1 Parish of the Precious Blood November 29, 2020 www.theppb.org Sacramental and Pastoral Care Sacrament of Baptism Please call the Parish Office to register by the first Friday of the month. Sacrament of Marriage Please call the Parish Office six months to one year in advance of the desired date of your wedding. Sacrament of Penance Reconciliation is available 45 mins before Mass or by appointment. Pastoral Ministry to the Sick and Homebound Please call the Parish Office with the name, address and telephone number of the person who is in need. PARISH OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OFFICE HOURS Caribou Office: Presque Isle Office: 31 Thomas Ave. 6 Roberts St. P.O. Box 625 Presque Isle, ME 04769 Caribou, ME 04736 768-3671 or 764-8644 498-2536 or 498-2537 *Hours: Mon.-Thurs. *Hours: Mon. -Thurs. 9 AM - 3:30 PM 9 AM - 3:30 PM. Closed 12-1 PM for Lunch. PASTOR Rev. David R. Raymond ‘Fr. Dave’ [email protected]PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. Selvaraj Kasi ‘Fr. Raj’ [email protected]DEACON Rev. Mr. Carl Joseph Gallagher ‘Deacon Carl’ [email protected]First Sunday of Advent “What could happen next?” How many times have you asked yourself that question in the past year? Though we most often use that expression when things don’t seem to be going our way, this year it has been an expression of the constant changes to our world which the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought. But we might use the same expression to explain our feelings of being over- whelmed by blessings and good things, when the stars seem to align just right. No matter what, we can say with certainty that tomorrow will not go exactly as we envisioned. Our lives are influenced by so many factors and the world around us is increasingly complex. Rather than be surprised by the unexpected, maybe we should expect the unexpected. Living in this manner causes us to cherish more deeply the gifts we have been given. It helps us to live in the present and become mindful of those around us. Our relationships deepen. Our sense of responsibility builds. Our stewardship way of life finds new meaning and purpose. This Advent will not be the same experience as last Advent. It remains to be seen what the coming days and weeks have in store for each of us. However, no matter what happens, Jesus Christ is there to welcome us to the unexpected. He will celebrate with us in joy and he will even feel our pain. You can count on the unexpected, but you can also count on Him to be there with you. He is now and forever, Emmanuel, “God with us.” He is the ex- pected in all things unexpected. Blessings! Fr. Dave
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Parish of the Precious Blood · 2020. 11. 11. · Parish of the Precious Blood November 29, 2020 Sacramental and Pastoral Care Sacrament of Baptism He is now and forever, Emmanuel,
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Parish of the Precious Blood
November 29, 2020
www.theppb.org
Sacramental and Pastoral Care
Sacrament of Baptism
Please call the Parish Office to register by the first Friday of the month.
Sacrament of Marriage
Please call the Parish Office six months to one year in advance of the
desired date of your wedding.
Sacrament of Penance
Reconciliation is available 45 mins before Mass or by appointment.
Pastoral Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
Please call the Parish Office with the name, address and telephone number
St. Theresa 4:00 PM Sat. Rosemary Hede 492-2390 Call Anytime 9 AM – 9 PM
**IMPORTANT**
A ‘Face Shield’ does not
provide adequate protection
from the Corona Virus.
A ‘Face Mask’ is required at
Mass. If you have forgotten
yours, one is available at the
Sign-in table at the entrance
of the Church. Thank you.
That Man Is You ~ ‘That Man is You’ honestly addresses the
pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture,
especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers.
The program harmonizes current social and medical science with
the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to
develop the vision of man fully alive! TMIY meets Saturday
mornings from
6:30-8:00 AM in the Parish Center.
FMI Contact Steve Gagnon at 768-0433 or
Bob LeBlanc at 498-2053.
The Virus Hasn’t Stopped Us!
The Holy Rosary Blanket Ministry has been busy making fleece
blankets for those in need. We recently delivered 15 blankets to the
Caribou Veteran’s Home and 15 blankets to The Aroostook House of
Comfort in Presque Isle. Our newest “Christmas Project” is to make 35
blankets for the residents at the Rising Hill Assisted Living Facility in
Limestone. In order to complete this project, we are in need of
donations to help cover the cost of the fleece material. If you are
interested in making a donation, please call Ruth Gahagan at 492-1960
or Judy Bougie at 493-1366. Donations can also be dropped off at the
Holy Rosary Office ATTN: Blanket Ministry.
We thank you for your generosity.
Gospel Reflection:
You are at the eye doctor and it’s time for the peripheral vision test. You know the one. It’s where you put your head up to a contraption and have to click
a switch every time you see a squiggly line. If you don’t concentrate and maintain optimal focus, you will miss them and skew the outcome of the test.
You can easily find yourself with a diagnosis that really isn’t accurate! Concentration and focus are key to succeeding with this evaluation. They are also
key to developing a healthy, vibrant spiritual life. If we do not bring our full consciousness to the task, concentrate with all our might, be watchful and
vigilant, we are not going to see God’s loving presence flashing before our eyes!
