30 Bartlett Street ~ Westfield, MA 01085A ROMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVING GOD AND NEIGHBOR

WELCOMENo matter what your present status in the Catholic Church,

No matter what your current family or marital situation,No matter what your current personal history, age, background, or race,

No matter what your own self-image—You are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected here

at Saint Mary’s Parish.We are here to welcome and serve you.

Together we are all called to conversion in Christ.

BAPTISM: Usually celebrated the last weekend of the month. Please contact the rectory to get started.

CONFESSION: Saturdays 2:30-3:30 pm, twice a year at our Westfield Communal Reconciliation Service or any time by appointment.

MARRIAGE: Please call any of the priests or deacons to begin the preparation process at least one year in advance.

NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome! Please call the rectory to register.

ST. MARY’S PARISH SCHOOL: For more information regarding registration and enrollment in our Preschool (3 year olds), PreK, Elementary School please call (568-2388) or High School please call (568-5692).

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: CCD for grades K-11 takes place Sept. toApril. Contact the Office of Religious Education for more details.

MINISTERIO HISPANICO: Tenemos muchos: Círculo de Oración, Cofradas, Hijas de María, Juan XXIII, Ultrella y más. Llama al Diácono Pedro.

EUCHARIST

Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m Sunday: 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. & 5 p.m.

(11:30 am Misa en Español)Daily Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.

Holy Days as posted but usually 8:30 a.m. &6:15 p.m. (Bilingual)

STAFF

Fr. John Salatino – PastorFr. Frank Furman – Parochial Vicar

Deacon Roger CarrierDeacon Osvaldo Mendez

Deacon Pedro RiveraMrs. Michele Suhocki – Pastoral

MinisterMrs. Robin Jensen

Director of AdvancementMrs. Kay Mowatt – Pre K – 6 Rel. Ed.

Mrs. Joanne Bagge - Grade 7+ Rel. EdMr. Rob Lepage – Music Director

TELEPHONE

Rectory & Pastoral Ministry 562-5477Fax 562-5478Elementary School 568-2388Advancement 568-1160St. Vincent de Paul 568-5619High School 568-5692Office of Religious Education 568-1127

Fr. John Salatino frjohn@stmsaints.orgFr. Frank Furman frfrankfurman@stmsaints.orgDeacon Roger deacon_roger@att.netDeacon Osvaldo deaconmendez@outlook.comDeacon Pedro p.riveramoran@diospringfield.orgMichele Suhocki msuhocki@stmsaints.orgRobin Jensen rjensen@stmsaints.orgKay Mowatt kmowatt@stmsaints.orgJoanne Bagge jbagge@stmsaints.orgRob Lepage rlepage@stmsaints.org

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Saturday, November 164:00 PM Mary & Paul Liptak, Sr., requested by The Cressotti

FamilySunday, November 17

8:30 AM Joseph Czarnecki, requested by His Family10:00 AM M/M Vincenzo Campione, requested by Their

Granddaughter11:30 AM Victor Franco, Sr., requested by His Family

5:00 PM Mary Meagher, 5th Anniversary, requested by Her FamilyMarie Sibilia

Monday, November 188:30 AM All Souls

Tuesday, November 198:30 AM Kevin Sullivan, requested by Dan & Connie

Wednesday, November 208:30 AM Ildelfonso P. Aguda, requested by Rosa L. Aguda

Tom O’Neil, requested by His FamilyThursday, November 21

8:30 AM Deceased Members of the Rizzolo Family, requested by Filomena MattiaJoe Wise, requested by The O’Neil Family

Friday, November 228:30 AM Mary Cressotti, requested by The Cressotti Family

Barbara Curran, + Birthday & 5th Anniversary Remembrance, requested by Her Family

Saturday, November 234:00 PM Helen Boylan, 22nd Anniversary, requested by

Her Daughter & GrandchildrenSunday, November 24

8:30 AM Jim & Rita O’Connor, requested by Their Family10:00 AM Luke Leary, requested by His Family11:30 AM Immacolata Noto, + Birthday Remembrance,

requested by Her Family

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 234 PMAltar Servers: Andrew Burnickas, Tucker CostelloReader: Sheila GreenSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 248:30 AM Altar Servers: Jessica Crosby, Abbey Hutchison, Joshua SturmerReader: Cathleen Bastible10 AMAltar Servers: Estelle Jennings, Paul Lawry, Stella McCarthyReader: Chuck Dougherty11:30 AMAltar Servers: Tony Torres, Jade Ríos, Alysse RíosReader: Rafael González, Adriana Lugo

NEXT WEEK’S LITURGICAL MINISTERS

MASS INTENTIONS

THE SANCTUARY CANDLE in the upstairs Church will burn from 11/16/19 to 11/29/19 in Memory of Jack Daley, requested by St. Mary’s Senior Choir.

