Third Sunday of AdventGaudete Sunday

15 December 2013Saint John the Baptist Retiring to the Desert

Giovanni di Paolo (1454)

Saint  Cecilia

P A R I S H

St.  Cecilia  Parish  Advent  Giving  Tree    Our annual Advent giving tree has arrived! Your gift purchase will bring tidings of comfort and joy this Christmas to many children, parents and senior citizens who live in our neighborhood. Here is some information on the organizations that we are supporting this year.

PROJECT HOPE works in partnership with families so they can move up and out of poverty. They do this by being a catalyst for change in the lives of families

and in the systems that keep them poor; developing and providing family support solutions for homelessness and poverty; and advocating for just public policies that strengthen families. We have received requests from 85 children. Each child requests two toys and one practical gift.

The FAMILIES IN TRANSITION (FIT) program has been in operation for 14 years, working to help families become

stabilized, to secure adequate and affordable housing and to develop the skills and ability to maintain their homes in their respective communities. Families waiting to move live in one of 22 small apartments on two floors at the Huntington Avenue YMCA. We have received gift requests from 22 single parents and their children.

WALTHAM HOUSE is a group home program, run by the Home for Little Wanderers, designed to provide a safe and supportive

living environment for GLBT youth ages 14-‐18. Waltham House offers residents a safe and nurturing environment, including 24-‐hour staffing, in which to live while they prepare for family reunification, independent living and future self-‐sufficiency.

THE ELDERS LIVING AT HOME is a program of Boston Medical Center that supports elders in making the transition from homelessness to housing. Their mission provides supportive services to help elders overcome barriers to permanent housing. They provide a range of services to a diverse group of older adults who are homeless, who have been homeless and who may be at risk of becoming homeless with the goal of helping them maintain their independence in safe, affordable permanent housing for as long as possible. The individuals served by ELAHP are very low-‐income, and many are socially isolated. Most would not be remembered at Christmas at all and our gifts help meet their significant material needs, but also offer them the much needed human touch and the feeling of being remembered and recognized as the unique, blessed individuals they are. Homelessness is one of the most complex and challenging social problems in the United States.

Pine Street Inn has crafted an ambitious plan to focus its efforts on permanent supportive housing. Pine Street currently owns and manages more than

600 units at 35 sites throughout greater Boston. The supportive housing model employed by Pine Street, incorporating case managers and house managers, has proven extremely effective in keeping individuals housed long-‐term. A comprehensive plan encourages each individual to reach his or her potential. The plan includes accessing health services, job training or mental health resources. We have received gift requests from clients who live at Pine Street Homes.

Information about the Gift Tags:

Project Hope DO NOT WRAP the gift. Attach tag to the outside. Due TOMORROW (Monday, December 16) by 12 noon.

All other agencies Wrap the gift and attach tag to outside. Due Wednesday, December 18 by 3:00 pm.

Gift cards: Gifts cards can be for any amount. For stores not indicated, suggestions are: CVS, Walgreens, Payless Shoes, Marshall’s, Whole Foods, Shaws/Stop and Shop, Best Buy or restaurants like Pizzeria Uno, Boston Market or Panera.

If you cannot find the gift, a gift card to the store most likely to have it is acceptable. For expensive items, a gift card toward the purchase of the gift is very much appreciated!

Late Gifts Will be delivered, but not in time for Christmas.

If you are able to purchase additional gift cards these will be given to individuals who request assistance during the Christmas season.

Ministers of the Liturgy

Saturday | 5:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrantFred Bachofner, lector

Sunday | 8:00 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantDaniel Hart, lector

Sunday | 9:30 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantMoira Macdonald, Jim Kennedy, & Rosaria Salerno, lectors Sunday | 11:15 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantZachary Boutin, Maggie Loh, & Christopher Loh, lectors

Sunday | 6:00 p.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantNikko Mendoza & Josh Fairchild, lectors

today’s readingsIsaiah 35:1-‐6a, 10James 5:7-‐10Matthew 11:2-‐11

next sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 7:10-‐14Romans 1:1-‐7Matthew 1:18-‐24

special intentions

Sunday, December 15 | 9:30 a.m. Ann F. McNierney, Memorial

Sunday, December 15 | 11:15 a.m. Jackie & Sam Coluccio, Memorial

Sunday, December 15 | 6:00 p.m. Sally Broderick, Memorial

Christmas LiturgiesChristmas Eve

4:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Day9:30 a.m.

