First Sunday of Lent St. Roch Parish Sister Parish ~ St. Anne of Chardonnieres

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019

Saturday, April 6, 2019 4:00 PM Ryan Bernier by Mom, Dad and familySunday, April 7, 2019 8:30 AM Jack Cooney by Bob & Patty Bombard 11:00 AM John (9th Anniversary) & Angelina “Julie” (14th Anniversary) Lapomardo by the family Monday, April 8, 2019 8:30 AM Catherine Mills by Paula Miner & Ken Mills Tuesday, April 9, 2019 8:30 AM The People of St. Roch Parish Wednesday, April 10, 2019 8:30 AM Waclaw Malinowski by Tomasz Palkon Thursday, April 11, 2019 8:30 AM Henry Smolenski by wife Frances Friday, April 12, 2019 8:30 AM Special Intention by Tomasz Palkon Saturday, April 13, 2019 4:00 PM Michael Giblin (10th Anniversary) by Ginny & Stanley SklarzSunday, April 14, 2019 8:30 AM Connie Nelson (4th Anniversary) by sister Cindy Clark 11:00 AM Jill, Rita, Simone & Reggie by sister Del Baarda and family

Scripture Readings

Sunday, April 7 Is 43:16-21, Phil 3:8-14 Jn 8:1-11 Monday, April 8 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 Jn 8:12-20 Tuesday, April 9 Num 21:4-9 Jn 8:21-30 Wednesday, April 10 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 Jn 8:31-42 Thursday, April 11 Gn 17:3-9 Jn 8:51-59 Friday, April 12 Jer 20:10-13 Jn 10:31-42 Saturday, April 13 Ez 37:21-28 Jn 11:45-56 Sunday, April 14 Lk 19:28-40 Is 50:4-7 Phil 2:6-11, Lk 22:14-23:56

PARISH DIRECTORY

334 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540

Rectory Office ………………………………(508) 987-8987 Fax ……………………………...…………. (508) 987-8938 Religious Education Office………………….(508) 987-2382

Pastor Rev. Michael J. Roy Deacon Rev. Mr. Paul Connolly Director of Religious Education Mrs. Terry Ann Renaud Administrative Assistant (M-TH 9-4) Mrs. Teri Rawson Email: strochrectory@gmail.com Director of Music Ms. Anna Pizzolato St. Vincent de Paul Society.…………Arlene (508) 987-2813

Cemetery ………………..Contact rectory at (508) 987-8987

Mass Schedule

Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM During Lent

(No Mass here the fourth Wednesday of the month—Fr. Roy has Mass at

St. Paul’s Cathedral)

Confessions: 3:00 PM Saturday or anytime on request.

Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:30-4 Pastoral Care: All the time

WEBSITE: strochoxford.com

EMAILS: Teri Rawson—Rectory Office: strochrectory@gmail.com Terry Renaud—Rel. Ed. Office: strochoxford@gmail.com

March 30 & 31

Offertory Envelopes (156) $5,022.00 Loose Money 394.00 Other sources of income 507.00 Total 5,923.00 Weekly Goal 5,835.00 Result Thank You! + 88.00

EASTER FLOWERS We are accepting contributions for flowers as we ready the church for Easter. In your envelope packet, you will find an Easter Flowers envelope. Please fill in the name(s) of your loved ones. The envelopes may be dropped in any collection basket. Names received by Tuesday, April 16th will be enrolled in a special memorial listing.

Your Sacrificial Offering

This weekend is In Pew Commitment Weekend for the 2019 Partners in Chari-ty Appeal. This weekend every member of St. Roch Parish is called upon to sup-port the work of our Lord Jesus made possible through the annual appeal.

Our parish goal is $42,800. Please complete your pledge envelope, indicating your gift or pledge today. It is im-portant for all of us to participate in order to support our mission as a diocese. Please be as generous as possible. If you have already made a gift to the 2019 appeal we thank you. Your gift will help us in reaching our parish goal. You can also make your gift online at www.partners-charity.net. To date we have received $19,680. Thank you!