Flowers are the altar this week are in Memory of John Brill, Birthday Remembrance, requested by His Wife.

If you would like to contribute towards the beautiful flowers on our altar, there is a notebook in the main entrance of the Church. It is easy to fill out a request and a great way to honor someone who has passed away or celebrate a great event in someone’s life.LET US PRAYPlease remember in your prayers, all the sick in our parish, our families and friends. Please also pray for our beloved deceased: Rita Cerruti, Alan Syriac, Emelio Larriuz and All the Souls in Purgatory.PRAYING TOGETHER is one of our greatest privileges at St. Mary’s High School. Each school morning we gather in prayer. We would be honored to pray for you! Please email your prayer request to kjaszek@stmsaints.org or call the school at 568-5692.

Jesus teaches that His disciples will be persecuted as a necessary prelude to the Parousia. Through their perse-verance, they will emerge victorious when the Lord comes again. As we await the Day, let us conscientiously fulfill our Christian obligations.

NOVEMBER 9 & 10444 Envelopes

Total in Envelopes: $13,463.76Loose Cash: $666.00TOTAL: $14,129.76

Fuel: $655.00

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

WE STEWARD OUR TREASURE

2 33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The 5 p.m. Sunday Masses follows the CCD schedule. The next Masses are this Sunday, November 17, and December 1 and 15.

Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary prayer line: for prayers call or text Betty, 563-0592, or Marguerite, 531-5648.

The next meeting of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary will be Monday, November 18, after the 8:30 Mass.  Hope to see you all there!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 & 17, 2019

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Labeling something “an uphill battle” finds us using a well-known English idiom. We know that the phrase denotes some type of task, some struggle that is difficult. Why so? Because the job in question involves all sorts of obstacles, not the least of which is opposition from other people. Playwright Jean Paul Sartre’s famous quote “Hell is other people” often fits the bill. 

There are uphill battles everywhere. One example would be for a budding entrepreneur who tries to get a permit to open a bar. Unless he or she knows someone on the town or city council, that is. Another would be for a job seeker who is in his/her 60’s. Most companies want youth, not experience. (That is not the case when it comes to our Church, by the way. Two of our country’s bishops began new assignments this past summer at age 71!)

Now in this discussion one major truth about uphill battles that emerges does not require much research. That is the matter of living the Christian life, day in and day out. Mark that as definite. One reason for this is that the opposition is everywhere, often from unsuspected sources, and the news headlines indicate that it’s winning. There was a time when it was fair to assume that America was a largely Christian country, always tolerant of other faiths, but respecting God and the ways of living taught in the gospels. Today we’re becoming recognized as “the home of the nones.” Who are they? People having no affiliation with a Church or religious body. The majority are ex-Catholics.

Then we have the rise of secularism, where God is nowhere to be found in its tenets and practice. Many of them, some

from among our own families, don’t accept Christ for who He said He was: the Son of the living God. His teachings are notably ideal but mean little for everyday life. They might accept Him as a learned teacher, a good man well-intentioned, but certainly not a divine person and largely irrelevant. They

see no link between Jesus and the Catholic Church, even though He identified Himself with it. Here is where we need to recall the defining question St. Paul faced when he was still called Saul, and was an avid persecutor of Christians. Enroute to one of his roundup missions, he was knocked to the ground only to hear the voice of Jesus ask: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  

To all this we must add the social environment we live in. I found this alliterative analysis of it in a Time magazine essay, which said in part: “Ours is a huckstering, show-bizzy world, jangling with hype, hullabaloo, and hooey; bull, baloney, and bamboozlement.” (Admittedly I like the funny alliteration. But there is no humor in that summation.) Even more sadly is the fact that even our children have already acquired the cynical assumption that lying is the normal tack for

television advertisers.

Standing ever tall amid this mess is Jesus, “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.” He has always been truthful, as He is in this Scripture passage today, where He promises His followers they will be persecuted as was He. It seems to be God the Father’s way of sifting out the gold from the dross among those who claim allegiance to His Son. It involves us having the will to see things through until the end, in spite of fear, obstacles, discouragement and opposition. With it, we can accomplish the whole purpose of our existence, which is be worthy of our true home, where we will enjoy an indescribable bliss after this earthly time of trial.

Is perseverance easy? Not by a long shot! But deep down I think we all know that. All we need do is read the biography of our favorite saint to see an example. It seems to me that perseverance involves an antipathy toward defeat. St. Patrick, who converted the people of Ireland to Christianity, faced frequent obstacles in his missionary work including false imprisonment, certainly knew where His strength was. Here is part of his poem aptly titled “God’s Strength to Comfort Me:”

I gird myself today with the power of God: God’s strength to comfort me, God’s might to uphold me; God’s wisdom to guide me; God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me; God’s hand to lead me; God’s way to lie before me; God’s shield to protect me; God’s angels to save me from the snares of the devil; from the temptations to sin, from all who wish me ill, both far and near, both alone and with others.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OUR MILITARY, especially: If you would like the name of your loved one in the military listed in the bulletin, email them to bulletin@stmsaints.org. Many of the congregation would certainly offer prayers for their safety and service.PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OUR MILITARY, especially: Capt. Daniel P.

Williams, Sgt. Nathan DiSessa, Airman Preston Hallett, Soldier Steven Irwin, Marine Kikki Green, 1st Lt. James F. Lentini, Sr. Airman Patrick Liptak, Sgt. Luke Dengler, USCG Adam Morin, Petty Officer Joseph W. Nieves, Airman Jack Clark, 2nd Lt. Nicholas J. Vasquez, SPC Jaymes Hoyt, Captain John Velis, Lance CPL Bailey French, 1st Lt. Henry Desilets, 2nd Lt. Ryan Clark, Marine Corporal Thomas P. Flaherty, Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth D. Gustafson and all of the Barnes ANGs.

PERSERVERANCE & PERSECUTION

Standing ever tall amid this mess is Jesus, “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Reflection by Rev. Leonard N. Peterson

4 CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE! www.stmsaints.org

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Monday, November 188:30 am Confraternity - Lower Church/Center4:15 pm CCD

6 pm Folk Group Rehearsal - Upper Church6:30 Baptism Class - Center

Tuesday, November 196:30 am Men of St. Joseph - Lower Church

Wednesday, November 209 am Eucharistic Adoration - Church

9:30 am Bible Study - Center5 pm Benediction - Lower Church7 pm Bible Study - Center

Thursday, November 216:45 pm Women’s Prayer Group - Lower Church

7 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal - Upper Church7 pm El Camino Youth - Center7 pm Encuentro Juvenil - Center7 pm Ultreya - Center

Saturday, November 237 pm ES Middle School Performance - HS Gym

Sunday, November 2410 am 5th & 6th Grade Mass - Upper Church10 am Little Church - Lower Church

10:45 am Coffee Hour - HS1 pm Baptisms - Upper church2 pm Cursillo - ES Cafe

THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S

Are You Being Drawn to a Life of Deeper Prayer?

The life of a Secular Discalced Carmelite helps to realize that call. Come and explore how to live as a Carmelite in the world through the Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, contemplative prayer and devotion to Mary. As part of a community of men and women, we live a life of

prayer, study the writings of the Carmelite saints, are drawn toward contemplative prayer in easy stages of formation and come to experience a life of deeper divine intimacy.Come to one of our monthly meetings as a guest and see what it is all about. The St. Joseph Chapter of the Secular Discalced Carmelites meets every fourth Saturday of the month at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Turners Falls. For more information, contact Cindy Montanaro at 413-848-2271 or cindymontanaro@gmail.com.