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our community news

Making the House Ready for the Lord

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but still nothing is as shining as it should be for you. Under the sink, for example, is an uproar of mice it is the season of their many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves and through the walls the squirrels have gnawed their ragged entrances but it is the season when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow; what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox, the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-‐goose, know that re-‐ally I am speaking to you whenever I say, as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

By Mary Oliver

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Prayers & Occasions

Our SickPlease pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Jennifer Serpico, Heather LoRe, Rudy Kikel, Annette Kulas, Steven Whitkens, Patricia Macdonald, Lucie Kelly, Anthony Simboli, Lisa Caputo, Jeanne Tibbs, Bill Croke, Anne Frenette Handly, Jan Igras, Ruth Frost, Roséa Aubrey, Chuck Campion, Brenna Smith, Mildred McLaughlin, Hannah Mai Devery, Susanne Coyne, Ken Bennett, Vincent Fiorda, Domenic Iannaccone, Jim Mootos, James Geller, Cameron Robinson, Jaheel Robinson, John Karcher, Robert Lupis, David Walsh, Paul Claveau, Michael Claveau, David Worster, Derek Schall, Max Tubman, Jennifer Murdock, Susan Noll, Julie Downey, Marilyn Inniss, Mary Broussard, JoAnn Serpico, Bill MacNeill, Daniel Feeley, Donna Thagard, Penny Maynard, Ivy Fray, Robert Kimball, Mark Schatzl, Owen Kyes, and Jim Tynan.

Welcome to Saint CeciliaWe are pleased to welcome the following newly registered members of our parish: Brian Helmes of Bos-‐ton, Robin Deliso of Boston, Brian Sleboda of Quincy, Jessica Meunier of Arlington, Edward Souza of Bos-‐ton, Siobhan O'Connor of Boston, Katie Mahowski of Shrewsbury, and Robert Mylroie of Brighton. If you have not already registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you may register on-‐line at www.stceciliaboston.org.

Pray For Our StudentsPray that all of our students may successfully complete the semester and have safe travels as they head home to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

For Our PriestsEach year, the diocesan-‐wide Christmas collection is for our priests. Remember the priests who have made a meaningful impact in your life, and consider honor-‐ing them with a caring donation. All Christmas Eve and Christmas Day offertory collections go to the support of our priests. If you are enrolled in our electronic giving program, you may contribute by going to www.myown-‐giving.com as usual and choosing the fund marked “Clergy Funds — Christmas Collection” for your gift. You may also make a donation directly to the Clergy Funds at www.clergyfunds.org.

Gaudete Sunday

Gaudete in Domino semper:iterum dico, gaudete.

Dominus enim prope est.Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I say, rejoice!The Lord is near.

We are now midway through Advent and today is a day of rejoicing, traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” (gow–DAY–tay). “Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice” and this

antiphon) for the Third Sunday of Advent. Before we started singing hymns in English, the Introit was normal-‐ly chanted in Latin as the priest approached the altar.It helped to set the mood and theme of the Mass of the day. The Introit for the Third Sunday of Advent comes from Philippians 4, Paul’s warm and loving letter to the community at Philippi. The optional use of rose–colored vestments underscores the joyful character of today’s liturgy.

Gaudete Sunday dates back to the Middle Ages, when the season of Advent bore a penitential charactersimilar to that of Lent. At that time, Advent was aforty–day period of fasting and penance in preparation for Christmas. It commenced on the day after SaintMartin’s Day (12 November) and was thus often referred to as “St. Martin’s Lent.” In the midst of a dark andserious Advent, Gaudete Sunday helped to brighten the mood. In the ninth century, Advent was reduced to four weeks and its austere character gave way to a new un-‐derstanding of Advent as a time of longing, hoping, and waiting for the Lord.

