FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. (Psalm 25:4)

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1 Volume 64, Number 49 Address 225 Eighth Avenue P.O. Box 425 Krotz Springs, LA Tel.: (337) Fax: Website: Parish Office Hours Mon. - Wed. 8 am - 3 pm Thursday 8 am - 2 pm Friday 9 am - Noon Closed Holidays New Parishioners: Please call or come by the Parish Office for registration. Rev. Fr. Michael DeBlanc Rachel Sanders Sabrina Ardoin/Carolyn Conway John Kaiser Shaun Dupré Monita Reed Nichole Hatten Norma Moran Sidney Bennett Pastor Office Manager DRE/Assistant Pastoral Council Finance Council Cemetery Committee Altar Server Coordinator Homebound Com. Coordinator Come! Lord Jesus! (men) *** Prayer Line: If you have any intentions you would like fellow parishioners to pray for, please text Joan Bergeaux at The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Saturday (Anticipated): 4 pm Sunday: 9 am Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 12:05 pm Friday: 8 am First Saturday (only): 8 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday: 2:45-3:45 30 min. before all other Masses or by request Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral/Burial Arrangements Please contact the Parish Office FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. (Psalm 25:4)

2 Volume 64, Number 49, Page 2 Sat., :00 pm Mass Schedule and Intentions Pro Populo: Also remembered in prayer: Clovis & Gayle Meche, Johnny & Robert David & Barry LeBlanc, Bill Bryson, Avie & Effie Ardoin, Kourtney Elizabeth Rose and Alisha Lauren Valin, Charley & Steven Halphen & Halphen & Lacassin families (living & deceased), Ray Muse and P.E. & Florence Arceneaux Sun., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat., Monday Advent with Saint Clare She was the first flower in Francis garden, and shone like radiant star. On Sunday we begin the Advent season, leading us to the birth of Christ. As we walk this journey, we will be joined by Saint Clare, a holy woman with quite her own journey to Christ. It is one that begins with Clare s decision to leave behind 9:00 am 12:05 pm 12:05 pm 12:05 pm 8:00 am 5:30pm 9:00am Tuesday Advent with Saint Clare The comforts of her life, descend to the hills below Assisi, and join Saint Francis in living out his mission. For Clare, Christ was her focus and Saint Francis was her guide to him. Her path, though, was definitely her own. Raymond Moran (deceased) & family (living) Effie Ardoin, Belva Plaisance, and Trace Barras Michael Morrow Luke & Josephine Morrow Felton & Effie Leger Claude & Loretta Kaiser, Effie Ardoin and Bobby & Jo Evans Wednesday Let the Lord Enter Your Life Pope Francis has proven to be a trusted guide in dealing with the stress of the Christmas season and the anxiety of daily life in general. In his apostolic exhortation Rejoice and Be Glad, he puts his finger on the dangers of a frenetic quest for happiness: The presence of constantly new gadgets, the excitement of travel and an endless array of consumer goods at times leave no room Daily Reflection Thursday Let the Lord Enter Your Life For God s voice to be heard. We are overwhelmed by words, by superficial pleasures and by an increasing din, filled not by joy but rather by the discontent of those whose lives have lost meaning. How can we fail to realize the need to stop this rat race and to recover the personal space needed to carry on a heartfelt dialogue with God? Finding that space may prove painful but it is always fruitful. Sooner or later, we have to face our true selves and let the Lord enter. Friday Everything Is Gift Gratefulness strengthens a sense of belonging. There is no closer bond than the one which gratefulness celebrates, the bond between giver and thanks-giver. Everything is gift. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal giveand-take of life, a limitless yes to belonging. Also remembered in prayer: Avie & Saturday Francis: A Man Whose Whole Being Radiated Joy Francis was becoming a happy man, not giddy, but a man whose whole being radiated joy. He had endured hatred and abuse in patience for two years already, and yet his spirit seemed more steadfast with the passing weeks and month and years and Bernard looked and listened, and then one day he saw. He Schedule of Liturgical Ministers for this Weekend (December 1st & December 2nd) Saturday, December 1st, :00 pm Mass EMHC: Reader: Keith Ardoin Altar Servers: Hunter Ray & Cierra Collins Sunday, December 2nd, :00 am Mass EMHC: Arnold Wiltz Reader: Kallie Bergeaux Altar Servers: Evan Kaiser, Nolan Savoy, Zachary Kaiser & Evan Hatten Schedule of Liturgical Ministers for next Weekend (December 8th & December 9th) Saturday, December 8th, :00 pm Mass EMHC: Reader: Betty Artigue Altar Servers: Hunter Ray & Cierra Collins "The culmination of the Mass is not the consecration, but Communion." - St. Maximilian Kolbe Sunday, December 9th, :00 am Mass EMHC: Arnold Wiltz Reader: Verna Melancon Altar Servers: Evan Kaiser, Nolan Savoy, Zachary Kaiser & Evan Hatten Sunday Francis: A Man Whose Whole Being Radiated Joy Saw that what was happening to Francis was not madness but a great grace of God a grace that had begun to draw Bernard himself. He began to see that what was happening was the religious conversion of Francis Bernardone. Bernard remembered the words of the Gospel he d heard at Mass. The priest said that they were the first words of Jesus. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news (Mark 1:15).

3 Volume 64, Number 49, Page 3 ~ From the Pastor ~ God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Advent is already here! The time for Christ s coming is on its way! As we start off this holy season, let us do so by returning to the Catechism and reflecting on a great truth. It pertains to the Most Holy Trinity, which we have been looking at for quite a while now. The paragraphs below teach us that even though the Trinity is complete within itself, it does not stay there. Rather, the whole Trinity works in creation. That is part of the reason why it must be stressed that even though God is Three Persons, He is still one God. This has always been a definitive teaching of the Church. The mission of each Person is so united to each other that when God acts in the world, it is not three separate entities at work. It is only one God, whole and entire, working in our midst. He does so because He wants us to share in this one-ness. He is calling us to Himself. As St. Paul says in Romans 8:14, For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Advent is a chaotic time of year as we get ready for Christmas. But as we do so, let us not leave God behind. For the Trinity is at work throughout the world all for you. All for me. God wants you to come to Him. God wants you to be with Him. God is calling you to be His child. If we say Yes to Him, that would be the greatest gift God could receive for Christmas. Paragraph 2. The Father IV. The Divine Works and the Trinitarian Missions #257 "O blessed light, O Trinity and first Unity!" God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light. God is love: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God freely wills to communicate the glory of his blessed life. Such is the "plan of his loving kindness", conceived by the Father before the foundation of the world, in his beloved Son: "He destined us in love to be his sons" and "to be conformed to the image of his Son", through "the spirit of sonship". This plan is a "grace [which] was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began", stemming immediately from Trinitarian love. It unfolds in the work of creation, the whole history of salvation after the fall, and the missions of the Son and the Spirit, which are continued in the mission of the Church. #258 The whole divine economy is the common work of the three divine persons. For as the Trinity has only one and the same natures so too does it have only one and the same operation: "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not three principles of creation but one principle." However, each divine person performs the common work according to his unique personal property. Thus the Church confesses, following the New Testament, "one God and Father from whom all things are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and one Holy Spirit in whom all things are". It is above all the divine missions of the Son's Incarnation and the gift of the Holy Spirit that show forth the properties of the divine persons. #259 Being a work at once common and personal, the whole divine economy makes known both what is proper to the divine persons, and their one divine nature. Hence the whole Christian life is a communion with each of the divine persons, without in any way separating them. Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son in the Holy Spirit; everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him. #260 The ultimate end of the whole divine economy is the entry of God's creatures into the perfect unity of the Blessed Trinity. But even now we are called to be a dwelling for the Most Holy Trinity: "If a man loves me", says the Lord, "he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him": O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into your mystery! Grant my soul peace. Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest. May I never abandon you there, but may I be there, whole and entire, completely vigilant in my faith, entirely adoring, and wholly given over to your creative action. Let us praise the Lord, and give Him thanks! In Christ the Lord, Fr. DeBlanc Stewardship of Finances Offertory (Nov 24/ Nov 25) $ 2, Candle sales $ Christmas flowers $ Total $ 2, Please remember to put St. Anthony Church in your will. Intention of Pope Francis for the month of December That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time. Advertiser of the Week Thanks to our Bulletin Sponsors! Please visit our sponsors for your needs.

4 Volume 64, Number 49, Page 4 Saints of the Week Pray for a Priest each day Mon., December 3: Saint Francis Xavier, Priest: d at age fortysix on the island of Sancion off the China coast; from Navarre; one of the founding Jesuits; preached in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Japan; with St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1 Oct.), co-patron of the Apostleship of Prayer and of the foreign missions. Tues., December 4: Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor of the Church: d. 749; born in Damascus, a Muslim city, c. 657; raised a Christian yet served as a finance minister or grand vizier at the court of the caliph where he was respected for his competence, fairness, and humility; became a monk, later a priest at the monastery of St. Sabas, near Jerusalem; first of the East to formulate a comprehensive synthesis of Christian dogma; main dogmatic work: The Fount of Knowledge; defended the veneration of images against iconoclasts; composed hymns and preached many homilies in honor of the BVM, especially her assumption; last of the Greek Fathers. Thurs., December 6: Saint Nicholas, Bishop: d. 4th c.; bishop of Myra in Asia Minor; model pastor noted for charity; popularized as Santa Claus (anglicized from Dutch Sinter Claus ); patron of children, bankers, pawnbrokers, sailors, perfumers, brides, unmarried women, travelers, fishermen, dock workers, brewers, poets, and prisoners; also of Russia, Greece, Sicily, Lorraine, and Apulia in Italy where his relics are enshrined in Bari. Fri., December 7: Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church: d. Holy Saturday, 397; born in Trier of noble parents; classically educated; while still a catechumen chosen by popular acclaim as bishop of Milan and consecrated 7 December 374; his allegorical exegesis and rhetorical skill made him a compelling preacher; defender of orthodoxy against Arianism; brought Theodosius to public penance; composed several liturgical hymns; baptized Augustine; along with Sts. Jerome, Augustine and Gregory I, declared one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church (by Pope Boniface VIII, 1298). Sat., December 8: THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: Originating in the 7th c. feast of the Conception of Mary by St. Anne, Pope Clement XI, in his Bull, Commissi Nobis, established this Solemnity for the entire Church in 1708, patroness of the United States of America, Spain, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Week of December 3 December 9 The Light is On For You As we did last year, the sacrament of confession will be available for you each night of Advent. Father DeBlanc will hear confessions from 6:00pm to 7:00pm the first two Wednesdays (but will stay longer if need be!). For the final Wednesday of Advent, Father DeBlanc will lead in a penance service and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It will begin at 6:00pm as usual, but Father will stay however long he needs to for those who would like to go to the sacrament. Hope to see you there! The schedule is as follows: Regular Exposition: December 5 and 12 Exposition with Penance Service: Mon. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel Tues. Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell Wed. Rev. Fr. Ryszard Kalinowski, SVD Thurs Rev. Fr. Darrell Kelly, SVD Fri Rev. Fr. Steven Kimmons, SJ Sat Rev. Fr. Andrew Kirschman, SJ Sun. Rev. Fr. Rodney Kissinger, SJ Eternal Father, we lift up to You these and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus the Eternal High Priest. May their live pleasing to You in Jesus name. Amen. High School CCD classes: December 9th, pm First Communion CCD classes November 9th, am stanthonycf.webstarts.com Come, Lord Jesus Group for Men: Join us for Studying, Praying, & Reflecting on the Holy Scripture. Meeting every Wed. at 4:00 pm in the church hall. For details, contact Sidney Bennett at Im m a cula t e Concep t ion This Saturday, December 8, is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass times are as follows: -Friday, Dec. 7 at 5:30pm -Saturday, Dec. 8, at 9:00am ****Please note: Because the day intersects with the regular Sunday obligation, the 4:00pm Saturday mass can be applied either to Immaculate Conception or 2nd Sunday of Advent. However, you must go to mass twice this weekend!

5 Volume 64, Number 49, Page 5 Prayer List Kathy Atchison, Joseph Babin, II, Rosemary Batton, Tyler Bellow, Melinda Higdon Bergeaux, Irene Bergeron, Vanessa Bergeron, Jimmy Bihm, Carmen Billeaudeau, Jim Breaux, Virgil Brumley, Jimmy Carriere, Cierra Collins, Albert & Landon Coorley, Betty Cormier, Lionel Coulon, Robert Courville, Diago Dartez, Mike David, Velma David, Leona Dicapo, Johnny Dunbar, Bob & Grace Dupuis, Darrel Dupre, Jean Dupre, Gene LeBlanc Family, Carl Fontenot, Kristan Fontenot, Shelton Fontenot, Stacy Fontenot, James Frame, Casey Marie Guidry, Deacon Mitch Hebert, Mary Higdon, Ali Hooks, Morgan Hoyt, Ginger Johnson, Charles Jordan, Stanley & Sandra Kaiser, Thomas Kent, Pam Kimble, Tiffany D. King, Rodney & Lucy Krantz, Desiree Lamoine, Bradley & Mavis Lanclos, Jana Lanclos, Kada Lanclos, Tracy Lanclos, Norma LeBlance, Sadria LeBleu, Patricia Leger, Norma LeBlance, Zula LeJeune, Leonita Liu, Annette Luneau, Margerat Maddie, Bertha Marks, Brenda & Ferrell McGee, Thelma Meche, Tonia Meche, Joseph & Jeanette Miller, Leo Miller, Larry Mitchell, Diane Moran, Norma Moran, Gayle Morrow, Lynn Morrow, Preston Muse, Anthony Ortego, Kirtly & Eloise Ortego, Sharon Ortego, Mary Ann Ortis, Red Ortis, Pam Pereiria, Sharron Polotzola, Gale Rabalais, Roy & Reva Reed, Camden Roy, Aria Savoie, Wayne Smith, Mavis Sonnier, Edward & Mary Stelly, Geraldine Spedale, Gwen (Faye) Lanclos Walls, Allen Wiltz, Arnold Wiltz, Bobbie Wiltz, Diane Wyble and Gracie Zaunbrecher Please inform us should you like your name to be taken off the list. Thanks. Diocese of Lafayette: Centennial News Centennial Mass All are Invited the closing Mass for the Centennial Year of our Diocese will be December 12 th at the Cajundome Convention Center at 6pm. Our Diocese and the wonderful people of our diocese and how God has poured forth His Love and guidance upon us in these last 100 Years will be the focus A Century of Love. Along with the Mass, there will be an Historical Display before and after the Mass as well as a presentation of the many people and cultures of our Diocese. The doors will open at 4:30 because there will be much to be a part of and see. All Catholics throughout our whole Diocese are invited and encourage to attend. Please mark your calendars. Tolton From Slave to Priest performed live by Jim Coleman, December 6 th at 7pm and December 7 th at 7pm at St. Pius X Elementary School Auditorium in Lafayette (205 E. Bayou Pkwy). Admission is $25 (ages 10 & up). For ticket information contact Stephanie Bernard or visit: Centennial Items for Sale a limited amount of items were created for this Centennial Year and are true collectors items which will only be available during the remainder of this year Centennial History of the Diocese of Lafayette (book), Centennial Paperweight (color design), Centennial Christmas Ornament and the new Silver Commemorative Coin and designer box. If you would like to have a Centennial remembrance, you can purchase them at Acadian Religious, Crossroads Bookstore, Cathedral Gift Shop and the Diocese Chancery Office (1408 Carmel Dr). These items can also be views on the Diocesan Centennial Webpage. Happy Birthday! (December 3) = Brett Clark; (December 4) = Samantha Evans, Christopher Morrow; (December 5) = Karen Evans, Richard Williams; (December 6) = Joseph Ardoin, II, Raywood Cormier; (December 7) = Jean Dupre, Cecil Slocum You are gifts from God to us. May the Lord bestow a special blessing upon you on your birthday.

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