SAINT THOMAS A BECKET ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Transcription

1 DECEMBER 23, 2012 SAINT THOMAS A BECKET ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

2 ST. THOMAS A BECKET JEFFERSON HILLS, PA From the Desk of Fr. Bob For the Week of December 23, 2012 It is a Holy and Wholesome Thought to Pray for the Dead. Saturday, December 22 5:00 PM... Annamarie Pilarski (Ray & Donna Gibson) Sunday, December 23, Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM... Catherine HuWalt (George Novak) 10:15 AM... Margaret Drnach (Choir) 12:00 NN... Arlene Moran (Catlos Family) Monday, December 24, Christmas Eve 4:00 PM... Special Intention 8:00 PM... Special Intention 10:00 PM... Special Intention Tuesday, December 25, The Nativity of the Lord 9:00 AM... Special Intention 11:00 AM... Special Intention Wednesday, December 26, St. Stephen 9:00 AM... Jo Ann Vereb (Joseph R. Savko) Thursday, December 27, St. John 9:00 AM... Walter Terihay (Wife, Barbara) Friday, December 28, The Holy Innocents 9:00 AM... Special Intention (Gregory Diulus Family) Saturday, December 29 5:00 PM... William Kearns (Mike & Sherri Kearns) Sunday, December 30, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 8:00 AM... For the People of the Parish 10:15 AM.. Linda Salzmann (John & Stephanie Tarpey) Liturgical Ministers December 30, 2012 Lectors: Sat. 5:00 p.m. V. Cecconi Sun. 8:00 a.m. M.G. Reynolds Sun. 10:15 a.m. S. Gardiner Sun. 12:00 p.m. T. Aceto Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sr. Judith-M. Zumbo-M. Franczak Sun. 8:00 a.m. L. Breisinger-S. Breisinger-K. Mason Sun. 10:15 a.m. C. Adams-E. Hlad-J. Nash Sun. 12:00 p.m. D. Blohm-L. Michaels-G. Stephenson Acolytes: Sat. 5:00 p.m. G. Dowd-L. Lautner-K. Nash Sun. 8:00 a.m. N. Bucar-M. Campano-M. Petrick Sun. 10:15 a.m. R. Aul-C. Lutz-T. Skoff Sun. 12:00 p.m. A. Aceto-M. Cathell-M. Elinsky A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE As we reflect back to that first Christmas and as we celebrate our first Christmas together in our new church, we recall that God came among us in the Word made Flesh Jesus Christ. The Scriptures of Advent have foretold the prophecy of Emmanuel-God with us. Christmas celebrates the prophecy fulfilled. It is a time of spiritual rebirth. May all the blessings of Christmas be yours. CHRISTMAS BLESSING May the Christmas season neither rush nor crush you. May it snow only when you want it to. May Christ s peace be the best gift you receive this Christmas. May your children be surprised by at least one amazing Christmas gift, but get what they need and enjoy what they get. And may the Lord Jesus be born under your tree, in your heart, and in the lives of all those you meet and greet this Christmas. Amen (Andrew Costello) As we celebrate this Feast of the Lord s Nativity, I pray that the blessings of Christmas be as rich and as endless as Jesus love. May our lives truly make visible to others the love of Jesus Christ. On behalf of Sr. Judith, Sr. Dolores Ann, the parish staff and myself, I wish you the peace, love and joy of this holy season of Christmas that comes to us through the gift of God in Jesus Christ. He became what we are that He might make us what He is. (Athanasius of Alexandria) Christmas Blessings, Father Bob

3 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 23, 2012 CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE CHRISTMAS EVE 4:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. (Children s Choir) 10:00 P.M. (Adult Choir) CHRISTMAS DAY 9:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M. (Adult Choir) FAMILY CONNECTION In the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth described in today's Gospel, we learn that other people can help us recognize God's presence and action in our lives. Mary traveled to see Elizabeth because Elizabeth's pregnancy was a sign that everything the angel told Mary would truly happen. Elizabeth recognized Mary as the mother of her Lord because her unborn child, John the Baptist, leapt at the sound of Mary's greeting. Elizabeth and Mary rejoiced together at the wonderful things God was doing in their lives. We too are blessed when we have people who help us recognize God's action in our lives. We pray that our family can be this for one another. As you gather as a family, work together on a word search or hidden-picture puzzle. Help one another until everyone has found each of the words or pictures in the puzzle. Talk about this experience, noticing how some people found words or pictures more easily than others and how easy it was to see the word or picture once someone else pointed it out. Observe that sometimes we need the help of others to recognize God's presence and action in our lives. Read together today's Gospel, Luke 1: Ask: What did Elizabeth recognize about Mary? (that she was to be the mother of Jesus, the Lord) How did Elizabeth know this? (Her baby, John the Baptist, leapt with joy at Mary's greeting) Pray together that as we share our faith together as a family, we may help one another recognize God's presence and action in our lives. Pray together the Hail Mary. (Loyola Press) SECOND COLLECTION FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH ON CHRISTMAS DAY For a number of years on Christmas Day, a special second collection has been taken to support programs and services for Children and Youth. The program and services for children and youth provided by the Diocese are one of the important ways in which we, like Jesus, try to meet their needs. The proceeds of this second collection will be credited toward our 2012 Parish Share. I ask that you be as generous as you can to support this special second collection. May God bless you! PARISH SHARE 2012 Your Help is Needed to Reach our Goal! Remember, if we exceed our PSP goal, we can use the excess funds to support our own parish projects and ministries. Help us surpass our goal. Whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Our Assessment Goal $112, Monies Received $ 91, Amount Still Needed $ 20,316.00

4 ST. THOMAS A BECKET JEFFERSON HILLS, PA USE OF CHURCH ENVELOPES To facilitate the correct accounting of donations, kindly place your contribution in the envelope provided. Please take special attention to the following envelopes: MAINTENANCE...is in the packet at the beginning of every month to help with the cost of air conditioning/ summer, heating/winter, and various projects to upkeep the Church, School and Rectory properties. BUILDING FUND...is in the packet for the second week of month to make pledge/building fund support payments. PARISH SHARE...is in packet for the third week of month to make parish share payments. INITIAL OFFERING...is in the packet for January-April- July-October and is used to help defray the cost of printing & mailing the envelopes to all parishioners. PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER...is in the packet for January-July-October-December and is used for those parishioners who receive this newspaper by mail or pick up one in the vestibule of the Church to help with the cost YEAR END GIVING As this most special season of Christmas approaches and we look back on the past year, it is most appropriate to pause and consider the many blessings God has bestowed upon us and our loved ones throughout the year. The birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated at Christmas and establishes Christmas as the season of gift-giving. Please consider a gift to the Christmas Eve & Day collection that will not only support our educational, spiritual and parish ministries, but also positively affect your taxes and other financial considerations for Sharing your blessings through a generous gift at Christmas will make this world just a little better because you made a difference while you were here. You make a Catholic Gift of Faith and Love. Remember, God is never outdone in His generosity. Thank you and God bless you! 2012 CONTRIBUTIONS If you wish to receive financial credit for tax purposes in the 2012 calendar year, all contributions and/or gifts must be received on or before December 31, Any contributions received after December 31, 2012 will be credited to the 2013 calendar year. Thank you CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS If you wish to receive a statement of your 2012 contributions, please call the Parish office at (412) HOME WITH THE LORD Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of James Malone of our Parish. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed be embraced by the Heavenly Father unto everlasting life. ROSARY FOR JAMES MALONE The Rosary will be recited for the repose of the soul of James Malone on Tuesday, January 8 at 8:40 a.m. before the 9:00 a.m. Mass. We invite you to join us in this act of charity. May James rest in the peace of the Lord. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO Mr. and Mrs. John Balay upon the baptism of their daughter, Arabella Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Williams upon the baptism of their daughter, Addison Grace. We wish the Balay & Williams families all of God s blessings.

5 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 23, 2012 BAPTISM PREPARATION SESSION Congratulations to our expecting and new parents! Parents who are expecting their first child and new parents who would like to have their child baptized are invited to attend a required Baptism Preparation Session on Tuesday, January 15, Please call the Parish Office at (412) to register. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL GETTING THE WORD OUT! If there are several of our parishioners interested in facilitating our Parish Vacation Bible School, kindly call the Religious Education Office at (412) All those in Ministry must complete all Diocesan requirements for Protecting God s Children. We cannot allow anyone to serve on one of our many ministries if that person has not completed the Diocesan requirements. Please give us a call if interested and let us deepen our children s connection with the Word of God CHILDREN S CONTRIBUTIONS These children contribution statements will be sent home with the children. We thank you, our parents for encouraging this church support with your family. FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS A BECKET BISHOP AND MARTYR His feast is Saturday, December 29. Thomas A Becket was killed by order of Henry II; he was Chancellor of England for eight years; as Archbishop of Canterbury he defended the freedoms and rights of the Church; was canonized only three years after his death; he was considered the most famous martyr of the Middle Ages. Saint Thomas A Becket intercede for us. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION This will not be celebrated on Saturday, December 29 but will resume on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. FOR CHRISTMAS Parish Office will be closed on Monday, December 24 thru Wednesday, December 26. The Parish Office will resume on Thursday, December 27 at 9:00 a.m. FOR NEW YEARS Parish Office will be closed Monday, December 31 thru Wednesday, January 2. The Parish Office will resume on Thursday, January 3 at 9:00 a.m. The Vigil Light at the Tabernacle will burn this week in loving memory of Dolores Yogan, from Koontz Family. LADIES OF CHARITY MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 This will be the first meeting of 2013, so we encourage the Ladies to begin the New Year on a positive note by attending. There will be sharing about our new ministry to the people at Intersections in McKeesport. Please remember to bring diapers, wipes and similar products for the Cloverleaf Food Bank PARISHIONERS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND OR WHO ARE IN NURSING FACILITIES Our Ladies of Charity and a few men have been taking the Eucharist and the Christmas Gifts from the Giving Tree to our shut-ins and those in Nursing Facilities. Joy and gratitude surely are the words that are evident in faces of our parishioners when they receive the gifts. Again, we thank all our parishioners who participated in the Giving Tree Project. Your gifts go far beyond Jefferson Hills and Pittsburgh. May the giver of Gifts bless you for your generosity RELIGIOUS CALENDARS AVAILABLE NOW The 2013 Catholic calendars are available on the table in the vestibule of the Church. This Catholic calendar contains important information on Holydays, days of fast and abstinence and important phone numbers for the Parish. We are very grateful to Ricci & Associates for their generosity in providing these calendars to us every year at NO CHARGE. Thank you! MARCH FOR LIFE You are cordially invited to ride with the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Respect Life Bus and join us on the March For Life in Washington DC, Friday, January 25, We ll leave St. Elizabeth s parking lot in Pleasant Hills at 6:00 a.m. and return around 10:00 p.m. We re grateful that Deacon Joe will be traveling with us so those who cannot do the March will have the option of staying and praying at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the day. Donation of $25 is suggested and this includes a box lunch. For more details and to make a reservation, call Mary Pat at (412) STEWARDSHIP OF THE LORD S TREASURE Date Total Offertory 12/16/12 Collected at Masses $10, On-line Giving $ 1,468.00