FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 23, 2018

Transcription

1 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 23, 2018 REV. JOHN A. SEDLAK Pastor/Trust Administrator PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to build up the Kingdom of God by offering ourselves with Jesus for the true good of every person. Mass Schedule Weekday & Sat. Morning: 8:00 am Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00 am Holy Days: As Announced Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekday & Sat. Morning: 7:30-7:50 am Saturday Vigil: 4:00-4:45 pm Sunday: 8:30-8:45 am & 10:30-10:45 am (30 minutes before all other Masses) Office Hours Monday-Thursday: Mailing Address PO Box Route 981 United PA Website 8:15 am - 3:45 pm Phone Numbers Parish Office/Rectory: FAX: Pastoral Emergencies: Catechesis, Faith Formation & Evangelization (CFFE) Office: Preschool: Social Hall: St. Vincent de Paul Helpline: Staff CFFE Director: Dr. Joseph Dreliszak Preschool Director: Lottie Hirak Preschool Aide: Karen Dlugos Music Director: Steven Makar Parish Secretary and Bookkeeper: Angela Reese Pastoral Council Terry Foriska Mike Reese Don Scekeres *Recorder Finance Council John Boggess Stephanie Soflak Jerry Yasher Emily Uhrin *Chair Tammy Sofranko* Nicole Stull Dave Shimko Kathy Sobinsky Mike Johnson David Lazor* EUCHARISTIC SELF-OFFERING PRAYER I am all Yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, Your Mother.

2 Page 2 December 23, 2018 Sat., Dec. 22 Sun., Dec. 23 9:00 AM Mon., Dec. 24 4:00 PM 10:00 PM Tue., Dec :00 AM Wed., Dec. 26 Thu., Dec. 27 Fri., Dec. 28 Sat., Dec. 29 Sun., Dec. 30 9:00 AM MASS INTENTIONS (Request Form on back of bulletin) Advent Weekday +Steven Hollis by Rose Hollis & Children Fourth Sunday of Advent +Leonard & Terry Lucotch by Lucotch Family +Margaret Tomechko by Tracy Family Advent Weekday +Leonard Lucotch by Wife, Children and Grandchildren The Nativity of the Lord St. Stephen +William Rosky by Terry, Mary & David Gesinski St. John +Mary Tandaric by the Kadylak Family The Holy Innocents +John & Agnes Lucas by Ron & Stephanie Lucas, Jason Lucas, Todd & Rachel Lucas Fifth Day within the Octave of Christmas +Edward J. Cibulas Jr. by Aunt Marlene & Uncle Bob +Mary Tandaric by Steve & Mary Jane Makar The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph +John Dzuban by John & Debbie Brehun ST. FLORIAN OFFERTORY STEWARDSHIP: Due to the early bulletin, the December offertory report will be in next week s bulletin. Sanctuary Light In Memory of Thomas Appleby By Marge Appleby & Family Readings for the week of December 16, 2018 Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 [6]/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18 Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1-17 Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25 Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-25 Thursday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45 Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46-56 Next Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, [4]/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-4 Liturgical Publications Inc. The Parish Office will be closed: Monday, December 24th After 12:00 Noon Tuesday, December 25th Wednesday, December 26th (The Office will be open on Thursday, December 27th) THIS WEEK Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Prayer Shawl Ministry Wednesday-Thursday Tuesday, 1:00 PM MINISTRY SCHEDULE Saturday, December 22, 2018~ Lector....J. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers J. Lawrence, G. Kovacina, D. Mizikar Altar Servers C. Shaffer, J. Hornyak Greeters C. Mizikar, F. Kernicky, E. Carpenter Ushers E. Carpenter, T. & D. Ulishney, C. Mizikar Sunday, December 23, 2018 ~ 9:00 AM Lector... R. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers... J. Lesko, S. King, H. Szewczyk Altar Servers G. & T. Sofranko Greeters S. Jackson, C. Szewczyk, N. Tracy Ushers......M. Bilik, D. & G. Vidakovich, P. Bitner Sunday, December 23, 2018 ~ Lector... B. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers... Niederhiser, Kovacina, Klimchock Altar Servers......Z. Koch Greeters...D. Scekeres, J. Burik Ushers...D. Scekeres, J. Burik, E. Uhrin, J. Mylant Children s Liturgy....W. & V. Back Monday, December 24, 2018 ~ 4:00 PM Lector... T. Stercho Eucharistic Ministers... W. Bossart, C. Kelly, D. Mizikar...J. Lesko, H. & C. Szewczyk, J. Lawrence Altar Servers A. & M. Reese Greeters E. Carpenter, R. Kernicky, B. Mondock Ushers.E. Carpenter, P. Bitner, J. Mizikar, A. Smail Monday, December 24, 2018 ~ 10:00 PM Lector... R. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers... S. King, J. Lesko, K. Kitz Altar Servers......J. & L. King Greeters V. Swiderski, N. Tracy, J. Mott Ushers...C. & D. Mizikar, D. & G. Vidakovich Tuesday, December 25, 2018 ~ 10:00 AM Lector... E. Zider Eucharistic Ministers... J. Mizikar, W. Back, M. Ceroni Altar Servers T. Dillon, A.Kelly Greeters S. Jackson, J. & E. Kovalik Ushers M. Bilik, Ron Mizikar, E. Uhrin, E. Kovalik Saturday, December 29, 2018 ~ Lector... E. Zider Eucharistic Ministers... C. Kelly, J. Lesko, R. Mizikar Altar Servers A. Kelly, J. Hornyak Greeters E. Carpenter, F. Kernicky, C. Mizikar Ushers...E. Carpenter, D. & C. Mizikar, A. Smail Sunday, December 30, 2018 ~ 9:00 AM Lector... C. Stercho Eucharistic Ministers. M. Monticue, C. Szewczyk, M. Ceroni Altar Servers T. & G. Sofranko Greeters N. Tracy, J. Mott, N. Logan Ushers...Ron Mizikar, T. Stercho, P. Bitner, H. Szewczyk Sunday, December 30, 2018 ~ Lector... B. Mizikar Eucharistic Ministers... W. Bossart, R. & B. Obusek Altar Servers M. & C. Reese Greeters D. Scekeres, J. Burik Ushers D. Scekeres, M. Mylant, J. Mizikar, J. Burik Children s Liturgy..A. Reese, J. Reese Early Bulletin Deadline: January 6th Bulletins submissions are due by December 27th to: areese@dioceseofgreensburg.org

3 CATECHESIS, FAITH FORMATION AND EVANGELIZATION Week to Week: December 23, 2018 December 30, 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Sunday Adult Faith Sharing after 9:00 am Mass Faith Formation Center Children s Liturgy During 11:00 am Mass Decorating the Church for Christmas after 11 am Mass Christmas Eve Mass 4:00 pm Children s Choir to participate. After Mass, please join us at our Live Nativity. The Feast of Christmas Have a Blessed Christmas Adult Faith Sharing after 9:00 am Mass Faith Formation Center Children s Liturgy During 11:00 am Mass Faith Formation News Faith Formation News: Elementary Classes for Grades K-7 will resume on January 7, Many thanks to all who made our annual Christmas program such a great event. Have a Blessed Christmas Season! We invite all our children to be a part of our Children s Choir to sing and participate at the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass. Please contact Dr. Dreliszak if your child is able to attend. All are welcome! Adult Education Opportunities Adult Faith Sharing: Adult Faith Sharing will be held on Sunday, December 23rd after the 9:00 am Mass in the Faith Formation Building. New participants are encouraged to join this group. Please contact Dr. Dreliszak for more information Book Club: Please consider joining our Parish Book Club! Our next session will be begin on Wednesday, January 9 from 9:00 10:00 am in the Faith Formation Center. We will be reading and discussing: Our Lady of Kibeho Mary Speaks to the World From the Heart of Africa. The cost is $ Please come and learn about this powerful apparition approved by the Catholic Church. All are welcome! MANY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO DELIVER OUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO THE SHUT-INS OF OUR PARISH. YOUR HELP WAS SO GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR YOUTH GROUP WHO CREATED THE GIFT BAGS FOR OUR FRIENDS CONFINED TO HOME. HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS! Divine Mercy Chaplet A new practice has begun in our parish and ALL are welcome to join us as individuals pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet AFTER our 8:00 am morning Mass on Tuesdays and Fridays. The prayer takes no longer than minutes and is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on God s mercy and love for us. This week s passage: from Divine Mercy Explained - Keys to the Message & Devotion by Fr. Michael Gaitley The Message of Divine Mercy So how do we get the great graces of Divine Mercy in our time? All you need is one little word F-I-N-C-H This stands for Feast, Image, Novena, Chaplet and Hour. Over the next several weeks we will explain the importance of each word as it relates to the importance of understanding God s Divine Mercy for us at this time in our world. This week s word highlight will be FEAST! We begin this week to focus on the second letter of FINCH the letter I which is for IMAGE Jesus told St. Faustina to have an image painted just as he looked when He appeared to her. She obeyed and had it painted by a Polish artist, Eugene Kazimirowski. It took him twelve tries before Faustina accepted it. From the image, one sees Jesus right hand is raised in blessing. Also he s taking a step toward us, and two rays of light issue from His heart: a red ray and a pay ray, representing the blood and water that gushed forth from his pierced side on the Cross. At the bottom of the image, Jesus wanted a prayer to be written, Jesus, I trust in You. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Are you or someone you know interested in joining the Catholic Faith?? No commitment needed at this time. Please contact Dr. Dreliszak at the Faith Formation Center for more information. More details will be announced in the near future. May we pray for those considering this important step on their journey of faith. Prayer Chain Please Note: If you have a particular prayer intention, please contact the FAITH FORMATION CENTER at and your request will be forwarded to those who have agreed to take part in this special ministry. New members on our Parish Prayer Chain are always welcome to join! Because of an earlier bulletin deadline date, no new names for our prayer chain for this week. Please note that the intentions called in will still be prayed for by those who share in this special ministry. Names will once again be listed on a more consistent basis in January. Jillian Jenna Kylee Dolly Jason Karen Wanda Patricia Mike Joey Paula Joe Helen Maureen May we continue to remember these individuals in our daily prayers!

4 CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES Connections by Joe Lesko Fourth Sunday of Advent Micah, as the last prophet for the four who appeared during the Eight Century B.C. (Isaiah, Hosea, Johan), presents a message of hope concerning one who will be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. This child shall be the one who brings a time of peace when all nations shall look to Jerusalem. Luke follows this Old Testament prophecy in his good news story for today. He tells a story of hope with the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. The background here has Mary visiting Elizabeth as both have accepted willingly the divine will of God to mother these chosen one for special missions planned by God. The prophecy of Micah relates how an insignificant city will see and hear the coming of the Messiah who will be a ruler of Israel This king shall shepherd his flock as God s representative. Eventually this king will rule with peace and he will personify or be Shalom itself. Luke has taken the beginning story behind Micah s prophecy. He accounts first the birth of John the Baptist who shall be the precursor of Jesus earthly mission. The coming visit of Mary to Elizabeth has a theological meaning since both mothers-to-be have praised the God who is active in their lives. The significance of Elizabeth s expectant child leaping in her womb in response to Mary s voice is a foreshadowing of future relationships between the two sons. John has recognized his Lord in Mary s womb. Furthermore, there is a parallel between King David and John. David has brought the Ark of the Covenant to a small town In Judea. David danced (literally leaped) before it. John, as a fetus, leaps before the Ark of the New Covenant in Mary s womb. John is prostrating himself before Jesus. Even as an unborn fetus he recognizes the Messiah. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth is given the ability to interpret the leaping of her unborn child. Can John s leaping be proof that life begins at conception? Elizabeth also recognizes the greatness to come from Mary s child. Mary herself is the Ark carrying the New Covenant. Elizabeth uses Lord and God interchangeably to indicate that she sees Mary as the Mother of God. In A.D. 431, The Council of Ephessus declares Mary to have this title. Elizabeth continues her praise to Mary for her trust in the fidelity of God, for Mary has complied with God s will. Elizabeth, older and bearing a child for whom she has sprayed for a long time, displays great joy and a compassion toward Mary. There is no feeling of regret that her son shall be lower in religious rank to Mary s child. The entire narrative of Mary s visit and Elizabeth s remarks is the work of the Holy Spirit. He has filled Elizabeth, her unborn son, as well as Mary to submit totally to God the Father s will in His plan for man s redemption and salvation, Micah has stated the hope for a Messiah. Luke has narrated the fulfillment of this prophecy. These accounts have given us the background of the final step toward salvation history. We are now prepared to accept the birth of Jesus as our Messiah too, for the word means God s anointed one. Christmas Eve, December 24th Christmas Day, December 25th 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM 10:00 AM SOLEMNITY OF MARY MASS TIMES Sunday, December 31st Monday, January 1st CHURCH DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS Sunday, December 23rd following at 12:30 pm. Youth Ministry members will be helping. All are welcome! LAY MISSIONARY, KAREN HUNKA, IN GHANA Our fellow parishioner, Karen Hunka, is beginning her journey as a lay missionary in Ghana for the next three years. Follow her progress and / or make a donation to support her work at Khunkainghana.blogspot.com 33 DAYS TO MORNING GLORY Calling all individuals who have taken part in 33 Days to Morning Glory. Our annual Consecration to Mary will take place at the 11:00 am Mass on January 1, 2019 the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary. Please contact the Faith Formation Office if you have any questions. OPLATKI AVAILABLE Outside the sacristy $2/pack of 4 CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 18-23) We are inviting ALL young adults ages to attend the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, January 6. This is for those individuals attending any Vo-tech School, in the work force, military, and/or those attending college. Following Mass we will gather in the social hall for some food and fellowship and discussing ways that our parish could do more for you at this stage in your life. More information will be coming but we wanted to get this on your calendars. Please contact the Faith Formation if you have any questions. We believe this age group is often missed in parishes and we would like to address this very important group of individuals. AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING WANTED: Property for Possible Senior Affordable Housing in Our Area! If you or someone you know has 3.5 acres of level property in the greater Norvelt area that could be donated or purchased for the site of Senior Affordable Housing units, please contact the parish office.

5 Page 5 December 23, 2018 ST. FLORIAN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN pledge total now stands at $701, and the amount collected as of December 3 rd is $648, We are truly grateful to God and to all who have contributed to or prayed for the success of our Campaign. Please continue to fulfill pledges, sooner rather than later if possible, and to make extra gifts, when able. All new or extra gifts add to our total pledged and collected. A monthly Capital Campaign envelope will continue to be included in your packet until June, 2019 when the Campaign window for assessment-free donations will close. This envelope can be used for payments on pledges or new gifts; please indicate one or the other on your envelope. ST. FLORIAN S INVITE A CATHOLIC BACK TO CHURCH CAMPAIGN is now in nearing its close for Please use this final week to extend an invitation to a lapsed Catholic to return to Mass or to ask an un-churched person to consider becoming a Catholic. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the opportunity, the impulse, and the right words to reach out. LITURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS will be addressed in the New Year both in the bulletin and from the pulpit. enter in to the celebration of the Mass more fruitfully will be the subject of occasional bulletin pieces in the weeks ahead. Read Fr. John s Homily at under the Parish Life tab. Second Collection Children and Family Services Appeal December 24 25, 2018 The annual Children and Family Services Appeal collection to support the work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg will be taken at all Christmas Masses in the diocese Dec. 24 and 25. Christmas reminds us of the gift of God s own Son, Jesus Christ, given to each of us without question of our merit or eligibility. You are asked to support this appeal and make your contribution to help change the future of an individual, family or child through the good work of our diocesan Catholic Charities. ATTENTION EUCHARISTIC ADORERS!! Unless announced otherwise at Mass, adoration this week will take place following the 8 am Mass on Wednesday until 7:45 am Thursday. Unless announced otherwise at Mass, adoration this week will take place following the 8 am Mass on Wednesday until 7:45 am Thursday. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE The invisible eternal God the God-Made-Flesh yet-unseen in the womb of Mary was revealed to the human eyes of His earthly parents at His birth. Shepherds were among the first to be invited to behold the newborn Lamb of Sacrifice, the perfect man who shows us how to become God in communion with Him. His Incarnation and Nativity were part of His self-offering to the Father in praise and thanksgiving and obedient love from all eternity. His Death and Resurrection were the final part of this offering within time. He came to make of us an eternal offering in nuptial oneness with Himself. He taught us to call His Father Our Father. He gave us His Mother to be Our Mother. Come let us adore Him and give Him our consent our Christmas gift: I am all yours O most loving Jesus, through Mary your Mother. May you all have the most blessed Christmas ever! Fr. John SPONSOR OF THE WEEK MYERS INSURANCE AGENCY Please support our sponsors.