The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018 Vigil Mass of The Fourth Sunday of Advent

5:15 p.m. Arthur Smith - Memorial Requested by his Wife Constance LaFortune - Memorial Requested by The Turmel Family\

Sunday, December 23, 2018 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:30 a.m. Rev. Thomas Trepanier - 16th Anniversary

Requested by his Family

11:15 a.m. Edward Coons - Birthday Remembrance Requested by his Wife, Dawn

Robert Howe Requested by The St. Ambrose Parish Choir Constance LaFortune - Memorial Requested by The Turmel Family\

Monday, December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve

3:30 p.m. Sounds of the Season 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass of Christmas

12:00 Midnight The Solemn Mass of Midnight

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day)

10:00 a.m. The Solemn Mass of Christmas Day

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 St. Stephen, The First Martyr

7:30 a.m. Sylvia Smith - Birthday Remembrance

Requested by Michele and Brian Smith Gerard Peloquin - 15th Anniversary Requested by his Wife

Thursday, December 27, 2018 St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

7:30 p.m. Mass at St. James Church

Friday, December 28, 2018 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

7:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Saturday, December 29, 2018 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

5:15 p.m. Pro Populo \

Sunday, December 30, 2018 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

8:30 a.m. Leona Gagne - 1st Anniversary

Requested by her Family

11:15 a.m. Robert P. Howe Requested by Jacqueline Robert

911—St. Ambrose

It is our Advent desire that Emmanuel comes. This hope is expressed in the Evening Prayer antiphon of December 23: O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire of the nations, savior of all people: Come and set us free, Lord our God Christmas is almost here and it comes with the promise of God being one with His people in the incarnation of the word. The desire of the nations, and savior of all people, Jesus the Christ, takes on flesh and is born in Bethlehem to bring hope and joy to all God’s creation. The immensity of the incarnation is expressed in a very thought provokingly way by Karl Rahner: “It is both terrible and comforting to dwell in the inconceivable nearness of God, and so to be loved by God that the first and last gift is infinity and inconceivability itself. But we have not choice. God is with us.” May all of us be filled with Christmas joy and hope as we gather with family and friends in this holy season and may we ponder the truth of Venerable Bede’s words from the 8th century: “Christ is the Morning Star, who, when the night of this world is past, gives to his saints the promise of the light of life, and opens everlasting day.”

Merry Christmas!

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The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018

911—St. Ambrose

Week of December 16, 2018

There is no weekly collection report due to the holiday.

As always,

Thank you for your generosity!

We depend solely upon your weekly support to meet our weekly parish expenses.

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Religious Faith Formation News

Grades K to 4

No Classes: 12/23/2018 and 12/30/2018

The Family Mass at St. Ambrose is now known as

“The Young Theologians Mass”

Please join us on January 6, 2019, at 11:15 a.m.

Grades 5 through 8

Refer to the calendar sent out to families

St. Ambrose Annual Collection

The Annual Collection is still underway.

Envelopes for the Annual Collection

can be found in your monthly budget packs and have also been sent by mail.

Thank you for opening your hearts, minds, and spirits to the 2018 Annual Collection.

May the Lord bless you for your generosity.

Thank you …

We would like to extend a heartfelt appreciation

to all who shopped, wrapped, and tagged gifts for

the St. Ambrose Giving Tree during this Advent

Season. Your kindness and generosity mean so

much to those in need during the holiday season.

And, thank you to the volunteers who assisted in

setting up The Giving Tree, hanging the gifts tags,

and sorting and transporting the gifts to St. John

the Baptist in Pawtucket.

God bless you for your generosity

and kindness during this Christmas season

and throughout the new year.

The St. Ambrose Parish Giving Tree

RCIA Adult Faith Formation

St. James & St. Ambrose Parish

Are you interested to become a Catholic

or have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Please contact Moira McCarthy at the

St. James Faith Formation Office to discuss this most wonderful journey of

initiation into the Catholic faith.

Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Observance

The parish offices at St. Ambrose and

St. James will be closed on Tuesday, December 25th and

Tuesday, January 1st in observance of the holidays.

Thank you to all who contributed offerings toward the beautiful

Christmas flowers. Your generosity not only

brightens the church during this Christmas season, but

is also a wonderful display in remembrance of your loved ones.

911—St. Ambrose

The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 4

The FORMED website has a powerful documentary The Story of the Nativity

This fast-paced, thought-provoking look at the true story of the Nativity clears away widespread

misunderstandings of Jesus’ origin. Explore the true story of Mary and Joseph, Jesus’s miraculous

conception, the birth of John the Baptist, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the

Star of Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus. This is an invaluable tool for believer and unbeliever alike to

learn more about Jesus of Nazareth and about the truth of Christmas.

Visit formed.org Click on Register

Enter Parish Code: VNZVG7

Enter your email, create a password, and ENJOY!

Holiday Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve - December 24

Sounds of the Season —St. Ambrose 3:30pm Mass at 4:00pm & Midnight—St. Ambrose

Mass at 4:00m and 10:00pm—St. James

Christmas Day - December 25 Mass at 10:00am St. Ambrose Mass at 10:00am at St. James

***

New Year’s Eve - December 31 4:00pm—St. James

New Year’s Day - January 1 10:00am—St. Ambrose

Mass Intentions and

Mary’s Hanging Lamp

If you are interested in scheduling a Mass Intention or placing a Hanging Lamp Intention for a loved one at St. Ambrose,

please call the Rectory.

Our Lady’s Hanging Lamp in Honor of

Colonel (Ret.) Robert Arciero

Requested by the Christian Men’s Breakfast Meeting Group

Please keep this intention in your prayers.

“When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shep-herds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. “

Luke 2:15-20

Lets keep our parishioners connected, especially during the long, winter months...

If you know of someone who is confined to

their home or a nursing facility, please contact the Rectory to arrange for a weekly

bulletin to be mailed to them and/or arrange for a pastoral visit.