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Parish Support 
Over the weekend of January 27th, our parish community contributed $5,567 in ordinary support, $94 for capital needs, $720 for Home Missions, and $676 for winter fuel. Phase 2 of winter fuel now stands at $7,596, and we received $2,240 in January for the Capital Improvement Fund. The next collection for our Capital Improvement Fund will be held . Thank you for your continued support! Welcome 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. Pastoral Visits 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. Wedding Banns 
2 - Anibal Cabral & Melody Dawson 2 - Chris Field & Lisa Sordoni Religious Education 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. Registration for Religious Education 2007 - 2008 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.
BIBLE STUDY Fr. O'Mara is starting a new 12 week Bible Study course, February 7th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the conference room. The theme is "Recovery" achieving healthy habits. We will study scripture to help people to recover and strengthen their minds and bodies. "I've tried so many diets and exercise plans, they either don't work or I don't stick with them. I hate what I see in the mirror. But what do I do? I feel like giving up." Join us for this experience in hearing the word of God. FUEL For THOUGHT In the month of January we begin phase 2 of our annual appeal for help with our fuel. We heat five buildings and we all know the high cost of energy at the present. Please be generous. We have already received one gift of $2,500 and another for $1,000. Thus far this heating season we have spent $28,289 for fuel, and we have received $11,467. Thanks for your continued generosity! LENT The sacred season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6th, and Easter is March 23rd. On Ash Wednesday, February 6th, Masses are at 7:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Blessing and distribution of ashes will be at these Masses only. Each Friday of Lent beginning February 8th we will have Stations of the Cross and Benediction at 3:30 p.m. Each Sunday beginning February 10th we will have Evening Prayer and Benediction at 5:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat for those 14 years old or older. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting (three meals only – nothing but liquids between meals) for those between 18-59 years of age. Pro Life "The Old and the New Testaments are filled with passages extolling children as a gift and blessing. It is disheartening, therefore, to see how far our culture has diverged from that view. There was no confusion [in the story of Mary and Elizabeth] as to what and who nested under their mothers' hearts. Yet 2,000 years later, many well educated people do not know — or claim they do not know — the truth about human life before birth." Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, Southern Cross, 10/11/07 DAY OF PRAYER The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are holding a day of prayer for women at Presentation Convent on Saturday, February 23rd. Sr. Patricia Dowler and Sr. Maureen Hickey will be the presenters. The topic is "A Time to Heal" and 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. Free will offerings are accepted. To register contact Sr. Brian 978-537-7108 or Sr. Maureen 978-790-0056. The registration deadline is February 15th. Space is limited. ART OF DIVINE MERCY A program featuring the Art of Divine Mercy will be held at St. Camillus Church, Fitchburg, on Saturday, February 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Admission is free but a love offering will be appreciated. Presenters are Tommy Canning and Allan Canning from Scotland. Bring your own lunch. CONFERENCE A day-long conference on End Times with Carol Ameche and John Neary will be held on March 15th, at the Bethel Retreat House, 82 Mechanic Street, Fitchburg, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cost is $50 per person and you are asked to bring a bagged lunch. RSVP with payment to Marline Crooks, PO Box 2291, Fitchburg, or call 978-345-5710. Volunteer Opportunities Catholic Charities Family & Community Services, 196 Mechanic St., Leominster To volunteer call 978-840-0696 They need help with:
TAX RECEIPTS 2007 tax receipts for church contributions are now available. Anyone wishing a receipt is asked to call the rectory at 978-537-7257. A THOUGHT FROM CARDINAL NEWMAN "God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. "Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an archangel in His. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons; He has not created me for naught. "I will do His work, while not intending it, if I but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him. My sickness, my perplexity, my sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond me. "He does nothing in vain; He knows what He is about." Fish Fry The annual Lenten Fish Fry, held on the Fridays of Lent, will be held at Madonna of the Holy Rosary Church, 118 Theresa Street, Fitchburg beginning February 8th at 4:30 p.m. Baked or fried Haddock, Potato, Macaroni & Cheese, Coleslaw, Rolls & Butter, Corn or Fish Chowder. Desserts, Coffee, Soda, Beer & Wine are available for purchase. Everyone is invited to attend. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 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?" Please Give Blood The American Red Cross Blood Donor Center opens at the Leominster Elks, 134 North Main Street every Tuesday from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. Give the Gift of Life! Building Fund 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 24 donors pledge $2,500 over five years, we will attain our goal. |
Food Drive Our Saint Vincent de Paul Society and Catholic Charities will be collecting food, and canned goods for distribution to those in need . Your monetary donations and donations of canned goods and other non-perishable food items allow us to help many needy families of our Parish each month. Please bring your donations to the back of the Church before Mass. Thank you for your generosity. New Parishoners Are you new in Leominster or unaffiliated with a Catholic parish here? If so, please consider joining St. Leo's Parish. We always welcome new parishioners and feel it very important to show a warmth and openness to new individuals or families. Please take the time to register at St. Leo's rectory. We should have the pertinent personal information about you and your family. You can even add or update your information online!
