S. E H C. We Welcome new members to our parish. Registering helps us know you are one of us. Please contact the Rectory Office.

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1 Third Sunday of Advent December 17th, 2017 S. E H C 220 E B S L Mission Statement We, the community of St. Elizabeth empowered by the Holy Spirit, are the instrument that enables all, bound together in love and thanksgiving to realize that the Lord is our Savior. This is achieved through worship, the proclamation of the Word, mutual concern and service. Rectory 179 Hussa Street Phone Rectory Office Hours. Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 Emergency Fax Religious Education Parish ... SEHPLinden@gmail.com Parish Website... Pastor Rev. Edgardo P. Jocson Parochial Vicar Rev. Alexander Cruz Permanent Deacon Deacon John Bejgrowicz (Retired) Music Director Raymond Bassford Executive Assistant Debbie Mastroeni CCD Coordinator Eva Tripodi Trustees Ann J. Ferguson Edward A. Esposito Eucharist Saturday Evenings... 4:00 pm Sundays 8:00, 10:00 am & 12:00 noon Weekdays... 8:00 am & 12:05 pm Saturdays... 12:05 pm only First Friday...11:00 am Holy Hour Holidays... 9:00 am only Ministry to the Sick Reconciliaon Monday Saturday After the Noon Mass Saturday 3:00 3:45 pm or call for an appointment. Homebound Please let us know of any parishioners, unable to attend church wishing to receive the Sacraments - Anointing of the Sick & Communion. Hospital Visitation Present privacy regulations require the family to notify the parish of hospitalized parishioners. Please call the Rectory Office to arrange a visit. Bapsm Contact the rectory Office for date and Preparation Class Parish Membership We Welcome new members to our parish. Registering helps us know you are one of us. Please contact the Rectory Office. Marriage Contact the Rectory Office at least one year in advance.

2 Third Sunday of Advent December 1617, 2017 Saturday December 16th 4:00 pm Ann & Frank Borowicz Sr. ~ Donna & Richard Borowicz 8:00 pm Simbang Gabi Filipino Mass Sunday December 17th 8:00 am People of the Parish 10:00 am Barbara A. O Halloran ~ Ann Hajkowski 12:00 pm Thomas H. Crowhurst ~ wife Judy Monday December 18th 8:00 am Frank J. Polacik ~ Tom, Debbie, Joy, Garrett, Carson, Brian & Kristen 12:05 pm Margaret Ella Sullivan ~ Michelle Sarasti Sullivan Family Tuesday December 19th 8:00 am Thanksgiving for Birthday of Grover Viernes ~ Jnn & Camille Viernes 12:05 pm Sr Evelyn Francis, O.P. ~ sister, Doris Wednesday December 20th 8:00 am Isabel Laos ~ Genaro & Paola Sanchez 12:05 pm Rev. Msgr. Joseph Petrillo ~ Doris Thursday December 21st 8:00 am Frank J. Polacik ~ Carol Warren 12:05 pm Avia Bulger ~ Gary Hayden & family Friday December 22nd 8:00 am Irmene Olman ~ Calixte & Guerline 12:05 pm Harry & Anne Venezia ~ Jutka Saturday December 23rd 12:05 pm Anne Rossillo ~ Minerva Alicea & Linda Heckilen Fourth Sunday of Advent December 2324, 2017 Saturday December 23rd 4:00 pm Special Intentions for Thomas & Family ~ Aunt Sunday December 24th 8:00 am William F. & Catherine Talbot ~Family 10:00 am Ralph & Mary De Rose ~family 12:00 pm Special Intentions for Thomas & family ~Aunt 4:00 pm In Thanksgiving for all our Blessings ~ Diane & Ann Marie Bednar 12:00 am Christmas Mass Remembrance ~ People of the Parish Weekly Memorials Altar Candles Rev. Msgr. Joseph Petrillo ~ Doris Altar Bread & Wine William F. & Catherine Talbot ~ family The donation for the Sanctuary Lamps and the Altar Candles are $10.00, the Altar Bread is $15.00, and the Altar Wine is $ The flowers for Blessed Virgin Mary & St. Joseph are $45.00 St Ann are $ The Tabernacle is $45.00 and the Cross is $ Please stop by the Rectory to reserve any of the above items. Readings for the Week of December 17, 2017 Sunday Is 61:12a, 1011/Lk 1:4648, 4950, 5354 [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:1624/Jn 1:68, 1928 Monday Jer 23:58/Ps 72:12, 1213, 1819 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1825 Tuesday Jgs 13:27, 2425a/Ps 71:34a, 56ab, 1617 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:525 Wednesday Is 7:1014/Ps 24:12, 34ab, 56 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:2638 Thursday Sg 2:814 or Zep 3:1418a/Ps 33:23, 1112, 2021 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:3945 Friday 1 Sm 1:2428/1 Sm 2:1, 45, 67, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46 56 Saturday Mal 3:14, 2324/Ps 25:45ab, 89, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk 21:28]/Lk 1:5766 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT First Reading: I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. (Is 61:10) Second Reading: Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes 5:1618) Gospel: John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." (Jn 1:2627) WELCOME TO THE FAMILY Baptisms are performed on all Sundays except for the second week of the Month. Please call the Rectory and make an appointment with a priest to help guide you through this sacrament For the Dearly Departed We offer our condolences to the families and friends that have lost a loved one. May the soul and the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God, rest in Peace

