29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) December 9, 2018 Second Sunday of Advent

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ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at www.stbrendanparish.

org December 9, 2018 Second Sunday of Advent Forgiveness On The Trip Home Last week in our new message series for Advent and Christmas that we re calling, Family Matters: Bring Home The Hygge (a

1 ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) December 9, 2018 Second Sunday of Advent Forgiveness On The Trip Home Last week in our new message series for Advent and Christmas that we re calling, Family Matters: Bring Home The Hygge (a Scandinavian word for comfort or coziness ), we reflected on being with family over the holidays. In particular, we discussed getting prepared for those encounters by: (i) acknowledging that the trip home may be less than perfect in some respects; (ii) having confidence that God will see us through the inevitable family squabbles that will arise; and (iii) determining to love our families no matter what. This week, we turn our attention to the next leg of the journey home for Christmas. Before we come upon certain family members during the holiday season, it s a good idea to work on forgiveness for past misunderstandings and painful episodes in our family relationships. This is especially true during a season in which the Church celebrates the coming of the Prince of Peace into a world so often torn by strife and division. In the first reading this week, the prophet Baruch encourages the Jewish people by promising that God remembers them in their pain and one day will lead his people home. He will gather them from the East and the West and bring them back to their homeland in Jerusalem. Each year the holidays call us home to family. Sometimes that can be a painful ritual that recalls bad memories and uncomfortable experiences. In the gospel reading for today, John the Baptist calls the people to repentance for the forgiveness of sins, in order to prepare the way of the Lord to return to their lives. The ancient Israelites were a big extended family. The twelve tribes of Israel descended from twelve brothers, the sons of the patriarch Jacob. In many ways, it was a seriously dysfunctional family. Jacob tricked his father to get what rightfully belonged to his brother, Esau. Jacob s own sons sold one of their brothers, Joseph, into slavery. Ultimately this family dysfunction reached a fever pitch in a civil war between the northern and southern tribes that permanently destroyed the nation s greatness. God is gathering you back to your family as he did the ancient Israelites. Before you go home this Christmas, prepare yourself for the process of forgiveness. To the extent you are able to repent of resentment and anger, you will be much happier this holiday season. As Saint Paul says in the second reading, may your love... increase ever more and more, because the holidays are a time for forgiveness and everyone needs to forgive someone. Listen live or online to our Sunday message this weekend for practical advice on how to forgive those in our families who have hurt us the most, and then bring home the hygge of the intimacy and warmth that comes from true forgiveness.. Father Roger Gustafson, Pastor

2 Making Church Matter Welcome Aboard! If this is your first time to Saint Brendan or your first time to church in a long time, we re glad you re here! We are a cozy community of believers who seek to find our way in life by following Jesus together, and we want you with us on the journey. Explore some possible next steps for you below. We re here to help. If you have any questions, stop by our welcome desk located at the entrance to the church, check out our website at or just give us a call. Become Part of Our Church Family Come aboard and navigate life with us. As a member, we ask that you take steps to grow in your discipleship. In fact, STEPS is an acronym for how to become a better disciple of Christ. As a member, we'll ask that you consider: S - Serving in a ministry T - Tithing & Giving E - Engaging in a small group P - Practicing prayer, including regular Sunday worship with us S - Sharing your faith by inviting your friends and neighbors to church If you think you're ready to become part of our church family, stop by our welcome desk at the entrance to the church before or after any Weekend Mass. Serve in Ministry & Mission We know many things compete for your attention. But we also know you ll never really be happy until you begin serving others and putting your love to work. There are so many opportunities to make a difference: Help make Sundays an irresistible celebration by joining our Sunday Liturgy Support Ministry. Help children, teens, and adults on their journey of faith by joining our Faith Formation Ministry. Keep parishioners and visitors connected to one another by joining one of our Parish Life Ministries. Take the love of Christ to people who are suffering by joining one of our Outreach Ministries. Whatever God is calling you to do, take that next bold step in faith. Explore our website for more information or just call us. We re happy to get you connected!

Featured NewsNews & Events & Events UNDER FIVES CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday, Decemb

Santa, Christmas carols, and great food marks this annual celebration for our tiniest parishioners.

THERE S ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR AT SAINT BRENDAN S!

at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL December 16, after 9:30 a.m. Mass The annual Christmas Pageant will take place at the December 24 Christmas Eve Liturgy.

