The Church of the Nativity

Transcription

1 Photographs by Charlene Dorman 210 Oak Grove Avenue Menlo Park, CA tel: (650) fax: (650) The Church of the Nativity MASSES Sundays 08:00, 09:30, 11:30 AM and 05:00 PM Saturdays 08:00 AM and 05:00 PM (Vigil) Weekdays and Holy Days, 05:30 and 07:30 PM SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturdays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Opus Dei priest) 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM (parish priest) (also by appointment) BAPTISMS 1 st, 3 rd and 5 th Sundays of the month (contact rectory 2 months in advance) WEDDINGS Saturdays 11:00 AM and 02:00 PM (contact rectory at least 6 months in advance) PASTOR Rev. Msgr. Steven D. Otellini PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. John Mary Chung PASTOR EMERITUS Rev. Clement Davenport PERMANENT DEACON Rev. Mr. Dominick Peloso Rev. Mr. Thomas Kelly WEEKEND ASSISTANTS Rev. Kevin Gaffey Rev. Paul Maillet, S.S. Rev. Gladstone Stevens, S.S. SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Mrs. Monica Hickam (650) hour Eucharistic Adoration

2 FIRST READING He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love. Zephaniah 3: PSALM Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6 SECOND READING The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7 GOSPEL One mightier than I is coming. Luke 3: SCHEDULE OF MASSES AND INTENTIONS WEEK OF DEC SAT 05:00 PM Priest s intentions SUN Masses Priest s intentions MON Chiara Marian Smith Edward J. Hogan, Jr. TUE WED THU FRI Fr. Clement Davenport The Marques family, living and deceased Mercedes Iglesias Beverley Lacy Dorman John and Virginia Conway Bob and Dot Connelly In thanksgiving Betty Whelan SAT 08:00 AM Margaret McCartney; Ana Rel; Jose Rel; Rose Barrett Please pray for those in need of physical or spiritual healing Parish Office Hours 09:00 AM-04:00 PM Monday-Friday BULLETIN NEWS REMINDER: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Items for the bulletin should be ed to the bulletin editors at nativity.bulletin@gmail.com. Deadline: 12:00 PM (noon) Friday by , for inclusion in the Sunday bulletin 9 days later. EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINES During the holiday season our publishers have earlier-than-usual submission deadlines for specific bulletins. Items for the 30 December 2012 bulletin must be submitted by Tuesday, 18 December Items for the 06 January 2013 bulletin must be submitted by Monday, 24 December MON-FRI MON-FRI SAT The Third Sunday of Advent 07:10 AM 05:10 PM 07:40 AM Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Morning Prayer 16 DEC (Sunday) 07:30 PM Holy Hour for Priests 17 DEC (Monday) 09:00 AM 12:00 PM 07:30 PM 07:30 PM 18 DEC (Tuesday) 09:30 AM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM Bible Group Infant Jesus of Prague Society Legion of Mary RCIA Bible Study: Psalms Cenacles of Life Rosary Bible Study: Psalms 19 DEC (Wednesday) 07:30 PM Opus Dei Men s Group 20 DEC (Thursday) 11:00 AM 06:00 PM 07:30 PM 21 DEC (Friday) 22 DEC (Saturday) 06:15 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM 16 December 2012 Annual Appeal Progress: 2012 Appeal Goal: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Philippians 4: 4 Calendar The Thursday Group Perpetual Help Novena Advent Penance Service Men s Spirituality and Prayer Group Confessions (Opus Dei priest) Confessions (parish priest) PARISH OFFERINGS WEEK OF DEC TOTAL: $9,989 $53,798 $117,100

3 Saints and Observances 21 DEC (Friday): SAINT PETER CANISIUS, Doctor of the Church ( ) He was an excellent student, and received a master s degree by age 19; his closest friends at university were monks and clerics. Joined the Jesuits in 1543 after attending a retreat conducted by Blessed Peter Faber. He travelled and worked with Saint Ignatius of Loyola who was his spiritual director in Rome, Italy. In his later years, his advice was sought by Saint Francis de Sales, and by his friend Saint Charles Borromeo. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. PRAY THE ROSARY Observe this special devotion to our Blessed Mother as often as you can. I am the Lady of the Rosary, I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask for pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the rosary. Let them continue saying it every day. --Our Blessed Mother to Lucia at Fatima 13 October rosary/how_to.htm SOLEMNITY, FEAST, MEMORIAL OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OTHER ARE YOUR INTENTIONS IN THE BOOK? Our legion of dedicated Eucharistic Adorers begin each hour by praying for (among others) all the intentions entered into our book of prayer requests. Tap into the unimaginable power of focused communal (and global) prayer and let your loving community lift your needs up before our Father. Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. -- Psalm 55: 22 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. -- John 16: 24 HOPELESS AND DESPERATE CASES Commit your concerns and intentions to St. Jude Thaddeus. His intercession can produce miracles. Only believe, and trust in the providence of Our Lord. Ask His cousin to assist you. He who faithfully prays to God for the necessaries of this life is both mercifully heard, and mercifully not heard. For the physician knows better than the sick man what is good for the disease. -- St. Augustine Ministry and Group News INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE PRAYER SOCIETY The group meets on the 17th of each month to begin a novena, in the Church at the statue of the Infant. All are invited to join us this Monday at 12:00 PM (noon). If you have any questions please call Anne Delaney, SFO at 650/ CENACLES OF LIFE PRAYER GROUP Our Nativity rosary prayer group continues to pray to end the culture of death. All are invited to come! We pray two rosaries together and offer up a fast each week. We meet at 06:00 PM in the church each Tuesday evening. NATIVITY MOMS AND DADS OF YESTERYEAR Renew past friendships and make new ones. Join the Nativity Moms and Dads of Yesteryear at Harry s Hofbrau, 1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City, on Tuesday, 15 January 2013, at 06:00 PM. For information only call Bonnie Neylan at 650/ Pregnant? Need Help? Please contact the Juan Diego Society (408/ ), the Gabriel Project (800/ ) or Community Pregnancy Center (650/ ). CHILDRENS BOOKS NEEDED Samaritan House Medical Clinic in San Mateo is collecting children s books to use in the literacy program they have set up. Nativity is now a drop-off point for collecting new or used children s books for this program. There is a blue bag in the O Hare Center (next to the TV) where they can be dropped off on Sundays or you may bring them to the rectory during the week. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Please come to visit our Lord during the week, as the church is open 24x7 and He awaits you. Also, everyone is encouraged to sign up for one hour. This will ensure your weekly meeting with Jesus. You may sign up for any hour. Please consider the following hours which currently have no one assigned. Our Lord wishes to speak with you, and you have much to say and ask of Him: SUN: 01:00 PM (twice per month) THU: FRI: 02:00 PM; 04:00 PM (Prayer Partner) 09:00 AM Please call 650/ for more information or to sign up. You have never strayed too far for the Father s forgiveness and grace.

4 Announcements OUR PARISH FAMILY Please keep all of our newest members in your prayers, as well as those who have preceded us to the Father. BAPTISMS Anthony Joseph, son of Johnathan and Julie Foret Isla, daughter of Jonathan Sullivan and Danielle Vosburg Wyatt Charles, son of Judd and Melissa Weiss MARRIAGES NEW PARISHIONERS Lee and John Murphy (Matthew, Abigail, Ryan) DEATHS Zona Koo Donna Merrick Wally Niemasik FINAL BROWN BAG SUNDAY FOR 2012 Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be taking up their last Brown Bag collection of the year on the 5th Sunday of December (30 December 2012). There will not be another of these collections until the end of March The Nativity Conference of St. Vincent de Paul is a very active one. Several times a week members go out to the needy of our parish bringing food, or assistance with P.G. & E bills or rent. These collections on the 5th Sundays make their good work possible. Thank you for your generosity. THE SEASON OF GIVING This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported Nativity Church this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Visit or contact the church office for more information. Electronic giving is offered through our website or call the parish office for a paper form REGISTER WITH THE PARISH We welcome all visitors and invite those who are considering coming home to the Catholic Church to register. Church attendance alone does not make you or your family registered members. To register online, please go to and fill out the Parish Registration Form. To obtain one in the mail, please call the rectory office 650/ during regular business hours. In The Community DISCERNMENT WEEKEND AT ST. PATRICK S Have you ever thought of becoming a Catholic priest? Attend a Discernment Retreat, January 2013 at St. Patrick s Seminary to better understand if a vocation to the ministry of God s priesthood is for you. Any men who are considering a vocation to the priesthood are welcome to attend this event. Bishop Tom Daly, Auxiliary Bishop of San Jose, will be the retreat director. Through a weekend of prayer, discussion, presentations about the priesthood, group interaction, and following the daily routine of a seminarian, men begin to understand God s movement in their life. This is your opportunity to discover if the Catholic Priesthood is for you. There is no cost to attending this Discernment retreat. If you are interested contact Msgr. Otellini at 650/ as soon as possible. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY VOLUNTEERING Wondering where to volunteer your valuable time on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday morning for Nativity? Come join other Nativity St. Vincent de Paul members in delivering food to the many needy families in our parish. Make home visits to gather information on how to best provide assistance with rent or overdue utility bills. We have an immediate need for Thursday mornings. For more information, please call Ann Olin at 650/ GOOD FOOD AND GOOD MUSIC! Join us for the Nativity Men s Club 2013 Crab Cioppino Feast. Tickets are on sale for the Men s Club Crab Cioppino Dinner on Saturday, 09 February 2013 at Nativity School in the Sobrato Pavilion. The dinner will include Dungeness Crab Cioppino, pasta, salad; sourdough bread, and dessert. The tickets are $45.00 per person. In addition to the best Crab Cioppino dinner anywhere, there will be live music. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited. Seating will be assigned so we must have the names and payment of everyone in your party at the same time. Reservations are being taken until 30 January 2013, or until the seating capacity is reached, whichever comes first. Drop off your form and payment at the school or parish office. If you have any questions, please contact Erik Kingham at 415/ or nativitymc@gmail.com.

5 From the Holy See THE HOLY FATHER S PRAYER INTENTIONS Each month His Holiness Benedict XVI asks for general and missionary prayer intentions. For December 2012, the Holy Father s prayer intentions are: General: Migrants That migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities. Missionary: Christ, Light for All Humanity That Christ may reveal Himself to all humanity with the light that shines forth from Bethlehem and is reflected in the face of his Church. SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SERVICES THURSDAY, 20 December :30 PM Advent Penance Service MONDAY, 24 December 2012 (Christmas Eve) 06:00 PM 10:00 PM 10:45 PM 11: 00 PM Vigil Mass of Christmas Choral Prelude to Christmas Mass Christmas Proclamation and Procession to the Crib Christmas Mass TUESDAY, 25 December 2012 (Christmas Day) 08:00 AM 09:30 AM 11:30 AM Christmas Day Mass Christmas Day Mass Christmas Day Mass (no 05:00 PM Mass) WEDNESDAY, 26 December :00 AM (one Mass only) MONDAY, 31 December 2012 (New Year s Eve) 11:30 PM Vigil for the Solemnity of the Mother of God New Year s Eve Prayer Vigil TUESDAY, 01 January 2013 (Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God) 09:00 AM 12:00 AM Holy Day of Obligation Advent Meditations Prayer for the Advent Wreath Lord, our God, we praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all people. He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us. He is the Savior of us all. O Lord, let your blessing come upon us as we light all candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ s promise of salvation. May He come quickly and not delay. We ask this in His holy name. Amen. Rejoicing (The desert) will bloom with abundant flowers and rejoice with joyful song. Rejoice in the Lord always! Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! The Scriptures for the Third Sunday of Advent proclaim their message in no uncertain terms: Rejoice! Joy is all around us and our celebration of Advent calls us to discover it. The joy that the Scripture passages speak about is not a joy that equates with hilarious laughter. It is a joy that comes from a security with our God, those around us, and our place in the world. It is the joy Isaiah describes when he writes, I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul. It is a joy that cannot be bought or obtained from artificial highs. It is a joy that comes from our living faith in a living God. It is the joy we feel as we approach the birth of our Savior and remember the awesome beauty of what happened on that cold Bethlehem night. WEDNESDAY, 02 January 2013 Regular Mass schedule Watch. Prepare. Rejoice!

6 THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM Young Believers Imagine you came home from school today and your family had received a note in the mail. The note said: The government requires your entire family to be in Monterey, CA next week. Now imagine you have no car, there is no form of public transportation, and all the roads between Menlo Park and Monterey are dirt and gravel. You can bring one wagon to ride in, but it has no cushions inside and you will feel every single bump and hole in the road as you go. Now you need to WALK from Menlo Park to Monterey, a distance of about 85 miles. It will take you several days to do this, and you will arrive very tired and very sore. When you arrive, there won t be a single empty hotel room anywhere in Monterey, from the hotel chains down to bed-and-breakfast inns in Carmel. One small hotel owner says you can sleep in his carport. It is open to the elements in front (no door you can close) and it smells like a garage that stores old tires and gym socks. And when the sun goes down, it is really cold in the carport. This is similar to what Joseph and Mary had to do, right before the King of all kings was born. Nazareth and Bethlehem are 82 miles apart, and the Roman road through the Jordan Valley is dirt, gravel, and potholes. Today it is very dangerous to travel on the road through the Jordan valley, because terrorists sit up in the hills and shoot at you. It was also dangerous to travel that road in the time of Joseph and Mary. Many parts of the road are long and deserted, and thieves and bandits would hide, then beat and rob travelers (remember the story of the Good Samaritan?). If you resisted the bandits, they might just kill you. Imagine taking that trip (on foot!). By the time you got to Bethlehem (or Monterey), all you would want to do was rest. But if you couldn t find a room, you would have to walk some more, all over town, trying to find some place to stay... and then have to be satisfied with whatever was offered, even a barn (or carport). Let us remember to thank God for the incredible sacrifice the Holy Family made, so that God s Son could save each and every one of us from Hell forever.