Divine Mercy Parish Newsletter
“Coming Together, Growing in Faith”
Vol. 4 Issue 14 –December, 2012
Divine Mercy Parish Mission Statement
“Guided by the Holy Spirit and in communion with the Catholic Church throughout the world, the people of
Divine Mercy Parish of the Diocese of Manchester seek to create a welcoming and compassionate community
of faith, where we grow in grace and love of Jesus Christ. We strive to understand and proclaim His Gospel,
building up God’s kingdom in our lives, our families and our towns. We provide a joyful home for prayer and
the celebration of the Eucharist and all the sacraments. Through actions and words, we seek to embrace all
those in need, defend the holiness and flourishing of human life and promote peace and justice.”
glory aside, being "Born that we no more may die."
For this reason alone we should joyfully sing with
full voice this day, "Hark! The herald angels sing."
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
The words of this well-known carol were set down
by one of the greatest hymn writers of all time.
Charles Wesley published more than 6,000 hymns
over the course of his long career, which spanned
the eighteenth century. His lyrics are sung
throughout the world to this day.
©LPI 2010
CATHOLIC TOURS
Several times a year various groups contact the
Church office with information about Catholic
tours. Some of them are sponsored by a diocesan
priest; others by professional tour companies. Three
separate tours are listed below.
As with many of his hymns, Wesley continued to
edit the words throughout his lifetime, so what we
sing today is a version of the original, which
appeared in 1739. This carol does an exceptional
job expressing the theology of the Incarnation,
particularly that which is found in St. John's Gospel.
Cruise to Exotic Eastern Caribbean – Come and
sail away on an 8-night Catholic Exotic Eastern
Caribbean Cruise with Father Michael Tyson May 1
– 9, 2013, on the Carnival Splendor out of New
York, NY. Ports of call: include Grand Turk, Half
Moon Cay (Bahamas) and Nassau (Bahamas).
Prices begin at $1563 for two passengers, which
include all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass and
Rosary offered. Deposits of only $50 per person
will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For
further information or to register, contact Doug or
Eileen at 860-399-1785 or dpayttc@aol.com.
A core teaching about the Incarnation by the early
Church fathers was that, in Christ, God became
human, so that humanity might come to share in
divine life. This belief is at the center of what we
celebrate at Christmas. The feast, as the carol itself
points out, is less about a baby in a manger than it is
about what is possible for us: Jesus is "Born to raise
us from the earth, / Born to give us second birth."
It is in the birth of Christ that God and sinners are
reconciled, as Christ unites the two natures, human
and divine, in his own person. As the Sun of
Righteousness-a reference to Malachi 3:20- Christ
is the Morning Star who sheds light and life on all.
This same idea is reprised in the Exsultet at the
Easter Vigil, where Christ is described as the;
“Morning Star that never sets.”
Pilgrimage to Shrines of Italy – April 1-11, 2013
Highlights include Rome, Vatican City, Papal
Audience, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the
Walls, Christian Rome City Tour, St. John in
Lateran, Assisi, Tomb of Padre Pio and more.
Double occupancy is only $3099. For more
information, contact Father William Kaliyadan,
M.D., Sacred Heart Parish, Lebanon, NH at
603-448-1262, or williamms@hotmail.com
Wesley's hymn provides us with a rich theology of
Christmas. In his birth, Christ mildly lays his
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Divine Mercy Parish Newsletter
“Coming Together, Growing in Faith”
Vol. 4 Issue 14 –December, 2012
Catholic Tour LLC announces four pilgrimages
called “Specials” for travel March 6-12, 2013.
 Fatima, Portugal, from Newark Airport - $1399
 Lourdes, France, from JFK Airport - $1859
 Krakow, Poland, from Newark Airport - $1349
 Rome, Italy, from JFK Airport - $1799
All prices include superior tourist class hotels with
private bath, most meals, airfare from gateway
listed, motor coach, full time escort, fuel
surcharges, airline taxes, and daily Mass. Deadline
for signup is January 15, 2013. First come-first
served. See their website: www.thecatholictour.com,
or call 1-877-627-4268.
The Judgment of Paris, described the blind winetastings that showed that modern California wines
were (in many cases) indistinguishable from
European wines with grander reputations.
Another good book about the wine industry, and
wine-selling psychology, is Wine Wars, by Mike
Veseth. This book is subtitled “The Curse of the
Blue Nun, the Miracle of Two Buck Chuck, and the
Revenge of the Terroirists.” The book is fun to read
just to find the explanations for the subtitle. I knew
that “terroir,” a term reflecting how the qualities of
the earth end up in what you’re tasting, is used
prejudicially in wine-tasting but is a positive term
when you’re talking about maple syrup or carrots. I
learned about shelf psychology, too: If a customer is
aspiring to a fancy, well-rated wine, he looks up; an
average wine, he looks about waist-high; an
unassuming bulk wine for a general crowd, floor
level; and wine stores stock their shelves
accordingly. There are a lot of interesting facts
about world-wide business in this book, presented
with a dash of humor.
BOOK NOOK
By Linda Kiernan Kepner
Where there’s sunshine and good
wine, and tomorrow is also a day.”
quoted by Dorothy L. Sayer
–
Especially during this holiday season, many adults
enjoy the opportunity to taste a little wine – and not
just at church. Wine is big business as well as a
small pleasure. (Moderation in all things, please.)
Three books offered for sale in this region during
the past year or two highlight the pleasures of wine
and wine tasting.
My third recommended book looks like a highschool yearbook for grapes: The Next
Harvest…Vineyards & Wineries of New
England, by Christopher and Nancy Obert. The
format contains the same kinds of photos, typefaces,
and color covers that we’ve seen in every school –
but these are photos of mouth-watering grapes and
wine-casks and happy vintners throughout all of
New England. There are maps, so that you can
follow the same wine trails of the Oberts. Due to
the changing nature of the wine business, there is
also a page of “New and Not Listed New England
Wineries” that covers the ones they have not
personally visited. Chris and Nancy Obert publish
their wine books through their own publishing
house, Pear Tree Publishing, and coordinate
Authors’ Nights in New England, notably at
Zorvino Vineyards (Sandown, N.H.) and
Danversport Yacht Club (Danvers, Mass.). (I
attended the last Authors’ Night in Danvers, and
one of the tables was staffed by an ex-altar-server
from St. Peter’s Church!).
A Toast to Bargain Wines, by George M. Taber, is
a book about buying and tasting affordable wines.
It includes 400 recommended wines under $10, and
talks about the wine trade. You don’t really have to
be a wine snob to find a wine you like, because
thanks to modern technology, there are very few
“skunky” wines – just wines that you, the consumer,
might not happen to prefer. Mr. Taber points out
that a lot of “wine mystique” is plain old wineexecutive ego, and you shouldn’t allow it to scare
you away. These days, even the “For Dummies”
book line is putting out “Wine for Dummies”
books, and also sells a wine-tasting kit (which I
have not tried, I admit – I am not a seasoned winetaster, by any means). Mr. Taber is a well-known
and respected wine writer whose famous first book,
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Divine Mercy Parish Newsletter
“Coming Together, Growing in Faith”
Vol. 4 Issue 14 –December, 2012
I am not a wine snob because I don’t know enough
about wines, and I think that I will probably never
know enough. But it’s nice to read these books and
get some validation for what I do know, and learn
some of the stories behind this exotic industry.
leader of the Peace Light Project. Mr. Hart flew to
Vienna to deliver the Peace Light to Christina
Mader, the Peace Light Child for 2012.
In Vienna, Christina distributed the flame to Scouts
from throughout Europe. Austrian Airlines flew the
Peace Light to JFK Airport in New York City on
December 10. After a ceremony at the Our Lady of
the Skies Chapel, Scouting representatives carried
the flame to their communities across the United
States. The Peace Light arrived at Divine Mercy
Parish on December 11, where it was transferred to
the sanctuary lamp that burns continuously next to
the tabernacle. On Sunday evening, Peterborough’s
Boy Scout Troop 8 proudly escorted the Peace
Light to the front of the church to begin the
Ecumenical Peace Light Service.
ECUMENICAL PEACE
LIGHT SERVICE
By Lauren Martin
On Sunday December 16, despite
the slippery winter weather, 127 parishioners and
clergy from Divine Mercy Parish, All Saint’s Parish
and Union Congregational Church gathered at St.
Peter Church for an ecumenical service centered on
the sharing of the Bethlehem Peace Light.
After joining in hymns and prayers, the four clergy
members- Father Gerald Belanger from Divine
Mercy, Reverends Adrian and Sarah Robbins-Cole
from All Saint’s Parish, and Reverend Polly Shamy
from Union Congregational Church lit tapers from
the Peace Light lamp and moved down the center
aisle lighting candles held by the gathered
congregation. Overhead lights were turned off and
the Peace Light flames lit up the church.
For over one thousand years, lamps have been
continuously lit in the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem, at the site where Jesus Christ was born.
Twenty-six years ago, the Peace Light campaign
began in Austria as part of a charitable relief
mission called “Light Into Darkness,” which was
organized for children in need. It quickly spread to
become an international peace campaign.
Every year a child from Austria fetches the light
from the eternal flame and brings it back to Vienna
in two blast-proof miner’s lamps. It is then
distributed at a Service of Dedication to Scouting to
delegations from more than 30 European countries.
From Vienna, these Scouts take the Peace Light
back to their own communities to share at
ecumenical services throughout the continent. The
Peace Light first came to the United States in the
year 2000, and it travelled to New Hampshire for
the first time last year.
Gazing into the flickering candles and thinking
about all that the flames represent was powerful and
deeply meaningful, causing many to wipe away
tears. Just days after the terrible tragedy in
Newtown, CT, the Peace Light brought comfort to
those gathered. Many participants brought lanterns
to bring the Peace Light flame home; plans to share
it with family and friends.
The Peace Light has been delivered to Newtown,
CT; we pray that its message of peace brings
comfort to the grieving families. The Peace Light
of Bethlehem is symbolic of the Light of Christ. It
is meant to promote peace, harmony and unity
among the people of the world regardless of race,
ethnicity or creed. Let it serve as a visible reminder
of our mission to keep the hope of peace alive in
our world, our communities and our homes.
While most years an Austrian child has flown to
Israel to retrieve the Peace Light flame, the fighting
between Israel and Hamas this fall made travel
unsafe. Instead, the 2012 Peace Light was lit on
Tuesday November 27 by Khader Ballut, an elevenyear-old Arab Christian who lives in Bethlehem.
Khader passed the lanterns to Gunther Hartl, the
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Divine Mercy Parish Newsletter
“Coming Together, Growing in Faith”
Vol. 4 Issue 14 –December, 2012
DIVINE MERCY SPEAKER SERIES
January 15, 2013, Tuesday, 7 - 8 PM
Peter Gosline, President and CEO
Monadnock Community Hospital
“Health Care - At Present and in the Future”
In light of recent national health care changes and
considerations, and in the aftermath of the election,
Peter’s presentation promises to be informative and
timely.
By Adele deVera
A few years ago, the Catechetical Committee sent
out a survey asking parishioners how our parish can
best serve them. We received many responses
concerning community service, ministries, bible
studies, and several more. A majority of people
responded that they wanted to have talks on
different topics. In addition, there was an indication
that several people had left the Church, and were
unsure of how to return.
February 10, 11, 12, 7 - 8 PM
Paul Koleski
Parish Lenten Mission
“Igniting the Light of Christ within You”
Over the next several months, the Pastoral Council
discussed how best to fulfill these needs. We also
prayed and deliberated how best to welcome people
back into the fold. We want our parish to be a true
community, a community based on love and respect
for each other. Part of our mission is to create a
welcoming and compassionate community of faith
where we grow in grace and love of Jesus Christ.
March 19, 7 - 8 PM –
Mary Catherine Bateson, PhD.
Cultural Anthropologist
“The Development of Spirituality Throughout the
Life Cycle”
April 6, 7- 8 PM
Rev Paul Fohlin, OCD
Former Superior and resident of the Common in
Peterborough NH
“A Trip Down Memory Lane”
The speaker series addresses one of these needs. In
addition to the Lenten Retreat that we have held
these past several years, and in response to
parishioners’ requests, we are planning to invite
people who are willing to talk about various topics
relevant to our faith and community. Beginning in
January 2013, we will have a series of speakers on a
wide range of topics from health care to adult faith
formation.
Refreshments and conversation will follow in the
church hall after all talks, except for the Lenten
Mission. Please mark your calendars and plan to
join us for this informative and enriching speaker
series. Additional information will follow in future
church bulletins and public announcements.
We invite everyone, from churchgoers to occasional
or non-churchgoers, to come and listen. The talks
will be open to all parishioners and the community
at large. It will be an opportunity for us to learn
something and more importantly, to get to know
each other.
NEWSLETTER STAFF:
Elaine Giacomo - Co-editor
Gail Caron – Co-editor
Linda Kepner – Staff writer
Ginny Chevalier – Staff writer
Below is a listing of the first four speakers of the
series. All talks will be held at Divine Mercy
Parish.
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