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4 Dracut Road, Hudson, NH 03051 • Tel (603) 882-7793 • Fax (603) 595-1465

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FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

6 December 2020

God Alone! Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last week, we began reflecting on the symbolism of the Advent season, in particular, in the meaning of the candles of the Ad-vent wreath representing the successive generations from the creation of the world to the moment of the birth of Christ, who is the Light of the world. Candles have always had a special importance in the lives of Christians but also in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Church. Their very composition indicates the Christian voca-tion itself to sacrifice, humility, and the proclamation of Christ to the world. The wax represents the Christian’s humanity, the wick represents the Christian soul, which in turn bears the flame which represents Christ, with whom the Christian is sealed at Baptism. Just as the wax is consumed by the flame, so is the Christian consumed by Christ, who in following Him, imitates His sacrifice. During this Advent season, we have replaced the traditional white candles around the altar with a golden hued candle. What is the difference? The golden hued candles are un-

bleached while the white candles are bleached. Actually, when a candle is formed from beeswax, the golden hue is the original color of the wax. Altar candles that are white have been bleached in the formation process. Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, unbleached altar candles would be used in penitential seasons such as Advent and Lent, during Holy Week, and at Masses of Christian burial. The natural color of the wax lent itself to the subdued nature of the liturgical setting. Using unbleached altar candles during Advent once again adds to the starkness of the season but is also a reminder that this is a season of preparing our hearts for the birth of the Lord Jesus and the joy that comes with Christmas. In a similar way, the color of the candles on the Advent wreath have specific meaning. The violet candles again represent the penitential and preparatory season of Advent. The liturgical color violet has always represented pen-ance, humility, preparation, and anticipation. Thus, the darkness of the violet hue represents the Christian spirit of prepa-ration and anticipation for the joy of the Savior’s arrival. The rose-colored candle lit on the third Sunday of Advent repre-sents the Christian spirit of joy. The joy that the Savior is near, the joy that Christ will soon be among us and that our time of waiting is almost over. If we truly allow ourselves to enter more deeply into the experience of Advent as that season of waiting, preparing, and longing, then we will experience ever more fully the joy of Christmas!

Another adaption we might have noticed in the sanctuary of our parish Church is the use of clear glass globes for the three sanctuary candles. The sanctuary candles always remain lit in order to indicate to us that the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle. The sanctuary candles give testament to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Alt-hough there is no prescribed color for the sanctuary candles according to the Roman Ritual, we have begun to use the clear glass globes for two purposes. Firstly, it will help distinguish the sanctuary candles from any other candle in the Church as being uniquely set aside to indicate the presence of Christ. Second, it will help us to see more clearly the flame, which indicates that the Lord is truly present in the Tabernacle. A noted priest and liturgist of the twentieth centu-ry in England, Rev. Adrian Fortescue, wrote a commentary on the liturgical practices of his day entitled, Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described. In it, he details the function of the sanctuary lamp and he also gives indication of the pre-ferred color of the lamp according to the rubrics established during his time. “Before the tabernacle in which the Sanctis-simum is reserved, a lamp should always burn. This generally hangs from the roof. There may be several lamps, uneven in number. The glass of the lamp should be white.”

Indeed, there is great richness in the liturgical life of the Church, which helps to direct us in our worship of the Lord. All the sensible elements of the Liturgy help us see heaven and to know that heaven is in our midst. “The most sa-cred truths of the faith are given full material reality, leading up to that moment when Christ himself becomes present at the altar. This was marked by the moment of elevation when the priest held up the host, become by a miracle the body of Jesus. At that instant candles and torches, made up of bundles of wood, were lit to illuminate the scene; the sacring bell was rung, and the church bells pealed so that those in the neighboring streets or fields might be aware of the solemn mo-ment. It was the sound which measured the hours of their day. Christ was present in their midst once more and, as a priest lifted up the thin wafer of bread, time and eternity were reconciled.” –Peter Ackroyd.