3 D 17, 2017 R "There is one... coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." Untying sandal straps was no prestigious job. In the days of John the Baptist, those straps would have been especially unpleasant to deal with. Besides the usual odors that accompany sockless leather footwear, there would have been the grime and dirt from the sandy roads and paths that swirled around the people who went everywhere on foot. Taking off someone's shoes upon their arrival was the task of the lowly servants. So when John says he's unworthy of doing this task for the "one who is coming after me," he is putting himself in a very humble position. And rightly so. John realizes that the Christthe Anointed One, the Messiahis so far above him, so far above any of us, that we are truly unworthy of him. Indeed, the Son of God is not just the greatest of men; he is Godmademan and in his presence we most appropriately should bow in humble homage. Yet this God chose to stoop down to our human level and walk among us. He chose to get his sandals dirty. And still today he chooses to allow us to encounter him as a friend and companion. But as John reminds us by his example, this encounter with the Lord is not the result of our own merits or accomplishments. We are sinners who stand in need of Christ's help. But thanks be to God, he is always willing to extend this help to us. As St. Paul says in today's epistle, "May the God of peace make you perfectly holy." Indeed it is God who does the perfecting, not us by our own power. So let us approach the Lord this Advent season with a spirit of hopeful humility, trusting that God alone can make us worthy of welcoming his Son. Stewardship of Treasure For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 Offertory Collecon 12/10/2017 Weekly Collecons $ 4, Assessment Collecon $ Fuel & Heat Collecon $ By Mail $ Weekly Envelope Users If you currently are not using envelopes please call the rectory and we can easily get you signed up. Please keep in mind that if you are moving make the Rectory aware. We need to keep are records current and to let the envelope company know of the change of address or to discontinue, thanks. This week 12/10/2017 Please use Weekly and Christmas Mass Remembrance Next week 12/17/2017 Please use Weekly and Fuel & Heat Thank you in advance for your generosity The Centennial Plaza In the vestibule please find forms, if you are interested in memorializing a loved one, remembering your family or just wishing St Elizabeth well. There are pavers, two lampposts and benches. The form will allow you to inscribe in the spaces for proper printing. The costs are as follows: Pavers are $ Lamppost are $2, Benches will be $3, Please call the rectory if you have any questions December Up Coming Meengs CCD / RCIA 2MidYear Confirmation InterviewRectory1pm 39:009:50amTenth Class 91:00pmConfessions in ChurchGrades 3, 4, 5 109:009:50amEleventh Class 161:00pmConfessions in ChurchGrades 6, 7, 8 179:009:50amTwelfth Class 10:00amCCD Community Mass 24NO CLASSCHRISTMAS BREAK 31NO CLASSCHRISTMAS BREAK Organizaons/Associaons Finance Council TBD 7 PM Rosary Altar Society Mar 6 7 PM Liturgy Commiee Jan 8th 7 PM Building and Facilies Mar 19th 7 PM Pastoral Commiee Mar 4th 7 PM (All meeng take place at Rectory, Rosary call Joanne Badalis ) When it is the depth and power of God that stirs, is there anything of which love is incapable? Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa Pastor Fr Edgardo Jocson, Pastoral Vicar Rev Alexander Cruz Rectory #

