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Saint Charles Parish  63 Church St., Amherst NS
Telephone (902) 667-2523 Fax (902) 667-8675
Nativity of Our Lady  50 Cornwall Ave., Amherst NS
Telephone (902) 667-3119 Fax (902) 667-8675
Priest: Father Vernon Driscoll
Pastoral Associate: Deacon Howard Gotell
Deacon: Rick Hartnett
Secretaries:     Maria LeBlanc - Saint Charles
                          Pauline Pettigrew - Nativity of Our Lady

Sunday Liturgy
Saturday       4:30pm Saint Charles
                    7:00pm Nativity

Sunday         9:30am Saint Charles
                    11:30am Nativity

Weekday Liturgy
Monday           7:00pm Saint Charles

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saint Charles -             3:30 - 4:00pm Saturday
Nativity of Our Lady - after 7:00pm Mass

ADVENT IN OUR PARISHES
Our four-week preparation for Christmas begins today. We are asked to note some of the
following as signs to help note the Season:
- At all Masses we will solemnly bless and light the Advent Wreath.
- The Gospel Book will become part of our Liturgy of the Word procession and ritual.
- The congregation will be invited to recite the Jubilee Prayer to close the Prayers of Intercession
- The Gloria is not sung these four weeks.

Other events of the Season
1) Our St. Vincent de Paul Society held its Annual Community Christmas Dinner yesterday.
2) Next Sunday afternoon, the Catholic Women's League of Nativity Parish hold their Christmas Dinner at 6:00pm.
3) At all Sunday Masses in both parishes, the true love of our people is demonstrated in the generous gifts of food for the Christmas Cheer effort.
4) St. Charles C.W.L. will have their Christmas Dinner on Tuesday, December 14th at 5:30pm.

St. Charles Church open Monday & Tuesday 2-4pm.
We appreciate the generosity and hope we can do it again.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

December 24th Christmas Eve
7:00pm and 12 Midnight Both Parishes

December 25th Christmas Day
9:30am St. Charles and 11:00am Nativity

December 26th Sunday
9:30am St. Charles and 11:30am Nativity

December 21st New Years Eve
4:30pm St. Charles

Rite of Christian Initiation and Rite of Acceptance
 The R.C.l.A~ group has been meeting each week at St. Charles hall on Thursday evenings since early October.  Patti Bennett, Karen Stultz, Norman Canning, Eva Robichaud and Kevin Hunter will participate in the Rite of Acceptance this Sunday morning at the 9:30 Mass at St. Charles
Church. These people will be called forward after the homily to be signed with the Cross, receive the scriptures and declare themselves ready to continue their journey toward full membership in the Church this Easter. May we keep these people in our prayers in the weeks ahead as they discern God's call to them to participate fully in the life of our faith communities.

RECONCILIATION
 In compliance with the announcement in last week's Bulletin from the Archbishop's office (and further developed on the Diocesan side of this Bulletin) you are referred to the times of the celebration of the First Rite elsewhere in this Bulletin. There will be no other celebrations of Reconciliation in our Parishes this Advent

FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS CHEER BOXES
 Next weekend we ask for your donations of COOKIES AND CRANBERRY SAUCE/JELLY.

LANDINGS- WELCOMING RETURNING CATHOLICS TO OUR PARISHES
Nine people from our parishes attended the Landings workshops in Halifax last weekend. They will meet Sunday evening in St. Charles Glebe at 6:30pm to discuss implementation of the program in our parishes during Lent 2000. Let us all pray for the success of this ministry as it continues to take root in our diocese and our parishes.