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019

My Dear Parishioners,

My letter last week was principally about our embarking on this year’s Partners in Charity campaign. Which is critically important to fulfilling the mission of Jesus in our diocese. At that time Fr. Robert Kelley was still alive and I used him as an example of the ways our sacrificial contributions make a real difference in the lives of people. The compassionate care that he received and his salary during his retirement is one of the ways the money the campaign raises is spent. This dedicated priest passed to the other side of life early in the morning of March 29th.

Over the last couple of years I have gotten to know Fr. Kelley better and I can honestly say he was one of the hero’s of my life. Though he suffered greatly with a disabling condition that forced him into early retirement he was never bitter or angry; quite the opposite, I found him to be an oasis of peace, full of laughter and wisdom. Not inclined to lament about what he could no longer do, he went about doing all that he could. For instance he developed a skill of crafting intricate, beautiful jewelry using the same technique that was used in making medieval chainmail armor. These he would sell each year at our Parish Festival and at the Harvest Fair and then donate all the profit to the parish.

How was he able to maintain such a positive, upbeat, even joyful disposition? I’m certain that by his own testimony it was due to his faith in the promises of Jesus. Because he trusted Jesus’ last promise found at the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel, “Know that I am with you always, even until the end.”

All week long as I have stood at the same altar where he so frequently stood to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass I have received a special grace. I began hearing very familiar words in a new way; a way that affirms that there is always purpose and meaning to our lives. We do not live our lives in vain.

Let me share with you these very familiar phrases that have taken on a fuller, richer meaning for me.

“You give life to all things and make them holy, and you never cease to gather a people to yourself.” “...as we look forward to his second coming.” “May he make of us an eternal offering to you, so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect… and with all the Saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help.” “Give us kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy the fullness of your glory, through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.” The experience of praying the Holy Eucharist with this new insight has made me all the more conscious that this great Sacrament has been given to guide us on our pilgrimage. Truly when we pray the Mass consciously, paying attention we realize that God is central to our lives. We are free from the monumental task of creating our own purpose, crafting it according to our liking and fulfilling it by our own design. Nothing is going to happen to me today, Lord , that you and I can’t handle together.

Let us continue to love one another,

Fr. Roy

The Readings for next Sunday, April 14, 2019

Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7

Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019

There will be a second collection next weekend April 13th & 14th for Repairs & Maintenance. We thank you for your continued generosity.

ST. ROCH

NOVENA

Monday, April 8 6:30 PM Mass, Novena prayers, and small faith shar-ing groups

Wednesday, April 10 6:30 PM Benediction, Novena prayers, and small faith sharing groups

April 18th, Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00 PM

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10 PM

April 19th, Good Friday Liturgy 7:00 PM Noon Ecumenical Living Stations

meet at Grace Episcopal Church at 11:45 AM

April 20th, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass 7:30 PM

April 21st, Easter Sunday Resurrection of The Lord Masses 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Everyone is welcome to receive the Sacrament

of Reconciliation at St. Ann’s, North Oxford

Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 PM.

Stations of the Cross

& Holy Eucharist

Fridays at Noon

March 8 through April 12

Sacrament of Penance available

Saturdays at 3:00 PM. By appointment

call 508-987-8987.

LENT April 7, 2019

3rd Grade Art/Craft Fair

Mrs. Soucy’s 3rd grade project makes us very proud of them for coming up with these ideas on their own, they

have been working creatively on the items for their Art/Craft Fair that will be in the church hall, April 7th from 9:30 to 11 am.

Bracelets-Necklaces-Various sized Canvas Artwork, Mini Artificial Flower arrangements in mini pots, Tie-dye T-shirts and more. All proceeds will be given to a Homeless Shelter. Contract Lynn Soucy at 508-987-2382 if you wish to donate to the class project.

OXFORD FOOD SHELF Sponsored by the Oxford Ecumenical Council

Hours: Thursdays 5:30—7:15 pm (closed holidays) 4 Maple Road, Oxford

Lower level of the Oxford Community Center Emergency Grocery Assistance. Open to all residents of Oxford. Also open to non-residents who are “registered” members of an Oxford Church. Registration takes about 10 minutes during the first visit. Must bring a picture ID (driver’s license) showing current Oxford address, and a current utility bill showing name and Oxford address.

Annual Vocation Discernment Retreat

The annual Vocation Discernment Retreat for men high school age and

older will be directed by Bishop McManus on

Friday and Saturday, April 12 & 13, 6 pm to 6 pm

at the Immaculate Conception Retreat Center in Putnam. There is no cost for this retreat, and transportation is

provided from Worcester.

Go to www.worcestervocations.com for more information. Sign up by contacting Fr. Jim Mazzone

at jmazzone@charter.net or 508-340-5788.

During the month of April our thoughts go to those in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is sponsoring a Mother’s Day Drive to let mothers who are experiencing hard times know that they are not forgotten. We ask that you purchase per-sonal care items for women. These items will be packaged and given to a mother at the Veteran’s

Shelter, New Hope Woman’s Shelter, and PIP Shelter. We feel that all mothers should be remembered in a special way. Some personal care items might include shampoo, body sprays, lotions, emery boards, razors, toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, makeup, powder, etc. Drop off bins will be located by the entrance doors of the church.

Palm Sunday, April 21st Palms will be distributed at Mass

Saturday 4:00 & Sunday 8:30 & 11:00

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019

Next Family Breakfast

May 5 8-11AM

This Family Breakfast benefits the Mary Kilinskas Scholarship Fund.

Why not: Buy one for family or friends (just $4); Call 508-987-2382 to help serve.

Donate your time, talents and treasure in supplies: syrup (regular or sugar-free), Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix, butter, Breakfast sausages, eggs, Texas Toasting bread (from Market Basket), Milk, Juices, Plates, Napkins, Plastic ware, Table Covers, Tea Bags (Regular or Decaf-feinated).

May 2 Confirmation candidates & sponsors meet at the All Saints Academy Gym on Day St., Webster at 6:00 PM, The Mass is 7 PM at Sacred Hear t Church Parking is dear, guests should be early.

5 K-12 Last Day 9:40-10:50 AM 5 Eucharist rehearsal in church 9:30 AM

(1st Eucharist banners are due) 12 Mother’s Day—No Classes 19 First Eucharist 2 PM

Children meet in parish hall at 1:30 PM

June 22 Save the date for the Parish Festival

July 15-19 Vacation Bible Camp Volunteers are needed.

Apr 7 K-12 9:40, Confirmation 6:45 PM 7 3RD grade craft fair & breakfast 14 Passion Sunday, No Classes—Vacation 18 Holy Thursday Confirmation class

attend Mass of The Lords Supper 7 PM 21 Easter Sunday, No Classes—Vacation 28 Divine Mercy Sunday K-12 Confirmation candidates & sponsors

meet at Sacred Heart Church 7:30 PM July 15-19, 2019

8:15 AM-1:15 PM

Vacation Bible Camp

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED.

For games, set design, music, science projects & more…

Join us April 4 at Noon in the Parish Center

PALM WEAVING Friday, April 12

In the parish hall after morning Mass, 9:45 AM

Come learn (or teach others) this traditional Lenten Art.

Father will bless the designs at the Palm Sunday Masses.

Retreatants, if you are not in a LOTW faith sharing group yet

join us for the Growing in Faith Sessions.

Wednesdays, April 3, 10, 24, May 1, 8, 15 or Thursdays, April 4, 11, 25,

May 2, 9,16 at 6:30-8 PM

in the parish hall.

Dear friends and parishioners,

I want to write to deeply thank you for the support you have shown for my project. When I decided to fundraise for the stations of the cross, I was not sure what to expect. I thought the fundraising goal was too high and that I would never come close to raising that much money. As I discussed the project further with Fr. Roy, the amount needed seem to rise even more. As an aside, Fr. Roy has very good but very expensive taste as well!

However, once I decided to make the trip to Washington D.C. for the March for Life, and then made my appeal. The outpouring of support has been amazing. Just in the collection taken here at St. Roch, your generosity raised almost $3,000. Donations to my go fund me page have exceeded $700. I can’t say enough how thankful I am to all of you. I am more motivated than ever to see this through and to create 14 beautiful and prayerful stations of the cross. My hope is that by late spring, we are able to start construction, and that by next Lenten season…We will be able to walk the stations outside. I am sure that must be what God is waiting on to bring the warm weather!

I still have a ways to go but I am confident and pleased with progress. I am finalizing plans for a “Paint Night” where we can come together and create some nice pieces of art…and even if they are not so nice…beauty is in the eye of the beholder right? More importantly we can come together, have some fun and hopefully this will raise additional funds for the project. I am also considering a spaghetti dinner as well. There will be more to come on future fundraising and I will keep you updated on the status of the project. Today however, I just wanted to express my gratitude and say thank you. -Ben Colebourn

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019

334 CLUB WINNERS -Week 19

#111 Harold Keenan #420 Robert Peterson #382 Dorothy Lucier #348 Alma Robert

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Kathy Perry, Owen Benway, Jane Lewicke, Al Sinkis, Andrew Rivers, Raymond Joseph, Ruth Andrzejczyk,

Chloe Barbara Jones, Craig Ladd, Roseanne Ferlito, John Barton, Carol Violette, John & Bev Makowski, Dale Mahota, Liz Iandolli, Stephen Rice, Maddy Desrosier, Phyllis Day, John Hickman, Timothy Bowes, Charlene White, Ed Carpenter, Anita Prunier, Roger St. George, James Sumerlin, Bob St. George, Julie Guertin, Francis DeSimone, Robert & Beverly Burns, Judy Rodier, Dawn Hoeg, Sean Bushey, Richard Fleming, Noelle Silverstein, Edward Wissell, Eric Lambert, Paul Murphy, James Quaiel, Yvonne Mathurin, Deborah Mancini, Susan Gallant, Doris Prouty, Maureen Germain, Helen Gilman, Andy McDonald, Dave Boucher, Daniel Ivascyn, Barbara Quaiel, Shannon Bernard, Pamela Rossley, Ernestine Triplett, Alfred Bianchi, Fr. Gerard Walsh, Diane Liljestrand, Gary Cowperthwaite, Kathleen, and Olga Brault.

The Golden Bees Group at the United Church of Christ, Federated in Webster, has been putting together “sleeping bags” for the homeless for 26 years. At this time they are looking for gently used blankets, comforters, and bedspreads to help continue their ministry.

Donations can be put in the bins here at the church entrances. Thank you for your assistance. For pick up please call Charlene Lachapelle at 508-987-3003.

Saturday, April 27th

Can you help solve a murder? If so you will enjoy

“Murder at the Barbecue”

5:00 DOORS OPEN ---- show begins 5:45 Dinner included. Cash bar available.

TICKETS: $35

Tickets available now after all Masses. Call Marlene or

Jim Gondek to reserve seating for parties of 6 or more at

(508) 987-5387 or email Jim at jgondek@gmail.com.

Tickets must be purchased by Monday, April 22nd.

Divine Mercy Sunday in Charlton

You are cordially invited to celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy at St. Joseph Church in Charlton on Sunday, April 28 from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by Holy Mass at 5:00 p.m. Devotions include silent adoration, recitation and singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, praying the Most Holy Rosary and Saint Faustina’s Way of the Cross, and guided meditations from St. Faustina’s Diary. The Sacrament of Confession will be available. 10 H. Putnam Extension, Charlton. For directions and a complete schedule of events, please visit stjosephscharlton.com.

JUNE 22, 2019 PARISH FESTIVAL

Your ideas are needed! Call 508-987-2382

You are asked to volunteer to run a booth or work at a table.

Donations are needed, to make Adopt-A-Baskets Kitchen supplies, Bath supplies, Women’s toiletries, Men’s toiletries, Cooking supplies, Baking supplies,

Children’s games, Family games, Gift items or gift cards, or other Theme baskets-

You and your family might want to make your own to raffle.

Our 2019 Volleyball Season is fast approaching!

Unfortunately, it cannot happen with-out a coach or two coming forward to prepare the team, the field, and attend

the meeting. Our coaching staff has truly loved the expe-rience as had our teens, but we need new members to take on the leadership roles.

There is a coach’s volleyball meeting on Wednesday, April 24th at 6pm at Our Lady of Providence Parish in Worcester. Please call 508-987-2382 for more info.

The season will run from mid-June until August for the 2019 Volleyball season.

If you are a teen and want to play drop this by the office or in the basket at Mass or call or E-mail strochoxford@gmail.com.

Name Age DOB

Grade

Phone

E-Mail

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The Church of Saint Roch, Oxford, MA THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT April 7, 2019