Deacon Rick Morales Deacon James Ogbonna Sacraments and Rosaries

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1 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Mary Visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-45 Divine Mercy Catholic Church 2231 Club Center Drive, Sacramento, CA Tel: (916) Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm PASTOR Rev. Soane Kaniseli Deacon Rick Morales Deacon James Ogbonna Look Inside for: Christmas and New Year s Mass Schedules On page 5 The Church Office is closed for the holidays on: Christmas Eve and Day (Dec 24th & 25th) New Year s Eve and Day (Dec 31st and Jan 1st) Sacraments and Rosaries Sacrament of Penance Saturday 3:45-4:45 PM By Appointment Call the Parish Ofc Sacrament of Baptism Every 3 rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM or within the Mass (in some special cases to be determined by the Pastor). Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 2 months before the Baptism day. Sacrament of Matrimony Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 6 months before the wedding day. Anointing of the Sick Please call the Parish Office. Rosary English: 30 mins before every Mass Spanish: Thursdays at 7:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy Immediately after every Mass Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil Mass Sunday Mass 5:00 PM 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 12:30 PM Youth Mass 5:00 PM Every 1 st Sunday of the Month followed by Eucharistic Adoration Spanish Mass Every 2 nd Sunday of the Month Filipino Mass Every 3 rd Sunday of the month 5:00 PM 5:00 PM WEEKDAY MASSES Mon - Wed - Fri 6:30 PM Tue - Thur - Sat 8:30 AM Every Friday Holy Hour 3-4 PM (Blessed Sacrament Exposed) First Friday Morning Mass 8:30 AM Exposition* 9:00 AM Benediction 5:45 PM Evening Mass 6:30 PM *Hourly Adorers needed during Exposition MISSION STATEMENT ~ To establish a faith-filled community bonded by love. To proclaim the good news, foster personal encounters with the living Christ and strengthen the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and service to all.

2 Page 2 A Familiar Home An Article Submitted by Father Michael Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever, and ever. Collect for Fourth Sunday of Advent. A Word From... house, meaning a building, but God was going to build his own house, meaning a dynasty, the House of David, that would last forever. The new translation of today s Collect should sound familiar to many Catholics. It is the closing prayers of the Angelus. The Angelus is the prayer of the Incarnation that goes back at least 700 years and for centuries been recited by Catholics three times daily: 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. Its use has fallen off in recent years, but not so long ago it was one of the most familiar prayers in our Catholic tradition. Though they don t know why, non- Catholics and even non-christians refer to church bells rung at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. as the Angelus Bells. Once more it is the person of Christ of the House of David that takes us home, takes us to the place that is familiar. A priest remembers feeling very lonely on Christmas Eve when he was a young seminarian studying in Rome despite the presence of many of his friends. After Christmas Eve dinner, anticipating attending midnight Mass at St. Peter s Basilica, most seminarians went to nap. Unable to fall asleep, the priest said he went to sit by the seminary s Christmas tree where he could simply sit in the darkness and find comfort in the tree and its multicolored lights. Another seminarian who also felt lonely found his friend in front of the tree and asked what he was doing. The priest said he told his friend he hoped that sitting by the tree would help him feel connected with home and family. The two men sat together and began singing Christmas carols. Within the hour, most of the student body had come to sit in front of the brightly lit tree and sing carols. This was fun, but still it was not home. Later that evening, the priest said, he went to St. Peter s for Midnight Mass. People from all over the earth were in attendance, so the Mass was in multiple languages. The Pope delivered his homily in Italian, which the priest said he had to struggle to follow. Finally, at the moment the Pope raised the host at the Consecration, it was instantaneous Christmas was rescued. The young seminarian found in the familiar presence of the Body of Christ the one thing that would always connect him to home. Advent preparations can help us find our sense of home. Most couples work to blend family traditions from their childhood Christmases so that each finds something familiar in their decorations and schedules. Their personal traditions learned in the past ground them once more. The point of Advent, however, is not to get the decorations hung. The point of Advent is to give Christians time to prepare spiritually for finding the familiar in the celebration of Christmas. We position ourselves to find once more the familiar and our rootedness in the reality that Christ is with us. 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 shows us David after he had become king of Israel. After many bloody battles to bring unity, there was finally peace in his kingdom. David was now able to build a palace, which he had to do. A palace speaks of power, and it can send a message of stability. It occurred to David that God needed a symbol of His power, so David proposed building a temple. Surprisingly, God refused the offer. God s power is found in what God has done, what he continues to do, and what he will do in the future. In a play on words, David wished to build God a During Advent we work hard to establish the familiar because we want everything to feel like home. Christmas trees and stockings can help, and reliving family traditions can help but these things don t last. Advent has called us to look to the one thing that has never changed and that will remain constant. If we want a familiar home, we need look no further than the house of David and the newborn king whose throne will last forever. + Having received the pledge of eternal redemption, we pray, almighty God, that the nearer the feast day of salvation comes, the more eager our progress may be toward celebrating worthily the mystery of the birth of your son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. - Prayer after Communion SAINTS AND READINGS OF THE WEEK Sunday, Dec 23 St. John of Kanty MI 5:1-4A; PS 80:2-3, 15-16, ; HEB 10:5-10; LK 1:38; LK 1:39-45 Monday, Dec 24 St. Adele Morning Mass: 2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16; PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29; LK 1:67-79; Vigil Mass: IS 62:1-5; PS 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29.; ACTS 13:16-17, 22-25; MT 1:1-25 Midnight Mass: IS 9:1-6; PS 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13; TI 2:11-14; LK 2:10-11; LK 2:1-14 Tuesday, Dec 25 St. Eugenia Mass at Dawn: IS 62:11-12; PS 97:1, 6, 11-12; TI 3:4-7; LK 2:14; LK 2:15-20 Mass during the Day: IS 52:7-10; PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6; HEB 1:1-6; JN 1:1-18 Wednesday, Dec 26 St. Stephen ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59; PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17; PS 118:26A, 27A; MT 10:17-22 Thursday, Dec 27 St. John the Apostle 1 JN 1:1-4; PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; JN 20:1A AND 2-8; Friday, Dec 28 St. Anthony the Hermit 1 JN 1:5 2:2; PS 124:2-3, 4-5, 7CD-8; MT 2:13-18 Saturday, Dec 29 St. Aileran 1 JN 2:3-11; PS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 5B-6; LK 2:32; LK 2:22-35

