St. Jude Catholic Church Grand Rapids, MI

Transcription

1 St. Jude Catholic Church Grand Rapids, MI 4+-18, 2. Get this FREE newsletter ed to you...contact Mary Ellen at the Parish Office by calling (616) or by to From the Director of Faith Formation GREAT NEWS!! The copies of The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity have arrived. We would like to thank Clem Schwartz a generous donor who provided money for the books so that all of our parishioners and Christmas visitors would have a book to read over the Christmas break. See if you can find what is the biggest lie in the history of Christianity. You will need to read a few chapters before you find out! The FREE copies for pick up will be in the back of church starting December 15. This week s Gospel reading from Luke continues the story of John the Baptist, who gives his listeners some advice about how to live their lives. It is not too late for you to sign up for Dynamic Catholic s BEST LENT EVER daily videos if you haven t already done so. You can view the previous episodes by clicking on the link which says previous episode. Kindly your comments and suggestions to cschwartz@stjudes.net The Price of a Miracle December 13, 2018 Vol. 5 Issue 50 Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday This week we would like to share with you a video that you can view on You Tube... This short film captures the essence of giving when a young boy embarks on a quest to save his sick sister. "A miracle is an event which creates faith." - George Bernard Shaw Click the link below to view the video... What kind of miracle will you bring to someone this week? May all of us have the faith of this child! Do something this week for someone who is in need. Break into your piggy bank. Wait the Lord Whose Day is Near Listen to this song and sing along with refrain. CVzjlf795ZaKtgeRc3m7_ Living the Liturgy at Home During dinner this week, begin a conversation with your family about the Gospel. Discuss the choices you make as a family and how they impact other people. If each member of your family had the chance to ask John the Baptist the question posed to him in the Gospel? What would he say to each of you? Advent Prayer Lord God, It's hard to wait. All around me Christmas is in the stores, on radio, and TV. Give me the patience to await your coming and to recognize you. O Wisdom, God who teaches us how to live, O Ruler of the House of Israel, God who gave us the Ten Commandments, O Root of Jesse, God who is all loving, O Key of David, God who freed us from sin and darkness, O King of the Gentiles, God who created us from dust, O Emmanuel, with the Church and the world I pray, Come Lord Jesus, hurry to save us. Amen. Table of Contents Advent 1 Parish Calendar 3 Gospel Summaries 4 Vatican News 6 Living the Word 7 Weekly Lesson Plans 8 CIC Schedule 10

2 If you are using an Advent wreath in your home here are the prayers for the Third Week of Advent - Gaudete Sunday Leader: May the Lord's love shine in our hearts. All: And may His peace be with us all. Leader: The Lord is our faith and our life. All: Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. Two purple candles and the rose-colored candle are lit by the mother and allowed to burn as before. Leader: Let us pray: that we may grow in love for each other as the Lord comes to us. Pause for silent prayer. Father in Heaven, may we Your family who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of Your love and celebrate His birth with a new sense of love for each other. All: Amen. Suggested Readings from the Holy Bible: Isaiah 9:6-7; John 1:19-34 ; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Philippians 2:1-11 The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity Is Here at St. Jude Parish The 240 FREE copies of The Biggest Lie in Christianity are here and available in the back of the church starting December 15. Get your FREE copy before they're gone! Mathew Kelly continues his commentary on his new book. A Bigger, Better Future Everything great in history has been built by people who believed the future could be bigger than the past. Do you believe the future can be bigger than the past? For your little church? Or your big church? In your community? Do you believe the future can be bigger than the past for yourself? For your marriage? For your family? For your society? For a nation? Do you believe the future can be bigger than the past? Everything great in history has been built by people who believe the future can be bigger than the past. In 1963, Martin Luther King didn't get up on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and say I have a strategic plan. He said, I have a dream. And, outside of the Bible, they re some of the most quoted words in the English language since he spoke them. Why? Because we all do. After free will, the ability to dream is one of the greatest gifts God's given humanity. We have this ability to look into the future, to envision a bigger, better future, and then come back into the present and work in the present to make that bigger future reality. We have the abil ity to dream. It's time to dream. It's time to imagine a bigger future, and it's time for you and me to do our part in creating that bigger future to collaborate with God in powerful ways to create a bigger future. Where should we start? Let's start with you, let's start with me, and let's start in your church this Christmas. Bishop Barron s Sunday Radio Homily Our Gospel for this third Sunday of Advent is of extraordinary importance, for it speaks to us of the transformation, the transfiguration of the self, which is unique to Christianity. To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be immersed in the ocean of the divine love. When we are dipped into this reality, we become capable of something that neither Aristotle nor Plato nor the Founding Fathers nor the prophets themselves dreamed possible: we can love with the very love of God.

