The parish office will have a new schedule starting Monday, November 27. The office will be open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on Fridays. Paige will staff the morning hours, and Diane will be at the office 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM.

In the seventeenth century, Our Lord asked French nun, now Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, to honor His Sacred Heart on nine consecutive first Fridays, by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Jesus said, “I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."

Following the closing of the La Salette Shrine in New Hampshire, Fr. Harlow, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish and past Cathedral rector, will ask Our Lady of La Salette for drug addiction healing at First Saturday Masses at his St. Johnsbury Church. Fr. Harlow invites parishioners to send him names of addicts or communities afflicted by drug use, drug overdoses, and drug sales. All names will be kept secret and not mentioned at these Masses, but Father will pray for them to Our Lady. Please email names to [email protected]. Father asks that no one send money for this cause. The Enfield, NH shrine dedicated to the 1846 appearance in France of the Blessed Mother to French children, is giving its property back to the Shakers who donated it to the missionaries in 1927.

This devotion grew popular after Our Lady of Fatima spoke of it during her appearances to the shepherd children in that small Portuguese town in 1917. The Blessed Mother asked us to perform these devotions as reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart and for the conversion of Russia: go to Confession within eight days before the First Saturday; attend Mass and receive Holy Communion; pray five decades of the Rosary; meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes. The Mother of God promised her help at the penitent’s death if these promises were kept.

Father Harlow will conduct the monthly healing service at St. John's Sunday, Sept. 3 at 3:00 PM. The service takes place in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and includes the laying on of hands for individual needs. It is open to the public.

This class will have its first session Sunday, January 14 from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at the Lively Center. Classes run through April every Sunday except Family Mass Sundays. Mariann Sjolander will be our teacher. To register, please call the parish office, 748-8129, or email Deacon Tom Lovett at [email protected].

Each of our three churches will display a book for parishioners to write the names of their beloved dead. In addition, you may write names and add an optional donation to put in an envelope for the weekend collection October 28 and 29 Please clearly write your loved ones names and the donor's name, label the outside "All Souls Day," and drop it in the basket.

St. Elizabeth invites children to make Advent wreaths at the monthly Coffee Hour, Sunday, December 3 after the 9:35 AM Mass. Please enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a a baked good, and warm fellowship as we begin Advent.

Today we begin the joyful and penitential journey to the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Christmas. Advent means “coming,” and marks the start of the new liturgical year. We may set up and light the first purple candle on an Advent wreath. We may start making, collecting, and hanging our first ornaments on a Jesse tree. We open the first window of our Advent calendar. We may choose our Christkindl, the person to whom we will be like the Christ Child this Advent, secretly doing or making something kind for this recipient each day or every week in Advent - a prayer, Mass intention, rosary, leaving a holy card or medal, making a treat or gift, doing a chore. Readings at this Sunday’s Mass encourage us to watch for and wait for Lord. The priest wears purple or violet vestments during this season, similar to Lent. Church decorations are simple except for the big Advent wreath with its greenery, ribbons, and four candles. The Gloria is omitted at Mass. It will return at Christmas. Sunday readings are from Year B in the three-year cycle. We will hear Mark's Gospel. His symbol is the winged lion.

Queen of Peace will be the host location for Corpus Christi's Advent Retreat day, Saturday, December 9, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The schedule includes talks, small group discussions, Eucharistic Adoration, and time for prayer and worship. We'll also serve a free lunch. To register, fill out a brochure, drop it in the collection basket at weekend Masses, or bring it to the parish office. Deacon Tom Lovett is taking signups by telephone or email: 802-751-8187; [email protected]. Speakers will include Father Harlow, Father Curtis Miller, Pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Barton Irasburg, and Orleans, and Deacon Dave Baker.

Class runs from 5:30 to 7:00 PM the second and fourth Sundays at the Father Lively Center. Instruction is for adults who wish to be receive the sacrament of Confirmation or to refresh their faith education. Please call the parish office for more information, or contact Deacon Tom Lovett [email protected]. Classes are free.

Introduction The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. But how does he know whom to select? The process for selecting candidates for the episcopacy normally begins at the diocesan level and works its way through a series of consultations until it reaches Rome. It is a process bound by strict confidentiality and involves a number of important players – the most influential being the apostolic nuncio, the Congregation for Bishops, and the pope. It can be a time-consuming process, often taking eight months or more to complete. While there are distinctions between the first appointment of a priest as a bishop and a bishop's later transfer to another diocese or his promotion to archbishop, the basic outlines of the process remain the same. Key Terms Apostolic Nuncio The pope's representative to both the government and to the hierarchy of a given nation; a key person in deciding what names are recommended to the Congregation for Bishops for possible episcopal appointment. Auxiliary Bishop A bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop. Whether in a diocese or archdiocese, his title is bishop. Coadjutor A bishop appointed to a Catholic diocese or archdiocese to assist the diocesan bishop. Unlike an auxiliary bishop, he has the right of succession, meaning that he automatically becomes the new bishop when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. By canon law, he is also vicar general of the diocese. If the diocese is an archdiocese, he is called coadjutor archbishop instead of coadjutor bishop. In recent years, a growing number of U.S. bishops in larger dioceses or archdioceses have requested and received a coadjutor in their final year or two before their retirement, in order to familiarize their successor with the workings of the (arch)diocese before he has to take over the reins. This minimizes the learning curve of a new bishop and eliminates completely the possibility of the diocese being vacant following the old bishop’s retirement. Congregation for Bishops A department of the Roman Curia, headed by a Cardinal. The head of the Congregation, called the "prefect," is presently S.E. Mons. Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.. Among the congregation's responsibilities are moderating all aspects of episcopal appointments; assisting bishops in the correct exercise of their pastoral functions; handling ad limina visits (regular visits to Rome by bishops every five years); and establishing episcopal conferences and reviewing their decrees as required by canon law. Its membership consists of approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world. Diocesan Bishop Pastoral and legal head and representative of a diocese. Province A territory comprising one archdiocese, called the metropolitan see, and one or more dioceses, called suffragan sees. The Code of Canon Law spells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province. The United States is divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces. Terna A list of three candidates for a vacant office, including the office of bishop. Stage 1: Bishops' Recommendations Every bishop may submit to the archbishop of his province the names of priests he thinks would make good bishops. Prior to the regular province meeting (usually annually), the archbishop distributes to all the bishops of the province the names and curricula vitae of priests which have been submitted to him. Following a discussion among the bishops at the province meeting, a vote is taken on which names to recommend. The number of names on this provincial list may vary. The vote tally, together with the minutes of the meeting, is then forwarded by the archbishop to the apostolic nuncio in Washington. The list is also submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Stage 2: The Apostolic Nuncio By overseeing the final list of names forwarded to Rome, the apostolic nuncio plays a decisive role in the selection process. He not only gathers facts and information about potential candidates, but also interprets that information for the Congregation. Great weight is given to the nuncio's recommendations, but it is important to remember that his "gatekeeper" role, however, does not mean that his recommendations are always followed. For Diocesan Bishops • After receiving the list of candidates forwarded by a province, the apostolic nuncio conducts his own investigation into the suitability of the candidates. • A report is requested from the current bishop or the administrator of a diocese on the conditions and needs of the diocese. If the appointment is a replacement for a diocesan bishop or archbishop about to retire, consideration will be given to the incumbent's recommendations. Broad consultation within the diocese is encouraged with regard to the needs of the diocese, but not the names of candidates. • The report is to include the names of individuals in the diocese with whom the Nuncio might consult and how to contact them. • Previous bishops of the diocese are consulted. • Bishops of the province are consulted • The president and vice president of the USCCB are consulted. • If the vacancy to be filled is an archdiocese, other archbishops in the United States may be consulted. • At this point, the nuncio narrows his list and a questionnaire is sent to 20 or 30 people who know each of the candidates for their input. • All material is collected and reviewed by the nuncio, and a report (approximately 20 pages) is prepared. Three candidates are listed alphabetically – the terna – with the nuncio's preference noted. All materials are then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. For Auxiliary Bishops • A diocesan bishop must justify to the apostolic nuncio his need for an auxiliary bishop. This is easier if he is requesting a replacement for a retired or deceased auxiliary. • The diocesan bishop prepares the terna, or list of three candidates, for his requested auxiliary and forwards it to the apostolic nuncio. • The nuncio then conducts his own investigation of the priests on the diocesan bishop's terna, sending the names to Rome with a report and his own recommendations. • On average, this part of the process may take two to six months. • Stage 3: Congregation for BishopsOnce all the documentation from the nuncio is complete and in order, and the prefect approves, the process moves forward. If the appointment involves a bishop who is being promoted or transferred, the matter may be handled by the prefect and the staff. If, however, the appointment is of a priest to the episcopacy, the full congregation is ordinarily involved. A cardinal relator is chosen to summarize the documentation and make a report to the full congregation, which generally meets twice a month on Thursdays. After hearing the cardinal relator's report, the congregation discusses the appointment and then votes. The Congregation may follow the recommendation of the nuncio, chose another of the candidates on the terna, or even ask that another terna be prepared. Stage 4: The Pope Decides At a private audience with the pope, usually on a Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops presents the recommendations of the Congregation to the Holy Father. A few days later, the pope informs the Congregation of his decision. The Congregation then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candidate and asks if he will accept. If the answer is "yes," the Vatican is notified and a date is set for the announcement. It often takes six to eight months—and sometimes longer—from the time a diocese becomes vacant until a new bishop is appointed.

Sunday brunch will be served this Sunday, November 26 after the 11:30 AM Mass at St. John. Come catch up with friends. Sign up to bring a dish to share. There is a sign up sheet in the back of the Church. Brunches will take place on the fourth Sunday of each month, at St. John.

The Mass for Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated at St. John's at 8:30 AM. There will be no evening Adoration, Confession, or Mass that day. Please come and thank the Lord before you begin your festivities.

A team of volunteers is needed to move chairs and tables Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 PM. Raffle tickets are in the churches this weekend. Sallie Lewis is asking for more bake sale donations. Please call or text Sallie at 802-535-7455 to be added to the bakers' list. Dropoff for bake sale goodies is Friday, November 17 at the Lively Center from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sallie also needs a volunteer to run one of the White Elephant rooms, setting up and working on bazaar day. Workers who help setup, run activities, and cleanup may shop Friday night before the bazaar.

St. Elizabeth will be host for its annual Christmas bazaar Saturday, November 11 from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM in the parish hall. Please come and enjoy the Cookie Walk, Attic Treasures, Christmas Table, Children's Table, and Puzzle Table. You also may enjoy the silent auction, mini raffles, and the large raffle.

Donations and pledges to date: $58,385 or 85% of the goal: $68,944.

Calling young adults (18 to 39 years old) to bake cookies for the St. Elizabeth Cookie Walk at the Silver Bells Bazaar Saturday, November 11. Please bring your cookie dough to the Lively Center Wednesday, November 8 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. We ask that you RSVP by text message to 802-535-0322. Enjoy pizza while we bake. Bakers welcome anytime during the scheduled time.

Please set your clocks back one hour Saturday night or Sunday, November 4 or 5, as Daylight Savings Time ends for this year. Remember: Fall Back.

Masses for this Holy Day of Obligation are: 8:30 AM, St. John; 12:00 Noon, Queen of Peace; 7:00 PM, St. Elizabeth.