saint FRancis xavier parish November 27, 2016

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1 saint FRancis xavier parish November 27, 2016 Peace be within you. ~ Psalm 122 Our Mission Statement St. Francis Xavier is a Catholic- Jesuit parish ignited by the Eucharist To Pray, Serve, Do Justice, and Love.

2 Advent s Soft Light Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot. But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside, and disrespected hands ungratefully toss aside what has so disappointed them. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer It is Advent again a new beginning, when Christians are called into the grace of waiting, the grace of preparation for the gift coming into our midst. It is a time of anticipation without anxiety, and hope in the face of all evidence for despair. When we light our small candles, adding one each week, we push back the encroaching gloom. It is--despite the messages of our civil society--a time to awaken from the dreams of consumerism, the dream that more things can make us happy or that we can somehow buy our way to bliss. It is a time of waiting not like the anxious shopper at his desk clicking add to cart, but like the mother who feels a life growing within her, taking nourishment, ripening towards an inevitable arrival. It is a time of quieting our world to hear our hearts, and quieting our hearts to hear the truth behind our world: a truth whose whisper calls us to accept that we are chosen, loved and missioned to be light for the world. It is a time to watch for the signs of Light coming into our midst, not in the splendid palaces of power, but in those steeped in and humbled by need. It is precisely because we are weary, and humbled, that God can touch us with hope. This is not an easy truth. It means that we accept our common lot, and take up our share of the cross. It means that we do not gloss over the evils we confront every day, both within ourselves and without. It means illuminating the truth that the darkness of sin, and the cruelty of disrespected hands will never overcome the light, and the mercy, of Christ. It is a time to let love take flesh in our bodies, to trust in the soft light that comes in an hour we do not expect. Advent s quiet and waiting helps us avoid the distraction of orchestrating a perfect Christmas and instead gives us time to pay attention to the Holiest of Mysteries becoming one of us, sharing Love and trusting us to share it in our own times and places. It helps us to pay attention to the soft light that has been placed in our hearts. Advent s hope comes in discovering that light, not outside us, but in our deepest center. When we discover the divine light within ourselves and within all others in this world, the wounded, the suffering, the marginalized, the fearful, the violent, then we are created anew, then we have found the grace of Advent. To be honest, however, Advent usually comes to me like a harsh alarm clock on a cold morning wanting to drag me out of my warm bed and awaken me when I desire only sleep. Most years, it has surprised me with its coming and, though I have gone through the motions, I found my heart only beginning to prepare itself when Christmas dawned. And in that, I don't think I have been alone. The grace of Advent creates people new people. I long to be created anew, to acknowledge the darkness, which I feel in my bones; and ignite small lights in the darkness. I long to shed my impatience, and disappointment. I long to hear the promises of the prophets in the daily readings of the coming weeks. I long for the familiar refrains and comforting hymns of advent, and to be created anew by the soft light of this community of faith. In a way I have rarely known, I need the soft light of Advent this year and I long for its coming. May it ripen with each passing week, for at an hour you do not expect, the soft light of the Son of Man will come. Pastor 2

