The third Sunday of Advent, today, like all the other Sundays in Advent, has a traditional theme. The first week we focused on hope, the second on

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2 The third Sunday of Advent, today, like all the other Sundays in Advent, has a traditional theme. The first week we focused on hope, the second on peace, and next week on love. But the focus today, just as it has been for generation after generation on the third Sunday of Advent, is supposed to be joy. But how are we supposed to feel joyful today? How can you feel joy when someone decides to murder innocent people? How can we feel joy when, on a daily basis, we are reminded how barbaric some people can be towards others? How do you even start to reconcile that with what you believe about the goodness of the world, or the basic humanity of people? In this 24/7 news cycle the stories can be incomprehensible, and unimaginable, and it shocks us and takes our breath away. And it should. The fact that things feel so hard, so wrong, and so painful right now is a good reminder that this is not okay, and this is not normal and this is not acceptable. This Sunday s Scripture reading, one of the traditional readings for this day, is from the letter to the Philippians. One of the main themes of the letter is joy. And again and again Paul tells believers to rejoice or be joyful. And in this passage he says Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. And even though Paul wrote it 2000 years ago, and he didn t know what would be happening in our world, our nation, our communities and homes all these centuries later, you want to say what are you talking about? I will not rejoice. I refuse to rejoice in a world where people know so much pain. How can we? Let s be honest. At some level we want to know why a God who is all-loving and all-powerful lets these things happen. It s the classic question of theology. If God is all powerful, why doesn t God stop tragedies? I ve never believed that God wills or wants bad things to happen, and I come from the school of thought that believes that we humans make our own choices, and they are sometimes very bad ones, and in those moments no one hurts more than God. But today, that why sits with us, and no explanation seems anywhere near good enough. One of the last things Christ said before he died, in his hour of greatest suffering, was My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And really, the shorter version of what Jesus was saying was, God, why? Advent is about building a relationship with God, and you can't have a good and real relationship with anyone if it is not first an honest one. Our questions, our pain, our anger, all have a place in the life of faith. Belief does not preclude bewilderment. It s OK and it s spiritually healthy to ask God, why? Why do these things happen? Why don t You keep them from happening? As we ask these questions, whether we realize it or not, we are doing Advent preparation. Because with every question asked, we are opening our hearts up to God, and asking for a deeper relationship. We aren t walking away from the tough questions. We aren t giving glib answers about this being the will of God or trying to explain away the devastating pain. We aren t wading into the war of words and saying destructive things. Instead we are staying present with God, and present with the world, and mourning with both. In times like this God, why? can be the most powerful and honest prayer you can utter. This Sunday we hold our pain ~ global, national and personal, ~ and we look for we hope for... something better. And maybe, please God, we can see glimpses of the joy that not even the greatest violence can totally destroy. We follow a man whose life proves that. The world did its worst to Him, and yet He still overcame it. And that s why this time of year, we remember His birth with joy, and we ask that Christ s joy would fill us all the more. And if you look closely all around you, you'll see that the joy cannot be contained destroyed eradicated extinguished. I can only imagine the personal pain, the heartbreak, sorrows, and burdens that so many of you shoulder... I can well imagine that there is no shortage of folks who wonder or question how we can rejoice in the midst of life s cares... I m certain that there are a lot of you who ask God, why? Be strong of heart the birth of Jesus is God s promise ~ that the things that prompt us to ask God, why? ~ will not be the final word... and that s cause for great joy. Fr. Seán

3 Monday, December 18 th ~ Ugly Sweater Day - wear any Christmas sweater over the uniform! Tuesday, December 19 th ~ Accessory Day - wear any Christmas related accessories such as ties, hats, socks, etc. over the uniform! Wednesday, December 20 th ~ Jersey Day - wear your favorite team jersey! Thursday, December 21 st ~ Color Day each grade gets their assigned color to wear on Dress Down Day! Friday, December 22 nd ~ Crazy Hair Day - you are allowed to use temporary hair dye that will come off by the next day and/or style as you please! Begins with early dismissal on Friday, December 22 nd until Friday, January 2 nd.

