Good Shepherd Parish Biddeford, Lyman, Old Orchard Beach, Saco

(Church physical addresses listed inside)

December 20, 2015

Mailing address: 271 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072 • Tel: 207-282-3321

E-mail: GoodShepherd@portlanddiocese.org • www.goodshepherdparish.us

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 20, 2015

Message from Monsignor René Mathieu: (1) We are updating our database in preparation for the survey of parishioners (age 18+) as part of a national study. To do this, we prefer you go to our website (www.GoodShepherdParish.us). You can also send us an email (GoodShepherd@PortlandDiocese.org). Include name, email address & phone – a mailing address can also be helpful for parish purposes. We will also provide pieces of paper to write this infor-

mation at all Masses this weekend. The survey will be emailed to you in mid-January. Printed copies will be available for those who do not use email. (2) I am writing this on December 8 and there is no snow forecast through at least December 20. It appears my novena to Our Lady of No Snow has been working! (3) I remind everyone that the vast majority of parishioners and visitors usually attend the 4 pm/4:30 pm Christ-mas Masses, so if you prefer less crowded circumstances, you may want to attend other Masses in the parish. Again this year, the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass at St. Joseph will include large screen remote video of the Mass for any overflow crowd in the church hall – about 1300 total participated last year, I believe. People will be com-fortable in the hall with a printed program, a music leader, ushers, and seating; Eucha-ristic ministers will distribute Holy Communion at the appropriate time. The choir loft will be open, but only for as many who can be comfortably and safely seated there. Fr. Ron Labarre, Fr. David Schlaver and Biddeford native, Fr. Lee Descoteaux will help with our extended Christmas Mass schedule. By the way, Fr. Descoteaux is un-dertaking the study of canon law in Rome for the Diocese of Rockville Center (in New York State). (4) Father Antonydass, Father Robert and I wish every parishioner and visitor a blessed and peaceful Christmas season. We welcome family members and visitors returning to the area for the holy feasts, including a priest from Rome, college students and members of the armed forces; you are dearly missed when you are away. I celebrate this beloved season with gratitude for the many blessings given our parish over the last year. While we continue to struggle with complex issues related to Church and society, I recognize many signs of hope: the affection for Pope Francis; parents bringing their newborn babies to Mass for the first time; children and adults preparing for the Easter sacraments; couples approaching us to have weddings validated or to return to the practice of the faith; others returning to the practice of sacramental confession − all happening quietly. Many varied programs offer opportunities to parishioners to explore and grow in faith; the growth in such small group experiences somewhat mystifies and pleases me greatly. These many grace-filled moments shine like the star of Bethlehem over Good Shepherd Parish. For some parishioners, the joy of Christmastime can be overshadowed by the death of loved ones, sad memories, or even depression. Be assured that you are not forgotten in the prayers of your priests; we pray daily for all our parishioners, especially for the sick and brokenhearted. If you are feeling burdened, bring your heartache to prayer and reach out to a neighbor or friend to share your experience. (5) Thank You of the Week: To parents who enable their children to serve at Mass. I know this activity involves a commitment of the entire family. Thank you!

JOKES PRIESTS CAN TELL, Vol. 6 - Msgr. Tonne: Paw, going over last month’s check stubs: “Where in the world does all this grocery money go?”

Maw, with a gesture of disgust:

“Look in the hall mirror – sideways.”

Most Holy Trinity Church St. Joseph Church & Ste. Anne Chapel St. Margaret Church St. Philip Church 271 Main St 178 Elm St (Rte 1) 6 Saco Ave 404 Goodwins Mills Rd Saco, Maine 04072 Biddeford, Maine 04005 Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064 Lyman, Maine 04002

St. Brendan Chapel (seasonal) 40 Lester B. Orcutt Blvd, Biddeford Pool, Maine 04006

Rev. Msgr. Rene T. Mathieu, Pastor Rev. P. Antonydass, HGN, Parochial Vicar Rev. Robert Gaudreau, Parochial Vicar

Deacon Robert Parenteau Deacon Kevin Jacques

Vocations: Are you being called to help others

approach the mercy of God as a priest, deacon or

in the consecrated life?

Call Fr. Seamus Griesbach: 773-6471;

email: vocations@portlanddiocese.org;

or like us on Facebook: VocationsME.

Apostolate of Prayer for Priests - December ‘15

20. Rev. Eugene Gaffey, Rev. Ralph Boisvert

21. Rev. Alfred Irving, Rev. Paul Coughlin

22. Rev. Rudolph Leveille, Rev. William Modlin 23. Rev. Dominic Savio HGN,

Rev. Raymond Auger

24. Msgr. Raymond Begin, Msgr. Charles Murphy

25. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis

26. Rev. Raymond Picard, Rev. Mark Nolette

Confessions are on Saturdays (or by appointment):

3:00 pm at Most Holy Trinity, St. Joseph and St. Margaret

3:30 pm at St. Philip

Cemeteries of Good Shepherd Parish St. Joseph / St. Mary

Office hours are Mon-Fri, 8:30-Noon. Please call Sandy to schedule an appointment at 282-0747.

Just a reminder that weekly Masses can be viewed on cable television, Channels 3 and 85, every

Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 am. ~ Brought to you by Good Shepherd Parish and

Friends of Fr. Zenon

WELCOME! We warmly welcome our neighbors, members

of the armed forces, college students and others worshipping with us during this holy season.

OUR PARISH WEBSITE includes the weekly bulletin, a page of upcoming events, links to St. James School, the Portland Diocese (with

daily news updates), the USCCB, the Vatican & much more. There is also a link for WeShare,

our parish’s secure, online giving system. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Saturday, December 19

4:00 pm St. Joseph: (Fr. Antonydass)

Rita Paquet / Donald Auger (11th Ann.)

4:00 pm Most Holy Trinity: (Msgr. Mathieu)

Rose Lamb / Ed Cote (9th Ann.)

4:00 pm St. Margaret: (Fr. Robert Gaudreau)

Dorilas & Murielle Roy

4:30 pm St. Philip: (Fr. Ron Labarre)

Herbert Dale / Gerald Verville

Sunday, December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 am St. Joseph: (French) (Fr. Ron Labarre)

Doris Faucher / Lucien & Rita Lehouillier

8:30 am St. Margaret: (Fr. Robert Gaudreau) Paul Rivard

8:30 am Most Holy Trinity: (Msgr. Mathieu)

Jean & Eva Martel /

For All People in Good Shepherd Parish

9:00 am St. Philip: (Fr. Antonydass)

Herbert Dale / Pauline & Gerard Cassette

10:30 am Most Holy Trinity: (Msgr. Mathieu)

Timothy Loughlin (17th Ann.) / Agnes Gagnon

10:30 am St. Margaret: (Fr. Robert Gaudreau)

Richard & Bonnie Bouffard / Murielle Roy

11:00 am St. Joseph: (Fr. Antonydass) Joanne Wynne

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Monday, December 21

9:00 am Most Holy Trinity: Thomas E. Reed /

Normand Auger (8th Ann.)

Tuesday, December 22 7:00 am Ste Anne: Gerald Verville

9:00 am Most Holy Trinity: Robert Ciaraldi / William A. Kerrigan (10th Ann.) & Sonia Capaccio

Wednesday, December 23 (Note: Mass at Ste Anne due to school vaca)

9:00 am Ste Anne: Ralph Guilbault / Paula Quinn

9:00 am St. Philip: Mr. & Mrs. Conrad Picard / Gerald Verville

Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve (Note: NO DAILY MORNING Masses)

4:00 pm Most Holy Trinity: Romeo Rousseau / Gerard & Pauline Larose 4:00 pm St. Margaret: Marcel Gendron / Garon Murphy 4:00 pm St. Joseph: Romeo (17th Ann.) & Lillian (6th Ann.) Beaulieu / Roland (58th Ann.) & Diana (42nd Ann.) Rousselle 4:30 pm St. Philip: Guy Bolduc 6:30 pm Most Holy Trinity: Herve Laflamme 6:30 pm St. Joseph: Raoul (Ralph) Fecteau (1st Ann.) / Edward Maxson (8th Ann.)

Friday, December 25, Christmas Day 12:00 am (Midnight) St. Joseph: Lorraine Stewart / Leonard & Doris Sanborn 8:00 am St. Joseph (French): Mme. Eva Spénard Carrier 8:30 am Most Holy Trinity: Priscilla Poisson / Thomas and David Oscar Reed 9:00 am St. Philip: Paul Lambert / For All People in Good Shepherd Parish 9:30 am St. Margaret: Vivien & James Sullivan /

Rachel Beauchesne (4th Ann.) 11:00 am St. Joseph: Floriant Poissant ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saturday, December 26

4:00 pm St. Joseph: (Fr. Robert Gaudreau)

Janice Lizotte / Donald Vallee (2nd Ann.)

