SAINT PAUL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 11, 2016

Transcription

1 SAINT PAUL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 11, Country Club Road New Bern, NC (252) Office: M-F 8:30-4:00pm Saint Paul Catholic School (252) Saint Peter the Fisherman Mission Parish in Oriental (252) MASS SCHEDULE Saturday :00 pm Sunday :00 am, 11:00 am 1:00 pm (Misa en Español) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday :00 am Wednesday :00 am 6:00 pm Friday :00 am at Old St. Paul First Saturday :00 am Holy Days of Obliga on per announcements WELCOME VISITORS & GUESTS! New Parishioners Please register with the parish office On December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to a simple Aztec Indian who had converted to the Catholic faith, Juan Diego. Three days later, Mary provided a sign so the local bishop would believe she had appeared: roses grew out of the cold winter soil, and when Juan Diego opened his cloak to show the bishop what he had gathered, an image of Our Lady appeared on the fabric the miraculous image of a woman clothed with the sun. The sun that she wears is the light of Christ who gives light and life to all. She is the patron saint of the Americas and Mexico We celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th. PASTORAL STAFF Father Thomas Tully, Pastor Father Michael Schuetz, Parochial Vicar Deacon Mike Mahoney, ObISB, Parish Deacon Deacon Rick Fisher, Parish Deacon Sister Monique Dissen, IHM, Pastoral Associate Deacon David Kierski, School Administrator

2 THIS WEEKS MASS INTENTIONS 12/11 Sunday 8:00am St. Paul Parish Family Sunday 11:00am + Tom Davis Sunday 1:00pm + Shirley Hermans 12/12 Monday 8:00am + Marisa Bianco 12/13 Tuesday 8:00am 12/14 Wednesday 9:00am Wednesday 6:00pm + Keith Warren 12/15 Thursday 8:00am + John Capriglione 12/16 Friday 8:00am +Charles & Beatrice Neumeister 12/17 Saturday 5:00pm + Stanley Andersen THIS WEEKS CANDLE INTENTION Soka Ostovic A Note from the Choir: New Hymnals in the Pew! As you may have no ced, we have new Breaking Bread Hymnals in the pews. The 2016 Liturgical year has come to an end. We have also completed the full three-year Sunday cycle- Years A, B & C. This is a great me to celebrate. If you would like a copy of the old hymnal for your personal use at home to reflect on the scriptures, prayers or prac ce your favorite hymn, please look for the box in the atrium. We ask that you please not take home the new hymnals. If you would like a personal copy, the church office will be happy to order you a copy for $ We are all now using the Heritage Mass Parts which can be found in the back of the hymnal beginning on #880. This is a wonderful me to join a Mass choir of your choice. Introduce yourself to the choir director a er Mass and ask what you can do to join. There is no be er me to make a joyful noise than this present moment. If you have any ques ons, contact Megan Johnson or mjohnson@stpaulcs.org MOVIE OF THE MONTH CHRISTMAS ORANGES is an endearing movie about Rose, a li le baby le on the steps of an orphanage. Later she and the other orphans are split up and sent to other orphanages. Rose goes to one under Mr. Crampton, a hard man, who cares too much about his rules. His brother, Joe, a kind man, gives the orphans oranges for Christmas. Mr. Crampton thinks it is frivolous! When he denies Rose an orange for breaking one of his rules, Rose runs away. While away, she learns why he is so hard mannered. She is later responsible for his change of heart. Join us in the Library at St. Paul s School on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 12:30 P.M. This is being shown early to the school children, but everyone is invited to come to share in the spirit of Christmas. Sunday 12/11 9:00AM 9:30AM 9:30AM 9:30AM 10:30AM 2:00PM 2:30PM 3:00PM 6:00PM Monday 12/12 4:00AM 5:00AM 6:00AM 11:00AM 3:00PM 6:00PM Tuesday 12/13 10:30AM 12:00PM 12:00PM 1:00PM 6:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM THIS WEEKS ACTIVITIES Olive Branch Gi Store open ll 1:00PM RCIA FLC2 Faith Forma on - School Chancel Choir Prac ce Chaplet of the Divine Mercy SJC FAE at Knights Christmas Party AAMEN Group Conference Room Hispanic Prayer Group FLC3 Confirma on Class School Library FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Las Mananitas de la Virgen Church Misa en Espanol de NS Guadalupe Church Desayuno FLC Shanghai Cards FLC3 JCDA Mee ng- FLC3 Saint Paul Women s Basketball Gym Mass in Oriental Fa ma Rosary - SJC One in the Spirit Prayer Group SJC Prayer Shawl Ministry FLC3 Open Gym New Bern Middle School Students First Reconcilia on and Advent Penance Service - Church Twin Rivers Volleyball Club Prac ce - Gym Wednesday 12/14 9:00AM Olive Branch Gi Store Open ll Noon 5:00PM Medjugorje Prayer Group SJC 6:30PM Bap sm Class Conference Room 7:00PM Advent Penance Service Annuncia on Parish 7:00PM Hispanic Choir Prac ce 7:00PM SPRAA Men s Open Gym Basketball Thursday 12/15 8:00AM Mass - Saint Joseph Chapel 8:35AM Adora on 10:45AM Reconcilia on 11:45AM Benedic on 3:00PM Finance Commi ee Mtg Conference Room 6:00PM Advent Penance Service Mother of Mercy 6:30PM FAE Christmas Program - Church 7:00PM Advent Spirituality Series FLC2 7:00PM Twin Rivers Volleyball Club Prac ce Gym 7:30PM Folk Choir Prac ce - Church Friday 12/16 12:00PM Saturday 12/17 3:00PM 3:30PM January 1 st Bulle n Items Due Cursillo Navidena FLC2 Reconciliation REMINDERS JCDA Mee ng - December 12th - 3:00PM in FLC2 Fa ma Rosary - December 13th - Noon in SJC

