Church of St. Anne A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust + A Parish in the Diocese of Greensburg

Transcription

1 Church of St. Anne A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust + A Parish in the Diocese of Greensburg 1870 Rostraver Road, Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania The Reverend Vincent J. Gigliotti, Pastor ~ vgigliotti@dioceseofgreensburg.org Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 EUCHARISTIC LITURGIES Weekends: Satur day :30PM Sunday AM & 11AM Weekdays & Holy Day Consult Mass schedule inside the bulletin. Sacrament of Reconciliation The Sacrament is celebrated on Saturdays at 12:00 Noon or by appointment. Parish Telephone Numbers Parish Office Fax Office of Faith Formation Website: CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MASS SCHEDULE The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve & Christmas Day) Monday, December 24, Christmas 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 24, Christmas 10:30 p.m. (Singing with the Choir & Congregational Participation will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.) Tuesday, December 25, Christmas 10:00 a.m. The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Monday, December 31, New Year s 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 1, New Year s 9:00 a.m. May the peace and joy of Christ be yours this Christmas season and throughout the year. Welcome to all our guests, visitors, families, friends and parishioners who are with us today and who will be with us this Christmas season as we renew friendships, celebrate with family and give thanks to our God who has blest us so richly. The Parish Staff and Support Staff wish you the Lord s light and life today and throughout the days for the years to come.

2 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Page 2 FAITH FORMATION-ORGANIZATIONS MINISTRIES-PRAYER GROUPS Faith Formation ~ Grades 1, 2 & 3: Students attend class every Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. according to a previously mailed schedule. Faith Formation ~ Grades 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8: Students attend class on biweekly Mondays from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. according to a previously mailed schedule. Please Note: Schedules are also available on the Website, Baptism Preparation Class (Pre-Jordan): Parents and sponsors are required to participate before the day of Baptism. To register for an upcoming class, call the Office of Faith Formation, * * * * * * * * * * New Society: Members meet Tuesdays at 12:00 noon for afternoon fellowship, unless otherwise planned. Christian Mothers: Members gather trimonthly and attend the 8:00 a.m. Mass on the third Sunday of the month followed by a business meeting, unless otherwise planned. Holy Name Society: Members attend the 8:00 a.m. Mass on the second Sunday of the month followed by a business meeting, unless otherwise planned. * * * * * * * * * Sr. High Youth Ministry ~ Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12: Monthly meetings are held on the second Sunday of the month, unless otherwise planned. Respect Life Ministry: Mary Harris ~ Outreach Ministry: Are you a housebound parishioner needing company; a caregiver needing a break from an everyday routine? Please call the Parish Office, Prayer Shawl Ministry: Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., unless otherwise planned. * * * * * * * * * Disciples of Prayer: Do you need someone to pray for you or for your special intentions? Please call the Parish Office, The Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Gatherings are held every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise mentioned. Call the Parish Office, , for more information. Service Men and Women Prayer Requests: As we would like to remember those parishioners or family members who are serving in an area of conflict, please notify the Parish Office so that we can keep them in prayer. Prayer Requests: General requests will be mentioned at Mass during the General Intercessions and should focus on a) the needs of the Church, b) for public authorities and salvation of the whole world, c) for those burdened by any difficulty, d) for the local community. Please your requests to Father Vince, vgigliotti@dioceseofgreensburg.org. FAITH FORMATION Parents are reminded to refer to the previously mailed schedule for future class dates and times or to the Website, Choose Formation and CCD & Children s Liturgy of the Word. A holiday recess is being enjoyed by students in both levels of the Faith Formation program. Classes resume: - Sunday, January 6, for students in grades 1, 2 & 3; - Monday, January 7, for students in grades 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8. LITTLE THINGS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE, a community outreach program sponsored by the Belle Vernon Area Ministerium, will be held this Thursday, December 27, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at St. Sebastian Parish Center, 801 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon, (next to the Church). If you have children ages 0 to 3 and need special items for their care, you are welcome. A photo ID and signature will be requested. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING INSTRUCTION, CM- BBT Method, will not be held in January. The next available date is Monday, February 4, at 6:00 p.m. in the Catholic Charities Office, 711 East Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, Call , ext. 1658, for additional information or to register for this or an upcoming class. For more information about Natural Family Planning and the CM-BBT Method, visit or link into Natural Family Planning under Services. Reflecting on God s Word My father used to refer to the town of my and his birth as a nickel-and-dime town. As a child, I was never exactly sure what he meant, but it didn t sound like a compliment. I think it was similar to Micah s words about Bethlehem as too small to be among the clans of Judah (5:1). Another description would be backwater. Hardly a place deserving of great expectations. Yet backwater Bethlehem, city of David the shepherd boy, was to be the birthplace of the Messiah not Jerusalem, center of government and religion, city of David the warrior king. God s strange choices extend beyond geographical sites to the people on whom God sets eyes. A young betrothed girl up in the north, a barren woman down in the south these were chosen to play pivotal roles in the story of salvation. The once -barren Elizabeth, soon to bring forth the greatest of all prophets, now proclaims God s most marvelous work and the little one through whom God is working: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth cues us to join in the response of the baby in her womb: to allow our hearts and spirits to leap for joy. Again and again God works through those who are open to the Spirit. Blessed are they who place their trust in the Lord, who continues to come to give us new life. James A. Wallace, c.ss.r. Copyright 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Living God s Word After hearing Elizabeth s final words, Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:45), we can pray the words of the refrain in today s responsorial psalm: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved (Psalm 80:4). Copyright 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

3 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Page 3 BLESSED CHRISTMAS! As we reflect on the birth of our Lord Jesus this Christmas, may this be a special time for you and your families and loved ones. Each year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we reflect on the many blessings present and past. It is a time when we can do our best to share the light born in time and reflect in our own lives as we bring about the rebirth of Christ by our acts of charity and care for one another. Merry Christmas to all, and may it be a time filled in hope and peace! **A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP MALESIC** Following my mild heart attack, I am doing really well. I want to let you know I am uplifted by your prayers, cards, kind words and many acts of kindness toward me over the last two weeks. I pray that this was a one-time event, and I am doing very well. God bless you all.... A Christmas Prayer IN OUR PRAYERS, LET US REMEMBER all of the homebound of the Parish and all of those who need our prayers. Come, Lord Jesus, Light of the World, Prince of Peace and Beloved Savior; come into our hearts this Christmas and fill us with Your gifts of love and joy. Thank you for gifting us with Your presence among us. With Mary and Joseph, we rejoice and thank God for You. With the angels and saints in heaven we sing, Glory to God in the highest. With the Magi and the shepherds, we bow before You with hearts full of wonder. Dear Jesus, help us to follow You faithfully and to share the good news of Your coming with everyone we meet. Amen. SHOE DRIVE Hello, my name is Faith. I am undertaking a project of collecting gently worn, used and new shoes so that they would be given a second chance and make a difference in people s lives around the world. At the entrances of the Church, boxes are available for you to donate shoes to be distributed throughout the network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son in law school. Donations of shoes gives gratification to those families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It s a win-win for everyone. Thank you. CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES COLLECTION Please consider a gift this Christmas to the Children and Family Services Appeal at all the Masses on December 24th and 25th. Providing Help, Creating Hope GOD PROVIDES, BUT YOU RE THE DELIVERY SYSTEM. Hunger and Poverty Don t Discriminate. How Could We? The Office of Communications and Evangelization produced a video message from Bishop Malesic on the Diocesan Website homepage, YEAR-END CHARITABLE GIVING: As the end of the year approaches, there are ways you can make a gift to support your Parish and the Church and receive a tax benefit, even if you don t itemize deductions. If you are age 70-1/2 or older and required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA by the end of the year, present law allows use of an IRA charitable rollover without having to pay on the withdrawal for gifts to specific charities. For information, contact your IRA administrator or The Catholic Foundation at the Diocese of Greensburg, jdimario@dioceseofgreensburg.org or call OPLATKI (Chr istmas Wafer s) ar e available in the entrances of the Church while supplies last three white, one pink. The price is $2.00/packet. TAKE TIME TO SMILE! A small rural town hadn t seen rain for weeks. The crops were dying, the fields were brown and the people s spirits were anxious. When weeks turned to months, three churches in the community called a joint meeting at the town square to pray for rain. The pastors asked the townspeople to bring an object of faith to help inspire the prayers. On the appointed day, everyone showed up to ask God for rain, and the pastors were deeply moved to see the many inspirational objects that were brought along: Bibles, crosses, candles, flowers. But the prayer meeting really got going when a young boy showed up with an umbrella! THE CATHOLIC ACCENT: The yearly subscription cost is $ Payment may be made in increments (four times a year) using the special envelope in your bimonthly envelope packet or may be a one-time payment. You may place this envelope in the regular collection next weekend at any Mass you attend. Due to early submittal of the bulletin, Stewar dship totals for December 16, the Third Sunday of Advent, will be reflected in the bulletin on Sunday, December 30. Altar Bread & Wine ~ In Memory of Richard & Maryann Lenio by Norm, Terri, Rob & Gianna Gaul

4 Masses for the Week FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Saturday, December 22 4:30 p.m. Bernie Soltis Parents, Bernard & Darla Soltis Sunday, December 23 8:00 a.m. Parish Family 11:00 a.m. Carl, Genevieve & Clarke Russell Kathleen, Carl, John & Robert Russell THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOORS ARE LOCKED FOR DAILY MASS & FOR PRIVATE PRAYER DURING USUAL CHURCH HOURS. PLEASE USE THE ELEVATOR LOBBY DOOR AT THE SIDE ENTRANCE TO ENTER THE CHURCH FOR DAILY MASS OR IF YOU WISH TO PRAY PRIVATELY. SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD CHRISTMAS EVE Monday, December 24 5:00 p.m. Parish Family 10:00 p.m. Carols and Hymns with Adult Choir and Congregational Singing 10:30 p.m. Living & Deceased of the Parish SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD CHRISTMAS DAY Tuesday, December 25 10:00 a.m. Living & Deceased of the Parish Thursday, December 27 8:00 a.m. Novena-Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Geno Noschese-Maria & Ken Kite Friday, December 28 8:00 a.m. Karan Ruokonen Husband, Ron & Kelly, Ryan & Families THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH Saturday, December 29 4:30 p.m. Donald Ruscitti Dan & Lorraine McCartan Sunday, December 30 8:00 a.m. Louis Damich-Matt Damich 11:00 a.m. Deceased Members of the Loftus Family Dr. & Mrs. Richard Gobbie SUNDAY & DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Sunday: 12: Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 Monday: 200: 2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday: Vigil: 13: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5,16-17,27,29; Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Mt 1:1-25 or Mt 1:18-25 Night: 14: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3,11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: 15: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1,6,11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: 16: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5,9-14 Wednesday: 696: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3-4,6-8,16-17; Mt 10:17-22 Thursday: 697: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a,2-8 Friday: 698: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124:2-5,7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Saturday: 202: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3,5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Sunday: 17: Sir 3:2-6,12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22,24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3,5-6,9-10; Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17 or 1 Jn 3:1-2,21-24; Lk 2:41-52

5 Diocesan and Community Events **ST. SEBASTIAN REGIONAL SCHOOL NEWS** - Enjoy and KidStuff coupon books are on sale at the School Office. They make great Christmas gifts and support the School. - Thank you for helping us stuff the Bus to Bethlehem to help local kiddos this Christmas. - Help us teach children a second language. Do you know anyone able to give us two days/week to teach K-6 grade children a second language even Sign Language! tmiller@sssbv.org or call for more information. CHRISTMAS VISIT AND VESPERS AT ST. EMMA MONASTERY, 1001 Harvey Street, Greensburg, 15601, will take place on Saturday, December 29, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The event will feature the Bethlehem Express train, carols, cookies, tours of the monastery s bed and breakfast and more than 300 Nativity scenes. The Bethlehem Express will also be in operation, with viewing the Nativity scenes, on Saturday, January 5, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Further information may be obtained by visiting **LESSONS AND CAROLS** The Lessons and Carols Service is composed of Lessons (readings) from Scripture, followed by the singing of Advent Hymns or Christmas Carols after each session. Both the Lessons and the Carols reflect the love, peace and happiness of the Christmas season! Lessons and Carols will take place at Holy Family Parish, 225 N. Second Street, West Newton, 15089, on Sunday, January 6, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. OUTREACH MINISTRY FOR LGBT people and families will be held on Thursday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Vincent Grove, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, For more information, contact Alecia Moss, leashmo@hotmail.com or JEREMIAH DAYS~VOCATIONS DISCERNMENT for boys in grade 6 through 8 and their parents The Office for Priestly Vocations is hosting this event on two Saturdays in 2019: February 9 and April 13, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at St. Barbara Parish, 111 Ramaley Road, Harrison City, MELCHIZEDEK PROJECT~VOCATIONS DISCERN- MENT for young men in grades 9 through 12 The Office for Priestly Vocations is hosting this event on four Sundays in 2019: February 17, March 10, April 14 and May 12, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Greensburg Catholic Junior- Senior High School, 911 Armory Drive, Greensburg, Please contact vocations@dioceseofgreensburg.org to register for either of the Vocation Discernment events. ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK Hallsworth House Support our advertisers who make our bulletin possible.