Saint Matthias Parish 128 Bryn Mawr Avenue Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004

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1 Saint Matthias Parish 128 Bryn Mawr Avenue Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Founded 1906 W e b s i t e : w w w. s a i n t m a t t h i a s. o r g E m a i l : m a t t h i a s a i n t m a t t h i a s. o r g R e c t o r y : F a x : Parish Religious Education Office and Youth Office: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Mass Schedule Monday Friday: 7:30 a.m. Sunday: 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturdays at 4:15 PM, also by appointment Reverend Monsignor Gerard C. Mesure, J.D., J.C.D., M.A. Pastor Reverend Sean P. Bransfield, J.C.L., M.A., M.Div. Parochial Vicar Director of Parish Outreach Peggy Haley Reverend John A. McGinnis Retired Priest Director of Liturgical Music Berthilla Wiscount Reverend Mr. Brandon M. Artman, M.Div.... Parish Transitional Deacon Coordinator of Religious Education Peggy Haley NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome to Saint Matthias Parish! Please see one of the priests after any weekend Mass, or call the Rectory if you are interested in registering at Saint Matthias Parish. RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: The office staff is available for business matters Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. APPOINTMENTS: You are asked to arrange an appointment in advance by telephone with the Priest you wish to see. SICK CALLS: Emergencies Please call the Rectory. Hospital Visitation The Parish Priests will be happy to visit any Parishioner who is hospitalized. Please contact the Rectory, since hospitals do not contact the Rectory. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: The Sacrament of Baptism is administered most Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Arrangements are made in advance at the Rectory. Sponsors must provide proof of eligibility by a letter from their respective Pastors. First-time parents attend a Pre-Jordan Meeting prior to Baptism, which is arranged at a mutually convenient time. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Arrangements must be made with the Pastor at least six months before the date of the Wedding. Pre-Cana instructions are required. Weddings may be scheduled on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., or on Friday evenings. D E CEMBER 10, 2017 ~ SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

2 December 10, 2017 Second Sunday of Advent H.O.P.E. Helping Other People Enthusiastically Our volunteers assist fellow Parishioners by providing transportation to doctors offices, banks, and supermarkets. The H.O.P.E. Captain for December is Peggy Haley: Saturday, December 9 Vigil, Second Sunday of Advent 5:00 Deceased Members of the Kaminski, Borek, and Baldi Families Sunday, December 10 Second Sunday of Advent 8:30 Mary Przybyszewski *10:30 The McClatchy Family 7:00 For Our Parishioners Monday, December 11 Advent Weekday/St. John Damasus 7:30 Souls in Purgatory Tuesday, December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe 7:30 Sr. Jean Streibig, RSM Wednesday, December 13 Saint Lucy 7:30 In Honor of Saint Lucy Thursday, December 14 Saint John of the Cross 7:30 Special Intentions of Alison Burdo Friday, December 15 Advent Weekday 7:30 Nicholas Chovanes Saturday, December 16 Advent Weekday 8:00 Vera Born *5:00 Honorable Vincent A. Cirillo and William V. Hyland, Jr. Sunday, December 17 Third Sunday of Advent *8:30 Intercessions of Mrs. Helen M. Shinners 10:30 Lydia Ruiz 7:00 For Our Parishioners * Extraordinary support through the Saint Matthias Day Program PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH: Martha Eckert, Frank Diebold, Marie Damas, Eleanor Kuhl, Louise Owens, Michele Smith, Lorraine Beaulieu, Dr. Joan Hurlock, Rev. Thomas Wheeler, S.J., Rev. James Moore, S.J., Chadd Kraus, Louis Owens, Lynne Dotsey, Toni Mastrocola, Jack Yura, Nancy Lawler, Peggy Haley, Michelle Smith, John Maley, Richard & Mary Jane Breen, Ann Ledgister, Olivia King, Terrie Gaspar, Louise Grato, Sr. Margaret Donohue, R.S.M., Dolores Frank, Donald Brokens, and Claire Chovanes. We also pray for those served by our Parish in Inglis House and Bala Nursing Home. Please help us keep this list current: if you wish to have someone s name added to/removed from the Sick List, contact the Rectory. MEMBERS OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: Patricia Black, Andrea Constantino, Mike DeMonte, Maggie Duffy, Peggy Haley (ex-officio), Ross Holgado, Ed Kiefski, Claudia Martinez, Ray Nepomuceno, Kathy O Connor-Eicke, Gina Sullivan, H. Nelson Keyser (finance rep.), Berthilla Wiscount (ex-officio). Sacrificial Giving ~ Stewardship Sunday Collection December 2/3, 2017: $ 9,953 Sunday Collection December 3/4, 2016: $ 7,917 Religious Retirement Collection December 2/3, 2017: $ 1, Census Collection (to date): $ 16,950 Thank you for your continued sacrificial generosity! LIVING LIGHTS: On the side of the Sanctuary near the statue of the Sacred Heart is a place where three candles burn for special intentions. If you wish to have one of these candles burning for your intention, please bring your donation and intention to the sacristy or the rectory office. The donation for these candles is $10. This week s candles are lit for: Our Youth, Marriage & Family, Special Intention. Second Collection Envelopes: Next weekend is the Catholic Education Collection. This collection is used to support the various educational projects of the Parish, in particular, it underwrites the costs of our PREP program and the subsidies we as a Parish provide for our children attending Catholic grade schools. All envelopes for this second collection should be placed in the main collection at the time of the offertory of the Mass. Thank you! 075 Saint Matthias - 2

3 Christmas Anticipation Prayer Saint Matthias Giving Tree Benefitting LaSalle Academy Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, At midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, hear, O Lord, And grant my request. Amen. This is a favorite prayer of Father Gormley! Beginning on Saint Andrew the Apostle's feast day, November 30, this beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming. Infant Clothing Collection Benefiting Mothers Home in Darby December 3 rd January 7 th Mothers Home is a residential shelter which provides a safe haven for vulnerable, pregnant women in crisis who choose life as a sacred gift. Founded in 1991 as a program to provide hope and support for young adult women who choose life for their unborn child despite ongoing obstacles, Mothers Home provides shelter for up to 22 women during their pregnancy and the first 6 months after their babies are born. Please drop off your donation (unwrapped, please) in front of Saint Joseph s Altar. Thank you for your kindness! Our 6 th Annual Giving Tree is now in place in front of the crypt area near St. Joseph s Altar. The tree displays ornaments. Christmas ornaments are beautiful, but these are special ornaments. On the back of each ornament are items requested from Santa. In this case, you will be their Santa! LaSalle Academy is a mission school located in Philadelphia. The school is dedicated to educating children in grades 3 through 8 whose life opportunities are limited by financial, academic, social or emotional challenges, and whose parents/guardians desire, but cannot afford a Catholic education. The academy is located at 1434 N. Second Street. LaSalle Academy serves the poorest of the poor. We ask that each family take an ornament from the tree, purchase the gift requested, place the unwrapped gift with the firmly-affixed ornament onto the gift under the tree. The gifts will be delivered to the school for distribution to these children and families. Please return all gifts no later than NEXT SUNDAY, December 17. These gifts are many times the only present the child or family members will receive for Christmas. It is our prayer that all the ornaments are taken and replaced with a gift under the tree. The luminaries on display for the Christmas Eve Masses are always a sight to behold. However, we can only continue to provide them if there are enough volunteers to set up, light, and remove them. Can you help? If so, please call the Rectory at Saint Matthias - 3

4 FAMILY FUN NIGHT! Come out from the cold and join in family fun and some basketball at the St. Matthias gym for Family Fun Night. You may bring dinner to share with your family; we simply ask that you clean up. Fridays in December from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Come play basketball, hang out with other parishioners, or just let your kids run around! Saint Matthias Parish 2017 Christmas Schedule Boy Scout Troop Bala 1 Holiday Wreath & Coffee Bean Sale ORDER NOW!!! Hi! I am a Boy Scout in Troop Bala One, located in Bala Cynwyd. We are having our annual fundraiser Holiday Wreath and La Colombe Coffee Bean Sale. The wreaths are decorated by the boys in the troop. The whole-bean coffee comes in 12 ounce bags from La Colombe, the best coffee in Philadelphia and beyond. Three blends will be available: Nizza (a creamy, fragrant sweet coffee Medium Light Roast), Corsica (a bold Dark Roast blend with an agreeable nature) and Decaffeinated. If you have a favorite La Colombe blend not offered, please let us know and we will try to get it for you. Makes a great gift, or treat yourself! Wreaths are just $20 each and will be available for pick-up or delivery in the first week of December. Each bag of coffee beans is priced at $15 and is available now! Cash or checks made payable to Troop Bala One are accepted at or before delivery. All net proceeds benefit the Scouts of Bala One and are used to help offset the costs of camping, equipment, and activities. Thank you for considering supporting me and my troop! - Teddy Eisenstein Place order by ing seisenstein@aciclinical.com Please provide name, address, phone, and number of wreaths or coffee blend ADVENT-CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS Saturdays Sunday, December 17 Monday, December 18 Also, by appointment 4:15 4:45 PM 9:00 10:15 AM 7:00 7:30 PM Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 23 and 24 Confessions Saturday, 4:15 4:45 PM Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM Sunday Masses at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM CHRISTMAS EVE: Sunday, December 24 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM Vigil Masses for Christmas NO 7:00 PM Mass CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS Preceded by a choral and instrumental prelude at 11:30 PM CHRISTMAS DAY: Monday, December 25 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM Masses No Evening Mass THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH Saturday, December 30: 5:00 PM Vigil Mass Sunday, December 31: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 7:00 PM Monday, January 1, 2018 New Year s Day 9:00 AM Mass (Feast of Mary, Mother of God, because it falls on a Monday this year, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation) 075 Saint Matthias - 4

