St. Mary's - 17Jan10 Bulletin

Kathy Z. with cancer; Avis's successful operation for an illness; B. as he discerns his next steps; Ben in hospital with multiple medical problems; Kathleen; Beth to transition well to a new living situation; Caroline; Mary; two women, S and J, who recently lost babies; Courtney to gain forgiveness and an ease of her burdens; Brendan; Kevin to gain insight; safe travel and return for B and improved health; Tom's safety as he deploys to the Middle East; Maureen; Joan's understanding; Anne; Paul to receive hopeful results from MS tests; J to find peace, be more connected with family, and to find steady employment; special intention for C, for a smooth transition to a new college; and an increase in mindfulness and prayer for peace around the world, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Continued prayers for: Aunt Mary; Michael; Mary McGeoch; Robert B; Daniel; Richard D. with cancer; Karen Z. with an addiction; M's safety and improved health; Gloria's safety and peace; Elaine; Paul; Elaina & children; Donny's full recovery from a heart ailment; a family member with breast cancer; and everyone living with anxiety and worry. Thanksgiving for: Michael's improved family relationships; B's new job; M's new medical news and all other answered prayers.

Prayer Line: Tracy at 508.842.2279 or Susan at 508.934.0133 or susanbk@townisp.com

Every January a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed from January 18th until the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25th. We continue to pray for the unity of all Christian churches as we continue to celebrate all that we share in common as members of the body of Christ. There is a cooperative and ecumenical spirit among most of the churches of Shrewsbury. Members of the Shrewsbury Clergy Association meet each month to discuss matters of common interest and concern. Together we sponsor the ecumenical services for Thanksgiving and Good Friday as well as the annual CROP Walk for Hunger. Please pray for the clergy and members of all the churches of Shrewsbury during this week of prayer. Churches that are members of the Shrewsbury Ecumenical Association are:

Find out everything you wanted to know about being a deacon. Come to the Information Session scheduled on Monday, February 1, 2010 at Our Lady of Loreto Parish Center which is located at 33 Massasoit Road, Worcester. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a deacon and wanted to know more about what it would involve, now is your opportunity! There is no obligation. Wives are encouraged to attend. The Session begins at 7:00 pm. ( Snow date is February 2, 2010)

The 5:30 pm Mass on January 31st will be the Scout Sunday Mass. This Mass recognizes the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. Scouts provides fun, fellowship, and training to our youth while emphasizing honesty, self-reliance, and respect. Through a year-round program, it affects character, citizenship, and personal fitness. We want to offer a special prayer and word of thanks to the leaders of Troop and Pack 158 of St. Mary's. All Cub Scouts and Boy Scout are welcome.

St. Mary School Open House and Registration

Sunday, January 31, 2010 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - St. Mary’s Church Hall

Preschool-Gr. 8
Family, Caring, Safe Environment - Quality Education - After School Program

16 Summer St., Shrewsbury
508.842.1601
www.stmarysparish.org/school

Accredited by the N.E. Assoc. of Schools & Colleges

As the new year begins we extend our deep thanks and gratitude to Len & Joyce Bellerose and Ron Sanguinet who have been serving funeral Masses for many years. Their prayerful presence and service at the altar has enhanced our celebration of funeral liturgies and bereaved families have been most grateful for their ministry. We are now seeking a number of adults who would continue in this ministry for our parish. Our hope is to develop a team of adult servers who would be available to serve on chosen days if there were a funeral. For more information, please speak with Msgr. Mike or Fr. Adam after Mass or call them at the pastoral center.

We are in need of some volunteers who would be able to assist in the weekly cleaning of the altar sanctuary and sacristy. In addition to dusting and cleaning, volunteers would also assist to maintain candles, altar linens, and vestments for our many liturgical celebrations. For more information, please speak with Msgr. Mike or Fr. Adam after Mass or call them at the pastoral center.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION is held every Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Pastoral Center Chapel. So that we can be assured that there is always someone in the chapel during these hours, we are in need of some more volunteers to commit themselves to being present for one-half hour each week, especially between the hours of 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. Click here for more information. To volunteer please sign your name in the book which can be found in the chapel.

Come and Pray the ROSARY on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the pastoral center chapel.

Praying the rosary and rosary meditation promote positive thinking and helps our minds become more united with God. Some of the benefits of praying the rosary include:

Happy New Year! In 2009, starting in May, you donated over 1,200 Items of the Month! We look forward to another great year assisting families and residents of Shrewsbury, through St. Anne's Food Pantry. This month's item is INSTANT MASHED POTATOES. Our goal each month is to collect 200 items so that each bag of food has this special item. Thank you for your continued support!

St. Mary’s Haiti Committee is hosting a special “Haitian Evening” in the parish hall on Tuesday, January, 26 at 7:00 pm., for anyone interested in learning more about St. Michels’, St. Mary’s “sister” parish in Roche-a Bateau, Haiti. Charlie Eisenmann will share his first hand experiences, stories and pictures from his recent visit with Fr. Beliard and the people of St. Michel’s parish. The committee will also discuss future plans to further assist the people of St. Michel’s parish. Haitian treats and coffee will be served.