Invite Someone to Come and SeeIf you (or someone you know) have questions about the Catholic Faith - whether thinking about becoming a Catholic or have been away for a while and want an update, consider the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Most people are seeking something – whether they call it a deeper ‘relationship with God’ or more simply, ‘meaning and purpose’ in life. Whatever the reason, we welcome you. The RCIA is a time to come together and examine our lives in light of the Gospel and grow as the person God calls us to be. For more information, contact Deacon Roger Carrier at 413-562-5477, ext. 148 or email him at deacon_roger@att.net.

Because of a change in Thanksgiving holiday printing schedule, the deadline for the December 1st bulletin

will be this Wednesday, November 20. Thank you for your help!

Christmas LuncheonConfraternity of the Most Holy Rosary Christmas luncheon will be held at Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick on Tuesday, December 3, at 12 noon. Fr. Frank Furman will be our speaker. Cost per person is $24. Meal choices are Grilled Salmon, Yankee Pot Roast, or Chicken Potpie. All monies and meal choices must be in to Toni Hills at 50 Highland View St. by Monday, November 25.

THANKSGIVING MASS

As a nation we pause to give thanks for all that we have. You are invited to begin Thanksgiving through the sacrament of Eucharist (Thanksgiving).

We will have Mass at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 28, in the Upper

Church.Bring something from your family table (the cranberry sauce,

a dessert, a bottle of wine or cider, etc.) to Mass; there will be a table up by the altar where your food will be blessed to be taken home again after Mass.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

will be celebrated on Monday, December 9in the Upper Church at 8:30 a.m.

Schools will be at Mass.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE LATELY? 5

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“LITTLE CHURCH” –Sunday School is Cool! For young children, which is held every Sunday in the lower church during the 10:00 Mass. Come by any time to visit and meet the other children and families! You can watch the Mass on the “big screen” if you stay with your children.

The new handbook for Proclaimers of the Word have arrived! They are in the sacristy. Please take the book with your name if you are a reader at Mass. The readings begin with the First Sunday of Advent.

ADVENT STUDY: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” but what does that look like at your house? Most of us anticipate the great sales at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving, stringing lights on the outside of our house, and decorating the inside of our homes. But how exactly are we preparing our hearts for the greatest gift we’ve ever been given? Through an exploration of the mystery of the Incarnation, the Virgin Birth, and the events surrounding the arrival of Jesus, this Advent study offers an opportunity to experience the joy of the true meaning of Christmas. Join us at St. Mary’s Parish Center on Wednesdays, November 20, December 4, 11 and 18, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. as we learn how better to prepare our hearts for the gift of our Savior. All are welcome for this free study. Please call Joanne at the Office o f Re l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n 5 6 2 - 5 4 8 4 , o r e m a i l jbagge@stmsaints.org to register or with any questions.

CONFIRMATION INTERVIEWS: On November 17, all of our Grade 11 Confirmation candidates will meet with either a priest or one of the Confirmation teachers to talk about their faith. They all should have received a postcard with their scheduled time. Please continue to pray for our candidates as they prepare for this sacrament.5th & 6th GRADE MASS: Grade 5 & 6 students from the parish will celebrate the 10:00 Mass together on November 24. They will be the readers, greeters and offertory gift bearers. The parish Coffee Hour will follow!

PARISH COFFEE HOUR: Come give thanks at the November 24th Parish Coffee Hour, be hosted by the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary (Thank you!). There will also be donuts and fresh baked goods!

FOOD DRIVE: The parish children (CCD & St. Mary’s schools), preschool through Grade 12, are collecting food for the Thanksgiving baskets prepared by St. Vincent de Paul. The food may be brought to the rectory, Parish Center, CCD classes or the schools. Thank you in advance!

GIVING TREE: On the weekend of November 30 & December 1, the “Giving Tree” will be on the altar. Every year, we reach out to our families so we may help to brighten a child’s Christmas. Those who can are invited to pick a name off the tree and buy a present for that child. Please bring the wrapped gift to the church or the Parish Center by December 16! Thank you for your generosity!

CCD CORNERHello St Mary’s Parishioners! Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the St. Vincent dePaul Society will once again provide food baskets for the less fortunate in our community - with your help! Last year we provided

100 families with Thanksgiving baskets that included everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast! We would like to do the same this year and are in need of monetary donations from parishioners for the purchase of turkeys. If you are able to contribute, please mail your donation to the St. Vincent dePaul Society at 30 Bartlett St. Or place your donation in an envelope marked St. Vincent dePaul in the collection basket. You folks are really the best of the best and we thank you for your continued support!

