ADVENT FILM & DISCUSSION SERIES

The Christmas season can be such a busy time, we sometimes have to remind ourselves we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God's ever-loving gift of salvation and the center of our Catholic faith. Throughout this Advent season, Blessed Sacrament will be hosting a series of short films and small group discussions, to examine our Catholic faith. Please join us for any of the sessions beginning at 7:15 pm on Dec. 2 & 9. Films will begin at 7:30 following refreshments. RSVP appreciated [email protected].



PARISH COUNCIL

Our Parish Council will meet this Wed., Dec. 3rd at 7pm in the Rectory. We have a very vibrant and enthusiastic Council that is interested in your feedback. They have a mailbox in the Rectory Office.



24th Annual NEW YORK CARES COAT DRIVE!

On behalf of the needy within our local community, members of the Social Action and Young Adults Committees will be accepting used-coat donations at the entrance to the church before each of the masses on the weekend of December 13 and 14th. Coats for adults and children should be “gently used”, just cleaned and in fair condition or better.



BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

On the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month we have Bereavement Support Groups - General Bereavement at 5:30 p.m. and Perinatal Loss (for individuals and couples who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death) at 6:30 p.m. Both groups will meet in the Rectory on December 5th. For more information, please call the Rectory at 212-877-3111. No registration is required. There is no fee.



COLLECTION

Our collection last Sunday came to $8,815. In addition, those that use ParishPay contributed $1,500, bringing the total to $10,315. In addition, we collected $3,862 for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.



BETHLEHEM HANDICRAFTS

Bethlehem Handicrafts is a Catholic group from Bethlehem, the Holy Land. They are going to visit our church the weekend of, December 6th/7th to display handmade olivewood religious articles carved by Christian carvers in Bethlehem. What a great gift idea!



THE JOYJ INITIATIVE – JESSE TREE

JoyJ is once again sponsoring a Jesse Tree to gather NEW items for their Homeless Outreach . Please visit the tree in the Church, take an ornament or two and bring your item (unwrapped) to either the 5:30 Saturday Mass on December 20th or to any of the Sunday Masses on December 21st, where it will be collected in the vestibule by the JoyJ Volunteers for distribution. Gifts may also be dropped off at the Rectory anytime.



HOMELESS OUTREACH UPDATE

On November 22, over 30 volunteers distributed 65 comfort bags and 40 meal gift cards for $5 and $10 to the Homeless. Troops 777 of the Boy Scouts participated with a large contingent of children and parents! THANK YOU to the volunteers, Troop 777, and the donors who made this event a great success!



FIRST FRIDAY

This coming Friday, December 5th, is the first Friday. We have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 12:10pm mass and Benediction at 5:15p.m. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed during the afternoon for your adoration. Please come and spend some time in prayer.



VISITING FRIENDS PROGRAM

Blessed Sacrament Church is starting a new and exciting ministry called The Visiting Friends Program. If you know of someone in the neighborhood, (relative, friend, or neighbor) who might benefit from and would welcome a visit from a volunteer providing company and social interaction, please contact us by email at the following address: [email protected]. Be sure to put “Visiting Friends Program” in the subject box. Please include your name, address, phone and email address as well as the same information of the person you’re referring to us.



YOUTH CHOIR

Children (from grade 3 up) and Teenagers are invited to take part in the CHRISTMAS EVE YOUTH CHOIR which sings at the 5:30 pm Christmas Eve Family Mass. Rehearsals, that began on Nov. 25th, are on Tuesdays from 4-5 pm. Please call Tina Silvestro at 212-877-3111 for a Parent Permission Form to sign up. Forms can also be found on the Sunday School website under the YOUTH CHOIR tab. ( www.blessedsacramentsundayschool.org)



BOOKLETS

We are offering you booklets for Advent. Magnificat has prayers and readings from the Scripture for each day of Advent. Please take one and use it for your preparation.



ADVENT WREATH

The advent wreath has been offered in memory of Eleanor Gasdaska. Please remember her in your prayers throughout this Advent Season.



THANKSGIVING THANK YOU!

30 families received turkeys, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and nuts (donated by Pioneer Supermarket). Each family packed a bag of groceries from our food pantry from goods donated from our parishioners. We will do this all again for our families before Christmas. Thanks to everyone who helped make this Thanksgiving a brighter and warmer holiday for our families!