Six O'Clock Mass NoteToday is the last six o'clock Sunday liturgy beforeChristmas. The six o'clock liturgy will resume on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (January 5).

"Where is God? God is where we are weak, vulnerable, small and dependent. God is where the poor are, the hungry, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the elderly, the powerless. How can we come to know God when our focus is elsewhere, on success, in!uence, and power? I increasingly believe that our faithfulness will depend on our willingness to go where there is brokenness, loneli-ness, and human need. If the church has a future it is a future with the poor in whatever form."

Henri Nouwen

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This week's prayer for your advent wreath

third week Light two of the violet candles and the rose candle.During the rest of the week, these candles are relit at the evening meal or whenever you choose to do so.

Jesus, John the Baptist told the people, "If you have two coats, give one to someone else who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else." As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of service into our lives. May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

Amen.

advent giving tree gifts dueNearly 600 gift tags have been hung from the Advent Giving Tree! Truly you will make a difference in the lives of so many people this Christmas. Thank you for your generosity. Gifts for the Giving Tree are due back this Monday by noon for Project Hope & Wednesday by 3 p.m. for the rest. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Ann Faldetta at 617-‐590–4140.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALEWe are once again selling Christmas cards to support the Pine Street Inn, where Father John and several parish-‐ioners serve on the Board of Directors. This is a wonder-‐

permanent solutions to homelessness while sharing some wonderful Boston–themed Christmas cards with family and friends. The cards are priced at $18 for a pack of 10. Payment can be made in cash or with a check made payable to the Pine Street Inn.

Annual christmas bookshop-‐

brary at Saint Rose School in Chelsea will be held today, Sunday, December 15, in the parish hall immediately following the 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. masses. Please stop by and browse for a fantastic new collection of children's books.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERSYou are invited to remember your loved ones by donat-‐

-‐lopes that you can use for this purpose. Please drop the envelope in the collection basket or hand it to any staff person. The names of those remembered will be pub-‐lished in the Christmas bulletin. Please be sure to PRINT clearly.

dRIVERS NEededEach month parishioners have the opportunity to pick up donated meat, dairy products, and produce from a South Shore supermarket and baked goods from two Whole Foods' locations and deliver it to Catholic Chari-‐ties' Haitian Multi-‐Service Center in Dorchester along with the packaged food items donated at Saint Cecilia. This vital ministry takes place at 7:30 a.m. on Sundays and can be completed in time to attend the 9:30 a.m.

Catholic Charities. If you can help with this important parish ministry, please email Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@hammondre.com. Our upcoming dates are:

December 15, 22, & 29

HELP US CARE FOR THE POORAt least a few times each week, homeless men and

member after Mass looking for something to eat or a donation. While we do sometimes give out small amounts of money, we prefer to offer people a gift card to a local supermarket or restaurant. You have always responded generously to our appeal for gift cards, but once again, we are in need of having our supply replenished. If you are interested in helping out in this way, simply purchase a gift card and drop it in the collection basket at Mass or give the card to a staff person. We are very appreciative of your assis-‐tance as we attempt to offer aid to the less fortunate in our midst.

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from our fourth gradersPLEASE HELP KEEP THE DOORS OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOOD PANTRY OPEN

We have been studying what God asks of us.

We are called to act with justice;We are called to love tenderly;We are called to serve one another;To walk humbly with God.

We learned about kids who do not have enough food, clothes, medicine and cannot afford to go to school in places like El Salvador and Uganda. We wanted to try to do something but then we decided to do something in Boston. We heard Father John say that they could not keep the doors open at the Catholic Charities food pantry because they do not get enough food for kids.

After we discussed lots of ideas, this is what we decided to do:

Write about the problem for the bulletin and the website.

food to church.And collect food at the 9:30 a.m. Mass on the four Sundays of Advent.