3 Items of Note: Once again, the children's choir will provide music at our 5pm Mass on Christmas Eve. Rehearsals will take place the first 15 minutes of Religious Education on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays of Advent, and also during Children's Liturgy of the Word on those Sundays. Our Preschool through 1st graders will learn one special song and be invited forward to sing it as a Communion meditation song, while our children 2nd grade and older will sit up front and provide music for the whole Mass. As you know we have been singing the Anima Christi as our communion mediation hymn the past 8 months and the overwhelmingly positive response to this has given me great joy! This Advent, we will celebrate the motherhood of Mary s Yes to God and sing Holy Is His Name as our communion meditation song. My hope is that we will sing it with as much enthusiasm as we do the Anima Christi. This new meditation song is a version of the Magnificat, the canticle drawn from the biblical words attributed to the Mother of Christ, My soul doth magnify the Lord. The text of the canticle is taken directly from Luke s Gospel where it is spoken by Mary upon the occasion of her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith (using words partly reflected in the Hail Mary), and Mary responds with what is now known as the Magnificat. (The History and Use of Hymns and Hymns and Hymn- Tunes by David R. Breed 2009) We will resume singing the Anima Christi after Advent. Thank you! The annual Giving Tree project is in full swing! This year, expect to see nearly 800 tags from the following local agencies: Watsons Children s Shelter Mountain Home Home Community Based Services Early Head Start Council Groves Low-Income Apartments Family Promise Seattle Nativity School Heart Butte Medical Clinic We are grateful for your generosity as we provide for those most vulnerable children and families in our midst. Please note: It is extremely important that you follow the directions on each tag with regard to wrapping instructions, color-coding and the return deadline. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Each year, this project helps to define who we are as a community of faith, as we live out the Gospel. In addition to providing clothing and gifts for needy families, we also put together food boxes for them. Any leftover food is taken to the Missoula Food Bank or to the Poverello Center. We will be passing around baskets for our reverse collection during the offertory for the next two weekends. Please take a few food slips and return the items by December 14th. This year, part of the food drive includes a granola bar drive for the Hellgate High School food pantry, which serves food-insecure youth. 3

4 Please Welcome Our Newly Baptized Harrison James Hester Reminder: Please leave parking spaces available near the ramp for those who have difficulty walking or climbing steps. Thank You! Celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe El 12 de diciembre la iglesia de St. Anthony 217 Tremont Street, Missoula Mañanitas a las 6:30 pm Misa a las 7:00 pm Comida después de la Misa All are Most Welcome to Celebrate Monday, December 12th! Catholic Campaign for Human Development The collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) provides funding for groups that make lasting change and uplift the poor in the United States, such as the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative. CCHD s grants improve education, support economic development, and create affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods. Help us continue to defend human dignity and build communities of solidarity. Please give to the CCHD Collection. Home bound Ministry Christmas Remembrance Service Any parent who has experienced the death of a child is invited and welcome to attend. Date: Tuesday December 6, 2016 Time: 7-8 pm Location: Family Maternity Center Foyer, 3rd Floor Broadway Building, St. Patrick Hospital We have ministers of care available to bring Communion to friends or loved ones who are unable to attend mass. If you know of someone who would like to receive Communion at home from a qualified, caring and compassionate minister of care please call and we will be happy to help out. 4

5 SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER ~~ MISSOULA, MONTANA 420 West Pine Street, Missoula MT, , sfxmissoula.org November 27, 2016 The First Sunday in Advent Prayers May --- Chad Beers, Mike Kellogg, Remi Demblans Dechans, and Fr. Mike Smith receive His healing and consolation. Please note: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this bulletin needed to be sent to the printer on the 18th. Collections for Sunday, November 20, 2016 Will appear in our next bulletin. Thank you for your generous giving! Donate On-Line at SFX More and more churches are turning to online donations to meet the needs of parishes and parishioners. So many transactions in our personal lives are now done on-line, so why not your weekly donation to St. Francis Xavier? Take a minute to check out just how easy it is by visiting sfxmissoula.org and clicking Donate Online. You'll be directed to the WeShare Link where you can set up your ordinary donation. Thank you so much for supporting online donations at St. Francis Xavier Parish. OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Friday 8:30 am - Noon stfrancisxavier@sfxmissoula.org. Phone: Fax: Weekend Liturgies Saturday ~~~ 5 p.m. Sunday ~~ 8 am, 10 am, and 6 p.m. Weekday Liturgies Monday - Friday ~~ 8 am Confession -Saturday ~~ 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment Eucharistic Adoration Wednesday & First Friday ~~ 8:30 am - Noon on Facebook at St. Francis Xavier Church, on and on Instagram at sfxmissoula. Follow all the events, news, and photos of life here at St. Francis Xavier. Remember to add our parish App to your phone and stay connected! WELCOME! Are you interested in finding out more about St. Francis Xavier and the Catholic Church? Whether you are baptized in another denomination, have never been baptized and are exploring Christianity for the first time, or are a former Catholic pondering a return to the Church, we are happy to talk with you, answer questions, and explore the many possibilities. Find out more by calling Fr. Rich Perry, S.J., Fr. Matt Holland, S.J. or Fr. Joseph Carver, SJ. St. Francis Xavier Parish will often use parishioner likeness in print, video, website or in social media sites for the purpose of sharing our church community with others. 5

