A Merry Christmas, an eternally Happy New Year.

Transcription

1 DECEMBER 23, 2012 P AGE My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I pray that this Christmas may be filled with many blessings for you and your family. May the Divine Infant Jesus watch over you and your loved ones. Through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus and other kind parishioners we will soon have a beautiful marble statue of the Divine Infant in the church. As we look upon our Infant King, let us pray for the children and the others who lost their lives in Connecticut. Let us also pray for the unborn: that their inalienable right to life will be protected and cherished. Every month (which we began this month) between the 17 th and 25 th we will have a novena to the Infant Jesus. Interestingly enough, this goes back to a very early tradition at St. Gregory the Great parish, which I found in a booklet dated From that booklet, may I make the Christmas greetings of Fr. William Ring, the pastor at the time, Fr. Raymond Smith and Fr. Werner Hackert, the associates, my own. That God may give you fully the joy of being a Catholic because He gives you life and the Promise of Life Everlasting: that God may continue you living by His Spirit in good health, in a worthy church, in a fit home, with decent clothes, with sufficient food, having good friends who will rejoice in your good fortune and strengthen you in ill: that God may continue in you by His Spirit the blessings of this life forever, is our sincere wish when we say: A Merry Christmas, an eternally Happy New Year. Speaking of statues, you may have noticed that St. Anthony has returned and that we have a new addition: St. Thérèse of Lisieux (January 2, 1873-September 30, 1897), or St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, which was donated by Mr. Mazzolini. Thérèse was born Marie-Francoise-Thérèse Martin, was a French Carmelite nun. She is also known as the: Little Flower of Jesus or simply, The Little Flower. If you are wondering about Mary, she is still undergoing repairs but will be returning soon. Finally, as we prepare to close this year, might I ask, most humbly and sincerely, that you consider your beloved parish in your end of the year giving? We are very much in need of your generosity to help us in educating our children in our Academy and in providing the many other services that our parish provides. Your generosity will help us to continue to proclaim and witness to the Love of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus in our area. Thank you so very much for considering your parish. I thank you for your contributions to Rooted in Faith and ask your continued goodness. On behalf of Father Winkel, Deacon Chordas, Mr. DiBacco, our seminarians Brother Daniel and Abbé Weaver, the entire staff, and for myself, may you have a most Blessed Christmas. May the Blessings of the Infant King be with you this Christmas Season. Father Ireland 1545 South Green Road ~ South Euclid, OH ~ Phone: office@sacredheartofjesusparish.org ~ website

2 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT PAGE 2 Fr. Dave R. Ireland, S.T.D. Pastor Fr. Thomas J. Winkel, M.Div. Parochial Vicar Deacon David N. Chordas, M.A. CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE... Masses for the Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord are: 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ~ preceded by carols at 9:45 p.m. Masses for Christmas Day are 8:00 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. ONLY There will be no 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 6:45 a.m. 8:00 a.m. (ONLY on the First Saturday of the month. Mass is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form. First Saturday Devotions follow Mass.) 4:00 p.m. (Vigil) Sunday: 8:00, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Monday Friday: 6:45 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. (8:45 a.m. Fridays during school year) Holy Days: Consult the bulletin CONFESSIONS Saturday: 2:30-3:30 p.m. or by appointment New to the Area? Moving? Recently Married? Changed Address or Phone Number? PLEASE notify the Parish Office ( ) Holiday Office Hours... Father Ireland, Father Winkel, Deacon Chordas, and the entire Parish Office Staff extend to you our sincerest wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. Our office will be closed from 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 23, until 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 27. We regret any inconvenience this may cause, and we thank you for your kind understanding. Merry Christmas from All of Us. Lord, May our Generosity extend to our Neighbors... Thanks to your generous contributions, our Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to assist local individuals and families within our parish boundaries who are in need. We ask your continued support of our work by using the special envelope for the Fifth Sunday of the month dated December 30th. All contributions are used to assist those in need and to continue God s mission. If you are in need or know of someone in our parish who is in need, please call the Parish Office and a member of the SVDP Society will contact you. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, please join us at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. We gather in the St. Gregory the Great meeting room of the rectory. Thank you also for your continued prayers. The shepherds came, they saw and were changed. Christmas reminds us that faith, like peace, is a gift and also a commitment. Parish Office Hours Monday-Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bulletin Deadline: Sunday, 1:00 p.m., for publishing the following Sunday. New Parishioners Registration after each Sunday Mass in the Parish Office, or by appointment. Baptisms: First and third Sundays of each month at 1:00 p.m.. Pre-registration required. Parents expecting their first child should arrange to attend the required Pre-Baptism class. These are offered at the parish on the 4th Sunday of January, April, July and October at 1:00 p.m. in Mary s Room. Pre-registration is required. Call the Parish Office. Marriages: Engaged couples should make their arrangements with the priest at least 6 to 12 months in advance of their wedding. Holy Communion for the Homebound: Please call the Parish Office whenever a family member is seriously ill or hospitalized. Arrangements can be made to bring Holy Communion to the homebound weekly or monthly. Music Director: Mr. Thomas Adamowicz Funerals: Call the Parish Office to arrange date and time. Sponsor Requirements: All requests for sponsor certificates must be directed to a priest. Individuals must be registered and practicing members of this parish, at least 16 years of age, and have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation, and if married, the marriage must have been accepted by the Catholic Church. Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy 4478 Rushton Road, South Euclid, OH , FAX office@sacredheartofjesusacademy.org Website: sacredheartofjesusacademy.org Principal: Mr. William DiBacco PSR Religious Education Classes Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. For Information about the program call the Parish Office ( ) Sts. Margaret and Gregory Credit Union 1499 Dean Drive, South Euclid, OH , FAX Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

