Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015

Transcription

1 Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015

2 SACRAMENTS Baptism Baptisms are normally celebrated on the Third Sunday of every month during or following the 12 noon liturgy. Baptisms may be arranged at other times when necessary. Parent and Godparent preparation occurs two Sunday evenings each month at 5:00 PM at St. Gregory and Our Lady of the Snows rectories. Please call for an appointment. Anointing of the Sick Please contact the rectory at anytime for the celebration of this sacrament. Marriage Arrangements should be made six months prior to the desired wedding date. Please contact Father Lapera. MUSIC MINISTRY REHEARSALS Spirit Song Ensemble: Wed. 6:00 p.m. Voices of Faith: Wed. 7:15 p.m. Genesis Children s Choir: Wed. 4:00 p.m. or Thurs. 2:45 p.m. RELIGIOUS FORMATION Our Religious Education program takes place every Sunday Morning at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Peace School for Grades 1 through 8. Our Kindergarten Class is held in the Early Childhood Center. ROSARY GROUP Every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM ST. JOSEPH S OUTREACH Our parish partners with St. Joseph s school in Uganda. Donations are always welcome in support of student tuition. ST. GREGORY EARLY CHILDHOOD Our program is held five days a week and takes place in the Early Childhood Center. Kindergarten from 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM; HOLY CROSS SCHOOL SYSTEM OUR LADY OF PEACE SCHOOL 410 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA Mrs. M. Colleen Jumper, Principal HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL 501 E. Drinker Street, Dunmore, PA Mr. Benjamin D. Tolerico, Principal WOMEN S GUILD Guild meetings take place the first Thursday of every month from September through May, with the exception of January. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the rectory. saintgregoryswomensguild@gmail. com PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in the rectory. HOSPITAL VISITATION If anyone has a family member, relative or friend in any of the area hospitals and would like them to have a visit, please call the rectory. FOOD PANTRY Donations may be left near Church entrances or in the cabinet in the hallway near the restroom. See page 5 for a list of items we are collecting this week. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 FEAST OF AMBROSE, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Backed by popular acclaim Church history is full of surprises that teach us that things haven t always been this way, as some like to argue. Today we celebrate Ambrose, one of the giants of our tradition who holds the lofty titles of church father and Doctor of the church. Yet he wasn t even a baptized Catholic, much less ordained, when he was chosen bishop of Milan by popular acclaim! His reputation for holiness and charity preceded his title and office. Don t confuse outer symbols of holiness such as honorific titles or flowing robes for inner sanctity. Focus on the well-being of your soul and all the rest will take care of itself. TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26 (181). We have seen incredible things today. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Enter the Year of Mercy How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God, said Pope Francis in proclaiming the Holy Year of Mercy, which begins today. May the balm of mercy reach everyone. Not sure just what Christian mercy entails? Review the church s teaching on the corporal (physical) and spiritual works of mercy and then prepare your action plan for steeping the world in mercy. TODAY S READINGS: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 (689). In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 FEAST OF JUAN DIEGO CUAUHTLATOATZIN The power of a great story There are many accounts of the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531 to Saint Juan Diego, an indigenous Mexican who had converted to Catholicism after the Spanish conquest. There are also many questions about the historical accuracy of those accounts. But great stories also serve a purpose beyond historical literalism they speak to our hearts of greater truths that are sometimes best captured in epics. A great mythic story is not necessarily false it is true at a different, deeper, more symbolic and powerful level than facts approach. Dip into some deeper truth by searching online for good accounts of the (Continued on page 7)

