CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH

Transcription

1 December 18, 2011 Four Sunday of Advent CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama Website: TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: Fax School Office: , ext. 1 Fax Rel. Ed. Office: , ext. 7 Fax Preschool Office: Fax You Ministry: Fax PASTORAL STAFF Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., Pastor Rev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate Pastor Deacon Arur W. Robbins, Deacon Sr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation Chaplain Mrs. Linda M. Hawkins, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Joan T. McMullen, School Principal Mrs. Kaleen Q. Jester, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Colleen DeVoe, You Ministry Co-Director Mrs. Brenda Martens, You Ministry Co-Director Mr. Matew F. Purvis, Music Director Mr. Jay H. Henley, Gym Manager TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in e church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call e parish office at or SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. W EEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday rough Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday rough Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after e 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call e parish office ( ) for information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call e parish office ( ). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades K rough 8. For info & registration, please call e school office. PRESCHOOL, State-licensed for 6-week to 4-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call e preschool office

2 Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. FOURTH S UNDAY OF ADVENT Women s Bible Study A Marian Bible Study by Laura Marie Wells Thursdays, 9:00-10:45 a.m., starting Jan. 12 Please sign up ASAP so we can order books, and provide nursery. Call or Penny Claiborne at or claiborneps@aol.com or Joanne Donaghey at or joannekd@aol.com Studying e Bible is an important and integral part of our grow as Caolic Christians. Women of all ages are invited to join us as we study e Bible togeer, learn from Mary, and support one anoer on our fai journey. Mary was a daughter, wife, moer, friend and saint. She experienced many of e joys and sorrows at we face today as women. Nursery available. Celebrating Advent Communal Reconciliation Service Advent Celebration of God s Loving Forgiveness Tomorrow Night, Monday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. This Sunday rd 3 Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, Food, Cloing donations put in e designated places in e vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society If you know of anyone needing assistance, please call , or e Parish Office. All contacts are handled in confidence. st rd nd Meetings: 1 & 3 Wed., 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 Flr.) SUNDAY SCHOOL Classes today: Dec :05-10:55 a.m. No Classes on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Classes resume Jan. 8. SCHOOL NEWS Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 3. Ads for our 2012 Yearbook are being accepted: If you are interested in putting an ad in e 2012 edition, please contact Sharon Lynn at , ext for details on submitting it. Journey of Hope For Separated & Divorced Caolics Regular meetings start on January 3: Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in e Family Room of e Corpus Christi Community Center. For more information please contact Patrick Collins (251) or pcollins1@farmersagent.com. You may also visit UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH Starting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Adult Ed. Room in e Community Center ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Continuing education for Caolic adults and oer adults who wish to learn more about and/or join e Caolic Church. Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. in e Adult Ed. Room in e Community Center. Bible Study Groups Sun: 8:45-10 a.m.: Info: Ken Crowley, Tue:, 1:30-3 p.m. : Genesis. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, Tue, 7 p.m..: Arts & Sciences Bldg., Fine Arts wing. Dave Burchette, Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in e Family Room All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading e Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@oromobile.com or Women of Mary Tuesday Meeting, 9 to 10 a.m. in e Family Room Wednesday Meeting, 7 to 8 p.m. in e Family Room Info: Judi Ankiewicz, , or Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M.,

3 CORPUS CHRIS TI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 1 8, Sign up for Live Nativity Scene for e 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. For K - 5 Grade children. If interested in participating, please send an wi e child s name & age, and which Mass to Kjester@CorpusChristiParish.com. You ll receive info by Dec. 20. Grades K-8: Sign up to sing! The Children s Choir will sing at e 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass 1. Sign up in e vestibule. 2. Practice today, Sunday, Dec. 18, 4 to 6 p.m. in e church. 3. Wear Christmas colors to e Mass. Volunteers needed to sing wi e Choir at e 7:30 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve. No experience or sign-up needed. Just come to e practice Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.! CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL O pen House Sunday, Jan. 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m. All interested parents are invited to tour our SACS-accredited school and meet our faculty and staff. You may also call e school office at , ext. 1, to arrange a personal tour at your convenience. We offer many programs at provide a unique learning opportunity for all students. Daily Religion class! Weekly Mass! Elementary and Junior High Resource Program! Accelerated Reader Program! K-6 Spanish! 7 & 8 Grade Latin! Interactive Boards in all classrooms! Science Lab! National Junior Honor Society! Duke Scholars Program! Corpus Christi News (CCN)! Scholars Bowl Team! Computer Club! Shakespeare-After-School Drama Club! Chess Team! Running Club! Scouting! Elementary Band (5-8)! School Newspaper & Yearbook! CYO Sports Info: ( School ) or , ext. 1. Booster Club Meetings nd Jan. 11, Mar. 14, Apr p.m., Rm. 6, (2 Floor, Com. Ctr.). Knights of Columbus nd Meeting: 2nd Tues. Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm.. (2 Flr). Contact: Grand Knight, Bob Wheat, AA Alanon OA COD A AA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den. Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. High School You Ministry This Sunday, Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. All high school students are invited to join us for e 5:30 p.m. Parish You Mass, followed by a special holiday evening. We will have a potluck holiday dinner, a Dirty Santa gift exchange wi $1 Dollar-Tree Items, and special guests, Fr. Zoghby and Fr. Boudreaux, for our "Ask e Priest" night! Please feel free to join us - all are welcome. Bring $1 and a friend! Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in e Banquet Hall $9.00 for Adults! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under) Dec. 21 ~ No Wednesday Night Dinner [Christmas Break] Dec. 28 ~ No Wednesday Night Dinner [Christmas Break] Must RSVP wi your name & number in your party: 1. Return an RSVP Card, or 2. Call or 3. church@corpuschristiparish.com SPECIAL NOTES! 1. Send your address to church@corpuschristiparish.com 2. Please support our advertisers on e back of e bulletin. Their ads give us our bulletins & inserts free of charge. 3. Current & past bulletins are online: click Church en Sunday Bulletin. Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at Welcom e New Pa ris h ioners Jimmy & Melissa Overstreet and eir sons, Connor, Parker, Jack. BAPTIZED IN CHRIS T Jacob Ryan Sullivan (son of Edmond Joseph Sullivan & Stephanie Anne Lang Sullivan) + Eason Ta Nguyen (son of Christopher Le Nguyen & Mary Virginia Ta) REST IN PEACE Karl Emanuel Henrikson Flowers The flowers before e altar is weekend have been placed in memory of George Fadalla on e 6 anniversary of his dea. Given by his family. Flowers The flowers in e chapel have been placed in memory of Karl Emanuel Henrikson from his funeral Mass of e Resurrection last Saturday,. and given by his family.

