Sacraments and Rosaries

Transcription

1 PrePare the Way of the Lord. Mark 1:3 Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017 Divine Mercy Catholic Church 2231 Club Center Drive, Sacramento, CA Tel: (916) PASTOR Rev. Soane Kaniseli Deacon Rick Morales Deacon James Ogbonna Contents Page A Word From 2 Pray without Ceasing 3 Mark Your Calendars 4 Giving is Worship 5 Welcome 6-7 Children s Ministries 8 Adult Ministries 9-11 Advertisers 12 Full transcripts on A Word From, pg. 2 can be found at: order-of-mass Advent Penance Service Tuesday, December 12th, 6:30 pm Sacraments and Rosaries Sacrament of Penance Saturday 3:45-4:45 PM By Appointment Call the Parish Ofc Sacrament of Baptism Every 3 rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM or within the Mass (in some special cases to be determined by the Pastor). Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 2 months before the Baptism day. Sacrament of Matrimony Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 6 months before the wedding day. Anointing of the Sick Please call the Parish Office. Rosary English: 30 mins before every Mass Spanish: Thursdays at 7:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy Immediately after every Mass Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil Mass Sunday Mass 5:00 PM 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 12:30 PM Youth Mass 5:00 PM Every 1 st Sunday of the Month followed by Eucharistic Adoration Spanish Mass Every 2 nd Sunday of the Month Filipino Mass Every 3 rd Sunday of the month Tongan Mass Every 4 th Sunday of the Month 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 2:30 PM WEEKDAY MASSES Mon - Wed - Fri 6:30 PM Tue - Thur - Sat 8:30 AM Every Friday Holy Hour 3-4 PM (Blessed Sacrament Exposed) First Friday Morning Mass 8:30 AM Exposition* 9:00 AM Benediction 5:45 PM Evening Mass 6:30 PM *Hourly Adorers needed during Exposition MISSION STATEMENT ~ To establish a faith-filled community bonded by love. To proclaim the good news, foster personal encounters with the living Christ and strengthen the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and service to all.