3 DECEMBER 23, 2012 P AGE 3 Christmas Greetings From AbbÉ Matthew Weaver... Dear Faithful of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Merry Christmas to all from Gricigliano! May the blessings of the holy Infant Jesus fill your souls with joy on this most holy day of His virgin birth. Each year, holy Mother Church presents anew this most awesome reality for us to adore: Jesus Christ, God the Son, eternally begotten of the Father, by the power of the Holy Ghost, united His divine self to our humanity and was brought forth from the ever-virgin womb of Mary Immaculate to redeem us from our sins. When we look upon a likeness of the Holy Infant this Christmas, lying in the manger, may our hearts bow before Him in adoration, thanking our Infant King for what He has done for us: He has come to pay a debt that He did not owe, because we owe Him a debt that we could never pay. Humbly therefore, let us adore Him! In this Year of Faith proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI gloriously reigning, let us turn our minds to the Crèche in Bethlehem, and with joyful hearts, may we offer to Jesus Christ, our Holy Infant King, our thanks and adoration. Wishing you and your loved ones every grace and blessing this Christmas, while confiding your intentions and our parish to His most loving Sacred Heart, I remain, Yours most devotedly, Abbé Matthew Weaver Christmas Greetings From Brother Daniel Bowen, OdeM... My dearly beloved friends in Christ, Once again we recall the hope-filled blessings of the Nativity of our Lord. This is a wonderful time to reflect upon all the blessings that we have to be thankful for. It is in this spirit that I recall the blessings of my most wonderful Sacred Heart of Jesus family. Thank you for all your continual prayers and support, this season, as well as all these past years. Thinking of you, and holding you all in prayer, I joyfully look forward towards my final semester of studies at the seminary. This is good news, indeed, and a reminder of our Lord s greatest gift given to me, yet a blessing poured out for you and for others: the gift of a call to the vocation of religious life and the priesthood. I am thankful to God and I wish each and every one a most blessed and joyous Christmas season and happiest of New Years. God love and God bless one and all. To Jesus, through Mary, Brother Daniel Bowen, O. de M.