PLEASE BRING FOOD!

Thanks,

Grade 4 Class

new choir members needed! We are in need of new choir members to sing with us. If you have a musical talent to share with the community, we would love to have you join us. Please stop by and see Richard Clark after Mass or e-‐mail him at rclark@stceciliaboston.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

VIRTUS Training: January 5All catechists, lectors, extraordinary ministers of HolyCommunion, greeters, and members of Saint CeciliaCares who have not yet attended a VIRTUS "Protect-‐ing God's Children" training session are urged to attend the next session on January 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m -‐ 2:00 p.m. Included will be two thirty-‐minute videos, ques-‐tions and answers, an overview on mandated reporting,

be served but please feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Please let the leader of your ministry know if you are able to attend this session.

Bridgewater State Hospital —Holiday Help NeededBridgewater State Hospital is a psychiatric prison hospital where 350 men with very serious mental illnesses live — some for a short period of evaluation and some for a lifetime. Though it is a hospital, it is also very much a prison complete with barbed wire,

saddest, dreariest places on earth during the holiday season. You can help change that. The Catholic Chap-‐lain, Peg Newman, a parishioner here at Saint Cecilia's, is collecting the following items to give to the men at Christmas time:

These are the only items the Department of Corrections will allow the men to receive. They will put the items to good use, but more important, they will know that they are being thought of and cared about. Your gift will be an expression of God's love. If you are able to help, please bring your gift to church over the next few week-‐ends. There is a bin in the back of the church. "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40

christmas at the cathedral... featuring the men and boys of

The Choir of St. Paul's, Harvard Square

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston

Saturday, December 21, 20133:00 p.m. Wine & Cheese reception

4:00 p.m. Candlelight Procession, Concert, Caroling

Please purchase tickets online at www.ChristmasattheCathedral.com

SUNG EVENING PRAYER Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m. �“O Flower of Jesse�’s Stem�” The church gathers in the evening to give thanks for the day that is ending and to lift up to God the needs and sorrows, the joys and hopes, of the world. Evening prayer lasts half an hour.

TAIZÉ PRAYER Sunday, December 22 at 6:00 p.m. A meditative hour of song, scripture and silence using chants and prayers from the Taizé community.

Saint Cecilia Parish www.stceciliaboston.org

MY SOUL IN STILLNESS WAITS: ADVENT PRAYER

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SAINT CECILIA PARISH

By SIDNEY CALLAHAN

This Advent I am beginning (again) the practice of Centering Prayer. This time I am inspired by

The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God. In his work, Frenette develops the teaching of his men-‐tor, Fr. Thomas Keating, the founding father of the contemplative prayer movement. Centering prayer

inward silent praying that consents to God’s pres-‐ence and activity within the believer.

You begin by sitting comfortably with eyes closed and invoke a sacred word or symbol that you have chosen to help you maintain your focus of atten-‐tion. After actively consenting to God’s presence you maintain attentive receptivity by gently put-‐ting aside any distractions that arise from images, thoughts, sensations or feelings. You simply refocus on your sacred symbol or word. After a designated period of time you end your prayer with a moment or two of silence.

This silent spiritual process can be a challenge, especially for beginners. Staying alert and attuned with silent receptivity to God may be naturally rewarding and restful for the human brain, but it also goes against the habitual operations of our busy, scattered minds. But David Frenette gives helpful guidance for all the questions that may arise in different stages of practice. He also gives witness to the spiritual fruitfulness of the quest.

I too have become convinced of the power and effectiveness of this spiritual path. In my case,

-‐ary psychology. While humans are incredibly gifted beings, they have also evolved in a competitive environment as hyper-‐vigilant and hyper-‐driven to survive through achieving safety, status and self-‐esteem. A built-‐in adaptive, non-‐conscious mind exists that is continually assessing the environment to note threats, opportunities or problems to be solved. We tend to intuitively create imagined scenarios in our heads rather than focus.

