Over the weekend of October 28th, our parish community contributed $6,365 in ordinary support, $107 for capital needs, and $30 for phase 1 of winter fuel.

In October we received $2,692 for the Capital Improvement Fund and phase 1 of winter fuel is now at $3,842.

Our fuel collection now stands at $3,812.

The next collection for our Capital Improvement Fund will be held .

Thank you for your continued support!

You enter this Church... not as a stranger, but as a guest of God. God is your heavenly Father. Come, then, with joy in your heart and thanks on your lips into God's presence, offering God your love and service.

Be grateful to the strong and the loyal ones who, in the name of Jesus Christ, built this place of worship and to all who have beautified it and hallowed it with their prayers and praise.

Ask God's blessing on those who live this house of faith as the inspiration of their labor, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, and may that blessing rest on you, both on your going out and your coming in.

If there are parishioners who are homebound, in a nursing facility, or in the hospital and who wish pastoral visits and Holy Communion, please contact the Rectory by calling 978-537-7257.

We rely on parishioners to notify us if there are patients to be visited. Please keep the Rectory informed.

Due to the new confidentiality guidelines for Leominster hospital, the hospital will no longer be able to notify us when parishioners are in the hospital. Unless you specifically ask the chaplain to contact us, we will not know of your admission.

Therefore, we ask that you please call us if you would like a visit while in the hospital. If you anticipate a stay in the hospital, please let us know so we can keep you in our prayers.

Grades 1-6 meet on Saturday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Grades 7-11 meet on Monday nights from 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Medeiros at 978-537-7257 or 978-537-1194.

If you are new to our parish program, please call the rectory 978-537-7257 to request a registration form or you can download a form.

Religious Education Calendar.

The files above require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®

Recently our parish received an anonymous gift of $45,671 for the Building Fund. We are most grateful.

This was a donation of stocks and affords donors another method of giving.

St. Bernard’s Elementary School, 254 Summer Street, Fitchburg will open its fair on Friday, November 9th from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. & Saturday, November 10th from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Join them for food, crafts, booths, games, and more. Any crafter interested in renting space can contact the school at 978-342-1948.

AND...

St. Cecilia Parish also open its fair on Friday, November 9th from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 10th from 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday night spaghetti & meatballs will be served & Saturday, a beef stew dinner. There will also be Poutines, Rapee, Fricot, & lots of baked goods. Chinese Auction, $4,000 Raffle, theme baskets, crafts, indoor flea market, and lots of games, face painting and a visit from Santa and live music. Join the fun!

AND...

Holy Family of Nazareth Parish will hold a holiday fair on Saturday, November 10th from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

There will be crafts, raffles, baked goods, children’s games and Santa at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome – come and have fun.

Please remember in your prayers our parishioners who are on active duty in our military and others commended to our prayers.

• LTC Francis Burns
• SGT Andrew Ciprotti
• MAJ Arthur Elbthal
• 1LT Ryan Hamel
• CPT Matthew James
• M.C.P.O. Jean Paul Lambert
• PV2 Jarred Merriam
• LCDR Shane Sullivan
• LTC Michael Tarsa

If you have other soldiers that you wish parishioners to pray for, please contact the rectory.

Are you getting married soon? Consider joining us on January 4th - 6th, 2008 at the Marist House, Framingham, MA.

This is a special weekend designed to give couples planning marriage an opportunity to dialogue honestly about their prospective lives together. Through a series of talks you discuss your desires, ambitions, goals and attitudes about money, children, family, as well as your role in the Church and society.

Moreover this weekend would fulfill the instructional requirements of the Diocese for marriage preparation.

Contact Joe or Barbara O’Connor at 978-422-6612 or by e-mail with questions. You may register at the above e-mail or at Catholic Engaged Encounter

Is a two-hour workshop to provide training and information for parishes and parish clusters interested in establishing or renewing an effective pro-life ministry.

It will be held on Sunday, November 11th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at St. Camillus Parish Hall, 333 Mechanic Street, Fitchburg. If interested, please contact Fr. Doran.

Thanks to our new building and its conference room, Fr. Doran will be offering a six-week daytime Bible study on the Gospel of Mark beginning Wednesday, October 17th from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Attendees are asked to bring their bibles and park in the new lot to the left of the rectory.

All are invited!

1. Sunday, November 11th (6:30 - 10:00 p.m.) – Faith through the Lens: Reflection of God & Us in Movies: "Babette’s Feast" facilitated by Ernie Rivard, Retreat Director.
2. Tuesday, November 13th (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.) – Looking at Christ: "What Does Art Tell Us About Jesus". Facilitator, Fr. Malcolm Cornwell, CG.
3. Wednedsay, November 14th (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) Mornings for Women with Sr. Joanne Fahey, CP.

For more information & to register call 508-842-8821 ext. 313. Pre-registration required for all programs.

We are beginning a new training cycle for altar servers at St. Leo’s. Any boy or girl in grade 4 or above is welcome to participate.

Please call Fr. Doran at the rectory 978-537-7257. Classes will begin soon.

Available position: C.N.A./Responsible Person - Medication Pass Certified

PHCC is a small, nonprofit, 10 bed rest home, serving the Sisters of the Presentation in Leominster.

Please come in and fill out an application or call nurse manager, Sr. Maureen Hickey, at 978-537-7856

The 2008 schedule book for Mass Intentions will open on Wednesday, November 7th at 8:00 a.m. Please come during the first week in order to assure certain dates and times for next year.

Masses may be scheduled between 8:00 - 3:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

The Daughters of Isabella #44 will meet on Monday, November 12th at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Fitchburg at 2:00 p.m.

Reservations for the Christmas Luncheon will be taken (December 6th).

Audrey Santo of Worcester, lived for 20 years "in a coma-like state, unable to move or speak." Even in this powerless condition, her life touched many.

Speaking at her funeral, Fr. Emmanuel McCarthy said, "Audrey in flesh and blood presents the world with an inescapable either/or choice – either every person is loved by God and possesses intrinsic value or all are of no account. As humanity decides the value of the least, it decides its own temporal and eternal future."

   The Southern Cross, 4/26/07

Our St. Leo's Parish Building Fund Campaign continues and we have now reached toward our goal of $1.6 million. THANKS!

At present we have received gifts with many potential donors still being solicited. Please consider the "Tree of Life" memorial.

If 32 donors pledge $2,500 over five years, we will attain our goal.

The Leominster Veterans Council will sponsor a wreath placing ceremony at Monument Square on Sunday, November 11th at 10:30 a.m. followed by ceremonies at City Hall.

There will be a memorial brick dedication at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Park. Old or tattered American flags will be burned at the conclusion of the Carter Park ceremony.

Please bring the flags for disposal to the Veterans’ office at City Hall or the Center at 100 Main Street.

St. John’s High School is holding their entrance exam on Saturday, November 19th at 8:30 a.m.

See their web site or contact admissions at 508-842-8934 for further information.

Thursday, November 8th, 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Four Points in Leominster, St. Paul Catholic School Consortium will sponsor a Celebration Dinner.

The dinner will recognize the importance of the parochial schools in North Worcester Country and will benefit a scholarship fund for students.

The Reverend William P. Leahy, SJ, President of Boston College will be the featured speaker. Tickets are $100 and can be obtained through Norman Boudreau of the IC Credit Union at 978-343-3725.

Are you a non-Catholic interested in becoming a Catholic? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the Sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and or Confirmation? Do you need Confirmation before marriage?

If so, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is geared especially to you. Beginning in September, it comprises classes and prayer experiences every other Tuesday and culminates with the Sacraments at Easter.

Please consider prayerfully your call to join us and contact Fr. Doran at 978-537-7257.

Our choir is looking for new voices and for people who love liturgy and love to sing. Please come forward and join our choir at rehearsals on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. and singing at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays.

St. Benedict said, "Whoever sings prays twice." Please lift your voice in praising the Lord.

"Marriage as the union between one man and one woman must be approved on its own merits. Joining this amendment to the issue of civil unions deprives the people an opportunity to express their views on marriage. Citizens have that right. Linking the two coerces people in a way that is unfair. Voting on them respects the will of the public."

On Fridays, beginning after the 7:00 a.m. Mass and concluding with Benediction at 4:00 p.m.

Parishioners are needed to be present with the Eucharist during the day. Please call the rectory to give us a time slot when you can visit with Our Lord.

Parishioners are asked to volunteer to spend an hour or a half-hour in Church because the exposed Blessed Sacrament should never be unattended.

Remember the words of Jesus to His Apostles, "Could you not watch one hour with me?"