ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH DECEMBER 10, 2017

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1 ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH DECEMBER 10, 2017 Inside This Week Second Sunday of Advent Faith and Tradition Liturgical Schedule Daily Readings Coming Events Ministry & Organization News Financial Update Ministry Schedule Our Parish in Action Our Mission We are the body of Christ at St. Michael s Parish Called to Gather for Worship, Celebrate the Paschal Mysteries Preach the Gospel Minister to Others And be Witnesses to the World. 505 Broome Street Fernandina Beach, FL Office (904) Emergency (904) Fr. Jose Kallukalam, Pastor

2 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 10, 2017 NEWS OF COMFORT In a time of preparation, much of it having to do with material things, it is good to hear the words of Isaiah, Comfort, give comfort to my people, / says your God (Isaiah 40:1). In a time of such stress and rush, when our usual burdens are augmented by piles of Christmas preparations, we can choose to slow down, take some time to heal, and appreciate the enormous gift we are about to receive. Christ, the Son of God, has become one of us, and knows our human limitations. Yet God, even now, is freeing us from the burdens that our inattentiveness to our God and to our deepest inner longings have heaped upon us. The Lord comes, not as a king with mighty armies, but as a shepherd leading the flocks with care and tenderness. Isaiah prophesies good news: our oppression is over, our sins forgiven. The savior we have awaited is coming, not the first time, but in the end times, as our salvation. ADVENT PENANCE SERVCE Tuesday, December 19, :00pm SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 THERE IS NO 12:00 NOON MASS CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES 4:00 pm Mass (church) 4:00 pm Mass (hall) 6:00 pm Mass (church) 11:00 pm Mass (church) CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES 12:00 noon Mass SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD IS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2018 THOUGH NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION THIS YEAR. The music prelude before the Christmas Eve and Christmas day Masses will begin 1/2 hour prior to Mass. Faith and Traditions TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Many people think that Saint Francis originated the Christmas crèche, but its origins go far back. The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has housed what is said to be relics of the cradle of Jesus since the seventh century. In time, every year during the Christmas season the reliquary (container for relics) was surrounded by an increasingly grand three-dimensional scene of the place of Jesus birth. Rocks and trees, houses, streams, figurines of villagers going about their daily tasks were all included. It was a very dramatic presentation. If you ve ever seen an elaborate model train installation, you get the idea. The proper term for this depiction is presepio, from the Latin word for surround or hedge. Over the centuries, the custom spread first to churches, and then to aristocratic homes. In Italy, whole chapels are often set aside for the presepio, and it is not unusual to have hundreds of figures. It can sometimes be a challenge to locate the Holy Family amid the crowd, almost like a Where s Waldo? children s book. The oldest surviving presepio is in St. Mary Major and dates from the thirteenth century, although many pieces have been broken or lost. Saint Francis of Assisi took a decidedly creative step in 1233 in the village of Greccio, when he directed his followers to fill a manger with hay and tether an ox and ass nearby. He then invited the villagers to attend Mass outdoors near the crib, the worshipers themselves becoming a living presepio. By the seventeenth century, the tradition was wellestablished, particularly in Naples, and had a firm hold in Portugal, Spain, and in the Provence region of France. Today, it is not unusual to find presepios with five hundred figures, a vivid reminder of Emmanuel, God-with-us! 2

3 Liturgical Schedule (Intentions) Sat. Dec. 9 5:00 Maureen Brands by Al Brands Sun. Dec. 10 8:00 Parishioners of St. Michael Sun. Dec :00 John Keyser by Medra Keyser Sun. Dec :00 Anna Maria Bader by Linda Bader Mon. Dec. 11 8:30 Don Winslow by St. Michael Visitation Ministry Tues. Dec. 12 6:00 Col. Bill Larrabee by Rita Larrabee Wed. Dec. 13 8:30 Margarita Matagoldi by the family Thurs. Dec. 14 8:30 Pearl Cooper by Don & Peggy Cooper Fri. Dec. 15 8:30 Anna C. Mancini by Jerry & Marcia Grubesky Sat. Dec. 16 5:00 Margaret Sabadie by Patrick & Suzy Sabadie Sun. Dec. 17 8:00 Parishioners of St. Michael Sun. Dec :00 Jim Kehler by Marie Kehler Sun. Dec :00 Stacey Oppert by Joe & Joan Raineri Please pray for the sick and all requests in our Prayer Request Book. The SECOND COLLECTON today is for the Support of the Retired Religious. Please do not leave any novenas, prayer cards, pamphlets, books, etc. in the church unless you have been given permission. Thank you. Daily Readings TODAY S READINGS First Reading The rugged land shall be made a plain; the rough country, a broad valley (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11). Psalm Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation (Psalm 85). Second Reading Conduct yourselves in holiness, hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:8-14). Gospel I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:1-8). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from the Common of The Blessed Virgin Mary, nos Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Second Sunday of Advent; International Human Rights Day St. Damasus I Our Lady of Guadalupe; Hanukkah begins at sunset Wednesday: St. Lucy Thursday: St. John of the Cross Saturday: Las Posadas begins ` ` 3

