Listening Sessions for the Synod are almost here, and sign-ups are available. There will be sessions on the following dates: Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 at OLQP from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Thursday, February 10th, 2022 at STM from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, as well as at OLQP from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 via Zoom session, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Thursday, February 17th, 2022 at OLQP from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ***Sign-ups are available in the narthex at OLQP and you can also sign up by e-mailing Margaret Ostromecki at margaret.ostromecki@dor.org ***

Join us for some winter fun at Whalen Park in Penfield! When: Saturday, January 22nd, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Where: Harris Whalen Park in Penfield Make sure to bring a sled. For those unfamiliar with the Park, here is the address: Harris Whalen Park Rd, Penfield, NY 14526

Listening Sessions for the Synod are coming soon! Pope Francis has invited us to participate in the Sixteenth Ordinary Synod of Bishops which will be held in Rome in 2023. Currently, we are in the Preparation phase, but we will soon enter into Discussions and Listening Sessions. Further details and dates of the sessions will come out soon.

First Eucharist Prep sessions will be starting in March. Your child must have received 1st Reconciliation before receiving 1st Eucharist. If your child participated in First Reconciliation preparation this past fall, I will presume you are continuing in First Eucharist preparation unless you have told me differently. Contact Jennifer Abdalla at jennifer.abdalla@dor.org Inscription services are scheduled to be held on March 13, 2022 1st Eucharist Camps will be held on March 26th & April 9th First Eucharist is scheduled to be celebrated on May 1, 2021

Young Adult Gathering - Save the Date Wednesday, January 19 from 6:30-8:30 Slattery Hall - Our Lady Queen of Peace There are two options for coming together. If you can come in person, please join us at 6:30 for dinner and community, followed by prayer, reflection and conversation until 8:30. The topic we will explore will be unanswered prayers. There will also be a dinner of chili and cornbread preceding the discussion. If you want to join us over Zoom, please join us from 7:30-8:30. Zoom link will be sent as we get closer. Masks will be worn. meghan.robinson@dor.org with questions or to RSVP.

COME JOIN US!! You’re invited to a Jazz Concert OLQP Slattery Hall Friday, January 14th 7:00pm-9:00pm Mark Kellogg, Trombone Christopher Azzara, keyboard Amy Azzara, vocals Steve Parisi, bass Erik Schmitz, drums Dessert and beverages provided Sign up via Flocknote email link or at church entrances.

MITTEN TREE UPDATE Thanks to all the contributors to this year’s Christmas Tree gift collection. This year we collected presents for 225 mittens for Catholic Charities Family Services, Rochester Psychiatric Center and Andrews Center. Please know how much your generosity was appreciated by the recipients, many of whom wouldn’t receive any Christmas gifts if not for yours. It was so heartening to see how willingly and strongly the community responded to the Mitten Tree requests despite the challenges we have all faced over the past 18 months. Thanks also to those who helped to organize, sort and deliver the gifts which this year included several members from the Youth Ministry. It is wonderful to see that spirit of caring for those in need being passed on in the hearts of our young members and a great way to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

2021 Christmas Mass Schedule for the Brighton Region Churches St. Thomas More Church Christmas Eve: 4:00pm, 6:00pm, (please note changes),10:00pm Christmas Day: 11:00am Our Lady Queen of Peace Church Christmas Eve: 4:30pm Christmas Day: 9:00am (Nativity Pageant will only be at 4:30 at OLQP) Our Lady of Lourdes Church Corner Rhinecliff and Imperial Drive Christmas Eve: 5:00pm, 10:00pm Christmas Day: 10:30am St. Anne Church 1600 Mt. Hope Ave Christmas Eve: 4:00pm, 12:00Midnight ​​​​​​​Christmas Day: 9:00am

First Eucharist Prep sessions will be starting in March. Your child must have received 1st Reconciliation before receiving 1st Eucharist. If your child participated in First Reconciliation preparation this past fall, I will presume you are continuing in First Eucharist preparation unless you have told me differently. Contact Jennifer Abdalla at jennifer.abdalla@dor.org Inscription services are scheduled to be held on March 13, 2022 1st Eucharist Camps will be held on March 26th & April 9th, 2022 First Eucharist is scheduled to be celebrated on May 1, 2022

Advent Penance Service will be held on Saturday, December 18 at Our Lady Queen of Peace at 10:00am. Advent Penance Services will also be held at St. Anne Church on December 18th at 2pm and at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on December 20th at 7:00pm.