2 Page 2 We, too, are called upon to prepare a way for the Lord. First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 Isaiah tells the people to prepare a way for the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9-14 The Lord s salvation is near. The Second Sunday of Advent Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14 Peter teaches that we must always be holy because the return of the Lord cannot be predicted. Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist preached repentance and baptized the people, in preparation for the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. A Word From... Background on the Gospel Reading: Today s Gospel is taken from the beginning of Mark. Unlike Luke and Matthew, Mark does not include any details of Jesus birth. Instead Mark begins with the appearance of John the Baptist in the desert. On this the Second Sunday of Advent, we are invited to reflect upon the role of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and the salvation that he would bring to us. Mark s description of the appearance of John the Baptist highlights John s continuity with the Jewish prophetic tradition. Mark combines quotations from the Old Testament books of Malachi, Isaiah, and Exodus. Mark s description of John as an ascetic, living in the desert, clothed in camel hair, and eating locusts and wild honey, is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah found in Second Kings. The people of Judea and Jerusalem flock to him, listening to his message of repentance and forgiveness; they also come to him to be baptized. Mark s Gospel is clear, however, that John the Baptist s role is only to prepare the way for another who will come, one who is greater than John. Many scholars believe that the Gospels reflect the tension that likely existed between followers of John the Baptist and disciples of Jesus. Each of the four Evangelists report on John s preaching and baptizing, and they each emphasize the importance of Jesus baptism by John. The four Gospels also explain that John was sent to preach in preparation for another. In the Gospel of Luke, the question is raised as to whether John the Baptist was himself the Messiah. Just as in today s Gospel, however, John speaks quite explicitly that the Messiah was to come after him. In today s Gospel we hear John the Baptist contrast his baptism of repentance with the baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. John says that he has baptized with water, but that the one who is to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John s baptism was not yet a Christian baptism, but a preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism through which sins are forgiven and the gift of the Holy Spirit is received. John the Baptist is presented to us as a model during Advent. We, too, are called upon to prepare a way for the Lord. Like John the Baptist, we are messengers in service to one who is greater than we are. Our Baptism commissions us to call others to life as disciples of Jesus. + The Beauty of the Mass: A Walk Through The Worship of God. The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers Produced by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the full body of bishops at their June 2001 General Meeting. The text is authorized for publication by the undersigned: Monsignor William P. Fay; General Secretary, USCCB Introduction The Lord Jesus, on the night before he suffered on the cross, shared one last meal with his disciples. During this meal our Savior instituted the sacrament of his Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages and to entrust to the Church his Spouse a memorial of his death and resurrection. As the Gospel of Matthew tells us: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25) Recalling these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.... For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (Jn 6:51-55). The whole Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist. This presence of Christ in the Eucharist is called "real" not to exclude other types of his presence as if they could not be understood as real (cf. Catechism, no. 1374). The risen Christ is present to his Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of his Body and Blood. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine? How does this happen? The presence of the risen Christ in the Eucharist is an inexhaustible mystery that the Church can never fully explain in words. We must remember that the triune God is the creator of all that exists and has the power to do more than we can possibly imagine. As St. Ambrose said: "If the word of the Lord Jesus is so powerful as to bring into existence things which were not, then a fortiorithose things which already exist can be changed into something else" ( De Sacramentis, IV, 5-16). God created the world in order to share his life with persons who are not God. This great plan of salvation reveals a wisdom that surpasses our understanding. But we are not left in ignorance: for out of his love for us, God reveals his truth to us in ways that we can understand through the gift of faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We are thus enabled to understand at least in some measure what would otherwise remain unknown to us, though we can never completely compreh e n d t h e m y s t e r y o f G o d. As successors of the Apostles and teachers of the Church, the bishops have the duty to hand on what God has revealed to us and to encourage all members of the Church to deepen their understanding of the mystery and gift of the Eucharist. In order to foster such a deepening of faith, we have prepared this text to respond to fifteen questions that commonly arise with regard to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We offer this text to pastors and religious educators to assist them in their teaching responsibilities. We recognize that some of these questions involve rather complex theological ideas. It is our hope, however, that study and discussion of the text will aid many of the Catholic faithful in our country to enrich their understanding of this mystery of the faith. Next week: Question 1 and 2...

3 Page 3 Pray without ceasing-...i Thessalonians 5:17 Each Sunday, a family, couple, or individual is called forward at Mass to receive the vocation cross and a special prayer written to accompany it. In taking the cross, they commit themselves to pray during the week for an increase in holy vocations, and the gift of our priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons. All are invited to participate. Please pray for all the Sacramento Diocese Priests. To see who has signed up and to those who have not signed up yet; please stop by and check out our SIGN - UP CORNER at the Narthex counter top. Is God inviting You to Pray for the Vocations? Prayers of the Faithful Second Sunday of Advent, December 10, 2017 With confidence in the God who always hears us, let us offer our prayers and petitions to the Father. That the Church may grow in grace through this season of Advent as we prepare to greet the Lord Jesus when he returns. For the priests serving in the Diocese of Sacramento, that after having served others they will find time to prepare their own hearts for the coming of the Lord. For all those called to the priesthood or consecrated life in the Diocese of Sacramento that they will experience a deep peace concerning their call this Advent Season. That leaders of nations may work together to attain peace with justice in our world. That we may prepare for the new heaven and new earth by fostering respect and protection for all human life, including the unborn. That the sick, the lonely, and the depressed may find strength and hope in the love that God has for his wounded children. That those who have died may find the fulfillment of their hope and rejoice eternally in heaven. SAINTS AND READINGS OF THE WEEK Sunday, Dec 10 Pope Saint Gregory III IS 40:1-5, 9-11; PS 85: , 13-14; 2 PT 3:8-14; LK 3:4, 6; MK 1:1-8 Monday, Dec 11 Pope Saint Damasus I IS 35:1-10; PS 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14; LK 5:17-26; Tuesday, Dec 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe ZEC 2:14-17 or RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB; JUDITH 13:18BCDE, 19; LK 1:26-38 or LK 1:39-47 Wed, Dec 13 St. Lucy IS 40:25-31; PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 AND 10; MT 11:28-30; Thursday, Dec 14 St. John of the Cross IS 41:13-20; PS 145:1 AND 9, 10-11, 12-13AB; SEE IS 45:8; MT 11:11-15 Friday, Dec 15 St. Mary Di Rosa IS 48:17-19; PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6; MT 11:16-19 Saturday, Dec 16 St. Ado of Vienne SIR 48:1-4, 9-11; PS 80:2AC AND 3B, 15-16, 18-19; LK 3:4, 6; MT 17:9A, Remembering the Military in Prayer Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen PO2 Stephen J Ramirez, U.S. Navy SN Samantha Chaidez, U.S. Navy SFC. Bryan J. Lowney, U.S. Army Jacob Valdes, U.S. Navy PFC Jose Benjamin Robledo, U.S Army TSTT Jesse R. Bose, U.S. Air Force LCpl Alex Penick US Marines Deven Aguiar-Frank, US Air Force

