"This is the one about whom it is written:

Transcription

1 ST. PAUL S NEWMAN CENTER Third Sunday of Advent "This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Mt 11: Liturgy of the Eucharist Saturday 5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:30, 11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Weekdays 5:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation Wednesday 4:00 p.m. Saturday 4:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer & Breakfast: Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays at Emmaus House 7:15 a.m. Night Prayer: Monday - Thursday in Bishop Newell Hall 9:00 p.m. Ministry to the Students, Faculty, and Staff of the University of Wyoming since 1957 UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY F I N A L S W E E K Week at a Glance Saturday, December 10 Gaudete Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass: Edin Vaske Sunday, December 11 8:30 a.m. Mass: St. Paul's Newman Center Community 9:30 a.m. Diving Deep 11:00 a.m. Mass: Feliberto, Celes na and Ronnie Sanchez 2:15 p.m. Bible Study 5:00 p.m. Mass: Special Inten on Blessing of Engaged Couples 6:00 p.m. Sunday Supper 7:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconcila on at St. Laurence O'Toole 7:00 p.m. High School Youth Ministry Monday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Noon Medita on 4:30 p.m. Music Rehearsal for OLG 6:00 p.m. Mass: Geraldine Fresquez Followed by Potluck Dinner Tuesday, December 13 5:00 p.m. Mass: Special Inten on 5:30 p.m. Music Rehearsal 6:00 p.m. Martha-Mary Group 9:00 p.m. Student End-of-Semester Liturgy Followed by late-night breakfast Wednesday, December 14 4:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconcilia on 5:00 p.m. Mass: Fr. Charles Taylor 5:30 p.m. Final's Week Pizza Meal 6:00 p.m. Welcoming Commi ee 6:30 p.m. Middle School Youth MInistry Thursday, December 15 Copper's Birthday 12:25 p.m. Mass on Campus 5:00 p.m. Mass: For the Inten on of Sean Blackburn 1st Reconcilia on for children 6:30 p.m. Pastoral Council 7:00 p.m. Rite of Chris an Ini a on for Adults Friday, December 16 5:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion Saturday, December 17 2:00 p.m. Women's Rosary Group 4:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconcilia on Fourth Sunday of Advent 5:00 p.m. Mass: Manuel and Gloria Flores Sunday, December 18 8:30 a.m. Mass: Special Inten on 11:00 a.m. Mass: St. Paul's Newman Center Community 12:00 p.m. Environment Transi on 2:00 p.m. Las Posadas Final Sunday 5:00 p.m. Liturgy is December 11. This Liturgy resumes on January 22, EAST GRAND AVENUE, LARAMIE WY (307) FAX (307)