3 PASTOR S CORNER Sunday, December 11, 2016 Dear Friends at Saint Paul: I extend to Sandy Stewart and to all his family our condolences at the death of Nancy Stewart. Nancy has played a long-term and steady role for the benefit of Saint Paul parish and especially Saint Paul Catholic School. Although less able in recent years, I am humbled by the many mes I have heard someone say: well, I think Nancy Stewart used to be in charge of (fill in the blank). Her recent handicaps took away none of her dedica on, verve, and eagerness for the be erment of our Catholic experience here in New Bern. Although many people have been heroes and heroines for our parish and we have many dedicated and even sacrificial ministers in our church, Nancy has shown herself over the decades to be persistent and determined in what she saw as best for all of us! May God reward her for the clarity of her love! Tomorrow s fes val of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Guadalupe, teaches many wonderful lessons for our own day. The drama c impact of the Spanish arrival in Mexico and the driving impulse of explora on and conquest, with its poten al for both good and bad, is the backdrop for a common family crisis. The family crisis of the peasant Juan Diego, with his many worries, and his uncle s sickness is answered by a vision of gentle caring and mely help. The Blessed Mother is given the thanks for her special interven on to obtain these blessings from God. We know that the decades a er the Appari ons are filled with many opinions and posi ons taken in reference to the Lady of Guadalupe but the underlying success of the preaching of the gospel to a na ve people is aided by it. The experts in missionary work have not yet worked out the complexi es of incultura on and the transla on of Catholic customs and even language into the current daily life of people who are different. We haven t any perfect solu on either, with three weekend English Masses and one weekend Spanish Mass. The complexi es introduced by the appearance of our Lady to the na ve Aztec (Nahuatl) farmer, Juan Diego, so recently a Chris an, so recently invited to consider the culture, language and authority of the newly arrived conquistador, is in fact part of the complexity that our church con nues to live out. Thanks be to God, our prayer life and our apprecia on for depending on help from God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin is a more humble and sincere devo on. I hope that tomorrow s celebra on of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a welcome one for your devo on but it is different from a European tradi on: morning songs at 4 am with Mass at 5 am. A simple breakfast follows. A more extensive telling of the story and a cultural celebra on for Mexican immigrants and descendants is on Sunday, December 18 th a er the Mass in Spanish. Everyone is welcome and all are encouraged to par cipate as best as you are able, in Spanish or in English. On Tuesday evening, we offer our Advent Penance Service, with priests visi ng from neighboring parishes. I hope that you take advantage of this opportunity or the other mes scheduled for Confessions as part of your prepara on for Christmas. Finally, here is the Prayer on the Feast of Saint Andrew, November 30 th, that I men oned in my sermon last week: 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 and moment, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayers and grant my desires, through the merits of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Blessed Mother. Amen