4 Coming Events ST. MICHAEL MENS CLUB ANNUAL RETREAT St. Michael s Men s Club is sponsoring its annual retreat for all men of the parish at Marywood Retreat Center for Spirituality and Ministry in St. Johns, FL. The retreat is from 5:00 pm on Friday, January 19, 2018 to Sunday at 12:00 noon on Sunday, January 21, Cost is $ for room and meals. In the event someone cannot afford the fee, discreet funding is available. Please contact Charlie Sciarini: or csciarini@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a room. THE ADVENT WREATH Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. Ministry & Organization News and Announcements ADVENT/CHRISTMAS TAIZE PRAYER SERVICE The St. Michael Taize ensemble invites you to attend a 40 minute musical service which includes simple chants sung repeatedly, a time of blessed silence and reflection, a scripture reading and prayers of praise and intercessions. Amidst the rush to prepare for Christmas, don t forget to prepare your heart for the birth of Jesus, the true gift and spirit of Christmas. Please join us and bring a friend on Monday, December 18th at 7:00pm at St. Michael Catholic Church on 4th St. & Broome. All are welcome! ST. MICHAEL WOMEN S GUILD The December meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 11th in the Parish Hall. Fellowship and light appetizers begin at 6:30 pm. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a Purple Elephant event with all proceeds going to our Diocese Seminarians and Women Religious. The Guild welcomes all women of the parish, including seasonal residents. THANK YOU The Women's Guild wishes to thank parishioners for their support of the Angel Tree. All 437 gift tags were fulfilled as a result of your most generous giving. Working with area agencies; many families, children, and elderly will be remembered this Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead. WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST RCIA CATECHUMEN & CANDIDATES! On Sunday, Dec. 3rd, at the 10am Mass, we welcomed our catechumen (unbaptized), Jamie Valiani, and accepted our candidates (baptized), Bonnie & Michael Gero, Andrea Londono, and Suzanne Morse. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to grow in knowledge in the Catholic faith in preparation to receive the Easter Sacraments.

5 Financial Update Sunday, December 3, 2017 Registered Families 1650 Offertory $ 17, On Line Giving $ 1, Children s Collection $ Debt Reduction $ 1, On Line Debt Reduction $ Q4 DEBT AND REPAYMENT AMOUNT (As of June 30, 2017) Existing Debt/Notes Payable $1,663, th Quarter Repayment $-181, (From Debt Reduction Donations) ===================================== Remaining Debt $1,481, Saturday, December 9, 2017 Sunday, December, 10, 2017 Ministry Schedule 5:00 pm Mass Stoffel Tonti s Brooke, Fillion, Laurent, Lucey, Sheppard, Walker, Walters Herbert, Lucey, Smith Polese Lunt, Moore Eby, Dean, Gosnell s, Harbin, Kreger, McGowan Tolg, White Light Martin, Schweitzer Fuller, Gosa, Izzo, Maddox, Potochnik, Seabrooke, Svela Logsdon, Von Mohr s Ushsrs 12:00 Mass Oden Clark, Kebert Deacon Art, Amos, Bratton, Mason, Pitts, Sciarini, Tasso Kebert, Sellers, Smith Saturday, December 16, :00 pm Mass Loveless Karr, Wagner Alexander, Biagini, Sellers Sunday, December 17, 2017 Hill Young s Dalton, Pulsinelli Freeman Overholtzer, Oliver Thompson/Davoli family 12:00 Mass Maliauki Miller s Contact Walt Edwards today in the Parish Office at (904) Arato, Balsamo, Evatt 5

6 OUR PARISH IN ACTION ADVENT A TIME OF PREPARATION CARING AND SHARING RELIGIOUS FORMATION DINNER 6

7 Pastor Fr. Jose Kallukalam Deacon Deacon Art Treadwell Parish Directory Parish Pastoral Council Mr. Jake Gosa, Chairman Parish Finance Council Mr. Jan Smith, Chairman Parish Staff Jeanne Dean, Secretary Lori Kennedy, Director Religious Formation Walt Edwards, Business Manager Patty O Neill, Bookkeeper Denise Ziegler, Director of Music Parish Office Hours Monday 12noon 4pm Tuesday Friday 9am 4pm Parish Phone (904) Emergency Phone (904) Parish Fax (904) Parish Website Address Religious Formation Adults Sunday 9am 9:45am - Parish Hall 1st Grade 7th Grade 9:am 9:45am St. Michael Academy Children s Liturgy of he Word 3 year olds 7 year olds during 10am Mass St. Michael Academy Dr. Chris Hampton, Principal Academy Phone (904) Academy Website Address Parish Information Would You Like to Join St. Michael Parish? To join St. Michael Catholic Church and to register your address, to receive parish information and updates, please chose one of the following: Via lkennedy@stmichaelscatholic.com Register Online By Phone - (904) In Person Broome Street., Fernandina Beach, FL Ministry to Sick & Homebound Please contact the Parish Office by or by phone to arrange a visit from a Priest or Extraordinary Minister. Baptism Please contact the Parish Office by phone to arrange for a Baptism and requirements. Matrimony Couples seeking information on marriage preparation and available date should contact the Parish Office by or by phone to meet with a priest at least eight months prior to the wedding date. R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Persons interested in learning more about the Catholic faith are encouraged to contact the Parish Office by or by phone for more information on our RCIA process. Religious Formation Persons interested in Adult, Youth or Young Adult formation programs should contact the Director of Religious Formation by phone or at lkennedy@stmichaelscatholic.com. 7