Fourth Sunday in Advent December 18, 2016

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1 T hey shall name Him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" No other religion makes such a radical claim. To be Christian is to believe that God is truly with us, in the most personal, intimate way imaginable; He is one of us! What a remarkable reality. T hrough the Incarnation, God became human and lived among us to love us, to guide us, to heal us, and to strengthen us. I n just one week we will celebrate this extraordinary Gift that came to us on the first Christmas Day. All other Christmas gifts pale in comparison to the Gift of Jesus Christ. Fourth Sunday in Advent December 18, 2016 A lthough secular celebrations of Christmas ignore the significance of the holy day, the church gives us Advent to help us keep our focus. I n these weeks of preparation, we stop to remind ourselves what it means to be Catholic, just in case we have begun taking it for granted. We reorient our hearts and minds to recall, once again, the mysterious glory of the Incarnation. W e have been praying during this season of anticipation, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. The real magic of Christmas is that we get exactly what we prayed for! Jesus has come. God has answered our prayers and given us what we truly desire in the depths of our hearts: Himself, Emmanuel, God with us South Green Rd, South Euclid, OH e -mail: office@sacredheartofjesusparish.org Phone: FAX: website:

2 PAGE 2 General Parish Information FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Fr. Dave R. Ireland, STD ~ Pastor Fr. Thomas J. Winkel, M.Div ~ Senior Parochial Vicar Fr. Hubert Stambuli ~ in Residence Deacon David N. Chordas, MA ~ Permanent Deacon Mr. Mark Langley ~ Director of Music ( ) PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Through our Roman Catholic Faith, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is committed to welcoming, engaging, and serving a diverse population in the Heights and Hillcrest areas. Established in 2010 through a merger of St. Margaret Mary and St. Gregory the Great Parishes, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a vibrant center of Catholic worship, education, Faith formation, service, evangelization, and community life. Through these apostolates, we seek to enable our members to establish and nurture a relationship with Jesus Christ and carry forth His mission in the World. MASS SCHEDULE SUNDAY WEEKDAY SATURDAY: 4 P.M. VIGIL M O N D A Y F R I D A Y : SUNDAY: 8, 10, 11:30 A.M., 5 P.M. 6:45 A.M. & 12:10 P.M. SATURDAY: 6:45 A.M. 1ST SATURDAY (MONTHLY): 8 A.M. MASS IN EXTRAORDINARY FORM FOLLOWED BY ROSARY, DEVOTIONS & CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE SOCIETY OF THE SACRED HEART. ALL ARE WELCOME. 1ST SUNDAY (MONTHLY): 5 P.M. MASS IN EXTRAORDINARY FORM HOLY DAY (CONSULT BULLETIN) CONFESSIONS SATURDAY: 2:30-3:30 P.M. (OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT) NEW PARISHIONERS Registration is by appointment or after Sunday Mass. If you are new to our area, or if you have stopped in just to celebrate Mass with us this week we hope you felt welcome. Please come back again or better yet stop by the Parish Office and inquire about becoming a member of our parish. One of our priests will be most happy to talk with you. Parish Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ~ If you require a key for a meeting space, please arrange to obtain the key prior to 5 p.m. Saturday Sunday Office is CLOSED 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bulletin Deadline: Friday, 5:00 p.m. Baptisms: First and third Sundays of each month at 1:00 p.m. Preregistration required. Parents must have completed a diocesan-required Pre-Baptism class. Pre-Baptism classes: offered 4th Sunday of January, April, July and October at 1:00 p.m. in Mary s Room. Preregistration is required. Call the Parish Office. Marriages: Engaged couples should make their arrangements with the priest at least 6 to 12 months in advance of their wedding. Funerals: Contact your funeral director of choice and after meeting with them, ask them to call the Parish Office to arrange date and time. Holy Communion for the Homebound: Please call the Parish Office whenever a family member is seriously ill or hospitalized. Arrangements can be made to bring Holy Communion to the homebound weekly or monthly. Sponsor Requirements: All requests for sponsor certificates must be directed to a priest. Individuals must be registered and practicing members of this parish, at least 16 years of age, and have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. If married, the marriage must have been accepted by the Catholic Church. Parish School: Corpus Christi Academy Principal, Mr. Ken Mitskavich 5655 Mayfield Rd. Lydhurst ( , ext. 102) (Fax: ) principal@corpuschristiacad.org website: PSR Religious Education Classes: Sundays 10 to 11:15 a.m. For Information call the Parish Office ( ) Parish Pastoral Council: Please direct questions or suggestions to: ( ) parishcouncil@sacredheartofjesusparish.org Sts. Margaret and Gregory Credit Union: 1499 Dean Dr, South Euclid , (early: ) FAX Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3 DECEMBER 18, 2016 PAGE 3 FROM THE PASTOR... My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I trust things are going well in your homes as you prepare for Christmas. We are busy getting ready here at church as well. We have a wonderful Christmas planned for the parish. Please note: Confessions will be heard on Monday and Tuesday from 3 until 4 in the afternoon and 7 until 8 in the evening. The 4 o clock Mass on Christmas Eve will be the children s Mass. Children from the parish will be singing in the choir, and some of our little ones, dressed as angels and shepherds, will lead the procession. It should be quite beautiful. Again this year, the Midnight Mass will be celebrated at 10 o clock. Come and see the luminaries lighting the way for Christ and listen to our parish choir present a Chorale Prelude beginning at 9:30. This Christmas Liturgy will be a concelebrated Mass with the priests of the parish, assisted by our parish deacon. Following the Mass there will be a hot cocoa and panettone social for everyone! On Christmas Day we will have Masses only in the morning at 8, 10, and 11:30 a.m. We are honored to have Bishop Pilla celebrating our 10 o clock Mass this year. Please be sure to invite your family members and neighbors who may have been away for one reason or another to join you for the celebration of Christmas. Let us welcome everyone home. Remember, the wise ones still seek Him. Finally, might I ask you to consider being particularly generous to your parish this Christmas? Since the celebration of our Lord s Birth falls on a Sunday, I would also ask you to kindly remember to include both your Sunday donation and your Christmas offering. That would be a wonderful gift to the Christ Child so that His work may continue to flourish. May God s blessings be yours this Advent. Father Ireland Come, Come, Emmanuel Come Emmanuel! Please note... The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, December 23 Saturday, December 24 Sunday, December 25 Monday, December 26 in observation of Christmas Additionally, the Office will be closed Saturday, December 31, Sunday, January 1 and Monday, January 2 in observation of the New Year. OPLATKI ~ CHRISTMAS WAFERS Packages of three (3) Oplatki wafers are available in the parish office for a donation of $3/package. The centuries-old custom of breaking and sharing this Christmas Bread serves as a reminder that Christ is the Unseen Guest in our homes. If this is not your family s tradition, why not begin this practice this year. Each wafer is imprinted with the story of Oplatki, and the packaging tells the story of the ritual associated with the custom of breaking and sharing Christmas Bread. ACADEMY NEWS Parishioners, families, and Friends: Corpus Christi Academy would like to thank our media teacher, Mrs. Bandfield, and the volunteers who helped make the Book Fair a success this past week. Also, we would like to thank our music teacher, Mrs. Mast, for putting in overtime to prepare the students for the music presentation that took place on Tuesday in the Sacred Heart of Jesus gym (Corpus Christi Academy, West Campus). The students have amazing voices and used the gift that God gave them in a beautiful way. Additionally, both Mrs. Davisson and Mrs.Warner helped the Preschool students put on a phenomenal Christmas program on Thursday! What a joyfilled week!! We look forward to the band concert on Monday conducted by our Band teacher, Mr. Trost. Additionally, the faculty and student body at the Academy will be participating in an all-school Advent retreat on Tuesday, December 20. Students will partake in an advent prayer service, partner with their buddy class, and give presentations of their completed class service projects before continuing this prayerful day. God Bless, Ken Mitskavich, Principal BY MR. KEN MITSKAVICH, PRINCIPAL

4 PAGE 4 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT LITURGICAL LITURGICAL MINISTERS ~ DECEMBER 24 & 25 Saturday: Christmas Vigil at 4:00 p.m. (Children s Mass) Servers: L. Rummel Lector: J. Jaros M. Razayeski, A. Mersek, D. Fiorelli Saturday: Christmas Midnight Mass at 10:00 p.m. Servers: TBA Lector: B.J. Kennedy T. Miller, B. & L. Poelking Sunday: Christmas Day at 8:00 a.m. Servers: Adult Servers Lector: M. Guzan M. Weldon Sunday: Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m. Servers: C., L., P. Stergar Lector: H. Gutter M. Chordas, B. Krajnak, P. DeVito Sunday: Christmas Day at 11:30 a.m. Servers: J. Matz, J. McCarron Lector: J. Madigan B. Pugel, B. & A. McCarron Monday, December 19 Late Advent Weekday 6:45 a.m. Kevin Guerrero (L) 12:10 p.m. Earl Brashear (Anniversry) Tuesday, December 20 Late Advent Weekday 6:45 a.m. Luisa Gaudio (L) 12:10 p.m. Bill Brashear Wednesday, December 21 Optional: St. Peter Canisius, Priest/Doctor of the Church 6:45 a.m. Bill Rupp (Anniversary) 12:10 p.m. Gene Lyons & Jean Fischer Thursday, December 22 Late Advent Weekday 6:45 a.m. Carolyn Clark (Anniversary) 12:10 p.m. Michael Thomas Friday, December 23 Optional: St. John of Kanty, Priest 6:45 a.m. William Wolfe (Anniversary) 12:10 p.m. Florence Wank Saturday, December 24 Late Advent Weekday/Vigil of Christmas 6:45 a.m. Parish Office Staff 4:00 p.m. Celebrant s Intention 10:00 p.m. Celebrant s Intention Sunday, December 25 The Nativity of the Lord MASS INTENTIONS... 8:00 a.m. Celebrant s Intention 10:00 a.m. Celebrant s Intention 11:30 a.m. Celebrant s Intention SANCTUARY GROUP #3 ~ MARIA GIBSON Please remember to pray for our candidate, Antoinette Hobson, and all who are preparing for entrance into the Catholic Church this coming Easter. May this time of Advent waiting and watching be, for each of us, an opportunity to grow closer to our Blessed Savior. Here is the Christmas Schedule of Confessions and Masses Monday & Tuesday, December 19 and 20 ~ Confessions 3-4; 7 to 8 p.m. Masses for Christmas: Vigil: 4(Children s Mass) & 10 p.m. (Midnight Mass). Panettone and hot chocolate will be served after the 10 o clock Mass. On the day: 8, 10 (with Bishop Pilla) and 11:30 a.m. ONLY (No 5 p.m.)

5 DECEMBER 18, 2016 PAGE 5 Thank you! Thank You! SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT & PRAYER PLEASE PRAY FOR... This year's Giving Tree and Birthright donations were the largest we have ever collected: Giving Tree filled large bags and 5 large boxes of gift bags and wrapping paper. Birthright filled bags of baby clothes and other babyitems; 2 large boxes of baby formula and 5 large boxes of diapers. It was obvious that there was a lot of thought put into the gifts that were purchased and many hours were spent crocheting all the beautiful baby blankets and clothes that were made. We are so grateful to all those who participated in this annual event and also to Corpus Christi academy for their student involvement. We wish you all a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy fromthe Women's Guild EUCHARISTIC ADORATION... Have you considered spending some quiet time with the Lord? Making a commitment to come to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel one day a week to pray?? If you would like to become a Perpetual Adorer, please call Kay Sutula at and leave your name and phone number. She will be happy to return your call. TRAVELING VIRGIN STATUE... Our Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima statue is available to be loaned out to your family for a day or up to one week. Please call Father Ireland at the Parish Office ( ) to arrange for a day and time to pick her up. Invite family, friends and neighbors to come to your home for prayer to Mary, especially the recitation of the Rosary during her stay with you. ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART... If your family would like an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus enthroned in your home, please call Fr. Ireland ( ) to arrange for him to come to your home and lead this beautiful devotion. all the sick, the chronically ill, the elderly, the hospitalized, the homebound, those of our community in nursing facilities, and all who have asked for our prayers: Gabriella Frato, Thomas Browske, James Gordon Miller, Rachael Mateosky, Carmela Pacini, Gail Shirley, Jean Siebert, Judy Wolen, Madeline Cox, Diane Schmenk, Aida Kinczel, George Hammer, Thomas Bannan and Anna Perrone. May God grant them healing in mind and body and strength to endure their suffering. God, grant them Your Mercy and Love. Please submit your prayer requests to the office by 5 p.m. on Fridays Marian Movement of Priests This Apostolate meets every Thursday evening at 7 o clock in the Chapel to pray for additional vocations to the priesthood and for those who are already ordained. All are welcome. READINGS FOR THE WEEK... Sunday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24 Monday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71/Lk 1:5-25 Tuesday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24/Lk 1:26-38 Wednesday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33 Lk 1:39-45 Thursday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2/Lk 1:46-56 Friday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25/Lk 1:57-66 Saturday: Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89/Lk 1:67-79 Sunday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97/Ti 3:4-7 Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 Rosary for Peace: in the Church at 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays Family Rosary: in the Chapel 7 p.m. First Tuesday of each month. Social will follow.

6 PAGE 6 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE... Collection 12/1116: $ 9, wk Avg. $ 9, Collection 12/13/15: $12, wk Avg. $10, Immaculate Conception $1, Direct Deposit for the month of November: $2, Thank you for your generosity. We invite you to consider a very easy way to make regular contributions to the parish without having to find the envelope and write a check or put cash in it while running out the door: AUTOMATIC GIVING could be the answer. Call Eileen Gerome in the Parish Office ( ) for details. Thank you for supporting Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. It s that time again when working folks minds turn to IRS, UNCLE SAM, what do I owe? What? I can t owe that much!!! and many more random phrases that remind us Income Tax Reporting time is just around the corner. Some of the fortunate ones who can still itemize deductions will be asking us for a statement of church contributions for Please note: The IRS has very clear rules as to when a charity can recognize a year-end gift. Checks must be written, dated and postmarked by December 31 in order to qualify as a 2016 contribution. ALL CHECKS collected through the offertory baskets MUST BE recorded as contributions on the date they are received, regardless of the date on the check. Watch Special EWTN Christmas Programming Join EWTN Global Catholic Television Network in celebrating the birth of the Christ Child. EWTN is proud to bring you LIVE Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses from Rome and the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Watch EWTN on Time Warner Cable channel #18, DISH Network channel #261 or DIRECTV channel #370. Program Schedules are available in the back of the Church. For more information, go to SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS EVE WITH POPE FRANCIS FROM ST. PETER S BASILICA IN ROME LIVE December 24, 3:30pm; ENCORE on December 25, 1:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS EVE FROM THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WASHINGTON, DC LIVE December 24, 10:30 p.m. URBI ET ORBI FROM ST. PETER S SQUARE: THE POPE S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE & BLESSING TO THE WORLD LIVE December 25, 6:00 a.m. SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS DAY FROM THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WASHINGTON, DC LIVE December 25, 12:00 Noon. A WELCOMING COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT Meets people s needs Puts people at ease Makes people feel Christ s loving warm presence Makes people feel that we are genuinely interested in them. Makes people feel at home and comfortable Makes people want to come back Invites members to become friends Makes people feel needed Makes people feel loved Makes people feel important For the next couple of weeks, we will undoubtedly encounter fellow parishioners whom we may not have seen for a number of weeks or months Works diligently to keep the parishioners coming back No matter what their reason for staying away or coming back they are part of us and deserve our genuine warm welcome. Together, let us pray that they may experience the love of the Infant Jesus through our outstretched arms and words of genuine care.