Thank you to the St. Luke's School of Nursing Alumnae for their huge donation of personal items for the food pantry clients. The many toiletries are gratefully received as clients with SNAP benefits may use those funds for food only. Our pantry is thankful that this group supports us with donations from their various luncheons. May all who contributed have a blessed Christmas and joyous New Year.

May this holy season celebrating the birth of the Savior bring you and your loved ones the light of Christ’s love. I would like to wish you all a very blessed, peaceful and joyful Christmas...Msgr. Mike

There is no CCD on Sunday, December 30. Happy New Year to all! All CCD classes grades K-9 will resume on Sunday, January 6, 2019. Have a safe and happy winter break.

SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION Monday, December 31st Mass is at 4 p.m. and Tuesday January 1st at 10 a.m.

The Knights of Columbus, Msgr. Eugene F. Marshall, Council #103, Pittsfield, is sponsoring a Basketball Youth Free Throw Championship on Thursday January 10, 2019, 6 to 8 PM, starting with sign in promptly at 6 PM at Crosby School, 517 West St., Pittsfield. All boys and girls 9 to 14 years old are invited to participate in their respective age divisions. Winners will have the opportunity to progress through the local, district, regional and state competitions. All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent, there is no charge for participating in the Knights of Columbus Free Throw. To enter Crosby School Gym on West St., use the driveway on the right side of the school, drive down near the fields, the entry door to the GYM will be on the left. Kindly pick up entry forms ahead of the Free Throw and for additional information, kindly contact Jeff Hiltpold, Chairman at 281-1737.

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL MEETING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 at 1 p.m. FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN GOING TO ICELAND THIS JUNE We will show a DVD on Iceland at the meeting. Trip is JUNE 12th to June 20th. COST $ 2990 includes airfare, hotel, most meals and entrance fees to attractions. All are welcome. For more information call 413 445 5789

The 46th annual March for Life in Washington DC will be held Friday, January 18th. Mass Citizens for Life N. Adams Chapter is again sponsoring a bus to the March. We will be leaving the area late Thursday the 17th and returning late Friday the 18th. Join us and hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers from across the country to stand up for the right to life of unborn children. Call Robin at 743-1329 to reserve your seat or for more information. We ask for a $25 donation per person, and will gladly accept donations to help defray the cost of the bus. (donations should be sent to MCFL, 6 Bob's Hill, Adams MA 01220) Thank-you for your support for unborn children!

RECTORY HOURS - Please note the rectory will be CLOSED December 24th, 25th, 26th and December 31st, January 1st and 2nd in observance of the holiday season.

News from CCD Program at St. Joseph Church - December 16 - Pageant at 9:00 a.m. Mass. In lieu of class, all students and their families are asked to attend. Grade 10 — Meet in the Parish Center 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. December 23 – NO CLASS - Christmas Vacation. December 30 - NO CLASS - Happy New Year!

CEMETERY CAMPAIGN - Goal $1,200,000 - Pledges to date $1,042,000 As we come closer to realizing the goal of fully restoring St. Joseph’s Cemetery, our many thanks to all who have given from their heart.

Donovan Keser, a 4th Grade CCD Student from Capeless Elementary has undertaken a Giving Project to benefit SOLDIER ON. He will be hosting a “DINING TO DONATE” on Wednesday, Dec. 12th at PORTSMITT RESTAURANT from 5-9. Please inform your server to help him in his efforts. Thank you.

The St. Anne Society will have its annual Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 8th beginning at 2 p.m. in the Parish Center. Don Coudert will entertain us with Christmas music and sing along. Following the tea and delicious treats, the group will process into the 4:00 Mass as part of the entrance procession. Any interested women are welcome to attend as guests. Members are reminded to try to attend the Holy Hour on December 12th. Our prayer will be for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Did you know.... That Gerry Dahrouge and Patty Masiero recently received the Pope Pius X awards for teaching religious education in our parish? Congratulations to both of you and a special thank you for your efforts throughout the years. You have been a beacon of faith for our youngsters and we are grateful for all they do! Thank you both so much!!

Msgr. Eugene F. Marshall Knights of Columbus Council #103, Christmas Party December 15, 2018, at the Italian-American Club, Newell St., Pittsfield, members, family and friends are welcome. Cocktails 5 PM, Dinner 6 PM. Food choices are roast beef, baked stuffed chicken and baked stuffed scrod, $30.00 per person, for tickets contact Jack Laviolette 464-6009 by December 8, 2018. Kindly bring a toiletry for Soldier On, soap, shaver, shaving cream, toothpaste, tooth brush, deodorant, socks, T shirts, shorts, etc.

TWELFTH NIGHT FESTIVAL - Tickets are on sale now at the Rectory for the annual Twelfth Night Festival planned for Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 4 p.m. at St. Joseph Church followed with dinner at the Parish Center. The St. Ann Children’s Choir will sing prelude Christmas music in the church starting at 3:40. Tickets are limited and we strongly urge you to purchase tickets early.

GIVING TREE - The gifts at the base of the Giving Tree must be moved to the North Chapel after each mass. Help is always appreciated as the gifts are carried into the sorting area. The boxes and bags can be placed on the right side of the room and on the far side of the room as space allows. The volunteers who sort and bag the gifts will begin their work at 10 a.m. until the end of the 11:30 mass. If necessary the work will continue Monday and Tuesday after 10:30 a.m. Distribution of gifts is tentatively set for Wednesday or Thursday morning.

The Food Pantry acknowledges all who helped us reach our goal of 1200 gravy packets. You are commended and thank you again. The Food Pantry thanks the following for contributions during the Thanksgiving season: UNICO with many boxes of food from a drive held in Boston which was picked up there and brought to us, an anonymous woman who donated many boxes of food from a food drive she held, Dr. George, a parishioner and dentist who holds a food drive annually at his office for our pantry, The Knights of Columbus who donated children's winter jackets to be distributed, the Children's Extravaganza Program which held a program at the Colonial and donated many boxes of food from their collection at the door, the Children's Center of the Boys' and Girls' Club of Pittsfield whose youngsters donated bags of food for those in need, and finally, to ALL of our parishioners and friends who donated money to the pantry for the holidays as well as those who weekly drop off donations at the doors of the church. May you be blessed as we have blessed us with your generosity!

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION MASS IS AT 12:10 PM ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH. This Holy Day Mass is in addition to the usual Mass commitment on Saturday at 4:00 and Sunday at 9:00 and 11:30. There is also a mass at St. Charles on Friday, December 7th at 5:30 for the Holy Day obligation.

Dear Parish Family, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many expressions of love and appreciation shown to me last weekend. I keep telling the Bishop that I am the luckiest priest in the diocese. 25 years at St Joseph’s is the best thing that has ever happened to me. THANK YOU...Msgr. Mike