3 Page 3 Pray without ceasing-...i Thessalonians 5:17 STEWARDSHIP 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT Our Blessed Mother takes center stage on this fourth Sunday of Advent, and fittingly so, as we draw near to the celebration of her Son s birth. After our Lord Himself, Mary is our model and guide to a stewardship way of life. Today s Gospel passage from Luke describes Mary s actions immediately after her yes to the angel Gabriel s message. Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah and greeted Elizabeth. Mary immediately begins to think of others before herself, setting out quickly to be with her cousin, modeling two of the pillars of stewardship Hospitality and Service. What warmth and humility the Mother of our Savior shows, traveling to Elizabeth to spend time with her, rejoicing with Elizabeth over her own incredible pregnancy, and assisting her in a time of need. And what joy this hospitality and service brings to Elizabeth. Our Blessed Mother s example of a stewardship way of life is one that we, her children, can follow in our own lives today. With all the gifts God gives us our time, our talents, our material possessions we, too, can offer ourselves to God by using these gifts to serve and glorify Him. In so doing, we will effectively spread the Good News of the Gospel to the world around us today. We will be stewards after our Mother s own heart. Prayers of the Faithful, Sunday, December 23rd Like the Virgin Mary, let us pray now, trusting that the Lord's promises to us will be fulfilled. That the Church of Jesus Christ may always be joyful in proclaiming His coming. For the priests serving in the Diocese of Sacramento, that they will proclaim in their daily prayer, "Behold, I come to do your will, O God." For all those called to the priesthood or consecrated life in the Diocese of Sacramento that they will entrust their call to the Blessed Virgin Mary. That as good Christian Stewards we will always be of joyful spirit, mind and heart. That Christ, the Shepherd of all nations, will guide world leaders and their peoples in the ways of peace and justice. That as Mary helped Elizabeth, so we may help those who are pregnant to care for their unborn children. That the sick will be loved, strengthened and cared for by those around them. That those who have died may be welcomed into the life that never ends. Remembering the Sick in Prayer Father of Goodness and love, hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen Barbara Reinhart Paz Cajucom Armi Alandy Kim Torres Marlene Grimes Olivia Duran Sally Miller Eva Anchors Evangeline Zarate Arlene Alvir Elizabeth Fadrillan Jerry Biag Cynthia Fernandez Ed Tongson Gust Tulagan Brian Biag Yolanda Fernandez Laurnice Perry Enriqueta Tita Buan Linda Lechuga Virgilio Morados Araceli Barrera Doug Laird Consolacion Naniong Divine Mercy Catholic Church is not liable to users of the data or information provided herein, or to any other party, for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise, including but not limited to time, money or goodwill, arising from the use, operation or modification of the data or information. Remembering the Military in Prayer Allen Jay Cayabyab, USAF Chad Cayabyab, US Marines PO2 Stephen J Ramirez, Navy SN Samantha Chaidez, Navy TSTT Jesse R. Bose, USAF PFC Jose Robledo, US Army LCpl Alex Penick, US Marines Deven Aguiar-Frank, USAF Jonah Edward Pagala, US Navy Vincent Santos, US Air Force Capt Jessica G. Dacpano USAF