4 Saint Paul Catholic School On November 10, Saint Paul Catholic Church hosted the Veterans Tribute Concert. Our school students, under the direc on of Megan Johnson, sang a medley of patrio c songs during an inspiring evening. Our third Annual Stew, Brew, and Chili Too, held on November 12, was a great success by all accounts. Seventeen cooks submi ed their most special recipes to be enjoyed by all a endees. Cash prizes were awarded to the three who won the most votes in the spirited compe on. The excitement reached its peak when Father Tully pulled the winning raffle cket for either a 2-year lease on a 2017 Ford Fusion or $5000 in cash. A Saint Paul parishioner won the raffle and chose the cash prize. The second-grade class sold the most raffle ckets and were treated to a class party for their hard work. Second grader Jason Nguyen was the highest selling student. Jason won the chance to take over Deacon Dave s job for a day. A er a lot of hard work from students, parents, parishioners, and the community the evening s profits exceeded those of previous years. Proceeds will be used to enhance the educa onal experience of our students. Thank you for suppor ng the raffle and our school. Go Knights! Saint Paul Catholic School Children Invite you to a end an evening of music and joy including Fine Art Enhancement presenta ons by our students Followed by an all school musical event Christmas, A Story of Promise Thursday, December 15 th at 6:30pm in the church Contact Megan Johnson if you have any ques ons: mjohnson@stpaulcs.org SAVE THE DATE! CDA will again have a Bunco Party in the FLC on January 22nd from 12:30 to 3:30. Tickets will be sold a er all Masses the weekend of Jan. 7th and January 14th. Tickets can also be purchased from Beverly Hartung or Ellie Neumeister. Come with your friends and enjoy an a ernoon of fun and games. Light lunch, snacks and drinks will be provided. Prizes too! We will decorate our church for Christmas on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 9:00am. We welcome all those who wish to help to come and make our worship space fi ng for the Lord! If you have ques ons, please contact Joy Harsen at The disciples had to admit that even at shadow puppets Jesus was clearly the best.

5 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT PATIENCE, HOPE AND JOY Gracious, merciful, and patient God, your generosity rewards our complaint. You reap a fruitful harvest when we plant only hardness of heart. Strengthen us in this season of hope, grant patience in troubled times, and lift our fearful hearts. As the farmer waits for the fruitful harvest and the desert anticipates abundant blossoms may we, too, be blessed with patient hearts as we approach the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen DECEMBER 11, REJOICE! Today s Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a,10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11. The coming of Chist and his Kingdom will be understood when the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap. We are reminded by both Isaiah and Jesus that we do not need to look any further. The signs of healing and wholeness should be enough. This Third Sunday of Advent is a joyous reminder that God is already in our midst, even as we commemorate his coming into the world. The words of Jesus challenge us to look beyond the messenger, John the Baptist, and realize that we should rejoice in the topsy-turvy world where those apparently blind can now see through the rough nomad in the dry desert and recognize a prophet and we should rejoice in the prophetic message heard by the deaf, pulsating through the lame, and blooming with abundant flowers. Take some time with your family to recognize the goodness that you witness in your lives: where adversity can produce joy, where the deaf have heard some Good News and a change of heart is the result. Today, Sorrow and sighing shall flee, because we are ransomed by the Lord who brings us joy and gladness. THIS WEEK AT HOME Monday, Dec. 12 Revelation 11-19a, 12:1-10; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1: In 1531 a poor, uneducated Aztec Indian received the image of May on his tilma. Today, Mary brings a renewed faith through an unexpected and unassuming Juan Diego to others. Advent invites us to share our faith to all the world simply and plainly. Tuesday, Dec. 13 Zephaniah 3:1-2,9-13; Psalm 34:2-7, 17-23; Matthew 21: St. Lucy, a martyr of the early Church, is celebrated as a bringer of light. Today. Light your Advent wreath candles for breakfast to fill the darkness with Light! Wednesday, Dec. 14 Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke7: John of the Cross, mystic and doctor of the church authored the Dark Night of the Soul. This book invited one to retreat into a dark place and pray and reflect to rediscover God. This is appropriate for a dark Advent day. Take time to sit and search where God has lead you in this season. Thursday, Dec.15 Isaiah 54:1-10; Psalm 30:2-6, 11-13; Luke 7: Jesus challenges us to take a second look, a second understanding of the message of John the Baptist. We prepare for the Lord s coming by living with integrity, whether that is in the wilderness or in a palace. Friday, Dec. 16 Isaiah 56:1-3,6-8; Psalm 67:2-8; John 5: Today s Psalm response, O God, let all the nations praise you! underscores a message of universality. Emmanuel comes for all peoples, from dark places to light and from luxurious palaces to impoverished mountains and deserts. Take time to talk about this with family. Saturday, Dec. 17 Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-8, 17; Matthew 1:1-17. The O Antiphons begin today during the Evening Prayer of the Church from Dec Today we call on Wisdom to come and teach us the path to knowledge.