Be Alert! The movie, The Golden Compass, was released late 2007 throughout the U.S. and translated into 32 different languages. The movie is based on a trilogy, His Dark Materials. The author, Phillip Pullman has said in an interview that this trilogy concentrates upon this theme: "I Want to Kill God in the Minds of children...I want them to decide against God and the Kingdom of heaven" quote from Phillip Pullman. The Golden Compass, a sanitized version of the book, wants to have children and young people rebel against parents, teachers, the Church, and anyone in authority. Please avoid going to the movie and call your local theater and ask them not to show the movie. 8TH ANNUAL DIOCESAN CATHOLIC MEN'S CONFERENCE All parish men, as well as their sons, brothers, fathers and friends are invited to this great annual Conference, scheduled for Worcester's DCU Center, on Saturday, March 8th. Hear dynamic talks from outstanding Catholic leaders: Dr. Ray Guarendi ('Why Be Catholic?'), Professor Russell Stannard ('Cosmology: Room for a Creator?'); Father John Riccardo ('Confession: A Fireside Chat with the Lord'); John Martignoni ('A Re-Conversion Story'); Thomas H. Powell, Ph.D. ('Different Gifts But the Same Spirit: How We Are Called to Lead'). Bishop McManus will offer the conference Mass. Diocesan priests and bishops will hear confessions. Tickets are $35 and the parish will pay $20, attendees $15, youth tickets are $20 & the parish will pay $10. Please register by February 15th by calling the rectory 537-7257 or our parish representative Doug Bonin 978-534-7019. BLESSING OF THROATS & BOY SCOUT SUNDAY Sunday, February 3rd, is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Feast of St. Blaise. We will have the traditional blessing of throats after all Masses. It is also Boy Scout Sunday and the Scouts will be with us for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Pray For Please remember in your prayers our parishioners who are on active duty in our military and others commended to our prayers.
If you have other soldiers that you wish parishioners to pray for, please contact the rectory. Bible Study On six Wednesday mornings in Lent from February 13th to March 19th, Fr. John Doran will lead a Bible Study on the "Passion Accounts in the Four Gospels." The meetings will be in the new conference room from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. for the six weeks. All are welcome. Adopt a Seminarian The Serra Club of Worcester North invites St. Leo parishioners to adopt a seminarian of our diocese by sending a card or note and letting him know we care. The designated seminarian is: BIBLE STUDY COURSE Seven weeks from January 23rd to March 5th on Wednesday evenings, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Saint Cecilia's Parish Center. Topic: The Prophecies Concerning Jesus in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. This course is open to all interested in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. Food Stamps New eligibility information about Food Stamps Did you know that there is no asset limit for families with children under the age of 19 years old who apply and that a family of four can make up to $3,442 per month gross & many legal immigrants are now eligible! (Pending certain criteria) You can apply for food stamps online or call 866-950-FOOD. Open Gym Now that we have our new gymnasium, we will be opening it up for open gym basketball (for starters – maybe others sports as interest develops). We will have an open gym on Tuesdays for women from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. and Wednesdays for men from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. These times are for ages 15 and above. St. Leo's School Snowball Raffle Snowball Calendars are on sale now and are $10 each. Daily cash drawings will be held during the month of January for an opportunity to win the daily cash prizes. All tickets including winning tickets are entered daily for 31 chances to win during January 2008. Please cut off the St. Leo's Annual Snowball Raffle ticket and return it along with a check made out to St. Leo’s School (St. Leo’s School, 129 Main Street, Leominster) for $10 per calendar. Tickets may be returned to the school or put into the collection basket in church. Please make returns before December 31st to be eligible for 31 days in January. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone special. Additional snowball calendars can be ordered by calling school at 978-537-1007 or 978-537-0142. Thanks for your continued support!! ST. LEO SCHOOL SNOWBALL RAFFLE WINNERS
Jan 1 - David Putnam - $50.00 RCIA 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. St. Leo's Adult Choir 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. Same Sex Marriage As Boston's Archbishop Sean O'Malley has stated: "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." Call the Senate clerk or our State Senator Robert Antonioni, at 617-722-2356 or the House clerk or our state representative, Representative Jennifer L. Flanagan, at 617-722-2356 to register your opinion. Marriage Encounter A Get-Away Weekend!!! Do you need a vacation? Give yourself and your spouse time away from the pressures of work and everyday responsibilities. Enjoy a chance to talk and listen to that special someone who loves you! Enrich your relationship by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. It's a great time to rekindle communication and enjoy a weekend away. Upcoming dates are coming soon. For more information call: Ray & Beth 1-800-710-WWME or visit www.wwmema.org. Marriage Many Massachusetts state representatives and senators have remarked that a simple phone call is the most effective form of expressing your personal opinion. Call your state representative and state senator to express your personal support for the institution of marriage between a man and a woman. They can be reached at 617-722-2000 or visit www.voteonmarriage.org and click 'COMMUNICATE' to find your state legislator's name and direct telephone number. Pro Life Since the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy, almost 50 million unborn American children have been killed by abortion. More unborn children die every year than Americans died in all the nation's wars combined. |
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134 North Main Street, Leominster, from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. each Tuesday. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-462-4101 Ext. 120 No Appointment Needed - Walk-Ins Welcome! The next drive is Remember, you can give blood every 56 days so, you can give blood again TODAY if you last gave blood before . 
Give the Gift of Life - Give Blood |
Five Biotech - 381 Plantation Street - Suite 110 Worcester, MA 01605 508-791-7444 or 1-800-462-4101 | ||
(No Appointment Required) Call for additional dates and times. | ||
1:00 - 8:00 p.m. |
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | |
(Appointment and Pre-Screening Required) | ||
12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. |
8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. |
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http://www.stleosparish.org/archive/2008/20080203.htm • Last Updated - 2 February 2008