Please contact Tara Donohue: tdonohue@zephyrsf.com. SAVE THE DATE!

3 Featured NewsNews & Events & Events UNDER FIVES CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday, December 16, 5:00-7 :00 p.m. Santa, Christmas carols, and great food marks this annual celebration for our tiniest parishioners. Join the Under 5 s group for a Christmas extravaganza in the Church Hall. All are welcome! THERE S ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR AT SAINT BRENDAN S! Join us for our new Mass time with high-energy contemporary Christian music, dynamic video presentations, and lighting at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL December 16, after 9:30 a.m. Mass The annual Christmas Pageant will take place at the December 24 Christmas Eve Liturgy. All children are welcome to participate. One rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 16, after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Please contact Tara Donohue: tdonohue@zephyrsf.com. SAVE THE DATE! Saint Brendan s Marriage Enrichent Small Group invites all married couples to a romantic date night featuring guest speaker Ray Guarendi, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host who has appeared on EWTN and Oprah. The evening will include cocktails, appetizers and a three-course dinner. Tickets go on sale early January and space will be limited, so mark your calendars now!

4 Featured Article O, So Hyggelig: Colorful Christmas Family Traditions Advent is such a short season. Already, it is time to light the second candle on the Advent wreath, marking only a few short weeks until the arrival of Christ. As Christmas approaches, let us continue to bring hygge that indescribable sense of coziness, warmth, and light that beckons us out of the darkness of winter home to our families with great Christmas family traditions, one of which is decorating our homes with the beautiful colors of the season. As a tiny oasis of purple, green, and pink nestled in the reds, greens, golds, and whites of Christmas, all of which are as rich in meaning as they are in hue and saturation, the Advent wreath is a perfect example of the meaningful colors at Christmastime. The purple candles, for example, represent the fasting and repentance of the Advent season, reminding us of the powerful, prayerful focus of the season, so easily forgotten in the rush to Christmas. Purple is also the color of royalty, reminding us of the sovereignty of Christ whose birth we await. Some churches have begun to use blue candles instead of purple candles, to distinguish Advent from Lent, but both are acceptable. Blue can signify the color of the night sky, so prevalent in the winter months, or the waters of creation that we read about in the first chapter of Genesis. The pink candle represents joy, marking the halfway point of the season, reminding us that our vigilant watching and waiting has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. When Christmas day arrives, we can fully envelop ourselves in the reds, greens, whites and golds that announce Christ s birth to the world. White and gold are the traditional feast day colors in the Catholic church, symbolizing light, innocence, purity, joy, and triumph white or gold vestments are worn by priests during Mass for the seasons of Christmas and Easter, and most other feasts in the church, barring some exceptions to the rule. However, red and green have a long history too dating back, like the Advent wreath, to the Winter Solstice celebrations held by pre-christian Roman and Germanic peoples. Red and green have long been used as representatives of the holly leaves and berries, the green symbolizing life in the darkest of winters and the red symbolizing the berries and the promise of a bountiful spring. When Christians adapted these celebrations, they retained the use of red and green. For Christians, it took on additional meanings. Holly is associated with the crown of thorns of Jesus, the spiny leaves similar to the thorns and the red berries like the blood that dripped down his face as he carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Red is also seen in bishops and cardinals vestments and has strong connections to the Holy Spirit. It s likely, though, that red and green became the true colors of Christmas (at least in the secular sense) because of a 1931 Coca-Cola ad, with a right, jolly old elf robed in red. Claire Kosewic, Staff Bulletin Writer

Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor.