6 November 27, 2016 Religious Education Dates November 27th- NO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR CLOW (Thanksgiving weekend) YOUTH GROUP meets at CTK 29th- 1st. Reconciliation Prep.-6:30 pm - Reidy Hall December We re over twenty people strong and we will be meeting at the old Loyola building at St. Francis Xavier during the month of November. Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. 4th- Sunday School- 9 am- Loyola Building CLOW-10 am Mass Youth Group-7:40 pm-st. Anthony 11th- Sunday School- 9 am - Loyola Bldg. CLOW- 10 am Mass Confirmation Class- 3:30 PM- Reidy Hall The purpose of Ignite is gather young Catholics from throughout the Missoula area and offer them a chance to enjoy the fellowship of their peers. Each month the gathering will take place at a different parish. Please contact: Fr. Matt Holland at or him at mholland@sfxmissoula.org. We'd love for you to be part of this new and growing community! Mass Intentions for the Month of November, 2016 Mass Scriptures for the Month of November, 2016 Saturday 11/26 Sunday 11/27 Monday 11/28 Tuesday 11/29 Wednesday 11/30 For the People* Trisha Hagan Karen Ann Tabish Shirley Joyce McWilliams Mondell Metz Wayne Cole Bob Beausoleil Mass Intentions for the Month of December, 2016 Thursday 12/1 Friday 12/2 Saturday 12/3 Sunday 12/4 Monday 12/5 Tuesday 12/6 Kathleen Madison James F. Madison The Society of Jesus* For the People* Mary Zang Paula Naughton Cliff Bailey Bob Beausoleil Mass Stipend Suggested Mass stipend is $20 tax deductible... only the intangible value of prayer... 6 Saturday 11/26 Rev. 22:1-7 St. John Berchmans Ps. 95 Luke 21:34-36 Sunday 11/27 Isa. 2:1-5 1st Sunday in Advent Ps. 122 Rom. 13:11-14 Matt. 24:37-44 Monday 11/28 Isa. 4:2-6 Ps. 122 Matt. 8:5-11 Tuesday 11/29 Isa. 11:1-10 Ps. 72 Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday 11/30 Rom. 10:9-18 St. Andrew Ps. 19 Matt. 4:18-22 Mass Scriptures for the Month of December, 2016 Thursday 12/1 Isa. 26:1-6 Ps. 118 Matt. 7:21,24-27 Friday 12/2 Isa. 29:17-24 Ps. 27 Matt. 9:27-31

7 Wreaths for St. Mary s Cemetery Missoula Catholic School students are selling Christmas wreaths to support co-curricular activities. Wreaths will be delivered & placed on your loved one s grave site the first week of December. If you would like to place an order, please call Prayer for Vocations Lord of the Harvest. Bless young people with the gift of courage to respond to your call. Open their hearts to great ideas, to great things. Inspire all of your disciples to mutual love and giving --- for vocations blossom in the good soil of faithful people. Instill those in religious life, parish ministries, and families with the confidence and grace to invite others to embrace the bold and noble path a of a life consecrated to you. Unite us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament, so that we may cooperate with you in building your reign of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. Amen. westcoastvocations@jesuits.org In conjunction with Good Shepherd Travel, Fr Michael Drury is planning a trip to the Holy Land titled: In the Footsteps of Jesus scheduled for May 22 June 1, Cost of the trip is $ from Missoula with other cities available. Package price includes: roundtrip airfare, all nights accommodations in double occupancy luxury hotels, 2 course meals: breakfast and dinner daily, ten days sightseeing in modern air-conditioned private bus, English speaking government licensed Christian tour guide on duty, daily Mass, and much more. St. Anthony Parish Here is a direct link to the trip listed on Good Shepherd Travel webpage: 7