3 Worship We believe Eucharist is the source & summit of our faith and the center of our parish life and mission! While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. Luke 2:6 Live it now Every moment is a time of delivery: a time to be delivered of the child who was born within us, a time to recognize Jesus as a partner, one who lived, died, ate and slept, a time to renew. Expectancy Advent Week II Mystery In Small Doses Wendell Berry says, What we need is here. That is why God sneaked up on the world with a baby: to show us that what we need is here. Something bigger would have scared us. Advent Communal Penance Services Advent Reconciliation services will be held throughout our area in the month of December. Please make an effort to attend one of the services listed below. Sunday, December 13 at 6:30 PM Nativity BVM, Tunkhannock Monday, December 14 at 7:00 PM St. John Vianney (Corpus Christi), Montdale Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 PM Church of St. Patrick, Nicholson Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 PM Our Lady of the Snows, Clarks Summit The gift of bread and wine this week is offered in loving memory of Frances O Malley Sunday Readings Gather Hymnal: 996 R emembering Our Loved Ones at Mass December 7 - December 12 MONDAY 7:00 AM (G) John Francis Gastinger The OLP Family 12:10 PM (S) Helen & Ed Ames The Family 5:00 PM (G) Settimo Alocci Jean & Nick Tielli 5:00 PM (B) Mary Jane Sheridan Pat Larkin TUESDAY 7:00 AM (G) Holy Souls in Purgatory 9:00 AM (G) OLP School Mass 12:10 PM (S) Fred Habeeb Kathy Judge 7:00 PM (S) Joseph C. Pritchyk Mom & Sister WEDNESDAY 7:00 AM (G) Richard Nichols Dr. Frank Milani 12:10 PM (S) Gerri Hayes Helen Travis THURSDAY 7:00 AM (G) Rose & David Hemmler The Family 12:10 PM (S) Frank Sylvester Garofalo Family FRIDAY 7:00 AM (G) William Waeldner M/M Philip Judge 12:10 PM (S) William McGarry The Family SATURDAY 5:00 PM (G) Christian LaBelle Colleen Kane (G) St. Gregory s Church - (S) Our Lady of the Snows Church 3

4 Community We believe that our Baptism forms us into a family joined together to love God and one another. Lucy Abrahamsen Addison Ahern Alec Allspaugh Anna Barrett Christopher Begley Logan Bohn Matthew Boyd Thomas Bradley Cohen Werner-Brooks Jack Burr Peyton Burns Nicholas Bustos First Penance 2015 Jonathan Castles Angelina Chapin Thomas Coppola Joseph Courtney Stella Cuff Ethan Cutillo Ava Czarkowski Emily Dodge Daniel Dolcetti Grace Donahue Brendan Dougherty William Egan Aiden Gardner Jonathan Gonzalez Katherine Hastie Andrew Kettel Lili Korponai Shane Liples Alison Lynett Kathryn McAllister Maggie McAllister Sean McCormack Layla Michaliga Sydney Moyle Gregg Novak Nicole O Malley Kaitlyn Pagnani Domnick Pasqualichio Kate Peters Mario Piersimoni Tino Piersimoni Anna Pivirotto Anna Pucilowski Joseph Pulman Isabella Rinaldi Lillian Rizzo Charles Reuther Lilian Scoblick Anthony Severs Isabelle Shylkotski Madison Smith Matthew Smith Molly Smith Charles Speicher Charles Stampien Aiden Straw Mia Summa Raphael Thomas Nathan Tomaszewski Nina Totino Gianna Vachino Emelia Williams Reese Zalewski Community Cart Our Community cart and team members will be available this weekend for anyone interested in information regarding various parish ministries and events. The team members will also have John Angotti CD s available for anyone who would like one and was unable to purchase one during John s visit to our parish a few weeks ago. The Knights of Columbus Council 6611 are hosting coffee and donuts this weekend. Our hats off for their wonderful generosity! Christmas Concert Saint Peter s Cathedral Parish is honored to welcome back Ronan Tynan in an all-new concert featuring the season s most beloved Christmas selections and year-round favorites. Ronan s captivating singing, combined with the majesty of the Cathedral and the jubilant expectation of the season will combine for an unforgettable evening. All tickets are reserved seating and are available for purchase by calling the parish office at or by visiting Ticket prices: premier limited reserve seating: $ (includes pre-concert reception with Ronan); general reserved seating: $50.00/$ The concert will take place in the Cathedral of Saint Peter on Friday, December 18 at 8:00 PM. All are invited! Advent Lessons and Carols Advent Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 3pm at the Church of St. Benedict. This concert will feature both the Adult and Children's Choirs of Our Lady of the Snows Parish. A light reception will follow. All are invited to attend! Young Adult Ministry Coffee is brewing every Sunday from 8:00 AM to Noon & Wednesday mornings after Mass in St. Joe s Café. Young adults aged 18-32, are welcome to join us for our new discussion and fellowship series happening each Sunday evening from 7-9pm at Duffy s Coffee House. If interested contact Steve Wallo at (570) ext 229. Stay up to date with what s happening in our parish. LIKE and SHARE our Facebook page today!