2 Parish News Communal Reconcilia on is a me to come together as a community to pray and be reconciled with God and one another. Join us on Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Laurence O Toole. Resident SEARCH Retreat Please prayerfully consider joining us for Resident SEARCH. This powerful weekend experience is open to all interested adults. It will be held January 27-29, Searcher applica ons are available in Bishop Newell Hall or on the Newman Center website and are due by January 6. If you have any ques ons please contact Steve and Leann Kaiser at (307) or leannkaiser@hotmail.com Students are Heading into Finals Week This can be a very overwhelming and stressful me. Please be a en ve and look for ways to be suppor ve. Words of encouragement are helpful as well as a being a good listener if students need to vent. Please keep them in your prayers. Do you have a favorite holiday cookie, candy, or other treat you like to share? Why not make some extras and bring those for the students who are finishing papers and studying for finals. It is a great way to support them as they finish up the semester. Drop off goodies, beginning Monday morning, December 14, in the parish kitchen. Note the schedule changes during finals and during the semester break. All forma on and campus ministry opportuni es will resume in January. Parish Offices will be closed over the holidays on Friday, December 23, Monday, December 26, and Monday, January 2. Thank You Last Sunday s Gi Offering $16,895 minus 10% the (1,690) for our brothers and sisters in need (includes electronic dona ons) Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you. Romans 15:7 The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Monday, December 12, 2016 St. Paul s Newman Center Liturgy of the Eucharist 6:00 p.m. followed by a Potluck Meal in Bishop Newell Hall Celebrate Posadas Posadas are an important part of La no Christmas tradi on. Celebra ons to re-enact Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem take place nine nights leading up to Christmas. Posadas will be held here beginning at 6:30 p.m. on December 14 and ending on December 22. Come for one or as many evenings as you like. (On Sunday, December 18, it will begin at 2:00 p.m.) Refreshments will be served. Christmas Environment Are you able to help with the Christmas Environment this year? On Sunday, December 18 at noon, your assistance is needed to put up trees and lights, hang garland and wreaths, set up the creche, and other decora ng to transform our Worship Space for the Christmas season. Sign-up in Bishop Newell Hall. The Knights of Columbus are hos ng Sunday Supper this week. Come for a comfor ng meal of spaghe and meat sauce with salad, bread, and dessert. Serving begins at 6:00 p.m. following Liturgy. We invite you to pick up a copy of the Catholic Extension Society 2017 Calendar. These calendars support the Extension Society s mission to bring the Church to all corners of our country. Did you know they provide an annual grant to St. Paul s Newman Center to assist with our Campus Ministry? Please take one home. Photos reflect Rejoice O Earth, Care for our Common Home- Laudato Si. Peak Wellness Christmas Dinner Thanks to the many hands and overwhelming generosity for those who contributed to the annual Christmas party and dinner for clients of Peak Wellness. What a beau ful example of sharing God's abundance.

3 Our Mission As a Catholic community of Christian disciples filled with gratitude and the Holy Spirit, St. Paul s Newman Center celebrates and lives the Sacraments. We bring the Gospel to the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wyoming through vibrant liturgies, hospitality, authentic stewardship, education, formation, empowerment, and support. Thank you to all who donated or par cipated in the pancake breakfast to benefit a Muslim family with medical needs. The members of St. Paul's Newman Center and others in the Laramie community showed much compassion and love. We were able to donate $2,500 to the family to assist them. The commi ment and caring by members of our community who deemed the goal of this event important enough to par cipate through volunteering, dona on, organizing, or just coming to the breakfast and enjoying each others company, was most impressive. Our ac on was a good step in building bridges between the Muslim and Chris an faiths. Chris an Discipleship: An A tude of Gra tude and Abundance We have received: 223 pledges out of 956 parish households $338,627 in pledges toward the goal of $416,892 (Sunday gi offering budget) Please join us in reaching our goal. Everyone s par cipa on is very important. You can find Pledge cards can be found in the Worship space gi table and in Bishop Newell Hall. We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our riches and freedom if, in any place, the Lazarus of the 20th Century stands at our doors. Pope John Paul II Upcoming Events: Communal Reconcilia on at St. Laurence Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Monday, December 12 Liturgy at 6:00 p.m. Posadas December :30 p.m. (Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m.) Christmas Liturgies Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24 4:30 & 7:00 p.m. Christmas Sunday, December 25 Midnight & 10:00 a.m. Southwest Liturgical Conference El Paso, TX January Resident Search Friday - Sunday, January Religious Ed Congress in Los Angeles, CA Friday - Sunday, February AmazonSmile Supports St. Paul's Newman Center. Every me you shop at Amazon a por on of the purchase will be donated to the Newman Center. To have.05% donated, go to amazon smile: h ps://smile.amazon.com/ch/ Please join Laramie churches for our annual Community Christmas Worship Celebra on,friday, December 16th, 7:00 p.m. at St. Ma hew s Episcopal. Scripture readings, poetry, hymn singing, and the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. ALL ARE WELCOME! New To Our Parish? Would you like to become a member of St. Paul s Newman Center? Whether you are new to Laramie or new to our community, we welcome and invite you to stop by the office weekdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. for membership informa on or go to our website at

