Third Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 December 17, 2017 Page 1 Third Sunday of Advent T h i s We e k ' s Mass Intentions 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM Sunday, December 17, 2017 George & Ann Papandrea Anthony Messina (Loving Parents) Josephine Macagnone (Loving Children) Anthony Muscarella (Georgia & Jack Muscarella) For The Parishioners Msgr. Joseph A. Martusciello (Jo-Ann & Phyllis Leccese) Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Gary Carnivale (Cousin) Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Attanasio DiLorenzo (Angela Popolizio) Thursday, December 21, 2017 St. Peter Canisius Ernesto Jocson (Dr. Aida Jocson) Friday, December 22, 2017 Leccese-Salierno Fam. (Jo-Ann & Phyllis Leccese) Saturday, December 23, 2017 St. John of Kanty Guglielmina Cecere (Rosa DeSimone) Lorraine Jones (James Jimmy Claro) Dawnmarie Truncale-Carbone (Patty & Kevin Harold) 5:00PM Betty Cohen, Patrick Connelly, Josephine DeMarie, Madeline Kolb, Carmela Scotto Sunday, December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM 12:00AM New Families: All are welcome to St. Helen Parish, and are asked to please register at the Rectory during office hours. Sacrament of Baptism: Please call the Rectory to register for thendbaptismth of your child. Baptisms will be held on the 2 and 4 Sunday of the month (no Baptisms during Lent). Sacrament of Confession: Saturdays 12:30PM to 1:30PM. Weekdays: 15 minutes prior to the Mass. Sacrament of Marriage: Couples should contact the Rectory at least one year in advance of the desired date. Please call for an appointment for the initial interview. Communion Calls: Please call the Rectory to arrange for one of the priests to bring Holy Communion to a sick person who is confined to home due to a serious illness. Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: Anyone who expects to be hospitalized (or in an emergency) and wishes the Anointing of the Sick, should call the Rectory. Edward & Angelina Weltick (Loving Family) Mary Corrigan (Karla, Javier & Angelina) Christine Salegna (Mom & Dad) Phyllis Miranti (Loving Family) For The Parishioners Midnight Mass For The Parishioners The Order of Franciscans Secular meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month in St. Helen s Rectory after the 9AM Mass. Come and learn more about the Franciscan way of life. Rosary for Peace New Place, New Time The Rosary for Peace, sponsored by the Saint Helen Secular Franciscan Fraternity, takes place in the Church at 6:30PM every Wednesday. The group prays for our Blessed Mother s intercession to end violence (both domestic and civil) and the persecution of Christians throughout the world. All parishioners are invited to join us. We welcome anyone willing to lead a decade of the Rosary in a language other than English. The Altar Bread & Wine for this week are donated in memory of Mary Fodera, requested by Arline Rabito & Diane Sama. St. Helen s Purgatorial Society Mass Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Marge D Auria, Mary Ann D Angelo, Baby Christopher Brian Demmerle, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Richard H. Dimler, Mary Divers, Jean Fochetta, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Maria Hernandez, Elizabeth Isolano, Christine Iwanicki, Keri & Baby Tristan, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Cindy Maione, Angela Ottomanelli-Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Sebastian Panasci, Santo Pantina, Joseph Questore, Mary Romano, Bill Sangirardi, John Secreti, Patrick Smith, Remington Stafford, Michael Tamburo, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Sr. Mariet Varban, Sr. Joanne Walters. Deceased: James Pizzo, Christine Titone All parishioners have the opportunity to enroll the names of loved ones in the Purgatorial Society. The Purgatorial Society Mass will be held on the last Friday of each month. The offering to be enrolled in the Purgatorial Society is $120 per name (a total of 12 Masses for one year will be said for your loved one). Aside from listing one name, a husband and wife together, or a family name is also acceptable. Having a Purgatorial Society is wonderful way of living out the Scriptures and will be a relief for those who desire to have their loved ones remembered with prayers all year long at God s Altar. Please stop in at the Rectory if you are interested in having a loved one enrolled in the Purgatorial Society. The next Purgatorial Society Mass will be held Friday, December 29, W naszej parafii ks. Łukasz może również służyć pomocą w języku polskim.

