St. Jerome Church. 23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT

Transcription

1 St. Jerome Church 23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT

2 Fourth Sunday of Advent & Nativity of the Lord DECEMBER 23 & 25, 2018 SABBATH MASSES Saturday 4:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM 9:15 AM Family Mass 11:00 AM 6:00 PM (SeptemberJune) DAYS OF OBLIGATION Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM WEEKDAY MASSES MonSat 9:00 AM HOW TO FIND US Parish Website: Parish DRE REACH TOTAL Bulletin/Social Media: Fr. David: Fr. Rojin: Parish Facebook: stjeromenorwalk REACH & TOTAL Facebook: REACH.TOTAL.stjerome Parish REACH & TOTAL Instagram: stjeromenorwalk Parish Staff PASTORAL STAFF ~ Rev. David Blanchfield, Pastor Rev. Rojin Karickal, Parochial Vicar Rev. Michael Hoag, S.J., Weekend Assistant PARISH OFFICE ~ Office Hours, MonFri 9:00 AM1 PM office@stjeromenorwalk.org Natalie Raduazzo, Administrative Assistant Kathy Rohr, Administrative Assistant BULLETIN/SOCIAL MEDIA Kathy Rohr communications@stjeromenorwalk.org RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ~ Director of Religious Education (DRE) Kathy Coyne dre@stjeromenorwalk.org REACH reach@stjeromenorwalk.org TOTAL Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan Youth Ministers total@stjeromenorwalk.org MUSIC MINISTRY Tom Sullivan PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON Dan Loch FINANCE COUNCIL Jerry Holdridge ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Pre KGrade West Rocks Road Norwalk, CT Linda Dunn, Principal FAITH DIRECTONLINE GIVING Sign up using our church code:ct46 or visit our website at enrollment.pdf

3 12/22 9:00 am Ida Ciaia (Norwalk High School Class of 1946) VIGIL FOR SUNDAY 4:00 pm Joseph Calderon (Ginger & Don Angelilli) FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 12/23 8:00 am Giuseppi Giglio (wife & family) 9:15 am Christopher Hauptman (Rohr family) 11:00 am Dr. William Sullivan (family) 6:00 pm Frank D Alessandro (Riobo family) 12/24 9:00 am for the People CHRISTMAS EVE 4:00 pm Rich Lusniak (wife & children) 6:00 pm Chris Groener (family) 10:00 pm Wally Regan (family) THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 12/25 8:00 am Ellen & William Lawlor (Brian Kennedy) 11:00 am Angela Ferrone 12:30 pm Vincent Mendoza, Jr. Sarah & Teodocio Lopez (July Mendoza) 12/26 9:00 am for our Service men & women 12/27 9:00 am Phyllis Featherston (Ed & Barbara Bagnato) 12/28 9:00 am Allen Doppke (Jim & Nicole Tobin) 12/29 9:00 am for our area First Responders VIGIL FOR SUNDAY 4:00 pm Dana Vigilante Glander (Rosalind Serna) THE HOLY FAMILY JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH 12/30 8:00 am for the safety of all travellers 9:15 am Mark Regan (Pat & Frank Hauptman) 11:00 am Mark & Mary Pelletier (family) 6:00 pm Frank D Alessandro (Dennehy family) Altar Flowers Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation of $50. Please call the Parish Office several months prior to your desired date. Adoration & Silent Prayer Every day between 4:00PM and 5:00PM. Contemplative Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. Come spend some quiet time with the Lord. Perpetual Novena Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal takes place each Monday following morning Mass Rosary & Divine Mercy Prayers Monday through Saturday after daily Mass Baptisms Please call the parish office during regular office hours to schedule. Required PreBaptism Class at 7PM third Monday of the month. Please register ahead of time by calling the office. Reconciliation One hour before vigil on Saturday. Also anytime by appointment. Marriages Please contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance. Anointing of the Sick First Wednesday of each month, immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass, in the sanctuary. Anyone with an ongoing medical condition or who is seriously ill, anticipating a medical procedure or operation, is welcome to come. Gluten Free Hosts If you require a glutenfree host, please see the officiating priest before Mass. Bringing up the Gifts at Mass If the Mass intention has been requested by you or for your loved ones, and you would like to bring up the Gifts at the Offertory, please let the ushers know that you are present and would like to bring up the gifts. Widows Support Group 1:00 PM on the second Tuesday of the month in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room.

4 I am writing this on Monday, December 17 th, which begins the final ecclesiastical countdown for Christmas. The Mass today is not that of the Monday of the Third week of Advent, but rather that of December 17 th. Tomorrow the Mass is not that of Tuesday of the third week of Advent, but rather the Mass of December 18 th. You get the idea! It hits you over the head! Christmas is eight days away, but who is counting? Today s column is therefore the Christmas Random Thoughts. If you were to ask me to say the first word that comes into my mind when you say Christmas, I would say mystery. The feast is filled with mystery, timelessness, and lots of grace and moments of light. Especially on Christmas Eve, there is a deepened sense of expectation for people of all ages: maybe Santa will come; maybe the family will gather peacefully and joyfully; maybe I will not feel alone; maybe I will be in touch with loved ones from the past; maybe I will encounter God s deep love for me; maybe Jesus will be reborn in my heart. Christmas Eve is for feeling hopeful and more connected than usual. I did find a new Christmas carol this year. I will not play it in my homily but will share the words with you. It is called, What Shall We Give to the Babe in the Manger? I found it on YouTube performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the words mysteriously and properly mingle the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, to his birth. Theologically, it is right on target. What shall we give to the babe in the manger, what shall we offer the child in the stall? Incense and spices and gold we ve aplenty Are these the gifts for the King of us all? (After each verse there is a haunting chant Tan ta tan tan ta ta tan ta ta tan ta. Ta ta tan tan ta ta tan ta ta ta.) What shall we give to the boy in the temple, what shall we offer the man by the sea? Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising: Are these for him who will carry the tree? (chant) What shall we give to the Lamb who was offered, rising the third day and shedding his love? Tears for his mercy we ll weep at the manger, bathing the infant come down from above. (chant) So, on my last Christmas as your pastor, let me rejoice in the gift you have been to me and may you experience the Christmas gift that is Jesus! THIS WEEK AT ST. JEROME. Sunday 12/23 Pageant Practice #2 noon (hall) Monday 12/24 Christmas Eve 4:00 PM; 6:00 PM; 10:00 PM Tuesday 12/25 Christmas Day 8:00 AM; 11:00 AM; 12:30 PM Wednesday 12/26 Contemplative Prayer 7:00 PM Women s Scripture Group 7:30 PM Thursday 12/27 Friday 12/28 Saturday 12/29 Men s Ministry 7:00 AM