Yet intuitively scattered thinking and feeling can become directed and controlled by dent of our higher conscious cognitive powers — but it takes effortful attention and practice. If and when you learn to direct and focus attention, you become able to direct thoughts and behavior for reasoned moral and spiritual goals.

Unfortunately, automatic non-‐conscious processing

to move beyond consuming, self-‐interested dis-‐traction takes perseverance. Yet it is a God-‐given power that develops with experience, practice and desire for the good.

Since our non-‐conscious minds instinctively resist all threats to the self, its weaknesses have to be

-‐mental, nudging, gentle silence. Otherwise we can become entrapped in inner conceptual analyses, justifying arguments and perpetuating anxious cycles of blame. Letting all these verbal distrac-‐tions fade away, a silent prayer peacefully returns to centering in God’s encompassing love.

Advent faith, in the pregnant power of the Spirit, draws us on.

Sidney Callahan, Ph.D., is an author, lecturer, college professor and licensed psychologist. Her most recent book is "Created for Joy: A Christian View of Suffering".

!e Silent Power of Centering Prayer

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survey from the vaticanIn his desire to create dialogue with the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has announced a Synod of Bishops for October 2014 entitled The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangeliza-‐tion. Part of the preparation for this synod has been the creation of a questionnaire to be distributed throughout the world to receive input on the issues that the synod will be addressing.

The survey questions were created at the Vatican level and will be asked of all Catholics. For this reason, some of the questions, and their language, may strike you as overly formal and may deal with topics and concepts that are not necessarily part of your particular faith experience. Because our Saint Cecilia Parish community wants to have a voice in the survey results and because we wholeheartedly support Pope Francis’ desire for openness and dialogue, you are encouraged to partici-‐pate in this questionnaire. Please do not feel intimidat-‐ed by the language used in some of the questions and please do not feel the need to respond to questions on topics with which you are not familiar. Getting answers to even some of the questions is preferable to getting no answers.

You may cmplete the survey by visiting the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCTSLR7. Alter-‐natively, paper copies of the survey are available in the narthex. The survey results must be tabulated by today (Sunday, December 15).

WHOLE BODY PRAYERAN INVITATION TO PRAY WITH HEART, MIND, & BODY THROUGH BREATH AND MOVEMENT

You are invited to join us for a gentle yoga practiceinspired by the readings of the week and share anembodied experience of the Word. Over the course ofone hour, we will practice a sequence of standing yoga

No previous yoga experience is necessary. Please wearcomfortable clothing, & bring your own mat & waterbottle. The current cycle of weekly Saturday classes will continue December 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in classroom CL5. Please email fellow parishioner and

to sign up and reserve your spot, as space is limited.

basis. A donation of $5 per class will be collected, and it is requested that participants sign up for the 4-‐week session, where possible.

Small Group Faith Sharing/Bible Reflection Communities

readings in community with other parishioners? In March 2014, Saint Cecilia Parish will launch small group faith

join us in shaping this new programming for our com-‐munity. To learn more, please contact the Small Groups Committee at StCeciliaSmallGroups@gmail.com or Committee chairperson Caroline Holda at 512-‐633-‐9391. Please look for more details in the New Year!

Telling the Advent StorySaint Columbkille Parish invites you to a free three-‐day Advent mission on December 16-‐18 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., offered by Allison Gingras and Miriam Marston.

Dec. 16: “Entering the Story”Dec. 17: “Sharing the Story”

Come for one evening or all three! For more details, please contact miriam.marston@gmail.com.

ASSISTED LIVING OPTIONLittle Sisters of the Poor has a Couples Suite available for immediate occupancy at their assisted living unit. Please contact Mary Segalla at 617-‐776-‐4420 x317 for more information.

FOOD DONATIONS FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIESThis week's featured donation item is:

ANYTHING!

Next week's featured donation item is:PASTA!

Donations of pasta, sauce, cereal, tuna, & other canned food are always also accepted. Please leave food donations in the narthex baskets.