WINTER IS HERE.And with it comes cold and flu season. This seems a good t i m e t o r e m i n d people to refrain from receiving from the cup if you are feeling ill or have a cold. Eucharistic Ministers are taught

to wipe the chalice with a clean part of the purificator, and the chalices are washed with hot, soapy water after every Mass. But if you do not feel well, please do not receive from the cup. The fullness of Jesus’ presence is in either species (bread or wine). If you are not receiving from the chalice, it is customary to make a bow when you pass by as a sign of respect. Also, during these winter months some people choose to make the sign of peace through a wave or a bow rather than shaking hands. It is sometimes awkward to adjust, but a courteous wave back is a friendly response.

Can you put a turkey on their table this year?

MONTH OF NOVEMBER

It is a good and holy practice to lift up the dead to God’s mercy. One way to do this is by turning in your ALL SOULS ENVELOPES. They will be placed on the altar.

6 GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

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All Men 18 or OlderCouncil 100 of the Knights of Columbus, serving all four Catholic parishes of Westfield is actively recruiting men to join our Council to support your parishes and the many works the Lord is calling us to do. If interested please contact Ken Malo at 413-246-5213 or email kjm6667@aol.com. We would be very happy to speak with you about the Knights and our Council’s activities. If you have a little time or more, all men who are members of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary’s, St. Peter St. Casmir’s and Holy Trinity are welcome to explore becoming a Knight of Columbus. Now is the time, let’s connect. God Bless.

Lectores y Ministros Extraordinarios de la Sagrada Comunión Interesado en certificarse o re certificarse como ministro l itúrgico. La oficina del Ministerio Católico Latino ofrecerá los cursos de certificación d iocesana para es tos ministerios. Se ofrecerán el viernes 22 de noviembre de 2019 de 6:30 a 9:00 y el 23 de noviembre de 8:30am a 3:00 pm. Las clases serán en la sala de actividades de la Iglesia St. Catherine of Siena, 1023 Parker Street, Springfield, MA – El curso se presentará en español.Tenemos copias para la registración en la página web del Ministerio Católico Latino http://diospringfield.org/Ministries/office-of-latino-ministry/ y en la página de Facebook MinisterioCatólicoLatino-Diocesis de Springfield

Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Interested in becoming certified or re-certified as a liturgical minister. The Diocesan Catholic Latino Ministry office will offer a certification course for these ministries. They will be offered on Friday, November 22, 2019

from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm and on November 23 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.; Classes will be in the parish center of St. Catherine of Siena church, 1023 Parker Street, Springfield, MA. – The course will be presented in Spanish.We posted copies for registration form on the website of the Latino Catholic Ministry http://diospringfield.org/Ministries/office-of-latino-ministry/MinisterioCatólicoLatino-Diocesis de Springfield and on the Facebook page

St. Vincent de Paul Stand OutThe members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will collect after weekend Masses on December 7 and 8. All monies collected will be given to help the people in need of Westfield. People in need of food, shelter, heat, and other expenses. Please give generously.

The Lord says in the Gospel of Matthew: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.”

STAND OUT

Feeling hurt, angry, or demoralized about the sexual abuse crisis pla-guing the Catholic Church? Our parish wants to help, and that’s why we’ve ordered copies of a new book for every family in the parish. The

book is titled Letter to a Suffering Church: A Bishop Speaks on the Sexual Abuse Crisis by Bishop Robert Barron. We invite you to pick up your free copy after Mass or stop by the parish office. (Some copies are available in Spanish.) Also, we will be hosting two gatherings to discuss the book: how it informs about the crisis and encourages us in the path forward. Please plan to attend one of the sessions. They will be held on Sunday, December 1, and Monday, December 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lower Church.

Pastoral Minister AsksDo you know of any parishioners or family members that are ill, in nursing homes or hospitals? Please contact Office of Pastoral Ministry at 413-562-5477, ext. 144, and speak to Michele Suhocki so a pastoral minister visit may be scheduled.

If you have moved or changed your phone number, please call the rectory at 562-5477. God may be omniscient, but we could use a heads up to stay connected!

Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us!