4 Page 4 MASS INTENTIONS Mark Your Calendars WEEK AT A GLANCE Sunday, Dec 10 7:30 am Bernice Ponce De Leon (Spc Intention) Fr Soane Louis Dias & Family (Thanksgiving) 9:30 am Cecile White (Thanksgiving) Fr Soane Dominic & Graciela Ugarte + 12:30 pm Stephen VonSchoech + Fr Michael 3:00 pm TONGAN MASS AT SEASIDE MONTEREY Fr Soane 5:00 pm SPANISH MASS Fr Michael Alberto Manzo + Esperanza Flores + Monday, Dec 11 8:30 am Rogelio & Daisy Varamilla (Spc Int) Fr Soane Angel Escarcha (Spc Int) Brenda Harris (Birthday/Thanksgiving) 6:30 pm SPANISH MASS FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Fr Michael Angelina Hurtado + Florencio Recendiz + Tuesday, Dec 12 8:30 am Dominic Pham Chi Hung + Fr Soane Rose Dallas Judd + 6:30 pm PENANCE SERVICE (Fr Soane + 5 addtl Priests) Wednesday, Dec 13 6:30 pm Mariano Salvador (Special Intention) Fr Soane Macaria Salvador (Special Intention) Thursday, Dec 14 8:30 am Dominic Pham Van Huan + Fr Soane Ray Schmilski + Friday, Dec 15 7:00 pm MASS-SIMBANG GABI BISHOP MYRON COTTA/Fr Soane David Lopez + Saturday, Dec 16 8:30 am Maria Pham Thi Nga + Fr Soane Norma Macapagal + 5:00 pm Jose Villanueva + Fr Michael Roger Cruz + Ester Whyte (84th Birthday) 7:00 pm MASS-SIMBANG GABI Fr Soane Sunday, Dec 17 7:30 am Helen Romero Vargas + Fr Soane Losenara Family (Thanksgiving) 9:30 am Angel Escarcha (Special Intention) Fr Soane 12:30 pm Fr Soane 7:00 pm MASS-SIMBANG GABI Sunday, Dec 10 9:00 am (P7 & 8) RCIA I Class by Michael Anway 9:30 am (Narthex) HC Learning Center Fundraising 10:00 am (Rectory) RCIA II 10:30 am (Narthex) CFF Class 2:00 pm (P5 Welcome Women s Team 1 Meeting 6:00 pm (P8) WELCOME Men's Team 1 6:30 pm (Narthex) Welcome Brotherhood Meeting by Monday, Dec 11 5:30 pm (Narthex and all Portables) CFF Class 7:30 pm (Narthex) Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Fellowship 7:30 pm (P4) Galatians Bible Study Tuesday, Dec 12 9:00 am (P1,2) Catechist of the Good Shepherd 9:30 am (Narthex) Ephesians 10:00 am (P9) Inner Prayer Group (SHDMDM) 3:30 pm (P1,2) Catechist of the Good Shepherd 6:00 pm (P1) Youth Ministry Rosary Walk Committee Meeting 6:30 pm (Narthex) Our Lady of Guadalupe Meeting 7:00 pm (P9) Youth Leadership Meeting Wednesday, Dec 13 10:00 am (P9) SHDMDM Divine Mercy Cenacle 4:00 pm (Church) Our Lady of Fatima Procession/Rosary 5:30 pm (P1 & P2) CFF Choir Practice Thurs, Dec 14 9:00 am (Narthex) Altar Society - Flower Arrangement 5:00 pm (P3) Legion of Mary 6:00 pm (Church) Altar Society to decorate 7:00 pm Spanish Rosary (Church or P1) 7:30 pm (P9) Beloved Young Adult Ministry Meeting 7:30 pm (P7/8) Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Friday, Dec 15 3:00 pm (Church) Holy Hour 4:00 pm (P3) Altar Server Ministry Meeting 7:00 pm (P7/8) Bible Timeline Course by Jeff Cavins Saturday, Dec 16 9:00 am (Church Lobby) Angels of Mercy Gift Distribution 9:00 am (Narthex) Grief Support Meeting 10:00am (Church) Baptism 3:45 pm (Church) Confession