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advent, Grief, & loss: waiting for the light

but it is especially challenging during the holidays when we hear of joyful family gatherings and hopeful expectations. We can feel overwhelmed, sorrowful, and extremely vulnerable. While others celebrate, we grieve. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a job, a role, a relationship, or health: all involve working through a grief process. While we approach this pro-‐cess individually, the way we negotiate it is affected by the people in our lives and the environment around us. Self-‐care and spiritual support can make a tremendous difference at such a time. This 3-‐week support group, continuing on December 19 from 6:00 -‐ 7:30 p.m., will provide an opportunity to explore the aspects of griev-‐ing, within the spiritual context of Advent. Like the people of Israel in exile, when we suffer loss we are forced out of our familiar lives into the unknown. Ad-‐

our isolation as we journey with readings and psalms full of grief, hope, and trust. We are encouraged to bring all we are experiencing and feeling to the One who yearns to be with us—Emmanuel. The promise is kept as Advent cumlinates in the birth of the Christ Child. This sup-‐port group is led by Colleen Sharka, LMHC (MA Licensure #7109), a psychotherapist and spiritual director. The cost of attending all three sessions is $100. For more information or to enroll, please contact Colleen Sharka at (617) 816-‐9278 or colleen@stillharbor.org.

VOLUNTEER WITH VNA HOSPICEVNA Hospice Care needs volunteers to provide care and compassion to patients and families facing life-‐limiting illness and loss. A volunteer may provide patients with company and emotional support, give the spouse, partner or other caregiver a needed break, and/or help caregivers run errands or get to and from appoint-‐ments. A strong need exists for volunteers able to visit on weekdays. Also seeking: musicians to sing or play music in nursing homes; Reiki practioniers; and people interested in visiting with their therapy dog. A second language is also helpful. Volunteer training and support is provided. For more information, please contact 781-‐569-‐2888 or LPalais@vnab.org.

christmas concertThe Daughters of St. Paul invite you to their Christmas concerts on December 14 at 7:00 p.m., and December 15 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tel. 617-‐522-‐8911.

OUR PARISH’S RESPONSE TO HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY

-‐duced by about 5% beginning Nov. 1 for all of the nearly 47.7 million Americans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A family of four will receive $36 less each month because of the reduction, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A household of

cuts are particularly devastating because the majority of Americans receiving food stamps live in homes with children, seniors, or the disabled.

We want to express our thanks to the many parishioners who bring food to thenarthex each week for the Catholic Charities’ food pantry in Dorchester. Demand forfood has skyrocketed at all Catholic Charities’ food pantries in the past four years andthe Dorchester facil-‐ity is no exception. Our parish also has an extremely dedicated corps of volunteer drivers who deliver our donations and surplus food early every Sunday morning to Catholic Charities or the Pine Street Inn. Thank you to our November drivers, including: Jim, John, Patti and Paul, Jay and family, Dave, Chip, Joe, Maureen, Tom, Marianne, Cathy and Bill, and Frank.

NURSING OPPORTUNITiesCATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY CROSSThe Cathedral of the Holy Cross is looking for a Director of Volunteers of the parish nursing program. This nurse should be a person of Catholic faith, who has a cur-‐rent Masachusetts license as a registered nurse, with a

nursing background is preferred. Good communication and interpersonal skills required. Responsible for:

Monthly blood pressure screening at three satelites.Coordination of volunteer nurses involved with par-‐ish nursing.

This is a paid volunteer position requiring about 50 hrs./

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POORLittle Sisters of the Poor in Somerville, MA is hiring CNAs and Nurses for all shifts. For more information, please contact smhumanresources@littlesistersofthepoor.org.

COLD AND FLU SEASON-‐

ners to use their best judgment when exchanging the sign of peace or receiving Communion from the cup. A healthy parish is a happy parish!

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SAINT CECILIA PARISH

The Joy of the GospelPope Francis' recent apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium -‐tion material for the season of Advent. The opening passage reads:

who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangeliza-‐tion marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.