4 CORPUS CHRIS TI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 1 8, Thanks for e Continuing Prayers for Andre Parishioner Andre Colletti, who has been undergoing treatment at St. Jude s Children s Research Hospital in Memphis is currently able to stay at home wi his parents and siblings, wi 2-day trips back to St. Jude s each week. Andre and his family are grateful for e many prayers of fellow parishioners and for e outstanding care being provided by St. Jude s Children s Research Hospital. Christmas cards to Andre and his family wi assurances of prayer for his healing can, at is time, be sent to his home address: Andre Colletti, 3215 Wynnfield Dr., E., Mobile AL Rosary after 8:15 a.m. weekday Mass, Monday-Saturday. FIRST COLLECTION TODAY for tiing offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY for Christmas Flowers. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HOLYDAY COLLECTION: $ RETIRED RELIGIOUS COLLECTION: $3, TH DEC. 11 BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $6, TH DEC. 11 TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $26, Thank You and God Bless You for your ties, contributions & bequests to Corpus Christi Church. To make a direct donation of stock, ask your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at Receive a detail listing of your contributions by mail, or fax at any time: Call or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Online Giving Wi Online Giving you can eier make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring automatic widrawal from a checking or savings or credit card account: Go to click Church ; en click e green Online Giving icon on e left, and follow e instructions to contribute to e tiing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call , ext 4, or parish office, Congratulations and Thanks to Tut McKibbin Corpus Christi s 2011 Recipient of e Christ e King Medal Happy 100 Birday, Joe Trahan! Corpus Christi welcomed back former long-time parishioner Joe Trahan to celebrate his 100 birday. Joe now lives in Baton Rouge wi his daughter & sonin-law, Pam & Stanley Mong. Joe still considers Corpus Christi his home parish, and his daughter, Pam, brings him here at least once a year so he can get his fix! His grandson and great-grandchildren and oer family members joined us at last weekend s 5:30 p.m. Mass. At e end of Mass, we were grateful to hear him speak again so eloquently, along wi his sharp wit. He brought e house down wi what has become a classic line of his, which he used last year on his 99 birday, and appropriately repeated for his 100 birday: As I reach is stage of my life, I remember someing my moer often told me Always act your age.!

