Home	2nd Sunday of Advent	2012 Bulletins
	December 9,  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 DEACON JACK MACNEIL • DEACON BERNIE YOUNG   DIRECTOR of MUSIC and LITURGY GREG BECIGNEUL • PRIEST IN RESIDENCE 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   2nd Sunday of Advent - December 9, 2012 John the Baptist proclaims that we must “prepare the way of the Lord” by repenting. Isaiah and John both describe repentance as a leveling and a straightening out of the uneven and crooked shape of our lives. They call us to ask whether our path is taking us closer to God as well as opening up for others the way to God. Then “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Isaiah gives us a vision of the eschatological end times when the full flowering of repentance is made visible. GPS (global positioning system) devices have taken the meandering out of our road trips and guaranteed smooth travel toward our destination. Repentance is the “GPS” of our Gospel journey toward final glory.     Sacrament of Reconciliation in Advent to be celebrated this Wednesday at 7pm     Gather in the church with members of neighbouring parishes to celebrate a communal Service of Reconciliation.  Confessions will follow a Liturgy of the Word and Examination of Conscience.   During the week before Christmas private confessions will be held on Wednesday, December 19 from 11 – 11:45 am and 12:30 – 1:30pm.   St. Vincent de Paul Advent and Christmas Outreach  ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER Next Sunday, December 16   Annually, hundreds of people who are less fortunate have enjoyed the St. Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Dinner.  You have always generously given your time and resources to make this happen.  Your donations of food or money are appreciated.  Call Anne MacIsaac at 466-3144. Still needed are 36 turkeys, 46 pies, 26 bags of frozen vegetables and 25 cans of gravy and 25 cans of cranberries. Donations should be in by this Tuesday, Dec. 11. You may wish to help with food preparation (potato peeling and more) on Saturday, Dec.15 at 9:30am.   As well, your help is required on the day of the dinner to prepare food, set-up the parish hall, serve food and of course clean up after 2pm. And hey, a turn out to help like the group that helped out after the book sale would be super!  CHRISTMAS SPONSORS  If individuals, groups or businesses are interested in sponsoring a family or a single person at Christmas please call Anne MacIsaac at 466-3144.  We emphasize the need for sponsorship of a single person because often they are overlooked at this time of year.  Please keep the dedicated members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the people served by them in your prayers, particularly at this time of year.   Advent Backpack Project  This Thursday, December 13 is the deadline for returning your filled bags of gifts.  Please bring them to the church or to the parish office.  Next Saturday, December 15, at 1pm we will meet in the school gym  to sort the gifts received for our Advent project in support of Feeding Others of Dartmouth and other local charities.  Everyone is welcome to help sort and deliver the gift bags.  This is a family-friendly event, with tasks available for all ages.  Consider coming out to help as many hands make light work!  Thank you for your support!   +  Children’s Liturgy of the Word at 8:45am Mass  +     Ministry of Welcome and Hospitality   The Liturgy Committee has made it a priority to rekindle our Ministry of Welcome.  For several years now the ministry has been inactive at most liturgies.  The goal is to have a committed ministry at the entrance(s) to welcome God’s people as they assemble for prayer.  If you feel suited for this ministry contact Greg at the office. You will be asked to commit to arriving early at Mass on a regular basis.  As well you will be required to have a general knowledge about parish groups and programs.  Members of this ministry will generate a warm welcome to both parishioners and visitors. Big commitment.  Great affect in the parish.   Ahead of that more formal ministry, we are asking for several parishioners to help greet people at the Christmas liturgies, particularly at the 8pm anticipated Mass on Christmas Eve.  Contact Greg if you feel you are able to help.   The Evena Prayer Cards  for Advent Those who have received prayer cards are reminded to pray the Evena during the week at home for the person of your intention by lighting a candle, praying the prayer together as a family, addressing and stamping the card and envelope, and returning it to the church to be mailed with all others on the 4th Sunday in Advent. Chalice has provided these prayer cards to be used to evangelize in this Year of Faith by sharing your prayers with those for whom they are intended.  Prayer for one another is not only one of the chief ways in which we express our faith in God and love for one another, but it builds the strands in the web that binds us all together as a community of faith.    