The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the be-‐loved, to point him out, to make him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share this love, we need to pray insistently that he will once more touch our hearts. We need to implore his grace daily, asking him to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and

We encourage you to spend some time reading and

times for the Church!

www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_ex-‐

ap_20131124_evangelii-‐gaudium_en.html

Evangelii GaudiumBy RYAN DUNS, SJ

For those interested in such things, I encourage them to take the time to read the Pope's Evangellii Gaudium, his

on three different projects all at once and I've not quite read the whole letter with the attention it deserves.

One particularly plum section I did manage to read, however, deserves mention and applies particularly to clergy. Under the subtitle No Spiritual Worldliness (93-‐97), the Holy Father gives a marvelous diagnosis for a problem facing many clergy today. Sad to say, I know not a few priests — Jesuit, other religious orders and

spiritual worldliness:

This worldliness can be fueled in two deeply interrelat-‐ed ways. One is the attraction of gnosticism, a purely subjective faith whose only interest is a certain experi-‐ence or a set of ideas and bits of information which are

meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings. The other is the self-‐absorbed promethean neopelagianism of those who ultimately trust only in their own powers and feel superior to others because they observe certain rules or remain intransigently faithful to a particular Catholic style from the past. A supposed soundness of doctrine or discipline leads in-‐stead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism, where-‐

others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verify-‐ing. In neither case is one really concerned about Jesus Christ or others. These are manifestations of an anthro-‐pocentric immanentism. It is impossible to think that a genuine evangelizing thrust could emerge from these adulterated forms of Christianity. (94)

If ever there were a great turn of phrase, "self-‐absorbed promethean neopelagianism" has count to count as one. Further, and more importantly, this section on spiritual worldliness forces all of us to consider how we envision the Church: is it a beautiful relic from a long-‐gone past, a gilded sarcophagus redolent of past glory and incense, or is the Church a doorway to a joyful encounter with the Living One? Should the Church cling to its past or open itself up for the coming future?

There are too many in the Church today — lay and clergy — who have become defeatist, querulous and disillusioned pessimists, "sourpusses." (85). These are the people who hearken back to some (non-‐existent) "good-‐old days" and grumble about the present. They forget exactly what the Holy Father continually reminds us of: the life of Christian discipleship is a life lived, always, under the shadow of the Cross. Or, in one of the more memorable lines heard from a homily: You can't be a friend of Jesus and an enemy of the Cross. Christian disciples cannot help but to see the Cross, to

promise that life triumphs over death, that good con-‐quers evil.

The Joy of the Gospel doesn't promise that we will live different lives. Instead, we are called to live our lives differently: not as pickle-‐pusses or narcissists, but as joyful pilgrims following the Risen One, accepting His Cross, and rejoicing in his triumph over death.

Ryan Duns, SJ is a member of the Society of Jesus, is current-‐ly studying theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and is also Coordinator of this year's Saint Cecilia RCIA program. The above is reprinted with permission from his blog, A Jesuit's Journey (www.ryandunssj.blogspot.com).

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DONE TIME?

Men who have been incarcerated are invited to join the Prison & After group which is designed to provide participants with a sense of welcome and support. The meetings are held on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Pastoral Center. We will begin with a group session followed by a simple meal. For information, please contact Tom Ash at whatevertp@gmail.com, 617-‐642-‐9351 or Peg Newman at peg_newman@msn.com, 508-‐587-‐4254.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Our ability to build community is helped by having an up–to–date database of registered parishioners. If this

If you have been participating in liturgies here for a few months — or even a few years — and have never registered, please consider doing so. It takes just a few

complete your form, simply drop it in the collection basket, hand it to any staff person, or mail it to the

in the narthex. You can also register on–line at www.stceciliaboston.org/register.html. Thank you for being an active member of our community!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

We appreciate the thoughtfulness of parishioners who have made bequests to the parish. These gifts help us build a solid foundation for future generations. If you have already made provisions in your will for our parish, please advise either Father John or Mark Donohoe at

carried out as you intend.

