December 9, 2018 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. Sunday: 8am, 10am & Noon Monday: 4:30pm & 6:30pm Tuesday: 4:30pm & 6:00pm Wednesday: 5:00pm

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1 December 9, 2018 St. Jude Catholic Church Weekend Masses Daily Masses (Chapel) Pastoral Staff (Church) Reconciliation (Chapel) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Sunday: 8am, 10am & Noon Monday: 4:30pm & 6:30pm Tuesday: 4:30pm & 6:00pm Wednesday: 5:00pm Adoration (Chapel) Youth (Grades 7 & 8) Sunday, 3:15-4:30pm Monday, 6:30-7:45pm Wednesday, 6:30-7:45pm Sunday: 6:15-8:30pm Our Lady of Guadalupe Christmas Eve: Nativity of Our Lord (OBL): Solemnity of Mary (OBL): Wednesday: 7:00-8:30pm Dec 12, 7:00 pm 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm Children s Masses 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm Masses Midnight Mass 10:00 am Mass (Christmas Day) Dec. 31, 7:00 pm Anticipatory Mass Jan. 1, 10:00 am (Mary, Mother of God)

2 From the Desk of Father Abraham Thomas Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 9) Introduction: The Second Sunday of Advent challenges us to prepare a royal highway in our hearts for Jesus so that we may receive Him as our saving God during Christmas. We should also be prepared for Christ s daily coming into our lives in the Holy Eucharist, in the Holy Bible and in the praying community. Finally, we are asked to be ready to meet Jesus as our Judge on His Second Coming, at the end of our lives and at the end of the world. Scripture lessons: In the first reading, the prophet Baruch introduces Yahweh, the God of Israel, preparing the way for, and leading the Babylonian exiles to, Jerusalem. Hence, the prophet invites the weeping Jerusalem to rejoice and go to high places to watch the return of the exiles. Baruch s prophecy announces the return of the whole human race to God. During this Advent season, we, too, are asked to return to the Lord from our slavery to sin. In the second reading, Paul advises the Philippian community members to prepare themselves for Christ s Second Coming by practicing Christian love and by leading pure and blameless lives. John the Baptist, in today s Gospel, challenges the Jews to prepare their lives for receiving their long-awaited Messiah. They have to prepare their hearts for their Messiah by levelling the mountains of pride and valleys of impurity and injustice and omissions and by straightening their crooked ways. They are to get ready by repenting of their sins, renewing their lives, and expressing their repentance by receiving the baptism of repentance in River Jordan. Messages: 1: We need to prepare our hearts and lives for Jesus our Savior to be reborn in us during this Christmas time. We have to fill in the valleys of our souls, formed from our shallow prayer life and a minimalist way of living our Faith. We have to straighten out whatever crooked paths we ve been walking, like involvement in some secret or habitual sins or in a sinful relationship. If we have been involved in some dishonest practices at work or at home, we are called to straighten them out and make restitution. As individuals, we might have to overcome deep-seated resentment, persistent fault-finding, unwillingness to forgive, dishonesty in our dealings with others. And we all have to level the mountains of our pride and egocentrism by practicing the true humility of rendering humble service to others. 2: We need to repent and seek forgiveness from God and our fellow human beings: John's message calls us to confront and confess our sins. We need to turn away from them in sincere repentance and receive God's forgiveness. Next, we need to forgive others who have offended us and ask forgiveness for our offenses. We invite the community of St. Jude to prepare for Christmas by using the online and offline resource found in the bulletin and the parish website. No matter how short of a time commitment you can make, there is something for you to do. Materials for adults, children & families and young adults are can be found by clicking this icon at 2

3 Parish News Fraser Tree Prices: 5 to 6 feet = $66 6 to 7 feet = $77 7 to 8 feet = $88 8 to 9 feet = $99 9 to 10 feet = $111 Firewood: $1 per stick Nativity Sign Prices: Decors come with spotlight (no bulb) Keep Christ in Christmas = $50 Three Wise Men = $50 Animal Prices: Sheep = $5 Camel = $10 Cow = $15 Donkey = $20 November Campaign Update 2 Million 1,061, Prior Savings 1,457, Cash Raised as of 12/8 3

4 Sunshine and Rainbows OPENINGS FOR 4-YEAR OLDS If your child turned four on or before September 1st and you would like them to attend a great preschool, come and see us! We have openings in our Monday/Wednesday/Thursday and Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday programs. PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN If you have a five year old or a kindergartner that needs an extra year of growing, please consider sending them to our private kindergarten at Sunshine and Rainbows. We have openings. Make Your Holiday Shopping Count Children s Ministries 4

5 Youth Ministries Like us on Facebook at St. Jude Youth Ministry Follow us on Instagram at St. Jude Youth Ministry Follow us on Twitter at St. Jude Youth 5

6 Young Adults Each week, after the Sunday noon Mass, the young adult ministry will gather together for food & fellowship at varying local establishments. Below you will find the schedule of upcoming gathering places for those meals. The time to meet is 1:30pm. There is no need to RSVP, just show up on any given Sunday if you want to join in the fellowship and sharing a meal together. Dec. 9-5th Street Pizza Dec Italian Villa Dec. 22 Big Ray s BBQ Like us on Facebook at St. Jude Young Adults Allen, TX (@StJudeYoungAdults) Follow us on Twitter at St. Jude Young Adults Allen, TX (@StJudeYA) The Best Catholic Content All in One Place It s EASY and FREE to Register! 1. Go to 2. Click Register and enter your name, address, and desired password 3. You re all ready to access the inspiring and engaging content on FORMED! Learn more at formed.org 6

7 Upcoming & Ongoing In a society where Christmas has become for many - especially children - a secular holiday, the Knights of Columbus has introduced the Keep Christ in Christmas poster contest to allow young people to understand the true, spiritual meaning of Christmas and to engage their creative talents and imaginations. Contest Rules: The contestants will be separated into three age categories. Age 5-7, Age 8-10, and Age Poster must reflect the theme of KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS. Each poster should be the original work (including concept, layout, slogan and any visual image of a single person). Poster must be approximately 11x17 inches in size. If pastels, chalk or charcoal are used, the poster must be laminated or covered with clear plastic. Posters may be in color or black and white. Each poster must be submitted with a Knights of Columbus Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest entry form. The name and age of the person entering the poster should be included on the back of the poster. All entries become the property of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council. Posters will not be returned. St. Jude Knights Council will award monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of each age group. Poster Due Date is December 12, 2018 drop off your posters at the St. Jude Parish Office, RE Youth Office, or JYM Office. Contact Info: Joe Shankle jshankle@soccour.com

8 Stewardship Mass Intentions Sympathies Please pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of: Prayer Intentions Baptism Please welcome Legal Notice 8

9 Armed Forces Volunteer Opportunities For bulletin submissions, please Ann Mikelonis at Deadline for consideration of submissions is ten days before the week of the event to ensure that it will be posted for the upcoming weekend s bulletin. 9