3 December 13 th Thursday * 8:30 am School Mass in the church * 6:30 to 8:00 pm Fund Raiser - Kelly Conference Room * 8:00 to 10:00 pm Men s Basketball in the ASA gym December 14 th Friday * 8:30 am Mass in the chapel * 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Giving Tree Wrapping - Brophy Center hallway December 15 th Saturday * 2:00 pm Confessions * 4:00 pm Vigil Mass December 16 th Sunday * 8:30 and 10:30 am Masses * 9:00 to 11:00 am Sunday Services - Northeast Community Church of Christ in the Gym/Family Center * 10:30 am Mass: Lord s Lambs and Children s Liturgy of the Word * 12:00 to 2:00 pm Adult Choir in the church lower level * 5:00 to 6: 45 pm Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) - Kelly Conference Room * 5:30 to 7:00 pm Sunday evening classes for public school students in grades 1-8. Sue Wuorinen, Evangelization & Youth Coordinator (616) Cell: (616) swuorinen@stjudes.net Go online to or contact Sue Wuorinen at: (616) , ext or swuorinen@stjudes.net Go online to to view the calendar of events or contact Sue Wuorinen at: (616) , ext or swuorinen@stjudes.net December 17 th Monday * 8:30 am Communion Service in the chapel * 7:30 to 9:00 pm Mothers of Grace - Youth Room and ASA Library December 18 th Tuesday * 8:30 am Mass in chapel followed by Birthday Coffee - Brophy Center * 1:00 to 3:00 pm ASA Penance Service in the church * 6:30 8:45 pm Home & School Meeting in the ASA Library * 7:30-8:45 pm Men of Emmaus in Millennium Conference Room * 8:00 to 10:00 pm Men s Basketball in the ASA Gym December 19 th Wednesday * 8:00 am Senior Men s Club - Thaddeus Center * 8:30 am Mass in the chapel * 6:30 to 8:45 pm Support Group - Thaddeus Center * 6:00 to 8:30 pm Choristers and Adult Choir in the church lower level

4 3rd Sunday of Advent-Gaudete Sunday December 16 This Sunday's Gospel continues last week's focus on John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Christ. Recall that last week's reading described John's appearance in the desert and established his connection with the prophetic tradition of Israel. If we were to read Luke's Gospel continuously, we would learn about John the Baptist challenging the crowds who came to him and calling upon them to show evidence of their repentance. John tells his listeners that they cannot rely on their lineage as Israelites because children of Abraham can be raised up from stones. Repentance, rather, must be observable in one's actions. Here, Luke is continuing to set up two important themes of his Gospel message: the Christian faith is expressed in one's actions, and the call to salvation is extended to everyone, Jews and Gentiles. In today's Gospel reading, the crowds ask John the Baptist for specifics. What evidence of repentance is required? John replies by naming concrete actions: crowds should share their food and cloaks; tax collectors should be just; soldiers should act fairly. The concern for justice is a hallmark of Luke's Gospel. When the crowd begins to wonder if John the Baptist might be the Messiah, John interprets his baptism and makes it clear that his ministry is in preparation for the Messiah. John the Baptist knows his place and role in God's plan of salvation. By encouraging the crowd to act similarly in accordance with their stations in life, John's teaching suggests that each person has a role to play in God's salvation. It is the great mystery of our salvation that God permits and even asks for human cooperation in his divine plans. The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that means rejoice. This name is taken from the entrance antiphon for Sunday's Mass, which is also echoed in today's second reading from the Paul's letter to the Philippians. Some people mark this Sunday by lighting a pink candle instead of a purple one on their Advent wreath. It is a reminder that the Advent season is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand. Read the Sunday Gospel Read the Gospel from your Bible, or go to USCCB.org for the readings: Luke 3: Read the Gospel John the Baptist teaches the path of repentance and announces Christ. What is the message and how can you respond to it? The theme of the season of Advent is sometimes described as a period of waiting for the birth of Jesus. However, today's Gospel reading suggests something different. John the Baptist did not tell the crowds to wait for the Messiah. He told them to prepare for the Messiah through acts of repentance. If Advent is a time of waiting, it is not the sitting in the doctor's office kind of waiting. It is a busy time of preparation, more like the waiting we might do when preparing for dinner guests. Our challenge is to not make this season a frenzied time, but rather a time of joyful anticipation and making ready for God who comes to dwell among us and changes our lives with the gift of salvation. Apply that message to change your attitude or behavior. As you gather as a family, talk about the preparations your family is making during the season of Advent. Reflect together on these activities, not only on what you are doing but why you are choosing to do these things. Read together today's Gospel, Luke 3: Consider how Advent is a time for making ourselves ready to receive Jesus in our lives. Could your family make some changes in your Advent activities so that each person is well prepared to celebrate the gift of salvation at Christmas? Conclude in prayer together that your family will be able to live the spirit of Advent. Sing together an Advent song, such as O Come, O Come Emmanuel or pray together today's second reading, Philippians 4:4-7, as you light the third candle on your Advent wreath. Did You Know...that each person has a role to play in God's salvation? It is the great mystery of our salvation that God permits and even asks for human cooperation in his divine plans. Examination of Conscience... Do I rejoice in Advent as my Salvation is near? Am I joyful in my faith? Do I spread the joy of the good news of salvation to others? We would like to acknowledge the following publisher we have used with permission sections from its publication: Celebrating the Liturgy for Junior High Copyright, 2017 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. All rights reserved. Orders Permission to publish granted by the Most Reverend Francis J. Kane, DD, Vicar General Archdiocese of Chicago, on February 6, 2017