Sacrament of Marriage Mark Galic and Laura Mae Winton celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage on Saturday December 8.  Pray for them as they enter this new stage of their life.   Catechetical Program Classes conclude this Sunday. Classes resume on Sunday, January 6 for Grades Primary to Six. EDGE starts on Saturday, January 5 at 10am. Confirmation Class starts on Saturday, January 5 at 10am.   Liturgical Ministry Christmas Sign-up Sheets The Christmas Sign-up sheets are available in the Sacristy for Lay Ministers of the Altar, Holy Communion, and Word.   Workbooks for Ministers of the Word Please find your study guide book of readings in the C Cycle on the counter in the sacristy.  Guide book is $10.   Jesse Tree This Sunday at the 8:45am Mass, children from the Catechetical Program continue to place symbols on the Jesse Tree. The symbols represent the family tree or genealogy of Jesus. They tell the story of God's salvation plan from Creation and throughout 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."  This Sunday, Grades 3 & 6 hang a stone altar, tents, fire with tongs, tears, a watchtower, the Jerusalem wall, a scallop shell, white lily, motherhood and tablet, a carpenter’s hammer, white candle, manger and the chi-rho monogram.   F.O.O.D. Project This weekend is our committed weekend to provide meals for Feeding Others Of Dartmouth. Thanks to members of Parish Outreach and all who contribute to this ongoing work as they represent the spirit of our parish community to those in great need.   Mental Health Program Christmas Gifts Once again we are collecting Christmas gifts for inpatients and residents of the Nova Scotia Hospital, Abbie J. Lane Building and East Coast Forensic Hospital. Please pick up a suggested gift list from the entrances and drop your new, unwrapped gift off at the main entrance.   Catholic Women’s League Cookbook The CWL is compiling recipes for a cookbook and seeks your help to obtain recipes from past members.  Perhaps family members may have recipes from deceased CWL members or parishioners may like to share recipes to be included in the book.  Pass along recipes to the office before Jan 31.  The proceeds will be donated to Bryony House.    Gift Certificate Tree at Immaculate Conception Valued at $1200, tickets are available at Sobeys at Penhorn Mall on Sat, Dec 15 from 9:30am to 2:30pm to be drawn on Sun, Dec 16. Proceeds to roof fund.   Thank You! from Knights of Columbus KofC Council 3133 expresses their appreciation to all who supported the F.O.O.D. fundraising dinner on Nov 24. A donation of $1250 was made to the Advent Backpack Program.  BIG thanks to those who gave of their time to help with preparation, hospitality, and clean-up.   Parish Administration   Donations for 2012 In order for your donations to be included in your 2012 tax receipt, please ensure you drop your envelope in the collection basket by Sunday, December 30. Any donations received in January have to be dated 2013, they cannot be backdated to 2012. Thank You for your continued support and understanding.     upcoming liturgies + events + programs + meetings   Last Day of Catechetical Program until January Sunday Dec 9 Choir Rehearsals Children at 4pm on Wednesday.  No rehearsal on Wednesday evening Children’s Liturgy of the Word Sunday at the 8:45am Mass Jesse Tree Dec 9 at 8:45am Mass (part II) Sacrament of Reconciliation Service Wednesday, December 12 at 7pm Deadline to return gift bags for Advent Backpack Project Thursday Dec 13 Food Prep for St Vincent de Paul Dinner Saturday Dec 15 at 9:30am (school gym) Gift Sorting and Delivery (Advent Backpack Project) Saturday Dec 15 at 1pm (school gym) St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Dinner Sunday Dec 16 12noon–2pm (school gym) Children’s Choir Annual Caroling at Seniors’ Homes Wednesday Dec 19 at 4pm Private Confessions (in addition to Saturdays 3-3:30pm) Wednesday Dec 19 11am –noon, 12:30-1:30pm Solstice Celebration: Family Dinner – Candlelight Procession – & Light in the Darkness Service Thursday Dec 20 at 5pm start   CHRISTMAS MASSES Monday, December 24 (anticipated) 8pm and 10:30pm at Saint Peter (7pm at Immaculate Conception Church) Tuesday, December 25 9:30 and 11:15am at Saint Peter (10am at Immaculate Conception Church)     in our diocesan community…   Keep Christ in Christmas In keeping with the theme of “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS” the Knights of Columbus Choral Group of Districts 9 and 11, Dartmouth, will present a Christmas Hymn and Carol Sing at “The Portland St. Market-Superstore” at 7:30pm Friday Dec 21, 2012. All are welcome.   Campaign Life Coalition NS Annual Prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe to End Abortion Sun Dec 9 at 3pm at St. Anthony Church, Courtney Rd. Dartmouth   Dartmouth Christian Men's Fellowship Prayer Breakfast Sat Dec 15 at 8am Woodlawn UC Fellowship Hall (54 Woodlawn Rd) Guest speaker Hank Veenhuis. Contact Bob at 434-2482 or rhlindsay@accesswave.ca by Thurs Dec 13. $9