Charlestown Catholic Collaborative

Remembering Loved Ones Who Have Gone To God

At all of our Masses on the weekend of December 13 and 14, we will have a Ritual of Remembrance for all of our loved ones who have gone to God. At the conclusion of Mass, you are invited to place one sand dollar in memory of your loved ones on the Parish Christmas tree.

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The 8am Daily Mass is offered Monday through Friday at St. Catherine of Siena Chapel.

Pretty in Pink… No, Wait, Rose!

December on our liturgical calendar brings about many celebrations before we even get to Christmas! This weekend we have a couple of celebrations to come together and share in joyous song! First, we celebrate the third weekend of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday! This celebration began in the 5th or 6th century and got its name because for the 3rd week the entrance antiphon, otherwise a fancy name for what
we call a chant, short in length, for either the Entrance or Communion processional. The antiphon for the third week of Advent in Latin, Gaudete in Domino semper, which translates to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
This week during Advent is a respite from the penitential aspects of Advent, otherwise known as what Fr. John would say: looking up and ahead to the birth of Christ. This celebratory Sunday is also reflected in the colors of Fr. John’s and Fr. Felix’s vestments, which I like to refer to as the “pink week.” However, it’s not pink, but the color rose, and not all clergy began wearing rose vestments until the 12th or 13th century! The color change in vestments and the candle on our Advent wreaths also symbolizes a light in the darkness.
· Secondly, at St. Mary–St. Catherine’s, we traditionally have come together with the Spanish community to further celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, which takes place on December 12th. Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the Virgin Mary, appeared on December 9–12 of 1531 at the location of where Mexico City sits today. On these dates the Virgin Mary appeared to a gentleman by the name of Juan Diego. In her visits with him she asked that a church be constructed to bring “comfort, compassion, and help” to the people. Juan ran to Bishop Zumárraga with the news, who then in turn asked for a
sign that this was true. Later, in another one of St. Mary’s apparitions to Juan, she asked that he go and collect Castilian roses, a flower that does not grow at that location. Upon Juan’s second visit to the bishop, he opened his coat (Tilma) and Castilian roses poured out, and Mary’s image revealed itself on that very same coat. This day is also known as the “Miracle of Roses” (see, we are still going with the theme of roses, and who doesn’t love a good theme!). Then, in 1999, Pope St. John Paul II named Our
Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of the Americas! To further celebrate this special day, at the 11:00 Mass we will sing the gathering hymn Las Apariciones Guadalupanas,
which you can sing along with using the text below. The hymn tells the story of St. Mary and Juan Diego and is set to a rather catchy tune!
After the 11:00 Mass, all are cordially invited for refreshments to celebrate in the lower church. Come one, come all!

 
John Volpe

SUNDAY, December 7 at 3 pm

The Annual Christmas Concert With the Beatrice Mastersingers

On Dec. 7th a concert featuring the Beatrice MasterSingers, a distinguished ensemble within the Dee Opera Company (pictured here) was held at St. Mary Church and sponsored by the Friends of the Charlestown Library and St Mary- St Catherine of Siena Parish. The concert was free with a suggestion of donations to Harvest on Vine Food Pantry. The concert raised $2,007.
Thank you to all who participated—singers, guests and sponsors!