Mass Intentions

Saturday, Feb. 4

     4:00 PM      Elsie Osterman by her cousin Jay

Sunday, Feb. 5

     8:00 AM      Mary Smith by Joyce Paquette

    10:00 AM      Dorothy Hackett by a friend

Monday, Feb. 6

     8:45 AM      Wilfred & Exilda Morin by Shirley & Marion

    11:00 AM      Mass at Crown & Eagle

Tuesday, Feb. 7

     8:45 AM      In petition to St. Jude for a favor requested

Thursday Feb. 9

     8:45 AM      Margaret Brown & Doris Boutin by J. Paquette

Friday, Feb. 10

     8:45 AM      Mary Comer by Carol Ann Ritchie

Saturday, Feb. 11

     4:00 PM      Eugene Gagne by Pat & Noe

Sunday, Feb. 12

     8:00 AM      Joseph & Yvonne Poulin by the grandchildren

    10:00 AM      William & Loretta Jacques by Marcelle Landry

***

Liturgical Roles Feb. 11 & 12

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

     4:00 PM      J. Petty, M. Joanis, J. Hauge

     8:00 AM      P. Berthelette, L. Lafreniere, N. Zuidema

    10:00 AM      M. Destrempes, M. Landry, S. Maynard

Lectors

     4:00 PM      A. Reardon

     8:00 AM      J. Stanovich, P. Berthelette

    10:00 AM      J. Paquette, J. DuBois

Altar Servers

     4:00 PM      V. Caccavelli, C. Gardner

     8:00 AM      K. Lafreniere, E. Zuidema

    10:00 AM      L. & A. Millette

Ushers

     4:00 PM      C. & T. Gardner

     8:00 AM      F. & P. Berthelette

    10:00 AM      Members of the parish

Readings for the Week of February 5, 2012

Sunday:          Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1:29-39

Monday:          1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13/Mk 6:53-56

Tuesday:         1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30/Mk 7:1-13

Wednesday:       1 Kgs 10:1-10/Mk 7:14-23

Thursday:        1 Kgs 11:4-13/Mk 7:24-30

Friday:          1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19/Mk 7:31-37

Saturday:        1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34/Mk 8:1-10

Next Sunday:     Lv 13:1-2, 44-46/1 Cor 10:31--11:1/Mk 1:40-45

Catholic Free Press

February is Catholic Free Press month! To renew or start a subscription, just use the envelope in your packets. If you are not on the envelope system, you may send us your name, mailing address, and $23 in an envelope marked Catholic Free Press via the collection basket.

Calendar

Sun. Feb. 5     9:00 AM     Special R.E.

               10:00 AM    R.E. Little Lambs

               11:00 AM    R.E. Grades 1 & 2

Mon. Feb. 6     4:00 PM    R.E. Grades 3-4

                6:30 PM    R.E. Grades 5-9

Wed. Feb. 8     9:00 AM     Fr. Larry TV Mass               

               7:00 PM     Parish Council Meeting

Sat. Feb. 11    8:30 AM     Confessions

Sun. Feb. 12   9:00 AM     Special R.E.

               10:00 AM    R.E. Little Lambs

               11:00 AM    R.E. Grade 1

Coming!! St. Patrick's Day Dinner

Saturday March 10      5:30 to 8 PM

Church Hall     Details to Follow

Please contact Don Bruneau (508-278-9858) or Mary Archambault (508-278-2285) if you would like to help. Are you new to the parish? This fun family event is a great way to get to know your new parish family!

Diocesan Catholic Men's Conference

Saturday, March 24

All parish men, as well as their sons, brothers, fathers and friends are invited to this important annual conference, scheduled for Saturday, March 24 at Worcester's DCU Center. Hear dynamic talks from outstanding Catholic leaders: author George Weigel, Father Larry Richards, convert Father Dwight Longenecker, New Orleans Saints' QB Coach Joe Lombardi (Vince Lombardi's grandson) and lay evangelist Mark Nehrbas. Bishop McManus will celebrate the conference Mass. Diocesan priests and bishops will hear confessions. For a conference brochure, further information, or registration, call 508-929-4345. Please visit our website www.firstmensconf.org, or speak to parish representative Don Bruneau. Brochures are also available at church entrances.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him

all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town

was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick

with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not

permitting them to speak because they knew him.

- Mk 1:32-34

Religious Education News

Sunday, Feb. 5

  9:00 AM to 10:00 AM          Special R.E.

10:00 AM to 10:45 AM           R.E. Little Lambs

11:00 AM to 11:45 AM           R.E. Grades 1 & 2

Monday, Feb. 6

  4:00 PM to 5:15 PM         R.E. Grades 3 & 4

  6:30 PM to 8:00 PM         R.E. Grades 5-9

Holy Name Junior/Senior High School

Saturday, March 24      6-9 PM

Sample Fine Wines and Beer

Door Prizes, Raffles, Hors d'oeuvres, Cheese Bar

Have fun and help Holy Name! Holy Name Parents' Association invites you to spend an evening sampling fine wines and beer. Proceeds from this event will provide desired upgrades to technology and communications. Tickets are $35 each or $60 per couple ($55 before Feb. 21). For more information, contact Traci Manzello at 508-523-3484 or tmanzello@aim.com .

Calling All Singers!

The Blackstone Valley Community Chorus is holding an Open Call for all new and returning members for its 2012 spring season. Open Call will take place on Sunday, February 26, at 6:30 PM in the Douglas Municipal Center Resource Room at 29 Depot Street in Douglas. There is a $30 membership fee. Please come join the fun and get ready to make beautiful music together! For more information, visit www.bvcchorus.org.

      Bible Study One Liners

Q.    Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A.    Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q.    Why was Moses the wickedest man?

A.    He broke all Ten Commandments at once.

Q.    During what season did Eve eat the forbidden fruit?

A.    Early in the fall.

Q.    Why couldn't Cain please God with his offering?

A.    He just wasn't Abel.

Give Your F irst Hour to God

Amount Needed to Meet Operating Expenses $4946

Weekend of Jan. 28 & 29

Income Available for Operating Expenses $4878

Regular $4755; Candles $23; Funeral $100

Other Income $197

Savings $36; New Day $161

Total $5075       Thank You

Number of envelopes 168

Diocese of Worcester Office of the Bishop

49 Elm Street

Worcester, Massachusetts 01609

My dear brothers & sisters in Christ:

     I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be of, by, and for the people, has just dealt a severe blow to almost a quarter of those people---the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic Church.

     The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic Employers,

will be forced to offer their employees health care coverage that includes sterilization, abortion inducing drugs and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those so-called services in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as part of their policies.

     In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics and people of other faiths our nation's first and most fundamental freedom, the free exercise of religion. As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences or to drop health coverage for our employees and suffer the penalties for doing so. The Administration's sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

     We cannot and we will not comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America's cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, only to have their descendants tripped of their God-given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust that the Church can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

     Therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community

of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; but with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this dangerous assault on religious liberty and how you can do something about it by contacting Congress in support of legislation that would reverse  the Administration's decision.

     With every prayerful best wish, I remain

                  Sincerely yours in Christ

                  Robert J. McManus

                  Most Reverend Robert J. McManus

                  Bishop of Worcester