ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH. 2 nd Sunday of Advent December 4 th, 2016

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1 ST. NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Served by the Vocationist Fathers Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, S.D.V., Pastor Fr. Christogonus (Chris) Iwunze, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Fr. Albino Santos de Jesus, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V.,Weekend Assistant Church & Rectory 442 E Brinkerhoff Ave Palisades Park, NJ Tel Fax stnicholas07650@live.com Website. Office Hours Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Mornings by appointment only) 2 nd Sunday of Advent December 4 th, 2016 Produce good fruit worthy of your baptism; repent, for the reign of God is near (Matthew 3:1-12). ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS Baptisms: On any available Sunday during the 11:00 AM (Italian), 12:30 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Portuguese) Masses. Please, contact the rectory at least one month prior to desired date. Confessions: Saturdays 5:00 to 5:45 PM, or during the week by appointment. Marriages: Please contact the rectory at least six months prior to desired wedding date. Sacrament of the Sick: If you are hospitalized or unable to come to Church for health reasons and would like to be visited by a priest for Confession, Communion, or Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory. Religious Education Program (CCD): For children 1 st to 8 th grades who are not attending Catholic School. Classes are held on Sundays from September to May at 11:30 AM, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass. Confirmation: Teens will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on 8 th grade. They will attend classes at 11:30 AM from September to December; and from January to April classes will start at 11:00 AM in the church hall, with attendance to the 12:30 PM Family Mass. MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 7:00 & 8:00 AM 6:00 PM (Vigil Mass) Sunday: 7:30 & 9:30 AM English 11:00 AM Italian 12:30 PM English (Family Mass) 7:00 PM Portuguese Weekdays: 7:00 & 8:00 AM Holy Days: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00 AM & 7:30 PM Other Services & Activities: Monday to Saturday: 7:40 AM Morning Prayer Tuesday: 9:00 AM Legion of Mary 7:30 PM St. Padre Pio Group (Dec20) 7:30 PM Holy Rosary Society 8:00 PM Holy Rosary in Portuguese Wednesday: 7:00 PM Holy Rosary in Italian 7:30 PM R.C.I.A. classes Thursday: 2:00 PM Bible Study Italian 6:15 to 7:15 PM Holy Hour Adoration for Vocations (Dec 8, 15, 22, 29) 7:30 PM Bible Study in English 8:30 PM Rosary Brazilian Men (Dec 8) Friday: 8:00 PM Brazilian Prayer Group 1 st Friday: 5:30 to 8:30 PM Blessed Sacrament Adoration (January 6)

2 ST NICHOLAS RC CHURCH Parish Trustee: Giovanni Simone & Michael Massaro Parish Secretary: Débora Moreira Music Ministry: Addie Luers, Giovanni & Karen Simone, and Kelly Oliveira Vocationist Sisters Community Sr. Benedita Carvalho, S.D.V., Superior & Pre-K Director; Sr. Jancy Thomas, S.D.V. and Sr. Emilia Din, S.D.V th Street - Palisades Park, NJ Tel Parish Pre-K Fr. Justin Learning Center Tel NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 312 First St Palisades Park, NJ Principal: Mark Valvano Tel Mass Intentions SATURDAY, December 3 7:00AM Rita Guarnero by Mario & Nancy Jakus 8:00AM Maria Piccinich by Maria Scallamera & family 6:00PM Donato, Cesidia & Riccardo DiBona by great-grandchildren SUNDAY, December 4 7:30AM Jojo Javellana by Humberto Colmenares 9:30AM Deceased members of Holy Rosary Society 11:00AM Martino R. Mattessich by his daug. Rosemary 12:30PM Immacolata Simone by Simone family 7:00PM People of the Parish MONDAY, December 5 7:00AM Tommaso Morin by wife Maria 8:00AM Matteo Squillace by M/M Lorenzo Cafasso TUESDAY, December 6 7:00AM Nicolo Scrivanich by his wife 8:00AM In honor of St. Nicholas by Pallotta family 7:30 PM In honor of St. Nicholas WEDNESDAY, December 7 7:00AM Val Pavlicek by friend 8:00AM Lucca Piccinich by Antonia Piccinich 7:30 PM Parise family by Lidia & Giuseppe Parise THURSDAY, December 8 Immaculate Conception 6:30AM Tilijo Antolovic by Piccinich family 8:00AM Andrea Mirkovich by daughter Gaudenzia 7:30PM Ortenzio & Andrew Albanese by Nick & John FRIDAY, December 9 7:00AM Tilijo Antolovic by M/M Stefano Bussanich 8:00AM Maria Matesic by M/M Martino Matesic SATURDAY, December 10 7:00AM Ivan Lisica by his wife Regina 8:00AM Maria Mattessich by daughter-in-law Maria 6:00PM Lilian Dell Aquila by Phil & Louise Luciano SUNDAY, December 11 7:30AM Sr. Antonietta Cioce, SDV by Vocationist Fathers & Sisters 9:30AM Ronald Borrello by M/M Salvatore Molinaro 11:00AM James & Angelo by Carmela Allegretta 12:30PM Isabella Berardi by Simone family 7:00PM People of the Parish News of the Parish MASS IN HONOR OF OUR PATRON, ST. NICHOLAS will be celebrated this Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30 PM. ST. NICHOLAS CHRISTMAS PARTY & POTLUCK DINNER - Come and celebrate the feast of our patron St. Nicholas on Saturday, Dec 10 at 7:00 PM in the church hall. Everyone bring your favorite dish to share!! There will be the Nativity Scene and Santa Claus for the children! - FREE ADMISSION IMMACULATE CONCEPTION NOVENA Our novena will continue every night until Wednesday, Dec 7 with the Holy Rosary at 7:00 PM, followed by Mass at 7:30 PM. SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION is a holy day of obligation. We will celebrate Masses at 6:30 and 8:00 AM, and at 7:30 PM. BEREAVEMENT MASSES IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS They will be celebrated on Wednesday, Dec 14 at 7:30 PM in Italian and Friday, Dec 16 at 7:30 PM in English. You can bring a picture of our beloved one to place in the memorial altar. BIBLE STUDY IN ENGLISH GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: The King and His Kingdom It is an exciting study that explores the life and mission of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel. Bible Study meets on Thursdays at 7:30 PM. CONFESSIONS FOR CHRISTMAS Priests will hear confessions on Wednesday, December 14 and 21 from 10:00 AM to noon and 6:00 to 8:00 PM; on Thursday, December 15 and 22 from 10:00 AM to noon and 6:00 to 8:00 PM; or by appointment by calling the rectory office at E.M., LECTORS AND USHERS will meet this Monday, December 19 at 7:30 PM in the Blessed Mother s room, in preparation for the Christmas celebrations. In Memoriam ALTAR CANDLES donated this week in memory of John Sinclair by Tony & Blanche DiBona

3 Page 3 December 4, 2016 Events of the Week Tuesday, December 6 9:00AM - Legion of Mary meets in Bl. Mother s room 7:00PM - Imm. Conception Novena (Rosary and Mass) Wednesday, December 7 7:00PM - Imm. Conception Novena (Rosary and Mass) Thursday, December 8 6:30, 8:00AM & 7:30PM - Imm. Conception Masses 6:15 to 7:15PM - Holy Hour Adoration for Vocations Friday, December 9 8:30PM - Brazilian Prayer Group in church hall Saturday December 10 7:00PM - ST. NICHOLAS CHRISTMAS PARTY Ministers Schedule for December 11 6:00 PM: Lector - Carmela B. E.M. - Rita, Mª Claudia and Wendy 7:30 AM: Lectors - Michael E.M. - Sr. Emilia and Sr. Jancy 9:30 AM: Lectors - Carol E.M. - Gina and Sisters 11:00 AM: Lectors - Italia and Frank E.M. - Antonia and Carmela 12:30 PM : Lectors - Confirmation Class E.M. - Suzanne 7:00 PM: Lectors - Patricia, Leny and Laine E.M. - Ieda and Cida Pastoral Care Holy Communion was brought this month to: Maria Piccini, Victor Columbini, Frances Ceria, Gloria Pezzolla and Cynthia Cornell. Pray for our sick: Mateus Ribeiro, Domenica Dinaro, Lorenzo Cafasso, Josephine Dolberry, Eileen Murphy, Angela Tina, Rita Vanore, Maria Piccini, John Ostuni, Dominick Ostuni, Sara Modafferi, John Hroncich (John Hroncich s nephew) and Frank Pallotta. STEWARDSHIP OF TIME AND TALENT We are grateful to our teenagers from the Confirmation Class of 2017 and Notre Dame Academy who helped setting up the Christmas Giving Trees at the altar and all those who helped us to display the Christmas Crib and lights decorations in front of the Church. Job well done! God bless you all! Next week second collection will be Assessment Free (yellow envelopes) 2 nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARE THE WAY Saint John the Baptist appears on the scene today as Advent enters its second week. The mysterious consumer of locusts and wild honey, John echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah as he calls for repentance in the face of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. The rhythms of the Christian life are often confounding. Each year we meet the Baptist and hear his calls for repentance. Each year we see him pointing to the one who is coming after him, the Lord Jesus. Yet each year the words and actions of John the Baptist echo anew in our hearts, because we have fallen into old sinful traps again and again. Advent gives us the opportunity once again to turn away from our sinful ways and embrace the gospel way of life. John the Baptist invites us to prepare the way for the Lord, in whom we place our hope. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. WORDS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TO JUAN DIEGO "Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything." CHRISTMAS GIVING TREES Couldn t you add an extra name to your Christmas list? The gifts are for the poor children of St. Michael s in Newark and babies of St. Joseph s Church in West New York. Please take a tag and bring a gift by Sunday Dec 18, Mass Book will open tomorrow Monday, December 5 5 Masses per person, per week We still have Masses available in 2016 & 2017 STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE For collection amount please see bulletin paper edition

4 ONLINE GIVING IS NOW AVAILABLE! It s convenient, easy and safe. It will allow you to send your Sunday offers using credit card or bank transfers anytime, anywhere. Visit our website and click on the Parish Giving link to enroll. STNICHOLASRCCHURCH.ORG It is easy to check our mass schedule, weekly bulletins, calendar of meetings and parish groups activities and special events. You can see pictures of our many functions, send your comments and suggestions, request a prayer or ask questions about religion or personal matters. ST. NICHOLAS CHRISTMAS PARTY POTLUCK DINNER & BINGO! Saturday, Dec 10 at 7:00 PM It will be a POTLUCK DINNER (bring your favorite dish and share with others!) and FAMILY BINGO! Kids love our family-friendly Bingo with exciting prizes, toys and great baskets!! All parishioners are invited to come and celebrate Christmas together!! We will have the live NATIVITY SCENE by the Confirmation Class, Christmas Songs by the children of 1st and 2nd CCD Grades and visit of SANTA CLAUS! Donations for the Christmas Poinsettias Name: In Memory of: Or the intentions of: Please return this slip with your donation to the rectory or in the Sunday collection basket. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION NOVENA Our novena will continue every night with the Rosary at 7:00PM and Masses every evening at 7:30PM, in English. On the Feast of Immaculate Conception We will have Masses at 6:30, 8:00 AM and 7:30 PM. OUR LADY OF GRACE church choir will present their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 PM in church at 395 Delano Place, Fairview, NJ. The students of the school will also take part in the program by depicting the Birth of Jesus. Admission is free refreshments will follow. BEREAVEMENT MASSES IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS For those who have lost someone special in their lives, helping them couple with the emotions of Christmas Season These masses will be celebrated in memory of all those who have departed and are greatly missed. Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 PM in Italian and Friday, December 16 at 7:30 PM in English (You can bring a picture of your beloved ones or flowers to display in the memorial altar) Upcoming Church Events 1) St Nicholas Feast - Potluck Supper Sat Dec 10 at 7:00PM 2) Bereavement Mass in Italian - Wed Dec 14 at 7:30PM 3) Bereavement Mass in English - Friday Dec 16 at 7:30PM 4) Brazilian New Year s Party - Saturday Dec 31 at 9:00PM Vocationist Corner Come, O Virgin Mary, to my soul, to my house, to my work, as you went to Bethlehem; my soul is a poor stable, an ignoble manger. That notwithstanding, the Lord will want to have his advent and his birth in my soul! Come, O blessed Virgin Mary! Blessed Fr. Justin Russolillo, SDV, Devotional, page 185 DO YOU WANT A SON PRIEST? Support the Vocationist Fathers by adopting a seminarian of India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Colombia, Equator, Phillipines, Nigeria, Argentina or Chile. Your commitment of $35.00 a month can help a young man to become a priest. If you are ready for this commitment, please contact Fr. Stephen.

5 St. Nicholas Feast Day: December 6 Children around the world know and love St. Nicholas for he brings gifts and treats in December. He is known by different names - and even looks different from place to place. But, it is the same St. Nicholas who delights with small surprises and good things to eat. Nicholas gave in secret, alert to others' needs, and expecting nothing for himself in return. It is this selfless generosity which seeks only the good of the other that made Nicholas' gifts the gifts of a saint. In the West the saint's image changed between the eleventh and twelfth centuries from a rather severe figure to the compassionate children's friend. There his main virtue came to be seen as generosity to children-rooted in the stories of rescuing the desperate maidens with gold for their dowries and of saving three children or schoolboys from an evil fate. Nuns in France began leaving treats on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5th, for the small children of poor families. St. Nicholas' gifts were usually good things to eat: apples, oranges, nuts, and eventually cookies and sweets. The custom quickly spread across Europe and was adopted by both rich and poor. St. Nicholas' example still inspires acts of charity and generosity. A PRAYER TO SAINT NICHOLAS Eternal and omnipotent God, who gave to us our protector, glorious Saint Nicholas, from the kingdom of heavenly light in which he enjoys the bliss of your divine presence, look upon us with your merciful gaze. Grant us the help and spiritual graces that we need in this life. Remember your church, your flock, and your shepherds so that they will be enlightened by your truth and enkindled by the fire of your love. Through the intercession of our patron saint, Nicholas, convert those who lead a life in darkness of ignorance and error. Console the afflicted, provide for the needy, comfort the weak, defend the oppressed, help the sick and let us receive the benefits of the powerful intercession of Saint Nicholas on our behalf, O Supreme Giver of all good. Amen.