Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!
Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:

• Tuesday-Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Baptism Catechesis (7 pm), Choir Practice (7 pm), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday - Women's Bible Study (7:30 pm)
• Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4 pm)
• Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30 pm)
• Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
• Second Sunday of Advent - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass)
  

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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!The Saint Agnes Family group holds weekly Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks. We start at 10:30 am (but sometimes moms run late). You are welcome to join us! You can find the winter playgroup schedule here, or by clicking the link at the upper left of the blog home page.

This Tuesday, December 1st, we will meet at Robbins Farm Park (56 Eastern Ave.) in Arlington. This park has some great slides, sandbox, and other playground equipment. Bundle up, bring your own lunch or snack, and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor winter schedule is highly dependent on good weather. If the weather seems questionable, please check your email or the blog page before you leave for playgroup. In case of rain or weather below 30 degrees, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**

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Have you had a new baby? We wish you many heartfelt congratulations!

Don't forget that baptisms for babies at Saint Agnes are held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 2:00 pm. You must attend Baptismal Catechesis prior to having your child baptized.

Baptism Catechesis occurs on the first Tuesday of the month (December 1). The briefing session begins at 7:00 pm in the Saint Agnes Parish Center at 51 Medford St., Arlington. The meeting usually lasts under an hour.

If you would like to learn a little more about Christian baptism and why the Catholic Church encourages infants to be baptized, you can read about it here.

Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the Godparent is asked: “What do you ask of God’s Church?” The response is: “Faith!” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1253)

Parenting is certainly not an easy task: it is filled with difficult decisions, personal setbacks and growth, expanding relationships, disagreements, love, AND forgiveness. We offer you our support and encouragement along this journey, and we invite you warmly into our parish and Christian life!

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First Friday Adoration
This Friday, December 4th, is the first Friday of the month. On Thursday, December 3rd, from 4:00-5:00 pm, there will be the opportunity for confession in the lower church. On Friday, Saint Agnes will be offering all-day Adoration, concluding with Benediction and Mass at 5:00/5:30pm, in the lower church. Also at noon there will be a Holy Hour to pray for priests and victims of clergy sexual abuse. Adoration is a wonderful opportunity to spend some quiet time with the Lord and gain some focus in our lives - especially with all the busy distractions of daily life. For more background on the long tradition of keeping a First Friday devotion, look here or here.

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The Advent Giving Tree is up!  Thank you to the many wonderful parishioners who have helped with this project. The Giving Tree is a parish project of Christian charity for those less fortunate, of caring for our neighbor, and helping to alleviate the stressors that some are experiencing at this time of year.  Let's celebrate the birth of our Savior with thankfulness for our blessings, and an outpouring of love for others!  

Tags will be on the tree again December 5/6.  Gifts must be wrapped and returned to church under the tree by noon Mass on December 13th.  Please consider helping with the Giving Tree by taking a tag and making a commitment to fulfill that need.  If you can’t afford a gift, make an offering of prayers for the families represented on the tree, and for our parish community.  Gifts must be wrapped and returned to the Church before the 12:00 Noon Mass on December 13.  Thank you!!  If you have questions or would like to volunteer help, please indicate your interest on our volunteer form, here.