On Sunday, Dec. 5 at the 9am Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace, we celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of the Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming of Candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church. These rites mark a milestone in the journey of our unbaptized Inquirers (or Seekers) who have been discerning whether to officially begin their journey to become members of the Catholic Church. It is their first public gathering. Please click the title of this post to read more.

We are still able to provide soup to St. Peter’s Kitchen and Blessed Sacrament Supper Program. We will be collecting monetary donations for the vegetables and meat needed to make the soup. Look for the soup pot at the church entrances if you would like to contribute for this worthy cause. We will also accept baked goods to be delivered to OLQP by Monday morning, December 6th at 8:00am. Your generosity for this outreach is greatly appreciated by all of those who will benefit from a good meal during these winter months.

Altar Flower sign up sheets are now available at church entrances. This is for anyone who would wish to provide flowers to adorn the altar beginning on January 8/9 through June 25/26. You can purchase from a florist or arrange your own flowers to be at church before the 4:30 Mass on Saturday

Next weekend, the will be taking up the National Collection for The Catholic University of America. Catholic University is a national research university with over 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 250 academic programs in the heart of Washington, D.C. By giving to the collection, you are supporting both future Catholic leaders, religious and lay, who are being formed by an exceptional, Faith-rooted education and the University’s various research and training initiatives that support dioceses and parishes in responding to the most pressing needs of their faithful. The Catholic Project - an initiative that aims to heal the breach of trust many have experienced as a result of the current crisis in the Church and a credentialing program that prepares recent graduates to serve as campus ministers are examples how the University is serving the Church and nation. Please give generously. Learn more at: collection.catholic.edu.

Our Christmas Mass schedule will be as follows with no reservations required: STM Friday, December 24th 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 10:00pm Saturday December 25th 11:00am OLQP Friday December 24th 4:30pm Saturday December 25th 9:00am There will be no anticipated Sunday Mass on Saturday.

Don’t forget to bring your canned goods and dry groceries to church next weekend. The groceries will be picked up by volunteers who will deliver them to Sr. Regis Food Cupboard in the city. We realize that we just completed our Thanksgiving Bag project, but Sr. Regis still relies on your generosity. Thank you.

Realizing that these are uncertain times and everyone has different levels of comfort regarding the COVID situation we are asking you to consider how you may be able to help in our community. We are in need of lectors and Communion ministers at both OLQP and STM. At OLQP we are also in need of people who would be willing to help with altar laundry and plant care, as well as ushers at our weekend liturgies. Some of you have done these jobs in the past but stopped when “the world stopped.” We would be grateful if you feel comfortable coming back to these ministries. We also welcome anybody new who would like to contribute in these ways. If you give this some thought and decide you are willing to help out please contact Robin in the office at robin.levy@dor.org or 585-244-3010 Thanks for your careful consideration.

The faithful of the Diocese of Rochester are invited to join Bishop Matano at Holy Mass in praying for peace and an end to violence in the City of Rochester and our communities on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe on Sunday, 11/21/21 at 11:15 am at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Mary's Place will be accepting gift donations from 11 am - 4 pm between December 6th - 10th.  New toys, blankets, hats, winter gloves, scarves, socks, and mittens are welcome.  Volunteers are also needed to help assemble gifts and prepare for gift distribution between December 13th - 16th.  Call 270-8626 or e-mail volunteercoordinator@marysplaceoutreach.org to volunteer!

The Hands of Christ is a recognition program, sponsored by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, in which the Most Reverend Bishop Salvatore R. Matano affirms high school seniors of our parishes who have been the “Hands of Christ” in their churches, homes, schools and communities. Click on the title of this post to learn more!