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6 Pope Francis: Advent demands conversion, recognizing our mistakes Holy See Affirms the Importance of the U.N. Human Rights Declaration '/ Vatican City, Dec 9, 2018 / 06:46 am (CNA).- Advent is a time of waiting and expectation, Pope Francis said Sunday, but this season also requires a journey of conversion. To prepare the way for the Lord who comes, it is necessary to take into account the demands of conversion, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 9. Conversion requires changing your attitude, Francis explained. It leads to humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities, and defaults. The pope focused on the invitation of St. John the Baptist, who proclaimed a baptism of repentance as a voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. The Baptist invited the people of his time to conversion with force, vigor, and severity, Francis said. Yet he knew how to listen, he knew how to perform gestures of tenderness, gestures of forgiveness towards the multitude of men and women who came to him to confess their sins and be baptized. Even today, the disciples of Jesus are called to be his humble, but courageous witnesses to rekindle hope, the pope said. The pope suggested that each person asks, How can I change something in my attitude to prepare the way for the Lord? One necessary step is making concrete gestures of reconciliation with our brothers, asking for forgiveness of our faults, he explained. The Lord helps us in this, if we have good will. New York City, N.Y., Dec 10, 2018 / 03:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Seven decades after its proclamation, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still being hailed as a great triumph achieved at a tremendous cost, in the words of St John Paul II. The landmark declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris Dec. 10, It includes a preamble and 30 articles that provide for individual freedoms, denounce torture and slavery, and affirm the equal dignity of all people. The Vatican s diplomatic representative to the United Nations recently praised the declaration, saying the anniversary presented an opportunity to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, but also warned that parts of the world are experiencing the consequences of failing to uphold those rights. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, offered his reflections at a Dec. 4 conference commemorating the document s 70th anniversary. Since Auza was in Katowice, Poland for another conference, his remarks were read by Msgr. Tomasz Grysa. The conference was jointly hosted by the Holy See and Alliance Defending Freedom International at the UN headquarters in New York. He said the then-recent atrocities of the Holocaust and two World Wars had revealed that there are some actions so wicked that no one can or will justify them, and certain fundamental values that no one will dispute. Archbishop Auza hearkened back to St. John Paul II s praise for the declaration, which he offered a year after being elected Bishop of Rome. When Pope John Paul II spoke to the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1979, he called [the declaration] the 'fundamental document,' the 'basic inspiration and cornerstone of the United Nations.

