Come celebrate the Nativity of the Lord with our parish family! Invite your loved ones, especially those who may be returning to church for the first time in a while. All are welcome!

Christmas Vigil – Wednesday, December 24, 2025

• 4:00pm – Christmas Vigil Mass at Lourdes (Family-friendly Mass, ideal for children and young families)
• 6:00pm – Christmas Vigil Mass at Rosary
• 11:00pm – Christmas Mass During the Night at Lourdes (With full choir and orchestra)

Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25, 2025

• 8:15am – Christmas Mass at Dawn at Lourdes
• 10:30am – Christmas Mass During the Day at Lourdes

“Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!” | Come, let us adore Him!

Please note that the parish office will have limited hours during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Holiday Hours (Dec. 29th – Jan. 2nd):

• Office Open: 9:00am – 12:00pm (Noon)
• Office Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, 2nd Day of Christmas and New Year’s Day

Regular office hours will resume the week of January 5th.

Thank you for your understanding as this adjusted schedule allows our dedicated parish team to enjoy some much-needed rest and renewal after a very busy and grace-filled holy season.

December 20th & 21st at all Sunday Masses

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, our parish family will join a beautiful Roman tradition known as the Blessing of the Bambinelli. Each year in St. Peter’s Square, children and families present the tiny figures of the Baby Jesus Bambinelli from their home Nativity scenes for a special blessing from the Holy Father. This simple, joyful custom began several decades ago as a way to reconnect families, especially children, to the heart of Christmas: welcoming Christ Himself into our homes and hearts.

We are delighted to bring this same tradition to Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish.

At all Sunday Masses the weekend of December 20th/21st, parishioners of every age are invited to bring the Baby Jesus figure from their manger scene at home to be blessed at Mass.

If your family has multiple Nativity sets perhaps one for the children, one in the living room, or one passed down through generations feel free to bring each Bambinello. Families may also hold their Bambinelli in their hands during the blessing as a sign of love and expectancy for the Christ Child.

This blessing is more than a lovely Christmas custom. It is a moment of catechesis that invites us to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation. God chose to enter the world in the littleness of a child helpless, vulnerable, and totally given in love. Blessing the Baby Jesus from your Nativity scene helps each of us remember that Christ desires to be born again in our hearts this Christmas. When you return your Bambinelli home and place it gently in the manger on Christmas morning, let it be a tangible reminder that Jesus longs to dwell with your family, bringing peace, unity, and joy.

Parents and grandparents: this is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about the true meaning of Christmas. Encourage them to carry their Bambinello with reverence, to pray for a heart ready to receive Jesus, and to place Him in the manger on Christmas Day as a personal act of faith and love.

Please mark your calendars and bring your Bambinelli to Mass on December 20th/21st.

May this cherished tradition help us prepare our homes and our hearts to welcome the newborn King!

Mass with Father Pawel — Friday, December 26th at 12:15pm ~ Holy Trinity Church

Second Christmas Day also known as St. Stephen’s Day is a beloved tradition in many European countries, especially in Poland. Celebrated on December 26th, it extends the joy of Christmas with continued festivities, family gatherings, and cherished religious practices.

In Poland, most families attend Mass on this day as a way of prolonging the spirit of goodwill, gratitude, and togetherness that marks the Christmas season. It is a beautiful way of acknowledging that the mystery of Christ’s birth cannot be contained in a single day it is meant to overflow into the days that follow.

This year, Father Pawel will share this meaningful Polish tradition with our parish family by celebrating Second Christmas Day Mass at Holy Trinity Church on Friday, December 26th at 12:15pm.

All are warmly invited to join us for this special liturgy as we continue to rejoice in the Lord’s birth.

Please note:
This will be the only daily Mass offered that day, so we strongly encourage everyone to come and celebrate with Fr. Pawel.

Come experience the beauty of this tradition, extend the joy of Christmas, and pray together as one parish family.
All are welcome!

Help Others Encounter Jesus

Your Christmas gift strengthens our parish’s mission of evangelization helping people of every age experience the love of Jesus in meaningful and life-changing ways.

Your generosity supports:

• Beautiful, reverent liturgies that draw hearts back to God
• Sacramental preparation for families, new Catholics, and returning Catholics
• Ongoing adult faith formation and opportunities for spiritual growth
• Pastoral care for the sick, homebound, grieving, and those in crisis
• Community outreach and service, bringing Christ’s mercy to those in need
• Programs that welcome newcomers and invite them into deeper relationship with Christ

Please consider a special Christmas offering to sustain this vital work. Thank you for helping our parish share the light of Christ.

Monthly Memorials for December

• The gift of Bread has been given in memory of the Thomas Larkin, Sr. by Wife, Children and Grandchildren
• The gift of Candles has been given in memory of Albert Edward Anken by Rose Butler and Ann Anken
• The gift of Wine has been given in memory of Bob Jakubowski (15th Anniv.) by Wife, Barb

This Christmas Season
A Gift of Hope for Those in Need

As we celebrate the birth of Christ the One who brings light, healing, and hope we are invited to share that same hope with those who need it most. Our annual HOPE Appeal supports essential ministries across our diocese that feed the hungry, assist families in crisis, strengthen parish life, support youth and young adults, and care for the vulnerable. This year, our parish embraces a new and inspiring goal: 100% participation.

Every household, every gift, every act of generosity matters. Whether your contribution is modest or substantial, your participation is what truly counts.

Why Give to the HOPE Appeal?

• Directly supports people in need throughout the diocese
• Strengthens Catholic Charities, food pantries, and family outreach
• Helps sustain parish ministries, evangelization, and faith formation
• Advances programs that support youth, young adults, and vulnerable populations As we approach the end of the year, please prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift. Christmas is a season of generosity, gratitude, and love an invitation to give as Christ has given to us.

Let’s shine the light of Christ together.
Let’s reach 100% participation.
Let’s bring hope to those who need it most.

Also accessible through the giving portal on our parish website. Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you abundantly this Christmas season.

Find Your Place. Use Your Gifts. Make a Difference.

So many parishioners want to get involved but aren’t sure where to begin. The truth is simple: God has placed unique spiritual gifts within you, and our parish has a place where those gifts can come alive.

To help you discover your “best fit,” our parish offers a wide range of ministries each one a meaningful way to grow in faith, build community, and support the mission of evangelization.

According to our parish’s Ministry Guide, there are three beautiful pathways of involvement: Witness, Worship, and Service.

• WITNESS: Ministries that help others encounter Jesus From Family Life Catechesis and Youth Ministry to Adult Faith Formation, OCIA, Young Adult Ministry, Vocations Ministry, and Genesis Mission, these ministries help parishioners share Christ through teaching, accompaniment, and personal witness.
• WORSHIP: Ministries that enrich our liturgical life Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Altar Servers, Music Ministry, Hospitality, Livestream Ministry, and Adoration Society members all help create beautiful, prayerful worship that draws hearts to God.
• SERVICE: Ministries that embody Christ’s compassion Community Outreach, Bereavement Ministry, Prayer Warriors, Visits to the Sick & Homebound, Men’s Club, Christ Child Society, Altar & Rosary Society, and Parish Bazaar Committee all help us reveal Christ’s love in practical, transformative ways.

Not sure where you fit? That’s the Holy Spirit. Let us help you discern.

Many parishioners feel a desire to get involved but don’t know how to start. That’s completely normal. Getting involved begins with one simple step:

Reach out and let us help you discover the ministry where your gifts can flourish. Your time, your presence, your gifts they matter more than you know.

To explore ministries or to get connected, contact our parish office or email: marymotherutica@syrdio.org

Your spiritual gifts were meant to be shared. Your parish family is ready to welcome you.

Executive Summary: Spiritual Gifts Seminar
Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish – Christmas 2025

This year, as part of our ongoing renewal after the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey, more than 40 parishioners participated in our first Spiritual Gifts Seminar. Through prayer, teaching, and charism discernment, participants discovered the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has entrusted to them for the building up of the Body of Christ. What emerged from this process is both deeply hopeful and profoundly clarifying: God has already given our parish every gift we need for the next chapter of our mission.

Beautiful Polish Tradition Shared with Our Parish

Our parish is pleased to offer pastoral visits and house blessings in the coming weeks, inspired by a cherished Polish Catholic tradition. In Poland, priests visit homes after Christmas to pray with families, bless their homes, and entrust the coming year to God’s care. It is a beautiful reminder that Christ desires to dwell not only in our churches, but also in the daily life of our homes and families. A pastoral visit offers a peaceful moment of prayer, reflection, and connection. It is a wonderful way to prepare spiritually for Christmas, invite God’s blessing into your home, and share any questions or concerns with a priest in a relaxed, prayerful setting.

Fr. Pawel’s typical availability for these house blessings:

• Mondays–Wednesdays: 9:00am – 4:00pm
• Fridays: 11:00am – 3:00pm

Extraordinary circumstances may allow for a weekend visit. To prepare for the blessing, please set out: A white or appropriate tablecloth; A cross; and Two candles A free-will offering for the needs of the parish may be made during the visit.

A Gentle Note: This tradition is a special gift from Fr. Pawel’s Polish heritage, and we are blessed to experience it while he is serving here. Because it is uniquely connected to him, it will be offered only during his assignment in our parish. We share this simply to set expectations with gratitude for the blessing he brings to our community.

To schedule a visit, please contact the parish office.

January Sessions:

• Session 1:
  January 11, 2026 from 9:15-10:15 AM at Notre Dame Elementary School
• Session 2:
  January 25, 2026 from 9:15-10:15 AM at Notre Dame Elementary School

Contact Information Jill Grise Catechetical Leader Pre-K-6 Email: jgrise@syrdio.org

The Annual World Marriage Day will be celebrated on February 15th at 2:00pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.

The Rev. Douglas J. Lucia will celebrate Mass and invite all couples in attendance to renew their commitment to Holy Matrimony.

If you are celebrating your 25th, 50th or 50+ anniversary in 2026 and would like to join in this wonderful celebration please contact our Parish Office (315-724-3155) or email Christine DeSanctis at cdesanctis@syrdio.org.

Please leave your Name(s), Address and Years Married so that a personal invitation from the Bishop can be sent to you. This is a beautiful way to celebrate your marriage.

This Christmas, Take the Next Step: Register as a Parishioner

If you are visiting this Christmas or if you have been attending quietly without officially registering please know how grateful we are that you are here. Our parish is blessed with many young adults and families who join us regularly but choose to remain anonymous. This is a common trend across the country, but here at Mary Mother of Our Savior, we want something more for you.

We want to authentically accompany you.
Registering in a parish is not about being added to a list it’s about entering into a relationship where you are known, supported, prayed for, and encouraged in your journey of faith. It allows us to walk with you through life’s joys, questions, struggles, and transitions.

Why Register?

• Authentic accompaniment begins with knowing who you are.
  When you register, we can connect with you personally not generically and support you in the ways you actually need.
• You become part of a community that cares.
  Registration opens the door to meaningful relationships, pastoral care, and a sense of belonging that goes far beyond Sunday worship.
• You gain clarity and access to sacramental and spiritual support
  Baptism, marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, funerals, spiritual guidance, and more moments where accompaniment matters most.
• You help strengthen our parish’s mission.
  Knowing our members allows us to build ministries, outreach, and programs that reflect the real needs of our people especially the growing number of young adults in our pews.
• You make a difference simply by allowing us to walk with you.
  Your story enriches our parish, and your presence helps shape a vibrant, faith-filled community in the Mohawk Valley.

If you have been praying with us even for a short time you already belong. Registering simply lets us recognize that belonging and respond with the care, support, and accompaniment you deserve.

We look forward to walking with you in faith. Welcome home.

Don’t Miss Out! Stay Connected with Our Weekly Parish E-Newsletter

Our parish is alive with activity beautiful liturgies, dynamic ministries, service opportunities, youth events, inspiring stories, and important updates that shape the life of our community. But if you’re not receiving our weekly E-Newsletter, you’re missing the single best way to stay connected. In a parish as active and growing as ours, things move quickly. One weekly email keeps you informed, inspired, and included.

Why Subscribe?

• Be the first to know about upcoming events, holy days, and schedule changes
• Never miss an opportunity to grow in faith or get involved
• Stay connected whether you’re at Mass every week or traveling
• See the good your parish is doing in real time
• Feel like part of the family, not a spectator in the pew Our weekly E-Newsletter is the heartbeat of parish communication. If you want to feel engaged, aware, and truly connected to everything happening at Mary Mother of Our Savior, this is where it starts.

Sign up today it only takes 10 seconds:

Don’t just attend belong. Stay connected. Stay informed. Stay part of something beautiful.

Our parish is blessed each week by your generosity. If you give anonymously through the loose collection, please consider Online Giving a simple, secure way to support the mission and allow us to better accompany you.

Why Online Giving?
It strengthens our mission!

Consistent, planned giving helps us invest more boldly in evangelization, youth ministry, outreach, and vibrant parish life. Online Giving also makes it easy to give intentionally and stay connected to our parish family.

Your generosity builds the Church. Thank you!

Catholic Women throughout the area are welcome to join the Catholic Women’s Club. Building new friendships, listening to varied educational presentations and enjoying a catered luncheon are just a few of the wonderful benefits.

The Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from September thru June.

Our meetings begin at 12:30pm and are located in the Seton Center of Mary, Mother of Our Savior, Lourdes Campus.

If interested, please contact the Parish Office.