St. Jerome Church 5550 Thornburn Street Los Angeles, CA Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017

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1 St. Jerome Church 5550 Thornburn Street Los Angeles, CA Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017 Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition celebrated in a series of nine dawn masses. (Also known as the Advent Novena honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary) Begun in 1669, it is held daily from Dec. 16 th to Dec. 24 th. On the last day of the Simbang Gabi, the service is instead called Misa de Gallo. The tradition was introduced in the Philippines by the Spanish friars to allow Filipino farmers to hear mass before going to the fields. Shortly after the mass, traditional delicacies await church goers where food awaits them in the parish hall. RECTORY OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK Monday Thursday 8:30am noon; 1:00pm-4:30pm Rectory Phone Number: SCHEDULED SERVICES Daily (Mon-Sat) Mass - 8am Saturday Evening Vigil Mass - 5:30pm Sunday Masses - 7:30am, 9am, 11am, 5:30pm Confessions Friday 9-10am None this Saturday RECTORY STAFF Our Pastor: Fr. Bill Bolton Fr. Valentine Ibe Senior Deacon Guy and Helene Wauthy Business Manager: Juanita Rivera-Wiemken For calendar request juanitarw@gmail.com Youth Ministry: Kristina Provence Sharma Director of Faith Formation: Nely Tingting Go Secretary/Bulletin Editor: Roxanne Shaw SCHEDULING SERVICES ( ) Anointing of the Sick: call the rectory Communion to the Sick: call the rectory Funerals: contact the rectory to set date and time

2 From Fr. Bill As we are called to rejoice this weekend I am reminded of the importance of gratitude. Thankful (Eucharistic) people recognize that every moment regardless if a good time or a bad time, whether richer or poorer, sick or in good health these are all opportunities for grace, faithfulness, gratitude and love for the individual as well as others is a gift. They learn to embrace the moment as the privilege to allow Jesus and the Spirit to be more fully in our living life: whether an opportunity to bear the cross with dignity and grace, a time of sacrifice or an occasion of loving service. Grateful people are more likely to be kind to others as they recognize their blessings. Grateful people are more likely to be joy filled and happy as their focus is on what God has lead them to and given them. Grateful people recognize that they have what they truly need and don t let envy and jealousy spoil what God has led them to. One of my friends, when asked how he is doing almost always responds, Better than I deserve. He knows that all life and living are gift. He lives a grateful, thankful life. St. John Bosco mentioned that the only people his system of education would not work with was people who lacked the virtue of gratitude. He found that ungrateful people are deeply rooted in anger and unhappiness. Like spoiled children they demand (and feel they are owed) things they haven t earned or personally sacrificed for. They blame others for the things envy, jealousy and arrogance have educated them to be their due. As others have unfairly failed to bow to their desires, they feel justified by their smoldering anger in hurting others as they believe themselves to be the real victim. The more they feel they are owed, the less happy they are. Selfishness and anger blind them to the testimony of compassion and generosity. As God and the people they encounter owe them this each kindness and blessing is viewed as overdue and cause for further resentment. Even as they apply themselves and work toward their desires, they resent having to struggle for what they believe should have been given to them. Pray for them as they are entangled in unending self-pity and anger. So, I say to you rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice. Give thanks to God for His abundant blessings and especially for His being among us. FYI, this weekend we will be continuing the instruction on the Mass with the Our Father and the Communion Rite. For those who missed last weekend s instruction on the Liturgy of the Eucharist or here is last week s teaching. At the conclusion of the scriptures and preaching we respond to God s word with the I believe of the creed followed by our praying for the needs of the church and the world. This is time for us to prepare to offer our works, our joys, and sufferings at this Mass. Our money is the symbol of what we do for a living. We give our money to God as a sign of our gratitude to him for everything he has given us. We give our money to the Church so that God s work on earth can continue. God receives our offerings and enriches our work. We also offer food and drink unleavened bread, a sign of all of our sufferings, and wine, a sign of our joys. Ordinary food and drink sustains our life here on earth. Our bodies turn them into the energy we need for life but ordinary food and drink cannot rescue us from aging, sickness, and death. Bread and wine are the very gifts Jesus took into his own hands the night before he died. When the Holy Spirit makes them Jesus body and blood during the Eucharistic prayer, this food and drink has the ability to transform us, to so renew our bodies that, on the other side of death, we will live forever. When the Holy Spirit makes them Jesus body and blood during the Eucharistic prayer, this food and drink has the power to make us one one with God and one with each other the very intention Jesus spoke at the Last Supper. When the priest says pray brothers, that my sacrifice and yours don t fail to have your works, joys, and sufferings ready to offer to God. Later when priest greets us, The Lord be with you. (A prayer asking for and recognizing the Spirit of God given at baptism) he receives from us our prayer that the Spirit given him at ordination will enable him to lead us in the Eucharistic prayer. Then he will ask us to lift up our hearts. The key to getting more out of Mass is to keep lifting up our hearts. The meaning of the Eucharistic prayer is that all of us are choosing to join ourselves to Christ in acknowledging the great things God has done and in offering the sacrifice. During this prayer, time and distance drop out: the upper room, the cross, the empty tomb are here. Worth special notice during the Eucharistic Prayer is the two times the priest asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit: once to do what is easy for God, to make the bread and wine the body and blood of Christ, and the second time to do what is hard (as it requires our cooperation), to make us one body, one spirit in Christ. Let us continue to keep one another in prayer. God bless!