7 LIVING THE WORD: December 16, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday Zephaniah 3:14-8a Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18 Click on Bishop Barron s Radio homily: Pray with the Word (Pray with this text before and after attending Mass.) Loving Father, you gave us your Son to be the light of the world and the Peace of every nation. May we discover the strength of this light alive in our hearts and try to live our lives in a peaceful and loving way in all we say and do. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Gospel Prepare for the Word (Before attending Mass, reflect on these questions to help prepare to hear the readings.) What do today s readings teach you about the Christian life? What gifts has God blessed you with this year? Make a list. What are some areas in which you can more intentionally rejoice rather than complain? Reflect on the Word (After attending Mass, read this reflection. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday (pronounced Gow-day-tay), which means rejoice in Latin. You could practically feel the writer of today s First Reading tingling with anticipation and joy in God s promise that salvation would come for his people and would be fulfilled in Christ. People waited for centuries for the Messiah to come! Today we are incredibly blessed to look back with gratitude to that first Christmas, and to know that Christ with us now. The incredible gift of the Eucharist is Christ s very being poured out for us. We have the fullness of what people longed for and waited for many years. Ponder this great gift of Christ in the Eucharist. In today s Gospel John the Baptist in the Gospel offers very practical advice on what the fruit of this fulfillment of our hope should be: we are called to share everything we have with others. We should be generous with our materials goods and give of our very selves. In the Second Reading, St Paul exhorts the Philippians to be generous a direct result of our joy in Christ should be kindness to all. Just as Jesus poured out himself on the Cross, we are called to pour out ourselves to those around us in love. This will bring us true and lasting peace. Act on the Word (Use these ideas to act on the readings during the week.) Give or make a gift for someone who is in need. If doesn t have to be expensive. It could be as simple as sending a thoughtful card. If you are creative you will find plenty of opportunities. Research local crisis pregnancy centers and nursing homes. You could also give to an elderly friend, a grandparent, a parishioner who is grieving a lost of a family member or friend, someone who doesn t have many friends. Or give your time by caroling at a nursing home or serving at a soup kitchen, like God s Kitchen. Be a light of Jesus in this darkness of sin and selfishness. The Catholic Faith on Demand...thousands of movies, books, audios and more... ALL FREE WHEN YOU REGISTER & LOGIN Click in this Link: You'll see this box All you have to do now is click on REGISTER NOW and create a login ID and Password (NO Parish Code Needed) If you are already registered Click Here... and enter your Login ID and Password to access the site.

8 Saint Alphonsus Programs & Activities for Seniors 55 + St. Alphonsus Parish at 224 Carrier NE provides activities on Mondays and Wednesdays each week. All programs take place in the Parish Center. Everyone 55+ is welcome including non-parishioners. For more information or to RSVP contact the Senior Program Voic at or phone this number to obtain the Calendar of Events or vscholten18@gmail.com Weekly Lesson Plans for Dec. 16, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3) Begin with song: Ready the Way Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings Ask: Do you recall the Advent wreath. Younger children may struggle to be patient when they have to wait. You can support them by teaching them about the joyful and active waiting we do as we prepare to celebrate Jesus birth. Say: This is the third Sunday of Advent. We light three candles on the third Sunday, two violet (purple) candles and the rose (pink) candle. We need to wait to light the fourth candle. Ask: When do we light it? (in a week, next Sunday) Say: Sometimes it can be hard to wait. Imagine if we just sat here all week waiting to light the candle. That would not be fun! But waiting can be joyful. Say: The season of Advent is a time of joyful waiting as we prepare to welcome Jesus. As we light another candle on the Advent wreath, we remember that Christmas is getting closer. In today s Gospel, we hear John the Baptist tell the crowd that there are things they can do to prepare as they wait for Jesus. Read today s Gospel, Luke 3: Then watch this video clip: Say: John the Baptist tells the crowd to share what they have and make other good choices to prepare for Jesus. There are things we can do during Advent to prepare to celebrate Jesus birth. We can pray. We can help our families. We can share. What is something you can do this week to prepare to celebrate Jesus birth? (Accept reasonable responses.) Conclude in prayer together thanking God for the gift of his Son, Jesus, and telling him you will wait joyfully to celebrate his birth. Pray the Sign of the Cross. Conclude by singing Lord Jesus Come Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5 and 6) Begin with song: A Voice Calls Out in the Wilderness Say: Each of our choices has consequences. Sometimes our choice to do one thing leads us to other choices that we didn't see at first. Older children still struggle with patience as they experience the need to wait for things in their lives. We can help them understand that some situations require a different kind of waiting than others. During Advent, we prepare the way of the