5 Service We recognize God s call to serve our parish family and neighbors near and far. Religious Retirement Collection This weekend is the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Please show your appreciation for the senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have made a positive difference is so many lives. Thanks for your generous support of all those who have given a lifetime of service to the Church. Christmas Toy Collection In conjunction with Catholic Social Services and Friends of the Poor, we are collecting toys for children ages infant to 14 years of age from now through December 13. Please leave unwrapped toys in the boxes in the back of the church. Toys will be picked up and distributed on December 16. Women s Guild Tradition The giving tree has been an Advent tradition at Saint Gregory s for many years. The gifts are for the residents of Clarks Summit State Hospital, the residents of Saint Francis Commons, and those helped by Saint Joe s Pantry. Please choose a tag and ornament from the tree. Wrap the gift, attach the tag, and return it as soon as possible for the gifts to be delivered before December 20. The handmade ornaments are the Women s Guild s gift to you in exchange for your gracious participation. Jubilee Year of Mercy December 6, 2015 Second Sunday of Advent This Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door in Saint Peter s Basilica, symbolically opening the Jubilee Year of Mercy. In today s scriptures, Baruch confidently anticipates God s healing of the brokenness of humanity, and Paul sees God bringing our discernment, knowledge, and love to fulfillment. Our experience of life and of ourselves can make such prophecies seem wildly optimistic, even hopelessly naïve. Pope Francis challenges us to live this Jubilee Year as a graced time, when God s mercy reawakens our enthusiasm to live our baptismal call as gospel people, our hope renewed and ourselves recommitted to selfless charity. Notice that in Luke s Gospel today, God bypasses the religious elite and politically powerful to speak to a humble believer in the barren desert the saving word that will transform history. So God s mercy continues to accomplish humanity s salvation in and through ordinary, flawed, and least likely instruments even us. Peter Scagnelli, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Boxed Skillet Dinners... This week we are collecting boxed skillet dinners (i.e. hamburger helper or completes.) This donation will be delivered to The McAuley Center. Thank You! Weekly Offering We are very grateful for your Sunday Offering on the weekend of November 29, 2015 $12, Give Online Consider scheduling a recurring contribution today. It s very convenient. You will no longer need to write out checks and prepare envelopes every week. Even when travel or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, your electronic contributions will continue to be received on an uninterrupted basis. sign up at : Finance Council Bill Burkavage John Devine Veronica Dende Paul Gerega Deacon Bob Yvonne Cronkey Father John 5

6 Word We cherish our relationship with Jesus and strive to make the gospel relevant to our daily lives! Walking, Waiting, and Witnessing Today, Sunday December 6 at 4:30 PM When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior s first coming the faithful will renew their ardent desire for his second coming. - CCC (524) We welcome you to join us for a special Advent reflection offered by Dr. David Coppola TODAY, Sunday December 6, at 4:30 pm. We will have babysitting available for anyone who would like to attend the Advent reflection. Babysitting will take place in the Early Childhood Center. If you are interested, kindly call the rectory so that we can estimate how many children will be attending. ( ) A high school and college teacher and administrator for more than 30 years, Dr. David Coppola has spoken at hundreds of workshops and days of renewal for teachers and church groups and has served as a youth consultant to YMCA groups. Dr. Coppola writes on education, religion, leadership, and youth issues. More recently, his focus has been on developing programs to educate young leaders of the Abrahamic faiths in intercultural dialogue. In 2013, Dr. David Coppola was appointed President of Keystone College, LaPlume, PA, where he lives with his wife, Delia, and their two sons, Aidan and Thomas. They are parishioners of St. Gregory Church. Dr. Coppola may be reached at David.Coppola@keystone.edu Christmas Eve Liturgy with Children Any child from preschool through high school who is interested in participating in the 2015 Christmas Eve Liturgy with Children, please contact Ruth Fried at or to register. Altar Servers, readers, gift bearers, and children for the nativity scene are needed. There will be an informational meeting and first practice Monday, December 14 from 4:00 until 5:00 PM in St. Gregory s Church. We will be choosing the parts for the Mass at this meeting. The following is a schedule of practices for all children in the gospel reading play: Tuesday, December 15, Thursday, December 17, Friday, December 18, Monday, December 21. All practices will take be held from 4:00 until 5:00 PM. Practice on Wednesday, December 23 from 4:00 until 5:00 PM will include ALL children. Abington Catholic Youth Ministry Meetings are held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Room of Our Lady of the Snows. All high school students are welcome to attend anytime. CHOSEN: High School Religious Education All students in Grades 9-12 are encouraged to sign up for this great series. The next session will be on Sun., December 13 in the Gathering Room at Our Lady of the Snows from 6 to 8 PM. Lector Workbooks The 2016 Lectors workbooks are available for all lectors. They are labeled and may be picked up in the sacristy. The Immaculate Conception of Mary Tuesday, December 8, Day of Obligation On this great feast of Mary, we do well to ponder how God has called each one of us to be part of the divine plan of salvation. We will celebrate all Holy Day Masses with our neighbors at Our Lady of the Snows parish. The schedule includes: Monday, December 7 5:00 PM St. Gregory s 5:00 PM St. Benedict s Tuesday, December 8 7:00 AM St. Gregory s 9:00 AM St. Gregory s (OLP School Mass) 12:10 PM Our Lady of the Snows 7:00 PM Our Lady of the Snows