3 Parish Staff Sunday This Sunday is our monthly Parish Staff Sunday. Our office staff is available in the parish hall during coffee and donuts. You are welcome to stop by for conversation or to ask question regarding weddings, baptism, faculty usage or about having a mass said for your special intention. We hope this makes our ministry of service more accessible to you and your family. Coffee and Donuts The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry will be hosting Coffee and donuts after all the morning Masses this Sunday. Come join us in the parish hall. Penance Service We will celebrate our Advent Penance Service on Tuesday, December 19th, at 7:00pm. We encourage all of our families to plan to take part in this evening of reconciliation and sacramental Confession in preparation for Christmas. Please set aside this special evening as a time for true spiritual renewal. For parents and grandparents, for children and youth, for all who want to prepare well for Christ s coming at Christmas. St. Jerome School Christmas Musical Program All parishioners are invited to hear carols old and new about the coming of our Savior, Jesus! Songs will be performed by each grade, from our precious Pre-K students to our young ladies and men of the Eighth- Grade. Come to the church Wednesday, December 20. Music begins at 6:00pm! Retirement Fund for Religious Thank you for your donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal last weekend. As expenses continue to increase and economic difficulties tighten our income, we appreciate more and more the help of the Retirement Fund, notes a women religious. Your tax deductible donation to the Retirement Fund supports the day-to-day care of thousands of elder sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. If you missed this collection and still wish to contribute, please use the special envelopes located in the pews and on the church tables. Neighborhood Parish Penance Service Monday, December 18th 7:00pm St. John Chrysostom 546 E. Florence Avenue Inglewood, CA The St. Jerome Rectory Office will be closed December 22nd thru December 26th, for the Christmas Holidays. We wish you a very Merry Christmas! Senior Center Happy Holidays! The Center will be CLOSED from December 18th thru January 1, For more information, call the rectory at Jackets & Toys for Mother Of Sorrow Jackets are needed this year for the students at Mother of Sorrows School. The estimated cost for each jacket is $40. Envelopes are on the church tables for these monetary donations. Please make out checks to St. Jerome Church with a notation on your check MOS jackets/toys. Thank you for your generosity. Morning Scripture Study Notice The Tuesday morning Scripture Study will NOT meet during the holidays. Come join us in the Senior Center on Tuesday January 9th, from 10:15am to 11:15am, as we feast on the words in the Readings and Psalm for the upcoming Sunday at Mass. No experience necessary. Prayers for the sick and special intentions follow the study. Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) The process is for you if you: Never been baptized Were baptized in another Christian faith Were baptized Catholic but have not received the First Eucharist and Confirmation. RCIA invites you to attend an RCIA Inquiry meeting. This is the first step in learning about the church and your journey of becoming Catholic. Our next meeting is Thursday, December 21st & 28th from 7pm-8:30pm, in the Religious Education Center. You can start anytime. All are welcome! For more information contact Nely T. Go: or DFF@stjeromewestchester.org St. Jerome Choir Invitation Our Parish of St. Jerome would like to welcome new choir members interested in singing in our choirs. The adult choir sings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at the 11am mass. Please contact Tom Connare at The Filipino Choir sings every 3 Sunday of the month at the 11am mass and practices are twice a month on Fridays. If interested, please call Gina at Together In Mission 2017 We are in this together the mission of helping our fellow brothers and sisters and we are all asked to share the light of Christ with others. Every gift, regardless of the size matters so long as we give what we can and answer the calling of our faith. For those of you that have already committed to a gift, we gratefully thank you. Our parish goal is $78,200 and only $41,201 has been submitted. We need everyone to help us reach it! Please mail in your donations in today. There are Together In Mission envelopes on the church tables for this special collection. God bless you for your generosity!