4 Prayer for Advent Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do Seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things Look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways Long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, Yet seeking the light. To you we say, Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS As Christians, we are called to a life of prayer. This is not just during seasons like Advent, but all year long. When we talk about being prayerful everyday stewards, we are speaking about cultivating an awareness of God being with us at all times. Each day we begin by offering God the entirety of our day. Each night we rest in him and hope that the hours that passed gave him glory. During this busy time of Advent, it is hard to cultivate this life of prayer, but without it we can too easily lose sight of the reason for the season. It is during this time of year we need to heed the words of St Paul more than ever when he wrote to the Thessalonians, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing." This is how we will be able to avoid the pitfalls of consumerism and secularism and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Bring Jesus with you into the office Christmas party. Take him with you shopping for gifts in the department store. Be aware of him when you sit down to watch television specials you have seen every year of your life. Give him all your time and let his presence fill your every moment. By striving to be connecting with Jesus at all times, you will bear greater fruit and the joy you experience will be much greater than you could imagine. You might even spend fewer dollars and spend more time with those you love, particularly the One who loves you the most, the Incarnation himself. I PLACE MUCH OF MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER. (Pope John Paul II) Our Holy Father invites all married couples to experience the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, which is a fantastic gift of the Catholic Church Now that the kids are back in school and your calendar is full of their activities, where have you put time for your spouse and your Marriage Relationship? How about making some time to enrich your Marriage by attending a Marriage Encounter. It s a wonderful time to rekindle communication and enjoy a weekend away. Contact Mike and Janet Turco at or or njwwme@peoplepc.com for more information. LIVE THE LITURGY INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK John the Baptist came to testify to the light, who is Jesus Christ. Like John, we are called to testify to that same Light. We do so by living lives of faith and bringing the joy of the Gospel to everyone we meet. We are people of joy who rejoice at his birth and eagerly await his coming again. We share that joy by tending to the needs of the poor, helping those who are broken, and witnessing to the freedom that a life in God brings. May we take our task of being joyful witnesses to the good news seriously as the celebration of Christ's birth fast approaches. Sharing God Blessing Meeting Our Parish Goal Thank you for supporting the 2017 Annual Appeal. Our parish will receive a rebate if we exceed our goal by December 31 st. If you have an outstanding balance on your pledge, kindly make sure to send your donation before the deadline. If you have not yet made your gift, please complete your gift envelope as soon as possible and either send it directly to the Archdiocese of Newark or turn it in to the parish. We are able to achieve our goal when everyone does their part. In addition to the programs and ministries directly supported by the Annual Appeal, there are opportunities to benefit our own parish as well! Once a parish achieves their goal, 62% of all funding above that goal will be returned to the parish in the form of a rebate. If we were to reach our goal the parish receives a rebate. This is done every year. There are churches that use this as their fundraiser Currently, our parish has reached 68.88% of our goal in funds received for this year s Annual Appeal. Your gift truly makes a difference. For those who have supported this effort, THANK YOU for your generosity. For those who have considered making a gift, or are considering an end of year gift, we invite you to view this year s video to learn about the impact your gift will make. You can view it online at There is a saying you can t spend a dollar twice, this program allows you to help others and a reward comes back to the church.

5 GIVING TREE Thank you for generosity to our annual giving tree. Your gifts are being delivered this week so the recipients will get them by Christmas. Simbáng Gabi(Filipinofor "Night Mass") is a devotional9 day seriesofmassespracticed Roman CatholicsandAglipayansin thephilippinesin anticipation ofchristmasand to honor theblessed Virgin Mary. This is similar to the 9day series of dawn masses leading tochristmas Eve practiced in Puerto RicocalledMisa de Aguinaldo. The Simbáng Gabi Masses in the Philippines are held daily from December 1624 and occur at different times ranging from as early as 03:00 to 05:00PHT. [1] On the last day of the Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas Eve, the service is instead calledmisa de Gallo(Spanishfor "Rooster's Mass"). The Simbang Gabi originated in the early days ofspanish rule over the Philippines as a practical compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the noonday heat out in the fields. It began in Priests began to say Mass in the early mornings instead of the evening novenas more common in the rest of the Hispanic world. This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature ofphilippine cultureand became a symbol of sharing. If you are new to the parish, welcome!!! If you would like to register Please feel free to call us or fill in the form below Name Address City Phone Address You can drop this off in the basket and we can follow up with you The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord s birth on Christmas. As we enter into Advent let us focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas) With your generous donations, our latest deposit in our WALS saving account is $32, During Lent we were able to replace the kneelers with new cushions and a durable fabric that will last for years to come. The first few pews were cut away to allow ease for our funerals. In addition we are able to have an open and welcome altar for our wedding couples. Over 200 parishes have completed their efforts toward the We Are Living Stones Campaign, and God has certainly blessed the work of His People. The Campaign continues to move strongly towards its goal of $90 million, with over $83 million in pledge commitments to date. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese have broken ground on various capital projects with over $19 million already distributed to qualifying parishes. The We Are Living Stones Capital Campaign continues to focus on strengthening our parishes while building a bright future for the entire Archdiocese we ask that you continue to pray for the success of this campaign both at your local parish, as well as at your neighboring parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark. Thank you for your consideration and your participation in this endeavor. Our goal is $450, to date we have $201, in pledges and $112, in collected donations. For those of you that are still thinking about your contribution you can call the office with any questions WHY DO WE DO THAT? CATHOLIC TRADITIONS EXPLAINED Question: On many Sundays, especially during Advent and Lent, we hear a reading from one of the prophets. What is significant about them for us? Didn't Jesus fulfill all their predictions? Answer: Lent and Advent are the times of the church year when the prophetic word forms an important part of the liturgical season. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, and Zephaniah are just some of the prophets who offer powerful and essential lessons for Christians of any era. Prophets do not predict the futurethey are very much concerned about the present, calling Israel to follow once again the word of God. The prophets witness to a life of faith. In the midst of an intense relationship with God, the prophets are very aware of their unworthiness to embrace this call from God, and struggle to accept the mission God entrusts to them. The prophets speak on behalf of God. Each testifies that the word spoken is not from them, but from God. This lands them in trouble, at times, with their audience. Jeremiah, for example, felt betrayed by God as the prophetic message was delivered. People did not like the message because of their sinfilled lives and their displeasure was taken out on the prophet. While tempted at times to throw in the towel, the prophets remained true to the life of faith and persevered in the proclamation of God's word. In modeling these virtues and calling us to greater fidelity, the prophets offer an example and message that are still important to us today.

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