Author: Fr. Mahoney (Page 1 of 31)

I hope that your time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday was blessed and enjoyable.  Now, as the seasons of Advent and the Nativity of the Lord approach, we prepare our hearts to emulate God’s sharing with us the gift of His Son.

Sharing resources was the theme of the Parish Outreach Committee’s recent meetings.  This year, again, the Committee, acting on behalf of the parish community, is partnering with the Rotary Club’s Community Chest Program to help meet needs within our community.  In addition to helping provide food and prepared meals during Thanksgiving and Christmas,  “The Giving Tree” will be erected once again in the narthex of the church, adorned with ornaments designating with-list items such as clothing, footwear, toys, books, arts and crafts, and other hoped-for items for children in the Lincoln, Woodstock, and Thornton area.  Please stop by the tree to see how you can help meet the needs of these children and families during this Advent/Christmas Season.  (Shopping-free options are available for those who wish to avoid crowded stores.)  To adopt and provide gifts and dinner for an entire family at Christmas, please contact Stuart Anderson (sanderson@albaarchitects.com), a member of both the Community Chest program and the St. Joseph Parish Outreach Committee, to make arrangements for delivery of gifts, clothing, and Christmas dinner.  

In addition to be a very spiritual and charitable way of celebrating Advent, loving one’s neighbor reflects the love of God in the community.  To that end, the Committee has provided donations to the Knights of Columbus’ “Tootsie Roll Drive” to help individuals with intellectual challenges, Haven Pregnancy Center, Pathways Pregnancy Center, New England Disabled Sports, and Vets Rest Stop.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Advent and Christmas seasons, praying daily with Scripture is a meaningful way to focus on the holy and miraculous events being celebrated.  Please enjoy a complimentary copy of “Waiting in Joyful Hope 2022-2023,” available at the doors of the church.

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney

The collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is this weekend.  The CCHD is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. When you support CCHD, you continue the Church tradition of welcoming immigrants and defending the rights of the poor and marginalized. Your contribution helps not only those communities along the U.S. border and in big cities but also neighbors in your community, because 25% of your contribution stays in our diocese.  Please prayerfully consider how you can support this collection and support those working on the margins. More information about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development can be found at www. usccb.org/cchd.

Thank you for your generosity!

“Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon them.”

The month of November will be dedicated to the souls of our faithful departed and can be remembered specifically with envelopes located in the pews, and dropped in the offertory baskets, throughout the month.
Remembrances may also be listed in the Book of Intentions
and our prayers, on their behalf, we implore, might be received by Almighty God in a special way during celebrations of Holy Mass.

Father John Mahoney

     God has given each of us a mission “to ‘go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’ (Mk 16:15)” (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 181). Our relationship with God leads to the desire to build a world focused upon dignity, respect, justice, and peace. We are called to pursue the common good and make choices in political life based not on what will be most advantageous to us personally, but rather what is in the best interest of society as a whole. And when we think about society as a whole, we pay    special attention to those who are in most need of our compassion and help.
For more information about casting your vote,   visit the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester:  www.catholicnh.org