9 Lord with an active waiting. Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings Say: Often we have occasions that require us to wait for someone or something. But these experiences can be very different. Let's think about this. Ask your children to compare the following situations: How does waiting for an appointment at a doctor's office compare with waiting for a visit from a friend? To help us consider this question, let's think about the following: How might you feel in each situation? (You are probably looking forward to your friend's visit. You may or may not be looking forward to the doctor's appointment.) What might you be doing while you wait? (At the doctor's office, you might not do anything in particular, or you might read to pass the time. While waiting for your friend, you might be getting things ready.) Both situations require us to wait, but how might we summarize how these two situations are different? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Say: Advent is the season in the Church year that focuses on the experience of waiting. We think about how the Israelites waited for the Messiah. We think about how we wait for Jesus to come again in glory. In today's Gospel, we get some clues about what kind of waiting experience this is to be. Invite one of your children to read today's Gospel, Luke 3: Then watch this video clip: Ask: Which groups question John? (the crowds, the tax collectors, the soldiers) How does John respond to each of these? (To the crowds, he says share what you have with others. To the tax collectors, he says be just. To the soldiers, he says be fair.) John teaches that there are things people must do to prepare for the Lord. Ask: Which kind of waiting experience is more like Advent waiting for a doctor's appointment or waiting for a friend's visit? (waiting for a friend's visit) Why? (It is something we look forward to; there are things we are supposed to do during this time of waiting.) Say: Advent is a time of active waiting as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth and await his coming in glory. What are some things you might do during Advent to prepare for the Lord? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Suggest that each of your children choose one thing to do during Advent to prepare the way of the Lord. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help make and follow through on our commitment to prepare the way of the Lord during Advent. Pray the Lord's Prayer. Conclude by singing Phil Wickham - O Come O Come Emmanuel - Lyrics Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8) Begin with song: A Voice Calls Out in the Wilderness As young people continue to mature, they learn about the challenges of forgiveness and reconciliation that require us to make changes in our lives. We can use Advent's focus on repentance to teach the importance of the call to individual conversion. Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings Say: There are many situations that occur in our lives where we might have to apologize to someone or another person might have to apologize to us. Which apology sounds more sincere: when a person says, I'm sorry or when a person says, I'm sorry I called you a name. I know that this hurt your feelings, and I'll try not to do it again. (the second one) What is the difference between the two apologies? (The second one is more specific.) Say: Apologies often sound more sincere when we can be specific about what we are sorry about and then identify specific changes we will try to make to act differently in the future. In today's Gospel, we hear people ask John the Baptist what is needed for their repentance. Let's listen carefully to this Gospel. Say: During the season of Advent, the message of John the Baptist is particularly appropriate. During Advent, we seek forgiveness of our sins as we prepare for Jesus' coming. To help us hear better John's message, let's try to be advertisers and write the message of John the Baptist in the form of a slogan so that people might better hear this message today

10 Invite one of your children to read today's Gospel, Luke 3: Then watch this video clip: Ask: Which groups question John? (the crowds, the tax collectors, the soldiers) How does John respond? (To the crowds, he says share what you have with others. To the tax collectors, he says be just. To the soldiers, he says be fair.) Say: John makes specific, concrete suggestions for each of the groups who question him. Our desire to make ready for Jesus will be more sincere if we can identify one specific change we might make in our lives to prepare the way of the Lord. Ask: What is one specific change you might make during Advent to prepare for Jesus? Allow time for the your children to consider this question silently. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help us in our commitment to make this one specific change in our lives. Pray together the Act of Contrition. Conclude by singing Phil Wickham - O Come O Come Emmanuel - Lyrics Ask your children: to prepare slogans for the season of Advent that echo the message of John the Baptist. Or what might be a headline is a newspaper telling the story about what John the Baptist told people to do. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help us hear and respond to the message of John the Baptist calling us to repentance. Pray together the Act of Contrition. Conclude by singing Ready the Way Located inside Cathedral Square Suite 2A 360 Division Ave South, Grand Rapids, MI SCHEDULE OF EVENTS for January, 2019 The following is a partial list of events scheduled at the Catholic Information Center located in Cathedral Square on Division at Wealthy in downtown Grand Rapids. For information, phone the CIC at (616) Register online: Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning - Main Class Series $135 per Couple Monday, January 7 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Register at Financial assistance available contact Julie Cook at Julie_r_cook@yahoo.com CIC 360 Division S Grand Rapids The Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a Fertility Awareness-Based Method for tracking fertility. Engaged & married couples are invited to learn this 99% effective, 100% natural alternative to birth control that is church-approved. Single women are also encouraged to register and gain insight into their cycles and overall health. Holy Brew for Adults in their 20s and 30s: What s Brewing in Your Life? (Jan.) Thursday, January 10 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm With Fr. René Constanza, CSP, Sr. Maria Serra Garcia, FSE & Fr. Michael Hennessy, CSP CIC 360 Division S Grand Rapids I Believe in the Holy Spirit. They are words we say together in the Creed every Sunday. We say it when we make the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Yet, how much do we really know about the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity? Actually, here s a better question: how much can we know about the Holy Spirit? Together we ll look at and discuss what scripture says about these questions. We ll reflect on ways that we can pray to and with the Holy Spirit. Advance Registration Required: Call or register@catholicinformationcenter.org