4 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT PAGE 4 December : $11, wk average 2012: $11, December 18,2011: $11, wk average 2011: $11, During these days when so many are experiencing burdensome demands upon their energies and moneys, may we continue to make that decision to live out our faith, by being generous with our time, our talents, and our financial support of our parish. God Bless You! Father Ireland...from the voices of the children These good deeds for God were among those written by the children who used their offering envelopes this week. Trying hard in school. Reading to a freind. Helping my great-grandma at the nursing home. Being good at Mass. Thank you, children, for sharing these. Father Ireland THIS WEEK S READINGS... Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 Monday: Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 Wednesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Mt 10:17-22 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Friday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Mt 2:13-18 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Lk 2:22-35 Next Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14/Col 3:12-21 /Lk 2:41-52 Liturgical Publications Inc Watch Special EWTN Christmas Prgramming! Join EWTN Global Catholic Television Network in celebrating the birth of the Christ Child. EWTN is proud to bring you LIVE Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses from Rome and the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. Watch EWTN on Time Warner Cable channel #18, DISH Network channel #261 or DIRECTV channel #370. Program Schedules are available in the back of the Church. For more information, go to SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS EVE WITH POPE BENEDICT FROM ST. PETER S BASILICA IN ROME LIVE Dec 24, 4:00pm; ENCORE on Dec 25, 8:00am & 7:00pm. SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS EVE FROM THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEP- TION, WASHINGTON, DC LIVE Dec 24, 10:30pm. URBI ET ORBI FROM ST. PETER S SQUARE: THE POPE S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE & BLESSING TO THE WORLD LIVE Dec 25, 6:00am; ENCORE 10:00pm; Dec 27, 2:00pm. SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTMAS DAY FROM THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEP- TION, WASHINGTON, DC LIVE Dec 25, 12:00pm. WILL YOU BE ONBOARD???... Can You give a hand with a donation to our statue Repair Fund? While the statue of Our Lady is being repaired from her fall from her pedestal last summer, we decided to have her hands and the hands of St. Patrick (statue is located by the Rushton Road entrance to the Academy) repaired also. Both sets of hands have been in need of repair for many years. We would welcome any donations that you are able to make to offset these additional expenses. The dates are April 1 to 14, 2013 Cost is $4,699 per person for air and land costs combined. The tour will take you to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Galilee, Capernaum, Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Assisi, and Venice. You can view the entire trip and itinerary at In the menu on the home page select Trips with our Priest,, then simply enter Father Ireland s name in the search field in the upper right hand corner. For more information, contact Proximo Travel 857 West Boylston St. toll free: Worcester, MA Anthony@Proximotravel.com

5 DECEMBER 23, 2012 P AGE 5 LITURGICAL MINISTERS WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 29 AND 30, 2012 Sanctuary Group #3 EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS Maria Gibson LECTORS OF HOLY COMMUNION SERVERS VIGIL: 4:00 p.m. L. Hart K. Berlin A. Onutz M. Guzan J. Novinc DJ Lasher SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. T. Bell K. Casella K. Gallito M. Weldon J. & S. Matz 10:00 a.m. E. Seddon B. Mapel D. Miklic R. Gibson ~ Adult Servers ~ 11:30 a.m. B. Poelking L. Poelking M. Capichioni P. Urbon B., K., and M. Best 5:00 p.m B. J. Kennedy T. Miller C. Cullen C. Welsh R. Benda L. Weise Monday, December 24, 2012 Late Advent Weekday Vigil of Christmas 6:45 a.m. In Thanksgiving for all Blessings 4:00 p.m. Celebrant s Intention 10:00 p.m. Celebrant s Intention Carols begin at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, December 25, 2012 The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 8:00 a.m. Celebrant s Intention 10:00 a.m.. Celebrant s Intention 11:30 a.m. Celebrant s Intention Wednesday, December 26, 2012 St. Stephen, the First Martyr 6:45 a.m. Thanksgiving & Praise 12:10 p.m. Amelia Prcela Thursday, December 27, 2012 St. John, Apostle & Evangelist 6:45 a.m. August & Marie Cole 12:10 p.m. Kennedy Elizabeth Novak Friday, December 28, 2012 The Holy Innocents, martyrs 6:45 a.m. The Thomas Family 12:10 p.m. William A. Molnar (Anniversary) Saturday, December 29, 2012 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Optional: St. Thomas Becket, Bishop/martyr 6:45 a.m. Leontine Caito 4:00 p.m. Elizabeth M. West Sunday, December 30, 2012 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 8:00 a.m. Harry & Agnes Murphy 10:00 a.m Anthony M. Mangino 11:30 a.m. Patricia Novak 5:00 p.m. Parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus In your charity, please pray for Joann Casa and Mary Curreri who died recently. May God grant His comfort and peace To their families and friends who now mourn their deaths. Mark your Calendars If you are planning to marry at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in 2013, you are required to fulfill the Diocesan requirement of attendance at a one-day program for couples seeking to marry in the Catholic Church. Our Pre-Cana team will offer a one-day program on Saturday, March 2, here at the parish beginning at 8:30 a.m. Preregistration is required. Cost is $80/couple. To ensure a place in the program, please call the Parish Office ( ) now to register. If you know of couples who are trying to locate a parish offering this one-day program, please let them know of our date. For more detailed information or to pre-register, you may also call Anne McCarron ( ~ evenings). Our Adult Ed Series on Catholicism will be on hiatus until Thursday, January 3, Merry Christmas ~ Happy New Year!!!