4 Staff (307) Pastor: Fr. Rob Spaulding ext. #105 Director of Campus Ministry: Lillie Romeiser ext. #104 Director of Pastoral Music & Liturgy: Tom Quinlivan ext. #101 Director of Pastoral Ministry: Anthony Allen ext. #103 Parish Business Manager: Sandy Gaddis ext. #100 Communica ons Coordinator: Myra Belser ext. #106 Administra ve Assistant: Lynsey Spaeth ext. #102 Campus Ministry Interns: Sandra Loza, Joe Harlow, Rosemary Hopson Music Ministry Intern: Blair Mothersbaugh Readings for the Week of December 11, 2016 Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10/Ps 146/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11 Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13/Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34/Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Ps 85/Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Is 54:1-10/Ps 30/Lk 7:24-30 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8/Ps 67/Jn 5:33-36 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72/Mt 1:1-17 Next Sunday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24 Liturgical Publications Inc Cor ad Cor loquitur. Liturgical Ministry Schedule Dec :00 PM 8:30 AM 11:00 AM Lector E. Hebbert/M. Stordahl M. Chamberlin/M. Lewis E. Spann/K. Krueger Altar Server T. Callaghan M. Ballard C. Krueger Eucharist K. Gabriel T. Leathers S. Beck D. Gaddis J. Przygocki C. Brock S. Gaddis R. Richter R. Burleson S. Kaiser T. Schlegel H. Jarvis L. Kaiser H. Schlegel M. Peak Hospitality McGann Family Pridmore Family Atencio Family Eucharis c Bread B. Vialpando Heart Speaks to Heart. Campus Ministry Emmaus House Open Hours During Finals Come enjoy a place to study quietly, or relax during finals week. Snacks will be provided and there is free wi-fi. Hours during finals from Noon - 11:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday. The Emmaus House is located at 1819 Garfield, directly across the alley from the Newman Center (white house with porch and ramp in front). Meals During Finals Students! Take advantage of lots of food being served during finals week. Sunday Supper follows the 5:00 p.m. Liturgy on December 11. On Monday join us for a potluck meal following Our Lady of Guadalupe Liturgy that begins at 6:00 p.m. The staff will have "brinner" ready for you following the 9:00 p.m. End of Semester Liturgy. Star of the Magi Planetarium Show The book of Ma hew describes a "star that rose from the East" leading the magi to the birthplace of Jesus. Astronomer, Chip Kobulnicky will present some celes al possibili es that may underlie this storied event, Saturday, December 17 at 4:00 or 7:00 p.m. at UW Harry C. Vaughn Planetarium. Tickets are $4 per person. Liturgical Ministers Needed for the Christmas Season Ministers are needed for Christmas Liturgies on December 24 and 25 and December 31 and January 1. If you are in town over the holidays, please consider offering your me. Go to your Ministry Scheduler web page, click on the "Full Schedules" tab then click on "Volunteer Now" for the ministry you would like to cover.

5 Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016 A Garden Well-Tended By Mary Katharine Deeley I m not much of a gardener. When our family was young, we planted vegetables to connect our children with the miracle of growing things. But the truth is, I kill houseplants regularly, and the clay soil in our back yard made growing things a little harder than I was willing to tolerate. So I spent my time tending to children and other pursuits. When I look at the wonderful young women my children have become, I don t regret any of it they re evidence of a garden well-tended. We all have gardens we cultivate in the soil we work and in the lives we lead. Sunday Readings Isaiah 35:1 6a, 10 Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication. James 5:7 10 Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 11:2 11 Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? In today s readings, Isaiah and Jesus point to gardens of a different sort. Isaiah imagines God as the great gardener who brings flowers and trees out of arid sand and clay soil and then moves on to bring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. What a glorious image of a promise made where we all grow and are made whole. Jesus doesn t answer John s disciples. He simply points them in the direction of the garden of Good News he s tended. He sends them to John with tales of what they ve seen and heard in all its abundance because John will know a garden when he hears about it and will rejoice in its growth. Finally, James, laboring in the Lord s garden decades after the Lord s death, reminds us of the truth every farmer, landscaper, and household gardener knows so well: Making things grow crops, flowers, faith, or people takes patience. What s growing in your garden this Advent? Jesus points John s disciples in the direction of the garden of Good News. A Word From Pope Francis The Church exists to proclaim her Bridegroom...to proclaim this word even to martyrdom...when we contemplate the life of [John the Baptist], so great, so powerful everyone believed he was the Messiah when we think of how this life was annihilated, his last days spent in a dark prison, we discover a mystery. We are offered [a model of] a Church ever at the service of the Word. Morning meditation, The example of John, June 24, 2013 What attitudes are you hoping to grow in your life this Advent? What miracles of growth has Jesus provided in your life? Liguori Publications l Liguori.org