That’s why we need Advent. Let’s face it. We can easily get distracted, focus on nonessential and superficial things and lose touch with what really
matters. Our attentions wander. We daydream and even become a bit overwhelmed and tired. All of the stresses and demands of life consume us and
we find ourselves constantly trying to play catch up rather than relishing the moment of the now. “Now” moments are so fleeting. They flash before us
like those squiggly lines on a screen. Present moments go as quickly as they come but it is important to discover them and rest in them as often as we
can. Though gone in a flash, these now moments of encounter with God teach powerful lessons and offer a grounding in truth that can be found
nowhere else. It’s the grace of Advent to become watchful and attentive because we are never sure when God will surprise us.
God loves surprises and love thrives on them! God’s now moments of surprises come as tender instants of intimate connection where I find profound
peace, experience joy, and rest in love. These are Advent times reflective of the now moments when Christ first was born, when God surprises us during
every time we care to watch and when the great surprise of Christ’s second coming dawns upon us all. But, to discover the grandeur and experience the
awe of these now times, we have to be ready. We have to want to be there. We have to believe. And, we have to have the desire to soak in as much as
we can in the time we have before us.
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As we enter this season of giving, our season is
different this year due to Covid-19. Many
parishioners have asked about giving to the ‘Giving
Tree’ as we have done in the past to help those less
fortunate at Christmas.
We will be unable to accept food for our baskets this
year as well as toys for our children. Please know you
can still give to both.
First our food baskets this year will be done through
Gift Cards to these families. You can go to our
PPB website at www.theppb.org and click on the
‘CHRISTMAS BASKETS’ tab. Under that tab is a
tab for donating to our HOPE Christmas Basket.
Please consider donating to help us feed many this
year that are in need. Or, you may mail in your check
designating your desire to give to the HOPE
Christmas Baskets to PO Box 625 Caribou,
Maine 04736.
Also, for our past ‘Giving Tree’ this year the
Caribou Fire Dept. will be collecting Toys for Tots.
We encourage you to please consider donating to
Toys for Tots to Caribou Fire Dept. 121 High
Street Caribou, Maine 04736 designating for Toys
for Tots.
Your generosity this season will help many that are
less fortunate. Thank you for sharing with many
families as we are in this trying pandemic time.
Star bright, lead all members of this family to Christ.
To spread goodwill through our communities during this difficult
time, we are asking all households to construct a
CHRISTMAS STAR
And to display it outside for all to see, on the door, in a window,
in the yard, or even on the roof!
Be as creative as possible and invite friends and neighbors to join
in!
We are hoping to have all stars up by the Second Sunday of
Advent—Dec. 6th.
Join us in this community-wide effort to bring light to the world!
The Christmas star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, which
according to the Biblical story, guided the three kings, or wise
men, to the baby Jesus. The star is also the heavenly sign of a
prophecy fulfilled long ago and the shining hope for humanity.
Look at your Christmas star a little differently. Look at it as a
symbol of the fact that God has always provided travel guides to
earnest spiritual seekers. Throughout history, God has seen to it
that those who diligently seek after Christ will find Him. May
God lead each and every member of your family to Christ by the
guidance of your Christmas star.
Journeying with you,
Fr. Dave
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Parish Financial Stewardship Financial Blessings
Up Coming Second/Special Collections:
Nov. 29 Maintenance Fund
Dec. 6 Fuel Fund
Dec. 13 Retired Religious Fund
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
OFFERTORY Nov. 15, 2020
Collections Last Week :
First Collection $ 12,778
Second Collection - Mission Sunday $ 1,355
Total: $ 14,133
Total Collections YTD: $ 303,049
Collections Budget: $ 294,416
Total of Weekly Collections
this time last year $ 340,206
Current Weekly Average $ 15,152
Last Year Weekly Average $ 16,200
Have you signed up for our Online Giving yet? If not
just go to www.theppb.org. click on the ‘Donate
Now’ tab at the top of the page to get started.
Need help?
Call us at 498-2536.
NEW WeShare Collection for the
H.O.P.E. Christmas Basket Project
Easy, convenient and greatly appreciated!
Check it out at www.theppb.org
Lots of Good Things Happening in Our Parish!
St. Louis - Windows are completed, thanks to all who contributed!
Our Lady - New carpets are ordered and will be installed very soon!
Holy Rosary - The new ramp is installed, great work from a great team!
St. Mary and Holy Rosary - New livestreaming systems are in the works!
Window Insert Clinics - Next workshop is Dec. 12th from 9am-noon
None of this could be accomplished without all of our generous parishioners, wheth-
er through donations, fundraisers or actual labor - we are all so blessed and thankful!
This Tuesday is “Giving Tuesday”
Please keep our Parish needs in your consideration