Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Tuesday - Saint Agnes Playgroup (10:30 am), Choir Practice, and Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday - Bereavement Meeting (7 pm)
• Thursday - Mom's Night In (7 pm)
• Friday - Prep for Boston Sock Exchange (7 pm), Jesus in Boston (7:30 pm)
• Saturday - Boston Sock Exchange (11 am)
• Sunday - Advent Collection for HATS, Festival of Lights Trip (2:30 pm)
• Monday - Sodality of our Lady (7 pm)

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We are now moving into "Winter Playgroup" mode, when Fidelity House hosts our playgroup within their building.  We owe them our thanks!  We also are grateful to Father Flatley for helping us to get a small curriculum going this year.  Bring your thinking caps and get ready to pay attention to some short activities about Advent.

Thus, Tuesday playgroup will take place at Fidelity House, right near church: 25 Medford Street, from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

• Please remember some behavior guidelines: No running out of the playroom, no kids in the toy closet, respect physical limits, use a time-out chair, please discipline your own children promptly, and be considerate of others!
• Fidelity House is being very generous by letting us use this space. Please consider a donation to help with their costs. Minimum suggested donation is $1 per person in attendance.
• Please no food.... drinks in spill proof containers are OK. 

Parking is on the street around Fidelity House. Check the street signs for the rules. Once you walk in the front door, go up the stairs, past the front desk, and to the back of the building. There is a door from the room to an outdoor courtyard, so bring your kids' coats too. We will also teach a brief lesson for the kids.

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Mom's Night In - THURSDAY, December 12th - We will get together for a stress-free evening, and play some get-to-know-you games (think: Apples to Apples) . I would rather not publish the hostesses address, so please email me at saintagnesfamilies [at] gmail.com if you plan to come. Please bring a snack or drink to share!  We will kick it off at 7:00 pm.

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This Saturday, December 14th is the Boston Sock Exchange at 11:00 am at the Park Street T-Stop.  This ministry helps the homeless men and women of Boston, by distributing gifts of sandwiches and clothes near the Park Street T-Stop on the second Saturday of the month. Prep and packaging for the day is held in the parish center on Friday night, December 13th at 7:00 pm. Help and/or donations is a wonderful way to put your faith in action!  For more information, see the calendar to the right, or email Jennifer Hermanski at jennifer.hermanski [at] gmail.com.  The Boston Sock Exchange is currently in need of winter clothing, especially winter coats, SOCKS, long sleeved-shirts, sweatshirts, coats, hats, gloves, and scarves.  We also need rain gear: ponchos and umbrellas.  Thank you! 

"Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe of what the poor have

to carry, rather than stand in judgement of how they carry it." Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ

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Need a date with your spouse that honors God as the foundation of your marriage?

Why not hire a sitter, hop on the T, and head down to town for a romantic evening of Adoring the Lord, confession, and re-commitment together?  Technically, "Jesus in Boston" is not a marriage ministry, but what a great way to renew your marriage and get time away from the kids!!  Jesus in Boston is a wonderful ministry designed for young adult Catholics in Boston.  Come and spend time with the Lord!

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Family Mass Advent Projects:

• Advent Families begin the 9:00 am Family Mass by reading a brief passage and lighting the Advent wreath in church.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to be able to participate in the liturgy together. If your family would be interested, please contact Tricia Sheehan at pmksheehan [at] gmail.com or 781-648-7709.
  In addition, the Family Liturgy Group would like to welcome new members who would be willing to work with the children of the Parish once a month, preparing them to read at the 9:00 am Family Mass. For more information, please contact Tricia Sheehan.

• The Family Liturgy Advent Collection occurs each Sunday through Christmas, in order to help children in Arlington. Please consider bringing the following items to donate at Mass each Sunday:
• December 1 - Socks
• December 8 - Mittens, Gloves
• December 15 - Hats
• December 22 - Scarves

• The Giving Tree is up and at the front of the church again this year. If your family is able to take an ornament off the tree and donate the assigned gift to those who are less fortunate, it would be greatly appreciated. Please return your gifts to the base of the Giving Tree before the Noon Mass on December 15th. Thank you!

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Fidelity House Volunteers Needed

Volunteer needed for part time 2:30-5:30 afternoons answering the phone and light office work at Fidelity House, Site 2. Various other volunteer opportunities are also available. Call Fidelity House at 781-648-2005 for details.

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Making Music Praying Twice 
Christmas Music Day: Saturday, December 21 at 10:00 am
This one day/one hour class combines a retelling of the Christmas story with elements from MMP2 and is appropriate for children birth through age 7 with a caregiver. More information and online registration is available on the Saint Joseph Parish website . Class is limited to 20 children.

Winter Classes: Thursdays at 10:30 am, beginning January 9th
MMP2 session II begins on January 9 and runs through April. Registration is open for the Thursday morning class. Additional classes depend on enrollment but please contact me if you are interested in a different day and/or time. No payment necessary until the first class. Class size limited to 12 children.

Registration for both sessions is ongoing and available online at http://www.stjoseph.belmont.ma.us/faithformation/mmpt.htm or by calling the parish office at 617-484-0279. Pre-registration helps to determine which classes will run and allows us to pre-order CDs and songbooks. No payment is necessary until the first class. Classes appropriate for children birth – age 5 with a caregiver. All classes will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 130 Common Street, Belmont, MA.