Matching Grant for Giving Tuesday, November 29 All gifts made online of $500 or more to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal on November 29, 2022, will be matched with $500 from a $10,000 matching grant given by the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation. The Bishop’s Appeal supports vital programs such as emergency aid for people in need. People like John, Donna and their three children who needed help with a security deposit for a new apartment and food because they were suddenly forced to move out of their apartment due to the poor condition of the building. Without the immediate financial assistance, they would have been homeless. To make a gift, please visit: vermontcatholic.org/giveonline
Today we begin the joyful and penitential journey to the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Christmas. Advent means “coming,” and marks the start of the new liturgical year. We may set up and light the first purple candle on an Advent wreath. We may start making, collecting, and hanging our first ornaments on a Jesse tree. We open the first window of our Advent calendar. We may choose our Christkindl, the person to whom we will be like the Christ Child this Advent, secretly doing or making something kind for this recipient each day or every week in Advent - a prayer, Mass intention, rosary, leaving a holy card or medal, making a treat or gift, doing a chore. Readings at this Sunday’s Mass encourage us to watch for and wait for Lord. The priest wears purple or violet vestments during this season, similar to Lent. Church decorations are simple except for the big Advent wreath with its greenery, ribbons, and four candles. The Gloria is omitted at Mass. It will return at Christmas. Our Gospel for this Year A is from Matthew.
Thank you for your great compassion and generosity towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. May God bless you with an abundance of His bountiful grace! Because of your donations, we were able to provide Thanksgiving Dinners for 80 families! Deacon Dennis Moore Director, Joseph’s House, Cathedral of St. Joseph
Holyday of Obligation and the Mass schedule is as follows: Wednesday, December 7, there will not be a 12:05 Mass. There will be a Mass at 5:30 Mass - Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary . Thursday, December 8, are at 12:05 PM Mass and 5:30 PM.
There is no 12:05 PM Mass Tues., Nov. 22; Thurs., Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving); and Fri., Nov. 25. The 8:00 AM Mass Saturday, Nov. 26 is canceled, as are Confessions Saturday morning at 8:30 AM. There are Confessions Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM in the Chapel. The Mass for Thanksgiving Day is at 9:00 AM in the upstairs main church, with Bishop Coyne celebrating. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the collection instead of a church envelope. The parish office also is closed Wed., Thurs., and Fri, Nov. 23-25.
Please join Vermont Catholic Charities in supporting the Annual Advent Appeal. The “Season of Giving” has no bounds for people in need. Whatever the season, it is a daily struggle for many Vermonters to maintain housing, stay warm or feed their families. With your help, we can make a difference in lives of those living on the edge. Help people like Sue feed her children. Sue is a single mother of three school-age children. She works full-time, but her son has medical issues, so she had to reduce her work hours to care for him and take him to doctors’ appointments. Sue was worried about food and household expenses. Vermont Catholic Charities provided a food card. “Bless you for your kindness and generosity”, she said. Whether your gift is $ 10, $ 100, $1,000 or more, your gift will make a difference in the life of a needy family. To donate, please mail a check to Vermont Catholic Charities, 55 Joy Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. You may also donate online at: Www.vermontcatholic.org/advent appeal.
On Thanksgiving Day, let’s begin the day by giving thanks to God for all of the many blessings He gives to us each and every day. Bishop Coyne will celebrate this Mass at which you are invited to bring non-perishable food to support the North- End Food Pantry. If you would like to bring food on the weekend of November 19th and 20th, the ushers will have boxes where you can leave your donations. If you would prefer to give a monetary donation to the North End Food Pantry, the ushers will be available to accept your donation. We hope you can join in this Mass of Thanksgiving! This Mass replaces the 12:05 PM Mass - no 12:05 PM Mass on Thanksgiving.
Celebrating 105 years of excellence, Rice Memorial High School presents: STUNT NITE 2022! Four unique musical comedies featuring the incredible talents of Rice Memorial High School students; A Rice tradition celebrating 92 Years! Tuesday, November 22, 2022 2 Shows: 4pm Matinee - Tickets $25 8pm Evening Performance - Tickets $30 Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 153 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont Tickets are now on sale! www.flynnvt.org or 86-FLYNN For more information: [email protected] https://rmhsvt.org/stunt-nite https://ricememorialhighschool.smugmug.com/StuntNite Joe & Paulette Bergeron Directing Team Rice Memorial High School Stunt Nite 2022 [email protected]
The Book of Remembrance is available before and after each Mass for you to write in the names of deceased family and friends whom you would like to remember during the month of November. May they rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon them.
Bishop Christopher Coyne has appointed Deacon Dennis Moore to the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Deacon Moore recently moved to Essex Junction, and has been Director of Joseph's House. With his new assignment, he will become more involved in Parish Life, first assisting with Parish Religious Education, and will later take on more roles. Deacon Moore served as a Permanent Deacon at Ascension Parish in Georgia for the past several years.