The Church of the Nativity. 210 Oak Grove Avenue Menlo Park, CA tel: (650) fax: (650)

Transcription

1 Photographs by Charlene Dorman 210 Oak Grove Avenue Menlo Park, CA tel: (650) fax: (650) The Church of the Nativity MASSES Sundays 08:00, 09:30, 11:30 AM and 05:00 PM Saturdays and 05:00 PM (Vigil) Weekdays and Holy Days, 05:30 and 07:30 PM SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturdays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Opus Dei priest) 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM (parish priest) (also by appointment) BAPTISMS 1 st, 3 rd and 5 th Sundays of the month (contact rectory 2 months in advance) WEDDINGS Saturdays 11:00 AM and 02:00 PM (contact rectory at least 6 months in advance) PASTOR Rev. Msgr. Steven D. Otellini PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. Mark G. Mazza PERMANENT DEACONS Rev. Mr. Dominick Peloso Rev. Mr. Thomas Kelly WEEKEND ASSISTANTS Rev. Paul Maillet, P.S.S. Rev. Gladstone Stevens, P.S.S. SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Mrs. Monica Hickam (650) HOUR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Mrs. Mary Ellen Peloso (650) HEARING LOOP ENABLED HEARING LOOP ENABLED

2 FIRST READING The Lord Himself will give you this sign. Isaiah 7: RESPONSORIAL PSALM Who may stand in His holy place? One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean. Psalms 24 SECOND READING Through Him we have received the grace of apostleship. Romans 1: 1-7 GOSPEL You are to name him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1: SCHEDULE OF MASSES AND INTENTIONS WEEK OF DEC 05:00 PM Priest s intentions SUN Masses Priest s intentions MON TUE WED THU FRI Raimonda Bartolini Eve Bielecki Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez Danny Olin Rose Hartwij Fr. Thomas Moran; Bill Wagstaffe; Lois Blackwood; Benefactors of the parish Tansy Walker Sid Custodio Virginia Munk Thelma Castillo Carmen Segovia; The Firenzi family; The Woods, Gastaldi, Fina and Lastovic families; James and Nora Hennessy The Annunciation -- Paolo de Matteis (1712) Please pray for those in need of physical or spiritual healing SUN MON-FRI MON-FRI TUE THU The Fourth Sunday of Advent 07:00 PM 07:10 AM 05:10 PM 06:00 PM 06:00 PM 06:15 AM 07:40 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM 18 DEC (Sunday) 19 DEC (Monday) 07:00 PM 07:30 PM 18 December 2016 The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name Him Emmanuel. Holy Hour for Priests Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Cenacles of Life Rosary Perpetual Help Novena Men s Prayer Group Morning Prayer Confessions (Opus Dei priest) Confessions (parish priest) Simbang Gabi Mass Legion of Mary Isaiah 7: 14 Calendar 20 DEC (Tuesday) 08:00 PM H 4 21 DEC (Wednesday) 07:30 PM Advent Penance Service 22 DEC (Thursday) 11:00 AM The Thursday Group 23 DEC (Friday) 24 DEC (Saturday) Christmas Eve No adoration until after the last Mass Electronic giving is offered through our website or call the parish office for a paper form Bulletin News REMINDER: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Items for the bulletin should be ed to the bulletin editors at nativity.bulletin@gmail.com. During the holiday season our publishers have earlier-than-usual submission deadlines for specific bulletins. Items for the 01 January 2017 bulletin must be submitted by Wednesday, 21 December Parish OfferINGS WEEK OF DEC TOTAL: $14,765 Nativity School Annual Appeal: $4,280 Annual Diocesan Appeal Progress: 2016 ADA Goal: $116,594 $148,082

3 21 DEC (Monday): SAINT PETER CANISIUS, Doctor of the Church ( ) He was an excellent student, and received a master s degree by age 19; his closest friends at university were monks and clerics. Joined the Jesuits in 1543 after attending a retreat conducted by Blessed Peter Faber. He travelled and worked with Saint Ignatius of Loyola who was his spiritual director in Rome. In his later years, his advice was sought by Saint Francis de Sales, and by his friend Saint Charles Borromeo. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. You have never strayed too far for the Father s forgiveness and grace. Saints and Observances SOLEMNITY, FEAST, MEMORIAL OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OTHER 23 DEC (Wednesday): SAINT JOHN OF KANTY, Priest ( ) John was a serious, humble man, generous to a fault with the poor, sleeping little, eating no meat and little of anything else. He was a Professor of Theology at the University of Cracow. He was declared patron of Poland and Lithuania in 1737 by Pope Clement XII, thirty years before his final canonization. Ministry and Group News HELP NEEDED FOR SIMBANG GABI The deanery will be observing Simbang Gabi from DEC Masses will be held at various parishes throughout the deanery. Nativity s mass will be celebrated on 19 DEC at 07:00 PM with a reception held after mass at Vallombrosa. We are asking all Filipino families in the parish to participate. Please provide Ben and Grace Wikramanayake (650/ or Bengrace.wikramanayake@ comcast.net) with your name and contact information. We will need a lector, Eucharistic minister, and altar servers to help with the mass. We will also need help with the reception (setup, food and clean-up). We welcome all parishioners to this glorious novena in preparation for Christmas and in honor of the blessed Mother. Thank you for your support. SIMBANG GABI FOR DEANERY 11 What is Simbang Gabi (meaning Masses at Night )? It is a long-treasured Filipino spiritual tradition. In the Philippines, it is celebrated as a series of nine dawn Masses right before Christmas, each Mass followed by a reception and fellowship. Beginning on December 15th and ending on December 23rd, these daily novena Masses are now also celebrated in the evening. Set within Advent, Simbang Gabi invites participants to heighten their preparation for the birth of Jesus, as well as honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. The most popular symbol for Simbang Gabi is the parol, or star lantern, with represents the star of Bethlehem. A parol is usually brought up during the processional to remind us of the guiding light that led many to the manger. Through Simbang Gabi, the deanery hopes to offer a deeper spiritual experience leading to a more meaningful Christmas season for all. This celebration of faith also hopes to strengthen the bonds between cultures and between parishes, thereby strengthening fellowship and family life in our community and deanery. The following Churches in Deanery 11 will be having Masses for Simbang Gabi: 18 DEC (SUN) 07:00 PM St. Charles, San Carlos 19 DEC (MON) 07:00 PM Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park 20 DEC (TUE) 05:00 PM St. Pius, Redwood City 21 DEC (WED) 05:00 PM St. Charles, San Carlos 22 DEC (THU) 05:00 PM St. Matthias, Redwood City 23 DEC (FRI) 07:00 PM St. Pius, Redwood City NATIVITY BOOKS AVAILABLE We have several books which are still available in the parish office. If you are interested in purchasing one or all of these books they are available between 09:00 AM-04:00 PM Monday through Friday. 650/ Nativity Illuminated: A Celebration of Our Church and the Symbols Within ($10.00) Father Lucky: Trust in Jesus, A collection of the stories of the late Fr. Clement A. Davenport ($10.00) The Spirit of Nativity: Celebrating Christ on the Peninsula for 140 Years ($6.00 paperback in black and white; $ for 12 x 12 beautiful hardback in full color) EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Nativity Church is open 24/7. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration and there is always someone present in prayer. Won t you join us by signing up for your weekly Holy Hour? When you sign up, you and your intentions share in the grace of everyone who comes to visit. Come and experience the dramatic presence of God in our lives. Please consider the following hours as there is no one currently assigned to them (or pick an hour that works for you): Sunday: 10:00 PM Saturday: 09:00 AM, 10:00 AM Thank you in advance for your generosity. The God who is not outdone in generosity will certainly bless you and your intentions. Call Mary Ellen Peloso (650/ ) to sign up. Pregnant? Need Help? Please contact the Juan Diego Society (408/ ), the Gabriel Project (800/ ), or San Juan Diego Centro por la Vida at St. Francis (650/ ).

4 Announcements OUR PARISH FAMILY Please keep all of our newest members in your prayers, as well as those who have preceded us to the Father. BAPTISMS MARRIAGES PARISHIONERS DEATHS Seth Marie, daughter of David and Vivian Blundell Aliana Elizabeth, daughter of Martin and Danielle Contreras Daniel Jacob, son of Martin and Sarah Cuyegkeng Noriah Jayne, daughter of Jaray and Noemy Washington Cruz Eisen, son of Todd and Lizeth Wilson Philip McDonnell The parish office will be closed on Dec 2016 and Jan On Dec 2016 the office will be open 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM. Regular office hours (09:00 AM - 04:00 PM) will resume on 03 Jan Dear Monsignor Otellini, Thank you very much for your generous World Mission Sunday 2016 contribution of $8, from the people of the Church of the Nativity. I am most grateful to you for encouraging the missionary spirit of prayer and sacrifice among your parishioners. Know that you and they remain in my prayers and in the prayers of the people of the Missions. Sincerely, Genevieve Elizondo, Archdiocesan Mission Director GIVE THE GIFT OF BOOKS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON At the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County, we provide services that help our neighbors in need. Did you know that for each donated book sold, SVdP can provide 3 meals for the homeless? Donate your books today and help provide services for the marginalized. You can drop off your new and used books at any of our five Thrift Stores. You can also schedule a pick-up by contacting Kristen Trojel at 408/ (ktrojel@svdpsm.org). For more information visit us online at Give Books! Give Hope! H4: HOLY HOUR-HAPPY HOUR Young adults in their 20s and 30s are encouraged join us for a Holy Hour at the Church of the Nativity on Tuesdays from 08:00-09:00 PM, followed by drinks at 09:00 PM at a nearby pub or café. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please holyhourhappyhour@gmail.com. The Census at Bethlehem -- Pieter Bruegel the Elder In The Community GIVE THE GIFT OF HOPE The Rosary Jubilee Booklet, compiled by the Dominican Nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery, Menlo Park, is a perfect gift for giving. Give it to your family and friends, VA hospitals and military personnel, nursing homes, people suffering with depression or other mental disorders, the homebound and the homeless. They are great for stocking stuffers and the perfect gift to send in a greeting card. You may obtain copies after the morning Masses outside Church. The booklets are $2.00 apiece. DISCERNMENT DAYS: CORPUS CHRISTI MONASTERY Come and See Called by God, like Mary, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his word, to ponder and call upon him is solitude. Corpus Christi Monastery will be holding another discernment day for single Catholic women (ages 18-38) on 21 JAN To register or for more information contact Sr. Joseph Marie, O.P. at vocations@nunsmenlo.org or 650/ x19. The nuns at Corpus Christi Monastery are Dominican Contemplative Nuns, whose whole life is harmoniously ordered to the continual remembrance of God. Corpus Christi Monastery, 215 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park, California. NATIVITY LIBRARY Nativity has an excellent library in the O Hare Center. It is chock full of books on Lives of the Saints, Spirituality, Bible Studies, Theology, Teens, Family, Catholic Fiction, and lots of Children s books. It is open on Sunday morning from -12:30 PM. For other times, you may get a key from the office. Take advantage of the great books that will supplement and increase your spiritual growth. All books (400+) and DVDs (100+) have been donated by parishioners, and the borrowing is on the honor system. For questions, call Deacon Dominick Peloso at 650/

5 THE HOLY FATHER S PRAYER INTENTIONS From the Holy See Each month His Holiness asks for general and missionary prayer intentions. For December 2016, the Holy Father s prayer intentions are: Universal: End to Child-Soldiers That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. Missionary: Europe That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Gospel which gives joy and hope to life. Schedule of Christmas and New Year Services 21 DEC (Wednesday) 07:30 PM Advent Penance Service 24 DEC (Saturday) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM 06:00 PM 10:00 PM 10:45 PM 11:00 PM 25 DEC (Sunday) 09:30 AM 11:30 AM 26 DEC (Monday) 09:00 AM 31 DEC (Saturday) 05:00 PM 01 JAN (Sunday) 09:30 AM 11:30 PM 05:00 PM Christmas Eve Daily Mass Reconciliation Reconciliation Vigil Mass of Christmas Choral Prelude to Christmas Mass Christmas Proclamation and Procession to the Crib Christmas Mass Christmas Day Christmas Day Mass Christmas Day Mass Christmas Day Mass (no 05:00 PM Mass) Feast of St. Stephen Daily Mass (one Mass only) Daily Mass Vigil: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Holy Day of Obligation 02 JAN (Monday) 09:00 AM 03 JAN (Tuesday) Regular daily Mass schedule Calendar of Novenae 18 DEC (SUN) THIRD DAY: Christmas Novena 19 DEC (MON) FOURTH DAY: Christmas Novena 20 DEC (TUE) FIFTH DAY: Christmas Novena 21 DEC (WED) SIXTH DAY: Christmas Novena 22 DEC (THU) SEVENTH DAY: Christmas Novena 23 DEC (FRI) EIGHTH DAY: Christmas Novena 24 DEC () NINTH DAY: Christmas Novena 25 DEC (SUN) The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Day) 26 DEC (MON) 27 DEC (TUE) 28 DEC (WED) 29 DEC (THU) 30 DEC (FRI) FIRST DAY: Epiphany Novena 31 DEC () SECOND DAY: Epiphany Novena FIND THE NOVENA PRAYERS Christmas Novena: Epiphany Novena: OTHER NOVENA PRAYERS Infant Jesus of Prague (nine-hour): St. Therese 24 Glory Be s Novena: Novena for Priests: Effecacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: VISIT BETHLEHEM AT OUR LADY OF PEACE CHURCH

6 THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM Young Believers Imagine you came home from school today and your family had received a note in the mail. The note said: The government requires your entire family to be in Monterey, CA in two weeks. Now imagine you have no car, there is no form of public transportation, and all the roads between Menlo Park and Monterey are dirt and gravel. You can bring one wagon to ride in, but it has no cushions inside and you will feel every single bump and hole in the road as you go. Now you need to WALK from Menlo Park to Monterey, a distance of about 85 miles. It will take you several days to do this, and you will arrive very tired and very sore. When you arrive, there won t be a single empty hotel room anywhere in Monterey, from the hotel chains down to bed-and-breakfast inns in Carmel. One small hotel owner says you can sleep in his carport. It is open to the elements in front (no door you can close) and it smells like a garage that stores old tires and gym socks. And when the sun goes down, it is really cold in the carport. This is similar to what Joseph and Mary had to do, right before the King of all kings was born. Nazareth and Bethlehem are 82 miles apart, and the Roman road through the Jordan Valley is dirt, gravel, and potholes. Today it is very dangerous to travel on the road through the Jordan valley, because terrorists sit up in the hills and shoot at you. It was also dangerous to travel that road in the time of Joseph and Mary. Many parts of the road are long and deserted, and thieves and bandits would hide, then beat and rob travelers (remember the story of the Good Samaritan?). If you resisted the bandits, they might just kill you. Imagine taking that trip (on foot!). By the time you got to Bethlehem (or Monterey), all you would want to do was rest. But if you couldn t find a room, you would have to walk some more, all over town, trying to find some place to stay... and then have to be satisfied with whatever was offered, even a barn (or carport). Let us remember to thank God for the incredible sacrifice the Holy Family made, so that God s Son could save each and every one of us from Hell forever.