4 Page 4 WEEK AT A GLANCE Mark Your Calendars MASS INTENTIONS Sunday, Dec 23 9:00 am (P1, 2 & 3) RCIA Adapted and RCIA 2 9:00 am (P9) Confirmation Class 9:45 am (Church) Choir Practice 10:30 am (All Portables and the Narthex) CFF Class 2:00 pm (P5) Women's Welcome Meeting 2:30 pm (P3) Men's Welcome Team 3 Meeting Monday, Dec 24 4:00 pm (Church) CFF Christmas Pageant and Singing Tree Tuesday, Dec 25 Christmas Day Wed, Dec 26 9:30 am (Narthex) Divine Mercy Cenacle 5:00 pm (P1) Children s Choir Practice 7:30 pm (P5) 33 Days to Morning Glory 7:30 pm (P7) RCIA I Thurs, Dec 27 9:00 am (Narthex) Altar Society - Flower Arrangement 5:00 pm (P3) Legion of Mary 6:00 pm (Narthex & Church) Usher Training Friday, Dec 28 3:00 pm (Church) Holy Hour 7:00 pm (P7 & 8) Bible Studies For Adult Faith Formation 7:30 pm (Church) Adult Choir Practice Saturday, Dec 29 3:45 pm (Church) Confession-Fr Michael 6:00 pm (P1,2,&3) Lord's Flock Meeting The Church Office is closed for the holidays on: Christmas Eve and Day (Dec 24th & 25th) New Year s Eve and Day (Dec 31st & Jan 1st) Sunday, Dec 23 7:30 am Flaviana Biag (Birthday/Thanksgiving) Fr Michael Florita Asistido-Miller + 9:30 am Richard Gila + (Death Anniversary) Fr Soane Mary Gila + (Death Anniversary) Bibiano Tibon + (Death Anniversary) Sally Gila + (Death Anniversary) 12:30 pm Augustine Claude, Victor and Augustine Vestil Jr. +Fr Soane 7:00 pm SIMBANG GABI MASS Fr Soane Maria Corazon & Alexandra Preston (Blessings) Milagros Rosario (Healing) Monday, Dec 24 8:30 am Mayet Delfin (Thanksgiving) Fr Michael 5:00 pm CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASS (CHILDREN) Fr Michael Justina Marie Ibarra (18th Birthday) Juliana & Bernardo Torralba + David Chow + (1yr Death Anniversary) 11:00 pm CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS Fr Soane Alice & Adrian Doyle + (1 yr Death Anniversary) John Leahy, Jr & John Leahy III + (Death Anniversary) Clarissa & Tony Blas (Special Intention) Tuesday, Dec 25 HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION 7:30 am Genoveva & Ramon Carbonell + Fr Michael Fr Michael Kiernan (Christmas Blessing) 9:30 am Jhonnie Reyes (Thanksgiving) Fr Soane Maria Corazon & Alexandra Preston (Blessings) 12:00 pm Fr Soane Kaniseli (Christmas Blessing) Fr Soane Wed, Dec 26 6:30 pm Amelita Centeno + Fr Soane William Hoekstra (Birthday) Thursday, Dec 27 8:30 am Jeanne Lupien (Special Intention) Fr Soane Friday, Dec 28 6:30 pm Ellen Vlastelin (Special Intention) Fr Soane Saturday, Dec 29 8:30 am Fr Soane 5:00 pm William Ching & Family (Thanksgiving) Fr Michael Sunday, Dec 30 7:30 am Corazon Alcantara-Belen, Sr. + Fr Michael 9:30 am Augustine Claude, Victor and Augustine Vestil Jr. + Fr Soane 12:30 pm Kriss Dwight + (6th yr Death Anniversary)Fr Soane Holy Day of Obligation January 1st, 2019 New Year s Day Mass Times: 8:00 am 10:00 am

