St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish St. Mary Parish

1 St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish St. Mary Parish St. Martin Church Holy Trinity Church St. Mary Church 120 Maple Street 404 High Street 411 Church Street Somersworth Somersworth Rollinsford P 2 J 16, 2022 J 23, 2022. If you want to help support this important work you can do so by bringing non perishable food items any This weekend I want to take a few moments to do week to church. Bins are located in or near the en- two things. trances of each of our churches. Although it flies largely under the radar this important work of area First to thank our wonderful Parish staff and vol- communities of faith makes a huge difference to unteers for making our Christmas season so beau- families struggling in our local community.

2 I am tiful. In every way our churches proclaimed the proud to say area communities of faith, including our beauty of the Incarnation, everything from the own, help to lead local efforts to help those in need. decorations and environment to the sacred mu- sic. Christmas in the Parish was indeed a family Finally, thank you to everyone who calls St. Ignatius effort where everyone took part. Even the beauti- and St. Mary parishes home. Your generous support ful flowers were given in memory of loved ones makes all we do possible. I do not know what 2022. and deceased family members. I would be re- holds, but what I do know is whatever it will bring miss if I did not acknowledge the Herculean ef- we will face it together with faith, hope, dignity, forts of Deacon Dave and his wife Ebbe and fam- grace and as one family.

3 Ily in organizing and preparing the Christmas Day dinner, with the wonderful support of volun- ~Fr. Andrew teers and benefactors. Secondly I want to thank everyone who extended their Christmas wishes and generosity to me this Christmas. I am truly overwhelmed by your kindness and so grateful at being here. Bandit wishes to also extend his gratitude for his cards and Christmas greetings. He would have extend- ed them himself but he is sleeping on the couch. He has had a busy morning of napping after all. This week we begin the week of Christian unity. The week when the Church stops to pray for uni- ty among all Christian peoples. The separation and division of Christian peoples is a source of sadness, for God calls us to be one.

4 During this week in a special way it is time for us not only to pray for unity but also to acknowledge and sup- port those efforts that bring Christians together. One way we do that is by our efforts to support local food pantry's. In Somersworth the food pantry is a joint effort of different communities of faith. It is housed in the basement of First Par- ish just down the street from St. Martin church. We are blessed to have a very dedicated team of volunteers who help there each week. One area we need help in is encouraging people to donate food for the food pantry each week. We all have felt the pinch of rising food prices. Our food pantries in Somersworth and Rollinsford always are in need of help.

5 A huge thanks is in order to everyone who has been so generous in bringing food each week. P 3 S S O T . Seminarian Fund Collection This Weekend The annual Seminarian Fund collection will be taken up this weekend, January 15 and 16, and 100% of every dollar you give goes toward supporting the education and formation of our young men studying for the priesthood. Please prayerfully consider mak- ing a donation to the Seminarian Fund using your Parish envelopes or through the diocesan website, and please continue to pray for our seminarians and for vocations in the Diocese of Manchester. Two of our young parishioners, Logan Murphy and Dierk Peretti both just got into STA!

6 ! Congratulations to both of you!! Thiss Week'ss Readingss Monday: 1 Sm 15:16-23; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mk 2:18-22. Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89:20, 21-22, 27-28; Mk 2:23-28. Wednesday: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10; Mk 3:1-6 Prayer for Vocations Thursday: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13; Mk 3:7-12. Friday: 1 Sm 24:3-21; Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6, 11; Mk 3:13- Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disci- 19 ples to make them fishers of men, let your Saturday: 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; Ps 80:2-3, sweet invitation continue to resound: Come, 5-7; Mk 3:20-21 follow Me! Sunday: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15; 1. Cor 12:12-30 or 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14- 21 Give young men and women the grace of re- sponding quickly to Your voice.

7 Prayer Partners It is that time of year Support our bishops, priests, and consecrat- when we a looking for ed people in their apostolic labor. Prayer Partners for people going through Grant perseverance to our seminarians and the RCIA process. to all those who are carrying out the ideal of This is for people who a life totally consecrated to Your service. are preparing to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. This is a great ministry for Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of those who would like to minister to others in every vocation, help us to say "Yes" to the a powerful way through prayer. If you would Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine like to sign up to be a prayer partner, there plan of salvation.

8 Are signup sheets at the entrances of the church. In a few weeks you will receive a let- Amen. ter and prayer card for the candidate you will be praying for. P 4 J 16, 2022 J 23, 2022. Faith Formation Families Sledding January 23, 2022 at 1:00pm At Noble Pines, 45 Grand St., Somersworth, NH 03878. After sledding meet us back at St. Martin for Hot Cocoa Rest in Peace Please remember in your prayers Armand Croteau and Maureen Foss who died recently. Eternal Rest Grant unto them, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Breakfast Buffet At last week's breakfast, we served 97. diners who braved the weather and made a profit of $393.

9 The winner of $28in the 50/50 was our meats chef Tony Welch, and the Door prize of two break- fasts was won by Russ Justice. Please mark your calendars for next month's breakfast on February 13th. The break- fast committee wishes you all a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year. Our three wise men and angel from Epiphany! P 5 S S O T . The Parish Office will closed Youth Ministry Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther Save the Date! King Jr. Day. We will re-open on Tuesday, January 18th. If you are a Catholic women, wife, mother, What's the Challenge?? grandmother, aunt or Godmother, if you have a husband and or children in your life that you want to Come and find out pray for then you are welcome to join.

10 By using the Sacraments, praying, reading books, helping others Friday, January 21st and group style meetings, we can learn how to pray with love, patience and perseverance as St. Monica 6:30pm at did. St. Martin Church! Our next meeting will be January 30th from 3PM. -4PM at St. Martin Church. Please email Ashley Murphy if you have any ques- tions or to at Looking forward to praying with you soon! We welcome to the Leila Keeva Adams, daughter of Matthew &. Kelsey Adams, who was baptized at St. Martin Church Saturday, January 8th. Congratulations and God Bless! Sacrament of Reconciliation Sacraments of Confirmation & First Holy Online Giving is EASY!! Communion Please consider signing up for online giving of Please pray for those students who will be receiving your weekly offertory.