Weekly Collection September 28 & 29

will be reported

in next week's bulletin.

Dear Friends in Christ, What is faith? The Catechism of The Catholic Church defines faith as "both a gift of God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God, who invites his response, and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed." The first part of this definition reminds us that faith is a gift from God that we freely choose to accept or we choose to refuse. God doesn't force us to believe. We have to want to believe ourselves. The second part of this definition teaches us that faith "is a human act by which (we) give personal adherence to God." In order for faith to be real it must have a personal dimension, meaning that it comes from the believer's friendship with God. Faith is also a choice, We choose to believe in God and in the truth of the Church, revealed through Jesus Christ. Faith is a clinging to God, in love, because God has first loved us. The next part of the definition of faith is that God "invites (the) response" of the believer. This means that God has first loved us and shown this through Jesus' sacrificial death on the Cross. The Cross of Jesus invites us to love God in return for His first love of us. The final part of the definition of faith is that the one with it "freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed." God's revelation is God's self-communication to us through human history. The two main ways this revelation comes to us are Scripture and Tradition. The one with faith is invited by God to accept the whole deposit of truth found in the Catholic Church which leads to eternal life. The acceptance of this truth is complete without leaving out any aspects of it. In this Sunday's Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus responds that if they have faith "the size of a mustard seed" they will use it and see wonders. May our faith grow with understanding and with the exercise of our human freedom so we embrace it more completely. In Christ, Fr. Michael

Saturday, October 5 4:00pm Charles & Theresa Modzelewski 70th Wedding Anniv.

req. by their daughter Theresa Sunday, October 6 9:00am William O'Brien requested by Anna Gemme 11:00am Roland L. Quillia, Jr. req. by Brian Quillia Monday, October 7 8:30am Victims of the Shoah requested by Pilgrims traveling to

Poland Tuesday, October 8 8:30am Wednesday, October 9 8:30am Thursday, October 10 8:30am Aloysius & Agnes Gillet requested by Mary Lajoie Saturday, October 12 4:00pm Joan Migneault requested by Brian Quillia Sunday, October 13 9:00am Steven Prunier requested by SVDP 11:00am Roland L. Quillia, Jr. requested by Brian Quillia

Coffee Shop 1st & 3rd Sundays

of the month. Children receive a free

donut and drink.

Adults $1 donation for coffee and a donut.

Wright's Farm & LaSalette Lights

Join your friends on a delightful holiday tour combining a full course luncheon at Wright's Chicken Farm and the Christmas lights display at LaSalette Shrine. Tour cost is $69 per person. Please see the bulletin board for more information and a signup sheet.

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Thank you to all the volunteers who made the Family Fun

If you are a parishioner and are in need of assist ance, plea

Meetings NA Sundays 7:30 pm in the hall K of C 1st Tuesday of the month 6:45pm in the hall SVDP Sunday, October 20th 9:45 am in the hall Rosary Group 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 6:00pm in the church Upper Room Ministry 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 6:00pm Bible Study Wednesday at 7:00pm in the hall Please have read Luke 17:11-19 First Saturday Marian Devotion after 4:00pm Mass

If you are a parishioner and are in need of assistance, please call #508- 987-8892 and leave a message on the SVDP private line and someone from the SVDP will return your call. Maybe you have lost your job and are behind on your utilities or can't afford to have oil delivered. We can help. We also can point you in the direction of other resources that are available.

Grades 1-3 Monday: 3:30 -4:45 pm Grades 4-10 Monday: 6:00 - 7:15 pm

Adult Education

A new feature has been added to our parish website under

Faith Formation/ Adult Education Work sheets from Upper Room lessons will be available for all parishioners with new updates added every two weeks. Topic: The Early Church, Part 3 & St.

Therese of Lisieux

Fall Fair with an Indoor Flea Market

We are looking for volunteers to help plan and work at

the Fall Fair & Indoor Flea Market on Saturday,

November 16th.

Items we need for the Fall Fair: New or like new, Fall,

Thanksgiving and Christmas items such as dishes,

ornaments, candles, statues, decorations, and pictures.

Please no lights, trees or garlands.

Items we need for the Indoor Flea Market: Jewelry,

women's accessories, dishes, vases, house wares,

sporting goods, children's toys, cd's, records and lamps.

Please note: We cannot accept furniture, bedding,

pillows, books, electronics, food or personal care items

for this Flea Market. Donations may be dropped off at

the Garage on Saturday mornings from 10 to 12 or at

the Rectory during business hours. Please contact Fr.

Michael if you have any questions about what is

accepted for donations.

A Mini-Retreat for Women -Commission for Women The Commission for Women of the Diocese of Worcester invites you to join us for a Mini-Retreat for Women on Saturday, October 19 at St. Mary's Parish Hall, Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA. The topic will be "Re-entering the Paradise of the Heart: A Spiritual Path for Healing" and will be facilitated by Sr. Kathryn Hermes, a Daughter of St. Paul. Through quiet prayer, guided inner exploration, and Scripture meditation, this retreat will help you take back your self-ownership when you learn how to stand at the door of your heart, when you re-enter the paradise of the heart. You will leave the retreat with prayer guides and life tools you can continue to use in your daily life. The day will begin with Mass at 8:30am, followed by registration and coffee/pastries. Lunch will be included with the $15 offering, and the program will conclude by 1:30 pm. Further information and a registration form may be found at www.worcesterdiocese.org/commission-for-women. Any questions or to have a registration form mailed to you, please call Jacqueline at 508-841-5621 or email us at worcestercommissionforwomen@gmail.com.

40 Days for Life Sunday, October 6 2:00 to 3:00pm

Please join us and members of St. Roch's Church at the

intersection in Oxford to hold signs and pray for a conversion

of heart(s) and or to end abortion. Pro-Life Committee

Thanks.

Sunshine Ministry October Birthdays

Marlyce Beauregard & Kathy Bowles

Happy Anniversary

Paul & Joan McMaster