5 Page 5 Giving is Worship SHARING OUR TREASURE Fiscal Year July June 2019 Week ending December 16, 2018 OFFERTORY REQUIREMENTS (July June 2019) Average 4 week Month Requirement $ 65,000 Weekly Average Requirements $ 15,000 Week of: 2-Dec wk 1 $ 20,369 Week of: 9-Dec wk 2 $ 22,538 Week of: 16-Dec wk 3 $ 18,378 Week of: 23-Dec wk 4 Week of: 30-Dec wk 5 Total Collections This Month $ 61,285 Shortage (x,xxx) / Savings Increase $ (3,715) CHURCH MORTGAGE Mortgage Loan Balance 11/30/2018 $ 2,377,647 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH This Week: Weekend Mass attendance totaled 1, families gave 69.1% of our weekend offertory of $12,014 We are thankful to the 13 families who gave sacrificial gifts totaling $5,913 for our Mortgage Reduction collection. 111 families gave $1,406 To Angels of Mercy Special Collection 34 families gave $800 To Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival Plan ahead, sign up for On Line Giving God Bless You for Your Continuing Generosity Have your gift recorded by using envelopes. We will provide you with a record of your tax-deductible donations every year. Don t have envelopes? Call Parish office to request it s easy! Christmas Masses Monday, December 24, :30 am Mass Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Vigil Mass for Children Midnight Mass 10:00 pm Rosary 10:30 pm Christmas Carols by the Divine Mercy Choir 11:00 pm Christmas Mass Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Holy Day of Obligation Masses 7:30 am 9:30 am 12:00 pm ** NO Evening Mass ** Monday, December 31, :30 am Mass New Year s Eve 5:00 pm Mass Tuesday, January 1, 2019 New Year s Day Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God A Holy Day of Obligation Masses 8:00 am 10:00 am T4, TEA FOR U 4660 Natomas Blvd., Sacramento, CA Phone # Del Paso Rd., Ste 110 Sacramento, CA Open: 11:00 am 12:00 am EVERY WEDNESDAY, 10% of sales from parishioners and friends will go to Divine Mercy Church. Your support is very much appreciated. God bless you most kindly for your generosity. OPEN: Mon-Wed, and Sun at 11am-10 pm Thursday-Saturday at 11 am-11 pm. 15% of SUNDAY sales coming from parishioners and friends goes to Divine Mercy. Thank you for your support!

6 Page 6 Divine Mercy Catholic Church Ministries December 24 (Monday) 400 p.m. (Church) CFF Calendar December 2018 CFF Family Mass / Christmas Pageant/ Singing Christmas Tree Come and See! RCIA II in the Rectory Sundays at 10:30 am RCIA Remember auditing classes when you were in college? Well come and audit a class for RCIA II. Review what you may already know, or learn something new! December 23rd December 30th No Class CHRISTMAS BREAK NEW YEAR S BREAK Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Presentations are given by married couples and a Catholic priest. The emphasis of Worldwide Marriage Encounter is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and the tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other. A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN What: An incredible experience that will help you discover what s missing in your life and what to do about it. When: February 16-17, :00 AM Saturday-4 PM Sunday Where: Right here in the parish portables Who: Any man over the age of 18 Why: Because you deserve to live with passion and purpose. RSVP: Sign up for the Welcome Weekend at the table in the back of the church, visit for more information and the registration forms or call the parish office at Dynamic Catholic Invites you to have your.. Financial Peace University Never worry about money again! Financial Peace University will help you take control of your money, plan for your future, and transform your life. To date 41 families paid off $82, in debt; saved an additional $205,000.00; gave more money to charity and cut up 69 credit cards. All this in only 9 weeks!!! Join us - Our next class begins on Thursday night, January 10th at 7:30 pm. Please contact Michael Kemper mkemper6@gmail.com or Jeff Obrecht jobrecht87@gmail.com for more information. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7 NLT To be added to the Parish s Warrior Prayer Chain lopez-kathleen5341@sbcglobal.net dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever/welcome