In Jesus and Mary, Fr. Michael

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MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Vigil (The Second Sunday of Advent) 4:00PM—+Doris Gill, by Paul and Claudette Roy Sunday, December 6 (The Second Sunday of Advent) 8:30AM—+Craig Dion (10th Anniversary), by the Phillips Family 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish 6:30PM—+Pantaleon Yuds, by his family Monday, December 7 (Saint Ambrose) 8:30AM—+Norman Kinney, by his wife Tuesday, December 8 (The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) 8:30AM—For the People of the Parish 6:30PM—For a Special Intention Wednesday, December 9 (Saint Juan Diego

Cuauhtlatoatzin) 8:30AM—+Louise LeBlanc (9th Anniversary), by Peter and Dorene Thursday, December 10 (Our Lady of Loreto) 6:30PM—+Memorial Enrollments Friday, December 11 (Saint Damasus I) 8:30AM—+Helen Nickles, by her daughters Saturday, December 12 (Our Lady of Guadalupe) 8:30AM—+Joseph Tru Do, by his family Vigil (The Third Sunday of Advent) 4:00PM—+The Palaski Family, by +Elaine Palaski Sunday, December 13 (The Third Sunday of Advent) 8:30AM—40th Wedding Anniversary Blessings for Sharon Felton and Fred Brough 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish 6:30PM—+Norah Mills, by her family

SANCTUARY LAMPS +Norman Kinney

by his wife

CHRISTMAS MASSES Holy Mass will be

celebrated at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 24th and at midnight and 10:30 a.m. on December 25th. Space is limited—more details on the way!

DECEMBER 6, 2020

THIS WEEK AT CHURCH Tuesday, December 8th

Consecration to Mary/Church (9:15A) Cub Scouts/Parish Hall (6:00-7:00P) Boy Scouts/Parish Hall (6:30-8:00P) Wednesday, December 9th

Adoration/Church (5:30-8:15A and 9:15A-7:00P) Staff Prayer/Emmaus Chapel (9:45-10:30A) Thursday, December 10th Sacrament of Reconciliation/Church (5:30-6:15P) Friday, December 11th

Quintal-LaFortune Wedding Rehearsal/Church (5:00P)

Saturday, December 12th

Men of Saint Joseph/RM 1 (7:00-8:00A) Rosary/Church (8:00A) Secular Carmelites/RM 2 (8:00A-noon) Sacrament of Reconciliation/Church (9:15-10:00A

and 3:00-3:45P) Quintal-LaFortune Wedding/Church (1:00P) December 13th

Religious Education, Group 1/Parish Hall and Rooms (10:00A-noon)

Blessing of the Bambinos/Church (during 10:30A Mass)

SPECIAL COLLECTION Next weekend, we take

up the Retirement Fund for Religious collection. This collection supports retired religious sisters and brothers through grants to religious communities in NH and around the United States.

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THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

BE A STAR The stars are here! As with last year,

gifts and food for Christmas will be distributed to over 70 families through our Be a Star Program. This effort, co-sponsored with the Hudson Community Food Pantry, offers stars that list the needed gifts for children and adults as well as food items. We invite you to browse through them on the tables by the Divine Mercy Shrine in the narthex after Mass this weekend. Please be sure to read what you or your children take and only take it if you are able to purchase the items. We are relying on you! There are differently priced items to fit your budget. Please return the items unwrapped and placed near the sanctuary trees no later than December 12th. Please note that there will be a second white star attached to the yellow one asking for your name and telephone number. Please complete the information on the white card and deposit it in the appropriate basket. We can use some helpers to sort and arrange the items as they come in, especially in the final week before the distribution. Other ways to help: Gift cards—If you cannot shop this year, feel free to purchase a Walmart or Target gift card. This will be used to purchase an item on the wish list. Cash donations—May be dropped in the offertory collection in an envelope marked “STAR Program.” This will be used to purchase an item on the wish list. Thank you! As a star led seekers to find Christ in their midst, so we pray that our charity will help those we share with to find Christ’s care and presence in our outreach and caring.—Be a Star!

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY Hudson

Cemeteries will participate with more than 2,100 other locations in the national Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, December 19th. The goal for Hudson, NH Cemeteries is to raise

enough funds to place 400 veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of local heroes laid to rest in eight Hudson cemeteries to ensure that the individuals who served to protect the freedoms of our country never be forgotten and to bring the community together in patriotic commemoration. Those interested in sponsoring a wreath for Hudson,

NH cemeteries are invited to visit https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/NH0024, or contact WAA-Hudson NH Location Coordinator Christina Madden at jmadden23w@comcast.net.

SAINT KATHRYN RELIGIOUS GOODS

So another holiday season has started. The store as usual has been gearing up for the past few weeks. All our Christmas items are out and displayed. All our Advent items are displayed right alongside them too! It dawned on us that we are all going to be inundated, and may participate in, everything that comes with the Black Friday advertising kickoff. It also dawned on us that looking around the store we have so much in stock to help you not only shop at your parish store but to seriously take a bite out of all the running around that comes with the whole Black Friday deal. We have obviously always touted not only our selection but certainly our quality. We have always tried to be very selective about what we carry and have tried very, very hard to stay away from low priced (read - low quality) merchandise of any sort. Following that thought, walking around the store as it is merchandised now you can find stocking stuffers galore anywhere from $1.50 to less than $5.00. You can find keepsakes for anyone from $10.00 up to $100.00. So the bottom line is you can beat a huge part of the Black Friday “rush around” by just coming in, walking the aisles and taking care of gift giving and stocking stuffing for however many people you have on your list! Not only will you be amazed at how much we have but what better feeling than giving a gift of Faith no matter how small or large. Do it for you but do it for them too! The pictures on the store web page are constantly being updated to give you an idea of what’s in and what’s new. Check it out.

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DECEMBER 6, 2020

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTMAS BASKET

RAFFLE Wouldn't it be great if you could spend on-

ly $5 for a full-course Christmas dinner that could be yours? All the ingredients for a scrump-tious Christmas meal, wrapped up in a beauti-ful basket, including a full-size turkey! Knights of Columbus Council 5162 will be holding a Christ-mas Basket Raffle. Tickets will be on sale after

Masses starting Nov 7 and ending Dec 13, for the low cost of $5 for one ticket or the steal of a cost of $12 for 3 tickets. The drawing will be December 20 for 3 baskets to 3 lucky winners. Please see Knights at the back of the church after each Mass to pur-chase your chances. Winners will be called or emailed to notify them of their winning. Thank you for your support! K of C Council 5162

MORE FROM THE STORE! Just a quick heads up

for those parents looking for ex-ceptional Christ-mas reading for this most joy-ous of seasons,

we have many children’s Christmas books just wait-ing to be shared and turned into traditions and fami-ly heirlooms. Raymond Arroyo has written a new one called The Spider Who Saved Christmas. We brought in copies of the book last week and had sold out in less than two days. We are expecting more in by the time you read this. We also purchased copies of a new Christmas story by Anthony De Stefano called The Grumpy Old Ox. Highly publicized on all Catholic and religious me-dia. We called the publisher and got the last copies they had in their warehouse. Also hopefully in the store by the time you read this. Just two of the selections available in store - while they last. Now you’ve got the “inside scoop”!!!

TIME TO DECORATE! We will be changing the

church décor over to the Christmas season on Fri-day, December 18th after the morning Mass. There will be two decorating teams, one for the creche and one for the church and Christmas trees. Are you able to help out? If so, please join us after Mass on December 18th! There are tasks for all ag-

es, and many hands make light work!

VOCATIONS “He will feed His flock like a shep-

herd.” If God may be calling you to nourish His peo-ple as a priest or in the consecrated life, call Father Matthew Mason at 603.663.0132, or write: mma-son@rcbm.org.

PARISH PRAYER BOX Our parish prayer box has a

new home! Do you have an intention you would like our intercessors to pray for this week? Please write clearly on a scrap of paper and place the intention in the box near the church entrance. Please do not in-clude any names in the intentions, only initials. (God knows the names!) Our intercessors gather the inten-tions and pray for them each week.

REFLECTING GOD’S GENEROSITY TO US Weekend of November 21-22 In Church Offertory: $ 2,426.00 Online: $10,426.82 Mail/Delivery: $ 548.00 Total: $ 13,400.82

Weekend of November 28-29 In Church Offertory: $ 2,556.00 Online: $ 5,491.82 Mail/Delivery: $ 1,480.00 Total: $ 9,527.82

Our weekly parish budget is $11,900.00. Thank you for giving, whether online (sign up for automatic giving at stkathryns.org/donate), in the offertory basket, or mailed to 4 Dracut Road, Hud-son, NH 03051!

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THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

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SAINT KATHRYN PARISH

4 Dracut Road, Hudson, New Hampshire 03051-5006

Telephone: 603.882.7793 Fax: 603.595.1465

Website: www.stkathryns.org Facebook: Saint Kathryn’s Church Store: 603.595.4463

PARISH STAFF Rev. Michael R. Monette, Pastor fr.michael@stkathryns.org

Deacon Raymond V. Marcotte, Permanent Deacon deacon.ray@stkathryns.org

Sister Janice Rooney, SNDdeN, Director of Religious Education sr.janice@stkathryns.org

Charlene Maniotis, Parish Secretary charlene.maniotis@stkathryns.org

Tina Decoeur, Religious Education Secretary tina.decoeur@stkathryns.org

Peter Krauss, Bookkeeper book72worm@aol.com

Larry Franchitto, Music Director lfranchitto@panam.com

Rick Balboni, Religious Goods Store Manager rick.balboni@stkathryns.org

Greg Chagnon, Facilities Manager greg.chagnon@stkathryns.org

Pat Grenier, Custodial Assistant grenierpat@hotmail.com

Christopher Maynard, ANMSM, Staff Organist music.saintpatricksmilford@gmail.com

Jeanette Cassidy, Safe Environment Coordinator jnet62@comcast.net

PARISH OFFICE Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m. Closed Friday/Weekends

SAINT KATHRYN RELIGIOUS GOODS 603.595.4463

Our religious goods store is located in the back of the parish office building and has its own parking.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 9:00 a.m.—Noon

Friday and Sunday Closed

SCHEDULE OF MASSES Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m. Sunday Masses: 8:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. (also livestreamed on our website); 6:30 p.m.

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Thursday: 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Saturday: 9:15-10:00 a.m. and 3:00-3:45 p.m.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Catechesis takes place with the parents prior to scheduling a date for the baptism. For more information, please contact Deacon Ray in the

parish office.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Engaged couples should contact the parish office at least six months in advance of the proposed date of the wedding. Please refer to the

marriage policy as found on the parish website.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK/COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND Arrangements may be made for Communion to the Homebound or for the Sacrament of the Sick by calling the parish office. The

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick should be celebrated at the outset of an illness or when there is a change in the person’s condition.

The Sacrament should also be received prior to surgery.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The diocesan policies are available by calling the parish office or by consulting the diocesan website at www.catholicnh.org.

OPEN FOR YOU! We invite you to use our church, the transept chapel, or the Emmaus Chapel (in the office building) for personal prayer. Our sacred

spaces are open daily from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (closed Saturday after the 4:00 p.m. Mass).

Welcome! If you are new to our community, we hope you have felt welcome! If you are a visitor - occasional or frequent - we’re

glad you joined us! If you’re considering parish membership introduce yourself to the pastor after Holy Mass to get the process underway!

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ST. KATHRYN PARISH HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03-0779 December 6, 2020 – Week 2