5 Page 5 Giving is Worship SHARING OUR TREASURE Fiscal Year July June 2018 Week ending December 3, 2017 OFFERTORY REQUIREMENTS (July June 2018) Average 5 week Month Requirement $ 75,000 Weekly Average Requirements $ 15,000 Week of: 3-Dec wk 1 $ 22,868 Week of: 10-Dec wk 2 $ - Week of: 17-Dec wk 3 $ - Week of: 24-Dec wk 4 $ - Week of: 31-Dec wk 5 $ - Total Collections This Month $ 22,868 Monthly Shortage (x,xxx) or Surplus $ (52,132) CHURCH MORTGAGE Mortgage Loan Balance 11/30/2017 $ 2,602,731 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH This Week: Attendance at our weekend Masses was 1, families gave 76.7% of our Weekend Offertory We are thankful to the 169 families that gave sacrificial gifts totaling $12,818 for our Mortgage Reduction collection. God Bless You. 30 Families Registered This Week! Have your gift recorded by using envelopes. We will provide you with a record of your tax-deductible donations every year. Don t have envelopes? Call Parish office to request it s easy! This weekend s offering includes giving for the Christmas Season s Christmas Flowers and The Retirement Fund for Religious which helps religious communities care for senior members today and tomorrow. Please place your envelopes for both offerings in the first offertory basket. There will be no second collection. DIVINE MERCY PARISH, OUR CHURCH, OUR HOME Challenge #1 Recommendation: Every Parish family increase their offertory donation by at least $5 per week. Please help your Parish home pay its expenses. PLANNING FOR YEAR END GIVING IRS (US Internal Revenue Service) and Divine Mercy A Message from your Finance Council As December 31, 2017 approaches, we would like to remind you that additional tax deductible contributions to Divine Mercy can be made. Acting now, before December 31, 2017, will insure that your additional contributions will appear on your 2017 Contribution Summary for your income tax preparations. With the improving economy, this is a way you can reduce your tax liability and help in our plan to continue to improve the financial health of our church. We would appreciate any gifts or additional donations you make be directed to reducing our Mortgage. You may donate through our church On Line Giving Module, any regular offertory collection, or by dropping it at the church office. If you choose to donate by check, please put a notation in the memo space on the front of your check designating Mortgage Reduction or Building Fund. All checks should be made out to Divine Mercy Catholic Church. If you choose to make a one-time donation by way of "On Line Giving", please use fund (30661), 3rd Capital Campaign Donations. All donations, by check or cash, need to be received in the church office no later than the close of business on Thursday December 28, Our last bank deposit of 2017 will take place early on Friday December 29th. Remember, you can also place your donation in the weekend collection baskets. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