6 OLIVE BRANCH STORE & LENDING LIBRARY Important Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 11 th is the final deadline to place special orders for any items you need to have in me for Christmas. Come see our wonderful selec on of gi items & stocking stuffers! We have something for everyone Sunday Missals are here and they make great gi s. We need you! Volunteer with us in 2017 it s fun! Open Sun. 9 1 & Wed in the Family Life Center. All proceeds benefit St. Paul Catholic Church. SEVENTH ANNUAL LOVE MY LIFE YOUTH RALLY On Saturday, January 21 at 10:00 am the Seventh Annual Love My Life Youth Rally will be held at Halifax Mall under a heated tent. The Rally is an opportunity for Catholic teens to come together in celebra on, to connect with others from across the Diocese, and to learn more about living and promo ng the pro-life culture. Contact your school or youth leaders for more informa on on this awesome, spirit filled event. The Diocesan Respect Life mass will immediately follow at noon, and the youth will enjoy a free lunch, sponsored by the K of C, and be sent forth to March for Life in downtown Raleigh. Go to h p://dioceseofraleigh.org/ WASHINGTON D.C. MARCH FOR LIFE Join faithful from across the Diocese for the North Carolina Mass and March for Life on Friday, January 27, This year, in the Diocese of Raleigh, over 30 buses from parishes and schools are expected to make the trip to Washington D.C. The day begins with Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Concep on at 11:30 a.m. The march on the mall follows. Seats are available on buses leaving from parishes across the Diocese. For informa on about ge ng a seat on a bus, contact the Office of Human Life and Dignity at (919) or Marybeth.phillips@raldioc.org. A GIFT TO ALL PARISHIONERS FOR THE NEW YEAR With his signature combina on of the profound and the prac cal, New York Times bestselling author Ma hew Kelly helps you learn why we sabotage ourselves, feel overwhelmed, set aside our dreams, and lack the courage to simply be ourselves... and how to start choosing happiness again. Resis ng Happiness will inspire you to break through resistance so you can become the-best-version-of-yourself! and start living with passion and purpose. Saint Paul will be giving all families this wonderful book for the New Year. Extra books are available for $2.00. Share with your friends and family! Contact Audrey Rolison to order extra books, or if you would like to make a dona on ( ). EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS & LECTORS: December 17th and 18th, Team #3 SACRAMENT SCHEDULE Reconcilia on: Thursdays 10:45-11:45am; Saturday 3:30-4:30pm or by appointment Bap sm Classes: Second Wednesday Evening of the Month - First me parents must a end Bap smal Prepara on Classes. Please call the church office to register. First Communion/Confirma on: Please call Marriages: Contact Parish Office - 6 month advance no ce is required Anoin ng of the Sick: Contact the Office at Funerals: Call or funeral@spccnb.org PARISH STAFF DIRECTORY NIGHT EMERGENCY CALL: PASTORAL STAFF Father Thomas S Tully, Pastor: pastor@spccnb.org Father Michael Schuetz, Parochial Vicar: frschuetz@spccnb.org Deacon Rick Fisher: Deacon Mike Mahoney, ObISB: Sister Monique Dissen, IHM, Hospital: Admin Assistant, DeLesa Conway: dconway@spccnb.org Bookkeeper, Donna Simon: dsimon@spccnb.org Bulle n: bulle n@spccnb.org Cemetery: Danny Gennantonio Director Opera ons: Deacon David Kierski dkierski@spccnb.org Faith Forma on: Joy Harsen Funeral Arrangements: funeral@spccnb.org Music Ministry: Megan Johnson mjohnson@stpaulcs.org RCIA Coordinator: Marcelene McLure Catholic Chari es: Catholic Daughters: Belinda Swager Extraordinary Ministers of Eucharist: Mary Spano: Eucharis c Ministers (Home / Sick): Dennis Colbert: Finance Council: Bob Nenni Knights Third Degree: Phil Nassef Knights Fourth Degree: Patrick Rocco Pastoral Council: pcouncil@spccnb.org Religious Community Services: Rectory: Sacrament Arrangements: Saint Paul School Administrator: Deacon Kierski: