the parish family of our lady of perpetual help · soon commissioned an officer. after serving in...
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as the Mother Church of Polonia in the
Greater New Bedford Area
235 North Front Street, New Bedford,
Massachusetts 02746
Phone: 508-992-9378
Fax: 508-993-4881
www.olphchurchnb.org
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT: As a Parish Family, we strive to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ and emulate Him through
His teachings. We honor Mary our Mother and promote a strong community through service and ministry. We extend our
hands and open our hearts to embrace all people in unity, young and old, wishing to join us in worshipping together as a Parish
Family in the spirit of Franciscan Joy, Peace and Love.
Conventual Franciscan Friars: Father Conrad Salach, O.F.M. Conv., Pastor
Masses: Saturday (Lord's Day Vigil) ...........................4:00 PM
Sunday Bi-Lingual English-Polish.............. 10:00 AM
Monday-Saturday ..........................................7:30 AM Holy Day ........................................Please consult the bulletin
Devotions: Rosary: Lord's Day before Mass
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament:
First Fridays after Mass Divine Mercy Novena:
Good Friday to Easter Saturday
OLPH Triduum: June 24, 25, 26
Parish Registration: If you are new to the area, we welcome you to join
our Parish Family. Please introduce yourself after Mass or at the rectory.
Baptism: Kindly consult with the Pastor at least a month in advance.
Baptism Preparation Class is required.
Reconciliation: Confessions are heard before Saturday morning and
Saturday evening Masses and at other times upon request.
Marriage: Kindly consult with the Pastor one year before your planned
wedding date.
Anointing of the Sick: Kindly advise Father Conrad of your impending
operation or current hospital stay, so that you can receive this sacrament of healing.
Ministry to Parishioners Confined to Home: Housebound parishioners are urged to notify Father Conrad of your desire to receive
the sacraments.
The Parish Family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP NEW BEDFORD, MA.
THIS WEEK THE CHURCH CELEBRATES:
Bl. Raphael Chylinski, O.F.M. Conv. (December 2). Often called “the little monk” as a youth because
of his piety, Raphael joined the armed forces as a cavalryman after graduating from college and was
soon commissioned an officer. After serving in the army for three years, he entered the Order of
Friars Minor Conventual, was ordained a Franciscan priest, and became widely known and respected
for his easy-to-understand preaching and his generous ministry to the poor. Pope Pius XII
named him Venerable, and, in 1991, Pope John Paul
II declared him Blessed.
St. John Damascene (December 4). Among Eastern Christians, St. John is best known for his
defense of sacred art, particularly icons. When the iconoclasts of his day wanted all religious pictures
and statues destroyed, believing that these images led to false worship, John made it clear
that Christians do not worship statues or pictures; sacred images simply help us to honor the
memory of the persons portrayed. The Roman rite (ours) always regarded St. John’s position as
a defense of apostolic tradition. Pope Pius XII cited St. John’s sermons on our Blessed Mother’s
Assumption into heaven when he (the Holy Father)
declared the Assumption as a dogma of our Faith.
St. Nicholas (December 6) was a bishop in what is now part of Turkey. As a young man, he used
his personal inheritance to help the poor and the sick, and his ministry to the needy continued
throughout his life. His legendary habit of secret gift-giving became the traditional model for Santa
Claus. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas
the Wonderworker. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, sailors, repentant thieves, and others.
WE ARE INVITED to Love was Born at Christmas,
a choral concert by the St. Francis of Assisi Choir,
in their church (283 Mill Street) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 21st, with a light refreshment reception
following the concert. The concert is free (a freewill offering will be accepted).
CONGRATULATIONS to Fred Kalisz, who will receive the Marian Medal from Bishop da Cunha
this Sunday afternoon in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. May God reward Fred for the
many ways he generously shares his time and talents for the good of our Parish and the glory of
God.