OUR BULLETIN: IT'S BLACK & WHITE (& COLOR) & READ ALL OVER

companies who advertise weekly in our bulletin. Theirads have enabled us to expand and enhance the bulletin in the past year with no additional cost to the parish

advertisers. If you know of a local business, attorney, accountant or store that would like information about becoming an advertiser in the Saint Cecilia bulletin, please contact Scott MacDonald at smacdonald@stceciliaboston.org.

Commissioning of Saint Cecilia CARES Ministers

Today, at the 11:15 a.m. Mass we will commission the newest group of pastoral visitors who recently complet-‐ed their six-‐week pastoral care training program. This new group of seven ministers will join with the eleven current ministers who bring their pastoral listening pres-‐ence and support to some of the more vulnerable mem-‐bers of our parish. Your blessing, as part of this ritual is an important component of our parish-‐shared disciple-‐ship of compassionate service to those in need.

Loving God,Thank you for molding us into a community and calling forth these ministers of pastoral care.May you bless them, embrace them, and send them forth to visit those in need.May their response to your call and desire to follow Jesus be visible through the use of their gifts of compassionate service.May we support their ministry and all those they serve through our prayer.In a similar way, each of us is eager to use every gift that you have given us. Stir up within us a generous desire and willingness to serve in this parish community with our own unique gifts of compassion and service.Lord, strengthen our resolve in discipleship: to help those who cannot help themselves to see you in all of your children

to respond to your call.With gratitude and thanksgiving, we ask all this through Jesus Christ, our brother and Lord.

"Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the "ttest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless,"

"... some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. #is opinion, which has never been con"rmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those weilding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing eco-nomic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting."

Pope Francis

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SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Parish RESOURCES18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA 02115Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.Phone | 617 536 4548Fax | 617 536 1781E-‐mail | info@stceciliaboston.orgWebsite | www.stceciliaboston.org

Parish StaffRev. John J. Unni, PastorMark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration, mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.orgScott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Leadership Development, smacdonald@stceciliaboston.orgJeanne Bruno, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach, jbruno@stceciliaboston.orgRichard J. Clark, Director of Music andOrganist, rclark@stceciliaboston.orgCaroline Gélinas, Executive Assistant,cgelinas@stceciliaboston.orgMaureen Sullivan, Special Projects Manager,msullivan@stceciliaboston.org

Assisting ClergyRev. Thomas Gariepy, CSCRev. Peter Grover, OMVRev. James Shaughnessy, SJRev. George Winchester, SJ

Schedule for LiturgyWednesday, Thursday, & Friday | 8:00 a.m.Lord’s Day | Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15 & 6:00 p.m.Holy Days | 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

ReconciliationBy appointment at any time.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process

traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who

Mark Donohoe.

Baptism for Infants

more information, please contact Mark Donohoe.

Faith Formation for ChildrenTo register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact

MarriageCouples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark

Care of the SickTo arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death),

during regularly scheduled liturgies.

Order of Christian FuneralsThe parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church.

Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) TeamThe CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect.

(maria.roche15@gmail.com) or Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns.The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe

dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the

For Those with Celiac DiseaseIf you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of low-‐gluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten.

Hearing Assistance in ChurchThe church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass.

Access for the DisabledThe church is accessible by elevator.

Sunday ParkingReduced-‐rate parking is available on Sundays at the Prudential Center parking garage and at the Hilton Boston Back Bay; Sunday parking is also available at LAZ Parking (53 Belvidere Street—maximum of three hours). Be sure to have one of our greeters validate your parking ticket before returning to your car.

Saint Cecilia Rainbow MinistrySaint Cecilia Rainbow Ministry is a GLBTQ community at Saint Cecilia. For more information, contact stceciliarainbowministry@gmail.com.

Joining Our CommunityWe’re happy that you’re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritual home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighborhoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners

introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday,

what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia.