Bulletin Announcement
Christmas Collection
December 12/13, 2015
This Christmas, the collection will support the health and well-being of our priests. Our priests have dedicated their lives to serving the Catholic faithful. Now, it is our turn to help fulfill the promises made to care for them in their time of need. Please give generously to the Christmas collection, which will directly benefit the 614 active and senior diocesan priests who are cared for through the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. All are welcome to make a gift online at clergyfunds.org, use the in-pew envelopes that will be provided, or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you in advance for your prayers and generous support of this critical effort.
December 19/20, 2015
Every Christmas, Catholics across the Archdiocese of Boston join together to honor and thank our priests. Your gift to the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps to ensure an appropriate level of care and quality of life for our 614 active and senior priests. Remember priests such as [INSERT YOUR PASTOR/ SENIOR PRIEST NAME(S) HERE] who have made a meaningful difference in your life, and consider honoring him/them with a generous gift to the Christmas collection. Our priests are there for us in times of need. Now it is our turn to care for them when they need us. All are welcome to make a gift online at clergyfunds.org, use the in-pew envelopes that will be provided, or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you in advance for your prayers and generous support of our priests.
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
Every Christmas, we join with family and friends to honor and thank our priests. Our 614 diocesan priests celebrate our joys, comfort us in times of crisis or sorrow, and are there during the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. Together, they represent thousands of years of dedicated service to Christ and to us—His Church. Remember priests such as [INSERT YOUR PASTOR/ SENIOR PRIEST NAME(S) HERE] who have made a meaningful difference in your life, and consider honoring him/them with a generous gift to today’s/tonight’s collection. You also can make a gift online at clergyfunds.orgor simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Our priests have dedicated their lives to serving the Catholic faithful here in our Archdiocese. Now, it is our turn to serve them in their time of need. Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our priests.
December 26/27, 2015______
The Christmas collection was for our priests. Many thanks to all who already contributed to this special collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. If you did not have the opportunity to participate and you wish to make a gift, please visit clergyfunds.org or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you for your prayers and generous support.
January 2/3, 2016______
The Christmas collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helped to care the health and well-being of our priests. Our parish contribution of <Amount> [in honor of PASTOR NAME] will have a significant impact on the quality of life programs we are able to provide for our priests in the new year. If you did not have the opportunity to participate and you wish to make a gift, please visit clergyfunds.org or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our priests.
An Afternoon of Reflection for Women Discerning Religious LifeYou are cordially invited to an Afternoon of Reflection for Women discerning Religious Life on Sunday, December 13th from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Mount Saint Vincent, 125 Oakland Street, Wellesley, MA.
For more information or to reply, please contact Sister Marian Batho, CSJ 2 617-746-5637 or
National March for Life - Witness to LifeOn January 21, 2016, young people from the Archdiocese of Boston will depart to join hundreds of thousands of their peers in Washington, DC, at the 43rd annual March for Life on January 22nd, 2016.This powerful event began as a small demonstration on anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade decision. Today, the March for Life is the largest pro-life event in the world and is a great opportunity to witness to the dignity of all human life, especially the most vulnerable in our society - the unborn. We are happy to once again invite you to join Cardinal Sean O’Malley and the Archdiocese of Boston on this life changing pilgrimage to rise up and witness to life in 2016! We have four distinct tracks to best serve all those interested, includinga middle school, high school, young adult, and family track. Please visit or contact us ;617-746-5766for more information.
Pastoral PlanningDecember 13 – Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Advent readings are so wonderful! First of all, Zephania tells us to shout, sing joyfully with all our hearts. Why? “The LORD, your God, is in your midst,…he will … renew you in his love..” Paul echoes this in his letter to the Philippians; “Rejoice in the Lord always”. And then, Paul’s words jump off the page, speaking to us now, Advent, 2015: “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Feeling frazzled? Overwhelmed? Anxious about many things? Keep Paul’s words before you – tape them to the fridge, the bathroom mirror, your computer monitor: “Have no anxiety at all.”
December 20 –Fourth Sunday of Advent
Mary is moved to action by the news about her cousin Elizabeth. There are many beautiful and evocative depictions in art of the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth – the Visitation, but the words of the Gospel carry a power of their own. She “traveled to the hill country in haste.” It wasn’t an easy trip, she trekked over rough terrain, and there is no mention of a travelling companion. She couldn’t get there fast enough. This young woman who has just given her life-changing yes to God, gives us an example of love, service, and courage. Is there someone you should visit before Christmas?
December 27 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Every parent of a teenager can relate to this Gospel. The worry, the relief, the admonishment. The 12 year-old Jesus seems a bit cavalier about his parents’ concern but when they returned home, he “was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor.” We do not hear from him again for 18 years. The vocation of parent is not always easy. Pray in a special way today for all parents, grandparents, and caregivers.
For bulletin announcements related to the Special Collection, please see
BostonCatholic.org > Search for “Special Collection”