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J A N U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0
Welcome to our Church!
If you are new to the area or looking for a spiritual home, you can register at Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales parish by stopping in the Parish Office to fill out a brief census card. Or call the Parish Office and we’ll be happy to mail you a form.
Welcome to the family of God and Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church!
Sacred Heart St Francis de Sales
And Liturgical Celebrations for January 4—12, 2020
(Numbers next to a name indicate Anniversary of death)
Sat./Sun., Jan. 4/5 The Epiphany of the Lord
4:00 p.m. † Carmen Napolitano - Mary Morrissey
† James Horrigan (3rd) - His Family
† John Mahon - Anthony Salazar
† Deceased Members of the Sinclair Family - Sandra Sinclair
7:30 a.m. † Deceased Members of the Knights of Columbus Council #307
† Leon & Beatrice Boutin - Daughter Noella Boisvert (Living) - Michelle O’Neil & Family 9:30 a.m. Our Parish Family
Monday, Jan. 6 Saint Andre Bessette 8:00 a.m. Noella Boisvert (Living) - Tuesday Card Players
Tuesday, Jan. 7 Saint Raymond of Penafort
8:00 a.m. † James Horrigan - Jim & Grace
Wednesday, Jan. 8 Christmas Weekday
9:00 a.m. † Gene Farrar (21st) - Doris & Ron Alderman
Thursday, Jan. 9 Christmas Weekday 8:00 a.m. Our Parish Family
Friday, Jan. 10 Christmas Weekday
8:00 a.m. † Linda L. Caputo - Her Husband, Lou
Sat./Sun., Jan. 11/12 The Baptism of the Lord
4:00 p.m. † Gerry P. Morrissey (15th) - Mary Morrissey
† Jane Morrissey Maloney (30th) - Mary Morrissey
† Lillian Sleeman Seward - Rose Napolitano
† Olivia & Omar Moreno - Their Sister, Alda 7:30 a.m. Our Parish Family
9:30 a.m. † John Mahon - The Murphy Family
† Mary & Tom Dwyer - Their Children
† Ed Holden (8th) - Jim & Grace
Question of the Week What are the “Precepts of the Church”?
In 2 Corinthians, Saint Paul talks about the obligation of the church to support its members who are in need. You might say he was expressing one of what would become known as the “precepts” or “commandments of the church.”
To attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation; To confess one’s sins at least once a year; To receive Holy Communion during the Easter season; To observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the church; and, as Paul might have said: To help provide for the
needs of the church.
Catholics have observed the general content of these ecclesial obligations since the Middle Ages and later the Council of Trent recommended them in the 16th century. The Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884 adopted them for the United States.
The list above from the Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces the “indispensable minimum” of participation meant to instigate “growth in love of God and neighbor” (no. 2041). The current precepts are primarily focused on guaranteeing engagement in the liturgical life of the church.
~ Alice Camille
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated them-selves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankin-cense, and myrrh. - Mt 2:10-1
Readings for the week of January 5, 2020
Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 Monday: 1 Jn 3:22—4:6/Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10/Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18/Mk 6:45-52 Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19—5:4/Lk 4:14-22a Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13/Lk 5:12-16 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21/Jn 3:22-30 Next Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7/Acts 10:34-38/Mt 3:13-1 ©LPi
Sunday Summary
Isaiah 60:1-6 Jerusalem will be a light to the na-tions by the glory of the Lord. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 In the day of the anointed one, justice and peace will flower. Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 What is revealed to this gen-eration has been a mystery until now. Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi br ing gifts, while Herod harbors violence in his heart.
Bennington, VT
Faith Formation Program
“Growing In Faith Together”
For more information contact the parish office at 442-3141 or [email protected]
You are invited to join us on Facebook – SHSF Faith Formation
The School of
Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales 307 School Street
Bennington, VT 05201
Mr. David Estes, Principal 442-2446, Ext. 3
Providing excellence in academics and a deepening faith in God and Gospel Values in an environment that is caring, challenging, and respectful, striving to develop in every student the habits of thinking critically and acting responsibly in daily life.
Faith Formation Classes Classes start after the 9:30 a.m. Mass and run until 11:45 a.m. on the following dates:
January 12 & 26
Save those Box Tops
Please donate Box Tops to the School of Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales. Each
Box Top submitted equals 10 cents to our school. When you grocery shop, just keep your eye out for products with the Box Tops logo on it. Clip the Box Tops, inspect the expiration date, collect them from your products, and turn them into the Parish Center or to Allison Matunas. Any questions? Contact Allison at (802)733-6693. Thank you for your support!!
Mass Bags for Children Available
Thank you for bringing your young children to Mass. We invite you to borrow our updated parish Mass Bags to help your young disciple be more engaged during our Eucharistic Celebration. Mass Bags are available at the front entrance of the church under the image of Pope Francis. Feel free to take one during Mass - after you're done with them, please put them back in the basket.
Children are a gift from the Lord - Psalm 127:3
Christmas Wish List Many times during the Christmas season parents and friends wonder if there is something in particular that the school needs and how they can help. If anyone is willing to donate a special gift during the holidays, the following items are suggested:
- postage stamps (books or rolls) - sidewalk salt - Staples or Wal-mart Gift Cards - latex free Band-Aids - disposable ice packs - #10 Envelopes - colored copy paper or card stock (any color) - Lysol Spray - medium & large Ziplock bags
No limit on any of the items, as few or as many as you would like to donate. We can always use them.
THANK YOU!
Flocknote enables you to receive parish event information, Holy Day reminders, Mass time changes and inspirational resources via text and/or email. Flocknote is free and you may unsubscribe at any time. Please take advantage of this invitation to join today!
Visit our church at: www.flocknote.com/vermontcatholic OR
Text vermontcatholic to 84576 from your phone
Please remember the sick, including ~ Elaine Letourneau, Janet Sausville, Tina Harrington, Bob Smith, Ray Vivaldi, Kim McLure, A.J. Morton, Eden Jeannine Beckwith, Cindy Levitte, Francis “Pete” Roy, Christopher Rubino, Lena Reap, Dolores Pruden, Ruth Emaish, Matthew Rubino, Abigail Grace Lamar, Wilfred LaBonte, Therese Long, Gloria VanDerzee, Adrianna Dewey, Kenneth Swierad, Kathy Keenan, and this week we remember the residents of Crescent Manor Care Center.
January 5, 2020
Born to Eternal Life
Anthony Bertone
James Feeney
Joanne Leard
Come Let Us Adore Him Can you spare 10 or 15 minutes for Eucharistic Adoration? Or maybe sign-up for an hour at Sacred Heart St. Francis?
SHSF - Fridays following morn-ing Mass until 8:00 p.m. SJB - Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Prayer Events this Week
Mon., Jan. 6 10:15 am Mass at BPI Tues., Jan. 7 9:30 am Fillmore Pond Mass Tues., Jan. 7 2:00 pm Benn Hlth Rhb Mass Tues., Jan. 7 6:30 pm Prayer Group (chapel) Wed., Jan. 8 10:30 am CLR Rosary Wed., Jan. 8 2:00 pm Crescent Manor Mass Wed., Jan. 8 3:00 pm Vets’ Home Mass
Meetings/Events this Week
Mon. Jan. 6 5:00 pm Boys Basketball Game Tues., Jan. 7 4:00 pm Boys Basketball Game Wed., Jan. 8 1:00 pm HIS Pantry (downstairs) Fri., Jan. 10 10:00 am HIS Pantry (downstairs)
Ladies of Ste. Anne It was a bittersweet Christmas Party on December 18th at Jensen’s Restaurant as the Ladies of Ste. Anne gathered for their final Christmas celebration as a group. The group is disbanding after approximately one hundred years of service to the Catholic Community of Bennington. We thank all of the ladies for their dedication and service to our church.
Thank you! Thank you to all those who contributed to the Christmas flowers, either in memory or in honor of a loved one. Because of your generosity, our church looked beautiful for the holidays. A special “thank you” also goes out to Mary Flood and the Art & Environment Committee for once again working their magic to transform our church for the Christmas season.
The Epiphany of the Lord
Reprinted from “The Inland See” for the Diocese of Burlington January 4—10, 2020
Epiphany of the Lord
Nations against nations. Rulers abusing their power. Fear, uncertainty, even despair taking hold in fragile hearts because of threats to safety abroad and at home. The world into which Jesus was born was rife with many of the same problems our world faces today. Yet readings for the Epiphany of the Lord help us understand that because of Jesus’ birth, there is more light than darkness, more hope than despair. The humble appearance of Jesus’ birth — in a manger, apart from any comfort except the love of His earthly parents — is not a reflection of weakness or hopelessness in a troubled time. Quite the contrary: Jesus’ birth reflects power and dominion that are no less potent today than they were in the stable in Bethlehem. The shepherds knew of this power. Jesus’ birth was heralded by a “heavenly host” of angels (Lk 2:13), which they witnessed while in their fields. No minor event could possibly be worthy of such pronouncement. They had to leave everything, go, see and worship. The Magi also knew, and they traveled a great distance at serious peril to do homage to the Christ Child. Even before the dream that instructed them to go home “by another way” (Mt 2:12), these Wise Men must have sensed Herod’s violence-prone jealousy when he dispatched them to Bethlehem. And they bowed to another, more powerful ruler — the babe in the manger — never betraying Him, but defying Herod’s order to tell him where the child lay. Close by, through all the visitors to the manger, Joseph stood watch and Mary “kept all these things” in her heart (Lk 2:19). Theirs were not passive but very active acknowledgements of the glory God was revealing to them and others, and to the power exercised through their lives. First, Mary’s yes, and then Joseph’s obedience to heavenly instruction manifest how far God’s dominion extended beyond their understanding and own human will. Beyond the stable in Bethlehem, others who did not yet know of Christ’s birth were living in the world, with worldly cares and worldly kings. Other shepherds, not blessed with angels’ song, were lifetime social outcasts. Other wise men not attuned to God’s call either never set out on the road to Bethlehem or perhaps they gave in to manipulation by persons in power with their own agendas and went astray. Outside the stable, kings like Herod could rule with unfettered violence, and no one could stop them. It was an utterly dark world, fraught with human injustices. But Jesus’ coming, full of love, light and the grace of salvation, changed their world. And He continues to change ours, today. Then, as now, Jesus’ message of salvation rings true among all who will listen.— Maureen Pratt, Catholic News Service
Reprinted from January 2019
Pope Francis’ Ten New Year’s Resolutions for You
If you need some help with your New Year’s Res-olutions, here are some ideas from the Holy Father himself.
1) “Take care of your spiritual life, your relation-ship with God, because this is the backbone of every-thing we do and everything we are.”
2) “Take care of your family life, giving your children and loved ones not just money, but most of all your time, attention and love.”
3) “Take care of your relationships with others, transforming your faith into life and your words into good works, especially on behalf of the needy.”
4) “Be careful how you speak, purify your tongue of offensive words, vulgarity and worldly decadence.”
5) “Heal wounds of the heart with the oil of forgiveness, forgiving those who have hurt us and medicating the wounds we have caused others.”
6) "Look after your work, doing it with enthusiasm, humility, competence, passion and with a spirit that knows how to thank the Lord.”
7) “Be careful of envy, lust, hatred and negative feelings that devour our interior peace and transform us into destroyed and destructive people.”
8) “Watch out for anger that can lead to vengeance; for laziness that leads to existential euthanasia; for pointing the finger at others, which leads to pride; and for complaining continually, which leads to desperation.”
9) “Take care of brothers and sisters who are weaker … the elderly, the sick, the hungry, the home-less and strangers, because we will be judged on this.”
10) “Making sure your Christmas is about Jesus and not about shopping.”
Reprinted from December 2015
“As we walk the road of our spiritual journey, let us not miss the opportunity to offer a smile and a word of kindness to every person we encounter,
for we are welcoming the presence of Christ among us.”
The Epiphany of the Lord
Parish Resources Baptism - Contact Kathy Murphy at the Par ish Office.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation.
Faith Formation for Children To register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Kathy Murphy in the Parish Office.
Marriage Couples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact the pastor a minimum of 6 months prior to the requested date of marriage.
Care of the Sick To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the Parish Office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies.
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Thank you to the businesses that sponsor our bulletin and
make its weekly publication possible.
The Second Collection this weekend is for our Parish School.
The Second Collection next weekend is for the maintenance of our church.
We thank you for your generosity!
HIS Pantry “Seeing Christ in the hungry”
Phone Number: 442-1720 [email protected]
HIS Pantry at SHSF (Facebook link) Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:30 pm Fridays 10:00 am – 11:30
Most needed pantry items at this time: Financial support: cash donations, store gift cards (these may be brought to the parish office or placed in the collection basket in an envelope marked for HIS Pantry.) Personal hygiene items: toothbrushes, toothpaste,
deodorant, shampoo, bars of soap Diapers (all sizes), toilet paper Clean winter coats, sweaters, boots, blankets &
seasonal children’s clothes. Please note that they MUST be freshly washed or dry cleaned. Can be gently used (or, better yet, new). No home furnish-ings or tag sale items please.
If you would like to become a volunteer at HIS Pantry, please call 802-442-1720 or email [email protected]. We always welcome new hands and hearts!
AARP Taxaide Service Each year at income tax time, AARP offers free tax preparation. Although special emphasis is on low and middle incomes and older taxpayers, there is no income level or age limit. There are, however, some limits on complexity. This year the Bennington area sites are:
Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Parish Center –
By appointment only – Call 447-1546
Mondays, Feb. 3 to April 6, 9:00 am to Noon Tuesdays & Thursdays, Feb. 4 to April 9, 1:00-4:00 pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. John the Baptist Church, North Bennington
Walk in – no appointments
Wednesdays, Feb. 5 to April 8, 1:00-3:30 pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank You! Don, Jimmy, Jo-Anne, Judy, Kathy, Mary, Fr. Bob & Fr. Hugh would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who wished us a Merry Christmas with cards, cookies and special tokens of appreciation. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated.
2020 Religious Calendars 2020 Religious Calendars are available at the entrances of the church.