6 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT PAGE 6 YEAR END GIVING... Looking for a way to boost your charitable giving line item on your 1040 this year? Please, consider an extra donation to your parish. We continue to experience a decline in the weekly offertory contributions and will find it difficult to meet our financial obligations and support the Academy in the future if this trend is to continue. Your generosity is always sincerely appreciated. It is easier than ever to remember that weekly contribution to your parish. On-line banking is the easiest. Just make our parish one of your payees on your list, and when you pay bills, make a payment to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish also. If you don t do on-line banking or you don t do computers at all there is the option of arranging a direct payment through the Credit Union. If this appeals to you, please stop by the Parish Office or the Credit Union to pick up an application. We have a number of families already taking advantage of this convenience. Any of the employees of the credit Union will be happy to assist you. Call or stop by their office any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or Saturday 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. REPORTING CONTRIBUTIONS & YEAR-END TAX STATEMENTS... The IRS has very clear rules as to when a charity can recognize a year-end gift. Checks must be written, dated, and postmarked by December 31 to qualify as a 2012 gift. All checks collected in the offertory baskets must be recorded as contributions on the date they are received, regardless of the date on the check. This year all 2012 contributions must be received by the parish no later than Monday, December 31. As in the past, we will not mail out year-end tax statements to parishioners unless we are requested to do so. Please call the Parish Office ( ) if you need a statement, and we will be happy to prepare one for you. Tax statements will be available beginning February 1, NSF & RETURNED CHECK SERVICE CHARGE Are you aware that as in your household, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is charged a $30 fee for every single check, regardless of its amount, which we deposit that was drawn on an account having insufficient funds? This is to advise that should this happen with your check, you will be requested to reimburse the parish for this service charge. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. FAMILY PERSPECTIVES... Jesus was born into a family. Because of His birth, not only was the world changed ~ the role of family life was also profoundly changed. Every family is called to recognize, value, and nurture the presence of God in their midst. ST. VINCENT DEPAUL WANTS YOUR OLD CAR... Donate your used car, van or pickup truck to the SVDP Car Donation Program and avoid the hassles and headaches of trading it in or selling it yourself. Your vehicle will be sold, and the proceeds will be used by the St. Vincent depaul Society in the Diocese of Cleveland in their charitable programs that assist the needy and suffering. You may also be eligible for an income tax deduction. To donate your vehicle, call , St. Vincent depaul Society, USA, or visit them online at And, please remember to spread the word about SVDP Cleveland s Car Donation Program to you family and friends. We are happy to announce that the Diocesan Society for the Propagation of the Faith has advised us that the recent Mission Collection reporting has been completed. Our parish contributed $847 to this collection. Thank You for Your Continued Support of Local and Mission Appeals. ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART If your family would like to have an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus enthroned in your home, please call Father Ireland ( ) to arrange a time for him to come and lead this devotion. Please remember that our new recycling company now accepts cardboard. If you have any mailing, shipping, gift or delivery boxes left from Christmas gift-giving, please cut them up and bring them to the recycle bins located near the Credit Union. Please DO NOT bring boxes that have not been first cut or flattened. Intact boxes take up too much room and cause the bins to be full before they are profitable for us. Thank You.