1290 Grafton St. Worcester, MA 01604

508-757-0789 ladyoflourdes1290@gmail.com

www.ololma.org

Rev. Brian O’Toole Pastor

Cheryl Orrell Admin Asst/Bookkeeper

Rev. Francis J. Roach Mr. William Cotter In Residence Maintenance

Mary Jo Castrrale Jeremiah’s Inn Ministry

Roland Gauthier Mrs. Judy Verdini Organist Religious Ed

Mission Statement:

"Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, disciples of Jesus Christ in Worcester, MA, reaches out with love into the neighborhoods to welcome, serve, support, and engage the community in Jesus.

In creating a welcoming relationship with Eucharistic and prayerful celebrations, we gather to make a difference by coming closer to God and one another."

MASSES Daily Mon - Sat: 8:00 AM

Saturday 4:30PM, Sunday 7:30 & 9:30AM Holy Days 8:00 AM, Noon, 5:30 PM PENANCE Saturdays 2:30-3:30 PM

Mass Intentions and Calendar

Sat, Dec 14

8:00 am

4:30 pm George and Ellen Cote req by the family

Sun, Dec 15

7:30 am Kenneth J. Sousa 15th anniv req by the family

9:30 am Sophie Demarski 11th anniv req by the family

10:30 am opens -Sharing Our Bounty in Church Hall

Mon, Dec 16

8:00 am

3:00 pm Prayer Group

Wed, Dec 18

8:00 am

Fri, Dec 20

8:00 am

7:00 pm NA Meeting in Church Hall

Sat, Dec 21

8:00 am

4:30 pm Ann Parent req by daughter and son-in-law

Sun, Dec 22

7:30 am Vladas Pajeda 29th anniv req by Wanda & Drasis

9:30 am

10:30 am opens -Sharing Our Bounty in Church Hall

December 15, 2019 Third Sunday in Advent

SCRIPTURE READINGS

15 SUN Is 35:1-6a, 10/ Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 [Is 35:4]/ Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11 16 MON Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 [4]/ Mt 21:23-27 17 TUE Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1-17 18 WED Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25 19 THU Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/ Lk 1:5-25 20 FRI Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/ Lk 1:26-38 21 SAT Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45

“You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

(James 5:8) Patience is another one of those things many of us struggle with. We want things to go according to

our plan and our schedule. Any change brings anxiety and fear.

Through daily prayer we better align ourselves with God’s will and His plan, which is far better than anything we can come up with on our own.

Rest in Peace We, the parish community of Our Lady of Lourdes,

extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of James A. Rossetti

who recently passed. May God grant him peace forever and bring comfort to his family and friends.

WEEKLY OFFERING

Sunday Offertory 12/7-12/8 $3,458.00 Retirement for Religious 939.27 Immaculate Conception 301.00 Christmas Flowers 114.00 Christmas Offertory 35.00 Maintenance 175.00 Initial Offering-envelopes 30.00 Utilities and Energy 100.00 Solemnity of Mary 10.00 Catholic Univ. of America 1.00

Thank you for your generous support!

STEWARDSHIP OF TIME

Around Town…(If you would like to see a complete list

of events going on in our diocese, go to https://

worcesterdiocese.org/the-diocesan-dispatch)

Parish Assistance Raffle Winners 1st-Lorraine Mancini 8th-Kathy O’Connor

2nd-Linda Gustafson 9th-John Chandler

3rd-Bruce & Charlene Poulos 10th-Carol Keating

4th-James Morris 11th-Linda Anger

5th-Joseph Dooley 12th-Dan Manzaro

6th-Thomas Foley 13th-Jacqueline Barrett

7th-Timothy Cullinane 14th-Timothy Cullinane

Christmas Decorators Needed... Can

you lend us your time and talent? Please

come help us decorate the church on

Monday, December 23

from 12:30 to 3:00 PM.

Please note: This is a change of day and time

from what was printed in last week’s bulletin.