The Annual Respect Life Assembly sponsored by Mass. Citizens For Life of Boston will be held on Sunday, January24th from 2-4 pm at historic Fanueil Hall at the Quincy Marketplace in Boston. It is free and open to the public. It will feature photo-journalist Michael Clancy as keynote speaker with attendance by Cardinal Sean O’Malley and Bishop Tobin of Providence, RI. There is ample parking available near Fanueil Hall and Boston City Hall.

All are invited to attend the Respect Life Mass on Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 pm at the Cathedral of St. Paul as we unite in prayer with those at the National Prayer Vigil for Life in Washington, D.C. and begin the observance of the January 22 Day of Prayer and Penance. Those attending the March for Life will receive a special blessing at this Mass prior to the departure of busses. All are welcome!

St. Anne's Food Bank in Shrewsbury is requesting 50 plus "Birthday Bags" for 2010. The birthday bags typically consist of a cake mix, frosting, candles and perhaps a book/small toy in a gift bag. They will be distributed to local children who would not receive a cake on their birthday without our help. Please assist in anyway you can - a complete gift bag or select items mentioned above. (There is also a need for disposable cake tins.) Representatives from the 8th grade will be collecting these donations in the parish hall between the hours of 8:45 - 12:15 on Sunday January 31st. Please contact Janet Hevey 508.842.8111 with any questions. Thank you for your support!

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned what would have been an embarrassing situation for the bride and groom into a glorious event. The servants trusted Jesus and did as He told them. Through our Lord, a miracle took place – transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary! Good stewards know that when they trust in God and step out of their comfort zones, their ordinary gifts can be transformed for extraordinary purposes.

Seventh Annual St. Mary Winter Ball
Celebration

The Saint Mary Parent’s Association cordially invites you to the

Saint Mary Winter Ball!!

Saturday, January 23, 2010
Cyprian Keyes, Boylston, MA
6:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Cocktails * Dinner * Dancing
$55 per person / $110 per couple

For Tickets contact:
Maura Egan 508.845.4670/eganmaura@yahoo.com
Tricia Kelly 508.845.6320/jkelly@aol.com

N.E.T. Works Theatre Productions Inc. presents YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN

PROCEEDS to benefit St. Anne’s Food Pantry. Tickets are available in the sacristy after Mass today

Haitian Disaster Relief Collection

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, unleashed tremendous damage and a staggering loss of life. The death toll is significant and is expected to rise considerably as many people remain missing. Estimates of property losses in this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere will be substantial. At least three million people will be affected due to property damage and the loss of critical infrastructure.

In the immediate hours following the initial quake more than two dozen after-shocks occurred, further extending the damage. As you know, Haiti shelters a population that experiences hunger and neglect even in normal times.

Many of the survivors of this disaster have lost everything that they owned. Many remote towns and villages have been either severely or totally destroyed. Neither the Haitian government nor the people will be able to mount a substantive relief effort. The Haitian people will need a great deal of international support to rebuild their villages and their lives.

In the wake of this disaster the Diocese of Worcester is making a commitment to assist the people in Haiti. In doing so, we will collaborate with Catholic Relief Services which is our custom in responding to situations of natural disasters abroad.

I am asking all of our parishes to take a special collection for Relief in Haiti at the Lord's Day Masses this weekend. I encourage you to be generous in offering assistance to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Your generosity in responding to the needs of those who have suffered so many losses will truly help the people of Haiti at this difficult time.

With every prayerful best wish, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester

Mass	Servers:
4:30	K. Clougherty, K. Clougherty, M.T. Daly, P. Daly, A. Lynch, K. Maher
7:30	A. Amatucci, A. Amatucci, C. Corazzini, J. Goljan, K. Huie, R. Welch
9:00	L. Giordano, J. Mastrandrea, J. McCoy, S. McCoy, A. Ruggieri, W. Wright
11:00	S. Commito. A. Kiel, G. Morelli, A. O’Connor, A. Smiley, A. Smiley
5:30	A. Card, R. Hevey, S. Kuruvilla, A. Russo, D. Travers, J. Walent

Mass	Lectors:	Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:	Sacristan:
4:30	S.L. Perkins	J. Bellerose, S. Goodwin, M. Kiely, M/M Nelligan	L. Bellerose
7:30	B. Huie	W. Gooley, R. Mungovan, G. Niklewski, J. Sliwoski. Tivnan	W. Gooley
9:00	S. Lunt	M/M Godek, J. Maliakal, V. Sheehan	D. Chiampa
11:00	G. Morelli	S. Berkowitz, M/M Cote, M. Cote, J. Fouhy M. Horner	<none>
5:30	S. Fredricksen	A.M. Blute, G. Kuruvilla	J. Walent