5 Christmas Cards for the Homebound and those in Nursing Homes. Baskets are at the Church doors with the names and addresses of our Parishioners who are homebound or living in nursing homes. Please take the names of a few of your fellow Parishioners and send them a Christmas card, reminding them they are in the thoughts and prayers of their Parish during this holy season. For some, yours may be the only card they receive this year. Your thoughtfulness and kindness are appreciated. Parish Census Forms Parish Census Forms were sent out last month. These forms are vital for the keeping of up-do-date parishioner information that is required by the Archdiocese. Please return them to the Rectory as soon as possible. We appreciate your generous donation for the Parish Census (formerly the Block Collection ). If you have misplaced your Census Form, please contact the Rectory. Thank you for your assistance! Our supply of meals for the sick, elderly, and home-bound is low. We are asking that you please do what you can to perhaps make an extra portion or two when you cook. Please pack up the meal, fill out the ingredient information sheet included with the meal container, and place it in the freezer on the rectory s back porch the next time you re at Church. More information: Driver needed to pick up and drop off parishioner, living in Wynnewood, for Mass. Prefers 5:00 PM on Saturday, but is available Sundays. Willing to pay! House Cleaner wanted to clean small apartment in Wynnewood for a fee. For more information on either of these situations, please call the Rectory at Help Wanted at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary A part-time (up to 19 hours a week) housekeeping position is available. Responsibilities include washing, ironing, and general cleaning of residence rooms. Interested candidates should resume to jwhite@scs.edu or mail to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Attention: J. White, 100 E. Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, PA Part-time Teaching Assistants needed to work with students with disabilities. Saint Katherine Day School - Radnor Campus. Contact Kathleen Gould at kgould@stkds.org. Spiritual Offerings at Saint Raphaela Center Spiritual Direction. Spiritual Direction enables you to grow into a closer relationship with God. In the midst of a busy life, many find it difficult to notice God s action in their daily affairs. Spiritual direction helps us to develop a more conscious experience of God s presence and love. New Year s Eve Retreat. Special dinner, presentation, Midnight Mass and celebration, morning brunch. Presenter: Rev. Bernard Farley. December 31, 6:00 PM to January 1, 12:00 Noon. Saint Raphaela Center in Haverford ~ ~ Thank You to everyone who donated canned goods and/or money on Thanksgiving Day. We were able to send a large donation to Mercy Neighborhood Ministries again this year! Our 2018 Parish Calendars are here and can be picked up at the Church doors. Thank you to STRETCH FUNERAL HOME in Havertown for their annual donation of these calendars to our Parish. Annual Saint Charles Seminary Open House and Christmas Concert! TODAY, December 10. The annual event features: Campus tours, Christmas concert featuring Seminary choir and musicians, and the popular International Christmas crèche display (Library, Main Level). One-hour tours begin at 1:00 PM with the last tour beginning at 3:00 PM (disclaimer: there is considerable walking involved, with extremely limited elevator access). The Christmas Concert begins at 4:00 PM. Saint Martin Chapel and Library are handicapped-accessible. The event is free & open to all. 075 Saint Matthias - 5

6 Christmas at the Cathedral TODAY Sunday, December 10 at 3:00 PM. An uplifting program of beautiful carols and the traditional music of Christmas, performed by the combined forces of the Cathedral Choir and the choirs of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Resounding brass will add to celebration of the joyous season of Christ s birth. Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 1723 Race Street in Philadelphia. Information: cathedral philaconcerts.org/event/christmas-at-the-cathedral. December, 2017: The Elderly That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new generations. SCHOOL OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES Tickets are required. For information, please contact Sharon Presta at spresta@scs.edu or Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary offers a variety of learning opportunities for lay men and women. The School of Theological Studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary welcomes students of all ages to pursue undergraduate and graduate courses in theology. Students may enroll in a degree program or take courses for personal enrichment during Spring Semester, There is a wide selection of offerings in Sacred Scripture, Catholic Theology, Prayer, and Philosophy. For more information, please visit or call With Fiscal Year 2017 coming to a close, may we ask you to consider making a special donation to Saint Matthias Church. All donations are taxdeductible on your income taxes if you itemize your deductions. Please consider this making this special end-of-year donation before December 31, and may God continue to bless you and your families! With Your Will, There is a Way Remembering Saint Matthias Parish in your will gives us a way to secure the future of our Parish. Let your memory live on because of your generosity. Your name will be inscribed in our Book of Remembrance on the Blessed Mother s Altar. Let us pray for all those who have been so generous to our Parish over our 111-year history. 075 Saint Matthias - 6