WELCOME TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF�

�

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, BALLSTON SPA,�& ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GALWAY�

St. Mary’s of Ballston Spa�

Parish Office: 167 Milton Ave.�Ballston Spa, NY 12020�

�

Hours: M�F, 8:30 am � 2:30 pm �Emergencies call anytime.�

St. Mary’s of Galway�

PO Box 536�

2113 East St.�

Galway, NY 12074�

Marriage Policy: If you are planning on getting marr ied at St. Mary’s, Ballston Spa, or St. Mary’s, Galway, please call the parish office at 885�7411, before you make any commitment to a reception site. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed because the date is no longer available. Weddings can be scheduled for Fridays or Saturdays. No Sunday weddings are allowed. �

Phones: Par ish Office 885�7411�� � School 885�7300�� � Religious Ed/Youth Ministry 884�8479��Website: www.rcda.org/churches/stmarysballstonspa �

�

Masses: Sat. night for Sunday obligation 4:00 pm,�Sunday 8:30 am, 10:30 am & 12 noon��Confessions: Saturday 3:00 pm � 3:45 pm.�Every Tuesday evening after Novena Devotions &�

Mass 5:30 pm (except during Lent).��Baptisms: Call the Office for confirmation of time�(2nd & 3rd Sunday after 12 noon Mass), acceptance �of sponsors & instruction for new parents.�

Email: stmarygal@nycap.r r .com ��

Religious Ed: Contact Bonnie Nicolosi @ 588�0304 or�bonnieznicolosi@gmail.com�

�

Website: www.rcda.org/churches/stmarysballstonspa �

�

Masses: Sat. night for Sunday obligation 6:00 pm (July 1st � Labor Day weekend), �Sunday 9:30 am (year�round)��

Baptisms: Please call Joe Novak at 882�5412 at least 4 weeks in advance.�

Fr. Thomas J. Kelly, Pastor ~ Fr. Francis Vivacqua, Assoc. Pastor ~ Deacon Ronald Hogan�

Mrs. Lynn Fitzgerald, Principal�Sister Nancy Schmidt, RCIA Coordinator�

Mr. Jake Stomieroski, Youth Minister� Mrs. Vicki Schuette, Dir. of Religious Ed.�

�����

MONDAY � December 18, (Late Advent Weekday)�7:45 AM� � � Norman R. Brown �� � � � � � Wife, Ellen Brown�TUESDAY � December 19, (Late Advent Weekday)�5:30 PM� � � Protection of the Unborn�� � � � � � Josie Uhlinger & Mary Beth Flatley�� � � � Pasquale & Antoinette Monaco�� � � � � � Joe Monaco & Family�WEDNESDAY� December 20, (Late Advent Weekday)�7:45 AM� � � Peter Duchessi�� � � � � � Dominick & Emily Damiano�� � � � Paul Benzal�� � � � � � Daughter, Eileen Friedman� � �

THURSDAY� December 21, (Late Advent Weekday)�7:45 AM � � � Bart Calamanco�� � � � � � Mary Anne�� � � � John Postlethwaite�� � � � � � Daughter, Kellie� �

FRIDAY � December 22, (Late Advent Weekday)�7:45 AM� � � Rosalie Calamanco�� � � � � � Mary Anne�� � � � James C. Farley�� � � � � � Clarke Family�SATURDAY�December 23, (Vigil � 4th Sunday of Advent)�4:00 PM � � � Kathryn Monaco D’Ambro� � � � �

� � � � � � Don & TeTe Monaco�� � � � John & Marguerite Ciarmiello�� � � � � � Daughters�SUNDAY � December 24, (4th Sunday of Advent)�8:30 AM � � � Pro Populo�10:30 AM�� � Charles Braim�

� � � � � � Wife�� � � � Barbara Cudney�� � � � � � Carol Howard�12:00 PM�� � Rev. John French & Rev. Paul Bondi�� � � � � � ������������

ALTAR SERVERS��

SAT., December 23�4:00 PM�

Isabelle Layer,�Alessandra Layer�

�

SUN., December 24�8:30 AM�

Anthony LaRosa,�Emma Price�

�

10:30 AM�Cole Walker,�Sean Walker�

�

12 NOON�Seneca Knapp,�Clayton Orzel�

�����

SAT., December 23�4:00 PM, Lector: Rita Halter �

E.M.: Herb Peters,�Marilyn Hogan, Marilyn Campbell�

�SUN., December 24�

8:30 AM, L: Terri Smith�E.M.: Cathy Krylowicz�

�10:30 AM, L: Caesar Taormina�

E.M.: Patti Nichols, Joyce Yates,�Mary Beth Waterstram, John Yates�

�12:00 PM, L: Ed Foy�

E.M.: Christine O’Connell,�Ann Quinn, Ed Foy�

� Choir: 10:30 AM Sundays�

Contemporary Music Group:�12 Noon�

S�. M���’ C� ���, B������ S��, NY�

MINISTERS�

Eucharistic Adoration�& Evening Prayer�

You’re invited to spend a little extra time with Jesus by joining us for Eucharistic Adoration & evening prayer from 5�6 pm on Monday, Dec. 18, & Jan. 15, 22, 29. There will be NO Adoration on Christmas Day � Dec. 25, New Year’s Day � Jan. 1, or Monday � Jan. 8.�

We thank you for your sacrificial offering� of $11,716 for Sunday, Dec. 10. To cover our �

weekly expenses, we need $11,500.�

Our Lady of Peace Prayer Group will

meet on Tues., 12/19, at St. Mary’s Church, 6:30 pm � 8:15 pm. All

are welcome!�

Join us on Sunday, December 17th at the 12 noon Mass

with Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our beautiful church, St. Mary’s in Ballston Spa! At 1:00 pm we will meet in the school for some refreshments & cookies. All are welcome!�

������

For your gifts to St. Mary’s Parish & School in memory of:��� Blanche & Paul Benzal� Dr. Eileen Friedman��� Clara Beninati� � � Sheila & John Arpei��� John Postlethwaite� � Four Winds Saratoga��� Roger Audette� � � Pat Schiavo & Family�� � � � � � � Liquid Measurement Systems�� � � � � � � Lois Mitchell�� � � � � � � Joan Dreher & Family�� � � � � � � Ruth Shiebler�� � � � � � � Helen Senecal & Family�� � � � � � � Linda & Douglas Hawley�� � � � � � � Ed & Karen Banovic��� Theresa Miranda� � Margaret Kennedy���

T���� S ���� �� A����� � D���� �� 17, 2017 �

St. Mary’s School�Lynn Fitzgerald, Principal�Ongoing Registration � �

Grades PreK�5/(518)885�7300�

MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE�

May 10 �21, 2018�www.pilgrimages.com/

stanton�

��Under the spiritual direction of �

Fr. Francis Vivacqua!�

��Pamphlets located at

the entrances of church.�More info to follow ...�

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE��

@ St. Mary’s, Ballston Spa�Christmas Eve � Sun., 12/24,�4:00 pm � Church & School�7:30 pm � Church��

Christmas Day � Mon., 12/25,�8:30 am, 10:30 am, & 12 noon � Church��

@ St. Mary’s, Galway�Christmas Eve � Sun., 12/24, 5:30 pm�

�

Christmas Day � Mon., 12/25, 9:30 am�

Attention: Families with Toddlers!�Masterpiece Mondays�

Open to all young parishioners!�At St. Mary’s Preschool � Room 118�

Monday, December 18, 2017 1:30 pm � 2:30 pm�

Join us for Christmas stories, activities &�a teacher directed craft!�

Build early literacy skills,�creativity & fellowship!�

Stay when you are done for some free playtime.�Children aged 2 � 4 years old welcome with

adult accompaniment.�Please rsvp to save your spot:�

885�7300 or anorton@smsbspa.org�

Pro�Life Thoughts: This is the shortest Advent, and this week is the longest�it’s full of expectation.� If possible, attend Mass or visit an empty church to feel the longing Jesus has for all.� A lot of peace comes at quiet moments where the Blessed Sacrament is housed.� May the babies nestled in their mothers’ wombs celebrate next Christmas with us.� Life is a gift and a treasure trove for love.� �

Pre�Baptism class for parents who will be having children baptized in February or March 2018 is Tuesday, February 6, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s School (cafeteria entrance). Please call the office at 885�7411 to register. Please note this class is for parents who have never had a child baptized.�

S�. M���’ M���� C� ���, G��&��, NY������December 17, Sun., 3rd Sunday of Advent�

9:30 am� � � Jane Broschart�� � � � � � � Valenza Family�� � � � � Joe Minarski�� � � � � � � Peg Minarski & Children�

��December 24, Sun., 4th Sunday of Advent�9:30 am� � � �

�Today’s second collection is for Christmas flowers.� Please be as generous as you can, doing your part to help decorate our Church for the Christmas season.