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6 History of Christmas At Christmas, we celebrate e Incarnation: God becoming one of us. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: The glory of an only Son coming from e Faer, filled wi enduring love (John 1:14). But e early Church did not celebrate Christmas at all. In ose first centuries, Jesus dea and resurrection were e central experience of Christianity especially while Christians emselves were being persecuted and put to dea for eir beliefs. In e 300s, Christianity was finally allowed to flourish, and en e Church found room for more light-hearted feasts. No one knew on what day Jesus had actually been born. In ose early days of e Church, ere were different ways of reckoning time, and no centralized calendar. In various areas, e Nativity of Jesus was celebrated on January 6, February 2, March 25, April 19, May 20, and November 17! Finally, in e middle of e 300s (349 A.D.), Pope Julius I settled on December 25. Prior to e celebration of Christmas, December 25 was already a widely-celebrated day in e Roman World. On at date citizens celebrated e Winter solstice wi an ancient pagan feast, familiar to many converts to Christianity. It was e feast of The Birday of e Unconquered Sun at e time of e winter solstice according to e Julian calendar. Pope Julius us replaced at pagan feast wi a feast to celebrate e birday of Jesus, e SON of God. Many modern Christmas customs, such as decorating a house wi greenery, exchanging gifts and enjoying festive meals, originated wi e earlier pagan feast. Christmas itself didn t come to be called Christmas until much later. Some of e early names for is feast were Epiphany ( manifestation ), Natale ( bir ), and Adventus ( e coming ). The word Christmas has been used in English-speaking countries since e Middle Ages. The word was derived from e Old English Cristes Maesse, or Christ s Mass. By e 400s, e December 25 date of e Feast of e Nativity marked e beginning of e Church year. Later, when e preparation season of Advent received a definite shape after e 900s, it replaced Christmas as e beginning of e Church year. Replacing or Christianizing What Was Pagan It may seem strange at a feast such as Christmas should be substituted for a feast honoring a pagan god. But e Church in ose days often had a much different attitude toward ings pagan an we might assume. In e year 601, for example, Pope Gregory e Great, in his instructions to St. Augustine of Canterbury and oer missionaries to England, told em at under no circumstances should temples to idols be destroyed. They should be sprinkled wi holy water, and altars should be set up in em. Seeing eir temples are not destroyed, he said, e people may be more ready to return to em to know and adore e true God. Since ey have a custom of sacrificing oxen to demons, he added, let some oer solemnity like e dedication of e church or a martyr s feast be substituted on e same day. They can decorate e temples as ey did before, he instructed, even kill and use e animals as food, not in sacrifice, but as a way of giving anks to e Giver of all gifts. (Letter of Gregory to Abbot Mellitus and Augustine of Canterbury) Raer an considering it a danger or scandal, ey saw in is sort of ecumenism a help to spreading e Gospel and in making eir fai attractive to e people ey were hoping to convert. More feasts and oer Christian traditions an most of us realize are traceable to is strategy of our Christian forebears. Fr. John J. Dietzen

7 Handel s Messiah Of all e works of music tied to Christmas, perhaps none is spoken of more reverently an Handel s Messiah, wi it rousing Hallelujah Chorus and e beautiful For Unto Us A Child Is Born. Messiah was, however, not written for Christmas Handel s first performance of Messiah was around e Easter season, not Christmas. George Frideric Handel ( ) was a German- British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anems and organ concertos. In his you, Handel was e most sought after composer in Europe and became very wealy. But as time went by, his operas lost eir appeal. By age 52 he was deeply in debt. A few years later, in 1741, Handel was asked to write an oratorio based on e meditations on e life of Christ by one of his close friends. Handel felt inspired and completed e work in 24 days. Handel first publicly performed Messiah in Dublin, Ireland, in a music hall. The reviews of Messiah s debut were outstanding. He refused any commission for e initial performances because he said at is was God s work. But when Handel took Messiah home to London for performing, he was not as warmly received. The Anglican clergy was vehemently against it. It was too modern for em, even calling it a sacrilege and blasphemy. Over e objections of local church officials who balked at performing a sacred work in e profane settings of a public music hall, Handel performed Messiah at Covent Garden Theater on March 23, The critics in London, however, were not impressed. Newspaper reviews were critical. Handel s friend, Charles Jennens, who had supplied much of e text, wrote to anoer acquaintance: His Messiah has disappointed me... I shall put no more sacred works into his hands to be abused. But e early London performances did give rise to a tradition at has survived to is day. King George II arose from his seat at e beginning of e Hallelujah Chorus, and etiquette at e time demanded at if e King arose, so should everyone around him. Thus e tradition of standing for e chorus was born. Over much of e next decade Messiah was infrequently performed and nearly forgotten. Handel gave e work to e London Foundling Hospital for its fund raising. Every year for e next 20 years, Handel rehearsed and directed e oratorio at sites determined by e hospital, and e work achieved great popularity. Handel became, once again, a respected and rich man. Shortly after his final performance of Messiah in 1759, Handel died. He was buried in Westminster Abbey and more an ree ousand mourners attended his funeral. But, as wi most creative geniuses, Handel s greatest praise came long after his time. Ludwig von Beeoven ( ) once said, He was e greatest composer at ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb. Franz Joseph Haydn ( ), after hearing Handel s Messiah for e first time, admitted: He was e master of us all. Silent Night On Christmas Eve, 1818, e carol Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! was heard for e first time in a v i l l a g e c h u r c h i n Oberndorf, Austria in e Church of St. Nicholas. The German words for e original six stanzas of e carol we know as Silent Night were written by a young priest, Faer Joseph Mohr, in On Christmas Eve, 1818, Faer Mohr journeyed to e home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber who lived in an apartment over e schoolhouse in nearby Arnsdorf. He showed his friend e poem and asked him to add a melody and guitar accompaniment so at it could be sung at Midnight Mass. Thus was born a song at has worked its way into e hearts of people roughout e world. Now translated into hundreds of languages, it is sung by untold millions every December. In 1859, John Freeman, Episcopal bishop of Florida, published e English translation at is most frequently sung today. The version of e melody at is generally sung today differs slightly from Gruber s original, which was a sprightly, dance-like tune in 6/8 time, as opposed to e slow, meditative lullaby version generally sung today. A version recorded by Bing Crosby is one of e fewer an 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.