2 December 17, 2017 Page 2 Christmas Schedule Sacrament of Penance (Confession) 5:00PM 8:00PM Sunday, December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve The Church will celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent at all the morning Masses, including the 12:30PM Mass. 5:00PM: Vigil Mass For Christmas 11:15PM: Carols 12:00AM: Midnight Mass Monday, December 25, 2017 Christmas Day 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM & 12:30PM No 5:00PM Mass Sunday, December 31, 2017 New Year s Eve 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM, 12:30PM & 5:00PM Monday, January 1, 2018 New Year s Day Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God 9:30AM, 11:00AM & 5:00PM The Rectory Office will be closed: Monday, December 25, 2017 & Monday, January 1, 2018

3 December 17, 2017 Page 3 CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HOWARD BEACH SENIOR CENTER The Center is located at Cross Bay Blvd., across from Stop N Shop on Cross Bay Blvd. Seniors aged 60 and older are invited to become members. Activities and services are offered Monday-Friday from to 4:00PM. Every day delicious and nutritious full, hot lunches are catered by Russo s on the Bay ($2 donation requested). Mondays 9:30-10:30AM: Mondays 10:45-11:45AM: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30AM: Wednesdays 10:00-11:00AM: Thursdays 9:30-10:30AM: Fridays 9:30-10:30AM: Fridays 10:30-11:30AM: Tai Chi with Elaine Fleischman Chair Aerobics with Charlie Roemer Movement Exercise with Millie Zumba with Elaine Movement Exercise with Millie Cardio Exercise with Dwayne Yoga with Charlie Roemer The Center will be conducting a Basic Beginner Computer Class from January 8 March 14 from 1:00-2:15PM. The class will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays for 10 weeks. If you know nothing about computers, this is the class for you! The Center will also be presenting a Beyond Basics Computer Class from January 8 March 14 from 2:30-3:45PM on Mondays and Wednesdays. There will be a variety of topics as well as social networking, online shopping. For further information, contact Rosalie at Policies Regarding Infant Baptism at St. Helen Parish Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live within the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to register as members of the parish before requesting an initial interview for Baptism. Registration is easily done at the parish office anytime during business hours. Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live outside the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to obtain a letter from the parish in which they live authorizing the Baptism to take place at St. Helen. Initial meetings with parents seeking Baptism for their children will normally take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00 9:00PM and on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30AM 12:30PM. JANUARY, 2018 Mornings of Preparation Required Before a Baptism: (All begin at the 11:00AM Mass and continue in the Msgr. McGinness Room) January 14 & 28 Schedule for Baptisms: (All begin at 2:00PM) January 14 & 28 Please call for more information and/or to schedule an appointment The Ozone Park Senior Center, located at st Ave., will be hosting Christmas Dinner on December 25th from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Music and dancing will also be provided. Everyone is welcome, and why not bring a friend! For more information please call (718) 847- My name is Joseph Magliulo, a parishioner and Life Scout in Troop 139. I am currently working on my Eagle Scout Project. I will be collecting new or gently used shoes to donate to Soles4Souls. Your shoes will give new hope in 127 countries around the world. I will be collecting shoes the weekend of January 6 & 7. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

4 December 17, 2017 Page 4 A Polish Christmas Tradition By Father Lukasz Kubiak Opłatki are thin square wafers, similar to the bread used for hosts at Mass, but not consecrated. This tradition comes from Eastern Europe, around the area of Poland. The wafers may be embossed with a Christmas manger scene. Ideally, opłatki are used at the main meal eaten on Christmas Eve. By tradition, the table in the home is set with some straw under the tablecloth to represent the straw in the manger. Children look out for the first star that appears around dusk. This signals the beginning of the Christmas Eve meal. All the members of the family gather around the table. The head of the household may say a prayer of blessing. Then, this person begins to distribute the wafer by breaking off a small piece for him/herself. This person offers the remainder of the wafer to the next person, who in turn breaks off his/her piece and shares with the next person. Alternately, it may be divided in another way. The first person may offer the wafer to the second person, who holds it while the first person breaks off his or her piece. The second person then gives it to the third person who holds it while the second breaks off a piece. The wafer becomes increasingly smaller as it is passed around the table and each person present takes a small piece. After all present have received a piece of the wafer, a short prayer may be said reminding all of the Incarnation. Then, everyone eats their pieces. When this is done, the meal itself begins. The wafer is of the same consistency as the bread used to make hosts for Mass. This is no coincidence. Rather, the opłatki reminds one of the Mass and the bread which will become the Body of Christ. The family around the table is reminded of the community around the altar, the table of the Lord. As we sit for a common meal, so we are reminded that Jesus gave us the Sacrament of the Eucharist to be food for our souls, the bread from heaven. And the sharing of the one wafer calls to mind unity and reconciliation. It is not unlike the sharing of the sign of peace at Mass. The breaking of the wafer also calls to mind the breaking of the consecrated Host by the priest right before Communion.