We thank you for your sacrificial offering of $1,048 for Sunday,

Dec. 10. To cover our weekly expenses, we�

need $1,000.�

Faith Formation: Gaudete Sunday��

Why is the third Sunday of Advent known �as Gaudete Sunday?�

�

Its name is taken from the entrance antiphon of the Mass, which is:�

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.�Indeed, the Lord is near.��

This is a quotation from�Philippians 4:4�5, and in Latin, the first word of the antiphon is�gaudete�(Latin, “rejoice”; it's also pronounced with three syllables:�gau�de�te)��

What significance does this have?��

Advent is the season of preparing for the arrival of the Lord Jesus (both his first coming and his second coming), and by the third Sunday of Advent, we are most of the way through the season. Thus it is appropriate to rejoice as we see the goal of the season approaching: “The Lord is near.” Read more about Gaudete Sunday at ��http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy�akin/gaudete�sunday�11�things�to�know�and�share�.�/#ixzz3tNXtt9UB�

Health Ministry: Mood Boosters ��

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper

you�and not to harm you,�plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11��

With winter approaching, it’s common for people to feel sluggish or moody. Following are a few tips to improve your state of mind and get in the Christmas Spirit!�

��Cut the Fat: A diet high in Tran’s fats (found in processed food) lowers energy and mood. Switch to a low�fat diet rich in fish, legumes and veggies. �

��Carve out face to face time for your friends: Meeting with friend and loved ones cuts your risk of depression. Phoning, emailing and texting don’t have the same effect. �

��Don’t sweat the small stuff: Hassles and frustrations are common in everyday life. If you have a problem, ask yourself if you can do something about it. If you can, then do it! If you can’t, let go and move on. �

��Light a vanilla candle: research finds that the warm, rich scent of vanilla produces powerful feeling of joy and relaxation. �

��Cry: Not only does it offer physical and emotional release, crying puts you in a better mood within 90 minutes of a good sob. �

��Go Barefoot: Walking around without shoes improves your balance and posture. Standing up straight is an automatic mood booster. �

��Pay it forward: Small acts of kindness � such as smiling or opening a door for a stranger creates a feeling of well�being. Bring a meal or soup to someone who is ill or lonely.�

��Listen to upbeat music: Appreciating the music’s quality has a particularly positive effect on the�

��Walk in the woods: Forest landscapes are therapeutic and reduce stress. �

��Don’t work too hard: Working too much overtime can be destructive to your mood and health. Spend less money and more time with loved ones.�

��Fill your plate with produce: Seven to eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day can make you calmer and happier. �

��Take a social media break: Unplugging from Facebook for one week can make people more satisfied with their lives. Not focusing on the lives of others decreases the pressure to match their accomplishments � and then, you can appreciate your own! �

��Walk happy: Walking in an upbeat manner by moving your arms and rolling your shoulders back as you stroll can make you feel more positive. �

��Practice gratitude: Write letters to thank precious people in your life. It can be an instant pick�me�up for you and them! Think of what you have to be thankful for in each moment instead of dwelling on the negative. �

�

“The little things? The little moments?�They aren’t little!” ~ Jon Kabat�Zinn�

St. Mary’s Community Service Group�Please keep in mind that making baby Afghans�for Birthright is an ongoing parish project.��Any completed Afghans may be placed in the Food Pantry collection bins and they will be sorted out for Birthright.��

Parish News�Next Sunday,�please plan to help and decorate the Church for Christmas.� As in years past, many volunteers make the decorating go quickly and smoothly.��Thank you�to all who�baked cookies, assisted with the�Faith Formation cookie�decorating, purchased cookies and donated items for the Galway Food Pantry.��Your donations and time are greatly appreciated.�

PLEASE JOIN US AFTER OUR 9:30 am MASS IN THE SOCIAL HALL for

COFFEE, DONUTS, & FELLOWSHIP. �