St. Roch Parish 
 Just click on green Online Giving box above.
St. Roch Parish truly appreciates your donations.
God bless you.

Come Home to the Eucharist
 You are Welcome
see Faith & Liturgy for details.
Saturdays 4:00 pm
Sundays 8:30 am or 11:00 am*
(* If unable to join in person
Live Streaming from the church) 

As the pandemic changes, we welcome back all Catholics. The days ahead will be a real turning point for our parish, & I feel we will become an even more lively, committed, authentic, Christian community, a true reflection of Christ, the Light of the World.       Fr. Roy

Visit us Daily for current updates see
EVENTS & NEWS  or facebook for more... 
tps://www.facebook.com/strochoxford/

Christmas Bazaar
was great!!!
 THANKS TO  
Lynn Soucy
774-633-5611
Email ghft197518@gmail.com  
& HER WONDERFUL TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS

Religious Ed Office  
DOES NOT ACCEPT OR RETURN CALLS OR EMAILS FROM
Thursday noon through Monday noon.
***SCHEDULES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PAGE!

The Pope's intention for 
December is for Catechists
Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
5 Saint Sabas
6 St Nicholas
7 St Ambrose
8 Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

9 St Juan Diego
10 Servant of God Bernard of Quintavalle
11 St Damasus I, pope


12 Our Lady of 
Guadalupe
 

13 St Lucy of Syracuse, virgin & martyr
14 St John of the Cross
15 Blessed Mary Frances Schervier
16 Blessed Honoratus Kozminski
17 Lazarus
18 Saint Rufus
19 Blessed Pope Urban V
20 St Dominic of Silos
21 St Peter Canisius, priest & doctor
22 Blessed Jacopone da Todi
23 St John Kanty
24 Christmas at Greccio
25 Nativity of Jesus Christ
26 St Stephen, the first martyr
27 St John the Apostle & evangelist
28 Holy Innocents
29 St Thomas Becket
30 St Egwin
31 St Sylvester I, pope

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Mrs Romanelli's class worked together with all classes and packed 18 beatifully wrapped Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes!!! 
Praying all children have a very Merry Christmas.

So,
what is Advent?

Advent means “arrival” or “coming.”

It’s a season of expectation & hope. Advent enriches Christmas by allowing time to reflect & remember.
Believers across the world spend the weeks before Christmas preparing for that day of beauty & light.
The first recorded mention of Advent occurred at a meeting of church leaders in Spain in the 300’s A.D. The Council of Saragossa encouraged people to attend church daily between Dec. 17-29. Eventually it grew into a month-long season.
Traditions vary by country, but people celebrate Advent all over the world. Each country or faith contributes something unique.
Eastern Orthodox believers take part in a Nativity Fast that begins Nov. 15 & ends Dec. 24. During the fast, they abstain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, & oil.
German Christians set four candles in an evergreen Advent wreath. Each Sunday preceding Christmas, they light another candle while singing Christmas songs.
In China, families put up a “tree of light” & decorate it with lanterns, flowers, & red paper chains.
Some give apples on Christmas Eve because the Chinese word for apple sounds like the word for peace.
In the Philippines, people attend nine different early morning masses with the final mass occurring on Christmas Day. They decorate a bamboo pole with a lighted “lantern” that represents the star followed by the wise men.
In Costa Rica, families decorate their houses with tropical flowers & set up a nativity scene. On Christmas Eve, everyone dresses up & attends Midnight Mass. Celebrating Advent means joining Christians across the world all through the centuries to celebrate the coming of Jesus.
How will you prepare for the arrival or coming of Our Savior this year?
A Jesse Tree is a celebration of Jesus’ genealogy, taking time to review the stories found in the Old & New Testament, you can create a Jesse Tree with ornaments that correspond with a Bible story, then put each ornament on as you read the story each night.
Advent calendars are available, the classes have one they will take home. A Book a Day, for readers allows them to unwrap a present every morning! Christmas books for Advent, unwrap a book to read throughout the day. It’s fun to get them at the library & try out to see which ones to buy to add to your collection. This can become a fun & free Advent tradition! Nativity Story before bedtime, read part of the nativity story.
There are wonderful devotions for Advent & many are free online! No matter if 5 minutes or an hour, the key is to set aside time during Advent for personal reflection & prayer. Check out The Greatest Gift, Jesus Story Book Bible, Unwrapping The Greatest Gift, Watch for the Light, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus , & The Dawning of Indestructible Joy.
No matter what you do, the purpose is set aside time each day in Advent to pause & celebrate Jesus, the miracle of Christmas.

So Let's Get Ready!!!

Confessions are 
Saturdays 3 - 3:30 pm
Or Call for an appointment 
508-987-8987.
Masks or face coverings must be worn
if not vaccinated!

WOW!
Our Light of the World Retreat was  AMAZING

NEXT ONE IN THE WORKS
MARCH 25-28, 2022
Team building begins now!!!
Call or email to register now, 
508-987-2382 or at

https://strochoxford.com/light-of-the-world-retreat
Adoration team is needed to pray during the retreats sign up for times  strochoxford@gmail.com

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Retreat Team meeting will be scheduled soon.
Call Fr Roy if you are called to this ministry in any way.

This reflection from 

Our Blessed Mother's statue
truly points to the 
Light of the World in Jesus!
Jesus is waiting for you!
Come visit Him in the tabernacle to share His Holy Eucharist with your
 St Roch's Family.

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Rada's products make great gifts for family & friends, order here NOW!  You'll love the USA-made quality! You'll love that every purchase you make using the shopping link below helps support our group,  (we'll love that too)!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE! St Roch's Family of Friends Youth Ministry https://radafundraising.com?rfsn=4086641.ae4a27

 The epicenter of the earthquake that hit Haiti on August 14, 2021, was in the Diocese of Les Cayes. Our sister-parish, St. Anne's of Chardonnieres, was heavily damaged. Please continue to keep the people of Haiti, the parishioners of St. Anne's, Fr. Brutus and the new pastor of St. Anne's, Fr. Borgellas Conciant in your prayers.

If you did not have the opportunity to donate & would like to, there's an option in "Online Giving" or you can drop an envelope in any collection basket marked "Haiti".  All donations to will directly benefit our sister parish, St. Anne's of Chardonnieres. 

St. Anne's Church before the earthquake.

St. Anne's after the earthquake August 14, 2021.

St. Anne's after the sides of the church collapsed.