5 WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY December 16, 2018 $3,357 Faith Direct for December $27,319 December total to date $43,359 December Offertory Budget $74,600 (including Christmas) As always, thank you for your generous support of our parish especially during this Advent season. We pray for those who bravely serve our country. God bless them and their families. Our service people include: PFC Devon Barker, United States Army PFC Andrew Chimento, United States Army Sgt. Jason Kulik, United States Army SSgt. Cameron Prescott, USAF Pvt. Patrick Ruther, CTARNG SSG Hendrik P. Sorensen, ARNG Airman Lauren A. Sorensen, USN LCpl. Jack H. Whitney, USMC TUITION RAFFLE Notre Dame Fairfield s excited to announce the Tuition Raffle. The Grand Prize of $15,000 can be used for tuition (for up to two students) for ANY K8 school, ANY high school, ANY college or university. Schools must be accredited and located in the U.S. Additionally, it can be used to pay back college loans! Prize will be transferred directly by Notre Dame to an institution designated by the winner. Winner may designate self, family, or friends. Student(s) must be named within four years of the drawing. Eligible expenses include tuition, room and board, books and school related fees. Prize is not redeemable for cash. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at ND or by visiting notredame.ejoinme.org/2018tuitionraffle The winning ticket will be drawn on March 16, 2019 during the Notre Dame Lancer Legacy Gala. Winner need not be present to win. Only 500 tickets will be sold.a minimum of 250 tickets must be sold for the raffle to proceed.if fewer than 250 tickets are sold, the raffle will be canceled and ticket holders will receive a full refund. Contacttmarzik@notredame.orgor ext. 242 formore information. TWEETS OF THE Joy, prayer and gratitude are the three ways that preare us to experience Christmas in an authentic way. Sadly we encounter many people who seemingly are doing all the right things, even working for the reform of the Church, but act without love. Such people may seem righteous but their efforts will bear little lasting Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian and leader Ireland s oldest peace and reconciliation organization, gave me a new #Advent poem this week, which he said I could share with you, called "Jesus of Bethlehem. Jesus of Bethlehem born in the home of people whose name is not recordedwe turn to you, who records every name, every story, every joy, every clutch of fear. Gather us in to the stories of humanity; ours and yours. Because this was your vocation. And is ours. Amen.

6 January 13next parent/child class By the January 13th meeting, all children should have completed up through Session 10. Please the interactive session quiz results to the REACH office for our attendance roster. Still having problems locating the quizzes, please the office for a link (reach@stjeromenorwalk.org). Everyone at the REACH office wishes all of our families and friends a very blessed and peaceful Christmas! TOTAL meets on January 6 th. The TOTAL team would like to wish you all a blessed, peaceful, and joyful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Applications are being accepted for Emmaus 41 taking place on January 18, 19, and 20. This weekend is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. If you are interested in attending, please contact Joe or Daniela O Callaghan. Space is limited so please send in your deposit and application as soon as possible. Any teen who has already attended a weekend is welcome to attend this year as a team member.you can help with Kara, Liturgy, Auxiliary, or in the kitchen. We have some tshirts leftover from Night in a Box. If you d like to purchase one for $10, please contact the REACH office or Daniela O Callaghan at total@stjeromenorwalk.org. We have a long sleeved tshirt available in small only and a short sleeved in S, M, L. See samples on the bulletin board in the hallway. REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS There is always great need for Reusable Grocery Bags at the food pantries. Please consider buying some for the clients at Person to Person. Not only does it reduce the need for plastic bags, many clients without cars use the bus and walk to carry their food home. THANK YOU!! Thank you for your generous contributions to our December food drive and milk fund collection! The total number of food items collected was 1,139 items, of which 667 were the most needed items sold after Masses. The Milk Fund Collection total was$121. In addition, thank you to those volunteers who staffed the table in the hallway: Sheila Rietano, Honey Secci, Beth O'Mara, Annette Maiberger, and John Wagner as well as the Pageant children that helped sort and carry the early returns. The tradition of giving from our St. Jerome communityresults in feeding our fooddeprived neighbors all year long. Your participation is greatly appreciated. "TakeALook Tuesdays" at All Saints Catholic School Interested in finding out more about All Saints Catholic School in Norwalk? Stop by our "TakeA Look Tuesday" Open House, held every Tuesday from 8:3010am. Each week, parents and students are onhand to give tours and answer questions about our curriculum, activities, afterschool program and tuition assistance. No appointment necessary. All Saints Catholic School,PreKthrough Grade West Rocks Road, Norwalk