WORLD YOUTH DAYS - ROME 2000
Six young people of our parishes have expressed interest in traveling to Rome in August 2000 to attend World Youth Days. David Hitchcock, Leanne Gillis, Anthony March, Martha Dillman from St. Charles and Matthew Bray and Melanie Cove from Nativity of Our Lady are the six people who expressed interest. They will meet Tuesday November30th at 6:30pm in Nativity Glebe with parents to further plan and discuss possible fundraising opportunities. We ask your support and prayers for these young people and their families as they prepare for this Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome with other youth from our Diocese.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISHES
Sunday-Landings 6:30pm St. Charles Glebe
Monday-Jubilee Committee 8pm St. Charles Glebe
Tuesday-World Youth Day Rome 2000 6:30pm Nativity Glebe
Wednesday- St. Charles/Nativity Ladies Auxiliary Lois Burke's house. Note the new time 7:30pm.
Thursday- R.C.l.A. at St. Charles Hall
Thursday- Prayer meeting 7pm at Renewal Center Fort Lawrence

NATIVITY C.WL. BURSARY
Application forms for Nativity of Our Lady C.W.L. bursary are available at the back of the Church. Deadline is December 12, 1999.

NATIVITY CWL CHRISTMAS PARTY
Nativity of Our Lady C.W.L. members will hold their Christmas party on Sunday, December 5 at 6:00pm. A potluck supper is planned, followed by entertainment. Members are being encouraged to bring a spouse or a friend, as well as a small unwrapped gift for a child or adult, for the Christmas Outreach Program.

CHRISTMAS DINNER AND NO TURKEY!
 The Holidays are a time of celebration. But for many families, they're no different than any other day. Their needs continue, and only you can help. Let's make sure no one in this community will have to go without a turkey. Please donate a turkey for our Christmas Food Boxes and ensure every family has a traditional Christmas dinner. This year our parishes will be helping 150+ families. The cost of a turkey is approximately $20.00. You can place your donation in the collection. Please mark "Christmas Turkey Donation" on your envelope. Do not forget to write your name, envelope number and parish on your donation envelope. This will enable the parishes to give you an income tax receipt at year-end.

NEW COLLECTION ENVELOPES  - NEW PARISH COMMITMENT
 New Collection Envelopes will be available this weekend at St. Charles and next weekend at Nativity. All parishioners of both parishes are urged to use their envelopes weekly. If you are not presently using envelopes, boxes will be available on the table. Please take collection envelopes from the parish you belong to and want to support, and use them regularly.

1999/2000 NOVALIS MISSALS
 If you would like to purchase a Novalis Missal, please see Maria or Pauline at the Rectory. The price is $3.00.

ST. CHARLES C'{L MEMBERSHIP DUES
CWL members can place their dues of $13.00 in the collection. Mark CWL dues / name on the envelope.

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR AT ST. CHARLES
Every Sunday following the 9:30 Mass we will be having our regular coffee hour in the Church Hall. Why not join us for fellowship and refreshments.

CHRISTMAS FANTASY OPEN HOUSE
A Christmas fantasy open house, sponsored by St. Charles CWL will be held on Saturday December 4th from 2:00 to 8:00pm at the home of Leta and Rod Briggs, 250 East Victoria Street. Tickets are $5.00 adults and $2.50 for children. Tickets are available at the door. Proceeds for Christmas For Kids and St. Charles CWL.

 JUBLIEE CANDLES
We have a limited number of beautiful Jubilee Candles for sale. There will be someone at the front of the Church before the Masses if you are interested in purchasing one. The cost is $10.00.

TRANSITION HOUSE TELETHON
 Cumberland County Transition House in Amherst is holding a Telethon on Community Channel 10 on December 5th from 1:00pm to 7:00pm. Please phone in your pledges to 1-877-550-HEAL (4325) or 902-661-0077. Please support your local Transition House. Our goal is to reach $12,000.00.

CHRISTMAS CAROL BRUNCH
A Brunch hosted by the Arthritis Society will take place this Sunday at the Wandlyn Inn at 12:30pm. Tickets are $17.00 a person. A receipt will be issued for income tax purposes for the deductible portion.  Proceeds from this event will go to arthritis research.

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
 1st Reading-                 Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
2nd Reading -                Peter 3:8-15
Gospel Reading-           Mark 1:1-8