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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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

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Page 1: The Parish Family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help · soon commissioned an officer. After serving in the army for three years, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was ordained

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

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

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

Page 2: The Parish Family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help · soon commissioned an officer. After serving in the army for three years, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was ordained

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]

Page 3: The Parish Family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help · soon commissioned an officer. After serving in the army for three years, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was ordained

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