4 Mass Intentions Sat. 12/16 5:30pm (M) Anthony Miehle Sun. 12/17 7:30am (M) Brigit Egithius 9:00am (M) Remo & Sophie Matteucci 11:00am (M) Michael Dicks 5:30pm (SI) St. Jerome Parishioners Week Day Masses Mon. 12/18 8am (M) Denis Collins Tues. 12/19 8am (M) Vincent William Wed. 12/20 8am (M) Burke Mucho Thurs. 12/21 8am (M) Magdalena C. Young Fri. 12/22 8am (M) Walter Neikter Sat. 12/23 8am (M) Walter Neikter Memorial (M) Special Intention (SI) Thanksgiving (T) Prayers For The Sick Alex Bajot Bill Bolton Sr. Bill Botch Marion Dillan Rorrie de la Vega Elizabeth Ezeani Mary Gibson Steve Hoffman Joseph Kluchinsky Paul Liles Walter McDade Pat Menezes Harry Neumann Monalisa Nwokike Marie Omoruyi Rosane Paranhos Sam Quatto Mary Quinn Maria Rodriguez Victoria Ukeje Sandra Walker Deceased Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of Ernest Barlough May he rest in peace. You are invited to pray the Holy Rosary after each 8am Mass and Sunday 5:30pm Mass in the church. On Thursday at 1:00pm we meet in the church to pray the Cenacles. Pease join us! Padre Pio Prayer Group Gerard Majella Catholic Church, at 4439 Inglewood Blvd. LA, 90066, invites you to join them every 3rd Thursday of the month, from 7-8pm for reflection on St. Padre Pio s writings and veneration of first class relics. For more information call or Gaby Gomez at godgiverofgrace@gmail.com The Come Home, We Miss You! Box Near the Church side door by Mary our Mother, you will find a small lidded basket. Placed inside are the names of our family members, friends and other loved ones who have become inactive with our Catholic faith. If you are aware of someone whose name you would like to include in the box, we encourage you to place it there. We continue to pray as a parish community for all those included in the box. Liturgical Ministries Altar Server: Randy Billups randybillups@gmail.com Eucharistic Min.: Tina Gustavson Hospitality: Joyce Holt Lectors: Cathy Fitzpatrick Music: Jim Drollinger Ushers: Tina Gustavson

5 T Christm[s S_[son 2017 Commun[l P_n[n]_ S_rvi]_ (Confessions) Tuesday, December 19th 7:00pm Friday, December 22nd 9:00am S[tur^[y, D_]_m\_r 23r^ 4th Sunday of Advent Vigil (No Confessions today) 5:30pm Vigil Mass 7:30pm Simbang Gabi Mass followed by a meal in our parish hall Sun^[y, D_]_m\_r 24th 4th Sunday of Advent Masses 7:30am, 9:00am & 11:00am (No 5:30pm mass) Christmas Vigil Masses 4:00pm & 11:00pm* *Carols begin at 10:30pm Mon^[y, D_]_m\_r 25th Christmas Day Masses 7:30am, 9:00am 11:00am S[tur^[y, D_]_m\_r 30th 5:30pm Vigil Mass Sun^[y, D_]_m\_r 31st 7:30am, 9:00am, 11:00am & 5:30pm Masses A Soulful New year's Eve Dinner begins at 8:00pm followed by 11:30 Mass Mon^[y, J[nu[ry 1st Mary, Mother of God 8:00am Mass (Not an obligation) T St. Jerome School News St. Jerome School is accepting applications for Pre-K, Transitional K and Grades K thru Grade 8. Applications may be downloaded from our website or you may visit the school office to pick one up. Please call or visit us at