Playgroup Activity, Mom's Night on Thursday

Today at playgroup, we learned that our family is a place where God has put us to learn about Him and love Him.  We can grow in our faith with our families, and then share this faith with others.  Even Jesus, the Savior, was born into a human family.  He was a baby who grew, had parents, rules and lessons.  Mary and Joseph had important jobs, just as all parents do: to teach Jesus about God, his Jewish faith, and charity for his neighbor.  What are you doing with your family before Christmas?  How can you be holy together?  Click and print the image below.  Enjoy working on the Bible Verse and coloring page with your children this week.  Hope to see you next Tuesday!

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Here's a friendly reminder that Mom's-Night-In is: 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.

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.

Second Sunday of Advent - Bring Mittens and Gloves to Church

We wish you a very holy and happy Second Sunday of Advent!  Here is an excerpt from the Magnificat Children's Advent Companion of 2011:

The second candle of the Advent wreath is lit.  Let us prepare the way of the Lord: every moment of our lives is another step closer to Him.
The Word of God is sown in our hearts: let us welcome it with love.  Look to Mary: she said Yes to God.

We, too, can say, "Here I am, Lord!  May it be done according to Your word!  I welcome Your love with joy in my heart!"

Many thanks to everyone - especially participants - who made the Advent Wreath Workshop a wonderful success last Sunday.  In case you were not able to come an make an Advent Wreath, check out Regina Gifts on Massachusetts Ave. in Arlington, or Wilson Farms in Lexington.  I was pleasantly surprised to find both Advent Wreaths and packs of appropriate candles in the Wilson Farms garden house!

Furthermore, if you are looking for other ways to prepare for Christmas this year, consider the following events, below.  Each promises to be both fun and prayerful ways to spend time growing in faith with your fellow parishioner.  See below.

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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.  Registration is ongoing at http://www.stjoseph.belmont.ma.us/faithformation/mmpt.htm  Class will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 130 Common Street, Belmont, MA.

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Saint Agnes Family Mass Advent Projects:

• Saint Agnes 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 Saint Agnes 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 Saint Agnes 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!

Baptism Briefing, Playgroup Activity, and God of this City Tour

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 Briefings prior to having your child baptized.

Baptism briefings happen once a month, and you can go to one tonight! 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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Today at playgroup, we learned that God loves us deeply (He made us, after all!), and He wants to be with us so that we can also love Him deeply.  We can tell how much He loves us because He came to earth to live with us, teach us, and even die (and rise) with us, so we can all go to Heaven and be with Him forever!  The start of this love story on earth is Jesus' birthday - coming soon at Christmas.  We are getting ready to love Jesus too, by preparing our hearts during the season of Advent.  We say we are sorry for our sins, and we try extra hard to serve and love our neighbor.  Click and print the image below.  Enjoy working on the Bible Verse and coloring page with your children this week.  Hope to see you next Tuesday!

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Finally, if you are a young adult, don't for get that the God of this City tour is moving throughout Boston this week.  See the poster below (also can link to website).  Come and be with the Lord!

Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Tuesday - Saint Agnes Playgroup (10:30 am), Baptism Briefing, Choir Practice, and Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday - Bereavement Meeting (7 pm)
• Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4 pm), ACHS Centerpiece Making (7 pm)
• Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30)
• Saturday - Saint Nicholas Party (9:30 am), NFP Class (10:30 am)
• Sunday - Advent Collection for Gloves and Mittens
• Monday - Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Noon Mass (not an obligation this year)

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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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Baptism Briefing
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 Briefings prior to having your child baptized.

Baptism briefings happen once a month, and you can go to one on Tuesday night! 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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This Friday, December 6th, is the first Friday of the month.  On Thursday, December 5th 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 family life. For more background on the long tradition of keeping a First Friday devotion, look here or here.

Due to conflicts, First Friday playgroup is cancelled this month. We hope you can join us in January!

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Finally, don't forget that this Friday (Dec. 6) is the Feast of Saint Nick!  Taking time to learn about Saint Nicholas can be a wonderful way to help your children make the connection between Jesus' birthday, opening our hearts to Christ, giving gifts, and sharing
sacrificially with those around us.  You can read Saint Nick's bio here.

You can also TAKE your kids to a Saint Nicholas day party at the Lexington parishes of Sacred Heart / Saint Brigid on Saturday morning.  See details below, and be sure to RSVP by December 5th!

Holy Families of Faith of the Lexington Catholic Community invites all families with children ages 6 and under to a celebration in honor of St. Nicholas!

The celebration is Saturday, December 7th, from 9:30-11:30 am at Sacred Heart Parish Center (21 Follen Rd., Lexington). We will have games, activities, stories and songs, treats, and perhaps a visit from the good bishop himself!

RSVP to stnicklexington@gmail.com by December 5th.  Siblings and Grandparents welcome! A suggested donation of $5/child ($15 family cap) is appreciated.  Let’s be glad and full of cheer, good St. Nicholas will soon be here!

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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.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

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.