THE CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE, set up by Catholic Social Services, gives us an opportunity each year
at this time to help Santa Claus make Christmas morning very special for children who otherwise
might be overlooked.
Please consider taking one or more “ornaments” from the tree in the back of the church. Then,
kindly bring your gifts, unwrapped, to church next Sunday or the following Sunday. Catholic Social
Services will wrap them and give them to Santa for delivery.
OUR PRE-CHRISTMAS POLISH FOOD SALE will
be on Saturday, December 14th, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mark your calendar, and tell your friends.
OPLATKI are available at the church entrances
and in the parish office. The offering is $3 for an envelope containing five Christmas wafers. A PRAYERFUL ADVENT SERVICE followed by the
Distribution of the Bethlehem Peace Light will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church on Tarkiln
Hill Road this Thursday evening, December 5th, at 7 o’clock. WE ARE ALL INVITED!
The Bethlehem Peace Light is transported each
year at this time from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to JFK Airport, presented to American
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and then brought to
St. Mary’s and other churches as a symbol of peace in hearts, homes, the nation, and the world. We
receive this light as a sign of our willingness to be channels of Christ’s peace. Candles that can be
taken home will be available. You may also take the flame home in your own oil lantern.
For more information, contact Mike McCormack at
508-965-1075 or [email protected]
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT Dec. 1, 2019
Sat.- Nov. 30 - 1st Sunday in Advent 4:00 PM +Phyllis LeBlanc
Req. Charles LeBlanc
Sun.- Dec. 1 - 1st Sunday in Advent
10:00 AM +Leo Ewaszko Req. Roger & Pat Leclerc
Mon.- Dec. 2 - Advent Weekday
7:30 AM OLPH Parishioners, Living & Deceased
Tues.- Dec. 3 - St. Francis Xavier 7:30 AM +Ferdinand Gula (anniv.)
Req. Family
Wed.- Dec. 4 - St. John Damascene 7:30 AM +Margaret Waldemarson
Thurs. - Dec. 5 - Advent Weekday 7:30 AM Health Req. John Kiszka
Friday - Dec. 6 - St. Nicholas 7:30 AM +Frank Kiepczarek
Sat.– Dec. 7 - St. Ambrose 7:30 AM OLPH Parishioners, Living & Deceased
Sat.- Dec. 7 - 2nd Sunday in Advent
4:00 PM +Patricia L. Szczur Req. Ann Bodzioch Robinson
Sun.- Dec. 8 - 2nd Sunday in Advent 10:00 AM +Very Rev. Edward Duffy
Req. Polish-American Veterans
Sisters and Brothers of Our Parish Family,
Taking us way beyond preparing for Christmas, Advent can also help us to become one who is
called to prepare the way for Jesus, in our own little corner of the world, for others.
John the Baptist was given to Elizabeth, Zechariah, and to us to prepare a way for our God to save us
in the midst of the “wilderness,” that is, wherever there is hopelessness. His message is that nothing
is too overwhelming for our God to come and be with us—to save us. John stressed for repentance
and offered forgiveness.
We often find ourselves in places where Jesus’ message is either unknown or no longer accepted.
Advent is a time for us to hear Jesus’ call, to prepare the way for Him. Pope Francis in his
apostolic exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, tells us that the best way for us to share Jesus’ Good
News is by the way we live it.
We can prepare the way through our everyday dealings with others, giving witness to the joy that
is ours because of our personal relationship with Jesus. When we know that we are forgiven by
God’s mercy and saved by Jesus’ ultimate loving gift, we become more compassionate and merciful
as our hearts become more like Jesus’ loving Heart.
Letting ourselves fall in love with Jesus—so much
so that everything about Him becomes more and
more attractive to us—we, like John, will want to deflect the attention away from ourselves and
toward Him.
During Advent, may we, like John the Baptist, be that instrument of God’s grace for others, so that
they may pray with us the simple Advent prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come.”
Peace and Blessings,
Father Conrad