THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY FOR THEIR KIND DONATIONS TO THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED!

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1 PARISH DIRECTORY Bishop Francis Kalabat Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit Fr. Pierre Konja Administrator Fr. Emanuel Rayes Retired in residence Linda Arabo Office Administrator Nancy Beba Pastoral Associate Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Tel: Fax: Ourladyofchaldeans@gmail.com ONLINE GIVING Mother of God Parish offers online giving a web based electronic contribution application that is safe and secure. you can manage contributions online or continue having your offering envelopes mailed to you. To sign up for online giving please visit our website at December 18 th, 2016 FR. PIERRE S MESSAGE TO THE PARISH 4 th of Advent (Subara) Today on the fourth Sunday of advent we commemorate 1 SAM. 1:1-18 the feast of Saint Joseph. St. Joseph to me embodies a true EPH. 5:5-21 Christian man, a man of righteousness, of integrity, of holiness, and most importantly of humility. Every generation MT. 1:18-25 and every culture and people have venerated him as one of the great Saints. He did what he had to do to serve God and the will of God with diligence and with honor. ( continued on page 2) THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY FOR THEIR KIND DONATIONS TO THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED! Stay in touch with your parish on FACEBOOK Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church 1 Mother of God Church Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033

2 THE GOOD NEWS (continued from page 1) Many people in our culture today want to refuse their responsibilities and turn down and reject what's asked of them because "it's too hard" or "because they just don't want to". St. Joseph was asked to pick up his entire family and his life and change its course and he was willing to take care of Mary and the child Jesus and with no words, did the will of God. When we pray, and reflect upon our own lives and the will of God in our lives it can be challenging to see what God wants from us. However, what is more challenging is knowing what God wants from us and having the courage and the virtue to respond generously to God. So, I have a simple challenge for everyone: take this week, the week leading up to Christmas, and be silent for a little bit of time every day. Very simply turn off your radio while driving, turn off your TV for 15 minutes, turn your phone off before you go to bed, or take anytime you can find in silence. St. Joseph is one of the greatest saints of all time and in his self reflection and silence he knew how to follow the will of God and he has been venerated for generations because of his owning of his responsibility. How are you doing the tasks of God's will in your life? How are you being courageous and generous and self sacrificial of the things asked of you by God himself? Are you selfish like the average American or are you selfless like the great Saint Joseph? Fr. Pierre Konja عيد الميالد - عيد الرجاء اليوم كما منذ ألفي سنة هناك ألف سبب لليأس والقنوط بينما نحتفل بفرح عيد الميالد ال تزال األخبار السيئة قوتنا اليومي. بلدان كثيرة تعيش أزمات سياسية وهناك مشاكل اقتصادية واجتماعية الكنيسة مضطهدة واألخبار السيئة التي نسمعها من بلداننا في الشرق األوسط ليست مفرحة. وقلبي مسم ر ومصلوب مع مسيحيي العراق واألراضي المقدسة. اليوم كما منذ ألفي سنة يحاول الشرير قتل البشرى السارة. في هذا الجحيم بالذات اتخذ ربنا جسد طفل صغير ضعيف وصار الجئ ا مثل آالف الالجئين اليوم. وأخذ يتنقل من بلد إلى بلد بحث ا عن السالم. الحمد هلل ليس العنصر السلبي هو العنصر الوحيد وليس األخير الذي نجده في خبر والدة المسيح. نرى األرض أهدت المغارة المالئكة مع الرعاة قد موا الترنيم المجوس مع النجم توجهوا نحوه. نرى أيض ا حب مريم وإخالص يوسف نجد انتباه الرعاة وابتهاجهم كما نشاهد زيارة المجوس الحكماء وال يمكننا أن ننسى األشخاص الذي استقبلوه. هكذا كان يكبر يسوع بهدوء البيت الجديد بيت يوسف ومريم في المدينة الجديدة التي سوف يصنعها والعالم الجديد الذي وعد هللا به منذ آالف السنين. إن رسالة الميالد تجعلنا ندرك ظالم العالم المغلق وتوضح بدون شك حقيقة نواجهها يومي ا. ولكنه يقول لنا أيضا أننا لسنا وحيدين في هذا العالم هناك كثر سيستقبلوننا ولن يدعونا وحدنا كاستقبال كل الذين رحبوا بيسوع. هناك أشخاص كثر اكتشفوا يسوع المسيح منذ البداية ورحبوا به وكان لهم خالص ا. لنستقبل نحن أيض ا المسيح الطفل الجديد عبر كالم اإلنجيل عبر هذه الذبيحة إن نور الفادي سيدخل حياتنا. إخوتي وأخواتي فلنطلق على طريق نور المسيح الوليد الجديد وعلى طريق رسالته. إننا مدعوون للخروج من حبسنا من رغباتنا ومن مصالحنا الشخصية. مدعوون إلى التوجه لمالقاة هللا وعبادته. وذلك من خالل االنفتاح على الحقيقة حقيقة يسوع المسيح أوال. رسالة الميالد هي رسالة الرجاء كل شيء سوف يتغير نحو األفضل. عيد ميالد الرب يقدم لنا ألفي سبب للرجاء. O blessed St. Joseph, pray for us " ف ط وب ى ل ل ت ي آم ن ت أ ن ي ت م م ا ق يل ل ه ا م ن ق ب ل الر ب" لوقا :1 2

