ST. JOSEPH’S-MOTHER CHURCH OF THE BERKSHIRES

December 25th—NO CLASS — Merry Christmas! January 1st—No CLASS —Happy New Year! January 8th -Classes resume

CHRISTMAS EVE Sat., December 24th —Mass at 4:00 PM and Midnight with music before starting

at 11:30 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY Sun., December 25th-Mass at 10:00 AM

NEW YEARS WEEKEND Masses will follow our regular schedule

The angel said to them, “Do not be

afraid.” I bring you

good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of

David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord—-Luke

2:10-11

On behalf of Fr.

Mike, Bishop

McDonnell and Fr.

Geoff, Thank You to

all for your

kindnesses and

generosity.

May you have a Blessed Christmas

and Happy New Year!

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Sat., Dec. 24th

4:00 PM Sat., Dec. 24th

MIDNIGHT Sun., 25th

10:00 AM Kay Tournier Joe Ryan Anne Dunham Cheryl Furtek Judy Sayers Mary Huska

Sheila Christiana Ron Sayers Charles Knappe Marie Kotowicz Bernadette Scapin Jim McNeice

Sheila Bouquet Lillian Trzepacz Michael Wood Joe Bourquard Jeff Vincent Daniel Kochapski Paula Dodds Sharon Vincent J. Weatherwax

LECTORS

Jim Armstrong Bob Cancilla Anna Stack

Mardi Fezzi Anne Kozlowski Robert Bouquet

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, PITTSFIELD, MA December 25, 2016

THE ANNUAL 12TH NIGHT The 56th celebration of the

festival will begin at the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Church on Jan. 7, 2017, followed

immediately with dinner and dancing at the ITAM Lodge. Dennis and Kimberly Egan are the chairmen for this celebration of the

coming of Three Kings. Tickets can be obtained at the St. Joseph Rectory through

December 28th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticket price is $35.

Meals selections are roast sirloin of beef, baked stuffed chicken, and baked stuffed haddock and must be made at the time of

purchase. Seating reservations may be made by calling Lou Ann at 447-7911. Tables are set for 8 but can be arranged for up to 10

people. Tickets make nice stocking stuffers.

ST. MARK’S PARISH COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Presents two of the Original Harlem Globetrotters, featuring Kevin

Showboat Jackson and Kenny Blenda Rodriguez, with DJ Master of Sounds Eddie Brown. The day includes great

family fun and entertainment, exercise, skills, clinics, games, dancing, and a

positive take home message. The event will take place on Saturday, January 7, 2017, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Taconic High School gymnasium on Valentine Rd. in

Pittsfield. The cost will be $1 for children and $5 for adults. You can call

ahead for tickets at 413-447-7510 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. or buy your

ticket at the door.

TRIP TO REYKJAVIK, ICELAND Msgr. Mike and the St. Joseph Parish invite you to travel with them to Iceland this May from the 4th to the 10th, 2017.Non-stop from Boston to Reykjavik. $2,750. Per person. Travel from Pittsfield will be provided. Information meeting Jan. 8, 2017 in the North Chapel at St. Joseph’s Church.

Faith communities wouldn’t exist without the generosity of their members. Now, donating to the church has never been easier. Even if you can’t attend mass each week, visit us at www.stjoepittsfield.com and sign up for WeShare online giving. Eliminate the need for writing checks, choose a payment option that works for you, easily adjust the amount of recurring

donations and if your traveling, you can still donate while away from home. Your support of St. Joseph’s Parish is greatly appreciated!

The rectory will be

closed Monday,

December 26th.

There will be no

12:10 Mass.

Readings for the Week of December 25, 2016 Sunday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14

Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31/Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97/Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124/Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96/Lk 2:22-35

Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Ps 128/Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96/Jn 1:1-18

Next Sunday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21

Saturday, December 24th

For the Parish

For the Parish

4:00 PM Midnight Mass

Sunday, December 25th

Shershanovich & Bosinger

Families

10:00 AM

Monday, December 26th NO MASS

Tuesday, December 27th

Natalia Obdhkowska

Requested by Teresa & Family

12:10 PM

Wednesday, December 28th

Special Intention

12:10 PM

Thursday, December 29th

Natalia Obdhkowska

Requested by Teresa & Family

12:10 PM

Friday, December 30th

Deceased Members of Holy Family

12:10 PM

Saturday, December 31st

Mary Daley

Requested by Family

4:00 PM

Sunday, January 1st

Carlo Cataldo —53rd Anniversary

Requested by Family

For the Parish

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

DECEMBER 25, 2016 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Today we celebrate that

the prophetic dream of St. Joseph was fulfilled! Jesus is born! A Savior has come

to deliver us--Emmanuel, "God is with us." Christmas is a feast of fulfillment, a holiday of deep and enduring happiness not only

because God became man and was born of a woman, but because along with his

Incarnation, God brought us freedom. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who sets us free from the misery of our own sins.

This is the ultimate gift of Christmas Day. We exchange gifts today as a sign of our

love for one another to be sure, but also as a concrete, visible way to celebrate the gift that we have first received from God. We

are free people! We are not slaves but rather the children of God whose priceless inheritance is to dwell in his kingdom for all

eternity. On this most festive day of the year, we are invited to exult in this fact and spare little effort or expense to show our

gratitude and joy. We only must be careful not to reduce our celebrating today to

something less glorious, something less meaningful, or less profound. This is no

mere secular holiday. This is not just a ritual of family gatherings, elaborate evergreen

trees and sumptuous meals. Christmas is a holy day and as Christians it is our day in a most definite and undeniable way. The treats and trimmings are all signs that remind us of what lies ahead for those who accept the real gift of Jesus Christ: an unending banquet of eternal delights and divine gifts that will never fail to satisfy.

Yes, Christmas is a little taste of heaven, the perfect gift that lies in wait for those who

love the Lord.

MASS INTENTIONS

Christmas – December 25, 2016 God continues to send messengers to

announce good news. Who will listen and tell the story to others? (Luke 2:15-20). If you think God is calling you, call Fr. Gary

Dailey at 413 452-0811, or email at g.dailey@diospringfield.org. Website:

www.myvocation.com

Prayer of Intercession: For all Christians, may the good news of Jesus’ incarnation inspire us to share this message in word

and deed, we pray to the Lord…