7 Mass Intentions Anyone wishing to request a Mass intention for daily mass at 7:00 AM is kindly asked to contact Saint Gregory s parish office. If you would like to request a Mass intention for the 12:10 PM Mass, please contact the office at Our Lady of the Snows. You may also visit either of parishes offices at any time to make arrangements to remember your loved ones during liturgy. Thanks very much for your ongoing cooperation. Upcoming Study Group LAUDATO SI, mi Signore Praise be to you, my Lord. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs ( ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME). Our parish is preparing to form a study group to pray and reflect on Pope Francis encyclical On Care for Our Common Home. The group will also prepare for a parish celebration of Earth Day in If you are interested, please contact our office. More information will be provided immediately after Christmas. PASTORAL COUNCIL Michelle Musheno Gemma Chuff Paul Mullisky Scott Pettinato Marjorie Barlow Jim Fleming Joe Hogan Bill Donovan Jane Farr Dan Haggerty Donald Broderick Ted Tomaszewski Mary Ann Morgan COORDINATING TEAMS Theresa Robinson Zoe Haggerty Logan Lombardo Deacon Bob Fr. John : (Continued from page 2) Guadalupe story. TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30 (183). I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 ADVENT WEEKDAY Work for liberty for all Remember in your prayers today International Human Rights Day prisoners of conscience. Among them is Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly, who has been imprisoned in Vietnam for more than 15 years for advocating religious freedom, democracy, and human rights. What can you do to ensure liberty for all? Start by knowing what rights the United Nations named as inalienable in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Pope John Paul II called, one of the highest expressions of the human conscience of our time. TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:11-15 (184)., the God of Israel, will not forsake them. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 FEAST OF DAMASUS I, POPE A pope for the harried mother One might think that being pope when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire would be a triumph. However, church politics, heresies, exile, difficult relations with other bishops and with the Eastern church made it anything but a glorious time for Damasus. His era was so fraught with controversy and contention, both personal and political, that he might be an intercessor for the harried single mother, the worker juggling three part-time jobs, anyone feeling life s burdens, especially at Christmastime. Where can you help someone else carry their burden? TODAY S READINGS: Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19 (185). Wisdom is vindicated by her works. Service Julie Nastasi Brian Palmiter Carol Strauch John Devine Kate Sebring Chrissy Jacoby Matthew Newton Susan Scanland Judy Burkavage Meg Hambrose John Hambrose Deacon Bob Jane Farr* Community Tracy Bannon Saul Rigau Lisa Rigau Delia Coppola Yvonne Cronkey Bridget Walsh Bill Durdach Danelle Hogan Molly Johnson Judy Walsh Joe Hogan* Word Bob Barry Ruth Fried Jack Rubano Connie Sheils Patti Staples David Coppola Fr. John Ted Tomaszewski* 7

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