3 PARISH SCHEDULE AND WEEKLY INFORMATION BAPTISM: We celebrate Baptism at 2:00 pm on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Please call the parish office at least two weeks in advance to see if a date is available. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Please call the parish office to make arrangements for Anointing or to receive the Eucharist. MARRIAGE: Please schedule at least six months before you plan to be married and before you make arrangements for the reception, please call the parish office to make an appointment with the priest to begin the necessary preparations. LITURGICAL SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 PM English Sunday Masses 8:30 AM عربي/ Arabic 01:11AM English 11:30 AM Morning Prayer 12:00 PM سورث/ Chaldean 7:00 PM English Weekday Masses 8:00 AM English at ECRC 9:30 AM Morning Prayer 10:00 AM سورث/ Chaldean NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES First and third Wednesday of every even month from 7:30-9:30 pm. MARRIAGE CLASSES First, second and third Thursday of every odd month from 8:00-10:00 pm. Wednesday 5:00 PM Adoration 6:00 PM English Mass Confession 5-6 pm Wednesday 6-7 pm Sunday (or by appointment) YOU CAN LISTEN TO MOG SUNDAY HOMILIY BY VISITING OUR CHURCH WEBSITE AT: FINANCIAL STATUS Sunday Goal: $7,000 Sunday Collection (December 11 th ): $2,845 Over/(Under): ($4,155) Monthly Online Donation Goal: $4,000 Monthly Online Collection (November): $1,237 Over/(Under): ($2,763) *Sign up for online donation at 3

4 THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PART ONE THE PROFESSION OF FAITH SECTION TWO THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH CHAPTER ONE I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ARTICLE I "I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH" Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth 350 Angels are spiritual creatures who glorify God without ceasing and who serve his saving plans for other creatures: "The angels work together for the benefit of us all" (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I, 114, 3, ad 3). 351 The angels surround Christ their Lord. They serve him especially in the accomplishment of his saving mission to men. II. THE VISIBLE WORLD 345 The sabbath - the end of the work of the six days. The sacred text says that "on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done", that the "heavens and the earth were finished", and that God "rested" on this day and sanctified and blessed it. 213 These inspired words are rich in profitable instruction: 346 In creation God laid a foundation and established laws that remain firm, on which the believer can rely with confidence, for they are the sign and pledge of the unshakeable faithfulness of God's covenant. 214 For his part man must remain faithful to this foundation, and respect the laws which the Creator has written into it. 347 Creation was fashioned with a view to the sabbath and therefore for the worship and adoration of God. Worship is inscribed in the order of creation. 215 As the rule of St. Benedict says, nothing should take precedence over "the work of God", that is, solemn worship. 216 This indicates the right order of human concerns. 348 The sabbath is at the heart of Israel's law. To keep the commandments is to correspond to the wisdom and the will of God as expressed in his work of creation. 349 The eighth day. But for us a new day has dawned: the day of Christ's Resurrection. The seventh day completes the first creation. The eighth day begins the new creation. Thus, the work of creation culminates in the greater work of redemption. The first creation finds its meaning and its summit in the new creation in Christ, the splendor of which surpasses that of the first creation. 217 IN BRIEF 352 The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being. 353 God willed the diversity of his creatures and their own particular goodness, their interdependence and their order. He destined all material creatures for the good of the human race. Man, and through him all creation, is destined for the glory of God. 354 Respect for laws inscribed in creation and the relations which derive from the nature of things is a principle of wisdom and a foundation for morality. Paragraph 6. Man 355 "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." 218 Man occupies a unique place in creation: (I) he is "in the image of God"; (II) in his own nature he unites the spiritual and material worlds; (III) he is created "male and female"; (IV) God established him in his friendship. I. "IN THE IMAGE OF GOD" 356 Of all visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator". 219 He is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake", 220 and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life. It was for this end that he was created, and this is the fundamental reason for his dignity: What made you establish man in so great a dignity? Certainly the incalculable love by which you have looked on your creature in yourself! You are taken with love for her; for by love indeed you created her, by love you have given her a being capable of tasting your eternal Good

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