr. Leo
January 3, 2021 The Epiphany of the Lord
January 3, 2021 The Epiphany of the Lord
RE CLASS SCHEDULE Sunday January 3rd Gr. K remote 9:00-9:15am Gr. 1-5 gathered 9:15-10:15am St. Mary Gr. 1-5 remote 9:30-10:00am Gr. 6-8 remote 6:00-6:45pm (zoom link from Mrs. Farland) Gr. 6-8 gathered 6:00-7:00pm St. Philip Gr. 9-10 7:00-8:00pm Diocesan Trivia & Theology Trivia Topic: Catholicism vs Other Christian Denominations This session will discuss the primary differences between our Catholic faith and many other Christian denominations such as the Eucharist, our relationship with Mary and the saints, Purgatory, and Sacred Tradition. We will discuss these differences, where they originated, and why we believe what we do as Catholics. (link from diocese) Monday January 4th Gr. 1-5 remote 4:00-4:30pm Sunday January 10th Gr. K remote 9:00-9:15am Gr. 1-5 gathered 9:15-10:15am St. Mary Gr. 1-5 remote 9:30-10:00am Gr. 6-8 remote 6:00-6:45pm (zoom link from Mrs. Farland) Gr. 6-8 gathered 6:00-7:00pm St. Philip Gr. 9-10 No Class Monday January 11th Gr. 1-5 remote 4:00-4:30pm
NEW TIME OPTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Beginning in January, we will be offering a new time option for High School religious education classes on Sunday mornings from 11:30am-12:45pm. Please contact Darleen at [email protected] if you are interested in this new time slot and also whether you prefer gathered or remote classes.
UPCOMING ADULT EDUCATION CLASS: Our parish will soon experience how the whole Bible opens up once it’s viewed through the person of King Da-vid in Bishop Robert Barron’s Bible study. David’s kingship recalls the kingship of Adam in the Garden of Eden, and also foreshadows the kingship of Jesus Christ. Adam was the first king and steward of the rightly ordered Garden of Eden, but he failed. Later, David emerged as hope of Israel who sought to restore order in the Garden and bring the world under the lordship of God. But being imperfect, David did not fully accomplish this task. So God promised to send a son of David who would be the perfect and eternal king. BOTH GATHERED AND REMOTE SESSIONS AVAILABLE. Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan 13th and 14th through the begin-ning of Lent. For more info or to register contact Darleen at: [email protected]
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PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER FOR ALL MASSES
The link to register can be found on our website at: https://stmarysgrafton.org/mass-resumes. For those who are unable to go online, you can complete the simple orange form for regular Masses available at the back of the church and drop it in the collection basket or contact Jill in the Parish office at 508-839-3993 x10.
Holy Communion after Mass in the Gathering Space @ St. Mary’s
We are offering Holy Communion after Mass in the Gathering Space at St. Mary's for those who feel unsafe to go in Church for Mass, but would like to receive Communion. Either Deacon Tim or Fr. Leo will make themselves available with the Eucharist for at least 10
minutes after Mass. You need to enter by the side entrance and exit by the front entrance in the Gathering Space. (This avoids a congestion of people.) You need to have a mask on, sanitize your hands with a touchless sanitizer before re-ceiving Communion. We will do this until January 10.
TO ACCESS RECORDED MASSES
Facebook Live at 'Mary Philip Parishes' https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010575973727 (Become friends with us on Facebook to receive notifications)
Grafton Cable TV on channel 191 for Charter or Channel 34 for Verizon daily at 6:30am or 6:30pm
Get links to recorded Mass at http://stmarysgrafton.org or http://stphilipsgrafton.org from the Home page slide or the Homilies page off the 'About' menu
Scout Troop 106- Christmas Tree Pick up
Scout Troop 106- Christmas tree pick up $10 each tree, Jan. 16 9 am-12pm. Email
at [email protected] by 1-8-21, or call 508-293-1232.
Advance your check payable to: Troop 106 BSA. Mail to Holly McCormick, 28 Holly-
wood Dr., N. Grafton, MA 01536
MEN BEING CALLED TO JOIN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Please consider joining the Knights of Columbus, either in Westborough or South Grafton. For Westborough: John Boyle O’Reilly Council #85, call Carroll Westgate at 508-414-0822 or go to their website kofc85.org
For South Grafton- St. Benedict Council #2379, a meet-
ing is being held for active and inactive members as well
as potential new members on January 4 at 7 pm at St.
James Parish Center, lower classroom.
https://stmarysgrafton.org/mass-resumeshttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010575973727http://stmarysgrafton.orghttp://stphilipsgrafton.orgmailto:[email protected]
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Website for both parishes: www.stmarysgrafton.org www.stphilipsgrafton.org
Parish Staff
Deacon Tim Cross: ext. 29
Business Manager: Lisa Stewart X11 [email protected]
Director of Religious Ed. St. Mary/
St. Philip: Darleen Farland x12
Director of Music/St. Mary: Pamela Cross X37 [email protected]
Music Coordinator/St. Philip: Brittany Dyer
Parish Secretary/Safe Environment Coor-dinator St. Mary: Jill Sullivan x10
Parish Secretary/Safe Environment Coor-dinator St. Philip: TBD; contact Jill or Lisa
Custodian: Ron Dennis
St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary /St. Philip at 508-839-3993 x35. All infor-
mation is kept strictly confidential.
St. Mary Prayer Line 508-839-3993 X18
Youth Group Ministry- [email protected]
St. Mary Office – 508-839-3993 St. Philip Office – 508-839-3325
If you know of any elderly or home-bound parishioners who would like to have the bulletin sent to them by mail, please contact St. Mary Parish office and one will be sent out weekly.
We thank our advertisers for making our bulletin possible. Please patronize our advertis-ers especially during this time
of pandemic. Thank you!
Al’s Oil Service
American Red Cross Boucher Energy Systems
Buggy Whip Cancun’s Restaurant
CatholicMatch Collette Motors, Inc.
CSR Financial Services, LLC HearJOY Audiology Heffernan Painting
Mallory’s Army Foundation McClure’s Barber Shop
MD MedAlert Post Office Pub
Rand Automotive Center RE/MAX Executive Realty
Roney Funeral Home Rosaries From Flowers
Trusted Like Family Homecare, Inc.
http://www.stmarysgrafton.orgmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:https://stmarysgrafton.org/re-registration
