ST. JAMES’ - GROTON ST. J St. J’s Collaborative · 2020. 12. 16. · happen, and so if you are O.K. with that, come late. For those of you who are spiritually advanced or maybe

ST. JAMES’ - GROTON ☩ ST. JOSEPH’S - PEPPERELL ☩ ST. JOHN’S - TOWNSEND

St. J’s Collaborative Our Lady Of Grace & St. John The Evangelist Parishes Glorifying The Lord In The Towns Of Ashby, Dunstable,

Groton, Pepperell & Townsend In The Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Boston

☩ December 20, 2020 ☩ Fourth Sunday of Advent ☩ www.stjs.page

Requiem Aeternam Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Rita F.(Balducci) Quinn, Verna O’Connell. Through the mercy of God, may they rest in peace, Amen. ~Fr. St. Martin on behalf of the Staff and Parish

Sunday Masses9:00 a.m. - St. John the Evangelist, Townsend 12:00 p.m. - St. Joseph's, Pepperell 3:00 p.m. - St. James, Groton

Daily Masses 7:10 a.m. Monday & Friday - St. Joseph’s, Pepperell Tuesday & Saturday - St. James, Groton Wednesday - St. John’s, Townsend

Rosary Tuesdays - St. Joseph's - PepperellEvery Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Reciting of the Rosary and Divine Mercy. ~Cotty Reid

Rosary and Adoration - Tuesdays - St. John’s -TownsendEvery Tuesday 10 a.m.- 11a.m. ~Sue Ann Woolfrey

Knights of Columbus Council #14842 In service to One. In service to all. Members of St. John the Evangelist Council Meet in Fr. Mealey Hall on the Second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Catholic men over 18 interested in joining Contact Grand Knight, Nick Joy Visit www.townsendkofc.org

Knights of Columbus Council Sr. Lydia Longley Madeleine #13140 [email protected] Monthly Council Meeting & Social Third Thursday 7:30 – 9:00pm [email protected] Fourth Degree Assembly: #396 Bishop Beaven

St. James’ Church - 13 St. James Ave., Groton, MA 01450 ☩ St. Joseph’s Rectory and Church - 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA 01463 ☩ St. John’s Rectory and Church - 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469 ☩ Cemetery - Jersey St., Pepperell, MA 01463

IntentionsOffered at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Saturday, December 19 St. James 7:10 a.m.

Sunday, December 20 St. John’s 9:00 a.m. Marjorie E. "Midge" Briguglio St. Joseph’s 12:00 p.m. Al & Karen Goguen & Neri Richard, and Wayne Gray St. James 3:00 p.m. Thomas Hartnett 3rd Anniversary

Monday, December 21 St. Joseph’s 7:10 a.m.

Tuesday, December 22 St. James 7:10 a.m.

Wednesday, December 23 St. John’s 7:10 a.m. Marjorie Briguglio Friday, December 25 St. Joseph’s 7:10 a.m. Michael Allain, Ray Bastarache and Jessie Derboghosian

Saturday, December 26 St. James 7:10 a.m.

Sunday, December 27St. John’s 9:00 a.m.

St. Joseph’s 12:00 p.m. Wayne Gray

St. James 3:00 p.m. Pedro Perez-Sanchez


Matrimony Contact the rectories.

Daughters of Isabella Mother Teresa CircleUNITY, FRIENDSHIP and CHARITYAttention all Catholic women 16 years and above.Membership meeting is once a month on aThursday evening. There are information packets at the mainentrance to the Church. Join today.Email: [email protected]

Legion of Mary Wednesdays 1:30 PM - St. Joseph’s Rectory (covid suspension of meeting for now.) ~Mrs. Carroll

Confession Confession is available before and after Mass. Also, call to set up an appointment. We are having confessions every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as well, in the parking lot at St. John’s in Townsend. I sit in my car and when you pull up in yours. I will keep my eyes closed to provide anonymity if you would like. ~Fr. St. Martin

Sunday Reading Reflection We love fulfillment. It is so great when you can work onsomething and see it come to fulfillment. Making a cake andhaving it come out nice is just wonderful. Making a muraland having it come out nice; wow. A young lady in ourparish made a very contemplative picture of the comingmysteries of Christmas and gave it to us and it came outnice. Here it is.



Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. We see that in the promise made to David. Jesus is that ‘everlasting



kingdom promise’ fulfilled. We are in the beginning of that kingdom here on earth, the Church.

It is a kingdom that is upside down. The angel announcing Christ’s conception is blown away by it. He is in awe of Mary. Mary is wondering what is wrong with the angel, so excited to see little old her. He is full of wonder. That Mary is so loved by God that she will give God a physical body, a thing the angel can’t experience and does not have. The little human “hobbits” are being raised up higher than the highest angel.

This is why we give kids presents at Christmas. The kingdom is upside down. The strong and mighty see now that God works through the little ones.

Other Stuff Christmas is almost here. Please come early to the Mass that you would like to go to. If we get full we get full. It could happen, and so if you are O.K. with that, come late. For those of you who are spiritually advanced or maybe able to make it through without actually going, remember, there are many who can’t possibly miss Christmas and those rearing children who need to go, and so if you get there early and have a nice seat - enjoy - but if you notice it getting crowded you could give up your seat. That would be beautiful. Some who get there early could be like seat holders for those who might need a Christmas miracle.

We have a new friend, Fr. Augustine, who is going to live at St. Joe’s rectory and be the chaplin over at Ft. Deven. God is good. If you see him around, rejoice. He is helping us gain heaven. By supporting him we are visiting the imprisoned, a service he will do for us over there.

People ask me what I want for Chrstimas. I would like you all to make the effort to reach out to your neighbors who are lonely. It is simple, terrifying, and the way to heaven. Especially at Christmas. You know who I mean.

New neighbors are on the cover and on page 5, Mr. and Mrs. David Flournoy. He is from here and is settling here now to

give back with his wife to the world that gave him life. God is soooooooo good.

In Christ, ~Fr. St. Martin

Religious Education Here are our updated student counts in the religious education programs across both parishes:

● St. John’s: 85 ● Our Lady of Grace: 224

Even though we have many more children out there in our parishes who are not enrolled in classes, this reflects the strength of our parish commitment to religious education. Despite the difficulty in gathering and organizing groups, we are happy to offer a fully-functioning faith formation program this year. Praise God! And thank you for all yoursupport! Stay tuned for more information in the New Year about First Communions (Spring 2021) and Confirmations (Spring & Fall 2021).

Please send me your own creations of good humor by emailing them to me at [email protected]. ~David Flournoy

Financial Update Thanks to your generosity and some creative cuts to ourbudget both of our parishes have been able to survive thesepast few months without the full monthly offertory we areused to. However, the oil and snow bills are on their way, soplease give generously to our Grand Annual fuel collectionand consider increasing your weekly contribution by a smallamount such as $5. Every little increase that everyonecontributes regularly goes a long way to keeping ourprograms, ministries, and our three churches alive and well.Weekly reports on the Sunday collection totals will bereturning soon! Thank you for your patience.~David Flournoy


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ST. JAMES’ - GROTON ST. J St. J’s Collaborative · 2020. 12. 16. · happen, and so if you are O.K. with that, come late. For those of you who are spiritually advanced or maybe

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