4:00 pm Most Holy Trinity: (Fr. David Schlaver)

Ed Cote / Raymond Bisson (30th Ann.)

4:00 pm St. Margaret: (Msgr. Mathieu)

Joseph Gagne (1st Ann.) / Michael Regan, Jr.

4:30 pm St. Philip: (Fr. Ron Labarre)

Richard Fearon / Gerald Verville

Sunday, December 27, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

8:00 am St. Joseph: (French) (Fr. Ron Labarre)

Donald Vallee / Donald Boissonneault

8:30 am St. Margaret: (Fr. David Schlaver)

Kenneth and Daniel Murphy /

Joseph Underwood (9th Ann.)

8:30 am Most Holy Trinity: (Fr. Antonydass) Alan and Robert Bolduc, Sr. / Kimberly Bolduc Roberts

9:00 am St. Philip: (Fr. Robert Gaudreau)

Maurice Gilbert / John Provencher

10:30 am Most Holy Trinity: (Fr. Antonydass)

Gilman Morin / Carmen Cote

10:30 am St. Margaret: (Msgr. Mathieu)

William D. Guild /

For All People in Good Shepherd Parish

11:00 am St. Joseph: (Fr. Lee Descoteaux)

Donald Plante (4thAnn.) / Clermont Fecteau

PARISH LITURGIES

Linda Noble (born 1952) Robert Morrison (born 1944) * Paula Smart (born 1969)

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 20, 2015

Wed. Mass is at St. James School Cafeteria thru winter; but is at Ste. Anne’s Chapel when school is on vacation.

There will be no daily morning Masses on Thurs., Dec. 24.

Schedule of Masses for Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24 4:00 pm Most Holy Trinity (Fr. Robert Gaudreau) (incense will be used) 4:00 pm St. Margaret (Fr. Antonydass) (incense will be used) 4:00 pm St. Joseph (Msgr. Mathieu) (incense may be used) 4:30 pm St. Philip (Fr. David Schlaver) (incense may be used) 6:30 pm Most Holy Trinity (Fr. Joseph Manship) (incense may be used) 6:30 pm St. Joseph (Fr. Ron Labarre) (incense may be used)

Schedule of Masses for Christmas Day Friday, December 25 12:00 am (Midnight) St. Joseph (Fr. Gaudreau) (incense will be used)

8:00 am St. Joseph (French) (Fr. Ron Labarre) (incense may be used) 8:30 am Most Holy Trinity (Fr. Antonydass) (NO INCENSE will be used) 9:00 am St. Philip (Msgr. Mathieu) (incense may be used) 9:30 am St. Margaret (Fr. David Schlaver) (incense may be used) 11:00 am St. Joseph (Fr. Lee Descoteaux) (incense may be used)

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There will be no daily morning Masses on Thurs., Dec. 31 Schedule of Masses

for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Holy Day of Obligation

New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31 4:00 pm Most Holy Trinity 4:00 pm St. Margaret 6:30 pm St. Philip

New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2016 9:00 am St. Joseph

The parish office will be open until noon on Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.

Presence Radio Network: Give yourself and your loved ones the gift of Catholic radio this Christmas.

94% of listeners report being more spiritually engaged & inspired! 83% state they have learned a great deal about

their faith! 31% have returned to the practice of their Catholic faith! 106.7 FM in Greater Portland Listen online at www.thepresence.fm. Download the free Presence Radio

app; or dial 605-475-8037 and listen on any phone with unlimited minutes.

SAINT JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL

25 Graham Street Phone 207-282-4084

Biddeford, ME 04005 FAX 207-286-3693

E-mail GSPschools@portlanddiocese.org

Website www.sjsbiddeford.org

St. James School is

Service

Academics

Faith

Excellence

St. James is a Catholic, parochial school committed to fostering spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional & physical growth in a S.A.F.E.

and collaborative environment while empowering students to be cre-ative, to think critically, to act responsibly, and to serve with integrity.

FAITH FORMATION

FMI concerning the following events/programs, contact youth minister, Josh Houde, 282-4812x117 or joshua.houde@portlanddiocese.org.

GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 20, 2015

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry Sunday Meetings: 5:30 pm at Most Holy Trinity Dec. 20 – Christmas Caroling at St. Andre Health Care

Dec. 27, 2015 & Jan. 3, 2016 – NO MEETINGS (Christmas Break) Jan. 10, 2016 – Youth Mass & Meetings Resume

December 20 (Sun): Christmas Caroling – Our final youth ministry event of the semester will be Christmas Caroling at St. Andre

Health Care in Biddeford. Both junior high & high school youth and their families are invited to participate. The event will run from 2-3 pm on Sun., Dec. 20. Please plan to arrive & depart directly from St. Andre Health Care (407 Pool St.). Songbooks will be provided. If you are feeling sick, please

stay home out of consideration for the nursing home residents we will be visiting. Otherwise, we hope you can join us!

YOUNG ADULT/FAMILY MINISTRY

CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION

A very Merry Christmas to all of our families

at Good Shepherd Parish! Classes resume January 10/11 at all sites.

December 19 (Sat): Christmas Party for Young Couples/Families Young married and engaged couples (and their children) are invited to a special Christmas celebration on Sat., Dec. 19, in place of the monthly

potluck. It will begin with the 4:30 pm Mass at St. Philip Church in Lyman, and continue with a potluck dinner and

informal Christmas celebration in the parish hall. For directions or to RSVP, please contact Josh

at 282-4812 (x117), or joshua.houde@portlanddiocese.org.

Please join us for great fellowship with other couples!

Seventh and eighth grade students gathered for a day-long retreat in Saint Joseph Church.

There were many activi-ties, games and prayers

on the Corporal

and Spiritual Acts of Mercy.

Pope Francis has declared this next liturgical year as a Year of Mercy so that we can all make a difference in our

corner of the world. These students are our future and will be making the world around them a better place to be.

The retreat was led by Donna Rivard and Joshua Houde.

Alumni Contact Information

Name______________________________Class of_________

Address___________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Telephone Number________________________________

Email Address______________________________________

Would you like to be a class representative? YES NO

Would you like to help with the anniversary? YES NO

Please fill out the form below and help us create a database of

alumni! You can email it to Helen.Fournier@portlanddiocese.org

or mail to: St. James School, Alumni Database,

25 Graham St, Biddeford, ME 04005. Watching for Christ - Advent Reflections for Young Adults

Join Ignite for a speaker series on Wednesday evenings in Advent, to prayerfully prepare for the coming of Our Lord this Christmas. Speakers include: John & Judith Goodrich, friends of Ignite and members of Opus Dei; and

Fr. Paul Dumais, on baking & agriculture as a path to holiness in Maine.

All young people in their 20’s-30’s are welcome. 6:45 pm: Meet & Greet, hot cocoa

7 pm: Talk/discussion * 8 pm: Compline

Contact Ignite at portland.ignite@gmail.com or on Social

Media: Twitter, Facebook Group, Public Facebook Page,

Google Calendar for the location for Dec. 30. Location for

Wednesday, Dec. 23 is St. Peter's Church in Portland.

Merry Christmas

from all of us at

Saint James School

GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 20, 2015

Congratulations to 50/50 Club November Winners: $500 - Pete

Gonneville; $250 - Claudette Boudreau, Judy Ann Reny; $100 – Lucien

Jacques, Judy Gregoire; $75 – Lynn Godbout, Lisa Huot; $50 – Leo

Moulin, Fern & Rita Lamontagne. We would like to thank all who par-

ticipate. Please ask a relative or a friend to join next time! Make checks

payable to Good Shepherd Parish. Good luck to you in the next draw-

ing: January 1. Please, it is imperative to notify us of changes to your

address or phone number. Call Diane, 282-5370 or Penny, 282-6624.

Good Shepherd Parish 50/50 Club Name_______________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________

City________________________________________________

Telephone#__________________________________________

Please detach and return to Good Shepherd Parish, 271 Main St,

Saco, ME 04072, or you can drop it in the collection basket at

Mass in an envelope marked "50/50 Club."

$5 a month, $30 for 6 months, $60 for a year.

Breakfast Benefiting Annual Christmas Donations at St. Margaret Hall: Sun., Dec. 20, 8:30 –10:30 am. Menu of scrambled eggs, sausages, French toast, & pancakes will be served. No take out. Cost is donation.

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast at MHT Hall: Sun., Dec. 27, 8:00–10:30 am. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, home fries, French toast, sausage, bacon, toast, juice & coffee. Donation: $7.00, kids 12 & under free. To bene-fit the KofC Charity Fund. Hosted by Knights & Squires.

PARKING ALERT in Saco: Please be aware, the parish has in- stalled a second, temporary garage adjacent to the Middle St. entry

to our parking lot, which is dedicated to the Priest. Our Priests have ON-CALL responsibilities at all hours of the day. It is critical the garages remain unobstructed at all times. ALSO, please refrain from

parking in front of the Hall steps, as this creates a LIFE SAFETY hazard!

Good Shepherd Parish &

REMINDER THIS WEEKEND

to bring in your:

Advent Vespers: One more Sunday of Advent at 4:00 pm: Most Holy Trinity—Dec. 20.

Please join us in prayer as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Lord. (***Note: Incense will be used.)

Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound Good Shepherd has a Special Christmas Card & Gift for the Homebound of our Parish communities. Eucharistic Minis-ters to the homebound in our parish are asked to stop by the

main office and pick up a gift for those you visit.

Second Collection This Weekend is for

Snow Removal: As the name implies, this would

include fees associated with snow clearing, salting & sanding, and the winterization of properties.

Your support is always appreciated.

CORPORAL WORK OF MERCY Come to me... Come and serve...

Receptionist needed for New Hope Pregnancy Resource Center 2 hrs / week (flexible). FMI call: Karen/Pat: 710-7309 / 710-3889

The TMIY fall session for "The Spirit of Nazareth" ended Sat., Dec. 5th. Thank you to all who participated!

Please plan on joining us for the Spring Program, which will begin on Saturday, January 9th.

Theme for the first 2016 session is: To Hear the Voice of God The Conscience: Hearing God’s Voice

The Call: To Be Holy and One with Christ A Call within a Call: Mother Teresa’s Story * The Call to Sainthood

Learning to Hear and Respond to God’s Voice * How God Speaks to Us * Meetings are held in the youth room at MHT. Coffee is on at 6:45 am; program begins at 7 :00. FMI call Ken, 590-5805; or Dave, 590-5198.

Good Shepherd Parish selected to participate in a National Study! Good Shepherd Parish has been selected to participate in a national

study of vibrant parishes conducted by the Catholic Leadership Institute! This survey is for parishioners 18 years of age and older.

Please help us participate by completing a 10-15 minute survey online. The survey will be emailed to you by DiscipleMakerIndex@measuring-success.com. The survey will only be available from the week of Jan 18, through Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, and will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide feedback on what efforts the parish is doing to help you grow. All responses will be confidential and the parish will only receive information about the community as whole.

This information

will be invaluable to Msgr. Mathieu and our various ministries as we plan ahead and try to be the best disciples we can be. We will receive the results

this summer, at which time we will share what we have learned with the entire parish.

We need your email address − please go to our website www.goodshepherdparish.us and click on the Disciple Maker Index

Survey on our homepage to fill out your name, address, & email address. You can also send an email to GoodShepherd@PortlandDiocese.org. (Please place “Survey” in the subject line). You will also have an oppor-tunity to fill out a paper form with this information at all Masses, Dec. 19 & 20 at all our churches.

If you don’t use email – There will be a generic link that you can use to complete the survey on our website.

There will be opportunities to complete the survey after daily and Sunday Mass, as there will be paper copies of the survey at each church location; or you can contact the office at 271 Main St., Saco; or call 282-3321 to obtain one.

Thank you for helping with this important project!

We are trying to get the highest response rate possible.

St. Joseph Church Doors Update: In order to avoid any disruption to parishioners needing access via the handicap ramp, we will defer the

installation of the side door until January – after the holidays!

Donations to food pantries at all our churches:

This week: Chicken soup / Canned peaches

New, Unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots and children in need in our

parish communities.

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Due to several, early bulletin deadlines this month, we do not have the Offertory Collection Reports available this week,

but will post as soon as we can. Thank you for your understanding.

– Parish Administration

Please consider a bequest or estate gift to the Good Shepherd Parish endowment:

Growing our parish endowment to grow the Faith: While we have current needs and opportunities, planning for the future is equally important. Our parish endowment fund will help us to maintain, and hopefully grow the many services and spiritual benefits that

our parish provides to current and future generations. Your contri-bution is an investment in our good works. Contact Elizabeth Badger at the Catholic Foundation of Maine for information,

at 207-321-7820 or www.catholicfoundationmaine.org.