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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As Advent gives way to Christmas, we find ourselves in a continued state of waiting, longing and expectation for a promised vaccine. How our world has changed in a year!
Last Christmas, none of us had heard of COVID-19. Since then our lives, jobs, recreation and worship have been shaped by it. COVID precautions have led to COVID-fatigue as we long for a return to normal life.
Anxious waiting and expectation for the vaccine marks and impacts our celebrations. Gatherings in church and at home will be smaller, travel truncated, carols fewer, precautions increased and parties cancelled.
But Christmas is not cancelled. Our way of celebrating has changed, but our reason for celebrating remains the same. While the world awaits the arrival of a vaccine, we celebrate the arrival of the world’s Savior.
We hope for a vaccine that for a time will ward off illness and death. The Divine Savior whose birth we celebrate gives us resurrection and reunion. We pray the vaccine will restore normal life on earth. The grace Christ offers promises eternal life in Heaven.
For two millennia Christians throughout the world have celebrated Christ's birth. Many of these Christmases have been marked by famine, plagues and wars. Through those hardships and others, Christians have found in Christ the strength, hope and joy to persevere, endure and triumph over all of life's uncertainties.
As we wait for the vaccine to come, let us rejoice, give thanks and find peace in the Savior who has already come, defeated sin and death and will come again to share His definitive triumph of eternal life.
With every prayerful best wish for a Blessed and Merry Christmas, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester -
A prayer in time of pandemic
O God, whose Only Begotten Son
bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation,
hear the prayers of your Church
or our sick brothers and sisters
and deliver us from this time of trial.
Open our ears and our hearts
to the voice of your Son:
Be not afraid, for I am with you always.
Bless all doctors and nurses,
researchers and public servants;
give us the wisdom to do what is right
and the faith to endure this hour,
hat we might gather once again
to praise your name in the heart of your Church,
delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen -
Around the Diocese
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Sunday, January 17, 6:00 PMJoin us for an 8-part study as we take a closer look at Scripture, what it means, and why it is important for our lives. If you are interested in learning more about the Bible and how it all fits together, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! Our study will be broken up into 8 sessions that will be roughly 45 minutes each.Read More
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Thursday, January 21
Join the National Novena for Life! 9 Days for Life is a focused period of prayer, penance, and pilgrimage set aside to mark the tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion during all nine months of pregnancy. The novena will take place nationwide from January 21 through 29, 2021. During this time, all are invited to participate by joining together with thousands of Catholics across the country in prayer for a new intention each of the nine days. Visit www.9daysforlife.com to learn more and to download a free app for your smartphone or to sign up for daily emails or text messages with each day's prayer intention. Your prayers matter! Your sacrifices make a difference!Read More -
Friday, January 22
Did you know that in dioceses throughout the United States, January 22 is designated as a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Children? As Catholics we are called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or giving alms, in a way similar to our Lenten practices. Learn more about how you can participate at https://www.worcesterdiocese.org/jan-22-day-of-prayer.Read More
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How to watch the live stream of holy massOn the left, Saint Joseph Basilica will be streaming Holy Mass through the St. Joseph School Facebook feed. Masses will be streamed at their normal times:
- Sunday Vigil - 4:00 PM
- Sunday -
- 9:00AM (English)
- 10:30AM (Polish)
The video stream will start 5 minutes prior to the scheduled Mass time. Please REFR
ESH your page if you DO NOT see a large white arrow in the center of the Facebook image in the window to the left.
The stream will be UNDER the image that says, "Virtual Learning in Progress."How to Watch
& Englarge the Video1. Click on the large white arrow in the center of the image at the left. You will see the word "Live" appear in the upper left of the image.
2.
In the lower right of the image click on the white circle that contains the lower case "f."3. To make the image fill your screen (full screen),
click on the icon located in the lower right of the screen that has
four arrow pointing outward (between the gear and the speaker icons).Please note: If you choose to enlarge the video, it will open in a second window. You may need to go back and close the Basilica page to avoid hearing an echo. Also, if you do not belong to Facebook and want to watch the stream on a device other than your laptop, such as an iphone or ipad, you may need to create a Facebook profile.
We invite you to "Like" the St. Joseph School Facebook page to follow the school.
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Calendar
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Wednesday, January 20, 7:00 PM
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Sunday, January 24, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
W każdą ostatnią niedzielę miesiąca spotykamy się na wspólnej modlitwie różańcowej. Chętnych do przyłączenia sie do Róży Różańcowej prosimy o kontakt a biurem parafialnym.Read More -
Wednesday, January 27, 7:00 PM
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Sunday, January 31, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
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Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 PM
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Flocknote Signup
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Today's Readings
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Reading I Heb 4:12-16Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15Gospel Mk 2:13-17
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Links
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News from the Vatican
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Silence, like words, can be a love language, Pope Francis wrote in a very short introduction to a new book in Italian.
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Australian Cardinal George Pell, formerly the Vatican’s top official on financial affairs, said he believes the pope’s recent reforms signal progress, and called for additional competent laypeople to...
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