Over the weekend of November 11th, our parish community contributed $5,997 in ordinary support, $30 for phase 1 of winter fuel, and $2,081 for the Capital Improvement Fund.

Our fuel collection now stands at $4,217.

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®

The weekend of November 18th, we receive donations for the Campaign for Human Development.

This annual appeal helps people rise above the poverty line by funding programs that focus on the root causes of poverty - 75% of donations go to the national office and 25% remain in our diocese.

Please be generous.

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

Risk is a part of life, an action we can choose to take. Those now living and growing in their mother’s womb inhabit a place that has become more dangerous than any battlefield or terrorist target. Their lives hang in the balance every moment. They did not choose their risk; someone else chose it for them. Are we willing to risk defending unborn children?

(Father Frank Pavone, Priests for Life 2/07)

The Sisters of the Presentation are holding a day of prayer for women at Presentation Convent, 99 Church Street, Leominster on Saturday, December 1st.

Sr. Catherine Hannigan & Sr. Mary Barbara Hobbs will be the presenters. The topic is "Prepare the way of the Lord."

The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with refreshments and will end by 3:00 p.m. There will be an opportunity for quiet reflection and sharing. Lunch will be included.

Call Sr. Brian at 978-537-7108 or Sr. Maureen at 978-790-0056 to register. Space is limited and registration deadline is November 23rd.

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!

The National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette on Rte. 118 in Attleboro, MA, announces the 2007 Christmas Festival of Lights from November 22nd - January 1st, 2008.

The illuminations will be from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. daily, celebrating the religious traditions of the Christmas season.

This year’s Festival of Lights celebrates the Shrine’s 54th Anniversary with the theme: "Love is Born."

There are over 250,000 lights on 17 decorated acres. Gift shop hours are 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. daily.

Call 508-222-5410 for more information or on the web at National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette

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.

Join us at St. Anthony parish hall, 14 Phoenix Street, Shirley on Saturday, November 24th from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

This year they have a wonderful selection of juried crafters offering a wide variety of handmade items. A Continental Breakfast and lunch will be served.

The 2008 schedule book for Mass Intentions opened recently. Please come soon 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.

Catholic Charities Family & Community Services, 196 Mechanic St., Leominster

To volunteer call 978-840-0696

We need help with:

• Material Assistance: working with staff in assisting those in need of food, clothing and/or furniture.
• Maintenance: tending to the indoor/outdoor needs of the Catholic Charities office.
• Purchase: materials for agency use and items needed for distribution to clients.
• Clerical /Receptionist: provide coverage for secretarial staff during periods of intense work load and relief to staff during breaks and vacations.
• Friendly Visitation: provide services to elderly persons including letter writing, advocacy and Escort services. Outreach is through home visits and telephone reassurance calls

Wednesday, December 5th there will be a presentation on Medjugorje at St. Camillus Parish in Fitchburg at 7:00 p.m. by Kathleen Jordan.

Kathleen has been to Medjugorje nine times and is planning another trip for the spring of 2008.

Please come and learn about how Blessed Mother has been allegedly appearing in this little hamlet which is situated between two mountains in Bosnia/Hercegovina.

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

Of Worcester North is an organization of laymen and laywomen who pray for and promote vocations to priesthood and religious life.

They ask this week that we pray for the perseverance of vocations and ask us to remember Fathers Doran, Bruso, Liistro, Chalmers, Laperle, and Jurgelonis.

Remember that vocations are everyone’s business.

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.

Our Mass of Thanksgiving week will be at 8:00 a.m. in the church.

Eucharist means “Thanksgiving”. What better way to begin our national holiday than joining the parish community at Mass.

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.

Is holding a "Round-Up" Campout on Saturday, November 24th at the Leominster Sportsmen's Picnic Area on Elm St. from 12:00 - 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. All boys ages 10-17 and their parents are welcome.

Learn how to pitch a tent, start a campfire, tie knots & other "Wicked Cool" stuff that Boy Scouts do! Hot dogs are free, you can cook ’em on a stick. Try our secret recipe for homemade French fries & fried dough in a Dutch Oven. Webelos, Cub Scouts & parents are welcome to visit too.

Boys can camp overnight with us with a signed medical permission form & a warm sleeping bag. Call Mr. O’Leary at 978-537-2642 or Mr Salisbury at 978-537-7950 for more details.

Troop ll meets weekly at St. Leo’s Auditorium on Thursday nights from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. If you’d like to develop Fitness, Character & Citizenship while on Great Outdoor Adventures, come on down & check it out! This year in addition to regular camping trips, we’re planning to go Whitewater Rafting & Camp Over on a real Battleship too!

St. Leo School & Parish Holiday Fair will be held Friday, November 16th from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 17th from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Special features will include Crafts, Holiday Baked Goods, Money Tree Raffle, Chinese Auction, Cash Raffle, Theme Basket Raffles, Pot Luck & Children’s games & crafts.

For your enjoyment we will have Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Homemade Pizza, Hot Dogs & Apple Crisp.

Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. we will have Italian foods and a Santa Story Hour at 11:00 a.m.

Come and join us for a lot of fun.

The Leominster Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held Sunday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Pilgrim Congregational Church.

Let us join our friends from different traditions in offering our prayers of gratitude.

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.

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?"