4 ST. JOSEPH'S FAMILY MASS! St. Joseph's Parish is excited to announce the Family Mass Schedule for ! December 17 th January 7 th (Centennial Room) and 21 st February 4 th and 25 th March 4 th and 18 th April 8 th and 22 nd Please join us for Family Mass at 11:00 AM in Travis Hall and experience the joy that comes from attending Sunday Mass as a family! The liturgy will be specifically inclusive of our youngsters who are attending with their families. Immediately following Mass we will enjoy hospitality together!

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7 MUSIC at ST. JOSEPH S Presents SoLI Singers of Long Island Sunday, December 17, :00 PM Singers of Long Island, a professional choral group, will sing carols and Marc-Antoine Charpentier s Messe de Minuit pour Noel in a guest performance at St. Joseph s Church. All are invited! Free will offering. SōLI was born out of a love of choral singing. The choir is comprised of Long Island musicians and music teachers. Many of the original members of SoLI sang together in the SUNY Stony Brook Camerata Singers under the baton of Timothy Mount, Director of Choral Music. Upon Dr. Mount's retirement in the Spring of 2009, a core group formed the Long Island Vocal Ensemble (LIVE), later renamed the Singers of Long Island (SōLI). Now in its ninth season, SoLI continues to expand its repertoire and concert venues, singing in churches, libraries, schools and other venues suitable to a chamber choir. This approach lends itself well to intimate performances of the music for both singer and audience.

8 Blessing of Infant Jesus This Weekend of December 16 th and 17 th Each family seems to have its own traditions concerning the placing of the Infant Jesus Figurine in our Family Nativity scenes. Some will have either the oldest or youngest family member perform this timehonored task... some will do so on Christmas Eve while telling the Nativity story found in Scripture... others lovingly place Him in the Crèche when we return from Midnight Mass. This year, we would like to invite everyone to participate in an old, but beautiful tradition! Whether you live on your own or share your house with a lively brood, every parishioner is being asked to bring the figure of the Infant Jesus from your own Nativity Scene at home and have it blessed at Mass this weekend. At the end of each of our parish Masses this Weekend ~ the 16 th and 17 th, the priest will ask all those who have brought their figure of the Infant Jesus to hold Him aloft and will pray God s special blessing on your Infant and your families. A very simple and beautiful way to remember the REAL reason for Christmas! A poignant way to teach our youngsters the REAL meaning of Christmas! An addition to your family tradition OR the beginning of a new one! Tell your friends and neighbors... NEXT SUNDAY ~ ALL MASSES ~

9 St. Joseph s Parish Outdoor Christmas Memorials Christmas Poinsettias As is our custom at St. Joseph s, each year poinsettia plants are available for remembering a loved one, living and deceased. These traditional Christmas flowers decorate our Altar and Sanctuary for the entire Christmas Season. The offering for each plant is $20.00; arrangements can be made with the parish receptionist. A listing of all those remembered will be placed in our parish bulletin. This year we are offering an additional and unique opportunity for remembering special people and intentions. Our parish buildings and grounds will be decorated with a wide array of wreaths and evergreens for the Christmas Season. If you like, you may remember your special intentions by participating in this new memorial opportunity. There is no pre-set offering amount. The offering is your own personal decision ~ whatever your means will allow. As with the flowers for church, a listing of all those remembered will appear in the parish bulletin. To participate, simply fill out the tear-off form below and either return it in the collection basket with your offering or stop by the Parish Center and the receptionist will be happy to assist you. Name: Phone#: Address: Person or Intention To Be Remembered:

10 Focus on Religious Freedom From Catholics For Freedom of Religion Taking "Christ" Out of "Christmas" on College Campuses The 2018 search is underway for Under the guise of inclusivity, many colleges across the nation are promoting nonreligious decorations, displays and celebrations when issuing their annual guidelines for Christmas. They contend that public religious displays are inappropriate for Christmas - a holiday so-named because it celebrates the birth of Christ. In their efforts "striving to make campuses as inclusive as possible in 2017, by banning Christmas displays and celebrations, these colleges are telling Christians their traditions are offensive. * The University of California, Irvine, encouraged a "focus on celebrating a special occasion, instead of a specific holiday" such as a "year-end celebration" or celebrate "seasonal themes such as fall, winter, or spring." * The State University of New York at Brockport issued decorating guidelines. "Keep decorations general and non-specific to any religion. Create a winter theme with lights and color rather than religious icons..." Brockport advised employees to "consider a grab bag instead of a 'Secret Santa' gift exchange. * Missouri State University barred "religious icons" and recommended displaying snowmen, bells, flowers, and other nondescript items. * Life University in Georgia, Eastern Connecticut State University, and others, are holding a holiday decorating contest that considers "inclusiveness, or how the decorations are respectful of all religious winter holidays." * Many colleges are leaving off the word "Christmas" to describe annual tree lighting ceremonies. (nynews.com, 12/10/17; leadershipinstitute.org, 12/6/17; campusreform.org, 12/11/17) "There were only a few shepherds at the first Bethlehem. The ox and the donkey understood more of the first Christmas than the high priests in Jerusalem. And it is the same today." Thomas Merton, Catholic monk and author

11 It is refreshing to read this Sunday of a man named John who speaks the simple truth. John the Baptist paid with his life for his loyalties to Jesus. He died as a witness to the truth he believed in. The joy of Advent shines forth with an inspiring message of hope and encouragement urging us to rejoice and be happy because the Lord is near. What s more, it tells us that joy is basic to being Christian and our vocation is to radiate this joy. Experience bears it out that rejoicing is not always the hallmark of a Christian. All too frequently, Christianity has been associated with sadness. Many of us are more familiar with the gospel message of carrying the cross than of its abiding characteristic of joy. We tend to think of Jesus as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet as he concluded his ministry and was about to leave, he says: These things I have spoken to you that my joy might be in you and your joy be complete, (John: 15:11). While there is hardship and suffering in the life of Jesus there is a joy which is compatible with pain. We were created for happiness. It is the purpose of our whole being and we spend our lives searching and striving to attain it. Somehow this happiness seems to escape us as we go searching with pleasure and to look for it in material things. We can buy pleasure and it will cost us dearly, but all the money in the world cannot purchase happiness. Christian joy is something deeper and richer than the smile and laughter upon a happy face. It comes from an awareness that God is with us and produces a contentment and an inner peace that cannot be taken from us. Friendship with God is the source of Christian joy. No trials can drown this joy since it is born of faith. It is a characteristic of the soul that cannot be easily described but should be evident in the life of a believer. On the first Christmas when God came down in the person of Jesus, he filled the world with glad tidings of great joy. His life was geared towards God the Father in joy, prayer and thanksgiving. We are so caught up with our daily problems that we fail to reflect the joy of that marvelous truth: that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son and that whoever believes in him might not die but may have eternal life (John 3:16). There is no greater proof of love than to give of ourselves to others. Our Christmas joy cannot be complete unless we show generosity to those who have nothing to give to us in return. We cannot reflect the light who is Christ if we live by values that do not even remotely resemble those of the gospel. The happiest people are those who are doing the most for others. They know from experience that it is in giving that they receive. The day will arrive when they will be greeted with the words "Well done good and faithful servant, come and join in your master's happiness. Cub Scout Fun and Faith Day Saturday, January 20, 2018 SACRED HEART CHURCH MERRICK, NEW YORK 8:30 AM 12:00 NOON SAINT PATRICK S CHURCH SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK 10:30 AM 3:00 PM A special day of prayer, handicrafts, and games. For information, contact the Catholic Scouting Office , ext 245 or scouting@drvc.org

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17 Religious Education ~~ NO CLASSES! CYO ~ Ball Fields 1, 2 & 4 8:00 AM 8:30 PM Christmas Day Parish Center And School of Religion Closed Parish Center And School of Religion Closed Parish Center And School of Religion Closing At 12:00 Noon Parish Center And School of Religion Closing At 12:00 Noon Parish Center And School of Religion Closing At 12:00 Noon Religious Education ~~ NO CLASSES! CYO ~ Ball Fields 1, 2 & 4 8:00 AM 8:30 PM

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