5 Stewardship Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares them generously in love of God and neighbor. Stewardship is not about money or fundraising. It is a spirituality. It is a way of life. A steward recognizes that God is the source of all life and every blessing and that all gifts of time, talent, and treasure come from God. A steward is grateful for those gifts. A steward takes care of and increases those gifts and freely gives back the first and best portion of those gifts to God. Prayer Is Stewardship In A Hygge Way As we prepare for Jesus s birth this second Sunday of Advent, we can reflect that stewardship is spirituality, a way of life, a conscious choice. We consider giving of our time, talent, and treasure in many ways. We can donate money, volunteer at many worthwhile charitable organizations, or put our skills to work to make life better for others. Giving of our time means not only volunteering and performing helpful tasks for our neighbors, or people who need some kind of assistance, but also praying for their spiritual, material, or financial needs. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10) In our second reading St. Paul tells us, I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:4). Do we pray for understanding and acceptance of God s will, being generous with our time, talent, and treasure, being patient and willing to help others as much as we can, even when it s inconvenient, or even when we don t really want to? Until Jesus comes again, we must remain faithful to him as true disciples and good stewards of all he has given us. We don t need to be perfect, we just need to try and do it, as we are all works in progress. At the end of our lives, we will not be judged on our successes, but rather on our efforts, faithfulness, love, willingness, and sincerity. So may we stewards spend time praying for those in need. Let us pray like Saint Paul, that our love may increase ever more and more in knowledge, and enjoy every kind of perception to discern what is of value (Philippians 1:9-10). Let s try to bring all of us, those within and outside our families, back to the Lord for this wonderful Advent season! Whatever blessings God has given you, we invite you to make a planned, proportionate, and sacrificial financial commitment to this parish and to the poor that will endure. NO SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK SUNDAY COLLECTION December 2, 2018 GOAL $ 9,500 TOTAL $ 11,399 Over $ 1,899 Bringing spiritual support and comfort to others; how hygge is that? Jim Wollak, Parishioner

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SAINT BRENDAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Church School Convent 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Rectory Phone: (415)

org 940 Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. (415) 731-2665 www.stbrendansf.

(415) 681-3465 MASSES Sunday: 7:30, 9:30,11:30 AM, 5:00 PM Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM 5:00 PM Holy

Wednesday: 7:00-8:00 PM Saturday: 4:00-4:45 PM BAPTISMS & WEDDINGS For information, please see our website at www.

Gallion Birthday) Tuesday Open Open Wednesday Weekday David L.

Roger Gustafson FatherRogerGustafson@gmail.com Parochial Vicar (415) 681-4225 Fr. Celestine Tyowua Ext.

org Children s Faith Formation Carol Grewal (415) 969-6814 faithformationsbsf@gmail.

dlakatta@stbrendansf.com Friday Open Open Weekend Parish Manager (415) 969-6815 Lisa Rosenlund lisa@stbrendanparish.

8 SAINT BRENDAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Church School Convent 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Rectory Phone: (415) Mon - Thurs: 8:30 am - Noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sun: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco CA Tel. (415) Canossian Sisters 234 Ulloa Street San Francisco CA Tel. (415) MASSES Sunday: 7:30, 9:30,11:30 AM, 5:00 PM Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM 5:00 PM Holy Days: 6:30 AM, 8:15 AM and 6:00 PM CONFESSIONS Saturday: 4:15-4:45 PM Wednesday: 7:15-7:45 PM EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Wednesday: 7:00-8:00 PM Saturday: 4:00-4:45 PM BAPTISMS & WEDDINGS For information, please see our website at or call us at (415) MASS INTENTIONS (December 10-16, 2018) 6:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Monday Open Special Intention (John D. Gallion Birthday) Tuesday Open Open Wednesday Weekday David L. Alvers (D) Open Thursday Open Jana Klanjac (D) STAFF Pastor (415) Fr. Roger Gustafson FatherRogerGustafson@gmail.com Parochial Vicar (415) Fr. Celestine Tyowua Ext.214 oryina2000@gmail.com Member & Volunteer Care (415) Sr. Angela Furia, FdCC srangela@stbrendanparish.org Children s Faith Formation Carol Grewal (415) faithformationsbsf@gmail.com Music Ministry (415) Mario Balestrieri School Principal (415) Dianne Lakatta dlakatta@stbrendansf.com Friday Open Open Weekend Parish Manager (415) Lisa Rosenlund lisa@stbrendanparish.org SAT 8:15 a.m. SAT 5 p.m. SUN 7:30 a.m. SUN 9:30 a.m. SUN 11:30a.m. SUN 5:00 p.m. Janina Lupa (D) Angelo & Mario Ordano (D) Jim Sullivan Robert Mullan Paul J. Herlihy (D) Adelaida Lagunbay (D) Financial Administrator (415) Maeve O Reilly maeve@stbrendanparish.org Administrative Assistant (415) Vera Gonzalez vera@stbrendanparish.org

29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA Tel. No. (415) August 19, 2018 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

ST. BRENDAN CHURCH Share these articles with your friends online at www.stbrendanparish.org. 29 Rockaway Avenue San Francisco CA 94127 Tel. No. (415) 681-4225 www.stbrendanparish.org August 19, 2018 Twentieth