GIVING TREE

This is the last weekend to take a tag and

return it by Sunday, December 15th

unwrapped. If you have already taken a tag,

please don’t forget to bring gift to the church

by Sunday. The Giving Tree this year was in Memory

of our dear friend, Fr. Kelley. We thank you in

advance for your generous donations and keeping Fr.

Kelley’s spirit alive in our hearts.

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

First Penance On Saturday, December 7th, three second graders received their First Penance. They are… Dominic Eilert Matthew Vazquez Genevieve Verdini Please keep these children in your prayers as they ready themselves for their First Holy Communion on May 3 of next year.

Christmas Social…..

Thank you to all who came to our 1st Christmas Social last Saturday. Thanks to all who donated their time, salads, desserts, food and raffle baskets. A special Thank you to Mary Jo Castrale for donating her Santa collection. Over $500 was donated to the upgraded heating system project slated for next Spring.

-Addiction Support Group in Webster - The next Worces-ter Diocese Calix Society meeting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. with the poten-tial for Mass and adoration either before or after. It is always the 3rd Sunday of each month. It meets in the rectory along-side Sacred Heart Church in Webster. Calix is a fellowship that provides Catholic support for those seeking freedom from the slavery of addiction, and for their families and friends who also suffer. A key mission of the Calix Society is to lead members back to the rich sacramental life of the Catholic Church, by “substituting the cup that stupefies with the one that sanctifies.” For more information, contact Kyle

at 508-887-2225, or krichardmcd@gmail.com.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter - Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you." Strengthen, renew, and rekindle your marriage sacra-ment by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Week-end. The next Weekends are Mar 13-15, 2020 in Duxbury, MA and Apr 18-19, 2020 in BREWSTER, MA. For more in-formation, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at 800-710-9963

or visit them at https://wwmema.org/.

Catholic Girls Club in Webster - The Catholic Girls Club meets on the third Saturday of the month from October to May. We discuss a female saint or Marian feast day, do a corresponding craft/activity and enjoy a saint-related treat which is nut-free. Our location is at the Emmaus Center across from Sacred Heart Church in Webster, (please use Day Street entrance). The club is open to girls who are ages 6 and up. There will be a "Saint" coloring page for any younger siblings who wish to attend. There are no fees or long-term commitments. On Saturday, Dec. 21 from 2-3:30 pm, we will meet to discuss the life of St. Lucy. You can sign up online and ask any questions to Melissa McDonald at kyleandmelissa2004@gmail.com. Please join us and

meet some wonderful ladies!

Liturgy of the Word

GATHERING HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel

third SUNDAY IN ADVENT Cycle A

Gaudete Sunday

PENITENTIAL RITE

LITURGY OF THE WORD

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splen-dor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are fright-ened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 146

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the pre-cious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, broth-ers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will pre-pare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

FIRST READING IS 35:1-6a, 10

SECOND READING JAMES 5:7-10

Advent litany

Gospel MT 11:2-11

NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all things visi-

ble and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only

Begotten Son of God, born of the Father be-

fore all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,

consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit

was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and be-came man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day in accor-dance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the

right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the

giver of life who proceeds from the Father

and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic

Church. I confess one baptism for the for-giveness of sins and I look forward to the res-

urrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

LITURGY OF THE Eucharist

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

The Response is: “Come Lord Jesus Come.”

HOMILY

HOLY, HOLY MASS OF CREATION

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION MASS OF CREATION

We proclaim your death, O Lord And profess your Resurrection

Until you come again

GREAT AMEN MASS OF CREATION

OUR FATHER

SIGN OF PEACE

LAMB OF GOD MASS OF CREATION

COMMUNION Bread For The World

SOLEMN BLESSING

RECESSIONAL God Has Chosen Me

Christmas Schedule

Saturday, Dec. 21st, 2:30pm-3:30pm - The Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation

Monday, Dec. 23rd, 12:30pm-3:00pm - Decorating the Church

Tuesday, Dec. 24th, 8:00am - No Daily Mass

Tuesday, Dec.24th, 4:00pm - Christmas Eve Mass

Wednesday, Dec. 25th, 8:00am - Christmas Day Mass

10:00am - Christmas Day Mass