7 Page 7 Divine Mercy Catholic Church Ministries COME AND CELEBRATE THE FEAST DAY OF SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO AT THE DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, TH DAY NOVENA AT 9:50 AM. MASS STARTS AT 10:00 AM. SINULOG/DANCES/SINGING/GAMES FOR CHILDREN/RAFFLE PRIZES AND LOTS OF FUN FOR EVERYONE. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE FEAST DAY December 12th, 2018 Confirmation

8 Maligayang Pasko! Felis Navidad! Monu ia e Kilisimasi! Merry Christmas! Christmas is here again! In our hearts we have prepared the way for the Lord during this great Season of Advent! Merry Christmas Divine Mercy parish members, friends, families and visitors! Please pardon my senior moments should I fail to recall some of the joyful and holy moments we ve shared during the past eleven months. As I reflect, I am reminded that although we cannot always know the will of God, we can always say that His will is always done for the good of His people and His Holy Church! Mass attendance at our church has continuously improved. The scandal of sexual abuse and cover up by many priests and bishops in the Church, understandably, opened wounds. Some of our faithful, overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal, decided to leave the Church for a while. Please join me in continued prayer for healing and change. I thank God for the gift of faith that has enabled us to endure these trials. I am especially grateful to everyone in our many ministries that by God s grace have come together and combined efforts to further the positive outcomes from giving of their time, talent and treasure. Their endeavors have enabled our parish to move forward in the right direction, toward heaven! Faith formation for both children and adults has been exceptional. I appreciate Mary Travis and her team s dedication to sharing God s love with the youngest of our faithful in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I thank God for Sr. Luz, the CFF Catechists and parents who support the Catholic Faith Formation of our older children. Thank you Dave Leahy, Youth ministry members, and Knights of Columbus for investing your time and talent for the future of our Parish, the youth and Young Adults. I am grateful to Stephanie Morisey for her devotedness to the Adult Confirmation Program as well as Richard Hack, Michael Anway and the RCIA I and II Catechists as they facilitate the program for our parish adults who are thinking about becoming full members of the Roman Catholic Church. Deacon Rick and Deacon James have been faithful in preparing parents and Godparents for the Baptism of children; Pearl Kelly, Jim Stutz and our Bible Study Group members have been phenomenal in facilitating our many important bible studies. We will experience extraordinary spiritual transformation as we become further inspired to reach the next level in our journey to heaven. Our parish Welcome Retreats for both men and women opens the door to this spiritual growth where the Holy Spirit meets you where you are. I am truly grateful for Deacon Rick, Sr. Luz, and the Continuation Team members and their dedication to the Lord and the Welcome Experience. Our Parish s financial needs continue to be a concern. But we have hope! I am indebted to Michael Woodcheke and our Finance Council members for their commitment in managing Parish finances; Jeff Obrecht and the Parish Pastoral Council members for ministering to our parish pastoral care, and the re-established Stewardship Council, under Susan Wright s guidance, as they lead us in a renewed focus on a Stewardship way of life. These councils are my major advisors. I owe these Councils and members of our many ministries a great deal of thanks. I offer my continued gratitude to those in our ministries that look for the face of Jesus in the least of us; Tess Mostajo and the Homebound ministers, Estrellita Perez and Legion of Mary members, Deacon James and the Angels of Mercy who continue to aid the needful. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of the liturgical ministry members for serving our parish in a prayerful, meaningful way and with dedication in our Celebrations. I am also grateful to our ethnic communities for their cultural contributions such as the feasts of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Santo Nino; Simbang Gabi Masses and the Novena Masses during this season. I thank the Knights of Columbus Council Grand Knight for their invaluable support of Divine Mercy Parish. I am appreciative of our behind the scenes staffs and volunteers for the care of our office, buildings and grounds. Behind every good parish community there are the silent in service to do the will of God. We re still on our way to Heaven! May God continue to bless our Divine Mercy Parish Community. May you experience the full joy of Christmas and another fruitful year! FR. SOANE T. KANISELI (PASTOR)

9 Christmas Masses Monday, December 24, :30 am Mass Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Vigil Mass for Children Midnight Mass 10:00 pm Rosary 10:30 pm Christmas Carols by the Divine Mercy Choir 11:00 pm Christmas Mass Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Holy Day of Obligation Masses 7:30 am 9:30 am 12:00 pm ** NO Evening Mass ** Monday, December 31, :30 am Mass New Year s Eve 5:00 pm Mass Tuesday, January 1, 2019 New Year s Day Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God A Holy Day of Obligation Masses 8:00 am 10:00 am

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