6 Page 6 Women s Welcome Team One Women s Welcome Team One The Women s Welcome Retreat for Team One took place November 4th and 5th with 24 women from the Parish attending. They were hosted by 12 women (Women s Team Zero) who were chosen by Father Soane, and then trained for six and one half months in formation to get ready to host this first Women s Welcome Retreat. It was truly a Spirit filled weekend. In many cases the attendees enjoyed a life changing experience, which most will never forget. Many of the Women s Retreatants are now in the discernment and formation process, determining the go forward path for hosting the next planned Women s Retreat for Team Two in May of The Holy Spirit was definitely there, in us and all around us..some of our women had plenty experiences they wanted to share... I attended the Welcome Retreat because deep inside of me I wanted to deepen my faith and to improve my relationship with God. I was asking for enlightenment and guidance. Since the Retreat I have experienced quite a few encounters with God. -Anonymous It was an amazing and fantastic experience! I met new friends, learned new things, got deeply inspired but more importantly, it really strengthened my faith in God. I loved it and I hope that when you get an invitation to attend the next Retreat (May 2018) that you will answer the CALL! -Cora Espanol Refreshing reflection within ones self! - Tess Mostajo I expected a Renewal Retreat. A renewal for my self. The best feeling I had regarding the Retreat is that it humbles me to accept that there s nothing wrong in being broken; that though there are experiences in my life that hurt me, some times left me felling guilty, it is only by finally surrendering to God completely that I can be healed. At the Retreat God was telling me that by trusting in Him, He will direct my life and will make things known to me that will make me happy; and to surrender myself to Him so that I may be able to see clearly what I can do to better myself and how I can shine my light to others in service to the Lord. -Anonymous What I experienced was a transformation of my spirit, a new me re-created, by the grace of God, forever. If you want to learn more about your self...if you want an opportunity to come out of that self and find out where you fit in this beautiful tapestry of God s love and all of this beautiful life. Come Join a Welcome Retreat!

7 Men s Welcome Team One Men s Welcome Team One Page 7 Do you sense something's missing in your life? Do you feel that if you weren't so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled, and maybe even a better person? Come to the next Men's Welcome Retreat! It's an incredible experience that will help you discover what's missing in your life and what to do about it! The Men s Welcome Team One Presents A Special Opportunity For Men Sign Up for the Second Men s Welcome Retreat at the table in the back of the Church. January 20th thru the 21st 8:00 am Saturday-4:00 pm Sunday At the Divine Mercy Parish Campus Portables For more information please contact Stan Zezotarski at or

8 Page 8 Children Ministries: Let the little Children come to me Matthew 19: 14 CFF News A message from: + Luz Manrique, Director of Religious Education If you came to Mass at Divine Mercy Church last weekend, you must have heard the announcement about how our church is in dire need of financial help. The information is also in last weekend s bulletin. Among the church s challenges is the portable building. I hope and pray that you, our CFF FAMILIES, will find in your hearts the desire and commitment to help since it s our children who use the portable building regularly. The portables need roof repairs, floor bracing, and bathroom permitting with an estimated cost of $10,000-$12,000. Plus, according to the Sacramento County the portable building will have to go by 2025! We must take action now. PLEASE, TOGETHER LET US DO EVEN ONLY ONE OF THE SHORT- TERM SOLUTIONS REQUESTED OF US: FOR EACH FAMILY TO IN- CREASE MASS OFFEROTORY BY AT LEAST $5.00 PER WEEK. Thank you and God Bless you. The Greatest in the Kingdom Mark 9:36-37 Then Jesus had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me. CFF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES December 17/18 CFF Children s last day of class for 2017 / Christmas Class Party December 21 Deadline for K of C Coat & Blanket Drive December 24 CFF Children s Singing Christmas Tree and Christmas Pageant at 4:30 p.m. and Christmas Mass at 5:00 p.m. January 7/8: - CFF class resumes Divine Mercy Catholic Church Welcomed in Baptism in November 2017 Daniella Nicole Walters as the latest little one to the Family of God! Angels of Mercy Gifts with ornaments attached from our Christmas giving tree are due this weekend. If you have not returned them yet, please do so as soon as possible. Contact Marcia Pesek with questions. May God bless your giving hearts! Altar Server Ministry Meeting & Christmas Party will be held on Friday, December 15, 2017 from 4:00-5:30 PM in P3. Families may bring pizza, pasta, veggies or desserts to share. Option to participate in the gift exchange by bringing a wrapped gift ($5 limit). Servers are needed for all of the masses on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Simbang Gabi, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve & Solemnity of Mary, New Year's Day. altarserver@divinemercynatomas.c om to be placed on the schedule.

9 Page 9 Adult Classes and Ministries The Feast of Guadalupe Monday, December 11 5:30pm Procession 6:15pm Mañanitas with Valle De Santiago 6:30pm Bilingual Mass Danza azteca after Mass and the Valle De Santiago band afterwards. We will have for you to enjoy for free tamales, pozole, pan dulce, hot chocolate and coffee. Come and join us to celebrate our mother the Virgin of Guadalupe! Say the Rosary every day...pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices to sinners I m Our Lady of the Rosary. Only I will be able to help you. in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph... Our Lady at Fatima Our Lady of Fatima Rosary on December 13th, Wednesday at 4:00 pm inside the church. Percy Singco Soane Kaniseli Contact persons are TESS MOSTAJO and AURING PAGALA Ministry to the Sick and Homebound If you have any Catholic friend or relative who is homebound and sick, please contact the Parish office at for: Communion Anointing Confession Visitation When Jesus saw the large crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them and he cured their sick. Matthew 14:14 Holy Hour Fridays 3:00-4:00 pm Hello Divine Mercy Family!! For the past few years we have collected coats, jackets, blankets, hats, scarves and mittens for the poor. Your generous donations in the past has helped hundreds of people stay warm during the cold season. We Need Your Help Again! Please make sure your donated items are new or gently used, cleaned, and for adults only. We will begin collecting on Nov 19th through Dec. 21. Look for the Coat Collection box in the Narthex. Please contact Jacob Martin at if you have questions. To be added to the Parish s Warrior Prayer Chain lopez-kathleen5341@sbcglobal.net

10 Page 10 Adult Classes and Ministries Christmas and New Year s Masses Sunday, December 24, 2017 The Divine Mercy Pastoral Council would like to THANK everyone who attended the 5th Annual Parish Christmas Party it was a huge success! Thank you for sharing your favorite dishes, conversations, dance moves and donations given to support our parish. Many thanks to all the volunteers, those dedicated people who give selflessly of their time, talent and treasure. THANK YOU all for everything you did to make the night a very special one. 7:30 am, 9:30am, 12:30pm Mass Christmas Eve: 4:30 pm CFF Children s Singing Christmas Tree and Pageant 5:00 pm Vigil Mass (Children s Mass) 10:00 pm Rosary 10:30 pm Christmas Music by the Divine Mercy Choir 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass Christmas Day: Monday, December 25, 2017 Holy Day of Obligation 7:30 am, 9:30 am and 12:30 pm Mass ** NO Evening Mass ** Sunday, December 31, :30 am, 9:30am, 12:30pm Mass 5:00 pm Vigil Mass 11:00 pm Tongan Mass New Year s Day: Monday, January 1, 2018 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Holy Day of Obligation 8:00 am Mass 10:00 am Mass ** NO Evening Mass ** DMCC Adult Choir News Choir Practice on Friday, December 15th and December 22nd are cancelled. Choir Practice will be on the next two Sundays at 10:45 am; December 17th and December 24th. Contact Marcia Pesek at with questions. Financial Peace University Class #2 Starting Thursday, January 25th! As a way to help our parish build a strong financial foundation, Divine Mercy will continue to offer Dave Ramsey s Financial Peace University. Our second class will begin on Thursday, January 24th, 2018 at 7:30 pm. The class will run for 9 weeks and finish just before Easter. Financial Peace University or FPU, is a step by step, personal finance program designed to teach people how to get out of debt, stay out of debt and become great stewards of God s financial blessings. FPU combines biblical principles and common sense budgeting practices. FPU Financial Peace University teaches you about budgeting, saving, giving, retirement, insurance, college planning and more. AT the end of the first class our group saved an additional $27,477 and paid off $19,734 in debt. And they did that in only 9 weeks. 8 families are now on the road to financial well-being. You must be over 18 to attend the course. This course is great for single men and women, couples or those engaged to be married. Please sign up early as the class is limited to 24 people. Enrollment will be limited to Divine Mercy parish until January 7th. After which the course will be open to Natomas community. Info and sign up at: Please contact: Michael Kemper for more information. (916) or mkemper6@gmail.com Thank you and God Bless.

11 Page 11 Adult Classes and Ministries Grief Support Group Our Consolation Ministry offers a monthly Grief Support Group for those who have lost a loved one, no matter how long ago the loss occurred. We meet on the fourth Saturday of every month in the Narthex meeting room, from 9:30 11 a.m. There is no cost to attend. Next meeting: December 16. Note: These regular meetings provide timely information that helps the bereaved person cope with their loss, while discussing the issues they face and listening to others who have also lost a loved one. Privacy is respected. For more information, or if you have questions, please call Ron or Susan Wright at (916) Perhaps Mass seems a bit different these days? Perhaps you ve been away from the Church for a while? Welcome back, we have a short program designed to catch you up and welcome you back to your Catholic home! We want you back with us again! CATHOLICS COME HOME! Please Irene at adultconf@divinemercynatomas.com and express interest in catching up with what the Church has been doing since you left! When there are a couple of people interested, I will set up an introductory meeting. I m interested in responding to any concerns or questions you may have related to the Church. After the first meeting, depending on your interest and need for information, there might be a few more sessions to discuss what is really going on at Mass, how Mass can help you live a Catholic Christian life, How the Sacraments especially Reconciliation and Eucharist - can help you, why the Bible is important to us, What the Creed is useful for and an hour long run through a few highlights from 2,000 years of Church History to catch you up on where we are today! Bring a friend and bring your questions! Hope to get an from you soon. You can also call the Parish Office at (916) and they will pass your message along to me. +Father Soane Kaniseli RCIA will conduct training for any who volunteered or is interested in being a Sponsor for candidates and catechumens who are working to become full brothers and sister with us in the Catholic Faith. Training will be on Saturday, 16 December 2017 from 10:00AM until noon in P-3. For more information or to register contact the Divine Mercy Parish office or contact Richard Hack at rkhack@sbcglobal.net. Divine Mercy will be offering for the first time Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession which provides the Church s teaching about the sacrament of Confession. How every moment of this Sacrament of healing connects to Scripture, Catholic Tradition, and God s passionate desire to be with you. Come and join us for Forgiven in preparation for this Year s Lenten and Easter Season. Sessions will be on Thursday nights 7:00-9:00 beginning 4 January and continue for 8 sessions concluding on 22 February. We plan on meeting in Portable #4, Our Lady of Guadalupe Classroom. Cost is $16.00 for the student workbook or you can bring your own. For more information or to register, contact the Divine Mercy Parish office or contact Richard Hack at rkhack@sbcglobal.net. Divine Mercy is again providing the Great Adventure study of the Acts of the Apostles. This book of the Bible provides us more than a history of the First Christians - it is the story about the Early Church with the Holy Spirit as the protagonist. Christ did not leave His Apostles alone - He sent the Holy Spirit to guide, instruct and equip them. Come and join us for Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom, enrich and deepen your faith as you learn how the Apostles continued Christ s mission on earth through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Classes will be on Monday nights 7:30-9:30 beginning 8 January and continue for 20 sessions working around Easter and Memorial Day weekends. We plan on meeting in Portable #4, Our Lady of Guadalupe Classroom. Cost is $29.00 for the student workbook or you can bring your own. For more information or to register, contact the Divine Mercy Parish office or contact Richard Hack at rkhack@sbcglobal.net. ADORATION The Church is open for prayer during Parish office Hours. Visit the office for access. M-F 9:00-4:00 Confession: Available on Saturdays, 3:45-4:45 or by appointment. Call to make an appointment.

12 Please patronize the Advertisers who appear in the Bulletin. It is through their support the bulletin continues to be possible. Any business owner interested in advertising space, please call the parish office at