5 December 17, 2017 Page 5 Homiletic starters and scriptural reflection points for each day of the month Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-19; Mt 1:18-25 We have begun the O Antiphons, the seven-day novena, if you will, that closes the Advent season; I conclude the Daily Bread each day this week with its the appointed antiphon. Today we see things from Joseph s point of view. His silence is golden, as his devotion to Mary saves her from the law that would have stoned her for adultery. You know what? It s a love story! Really, the story is so simple and sweet and it continues to inspire. O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: Come to rescue us with your mighty power! Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-17; Lk 1:5-25 After thousands of years, salvation history is finally picking up speed. John the Baptist representing the long-anticipated return of Elijah is on his way! Of course, there are still a few bumps in the road, such as when the angel Gabriel strikes Zechariah dumb for expressing a doubt, one which we d all share: How does a couple in their nineties have a baby? But how many times have I doubted that God could bring life out of my withering sin? Impossible! I say. Shut your mouth! says the Lord. Like Zechariah, I will again be praising the Lord when God s promises are fulfilled. O Root of Jesse s stem, sign of God s love for all people: Come to save us without delay! Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 1:26-38 Mary ever virgin, expresses her uncertainty with this question. But she did have the baby we d been waiting for! We had fun in some astonishing college classes on the Trinity at Boston College, where classmates and the professor unwrapped the depths of the question: Was Jesus a human person? We picked and we picked till we came up with: Yes, Jesus was a human person, but the person who was human was the second person of the Trinity! Mary knew that person, that holy child, because she was willing to say: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. And, her yes allows us to know him too. O Key of David, opening the gates of God s eternal Kingdom: Come and free the prisoners of darkness! THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT Sg 2:8-14; Ps 33:2-21; Lk 1:39-45 Here it is only four more shopping days until Christmas and Mary is heading for the hills! Any chance we might follow her example? The malls have been doing Christmas for months, but the church moves at its own pace. Advent is a time for reflection, preparation, self-awareness, even if we re already singing carols here and there. I recommend the posadas, our annual nightly visits to the poor in our little town here in Honduras, re-enacting Joseph and Mary s quest for lodging in Bethlehem. We share and sing and pray for an hour or so, a treasured time of peace and quiet. Join us, at least in spirit! O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. Friday, December 22, Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2-8; Lk 1:46-56 A lot of Christmas carols are pretty sentimental. Why aren t there more songs with lyrics provided by the original caroler, the Virgin Mary herself? A cynic might say she s plagiarizing the Song of Hannah (used for the responsorial psalm today). But look closely. Mary is a social justice warrior, yes, but her real theme is mercy, a quality unmentioned in her source. So, sure, I d love to see some fat cats taken down a peg and some humble folks catching a break. But that mercy thing, you see, it s the bottom line. So sing, sing of the Lord who has mercy in every generation. O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: Come and save us, whom you formed from the dust! Saturday, December 23, 2017 Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-14; Lk 1:57-66 Without Luke s Gospel, Christmas would be impossible! Luke seems to think the same thing about John the Baptist. Now, is this a flub? They made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. Zechariah is mute, he s not deaf! But you have to love this story; everyone expects that an only son will receive his father s name, but there s another Father involved. John in Hebrew is Yohanan, that is, Yahweh is gracious. So, this is it: one more hold till Christmas Eve. I feel as tingly as the attendees at John s birth: What, then, will this child be? O Emmanuel, our King and giver of the Law: Come to save us, Lord our God! Thursday, December 21, 2017