Home	Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God	2012 Bulletins
	January 1, 2012
SAINT PETER’S PARISH 10 maple street • Dartmouth, NS • B2Y 2X3    tel 466-6183 • fax 466-2207 e-mail:   st.peters.dartmouth@ns.sympatico.ca website:   http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Religion/StPeters PASTOR FR. JIM RICHARDS • PASTORAL ASSOCIATE SISTER CECELIA SACCA DEACON JACK MACNEIL • DIRECTOR of MUSIC and LITURGY GREG BECIGNEUL PRIESTS IN RESIDENCE • MSGR. JOHN R. CAMPBELL • FR. CHARLES BURKE  RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORD • HEATHER RIDEOUT • OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR SHERRI LAPIERRE REGULAR OFFICE HOURS:  MONDAY to THURSDAY; 9 am – 4 pm / FRIDAY: 9am – 1 pm  WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE Monday ……........................................................No Mass Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.....………..……….....12 noon Friday………………………........................................no mass WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday………........................………………………….…...4pm Private Confession..............….............………….3 – 3:30pm Sunday……………...............................8:45, 11:15 and 7pm IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASS SCHEDULE Monday ……………....………......…..........………..…….… 7pm Private Confessions (Last Monday of Month)...6:30-6:45pm Sunday………………......................…………………….....10am   Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - January 1, 2012 What are the things Mary “pondered in her heart”?  Both marvellous events such as the angelic message relayed by the shepherds, and the painful circumstance such as a birth in a stable. Mary grappled with both sides of the mystery of Jesus’ birth: the miraculous and the everyday, the joyous and the painful, what was already unfolding and what was yet to be revealed.  In all this she was really pondering the mystery of God’s presence and thus sublimely models how we too can recognize the Word being made flesh and dwelling among us.  Mary reflects “in her heart” on the mystery unfolding within and around her. This mystery is fully revealed when God sends “the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,” making us children of God. Once we are beyond the Christmas season, we tend to forget about the import of the incarnation for our daily living. Mary teaches us that continued active reflection on this mystery is how we are drawn more deeply into its fullness and how we are more perfectly able to live the grace of being children and heirs of God.   A BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR God of time and eternity, with Christmas joy we praise you for the year gone by and for the year we have begun. Your Son comes among us to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim a year acceptable in your sight. Knit us in harmony and love, we who are flesh of his flesh. Fill this new year with mercy and compassion, with prosperity and accord, as we join with the angels in proclaiming your praise: Glory in heaven and earth, now and for ever. Amen.   Christmas Season Celebrations at Saint Peter And Immaculate Conception Churches   Feast of the Epiphany   January 7 (Saturday) 4pm at Saint Peter Church (anticipated)   January 8 (Sunday) 8:45am, 11:15am and 7pm at Saint Peter Church 10am at Immaculate Conception   Baptism of the Lord   January 9 (Monday) 7pm at Immaculate Conception   NOON MASSES will be celebrated on January 3, 4 & 5   St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Please remember your contributions of non perishable food items for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Your thoughtfulness enables the Society to continue the work of feeding those who struggle to make ends meet.  Daily, the members of the Society bring food to those in need.  Your contributions are necessary to make this work.  You may bring food to church and leave it in the basket in the foyer or drop it off at the office during regular office hours.   Advent Backpack Project Again this year we are able to report that the Advent Backpack project was a great success.  Our partnership with other parishes on this outreach work is a testament to our ability to come together to work for a worthy cause.  Many people who live marginally in our neighbourhood were delighted to receive the wonderful gifts you provided.  God bless you.  Liturgical Environment for Advent and Christmas The Advent and Christmas Season is a time when we introduce much symbolism into our worship environment.  Our unique Advent Wreath continues to embrace us.  The four candles, each one lit consecutively over the course of the four Sundays of Advent helped mark time as we moved through that season with its profound scripture and celebrations in preparation for today!  Notice again the Jesse Tree branches placed on the portal of Mary’s Niche.  The children of the Religious Education classes made the symbols that represent the genealogy of Jesus.  They document the story of God’s salvation plan from Creation through the Old Testament, to the coming of the Messiah.  The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, ‘Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.’  Ponder its significance.  And of course the Nativity setting is completed with the arrival of the figure of the Christ Child.  Take a few minutes to sit with the Creche and ponder the beauty of this season.  Religious Education Note Classes will resume next Sunday, January 8.   Christmas Flowers Thank you to all who offered gifts of flowers to adorn our sanctuary for the Christmas season.  Some have placed flowers in memory of a loved one who has gone before us. Your generosity has completed the setting for our Christmas celebrations.   New Revised Roman Missal   On the First Sunday of Advent we began using the Revised Roman Missal.  You will appreciate using the Prayer Guide cards available in the pews during Mass. (please leave the prayer card in the pew for use by others)    Parish Directory Due to unforeseen technical problems, the company that will produce our parish directory advises that it will not be available until the new year.  We apologize for any inconvenience.   Parish Administration items   Address Changes In preparation for Income Tax Receipt mail-outs, please ensure that the parish office has your correct mailing address. If you have moved in the past year please e-mail or call Sherri at the office, or write your name and new address on your parish envelope or a piece of paper and drop it in the collection basket. Pre-Authorized Payment Contributors After seven years we have used up the old envelopes from 2004. Therefore your special collection envelopes for 2012 will be mailed out quarterly directly from the printing company that produces the regular envelopes. If you have any questions or concerns please call Sherri at the office.   Parish Office Closed on Monday The parish office will be closed on Monday but will open for regular hours on Tuesday, that is 9am – 4pm.  Friday the office regularly closes at 1pm.   Upcoming Parish Meetings Properties Committee - Wednesday, January 4 Catholic Women’s League - Tuesday, January 17    Prayer Line We remind you that we have an active Prayer Line network in the parish.  If you have a friend or family member who is seriously ill contact the office ext 222 and leave a name.   Children’s and Adult Choirs Choir rehearsals begin on Wednesday, January 18.  Call Greg at the office for information.   CHRISTIAN MEDITATION The Meditation Group meets on Monday evenings in the school at 6:45pm.  The sessions resume on January 9.   Senior’s Group Saint Peter Parish has an active group of seniors who meet once a month (usually the first Monday of the month) to celebrate Mass at noon followed by a luncheon and social activities.  Events are planned by a committee which is guided by Sister Cecelia.  If you are in that demographic (‘what is a senior, anyway?) come out and join others in a spirit of friendliness and good fellowship.  You will enjoy it.  Contact Sister at the office.   Saint Peter Drama Group Annually our Drama Group has staged musicals here in the church.  Past shows have included ‘ Godspell’, ‘HAIR’ and  ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, not to mention ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and others that were developed by our own group.  Many will remember the enjoyable ‘Who’s That Girl?: The Story of Esther’ which played to large crowds of parishioners and their friends last March.  If you feel the impulse to be involved with good quality amateur theatre, touch base.  We are an all ages cast, band and support team.  Singers, dancers, the whole bit.  Contact Greg at the office if you’d like to be part of our spring production.