6 Defining Christmas Without Words It s December and almost Christmas. It s also time to hear about the usual War on Christmas. You probably have heard about this so-called war. Certain writers, commentators, and politicians assert that corporate America and the government are waging a war to remove Christ from Christmas. The story goes that only they those writers, commentators, and politicians are paying attention or doing something about it. This war plays out at retailers, where greeters share the sentiment Happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. It s fought in corporate offices, where companies erect holiday trees. It s waged at government centers, where officials position Jewish symbols next to Nativity scenes. It takes place in public schools, where holiday instead of Christmas breaks take place. This controversy is a distraction. For some of us, it becomes a subject of confrontation. We utter Merry Christmas as if daring someone to challenge us on the matter. When we enlist in this war, we, unintentionally, veer sharply from the true meaning of Christmas. The battle over words obscures what marks a true Christian Christian acts. Isn t it more authentically Christian to visit a nursing home, serve in a homeless shelter, or help out a stranger than to say Merry Christmas through gritted teeth? It s fine to ask retailers and other institutions to use the word Christmas. But let s not make such a quest our main focus. As Catholics, it s our Christian duty to explain and, more importantly, share our faith. So let s not rely on stores or public schools or governments to evangelize. That s up to us. Source: From the Publisher, Liguorian, December 2015 Prepare Ye the Way By James S. Torrens, SJ John the Baptist was the last of the great servants preparing God s way. With his rough austerity, he had learned to live wholly off of God. The sight of him subsisting on God and the sound of him calling for a change of life drew the city people of Israel to him in great numbers. He did not flinch from blunt speaking to soldiers, to tax collectors, to the whole brood of vipers taking advantage of others. John was preaching the old evangelical message, Repent. He still has successors in parks and public squares, endowed with megaphone voices. His great concern was the forgiveness of sins. The watery immersion he practiced was a prayer full of desire to be cleansed by God. In the presence of the Baptist s leading us into Advent today, enough of the old excuse for our weaknesses: Sorry, I can t help it. That s just how I am. Enough of just going through the motions. John, as the new Elijah paving the way for the anointed of God, won t let us off the hook. He looks for an energetic response, repentance from whatever is slowing us down in God s service. Source: Daybreaks, 2011 Liguori Publications Lord, you are patient with me and give me time to correct my faults and become a better person. Help me to be more patient and loving toward others. From Joyful Meditations for Every Day of Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas, Rev. Warren J. Savage and Mary Ann McSweeny WEEKDAY READINGS December Mon. Our Lady of Guadalupe: Zec 2:14 17 or Rev 11:19a; 12:1 6a, 10ab / Lk 1:26 38 or Lk 1:39 47 Tue. St. Lucy: Zep 3:1 2, 9 13 / Mt 21:28 32 Wed. St. John of the Cross: Is 45:6b 8, 18, 21b 25 / Lk 7:18b 23 Thu. Advent Weekday: Is 54:1 10 / Lk 7:24 30 Fri. Sat. Advent Weekday: Is 56:1 3a, 6 8 / Jn 5:33 36 Advent Weekday: Gn 49:2, 8 10 / Mt 1:1 17 December 11, Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO Liguori.org. Designer: John Krus. Scripture quotations in this publication are from New American Bible, revised edition, 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Pope Francis quotation is used with permission and copyright 2016 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. For licensing information, call All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001